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Author: brodriguezoquendo27

  • Book Review: Mountains Made of Glass

    About the Book

    Title: Mountains Made of Glass

    Series: Fairytale Retelling

    Author: Scarlett St. Clair

    Year of Publication: 2023

    Publishing House: Bloom Books

    Genre: Fantasy, Romance

    Age Rating: Adult

    Sexual content: Yes

    Spice: 3/5

    My rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

    Synopsis

    All Gesela’s life, her home village of Elk has been cursed. And it isn’t a single curse—it is one after another, each to be broken by a villager, each with devastating consequences. When Elk’s well goes dry, it is Gesela’s turn to save her town by killing the toad that lives at the bottom. Except… the toad is not a toad at all. He is an Elven prince under a curse of his own, and upon his death, his brothers come for Gesela, seeking retribution.

    As punishment, the princes banish Gesela to live with their seventh brother, the one they call the beast. Gesela expects to be the prisoner of a hideous monster, but the beast turns out to be exquisitely beautiful, and rather than lock her in a cell, he offers Gesela a deal. If she can guess his true name in seven days, she can go free.

    Gesela agrees, but there is a hidden catch—she must speak his name with love in order to free him, too.

    Review

    I adore fairytales, and love retellings even more. When it comes to Scarlette St. Clair’s Fairytale Retelling series, I began backwards. I first stumbled across the second book in the series. Apples Dipped In Gold, and pleasantly found out that each book had different stories focused on different characters. So, once I finished the second book I decided to read the first. I want to start off by praising this book for its unique take on fairytales. Mountains Made Of Glass does not reimagine just one story, but if not mixes many stories at once. It was a delight as a huge fan of folktales to come across so many references.

    First off, Gesela having to guess the beast’s name is a direct reference to the tale of Rumpelstiltskin, while her being imprisoned in the cursed fae prince’s palace is so Beauty and the Beast coded. Similarly, there are so many more references in Mountains Made of Glass of not only Grimm Fairytales but even Hans Christian Andersen’s eccentric stories. I was completely in awe of the author after her afterword. The amount of research she put in showed through her writing, and she even included a bibliography with all the references of her research. I admire her dedication, because it truly paid off. I mean even the fae acted exactly how fae are in folktales: wicked, cruel, and cunning.

    The reason I cannot rate this story higher despite this is because the plot felt rushed. In their defense the characters were clearly working against time, there were high stakes, and there was a specific way for Gesela to free herself. But there was also the romance. Mountains Made of Glass is a novella, by default the story is short, so I understand that in order to pull off this whole ‘speak his name with love’ the romance had to develop fast. However, I do not feel like it was actually developed to its full potential at all.

    Gesela and the beast had chemistry, but from the moment they met it was all just steamy tension and lust. Lust does not equal love, especially not between two people who have just met. There weren’t any meaningful interactions between Gesela and the beast that didn’t turn into sexual encounters. And don’t get me wrong, I’m all for spice, but I like my spice to burn slowly, and intentionally. I truly wish the book had been longer in order to focus more on creating a bond between the protagonists.

    Besides this, Mountains Made of Glass was an extremely enjoyable, funny, witty, sexy quick read full of magic and scheming fae creatures. I am eagerly awaiting the third book in this series, and can’t wait to find out what other tales will be reimagined.

    For fans of Sarah J. Maas or the TV series Once Upon A Time, Mountains Made of Glass might just be the perfect read for you.

    Other Books/Novellas by Scarlett St. Clair

    Apples Dipped In Gold (Book 2 of Fairytale Retelling)

    A Touch of Darkness 

    Terror At The Gates

    King of Battle and Blood

    When Stars Come Out

    Next Read

    Fantasy

    Romance

  • 5 YA Fantasy Books You Should Add To Your TBR

    The world of fantasy is wide and full of diverse magic systems. Young Adult novels are one of the best ways of getting into fantasy or reading stories that are less about romance and more about the journey of the characters. Presently romantasy is one of the most trending and saturated genres in the world, especially due to #BookTok and the boom of fae love stories after Sarah J. Maas’ success with A Court of Thorns and Roses.

    Don’t get me wrong I love a good romance (and ACOTAR), but I also adore the magic and the thrill of dangerous adventures. Which is why I wanted to share five fantasy books to add to your TBR. If you’re looking to get into fantasy but don’t know where to start, these stories are beginner and teen friendly. If you’re a fantasy veteran but want to read something tamer than dragon hierarchies and “Shadow Daddies” (but still get interesting and unique magic systems), these might just be the perfect palette cleansers for you.

    Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly

    The Waterfire Saga was the first YA fantasy book series I ever read; and ironically, I read it throughout one summer, which is very fitting for a mermaid story. Deep Blue follows Serafina, crown princess of the Kingdom of Miromara, who has recurring dreams of chanting sea witches predicting a rising evil and six mermaids to defeat it. After an assassination attempt during her coronation ceremony an army takes over her kingdom and Serafina is forced to flee for her life alongside her best friend, Princess Neela. Together they must find the ones she hears in her dreams in order to prevent a war between nations, save her people, and uncover a conspiracy that threatens their world’s very existence.

    The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

    The Folk of Air Series was my introduction to fae and folklore. Cardan was the first book-boyfriend in my list. However, it took a while for him to make his way there. The Cruel Prince follows Jude Duarte, who at seven witnessed her parents’ murder, and who was forced along with her sisters to move to Faerie Land and live among treacherous creatures in the High Court. However, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, but the fae despise humans, especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King of Elfhame. To win a place in Court, she must defy him—and face the consequences. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance with Cardan to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

    Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

    Who doesn’t like a good mystery? Personally, I’m fascinated by Who-Done-It stories, and Belladonna is the perfect mix of mystery, paranormal, and gothic. In this story Signa’s remaining relatives are the eccentric Hawthornes living at Thorn Grove, a glittering and gloomy estate. Its patriarch mourns his late wife through wild parties, while his son grapples for control of the family’s waning reputation, and his daughter suffers from a mysterious illness. But when their mother’s restless spirit appears claiming she was poisoned, Signa realizes that the family she depends on could be in grave danger. Signa’s best chance of uncovering the murderer is a dangerous alliance with Death himself.

    The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch by Melinda Taub

    When I first read Pride and Prejudice, I despised Lydia Bennet. I understood that she was a teenager, however I was annoyed at her attitude and the treatment she had towards her sisters. Still, I never blamed her for what happened with Wickham. Thankfully, Melinda Taub gave her the redemption arc she deserved. I now like to pretend that Taub’s story is cannon. The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch, turns the beloved classic into a life and death journey exploring magic, demons, familiars, sacrifice, and sisterhood. In this reimagining, Lydia Bennet puts pen to paper to relate the real events and aftermath of Pride and Prejudice from her own perspective.

    Wicked Fox by Kat Cho

    I love telenovelas, and this includes K-Dramas. This last young adult novel mixes thrilling drama, high stakes, culture, and magic, creating the perfect recipe for folkloric fantasy. Wicked Fox follows eighteen-year-old Gu Miyoung who is a gumiho—a nine-tailed fox who must devour the energy of men in order to survive. After feeding one full moon, she crosses paths with Jihoon, a human boy being attacked by a goblin deep in the forest. Against her better judgment, she violates the rules of survival to rescue the boy, losing her fox bead—her gumiho soul—in the process. With murderous forces lurking in the background, Miyoung and Jihoon develop an unlikely bond. So, when a young shaman tries to reunite Miyoung with her bead, the consequences are disastrous, forcing Miyoung to choose between her immortal life and Jihoon’s.

  • 5 Middle Grade Books For Girls In Middle School

    Middle school opened a door to a world of literary wonders and empowerment. I devoured the entire Diary of a Wimpy Kid series in a single week (very upsetting for 5th grade me), and decided to become a writer when I read The Face On The Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney in the 6th grade. It’s crazy how literature can change a life. Especially as a girl, reading novels written by women inspired me to want to create my own stories. Because if they could do it, I knew I could do it, too. Which is why it is so important to encourage young girls to read books that will enrich their values and fuel their creativity. 

    As young children we read picture-books with moral lessons that make us understand how the world works and how we fit in it. Middle school is a drawn-out transition into teenhood, different kinds of relationships, responsibilities, expectations, and this scary place called high school. That is when you discover novels have a different lesson to teach you: and that is how to navigate change and growth. Relating to others makes us feel a little less alone. 

    Middle school is scary; puberty starts, crushes get complex, friendships fluctuate and get redefined, academics get harder, and teachers start talking about c-o-l-l-e-g-e (terrifying and confusing when you still get snack time). Novels can help children understand difficult feelings, changes, the people around them, and discover personal goals and dreams. Which is why I have compiled a list of 5 middle grade books you should get your middle schooler(s) or even add to your classroom if you’re a teacher.

    Dork Diaries by Rachel Renée Russell

    In the 7th grade I begged my mom to get me this book series. As I said before, I read the Diary of A Wimpy Kid books when I was in 5th grade, and I absolutely adored them. However, I had been lent one of the Dork Diaries books and I fell in love with the art. I begged and begged until my mom caved and got me the series. I started my own diary when I read it, and I would draw some of the scenes of my day just like the protagonist would draw in her diary. Not only did it encourage me to journal but to improve my art by drawing almost everyday. The Dork Diaries currently has 16 books, all following Nikki Maxwell as she navigates the start of a new school, making new friends, dealing with a mean girl, and getting a new crush. 

    My Sister The Vampire by Sienna Mercer

    Who doesn’t like a good vampire story? I still get asked if I’m team Jacob or Team Edward (plot twist, I’m team Charlie; poor man’s life was a horror movie). My cousin was the one that introduced me to this series. My mom had gotten her the first few books in the series and I got curious when I saw the pretty covers, so my cousin lent them to me after she read them. Maybe that’s why I love vampires and plot twists so much now. 

    Currently, My Sister The Vampire is an 18 books series, each book being relatively short. The first book follows bubbly, perky Olivia Abbott as she moves to a new town. She is eager to join the cheer team and make new friends. At school she meets a girl named Ivy Vega, who is totally opposite to her and totally gothic. However, when they both look past the glitter and the thick, dark eyeliner, they realize they are identical twin sisters. Beyond their new discovery, Olivia finds out her sister is a vampire, and Ivy isn’t the only one in town.

    Grimmtastic Girls by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

    Fairytales never lose popularity. There are so many retellings I wouldn’t be able to count them all. No one is ever too old for fairytales. There’s always a way to reimagine stories and carry them with us in every phase of our lives. Grimmtastic Girls changed the way I saw the childhood stories my grandma used to read to me. Full of references and a fun magical system, Grimmtastic Girls is an 8 books series about friendships and facing your fears. The first book follows Cinderella in her first week of school. Her mean step sisters are making her life impossible at Grimm Academy, giving her terrible advice and making her look bad in front of her new friends. When she overhears them plotting a villainous deed that could ruin the Prince’s ball, Cinderella and her new friends, Red, Snow, and Rapunzel, must thwart The Steps’ wicked plans.

    The Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel by Melissa de la Cruz

    If you were a Disney Channel kid, you definitely know about Descendants. The Isle of the Lost is the prequel to the Descendants movie. In this story all the villains from Disney fairytales were banished to the Isle of the Lost, where they can never leave. Their children are also stuck there, and Mal, the daughter of Maleficent, is one of them.

    When her mother tells her that the key to true darkness is located inside her scepter in the Forbidden Fortress on the far side of the island, Mal concocts a plan to retrieve it in order to prove herself to her mother with the help of her “friends.” However, in their quest, the four young villains begin to realize that just because you come from an evil tree, doesn’t mean you also have to be evil. This novel is followed by Return to the Isle of the Lost (2016), Rise of the Isle of the Lost (2017), Escape From the Isle of the Lost (2019) and its most recent addition (2024) Beyond the Isle of the Lost.

    True Confessions by Janet Tashjian

    This last book followed me to a terrible camping trip one very hot spring day in Puerto Rico. My homeroom teacher lent me this book, and I read it over the weekend huddled by a flashlight. I couldn’t put it down even when my camp counselor tried to get me to do more “fun outdoorsy stuff.” But guess what? I don’t like camping and I still adore books, so I win. 

    Tru Confessions follows Trudy, a twelve-year-old girl who dreams of having her own television show and ‘curing’ her developmentally disabled twin brother Eddie. So when a teen video competition is announced on the local TV, Tru knows this is her chance to make her dreams come true. But the more she gets into making her video documentary about Eddie, the more Trudy begins to understand his special needs and the complexity of her relationship with him.