The Coming of the Spirits (Spirits Book 5) by Rob Keeley

The Coming of the Spirits is the fifth and final book in the middle grade fantasy series Spirits that was sent to me by the author. Ellie and Clara's plan in 1936 to set World War 2 back on track went awry. Present-day has the Nazis controlling Britain with the powers of the spirit world. History calls upon Ellie one last time, to finally be the Grand Defender and seal the breach between the spirit world and the mortal one. Except this time, Ellie has had enough with others ordering her future. Torn between the past, present, and the future, Ellie's friends from all over the timeline must come together and help her save the world one final time.

A great quote that sums up the book is from the pilot of DC's Legends of Tomorrow: "If we have the power to change the world, don’t you think we have the power to change our own fate?" Especially when the friends across time and worlds come together, it reminded me of that CW show. 

The majority of the series focused on Ellie helping others and bonding with other characters; in contrary, The Coming of the Spirits delved deep into the root of who Ellie is and the events in her life that changed time. Ellie has gone from a child to 18. In that time, she has grown not only physically, but emotionally and mentally. The setting of the books have aged with her appropriately. This the most intense and dystopian of the series. One climatic event was even a bit scary to me with its detailed imagery. As usual, Keeley's descriptions and settings were vivid and real. It is actually hard to believe that it was only 144 pages with how much had happened and how gripping the plotline was.

The series did wrap up surprisingly well. The ending was definitely unexpected. I was not prepared for that change of destiny, and I cannot find any foreshadowing that leads to this shock. While heartbreaking in the moment, I can understand why Keeley chose to end the series this way. While the choice seems almost contradictory to the plotline and previous books, it does attune to a theme of changing destinies and the course of history.

Overall I largely enjoyed the series and highly recommend it. The second book, The Spirit of London, is still my favorite. 

See my review of:

The forth book, High Spirits

The third book, The Sword of the Spirit

The second book, The Spirit of London

The first book, Childish Spirits

Title: The Coming of the Spirits
Author: Rob Keeley
Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd
Pages: 144
Series: Yes, Book 5 of 5
Rating: 5 Stars
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Epiphany (The Heir of G.O'D. Book 2) by Harper Maze

Epiphany is the second book in the YA dystopian series Heir of G.O'D that was sent to me by the author. In 4 days, Hailey's comet will destroy the virtual reality world Sol, unless the Heir decides to stop it. Upon getting Ana's visor upgrade and finally being able to see the real-world, she is discovered by the Church of G.O'D. and kidnapped, only to discover that she is Gaiana O’Drae- the Heir. With every group of political and economic power after her for personal gain and betrayals at every turn, she must decide who is worth trusting and live long enough to make the world-changing choice.

(For consistency's sake, I will continue to refer to her as Ana)

This was a huge gamble for her father to take. Create a comet to destroy Sol on her 18th birthday unless she finds out that she is the Heir, can escape all the people trying to kill her, get into his mansion, know what to look for, all in the hopes that she will... press a button? There are a million ways this extremely elaborate plan could have ended horribly. How could he even count on her still being alive? I feel very bad for Ana to have this giant burden on her. 

While I understand the corruption in their world, there should have been a stronger support system for her. One thing I do not understand is the amount of kidnappings and betrayals. While I understand trying to influence her decision, I wish more people treated her with respect and worshipped her the same way they worshiped her father. It is my hope that in the next book that she can rise up and become the leader of the Church of G.O'D and help both the suffering in the real-world and maintain fairness in Sol. Those aren't necessarily critiques, because writing in a way that causes emotions in the reader is helpful for drawing them in longer and making connections with the characters.

I do not know what I would have done in her situation. Honestly, I see the merits of destroying Sol and focusing on present real-life issues such as building safe housing, access to food and water, education, and medical care. On the other hand, Sol is so entwined with their economic society that destroying it with no plan of support ahead of time would be catastrophic. I look forward to reading the next book and finding out what she chooses to do and who she can finally trust to do it with.

I recommend this book and look forward to reading the final one, Exodus! Read my review of the first book in this series here.

Title: Epiphany (The Heir of G.O'D. Book 2)
Author: Harper Maze
Publisher: Harper Maze
Pages: 256
Series: Yes, Book 2 of 3
Rating: 5 Stars
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Rise of the Sidekicks by Charity Tober

Rise of the Sidekicks is a middle grade fantasy book that was sent to me by the author. 12-year-old Ethan Parker attends the Justice Academy school for kids with superpowers. He and his friends are ecstatic for the Sidekick Tryouts competition where the Nexus Guardian superheroes of the city will choose recruits. While he doesn't have powers like super speed or pyrokinesis, he hopes that his tech skills and inventions will impress them. But a week before he can, the "Hero Smasher" tricks the Guardians into leaving and mind-controls the population into surrendering all the supers for neutralization. Ethan and his friends band together to take on the Hero Smasher and his army of mechanical robots.

While a very familiar concept of those with powers banding together to save the city and mind-controlled robots, Tober weaved an interesting plot of the Sidekick auditions and the kids desperate to prove themselves to the Guardians. Irony is, they aren't here to see it. The author also did a great job of character development, overcoming self-doubt and fear. Rise of the Sidekicks is the type of book that can be read over and over again, even knowing the ending. For the author's first middle grade book, it is impressive.

A central theme was also what defines a superhero. Ethan doesn't have flashy powers, and battled the belief that he doesn't have "real" superpowers. His cleverness, tech-savvy skills, and leadership abilities are outstanding. Ethan did remind me of Richard Greyson (Robin), from the Teen Titans, and most others reminded me of those featured in The Arrowverse. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, as it made the book a bit nostalgic and more enjoyable.

The only complaint that I have is the lack of origin for their powers. Where did these powers come from? Why these families? The Hero Smasher's background story of why he came to hate the Guardians was strongly written, and it made perfect sense. His origin story was great, but I am just missing the piece of people had these powers to begin with. But for middle grade readers, they may not care about that part.

I recommend this book!

Title: Rise of the Sidekicks
Author: Charity Tober
Publisher: Charity Tober
Pages: 315
Series: No
Rating: 4 Stars
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FireWorks by Oliver Smuhar

FireWorks is a middle grade book that was sent to me by the author. This tells the story of how Illuka, the koala and Bouddi, the sugar glider, managed to survive the Australian Bushfires (known to the animals as Alinta). After their home and family are dead and destroyed, these two embark on a journey to warn other family herds, making new friends along the way. 

One thing I liked about the book is the pictures of the different animals and the various facts and descriptions of them. Personally, I have never heard of dingoes before. I also learned that the Eastern water dragon can climb trees, and I learned that the scientific name for the red-tailed black cockatoo is Calyptorhynchus. The drawings of the animals are very helpful for imagery, and while black and white, the actual pictures of the bush fires and their impact is also educational. 

I did enjoy the story, and it felt well-written. It is  obvious that the author put a lot of work into the book. I'm not sure that a bibliography fits with a middle grade book, but the sources can be helpful if the reader wants to look up more information. I also love that most of FireWorks' profits go to charity.

One major issue that I have is their name for the fires- Alinta. Coincidentally or not, that is also the name of one of Australia’s fossil fuel energy companies. While the meaning of the name Alinta is fire, there are over a hundred other names that mean fire or flame. It is unlikely that the author, who is Australian, would not know the name’s other connotation. Even if accidental, the political message (fossil fuels = climate change = more wildfires) is too large to ignore. That being said, the target audience is for middle grade readers, and they likely would not understand the connection and the political statement. If intentional, that is an issue in itself of writing for the target audience. Alinta makes the audience seem older, in the YA group, but literally stating the moral of the story is on a different age spectrum, perhaps elementary school. 

UPDATE 7/10/21: Smuhar stated "I had no idea that Alinta was connected to an Australian fossil fuel company. I did not intend to make FireWorks a political statement on fossil fuels and global warming. It’s overall goal was to highlight the reality of the bushfires and their impact on the Australian community." He is currently looking into ways to update the name.

I was conflicted with how to rate this book, but I feel that the issue is great enough to rate it 3 stars, despite enjoying the story.

For a middle grade audience I do recommend this story. 

Title: FireWorks
Author: Oliver Smuhar
Publisher: Mountain Blue Publishing
Pages: 275
Series: Not yet
Rating: 3 Stars

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The Gatekeeper of Pericael by Hayley Reese Chow

The Gatekeeper of Pericael is a middle grade fantasy book that was sent to me by the author. 12-year-old Porter is the Kotalla Kan, the next generation of the Gatekeepers, who guard the portal between Earth and the parallel spirit universe of Pericael. He hates spirits, and would much rather play soccer and be "normal" then spend hours channeling them and accepting his fate. When Pericael is threatened by the soul-stealing shaman Raspburn, Porter tries to help his mother banish him, but accidently drags himself and his powerless cousin Ames along with him. He must find his way back home in six days before Raspburn does, and defeat him. Along the way, he learns more about his powers and must learn to embrace it.

I loved The Gatekeeper of Pericael! While the premise of being sucked into a portal and having to find your way home is not very unique, the world-building certainly is. I also enjoyed how it was not information overload; I liked having a sense of mystery of certain aspects of the sprits and learning with Porter along the way. The book reminds me a bit of Avatar the Last Airbender, especially with the connection to the spirits. The plot's blend between familiar and unique was refreshing. The imagery of the fights and Porter's magic was very vivid and enticing. 

Porter's character development was astonishing. He went from despising the spirits and his role in protecting Earth to earnestly joining the King of the Spirits and feeling a sense of pride in his abilities. And for a 12-year-old kid? That is a heck of a ton of pressure to be under, and I enjoyed watching him adapt to it and find new strength to save his friends. While unfortunate circumstances caused his journey, I have no doubt that it helped Porter evolve in his abilities and become a more confident person. I do wish that the same growth was present with some of the other characters like Ames; or perhaps his relative flatness was written on purpose to emphasize Porter's emotions and difficulties?

I recommend this book! 

See my review of another book by this author, Ordiel's Heirs. 

Title: The Gatekeeper of Pericael
Author: Hayley Reese Chow
Publisher: Hayley Reese Chow
Pages: 186
Series: No
Rating: 5 Stars
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Journey to the Kingdom of No Return (Shelf Life Book 2) by Leslie R. Henderson

Journey to the Kingdom of No Return is the second book in the Shelf Life series that was sent to me by the author. Little Book accomplished his dream of becoming an international best-seller, and is back in the bookstore. But soon, he learns that his shelf-life is running out, and he will be put on sale. Desperate to have more time, he strikes a deal with the lead Space-Arranger to go on a reconnaissance mission to the dark side and retrieve scifi hero Luke Shelfwalker, who has apparently been booknapped to the dark side.

I find it really funny that the video game section is the furthest back in the store that borders the dark side. Is there some symbolism to the dark nature of video games over books? I enjoyed the extension of the setting of the bookstore. The "dark side" actually takes place in the storage room. The assumption would be that nobody cleans out the storage spaces, so the books and other items can stay there forever. The cover is once again amazing, and it shows an actual scene from the story. Henderson also did a great job making that environment creepy; I hate spiders and silverfish. *Shudder*

I enjoyed the subtle humor and frustration, like how Timothy Smithers never puts a book back where it belongs. I understand that frustration completely as I used to volunteer at my local library. Putting the children's section and the ones near it back in order were quite a chore sometimes. It is also true that sunlight can fade the art of a book and can trigger chemical changes in the pages, and many places do try to rotate shifts of what books are in the windows the longest. I also love the comedic and truthful timing of phases like "guns and kids don't mix" (49).

I may be reading too much into this, but one thing I found a bit strange or slightly confusing was that it was never mentioned how many copies of each book there were; one would assume that with how Little Book a best seller that he would have been sold; or he is the only one of x amount of copies that is "alive" and stayed in the bookstore out of luck? Or does each copy of the book have the same memories and thoughts and personalities? Also, one would think that being on sale is sort of a good thing; being right at the front of the store with a compelling price would make it more likely that they would be sold; isn't it ironic that the books are desperate not to go on sale as a last-ditch effort to be sold and want to stay in the bookstore forever? 

I recommend that you read this book and I look forward to reading the next one!

Read my review of the previous book in this series, Never Turn the Page Too Soon.

Title: Journey to the Kingdom of No Return
Author: Leslie R. Henderson
Publisher: Leslie R. Henderson
Pages: 209
Series: Yes, Book 2
Rating: 4 Stars
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Never Turn the Page Too Soon (Shelf Life Book 1) by Leslie R. Henderson

Never Turn the Page Too Soon is a middle grade fantasy book that was sent to me by the author. One day, Little Book's author drops him in the donation cart in the local bookstore and drives away. After crying tears of ink, he finds something shocking; at night when the bookstore closes, the books and the characters in them come to life. He navigates the society of the bookstore trying to prove himself as worthy of shelf space and acceptance as he tries to avoid those who want to send him to the giant shredder.

As soon as I read the synopsis that described the perspective being from an inanimate object, a book, I was thrilled. When I was younger I would love writing poems and short stories from the viewpoint of items such as fruit waiting to be picked, or how a trash can felt with each item that was dumped. The concept of the characters coming to life out of the books and having parties and a life at night, and then quickly hopping back on the shelves before opening time was hilarious. There were even police (known as the Space Arrangers) and lawyers. Seeing Dr. Phil was very entertaining. The little details in the story were the best. Never Turn the Page Too Soon was funny and cute; I was smiling and giggling for most of the book.

There was a fear from the books in the store of being shredded by the machine called the LYON. This is not too far from the truth. Bookstores try to send unsold books back to the publisher, but many do not want to pay the shipping costs, and so they ask the stores to dispose of the books instead. Many do not have the resources to work with a recycling center, and the books get dumped out instead. Those that can afford it shred them instead. I used to volunteer in a library, and I know that they tried their best to give away for free the books that weren't being checked out. I actually spent time organizing the donation bins where Little Book was left. The descriptions of how the bookstore worked and the procedures were accurately pictured.

While this book is a fantasy, a lot of it does pertain truth to real-life struggles of being a self-published book. I know the majority of book reviewers do not accept books from self-published authors, and I have never understood why. To me, a book is a book. From reading Never Turn the Page Too Soon, I now know why- to the publishing and literature industry, self-published books are viewed as inferior.

"As for being self-published, only the best of the best belongs in our bookstore. So, if you're self-published, it means you are not the best. And if you're not the best, you don't belong in our bookstore 'cause it means you're not good enough" (pg. 25).

Never Turn the Page Too Soon connects the real difficulties of being an author and book publication with the insecurities that everyone face with the struggle of being "good enough" to be accepted by society and their peers. This need becomes increasingly apparent when kids enter middle school, and even more emphasized and emotionally damaging in high school. This book teaches that no matter where you came from or what you look like, you still are worthy and have potential to make it as far as you dreamed. Little Book was able to earn approval and friendships from his personality and talent despite the prejudice of being an "infiltrator". I loved the ending.

I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the sequel, Journey to the Kingdom of No Return.

Title: Never Turn the Page Too Soon
Author: Leslie R. Henderson
Publisher: Leslie R. Henderson
Pages: 222
Series: Yes, Book 1 of 2
Rating: 5 Stars
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Dawn Rising (Marked Book 1) by A.F.E. Smith

Dawn Rising is the first in the YA fantasy series Marked. The author sent me this book to review. Alyssia Gale's earliest memory is the car accident that killed her parents four years ago. Since then, her visions have only intensified, transporting her into the lives of four people in pain in the different world of Endarion. Alyssia tries to tell herself that none of it is real, but that becomes impossible to believe when she literally falls through a window into that other world. Rather than focusing on how to get home, she sees a chance for her to help her four "friends" get out of their painful situations. Along the way, she may not only save them, but also learn the truth about who she is and her family.

This book uniquely mixes reality and issues of mental illness, discrimination, abuse, and corruptness with a fantasy world. Alyssia's visions was a captivating take to telling the lives and background stories of the other characters. I did guess the plot twist at the end of who Alyssia really is, and it was enjoyable to see that I was right. What made the journey of them through Endarion amazing was not the setting of the world, but why the characters were there and their motivations for the sacrifices and choices they made along the adventure.

Alyssia is beyond brave, braver than I would be in that situation. Falling through a window and then seeing the people inside her head? I would have been freaking out. Her noble qualities of trying to save them in spite of what might happen to herself are admirable. I did enjoy more reading about Alyssia's life here and in school than in Endarion. While not the best choice, I applaud Alyssia for standing up for herself. I look forward to seeing more of her life in Woodleigh and in her high school in the coming books and her relationship with her classmates. I do not blame Peter for no longer being her friend as he was bullied into doing so. I hope that Colin will eventually get the punishment that he deserves. 

Each character had their own unique challenges and diverse feelings. Oriana struggled with overcoming physical and emotional abuse from her husband and her disgraced healing abilities. I enjoyed her character development of finding strength within herself, and even laughing again. Fabithe is the most interesting of them. His darkened heart from battle set on revenge conflicting with his unconscious desire to have companionship and care for something. Finding a balance between violence and caring was extremely difficult for him, but the most fascinating to watch. Toralé is the most mysterious of the bunch, as the majority of his story is based on him being tortured and locked away for a crime he didn't commit. I look forward to learning more about him in the following books.

I highly recommend this book and I cannot wait to read the next, The Dark Knife. 

Title: Dawn Rising
Author: A.F.E. Smith
Publisher: Ironwright Books
Pages: 303
Series: Yes, Book 1 of 5
Rating: 5 Stars
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Behind the Open Door: The Book of Light Book 1 by Sally Gallot-Reeves

Behind the Open Door is a middle grade fantasy story that was sent to me by the publicist. This is the first in a 5-part series. 8-year-old Cassie has always had a vivid imagination- at least, that is what others think. In reality, she can sense vibrational frequencies and travel between different realms. Her talents, as well as her telepathy, become more apparent upon moving to a new home in Maine with a magical history. With her new guide (invisible to everyone else) dog Patrik, she works on helping the elemental kingdom and the fairies. Initially hindered by her family's anger and misunderstanding of her magical adventures, she helps them find enjoyable moments and see the magic within and around them.

The way her telepathy was shown was subtle- the book frequently showed conversations between other people even miles away that Cassie could hear. She could also transmit thoughts (what she calls "mind-wishes") and can hear the rest of people's sentences that aren't said aloud. Reeves did a good job balancing her powers with what could be excused as being observational, instinctive, and a vibrant imagination. The fact that Cassie's powers were not overbearing and obvious helped to the relatability of the story and contributed to the emotional tension in the family. It was exciting to see how her powers evolved and the effects it had on her family and friends. Cassie's mother was especially noteworthy in character development.

Most children have an imaginary companion and engage in elaborate imaginary activities. Even though Cassie's "pretend-play" or imagination is magic and is actually real in this book, various parenting strategies and ways to interact with Cassie have educational value. I took an educational psychology class last semester, and I can say that there is educational value and truth of what the book discusses on how to not only healthily encourage children to have confidence in their creativity, but also to learn the difference between reality and pretend. To find out what I am referring to, read the book! The ending was relaxing and a bit soothing. While there are four more books in this series, it could be a stand-alone. While some people prefer gripping cliffhangers, it is refreshing to see a book wrapped up nicely in the end and feel satisfied. It is a lovely story to read in the evening to relax before bed, and could allow for beautiful dreams. It is also the type of story that is fitting to read many times.

I highly recommend this book and am excited to read the next ones!

Title: Behind the Open Door
Author: Sally Gallot-Reeves
Publisher: Balboa Press 
Pages: 302
Series: Yes, Book 1 of 5
Rating: 5 Stars
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Amazon

Red Blood: Card Holders Book 1 by Kaitlyn Legaspi

Red Blood is the first in a YA fantasy 6-book series that was sent to me by the author. In Neela's world, there are two types of people. The Unbound have powers, and the Bound do not. Despite the Unbound being treated like garbage and living in the slums, they also hold the highest rank in government- decided through a bloody tournament between the Specialists- those with two classes of powers. Neela is an enhancer and a naturalist, and has been using some of her powers for years on the streets as a vigilante. But now that her domain's Card Holder died, she is forced into the competition. Along the way she will not only fight for change in the ring and make some friends, but also encounter dangerous enemies... some all too similar to those who killed her parents.

Neela is intelligent, rebellious, tough but compassionate, and beautifully powerful. Along with no interest in distractions of romance, she reminds me of myself in some ways. I admire her strong moral values of not harming innocent children and never killing anyone. It is rare and honorable to be a vigilante and not kill. This makes the title of the book a bit ironic, as she has a strong distaste for blood. Neela's character development took an interesting shape. Contrary to the norm, she started off as cocky/assertive and guarded, but then gradually became more soft and open. Not that its rare for a character to enter powerful and strong in morals, but this was a bit refreshing and posed an interesting challenge for Legaspi. I am looking forward to seeing how her character will evolve in the following books.

The contrast between the slums and the core of the Queen of Heart's Domain is certainly realistic, and the treatment and societal discrimination brought onto the unbound remind me of our issues of systematic inequality and racism. They are able to hold government not because the people voted, but because of a dire competition. If Neela can win this bloodthirsty tournament, she has a pretty good shot at making some actual change. She's already got plenty of attention. In fact, even if she dies, (I hope not!) good could still come out of it. The plot had strong foreshadowing and was pretty predictable, but it was still exciting to keep reading and see if I was right. One part of the ending that was not foreshadowed broke my heart. At least this will be a series! 

Conceptually, their government structure based on cards makes sense- historically suits in a deck represent the four economic classes of Medieval society. I hope the future books delve more into the cards and their roles- typically the queen of hearts card represents sincere love, which could support the gradual character development of Neela opening herself up to friendships and love. On the other hand, in the roles of government the Heart usually meant the role of the church, Spades for the military, Clubs represented agriculture, and Diamonds represented the merchant/lower class. In Red Blood, the black-backed cards conjure a weapon, which would align with how spades (for the military) are black symbols. That's the only color of their magical spell cards that make clear sense. I also didn't see anything regarding religion in the book, and it would be interesting if in future books the symbolism of the different suits and deeper meanings behind each domain and color of their weapon/magic cards were further elaborated/incorporated. I see a lot of potential here.

Card Holders: Two More Lives will not be out until Spring 2022, and I cannot wait to read it!

Title: Red Blood: Card Holders
Author: Kaitlyn Legaspi

Publisher: Kaitlyn Legaspi
Pages: 343
Series: Yes, Book 1 of 6
Rating: 5 Stars
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