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The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste: Review

The Poisons we Drink by Bethany Baptiste

The Poisons We Drink is an engaging novel from the get-go. It follows Venus, a young witcher, who brews illegal love potions to support her family. When her mother is suddenly murdered by an unknown enemy, Venus is given the chance to take revenge. The price? Brew love potions to enslave some of Washington D.C.’s most influential politicians. The deeper she goes the more the lines between power and magic blur and the foggier the truth becomes.

This is an amazing story that holds up a mirror to our society’s own biases and prejudices through the well crafted and magical world that Baptiste brings to life. Her characters all have their flaws causing hurt and destruction, and yet they all strive to do the right thing, for their family, their friends and for the entire world. Venus’ own struggles and her perseverance make her a realistic and relatable character. Family and love are both central to this story. The characters are all trying to create a better, fairer and more equal world for those they care about most, no matter the cost or risk to themselves. Their loyalty and determination shows they will fight for justice and to protect those they care about.

This novel is full of twists and turns. The magic and politics throughout this story creates both tension and drive towards the climactic ending. The secrets the characters hold only add to the mystery and intrigue of this read. Baptiste doesn’t shy away from difficult topics such as prejudice, racism and loss that are present in our own version of earth.

Tess Fitzgibbon, 15

The Poisons We Drink
Bethany Baptiste
Sourcebooks, March 2024
Hardback, £18.99
ISBN 9781728251950

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Cupid’s Revenge by Wibke Brueggemann: Review

Cupid's Revenge by Wibke Brueggemann Cover

It was never Tilly’s intention to fall in love, we’re told in the first line of Cupid’s Revenge. But love doesn’t really care about intentions; it hits you like a truck and simultaneously makes you giddy while wrecking your life. Such is the story of this novel, narrated by sixteen-year-old Tilly, who is dragged into a matchmaking scheme by her best friend Teddy to help him get the girl of his dreams, the gorgeous Katherine Cooper-Bunting. The plan? Get into Cupid’s Revenge, an amateur theatre production that Katherine is in, and make her fall for him. But when Tilly first lays eyes on Teddy’s future girlfriend, she can’t get her out of her head. Of course, she can’t act on these feelings; she could never hurt Teddy like that. And she won’t. Will she?

This funny, heartfelt novel, a sapphic teen romance by Wibke Brueggemann set in post-COVID England, was an enjoyably relatable read. The first-person narration genuinely feels like a friend talking to you, and did a decent job at capturing how a teenager today would actually speak, as opposed to the awkward how-do-you-do-fellow-kids dialogue of some of this book’s contemporaries. Tilly is a compelling and likeable protagonist, whose struggles with being the black sheep of the family, her ailing grandfather’s worsening Alzheimer’s, and moving on from a friend’s tragic death make the reader feel for her and root for her to get a happy ending, even though some of her actions can make you want to scream at her. I’d recommend this novel to anyone interested in theatre or YA romance. If you love both of those, you’re in luck: this is the perfect book for you.

Connie McHugh, 16

Cupid’s Revenge
Wibke Brueggemann
Macmillan, June 2023
Paperback, £8.99
ISBN 9781529033748

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Wish of the Wicked by Danielle Paige: Review

Wish of the Wicked cover

Wish of the Wicked by Danielle Paige is a retelling of Cinderella and follows the story of a young girl called Farrow who is the only “Entente” left in a world full of humans. The Entente used to help keep all thirteen Queendoms at peace with each other, but when the old queen dies and Queen Magrit steps up to the throne, she outlaws magic. Farrow is the only survivor, but her magic is fractured. Desperate to seek revenge, Farrow hatches a plan to kill the queen and prince and has to make some difficult decisions. This book was an exciting page turner with twists and turns. However, it can become quite repetitive. The story does pick up and unfolds into a thrilling novel so I would strongly advise to keep reading. I also think it is very insightful as we receive a strong backstory on Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother which was intriguing and I couldn’t wait to read more.

Wish of the Wicked is the perfect book for young adults who want to read a fantasy novel, full of action, romance and anticipation. However, I would not recommend this for younger readers as there is a lot of death described in great detail and some romance. This book is perfect for fans of Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige and Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron, or anyone who just wants an exciting page turner you can’t put down. Overall, I loved this book as it has a compelling plot, interesting characters, and will always have you on the edge of your seat wanting to read more.

Ciara Martin, 14

Wish of the Wicked
Danielle Paige
Bloomsbury, 2023
Paperback, £11.99
ISBN 9781526636461

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Where the Heart Should Be by Sarah Crossan: Review

Where the Heart Should Be by Sarah Crossan Cover

Where the Heart Should Be is a quintessentially Irish novel. A love story about a lower-class Irish girl living in a one-room cottage with her parents and little brother, falling for an upper-class English boy living on the landlord’s estate. The book is set in 1846, a year after the Famine started, in the fictional town of Ballinkeel. It’s filled with all things Irish, from leaving offerings out for the faeries, hating the English aristocracy, and a healthy dose of the Catholic Church.

Following Nell, the reader gets a story about the Famine different to how most have heard it before. Hearing it told through the perspective of a teenage girl, instead of through a history book, makes the Famine so much more heart-breaking and real. Reading about the English landlords demanding rent, having seven-course meals, and ordering crates of champagne while Irish families were being kicked out of their homes and dying from hunger on the side of the road was horrifying.

I loved almost everything about this book. Watching the course of the famine play out in Sarah Crossan’s unconventional poetry style of writing was attention grabbing and impactful. The only issue I found with this book is that it felt as if Sarah Crossan was so attached to telling the story of the Famine that Nell’s romance ended up being sidelined towards the end. Where the Heart Should Be is a heartbreaking but hopeful and truly Irish story about one of the darkest parts of our history.

Isla Kerr, 16

Where the Heart Should Be
Sarah Crossan
Bloomsbury Publishing, March 2024
Paperback, £10.49
ISBN 9781526666567

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The Crimson Fortress by Akshaya Raman

The Crimson Fortress Cover

The Crimson Fortress is the sequel to The Ivory Key. Ashoka’s magic is gone. With the threat of war from enemy territory Lyria, which has been experimenting with dangerous magic, Ashoka is left unprotected and vulnerable. Vira, Ryia, Ronak and Kaleb are working together to restore magic and stability to Ashoka, but it is more difficult and dangerous than expected.

The Crimson Fortress has relatable characters that are all very different from each other. This book is told from the perspective of four siblings. The different points of view make it really interesting to read as you get insight into each character’s thoughts and often follow the story from completely different locations. The sibling relationship between Vira, Ryia, Ronak and Kaleb is relatable, because although they fight a lot, they have to work together to save their future. This book is set in an Indian inspired world with unique magical elements. The world is exciting to explore alongside the characters, discovering hidden secrets, rebel groups, cults and strange magic.

This book starts with a gripping adventure from the first page that is sustained throughout the rest of the book. Some of the side characters seem to be underdeveloped or not as deep as they could have been. This one complaint is easily made up for by the exciting and easy-to-follow plot and the unique magic that fills The Crimson Fortress. This book is great for fans of We Hunt The Flame and This Woven Kingdom.

Sabine Narzisi, 14

The Crimson Fortress
Akshaya Raman
Hot Key Books, 2023
Paperback, £8.99
ISBN 9781471411267

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Goddess Crown by Shade Lapite

Goddess Crown cover

Goddess Crown takes place in the Kingdom of Galla and is centred around Kalothia, who has grown up under the protection and guidance of her two guardians, Aunty and teacher in the Faledi Forest. Here she is kept hidden from the outside world, for her parents supported Queen Sylvia and thus were traitors of King Osura. So to protect her from the King and his assassins she stayed out of sight.

The day after she turns 16 disaster strikes and Kalothia’s life is turned upside down. Nothing is as it seemed and everything she thought she knew was a lie. Her life in the forest is swiftly replaced with her new role in Galla’s Royal Court. Kalothia will need to muster up all her strength and courage in order to survive and navigate this new world she has been propelled into.

I really enjoyed this book. It is fast paced and gorgeously written. There are so many beautifully described places and people that it is enchanting to read. The story is exciting and dramatic, which did in fact lead me to audibly gasp at certain parts. Kalothia is formidable and brave and can most certainly stand up for herself which was inspiring to read about. I think this book is for everyone who enjoys fantasy and adventure novels although there is a lot of violence and death which some readers might not like.

Lily Farrell, 17

Goddess Crown
Shade Lapite
Walker Books, February 2024
Paperback, £8.99
ISBN 9781529503715

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ASAP by Axie Oh: Review

ASAP is the charming companion romance of the book XOXO which can also be enjoyed as a standalone read. Going into ASAP by Axie Oh, I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I wanted to since I lack the K-pop interest that I thought I would need for this book. I was pleasantly surprised though, as I was captivated from the first page.

ASAP follows protagonists Sori, daughter of a K-pop company owner, and Nathaniel, her K-pop star ex-boyfriend. For her whole life Sori has been working towards becoming a K-pop idol, until she realises that it’s not exactly what she wants. This decision is not up to her as she’s stuck between the expectations of her mother and father. Sori is also faced with one difficult decision: Is her future worth sacrificing for a second chance at love? Throughout the story, there was one lingering question in the back of my mind: Can Sori break free from her parents’ expectations and become her own individual?

I absolutely loved the characters Oh crafted; a group of characters with diverse backgrounds and experiences, which ranged from the determined Sori to the enigmatic Nathaniel. The characters didn’t feel like mere words on paper. The relationships added layers of complexity and nuance to the narrative, which ranged from Sori’s interactions with her overbearing parents, to the tender moments shared between Sori and Nathaniel.

Although there were certain areas of the book where my attention wavered, Oh quickly brought it back with scenarios and tropes that fans of Korean dramas or romantic comedies would be very familiar with. It felt more like I was watching a K-drama unfold than reading a book, which was the winning formula that kept me eagerly turning the pages until the very end.

Martyna Bereźnicka, 15

ASAP
Axie Oh
HarperCollins Publishers, February 2024
Paperback, £13.79
ISBN 9780063299306

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Never Tell Anyone Your Name by Federico Ivanier: Review

Federico Ivanier’s Never Tell Anyone Your Name is a concise yet meandering tale of youth and death, love and horror, hunger and satiation – a story of juxtapositions. Within the first few pages you realise that you will be taking centre stage within the plot, as the story, very cleverly, makes use of the second-person point of view. All of the main character’s emotions become your own, and as the reader you get the unusual opportunity of living the mysterious and dark actions of our 16-year-old male protagonist.

You have the freedom to draw your own conclusions from the tale. Although, this sense of ambiguity may not suit everyone. If plots with a clear and obvious resolution are something you’re after, perhaps this one isn’t for you.

At eighty eight pages long, the plot of this novella manages to keep you guessing throughout. There is no doubt that the beautiful and in-depth descriptions, which create a vivid Spanish landscape for us to journey through, envelop the mysterious plot. You can’t help but wonder what the story would be like in its original language; with the depth of description that is given to us in English, it feels as if nothing could have been lost in this translation.

As the first Young Adult novel translated from Uruguay into English, we have been deprived of Ivanier’s writing until now.

Lorna O’Dea

Never Tell Anyone Your Name
Federico Ivanier
Translated by Claire Storey
Hope Road, 2023
Paperback £8.99
ISBN 9781913109226

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The Black Air by Jennifer Lane: Review

Having relocated to the countryside after the tragic death of her mother, sixteen-year-old Cate Aspey has found it difficult to fit in, particularly since the village she resides in, Long Byrne, has its own traumatic history.

Four hundred years ago, two young women were burned at the stake for witchcraft, something the insular locality hasn’t processed particularly well. The inhabitants are obsessed with the tale to this day. The upcoming anniversary leads to Cate, a talented writer, being asked to put together a play about the two witches. With her mental health already suffering, deep involvement in the dark history of Long Byrne affects her, driving wedges between friends, family and another newcomer to the village, a direct descendant of one of the witches.

The Black Air is at its best when dealing with Cate’s trauma and eating disorder. Her characterisation is excellent. The author has put a lot of work into providing detailed descriptions of the geography and environment of Long Byrne, but we lack insight as to why the story of the witches still holds such sway over it after four centuries. The UK is not short of horrific history and why the village still bears scars from this incident needs more explanation. In light of this, the finale, with its overt supernatural occurrence included, feels unearned.

Paddy Lennon

The Black Air
Jennifer Lane
Uclan Publishing, 2023
Paperback, £8.99
ISBN 9781915235312

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When We Become Ours Edited by Shannon Gibney and Nicole Chung: Review

When We Become Ours is a collection of stories by a number of authors with one thing in common – they are all adoptees. The collection fills a very apparent void not just in young adult literature, but in books in general. Each story describes the added complexity of adolescence as an adoptee and the challenges that come with searching for a sense of belongingness.

These stories, ranging from fantasy to sci-fi to contemporary fiction, have either never been told, or have been told by people unable to comprehend the reality of growing up in adoption. There is a special focus on the nuances of transracial adoptions, and the specific loneliness that can often present itself as anger. Each story succeeds in capturing the juxtaposition of “being close to someone yet realising that our experiences are so far apart”, and each author illustrates their own experiences of growing up feeling unseen and misunderstood. For many of the authors, their ethnicity felt “simultaneously familiar and foreign”, yet they still described an overwhelming comfort with feeling accepted within a community, and connecting with their history. The stories are short and succinct yet powerful and heartwarming.

When We Become Ours is an important book. It’s honest and revealing in its storytelling, and it communicates a larger story that is often left out or misrepresented. As the editors point out, “storytelling matters” and this book connects the emotions of each author and character to convey a single message: regardless of individual loneliness, anger or confusion, no feeling is unique. In sharing our experiences and our emotions, we lighten the load not only for ourselves, but for everyone else who has ever felt the same way.

Danielle Briody

When We Become Ours
Edited by Shannon Gibney and Nicole Chung
HarperTeen, 2023
Hardback, £14.99
ISBN 9780063144408