Book and Cosplay Item Reviews by Jess D Cosplay

I received "Duskfire Dragon's Mate" by Zoe Chant as an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC).  "Duskfire Dragon's Mate" is a shifter romance between a human and a dragon who had a lot of misunderstandings in their past. While trying to avoid too many spoilers, Maya had fled from Corin and the human world to Hideaway Cove, a safe haven for shifters, to protect her son, Tomas, in the previous story, "The Lightning Dragon's Mate."  Maya receives a mystery package that brings Corin back into her life.  Worried about her son, Maya agrees to allow Corin to stay and they begin to discover a world of misunderstandings, not just their own.  It's a sweet story of new beginnings and second chances, as well strengthening of familial bonds with some surprising twists in the plot.  Also, who can resist Tomas' adorable baby dragon antics and stealing of gold?  Though this is the 4th book in Chant's Hideaway Cove series, it can be read as a standalone.  Howe...

  I received an ARC of this book.  I originally noticed it because of it's beautiful cover, which led me to read the description and request the ARC. When Dreams Aren't What You Expect Them To Be The Scarlet Alchemist is a fantasy that is set in a China like world when alchemy is real.  You get a taste of Chinese culture in a fantasy setting.  Zilan dreams of becoming a royal alchemist to help her family beat poverty.  She fights her way up to achieve her dream, only supported by her cousins and a powerless prince, as everyone one else tries to continuously tear her down. Only for reality to come crashing down on her hard.  Without spoiling the story, it's a page turner where you simultanously root for Zilan, want her to save the world, while totally understanding both the good and bad choices she makes to survive.  It's an interesting fantasy that really plays on the readers' emotions as Zilan faces many moral choices that determine who she becomes. I...

  Philliya's Neighborly Assistance Philliya's shop is once again at risk when a new neighbor brings trouble to her door. Without a moment's hesitation, Philliya investigates with her trust companion to come up with a golden solution that is somewhat legal to help her new friend and keep her customers. It's always enjoyable to see Philliya's thought process as she needs to come up with out of the box solutions for some interesting, and sometimes all too common, problems. Another great magical story that makes you wonder what will happen next. All I know is that I'd like to have Philliya on my side the next time I've got to deal with a creep. Go Philliya! Interested? You can buy it on the author's website and check out more in the series. https://store.annamittower.com/b/aDpSz?fbclid=IwAR1kjJ8EkOnleu4D5yonhvu5_M6PMbdZtYz8paUS6JarPmVsAf85yMWBRKg

"The Beastly Perfume" by Anna Mittower is another fun adventure where Philliya has to once again use her wits to solve a problem, but with a dangerous twist that she has to go out in the field herself to be successful, putting her life in danger. Traveling with her newest companion whom she has yet to name, Philliya gets more of a hands on experience than she bargains for. Even more adventure than the previous books in the story, it still has the problem solving cunning that we have come to expect from our quirky sorceress. As a cosplayer, who wouldn't enjoy Philliya's ever changing style and quirky personality.  As a teacher, these short stories are engaging and fun.  I look forward to reaching more in the series. ' #bookreview #salonofenchantedbeauty #beastlyperfume #annamittower

I received an advance reading copy of this book for review. I'd probably rate it a 4.5, but there are no halfs for reviews.  Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/152594094-orson-the-great Orson the Great by Colm McElwain delves into the history of magic through the life of Orson Whitlock as Orson discovers the world of magic and family tradition.  Without spoiling too much, Orson must hone his skills and become the best magician or the fate of the magic world is at risk.  It’s a lot of pressure for a young man, but he has the support of his family and trusty sidekick Agatha to keep him on the right path as he faces Daxton the Destroyer and conspiracies in the fight for magic. The story is simply written with a good amount of fun details and magical background that will appeal to readers who enjoy young adult fiction.  McElwain brings the magic into Orson the Great without actually spoiling the tricks of the trade and keeping the magic real....

The Quirky Sorceress Is Back In An Even More Engaging Story As someone with little free time, it's nice to be able to pick up a story that can be read in a single sitting. After reading the first of Philliya's adventures, I had preordered this story immediately upon completion and it did not disappoint. Whereas the first story had a slower start due to world building, this one gets straight into the action. Philliya is once again in need of money and selling green hair potions to make ends meet. Until a dangerous illness spreads, imitating her potions effects of turning hair green. Without spoiling too much, Philliya must retrace her steps to clear her name, or she will have a much harder time making ends meet. Follow Philliya as she searches for the root of the problem so she can return to making money and stay out of trouble. Lots of action in this quick, hour read with the quirky sorceress. I've already preordered the third book as I'm excited to see what other adven...

Quirky Sorceress Has A Sense of Humor If you have read the previous short stories, you are already aware of Philliya and her unique ways of solving issues that arise, even if they don't have anything to do with her and she owes the person nothing.  What was supposed to be a routine beauty care potion, perhaps with a prank thrown in, turned into a research driven quest to find out why her customer couldn't sleep (don't want to say too much and spoil the story).  Using the resources at hand, or more like her brother's resources, Philliya finds out some fun information that will likely affect her journey to come.  Fun, quick paced story, though not a lot of direct action if that is your thing. I'm excited for the next installment and to see what new adventures await Philliya and those around her. The short story is set up in a way that each story can be a single one shot of mini adventures of Philliya, though there are advantages to reading the stories that come before...

I read a lot, and though it took me longer to read due to having a newborn, I felt like I flew through Strike the Zither by Joan He and can't wait to read the sequel when it comes out. It has made me want to get her other books to read when I have some time. I was first brought into the story through the beautiful cover art and character art at the beginning of the novel. A fictionalized story loosely based on Chinese history, the book nods to the Chinese culture through the art styles, the chapter numbers in Chinese script, and the names of the characters. The plot follows Zephyr, a strategist for a landless lordess Xin Ren. Zephyr somehow manages to survive a multitude of near death experiences and gets Ren out of many scrapes as they fight for what Ren believes is right. Without spoiling too much, Zephyr goes to the enemy's side to try and recruit more support for Ren. In doing so, she finds people she'd never thought she would see again and made a multitude of frenemies...

  Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4192348883 Another amazing story from Nora Roberts. However, I must warn you that Under Currents may trigger you due to issues of domestic violence and child abuse. Nora Roberts does a great job capturing the emotions involved as the main character grows up in an abusive household and does his best to protect his sister. Through sheer determination and smarts, and a desire to protect each other, the siblings find a way out and have to learn to accept and move on from the past. The story also goes pretty in depth through the legal system as those who care for the siblings fight to get them justice. I was nearly in tears throughout the story, and you couldn't help but watch as history repeats itself over and over and comes back to haunt them time and again. Though parts of the story are a bit rushed, as we start in childhood to the mid-thirties, the book is almost as thorough as Roberts trilogies. I highly recommend this ...

  The 7th novel in the Tennison series, "Unholy Murder" by Lynda La Plante starts off slow with the discovery of a coffin in a dig site.  Over the course of the book, many mysteries are unveiled as Jane Tennison tries to get justice for the dead nun.  Relationships are tense, broken and strengthened, as new information is found.  Will justice ever be served or will they perp(s) escape once again?  Though the story is slow to get into, it does become more engaging as it nears the climax and reveals.  There are lots of red herrings and little details that add up to understanding the case.  What is nice about "Unholy Murder" is that you do not need to have read the previous books in the series to enjoy this book.  Any details that you need from the previous books are woven in nicely throughout the natural thread of the story and plot line.  I also liked how detailed the investigation process was as it really gives you insight to what takes place...

  Time for a Book Review! This time, it is "Fruits Basket another" by Natsuki Takaya, an adorable sequel featuring the kids of the original Fruits Basket cast. Ever wonder what happened to Kyo, Yuki, Akito, and the gang? This sequel hints at what has happened since the original series ended through the perspectives of their children. You can usually tell who each kid belongs to based on their personalities and what they think about their parents. Emotions run wild in the series, as we go from despair, hope, concern, love, etc. as the characters learn how to stand on their own as they come of age and take a few more steps towards adulthood. As a teacher, I am a full supporter of using comics for teaching, and even in this three volume series, there are lots of lessons to be learned such as actions have consequences and you can't judge a person based on who their parents are, how rich they are, or what they look like. The stories may be relatable to students in high s...

  Time for a Book Review! "Deny All Charges" by Eion Colfer https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0008324867/ Another great sequel to the Artemis Fowl Twins series as "Deny All Charges" explores the newest adventure of Miles, Beckett, and Lazuli as they deal with kidnappers and the quest to reclaim lost fairy gold for the imfamous Horteknut dwarves. Miles must make tough choices as Beckett and Lazuli are in danger and Lazuli's magic is sealed. Eventually, the crew must separate to use their strengths to save the day and many innocent lives. Will the heroes be successful? What will they learn through these dangerous challenges. A thrilling adventure where the heroes have to explore outside their comfort zones. As a teacher, this is a fun story as preteens have to make hard choices and learn to deal with consequences, not that the twins are very good at following punishments. I can see students enjoying the twins clever antics and enjoying the story overall. St...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08ZNTFPBW As a fan of stories based in mythology, I was delighted to receive an Advance Reading Copy (ARC) of "The New Kingdom" by Wilbur Smith. This was my first encounter with Smith's writings and I can honestly say I will likely at least pick up the original 6 novels in his Egyptian series and have already shoved "The New Kingdom" at my husband and told him it was a must read.  It kind of made me think of Rick Riordan for adults, though I do love his books as well. I was entranced from the get go as we are thrown right into the action, as Hui, the main character, his friend, and his brother attempt to steal the Ka Stone. This event set everything in motion and is an event that will be important throughout the story. Every little detail has meaning and Smith neatly wraps up those details in the end.  Without giving to much spoilers, each small detail has a purpose that is well woven throughout the story.  It is a story of bet...

Having read the preview "What Big Teeth" by Rose Szano, I had expected a coming of age story.  Though right, I was not nearly correct in the fact that I missed the huge elements of mystery and suspense as I followed Eleanor through her family of monsters as she tried to come to terms with who she was, despite the missing chunks in her memory, and with the fact that her family had previously abandoned her.  She has to decide whether to abandon the family who had sent her away or to save them from the mistakes she herself had made.  Without giving too much away, it is a rollercoaster ride of emotions as Eleanor has to figure out the truth amongst all the secrets hidden within the Zarrin family. Why did her grandmother die?  What happened when she was a child that got her sent away?  What were the tarot cards trying to warn her about?  Who are the true monsters?  Why did the other family members dislike and fear her mother's mom, her other grandmother?...

So first off, I have to say that I was really excited when I got the opportunity to review this book as I am a huge fan of the original Artemis Fowl series and have read all the main books in the series, at least the ones that I know about. https://www.amazon.com/Fowl-Twins-Artemis/dp/1368052568/ The Fowl Twins, by Eoin Colfer, is the sequel to the Artemis Fowl series and follows Artemis' two younger brothers, Myles and Beckett, who as you might have guessed are twins.  Myles takes after Artemis as a child genius and is often competing against Artemis, trying to out smart him.  Beckett is more hands on and seems simple, but in really is anything but simple.  The twins are nothing alike, but the differences work to make an excellent balance that helps them push forward. Without spoiling too much, Myles and Beckett, along with a toy troll, are kidnapped and have to escape with the help of a non-magical blue pixel named Lazuli.  Together, the weird becomes normal, and e...

Amy Andrews captured my attention as she brings in surly Joshua Grady and Suzanne St. Michelle together in what turns out to be one of the most cringe-worthy Christmas holidays to date. Opposites attract in this holiday romance as the chatty artist's muse takes flight and makes the lone rancher open up his heart again for the first time in seventeen years. Not only does "Suzy" interrupt Grady's peace of mind, but she brings in her parents as she tries not only to dig out from the giant lie she told but also to save her parent's marriage. Can she survive her own lie as she has the Christmas of her dreams? Or will the lie swallow both her and Grady as small time rumors escalate the relationship further. Book can definitely be read on its own, but have already ordered the first book from the library so I can read the rest the beginning of the Credence, Colorado series.

I had the pleasure of reading an advanced reading copy (ARC) of Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera. I asked to review this book as I teacher predominantly black and Latino(a) students in NYC, some who are questioning their sexuality and/or identities and their place in the world. I hoped that the book might be relateable to my students. The book has definitely met my expectations and one that I fully intend to share with the teachers and students that will understand and relate to the different nuances in the story, perhaps even better than myself. It is important to note while reviewing this book that I am a white woman who is not part of the LBGTQ+ community and who has been handed white privileged for nothing. That may not give me much authority to speak on a book such as Juliet Takes a Breath. Take what you will from my review, but understand that my understanding of the character is so much more limited than many of my students' understanding will be should they cho...

Hey all, it's been a while since I posted a review but I couldn't help but share this story. Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Fireborne-AURELIAN-CYCLE-Book-1-ebook/dp/B07MYGW4K3/ Without spoiling too much of the story, I had the pleasure of reading and advanced reading copy (ARC) of Fireborne by Rosaria Munda which had me hooked from page one, both as an avid reader of fantasy and romance and as a teacher. I highly recommend the book if you enjoyed reading Seraphina by Rachel Hartman or Eragon by Christopher Paolini. As someone who appreciates character growth in the story, it was a pleasure to watch two unlikely friends, Annie and Lee, work through their past, their goals for the future, people's expectations, and the war that threatens to destroy their worlds all while dealing with the emotional upheaval of being a teen without parents and training to become the leader of the dragon riders, aka Firstrider and the Fleet Commander. Lee, a dragonlord's son...

Mr. McElwain sent this to me to give him my opinion, both as a teacher of young kids and as an avid reader myself who loves fantasy. Here are my thoughts both as a personal reader and as a teacher. Personal Opinion: I really liked this series on a personal level as it kept me engaged and was a fun, quick read despite the book being over 200 pages. There were parts that I thought could use a little more development and detail but I also understand that this book was written for middle school kids, not adults. It most areas of the story, I enjoyed seeing what the characters would do and react as children. One of the issues I did have with the book was the fact that James trusted people right away, even without knowing them. It was like he already knew who was good and bad yet how he knew they were good or bad was never explained. Another thing as an adult reader that I would have liked to see is the pace of the story slow down a bit and add more detail and development. The story was ...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41588391-james-clyde-and-the-tomb-of-salvation Even better than the first novel and ties up all the questions and loose ends nicely. I had the privilege of reviewing the first book in this series a few years ago and was excited to find out that a sequel was finally coming out. This book starts off right where the last book left off, with the Abigail in possession of the three Diamonds of Orchestra and James alive and more confident in his abilities. Without giving too much of the novel away, James and Queen Abigail are in a race to the Tomb of Salvation, Abigail (along with Gilbert and Imorex) in search of immortality and the final power to rule all of Orchestra and James to stop her. James is joined by his friends Ben and Mary, along with Simon, Kila, Belle (James' mom), and the rest of the knights of Zara. We are greeted with two new characters, who join James on his journey, Professor Shaw and his daughter, Ella (James' potential love...