Reviews written by Samantha Randolph

When Elodee's world is shaken, she and her family, including her twin sister, Naomi, move to Eventown. At first, Eventown seems like everything they need. The weather is always nice. Elodee's baking is always perfect. Naomi's gymnastics are better than ever. But Eventown isn't exactly normal with its perfection. There...

THE MERMAID, THE WITCH, AND THE SEA is a lush, beautiful, and romantic fantasy that follows Flora, now living as Florian, and Lady Evelyn Hasegawa as they fall in love and try to survive in a dangerous world. Florian is a pirate, desperate to live and hoping for an escape...

When Quinn and her father move to a tiny town, she's hoping to fit in and finish high school. Kettle Springs doesn't seem to be too bad, except for the weird clown mascot, Frendo, and a few of the adult townspeople who are more than a little judgmental. Then, Frendo...

After the death of the headmaster and the storm in the first book, Blackbrook Academy is barely functioning. Half the student population left, the school’s reputation is hanging on a thread, and Orchid, Vaughn, Scarlett, Peacock, Plum, and Mustard are now known as the Murder Crew. When another dead body...

THE ORACLE CODE visits Barbara Gordon (aka Batgirl and Oracle) in her teens after an accident that paralyzes part of her body. Now using a wheelchair, Barbara enters the Arkham Center for Independence for physical and mental rehabilitation. Though she is supposed to be healing, too much is happening at...

Thea Hope has learned alchemy as her mother's apprentice, forced into the shadows when all she wants is equal credit and to be respected in her own right. For years, they have been trying to create the Philosopher's Stone. Just when it seems possible they might have succeeded, Thea's mother...

Elle is part of the glittering crowd, beautiful and untouchable, or so they believe. One night, Elle and her friends crash a St. Andrews Prep party and everything changes. The golden boys, the ones revered at St. Andrews, chose Elle as their next target that night. Afterwards, Elle swears revenge....

Audiobook review Margot is tired of not getting answers from her mother about where she came from and the history of their family. When she finds an old picture with the name of a town on it, she leaves immediately to find the answers she...

HIS HIDEOUS HEART is a powerhouse of incredible writers retelling different works of Edgar Allen Poe. From "The Raven" to "The Fall of the House of Usher," there is a great mix of Poe's most popular works and his lesser known ones. HIS HIDEOUS HEART works for long time Poe...

Having loved the original Fair Assassin books, I was cautiously optimistic about this new duology continuing Sybella's story and introducing new characters. After reading it, I think this may have been better to tie specifically to the prior series (book 4 instead of book 1 in a new duology) because...

Top 3 Reasons to Read Meredith Russo’s Birthday: 1.) BIRTHDAY matches the exceptional storytelling of Russo’s debut, IF I WAS YOUR GIRL. Sophomore novels can be so tricky, but all the rich, layered characterization Russo wrote in IF I WAS YOUR GIRL is present again...

Paola “Pao” Santiago loves science and hanging out with her best friends, Emma and Dante. She doesn’t love how superstitious her mom is and how she isn’t allowed to go near the river because of La Llorona. The friends made a plan one night to meet up at the river...

Alice Proserpine thought she was mostly back to “normal” life after breaking from her story in the Hinterland, but when Hinterland survivors start dying, it’s clear something is desperately wrong. Someone is stalking them and ready to strike. Someone with powers that look a lot like Alice’s used to. As...

Jewell Parker Rhodes writes electrifying middle grade stories that pack emotion into every sentence, and GHOST BOYS showcases that skill at its best. The story follows Jerome, a 12-year-old Black boy shot by a police officer. The reader is led through both Jerome’s life (being bullied in school; meeting a...

Hark and Jelt grew up together, without families and with barely enough to get by. Jelt turns to more and more dangerous ways of making money, namely aiding the area’s most notorious smugglers. Hark wants to be there for Jelt, but isn’t comfortable with the way Jelt is acting. When...