“The moonlit vine” Elizabeth Santiago

Rated 5 stars ***** Tu Books (Lee & Low Books). 2023. 360 p. (Includes “Author’s note,” “Anacaona and Caonabo ancestry,” “Key moments in Puerto Rican history,” “Inspiring Boriqueños,” and “References.”)

The native Arawak lived in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica, before Columbus and his conquistadores arrived. There are several theories on how they became known as Taíno including that they shouted “tayno,” meaning “good people,” to an incoming Spanish ship. Over the next 25 years their population was severely decimated through disease, massacre, and slavery, reducing their numbers from millions to 32,000 by the year 1514. It had been thought the Taíno were extinct, but a 2018 National Geographic article explained they assimilated and aren’t extinct because their DNA is found in living people – including yours truly.

Knowing this background information made “The moonlit vine” especially interesting as I read about fourteen-year-old Taína’s quest to defend herself and her family from injustices in their neighborhood and schools. Taína comes from a long line of proud Taíno women, direct descendants of Anacaona, a powerful leader murdered by Spaniards soon after Columbus’ arrival on Haiti. Anacaona gave an amulet and zemi to her daughter for protection, with instructions for them to be passed on through time to women in her family who would remember the knowledge of their proud past as their future power.

Over the centuries these precious artifacts and memories of their heritage were passed on until Taína received them from her grandmother. Though fearful at first, she soon learned of the powerful strength of her ancestors in a life-or-death situation.

I absolutely LOVED this book! Taína’s story, as well as historical chapters of women who came after Anacaona, kept me riveted.

Highly recommended for ages 14 and older.

The night war” Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Rated 5 stars ARC. Dial Books for Young Readers (Penguin Random House). To be published April 9, 2024. 281 p. (Includes “Author’s note.”)

Miriam and her parents lived in Germany until forced to flee to Paris after Kristallnacht when she was eight years old. After living in cramped quarters for four years, food supplies were dwindling, and her father was forced to go into hiding. Soon afterwards she was separated from her mother when the French police rounded up everyone and sent them to the Velodrome d’Hiver for deportation. During the confusion Miriam’s neighbor urged her to save her two-year-old daughter Nora and flee to Switzerland. Unsure of what to do, Miriam took Nora and tried to mingle with the onlookers. After being spotted by a German soldier, they were rescued by a young nun.

In time, Miriam was sent to a convent school and separated from Nora. To survive she needed to forget her Jewishness, but her failure to protect Nora and escape to Switzerland haunted her waking moments. After Sister Dominique took her to visit the nearby castle of Chenonceau, things changed when she became involved in the Resistance and met the ghost of Catherine de Medici.

With the addition of a ghost, young readers learn about France’s history as well as its role in World War II.

Recommended for ages 11-14.

“Dead girls walking” Sami Ellis

Rated 3 stars *** ARC. Amulet Books (ABRAMS). 362 p. To be published March 26, 2024.

Temple grew up with a serial killer father and a mother who disappeared after she heard her screaming. He taught her to play baseball and climb trees but would never tell her what happened to her mother. He taught her what a dead body looks and smells like, and what the symbols looked like that he carved deep into the bones of his victims. She spent years half starved, living in a leaf filled tub in a filthy home, listening to the screams of those he murdered. At the age of twelve, she called the police, and he was sent to prison while she spent years coping with the infamy of being his daughter.

On a recent prison trip her father convinced her he’d killed her mother and buried her at their former home. Since the woods where she’d lived were not accessible Temple volunteered to be a camp counselor for LGBTQIA+ African American girls obsessed with horror. The horror camp was in the woods near her former home, where she was sure she’d find her mother’s body and satisfy the wound in her soul.

Instead, Temple found herself involved in a ritual of death that resulted in the murder of more people than her father had killed. The murderer is still busy killing new victims since the horror camp offers it new blood. It’s up to Temple to stop its murder spree, but time is running out for her and the rest of the girls.

I had never read a book like this as it seemed to be filled with every trope available for the horror genre including spooky woods, rundown homes, serial killers, ghosts, zombie-like bodies, blood, gore, and more. If horror is your thing, “Dead girls walking” is right up your alley. Since it’s not my thing I’ll stay alive and keep walking.

Recommended for horror fans aged 16 and older.

“The daughters of Block Island” Christa Carmen

Rated 5 stars ***** ebook. Thomas & Mercer. Published 2023.

Blake had grown up in an orphanage, and felt abandoned, so used drugs and alcohol to forget her past. It wasn’t until she was an adult that she was able to trace her mother to Block Island. Though she had been struggling to stay sober for years, she was determined to find her mother. Blake headed to the island where she booked herself into White Hall, an ancient mansion with a history of murder and intrigue which was also a B&B. That night she was haunted by a long-dead relative of the owners and, as the days passed with more hauntings, Blake was terrified. Despite the ghost, constant rain, and gloomy atmosphere, she had leads on her past from a friendly local. She didn’t know her time on the island would be cut shorter than she had planned.

Talia had grown up on Block Island and left many years ago. She and her mother had a toxic relationship and she found island life stifling. One day she received a letter from someone who claimed to be her sister, found dead on Block Island after mailing it. Despite misgivings, Talia was anxious to talk to her mother and find out about this sister. After booking herself into White Hall, Talia soon found out its ancient secrets were tied in with very modern ones. Someone didn’t want her finding out about them and, if she wasn’t careful, there would be another body in the B&B.

The more I read the more I couldn’t put it down, reading in one sitting until 2:30 A.M. to find out what was going to happen. Though it was night, and the book was getting creepy, the suspense was killing me. I couldn’t sleep until the mystery was solved. The author did a great job hiding the murderer’s identity, throwing in red herrings to keep readers off the track. Well done, Christa!

Highly recommended for Adults.

“Chain of Thorns” Cassandra Clare

Rated 5 stars ***** Margaret K. McElderry Books (Simon & Schuster). The last hours $3. 778 p. 2023.

Heartbroken because she believed James to be in love with Grace, Cordelia accepts Matthew’s invitation to spend time sightseeing in Paris. Though he had declared himself in love with her, he promised to respect her as a friend and vowed Paris would help them both to forget their troubles. She agreed to go if he would stop drinking, and he agreed.

James is desperate to find Lucie, so he can go to Paris and reunite with Cordelia. She had run away after Grace came to visit him, and he is eager to explain about the bracelet. When he finally arrives, he is shocked at what he learns about his best friend and his wife.

Belial was ruthless in his quest to possess James, turning dead Silent Brothers and Iron Sisters into demonic weapons of mass destruction, sending every adult Shadowhunter to Idris, and threatening to kill everyone he loved if James didn’t agree. Lucie, James, Cordelia, Matthew, and the rest of the Merry Thieves refused to leave the city, hoping to save it from Belial’s demons. However, when James finally gave in to his grandfather, he and Matthew were taken to Edom where Matthew, suffering from alcohol withdrawal, would also die if no one came to help them.

Desperate to save him, Cordelia and Lucie set out to look for a way to get to Edom. She and James had reconciled when she learned about the bracelet, and they had spent several days in wedded bliss as they finally were able to reveal their true feelings to each other. Now Belial was threatening their happiness. Cordelia had managed not to draw her sword or any weapon in previous battles for fear of her role as Lilith’s paladin, but she knew she would be forced to do so to save James. She would do anything for the man she loved.

Heartache and despair are big themes, where hope also finds a place to breathe. Hope is also part of the bonus short story at the end of the book.

Cassandra Clare led readers on a long ride of nail-biting anxiety through the three books of the series, but did not tie everything up into a neat bow at the end. The various open endings tell me she plans on coming back with a future series involving these characters. You heard it here first.

Highly recommended for ages 16 and older.

“Chain of Iron” Cassandra Clare

Rated 5 stars ***** Margaret K. McElderry Books (Simon & Schuster). The last hours $2. 656 p. 2021.

In part two of The last hours series, many plots are underfoot.

Jesse is a spirit caught between the living and the dead and, though he’s a ghost, Lucie has fallen in love with him. She and Grace are sure he can be brought back to life, so she is using her powers with the dead while Grace resorts to dark magic as they try all sorts of spells to reunite him with his preserved body. Unfortunately neither of them knows Belial has plans for Jesse’s body that don’t include Jesse.

James is reveling in the love he feels for Cordelia since the bracelet Grace had bound him with for four years has broken. Embarrassed to tell her Grace had kept him in a love coma for years, and afraid to tell her of his love because he thinks she sees him as only a friend, James stays silent about his feelings. Later that silence will cost him greatly.

Cordelia is keeping her own secrets, especially the one where she accidentally became the paladin of Lilith, forced to do her bidding the moment she lifts her sword. Despite everything wrong going on in her life, she is living her happiest dream with James by her side. Lately it seems as if he’s trying to make their fake marriage work, and has feelings for her, but the night he breaks her heart again is the last straw.

The ongoing Shadowhunter soap opera of love, betrayal, action, adventure, despair, and hope kept me turning pages to find out what would happen next to James, Matthew, Lucie, Cordelia, and their band of Merry Thieves. The cliffhanger ending will keep readers in suspense if they don’t have part 3 “Chain of Thorns” handy. I have it handy.

Highly recommended for ages 16 and older.

“Chain of Gold” Cassandra Clare

Rated 5 stars ***** Margaret K. McElderry Books (Simon & Schuster). The last hours #1. 582 p. 2020.

If you’ve been following my blog for any number of years you know of my love-hate relationship with Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunter books because she writes them as a series and I have to wait on pins and needles for the next one to be released. As a result, though I bought this book when it was first published in 2020, I refused to read it or even look at it. I held myself in check lest I be tempted to lose myself in the world of Shadowhunters before another book was released. When the last book in the series came out earlier this year, I was free so, after reading “Chain of gold,” I am hooked on the Shadowhunters all over again. Thanks a lot Cassandra!!

Will and Tessa, heroes from the original series, have been married for years and their children Lucie and James are all grown up. Cordelia Carstairs (Jem’s cousin) had come to London with her mother and brother determined to convince the Clave to free her wrongfully imprisoned father. She and Lucie are going to be parabatai one day, but she has never told her best friend of her love for James. For his part James has been in love with Grace Blackthorn, whose mother promised revenge against all Herondales and Shadowhunters since the death of her son many years ago.

Into this tangled web of teen angst, demons make a sudden appearance after not having shown up in London for many years. Infected by an unknown demon poison, Shadowhunters fall by the dozens leaving James as the only one who can save their lives. Cordelia loves him with all her heart so risks her life to save his. However neither they nor their friends know an insidious force has been at work, that won’t stop until all Shadowhunters are dead.

Once again Cassandra Clare weaves a story of true love, unrequited love, jealousy, anger, hope, hopelessness, sorrow, and many other emotions readers will feel as they eagerly make it through 582 pages and a bonus short story. My attention has been piqued, so what else can I do but go to read part 2 “Chain of Iron?” Stay tuned for more on the Shadowhunter intrigue brought to us by unknown forces.

Highly recommended for ages 16 and older.

“Beholder” Ryan La Sala

Rated 4 stars **** ARC. Push (Scholastic). 340 p. To be published October 3, 2023.

Athanasios’ parents died in a fire when he was six years old, so he grew up with his yiayia and her superstitions. His Greek grandmother spent her life whispering into a hand mirror, warning him about an evil eye coming after them. Though yiayia cautioned him against looking into mirrors he disobeyed, discovering they allow him to see into the past. Whenever he glances into a mirror he is mesmerized, as he feels something evil rushing towards him.

Years passed and Athan has become weary of his grandmother’s delusions. When he is accused of murder after everyone is killed at a party he attends and yiayia disappears, everything begins to unravel. Dom, a boy who hid him during the party and with whom he’s fallen in love, is the only one who can help him find her and make sense of what turned his life upside down. Can they stop a monster that has killed many over the years and is hungry for more blood?

Those of you who’ve read anything by La Sala know he has a very imaginative writing style that makes you leave all the lights on while reading at night. Prepare for a large electric bill with “Beholder.” Cue an evil laugh, eerie music, lightning flashes, and thunder rolls. Don’t say you weren’t warned…

Recommended for ages 17 and older.

“The cursed moon” Angela Cervantes

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. Scholastic Press. 211 p. Published September 5, 2023.

Rafe and his younger sister Brianna live with their grandparents because their mother is in jail. One night his eccentric neighbor warns him against telling scary stories during a blood moon. Rafe loves writing and telling scary stories but disregards the warning and regales his friend with a story about a girl who convinces a boy to jump into a pond to get her notebook. The boy disappears, and she warns his friend that the Caretaker is coming to get him too.

Soon after telling his story Rafe starts to see ghosts and learns the Caretaker has always made an appearance during a blood moon when someone told a scary story. Each time he came, a child disappeared. Rafe is frightened because he has begun to receive warnings that the Caretaker is coming. He need to protect Brianna but will first have to figure out how to stop the Caretaker.

This book will hook young, reluctant male readers as they eagerly turn the pages to see if the Caretaker will come for Rafe. Be sure not to read this at night, and keep your lights on…

Recommended for ages 11-15.

“The Wilderwomen” Ruth Emmie Lang

Rated 4 stars **** ARC. ebook. St. Martin’s Press (St. Martin’s Publishing Group). Published November 15, 2022.

Zelda was 18 and her younger sister Finn was twelve when their mom disappeared. Nora had been acting strangely, abandoning them at various times, and wandering around aimlessly without recollections of what she’d done or where she’d been. After the abandonment Finn was taken in by foster parents and Zelda was left to negotiate life on her own.

Zelda spent the next five years hating Nora for leaving them, while refusing to use her psychic gift because what was the use of being psychic if she couldn’t predict her own mother’s disappearance? Finn had no such qualms about using her gift of reading memories. While on vacation she insisted they use the time to search for Nora. Zelda reluctantly agreed but, as clues led them closer to their mom, she found herself feeling excited. However, her excitement was tempered at the effect Nora’s memories were having on Finn because she was reenacting Nora’s blank stares, loss of memory and disappearances. Was it worth it to find their mom if it meant losing Finn?

The love between a mother and her daughters combined with paranormal gifts and a cross country trip based on other people’s memories are strange premises for a book, but they work in “The Wilderwomen.”

Recommended for Adults.

I received a digital advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.