D&D Dungeon Club Series by Molly Knox Ostertag & Xanthe Bouma

  

Last week, I read the D&D Dungeon Club series by Molly Knox Ostertag & Xanthe Bouma. This graphic novel series that combines realistic fiction and adventure is about Jess Descheene and Olivia Aguilar, best friends who have loved making up stories since they were little kids and now enjoy playing the fantasy roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons, as eighth grade students. In the first book, Roll Call, when Olivia wants to create a club and add new players to their group, Jess struggles with the idea of sharing her best friend and their game with Tyler Rubio, the boy who decides to join the club. In the second book, Time to Party, although she loves being the Dungeon Master, Olivia begins to stress out about their game after they add two more players, Sam Geller and Sammi Mitchell, and the plotlines gets more complicated. It doesn't help matters when her sister, Lu, suggests that D&D isn't important when she's home from college, making Olivia doubt her hard work. In the third and final book, Final Face-off, Tyler still has an imaginary friend, Sunny, who is also his character when he plays D&D. After Sunny pushes Tyler into confessing his feelings to Sam, his crush since they had a moment at the Halloween Dance, through a letter that goes missing from his backpack, Tyler demands that Sunny leave him alone. Without Sunny, Tyler must stand up to his bully, Kelly Bruler, and learn to trust that his friends will have his back.

This series was a quick read and I had a lot of fun reading it, even if there was a moment in Final Face-off that nearly made me cry. Although I've never played D&D myself, I definitely found the characters' everyday problems relatable because I've been through the hardships of middle school. I loved how Jess, Olivia, and Tyler grew through the challenges that they faced: friendship conflict, identity questioning, managing priorities, bullying, and more. I also liked the different dynamics between the characters, including Olivia and Jess's friendship of five years, Sam and Sammi's friendship, and Tyler's developing connection with Sam. My favorite part, though, was actually being able to see the story they created with their D&D campaign. It was interesting how Sir Corius was almost a perfect reflection of Jess, while Sunny was the complete opposite of Tyler and someone he strove to be more like even when it got him into trouble. Additionally, I enjoyed Sammi's character, Snowball, and Sam's character, Leumas, because they were absolutely hilarious and delightful. The D&D story itself was amazing, too, with Sir Corius looking for his sister, Corinth, and realizing that she had betrayed him, only for Corinth to need rescuing after after she opened the portal to the abyss and Prince Graz'zt imprisoned her. Sir Corius going from being a lone wolf to having a group of a friends on which he could rely was another great development. As for the Dungeon Master, I thought it was cool how sometimes Olivia was inspired by their real lives, like when the club's characters went to a ball after they went to the Halloween Dance in their real lives. The D&D Dungeon Club series is both versatile and heartwarming with vibrant illustrations, and I recommend it to those who love fantasy adventures, especially D&D fans, and friendship stories.

Don't Want to Be Your Monster by Deke Moulton

 

On Friday, I finished reading Don't Want to Be Your Monster by Deke Moulton. This mysterious horror novel is about two brothers, ten-year-old Adam and fourteen-year-old Victor, who are vampires with very different perspectives. While Adam wants to use his vampire abilities to help mortals, Victor's favorite movie is The Lost Boys and he wishes that their mom, who works in a hospital, brought home young blood more often so that he can tap into all of his vampire powers. After the bodies of two murders are found in their hometown of Lacey, Washington, Adam tries to solve the mystery on his own with the help of two mortal kids, Shoshana and Luis. Meanwhile, Victor comes across Luis's older sister, Alejandra, who searching for the alleged vampire that murdered her friend. When it becomes clear that a vampire hunter is after their family, Adam and Victor must put aside their differences to stop the killer before he murders anyone else.

I've read a lot of vampire novels in the past, so I was very excited to read this story and ended up enjoying it a great deal. The mystery was suspenseful and I appreciated how the identity of the vampire hunter wasn't revealed until close to the end because it built up anticipation. The climax of the novel was very nerve-wracking, even if I felt sure that none of the main characters would die, because of the conflict between Adam and Victor and how it separated them when they needed each other the most. I also loved the unique mythology that Moulton developed for the vampires in her story. I've read enough vampire stories and seen enough TV shows and movies that I know that they aren't always evil, but I thought it was fascinating that vampires went into hiding after being persecuted even though they could heal mortals using blood magic. The one thing I didn't like was how the author used Shoshana as a spokesperson about racism and prejudice. I agree with the author's message, but it felt heavy-handed. On the other hand, I did like how Shoshana helped Adam learn about his Jewish heritage because he was only a baby when he was rescued and turned into a vampire. Additionally, Adam and Victor definitely felt like real brothers. They sometimes make mistakes and miscommunicate even when it's obvious how much they care about each other. I adored the dynamic of their family of two moms and an older sibling, Sung, and they really came together in the end. Sung was particularly helpful when Adam needed someone from their family right away. Although there is an author's note covering her inspiration at the end of the book, I took a particular interest in the explanation of locations because I thought it was cool that Moulton used real life places in Don't Want to Be Your Monster. Overall, there are many more good aspects about this book than bad, and anyone who is a vampire fan and/or enjoys murder mysteries should read it.

The Myth of Monsters by Katherine Marsh

 

Last week, I finished reading the first two books of The Myth of Monsters series. This fantasy series is about Ava Baldwin, a seventh grade girl who struggles control her anger and learns that she is a descendant of Medusa. In the first book, Medusa, Ava's parents send her and her brother, Jax, to the Accademia del Forte, a mysterious international boarding school in Venice, Italy, after she accident freezes her classmate, Owen, for talking over her one too many times and taking a book she wanted to check out from the library for her Greek mythology project on Athena. At the Accademia, the descendants of mythological monsters are taught to control their powers and emotions. Soon, Ava befriends Fia, Layla, and Arnold. When Fia is almost expelled for challenging a teacher, they go on an adventure to find out the secret that the school is hiding about Medusa. In the second book, The Gods' Revenge, Ava, Jax, and their friends return to the Accademia for the next school year. When Layla is accused of biting a new student, Angus, at the Carnival Ball and banished, Ava leads them on a rescue mission while learning the truth about Layla's ancestor, the original Empusa.

Although these books could be a little preachy at times, I truly enjoyed reading them because of the adventure and world-building. I've long loved Greek and Roman mythology (Hercules is one of my favorite Disney animated movies) and it was fun and interesting reading a series that focuses on the monsters of Greek myths. I feel like I learned a lot about some of the lesser known characters, especially the female ones. Ava is a wonderful protagonist, and I really liked how she, Jax, Fia, Layla, and Arnold used their strengths to work together as a team in both Medusa and The Gods' Revenge. Additionally, it was very cool how they went to different places, like Tartarus, Olympus, the Stygian Marsh, and Mount Etna. I was also surprised at how many of the islands in the Venice area I recognized from my own trip there two summers ago in July 2024. That's another reason why this book series especially piqued my interest: I felt like I could actually imagine the setting accurately, which isn't often the case, and I'm very appreciative of fantasies that are rooted in the real world, like Harry Potter and Amari and the Night Brothers. Overall, The Myth of Monsters series is engaging and vibrant, and those who love fantasy and mythology should read it. I'm certainly looking forward to the third book.

The Wrath and the Dawn Series

 

Over the weekend, I finished reading The Wrath & the Dawn duology by Renée Ahdieh. This fantasy series, inspired by A Thousand and One Nights, is about Shahrzad al-Khayzuran, a sixteen-year-old girl who volunteers to marry Khalid Ibn al-Rashid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan. In the first book of the series, Khalid takes a new bride each night only to have her executed before sunrise, but Shahrzad has a clever plan to stay alive and get revenge on Khalid for the murder of her best friend, Shiva, and the other girls. Not everything is as it seems, though, and as Shahrzad begins to fall for Khalid, she decides that she must find out the truth of why Khalid's brides are murdered and break the cycle somehow. In the second and final book, The Rose & the Dagger, Shahrzad and Khalid are separated when the threat of war is greater than ever. Although Shahrzad is reunited with her family in the desert, she desperately wants to find a way to return to Khalid. With an army gathering against Khalid and enemies everywhere, Shahrzad's loyalties are tested as she risks everything.

There are also three short stories in this series. The Moth & the Flame is about the romance between Shahrzad's handmaiden Despina and the Captain of the Guard Jalal al-Khoury. Although it simply starts out as a flirtation, Despina and Jalal begin to develop true feelings for one another when suddenly tragedy strikes. The Crown & the Arrow covers Shahrzad and Khalid's wedding ceremony from Khalid's perspective. After seventy-one days and nights of killing his brides, Khalid wonders why Shahrzad, his seventy-second bride, has volunteered and shows no fear of losing her life. The final short story, The Mirror & the Maze, is about Khalid's return to Rey after a trip to the border of Khorasan and Parthia. When he sees that Rey is destroyed and Shahrzad is gone, he believes it is all his fault for choosing love over the people of Rey.

This series was excellent and I enjoyed it from the very first chapter, which was among the most intriguing I've ever read. Despite being a little nervous after the disappointing ending to The Beautiful series by the same author, I was determined to keep the faith that the romance in this duology would have a happy ending and I'm ecstatic to say that it did! Although there were quite a few twists and turns and an event or two towards the end of The Rose & the Dagger that could have broken me, love won and it truly warmed my heart. I absolutely adored the epilogue. I also thought the world-building was fantastic. The setting was both gorgeous and dangerous, which I always think is the best combination, and I was reminded a lot of Aladdin because The Wrath and the Dawn is inspired by the same collection of folk tales. Additionally, the romance between Shahrzad and Khalid was positively flawless. They're amazing characters on their own, but I wanted nothing more for them to defy the odds and find a way to be together, especially because enemies to lovers is my favorite romantic trope. I knew Shahrzad wouldn't be able to assassinate Khalid without knowing his reason for murdering his brides and the reveal was so devastating, like I thought it would be. In my heart, Khalid certainly didn't deserve that fate and I wanted him to find redemption through his love for Shahrzad. Additionally, Shahrzad is a great female protagonist because of her strength and courage—at first to stand up to Khalid and survive, then later to fight for their love. The short stories are wonderful, as well, and I recommend The Wrath & the Dawn duology to anyone who loves fantasy, adventure, and/or romance.

Hands by Torrey Maldonado

 

Earlier this week, I finished reading Hands by Torrey Maldonado. This realistic fiction novel is about Trev, a twelve-year-old boy who would do anything to protect his mom and older sisters from his stepdad. Two years after Trev's stepdad hit his mom and was locked up in jail for violating his parole, Trev is worried about his release. Instead of dwelling on his fear, Trev decides to take up boxing with his friend, P (short for Pete). Not everyone agrees with his plan, though, because Trev used to draw very well when he was younger. Instead of fighting back and possibly ending up in jail like his stepdad, Trev is encouraged to use his artistic talent to build a better future. Unsure if he has the support he needs, Trev feels like this advice is useless right now, especially when his sister Nikki's boyfriend is controlling and doesn't respect boundaries, on top of his other concerns. As his stepdad's release approaches, Trev has to consider his future and if he should really fight back with his hands.

Wow, this was an amazingly profound story. I liked the short chapters because they made the book feel super fast-paced, but most of all, I enjoyed how enlightening the book was about domestic abuse and how it affects young people and their choices. Although Trev is the youngest in his family, he feels like he has to protect his mom and sisters because he's the only boy out of the four of them. His situation made me feel really bad for him because I didn't want him to continue the cycle of violence of which I've become so aware over the years. I also loved getting to know his "uncles" because they had great advice for Trev from their own experiences, even when he was doubtful that they had his back. It warmed my heart that his English teacher, Ms. Clark, was looking out for him, too. Additionally, I thought P was a great friend to Trev. While I wasn't completely supportive of Trev's plan to learn to box to protect his family, I'm glad Trev and P went to the boxing gym together. I can't forget to mention Little Cole either. Little Cole, the eight-year old boy who lives in the apartment across from Trev's, reminded me a lot of a younger version of Trev and it made me so happy that Trev would help him with drawing. Although not everything is resolved at the conclusion of the story, it should leave readers with hope about Trev's situation. Hands is powerful and riveting, and I recommend it to everyone, kids and adults alike.

The Swifts Series

 

On Saturday, I finished reading the first two books of The Swifts series by Beth Lincoln. This mystery series is about Shenanigan Swift, a girl who is always up to some sort of mischief and wonders if she is herself by choice or because of the name she was given. In the first book, A Dictionary of Scoundrels, Shenanigan plans on looking for Grand-Uncle Vile's treasure during a family reunion, but when someone pushes Arch-Aunt Schadenfreude down the stairs, she gets caught up in determining who did it with the help of her older sisters, Phenomena and Felicity, and her cousin, Erf. After Gumshoe shows up dead in the library and Pamplemousse is murdered at the end of a Scrabble duel, Shenanigan must save her family by following and making sense of the clues. In the second book, A Gallery of Rogues, Shenanigan travels to Paris with Uncle Maelstrom and Phenomena after a valuable painting is stolen from Swift House by Ouvolpo, a group of art thieves. In Paris at the Hôtel Martinet, they meet up with her sister Felicity, who is staying with the Martinets, the French branch of their family, Aunt Inheritance, and Erf. As Ouvolpo steal more artworks and bodies are uncovered, Shenanigan and her family have to untangle multiple mysteries, while navigating their conflict with the Martinets.

I absolutely adored the first two books of this series. They have everything: humor and wordplay, drama, suspense, plot twists, excitement, interesting family relationships, and more. Shenanigan was fantastic as the main character. Even though she has a tendency to get into trouble and sometimes doesn't get along with her sisters, I could tell how much she truly cares for her family in both books. I especially enjoyed her relationship with her cousin, Erf, because they met for the very first time at the family reunion and connected right off the bat. I also loved Phenomena because she is clever and into science and Uncle Maelstrom because Shenanigan has a very special relationship with him due to her parents traveling the world without her and her sisters. Daisy and the twins, Flora and Fauna, were interesting characters, as well, and I liked the roles they played in the story.  In the second book, I thought Pomme was awesome and appreciated how helpful Souris was, even when he was keeping secrets. As far as the mysteries go, I actually managed to guess the murderer in A Dictionary of Scoundrels correctly. That doesn't mean I was disappointed, though, quite the contrary. I had just gotten bad vibes from the character that I couldn't get past, even if the evidence wasn't beyond question. I was much more surprised by the reveal in A Gallery of Rogues because it had quite a bit of complexity and I wasn't able to put all of the clues together before Shenanigan or any of her family did. I thought the climax was especially exciting. After reading these two books, I'm especially looking forward to the third book in the series. Anyone who enjoys murder mysteries, family stories, and/or humor should read The Swifts series.

A Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner

 

Earlier this week, I read A Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner. This illustrated realistic fiction novel in verse is about Will Chambers, a seventh-grade boy who struggles with his self-esteem because he was called fat by a classmate, Nick Fisher, when they were in fourth grade. Will not has not forgotten that day, and he's lonely because he has no friends left. To feel better about himself and attract the attention of his crush, Jules, he decides to start eating less. Soon, he's hardly eating anything at all. Although he meets Markus, a new kid who enjoys skateboarding and could possibly become a friend, during lunch one day, the shame lingers and he still feels like a monster. He's not even sure he wants to start a club for drawing even though it's something he likes doing. As he becomes increasingly desperate, Will must find a way to begin a journey to self-acceptance.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this book, but it ended up reminding me a lot of Louder than Hunger by John Schu, which I read back in the spring. A Work in Progress was definitely another great book about a boy with an eating disorder even if Will's challenges made me feel sad at times. It was obvious he needed help, but he kept things bottled up inside himself, which I know from experience doesn't end well. I also felt extremely bad that he didn't have any friends and it didn't really surprise me that he tried pushing Markus away when the other boy opened up to him. It can be hard when you don't believe you're deserving of friendship and love, even when you have similar experiences to your classmates, like having a crush. One of the things I really loved about this novel in verse was the addition of drawings and how the pages of the print copy actually looked like a notebook. I could really imagine that the story was Will writing his thoughts down and illustrating them and it felt very intimate. I would definitely recommend A Work in Progress to any kid who's struggling with body image and self-esteem. On the other side, it's also a excellent choice for those who need an example of the effects of bullying.