To Kill a Shadow

By Katherine Quinn

YA Fantasy 

book 1 of ?

Castle of the Cursed

By Romina Garber

YA Fantasy 

284 pages

Owlcrate Special Edition 

front cover

endsheet and blurb

This was a great book. I didn't actually read the summary before I read the book, so some things that shouldn't have been surprising were - like vampires.

Came with some serious warnings. 

It was dark and sad, but not as "rough" as I feared it might be. 

first page

It was a satisfying book. Things came through, pulled through, were consistent without being annoying. Everything tied together well. 

Not a series!

Also, it's gorgeous. Just look how pretty! 

My Little One really loves the styling, so I'm going to let her steal it from me. 

Signed! ❤

Author letter! ❤

This book also had a bonus chapter - some key events from a different character's point of view. 

author info 

Hearts the Cut

By Kika Hatzopoulou

YA Fantasy 

326 pages

Owlcrate Special Edition 

The second in a duology. The first is Threads that Bind.

I really enjoyed these books. The reincarnation of gods and their powers was handled in an interesting way. The story started a little slow, but was well crafted. The characters were varied and detailed. The ending wasn't quite what I expected. 

first page 

author letter

a beautiful little snippet that ties in both titles 

I really liked it.

Masquerade of the Heart

By Katy Rose Pool 

356+ pages

Hardback

YA Fantasy 

Owlcrate Special Edition 

A really great sequel. Nice, tidy duology. 

I didn't do the full re-read of the first one, I just went back and read my blog post, the summary, and the last couple pages. Then I jumped right in to this one. Since it's YA, it wasn’t too hard to pick it right up.

back cover

It had a satisfying ending. I wasn't sure at one point how it was going to wrap up. 

It's also gorgeous. 

inside dust jacket 

front lid

front endsheet 

back endsheet

back lid

The Owlcrate is edition had an author letter bound in, a signature, and a bonus chapter. 

It also gloriously matched the first book.

The Voice Upstairs

By Laura E. Weymouth 

YA Fantasy 

310 pages

Hardback

Impulsively checked this one put from the library when I went to pick up my holds. 

It's a stand-alone novel. 

Some unexpected twists. Interesting plot and characters. 

A Study in Drowning

By Ava Reid

376 pages

YA Fantasy 

Owlcrate Special Edition 

It is a beautiful book. You can't see the lovely pearly sheen in this photo. 

back of dust jacket

There's a whole other cover inside the dust jacket.

And the actual book is pretty too. Although mine does have a couple of odd wrinkles. 

Author letter and signature page

First page.

So she is an architecture student who is selected to design updates to the ramshackle house of a recently dead famous author. While there she gets to know a literature student who is secretly trying to debunk the author. 

Overall I didn't really like this story as much as I kept wanting to. I didn't love the characters, the creepy wasn't as intense as I wanted, and I figured out the twist maybe half way through the book.  

I loved this though. 

And this was beautiful and sad. 

It is a stand alone novel. 

Garden of the Cursed

By Katy Rose Pool

YA Fantasy 

342 Pages

Hardback - Owlcrate Special Edition 

front of book (dust jacket)

back of book (dust jacket)

I really liked this book but I was so annoyed that it ended in a cliffhanger and now I have to wait for the sequel!

It was really interesting, and the magic system was well developed, and the characters were solid. I didn't expect all of the twists either, so yay!

Signature & Author letter

First page

The main character is kind of annoying, but in a way that helps the plot and makes sense with her backstory. 

inside the dust jacket

front end papers 

back end papers

gilded design on front lid of book

back lid

author info