World Trigger vol. 1 by Daisuke Ashihara

World Trigger vol. 1 by Daisuke Ashihara

Posted by Yuma County Library

Reviewed by: Becky Brendel

What I Read: World Trigger, vol. 1 by Daisuke Ashihara

Find It @YCLD: Here!

What It's About: Osamu lives in a town periodically attacked by monsters from a parallel dimension called "Neighbors". Life continues mostly as normal, however, thanks to an organization called "Border" that protects the city and fights the Neighbors. Osamu himself is a Border trainee, but even he couldn't expect that the transfer student in his class was a humanoid Neighbor...or that this Neighbor wants to be his friend.

What I Thought: Manga tend to be over-the-top, so World Trigger excels by being refreshingly matter-of-fact. Key plot points unfold organically instead of in dramatic monologues, and the characters are all just quirky enough to keep from being one-note stereotypes - especially Yuma the deadpan, violent, yet naive and humorous Neighbor whose reactions to human folly are amusingly inhuman. The clean, basic art matches the story well; Ashihara has a particular knack for using panel progression to tell jokes, making use of silence and restraint where other manga bombard the reader. Recommended for those new to manga and curious - or for the jaded reader who wants a reminder of why they fell in love with this "genre" in the first place.

Readalikes: Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama, for more super-popular manga about humanity fighting back against inhuman monsters; Blue Exorcist by Kazue Kato, for more intelligently-written action manga with a focus on character development.

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Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Posted by Yuma County Library

Reviewed by: Sherri Levek

What I Read: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Find It @YCLD:  Here!

 What It's About:  Lawyer Bryan Stevenson's account of his work with the law project, The Equal Justice Initiative he created with Eva Ansley, on behalf of inmates on death row, serving life sentences, unlawfully incarcerated, and juvenile prisoners. An eye-opening account of the injustices many incarcerated individuals face, including those who have been wrongfully convicted. Stevenson shares many of their stories, focusing on Walter McMillian, who seeks Stevenson's help in proving his innocence.

What I Thought:  The United States has the largest prison population in the world.  Statistics show a disproportionate number of prisoners are non-white and/or low-income citizens.  Bryan Stevenson’s work with the Equal Justice Initiative has exposed many of the unfair and unjust prosecutions that have ended in life-sentences and the death penalty.  The stories that are told within this book are heart-wrenching and often too horrifying to be believable, but that is why they are so important for the public to read.  I believe if you read only one book this year, Just Mercy should be at the top of your list. 

Readalikes: The True American:  Murder and Mercy in Texas by Anand Giridharadas; The Divide:  American Injustice in the Age of the Wealth Gap by Matt Taibbi

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Unbreakable by Kami Garcia

Unbreakable by Kami Garcia

Posted by Yuma County Library

Reviewed by: Lauren Regenhardt

What I Read: Unbreakable by Kami Garcia

Find It @YCLD: Here!

What It's About: Seventeen-year-old Kennedy Waters discovers that she might be part of a secret society that was formed ages ago to fight the Illuminati.  The group, called the Legion, are set out to fight a powerful demon that is anxious to be released to wreak havoc upon the world.  Kennedy and her new group of friends, who are trained demon hunters, must set out to make sure that the demon and all his evil brothers and sisters are not unleashed.

What I Thought: Reader’s advisory: Do not read at night if you’re prone to nightmares! What a chilling and terrifying tale and it is amazing.  The characters are believable and charming.  Kennedy is a teenage protagonist that most teen girls will be able to relate to, with insecurities and a confusing love situation.  The twin brothers Jared and Lukas each make you fall in love with them for different reasons and Alara makes you want to wear combat boots and fight demons.  Priest is like the little brother you wish you had.  It’s an interesting play on the Illuminati as enemies to be defeated.  The group’s encounter with the different vengeance ghosts and deadly spirits are not for the faint of heart.  Fans of Supernatural will find several similarities.

Readalikes: The da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, Asylum by Madeleine Rouxa

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Endsinger by Jay Kristoff

Endsinger by Jay Kristoff

Posted by Yuma County Library

 

Reviewed by: Andrew Zollman

What I Read: Endsinger: The Lotus War Book Three by Jay Kristoff

Find It @YCLD: Here! 

What It's About: As civil war sweeps across the Shima Imperium, the Lotus Guild unleashes their deadliest creation—a mechanical goliath known as the Earthcrusher, intended to unite the shattered Empire under a yoke of fear. Yukiko and Buruu are forced to take leadership of the rebellion, gathering new allies and old friends. But the ghosts of Buruu’s past stand between them and the army they need, and Kin’s betrayal has destroyed all trust among their allies. When a new foe joins the war, it will be all the pair can do to muster the strength to fight, let alone win. And as the earth splits asunder, as armies destroy each other for rule over an empire of lifeless ash and the final secret about blood lotus is revealed, the people of Shima will learn one last, horrifying truth.  An exciting, vivid conclusion to a critically acclaimed series, Endsinger is sure to have fans racing through the pages to savor every last revelation.

What I Thought: The book does a good job of propelling the reader forward from where we last left off in Kinslayer. The third book in the trilogy is edgy and rife with conflict and deceit sure to keep you on edge as you progress through the story. Following Yukiko and her progression as a figurehead within the events throughout the war is interesting and gives the reader a deep view into the triumphs and losses both her and her cohorts face during her struggle. Additionally, I enjoyed the descriptions of the machines and devices used throughout the story in warfare and daily life. It really gets you into the elements of steampunk and industrialized magic. Whichever part of the book you might like, just remember to enjoy the journey but stay for the carnage.

Readalikes: Remnants of tomorrow by Kassy Taylor; Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

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House of the Rising Sun by Kristen Painter

House of the Rising Sun by Kristen Painter

Posted by Yuma County Library

Reviewed by: Andrew Zollman

What I Read: House of the Rising Sun by Kristen Painter

Find It @YCLD: Here! 

What It's About: Augustine comes back to live the perfect life in the Haven city of New Orleans.  He rarely works a real job, spends most of his nights with a different human woman, and resides in a spectacular Garden District mansion paid for by retired movie star Olivia Goodwin, who has come to think of him as an adopted son. But when Augustine returns home Olivia gets attacked by vampires, and he knows his idyllic life has comes to an end.  It's time for revenge -- and to take up the mantle as the city's Guardian. To complicate things further Olivia's estranged daughter, Harlow, arrives. She hates being fae, but her powers are exactly what Augustine needs to catch the vampires. Can he convince her to help him in time? Or will the sparks between them send her running again?

What I Thought: Great spin off series from Mrs. Painter. However, no need to read the House of Comarre (although you will want to) to get into this world. House of the Rising Sun has plenty of action, mystery and world-building balanced by character-driven plot that makes it a great start to new series. The story starts a little bit slowly and you do grow to hate Harlow’s character at the start. However at about the 30% to 40% mark in the book, the story begins to move at a steady pace and never stagnates, and not once did I feel like I encountered the information dumps that plague some paranormal/urban fantasy series. A few unexpected twists lay the groundwork for a promising overarching storyline that made me feel like the ending came too soon. I am still looking forward to the second book, City of Eternal Night (Crescent City, #2).

Readalikes: Allison Pang – A Brush of Darkness Here!

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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Posted by Yuma County Library

Reviewed by: Sherri Levek

What I Read: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Find It @YCLD: Here!

What It's About: The story of HeLa cells, which were derived from cancer patient  Henrietta Lacks without her knowledge or consent. This is the story of Henrietta’s tremendous contribution to science that has helped save countless lives throughout the world, yet created an emotional and physical toll on her surviving family.

What I Thought:  An honest, straight-forward account of Henrietta Lacks’ sacrifice. This work of nonfiction explores the damage caused to her family, both emotionally and physically, as well as the joy and pride they’ve experienced knowing the positive difference their mother's life has made to medical science. A triumphant story of loss, family, crisis, our country's difficult history with race, and ultimately, love. Author Rebecca Skloot explains the scientific aspects of the story with clarity and insight -- these sections throughout the book are never too complicated for even the unscientific population.

 Readalikes: The Emperor of All Maladies:  A Biography of Cancer  by Siddhartha Mukherjee; Notes from No Man’s Land: American Essays by Eula Biss

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Wouldn't It Be Deadly by D.E. Ireland

Wouldn't It Be Deadly by D.E. Ireland

Posted by Yuma County Library

Reviewed by: Becky Brendel

What I Read: Wouldn't It Be Deadly by D.E. Ireland

Find It @YCLD: Here!

What It's About: Picking up not long after George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion left off, this homage/sequel finds Eliza Doolittle employed as a speech instructor by her former teacher Henry Higgins's chief rival. Higgins launches a smear campaign in retaliation - but he never expects the man to end up dead, with himself as the chief suspect. He and Eliza have to work together again in order to help the police crack the case.

Thief's Magic by Trudi Canavan

Thief's Magic by Trudi Canavan

Posted by Yuma County Library

Reviewed by: Andrew Zollman

What I Read:  Thief’s Magic by Trudi Canavan

Find It @YCLD: Here!

What it’s About: The book follows two individuals: Tyen, a student of aarchaeology and Rielle, the daughter of a dyer. The story takes place in a world where magic coexists with technology and religious beliefs. In Tyen’s story, he is from a world where the industrial revolution is powered by magic. While out in the field with other students, he unearths a sentient book called Vella. Once a young sorcerer-bookbinder, Vella was transformed into a useful tool by one of the greatest sorcerers of history. Since then she has been collecting information, including a vital clue to the disaster Tyen's world faces. Elsewhere, in a land ruled by the priests, Rielle has been taught that to use magic is to steal from the Angels. Yet she knows she has a talent for it, and that there is a corrupter in the city willing to teach her how to use it, should she dare to risk the Angels' wrath. But not everything is as Tyen and Rielle have been raised to believe. Not the nature of magic, or the laws of their lands. Not even the people they thought they could trust.

What I Thought: The concept and character development was great for each character, the setting, and the conflict surrounding each story. However, I found that having alternating stories moving through the chapters put me off a little bit. It wasn’t until about halfway through the book that I found that the story followed a timeline progression between both characters to a common event. It was good, it was detailed, and most of all I am looking forward to the next book, Angel of Storms.

Read-a-likes: Stormdancer – Jay Kristoff

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Closer to Home by Mercedes Lackey

Closer to Home by Mercedes Lackey

Posted by Yuma County Library

Reviewed by: Andrew Zollman

What I Read: Closer to Home by Mercedes Lackey

Find It @YCLD: Here!

What it’s About: Mags, a former enslaved orphan who lived a harsh life in mines as a child, has now gotten into his Whites as a Herald; trained under the King's Own Herald as a spy for the kingdom. This is the sequel to Mercedes Lackey’s Collegium Chronicles. Newly established as a Herald at Heralds' Collegium, Mags has found a supportive family, including his Companion Dallen. Although normally a Herald in his first year of Whites would be sent off on circuit, Mags is needed close to home for his abilities as a spy and his powerful Mindspeech gift. There is a secret, treacherous plot within the royal court to destroy the Heralds. The situation becomes dire after the life of Mags' mentor, King's Own Nikolas, is imperiled. Nikolas daughter Amily is chosen as the new King's Own, a complicated and dangerous job that is made more so by this perilous time. Can Mags and Amily save the court, the Heralds, and the Collegium itself?

What I Thought: The book feels like a big picture story but focuses on the characters, their experiences, and how they apply their own skills and talents battle against the plot against the Heralds. The author’s use of Mags and friends as central characters helps to spin and unwind plenty of intrigue as the story progresses. If you are a reader of high fantasy but don’t like all of the gratuitous violence and mature themes, this book will help lead you on with well-developed characters, compelling reason and insight to story and a fun tale to follow. This book is recommended for readers Young Adult to Adult just starting out in fantasy but unsure if it’s right for them. Be aware, Mercedes Lackey does cover controversial topics in her books; however, they are always done in a tasteful manner within the story.

Read-a-likes: Codex Alera Series – Jim Butcher

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The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

Posted by Yuma County Library

Reviewed by: Becky Brendel

What I Read: The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

Find It @YCLD: Here!

What It's About: Locke Lamora is the head of a group of thieves called the Gentlemen Bastards, who steal from the rich despite a secret agreement between the government and the city of Camorr's underworld. When he starts being used as the pawn in other people's political games, he has to play the biggest cons of his life in order to stay alive - and maybe save the whole city in the process.

The Stradford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents Macbeth by Ian Lendler and Zack Giallongo

The Stradford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents Macbeth by Ian Lendler and Zack Giallongo

Posted by Bryan Summers

Reviewed by: Bryan Summers

What I Read: The Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents Macbeth  by Ian Lendler and Zack Giallongo

Find It @YCLD: Here!

What It's About: After the Stratford Zoo closes, the animals perform Macbeth.  Macbeth is a lion.  Lady Macbeth is cheetah.  King Duncan is an owl.  The audience is comprised of lemurs, crocodiles, an elephant that stands up and blocks everyone’s view at the worst time.   This is a graphic novel for all ages.

What I Thought: If you love Shakespeare, you will love this.  If you don’t love Shakespeare I’m still pretty sure you’ll love this.  It is funny and clever. It doesn’t scrimp on the horror (and boy, does Shakespeare’s Macbeth have a lot of horror) but it makes it strange and family appropriate.   Macbeth, being a lion, eats all of his foes and uses ketchup.  So Lady Macbeth can’t get the ketchup stains from her hands. 

Last night my children read it and re-read it. This morning before school they asked me to read it to them again.   I might purchase it for my family’s library.

Readalikes: Bone by Jeff Smith, Tommysaurus Rex by Doug Tennapel

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Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin, volume 1 by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin, volume 1 by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko

Posted by Yuma County Library

Reviewed by: Becky Brendel

What I Read: Mobile Suit Gundam: the Origin volume 1 by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko

Find It @YCLD: Here!

What It's About: In the futuristic Universal Century Year 0079, fifteen-year old mechanics junkie Amuro Ray and his friends get swept up in a war when their space colony is attacked by the rebelling Principality of Zeon. On the run from Zeon's finest, including ace pilot and strategist Char "The Red Comet" Aznable, they get semi-drafted into the military - and Amuro discovers he's a natural at piloting the new secret weapon, a man-shaped machine called a "Gundam".

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami

Posted by Yuma County Library

Reviewed by: Becky Brendel

What I Read: Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami

Find It @YCLD: Here!

What It's About: Tsukuru Tazaki's close-knit group of friends abruptly cut him out of their lives nearly twenty years ago. He never asked why. Now he's finally feeling ready for a relationship with someone else, but she believes he needs to track down his former friends for closure.

Belgrave Square by Anne Perry

Belgrave Square by Anne Perry

Posted by Yuma County Library

Reviewed by: Becky Brendel

What I Read: Belgrave Square by Anne Perry

Find It @ YCLD: Here!

What It's About: Twelfth in a series featuring Victorian police inspector Thomas Pitt, his wife Charlotte, and her well-to-do relatives, Belgrave Square finds Pitt investigating the murder of a petty usurer only to discover his death may be connected to a mysterious secret society.