When everyone is reading, talking and BookToking about the same book you might find yourself asking. Is it worth the hype? Every book has its readers, but it can be lonely when a popular book doesn’t hit you the same way it does for everyone else. Don’t worry we’re here for you! You can share your hot takes and ALL your feels with us by filling out our Teen Book Reviews form. Who knows we may feature your review in an upcoming blog.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
What It’s About: Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, but the commanding general (her mother) has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become dragon riders. But when your body is weak, if the training doesn’t kill you, the dragons will. And the other candidates would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter. Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise.
Worth the Hype: Ugh, no. The promise of a military academy is poorly executed. Yarros just methodically checked off a list of tropes in a very predictable manner: Love Triangle, Enemies to Lovers (for five minutes and then it’s Instalove), Spicy, Dark-haired and Tattooed Bad Boy, Overly Powered Heroine, Probably Corrupt Organization, Big Secret, etc. It’s tedious and rather than being a fantasy novel with a romantic subplot, this is a young adult romance with jarring modern language that happens to have dragons.
Be Aware: This has teen characters, but is definitely an adult book with adult themes. The second book, Iron Flame, came out November 7th.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
What It’s About: Set in the Grishaverse: Kaz Brekker runs a tight ship as lieutenant of his street gang, and when he’s offered a dangerous job breaking a scientist out of a notoriously impenetrable prison he’s skeptical, but the amount of money offered is tough to turn down. He assembles a highly skilled team of a spy, a gunslinger, a fighter, a Heartrender, and a demolitions expert to attempt to pull off an impossible heist. If they can figure out how to work together.
Worth the Hype: Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. It’s an exciting adventure with diverse characters who deliver on the snippy banter and beautifully, believably become a family.
Be Aware: It’s part of a finished duology. And the second book, Crooked Kingdom, will break your heart.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
What It’s About: Cadence spends her fifteenth summer on her family’s private island off the coast of Massachusetts with her cousins and a special boy named Gat. But an accident leaves Cady with debilitating headaches and memory loss that keeps her from visiting the island and her cousins. When Cady returns to the island two years later, she and her family face the lies, the truths, and that happened during Summer 15.
Worth the Hype: I understand the buzz. I usually don’t like unreliable narrators, but this one was compelling and a quick read. The writing does a good job of putting you in Cady’s fragmented and hazy experiences. I will say, I figured out the twist early on, but that didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the rest of the book.
Be Aware: There is now a prequel, Family of Liars.
