Skandar and the Unicorn Thief

Skandar and the Unicorn Thief

by A.F. Steadman

 

Ever since Skandar was born, his parents dreamed of him becoming a unicorn rider. Now that he's finally thirteen and can take the qualifying tests, his dream seems to be about to come true. While there are some issues with taking the test, Skandar makes it to the Island and realizes his dream; he's now bonded to a unicorn!

Unfortunately, it seems that he and his unicorn are part of a banned group and he shouldn't even exist. With the help of a small group of other new riders, Skandar is able to hide his true elemental nature and continue to train to master his gifts and keep his unicorn near.

As they train, there is danger outside that threatens all of the unicorns and their riders, as well as those on the mainland. While that danger is outside, the new riders continue to train inside and are kept away from the dangers as much as possible. However, Skandar soon realizes that he may be the key to stopping the danger. 

Can he and his new allies stop the enemy before all of the unicorns are taken or killed?

Final thoughts: Some great ideas and a few really good moments but this seems to pull from a number of sources. Steadman seems to be trying to achieve the magical discovery of J.K. Rowling while having the bonds between humans and the unicorns be similar to those of the dragons in McCaffrey's world and/or the Companions of Lackey's Valdemar series; it just doesn't all blend that well. I also wonder about things like sending kids who are just thirteen out to become nomads and live on their own if they don't qualify or reach certain milestones as they train. It feels like Steadman forgets the young ages of his own characters at times.

Rating: 3/5

Mr Perfect on Paper

Mr. Perfect on Paper

by Jean Meltzer

Dara Rabinowitz is a third generation matchmaker with a 21st century app that makes matchmaking an algorithm to be solved instead of gut feeling to be followed. Years of coding and spreadsheets has convinced her that marriage can be formulaic and romance isn't necessary.

Chris Steadfast lost his wife two years before and has been trying to keep things going for himself and his preteen daughter ever since. With his daily show about to get cancelled, he's looking for a miracle to keep things going.

When Dara and her grandmother come to the studio at the start of the High Holidays to promote her app "J-Mate" and celebrate her grandmother's near 90 years on this earth, the miracle Chris is looking for seems to happen, though Dara's not so happy about it. Grandmother Miriam announces to the audience and the cameras that Dara has a list for her perfect husband (written during a drunken rant with her sister a few weeks before) and then proceeds to read it on air. A simple short segment goes viral and Chris decides that he's going to use this to save his program.

With Dara's agreement, Chris sets up blind dates for her for each of the High Holidays with men who meet the requirements of Mr. Perfect. Each date starts well and then ends in disaster. And with each date, Chris sees more and more that he'd much rather be dating Dara than setting her up.

But when Mr. Perfect on Paper shows up one day, will Chris be able to show Dara that her list is wrong?

Final thoughts: This is a checkbox romance with the author ticking off her list as she goes. It just doesn't feel organic. There are a few scenes where it seems Meltzer was having fun, but the rest was just her ticking off item after item on her rom-com must-haves list. It felt like she's pitching a story to Hallmark instead of writing a fun romance.

Rating: 2/5

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Not the Witch You Wed

Not the Witch You Wed

by April Asher

 

Violet Maxwell is the "Maxwell Dud". She's the first born of triplets in a magical family but she seems to have no magic. She's grown up to be pretty ok with this but it has affected her prospects within the supernatural community. Though she's supposedly magicless, she is still being told she must marry a supe by a certain point due to an archaic tradition.

Lincoln Thorne is the Alpha of the North American Pack and he has his own bonding deadline coming up. If he doesn't bond by his thirty-third birthday, he will have to withdraw as Alpha and also as being a member of the Council.

Violet and Lincoln have a rocky history, but they have a common goal. They need to get their respective supes off their backs and a fake dating arrangement would be just the thing. 

Unfortunately, Lincoln betrayed Violet years before so faking it may not lead to making it. 

Final thoughts: Completely formulaic and full of all the romance tropes that are out there, but still a fun ride. This is cotton candy from start to finish. The author seems to be having some fun with this and does a pretty good job working with the formula and tropes. Read it with the cotton candy mindset and you should have some fun.

Rating: 4/5

Lock the Doors

Lock the Doors

by Vincent Ralph

When Tom, his mother, his new stepfather, and his new stepsister move into their new home, he's the only one who notices or cares that there are tiny little holes on the doors to his and his stepsister's rooms. Confused about why they are there and certain it means something, Tom goes in search of answers to the mystery.

Not long after moving in, a new girl starts at his high school and he realizes that she and her family were the former owners of his house and that they just moved a few houses down the block. Their new home is bigger but they've also added walks, metal spikes, and a security gate. 

Are they keeping people out or in?

With Tom's history and his mother's dangerous ex-boyfriends haunting his thoughts, Tom is determined to make sure no one else should suffer like he has in the past.

What he doesn't realize is that solving this mystery could put more than just himself in danger.

Final thoughts: This is a mild psychological thriller that is more realistic than scary. This is a very slow burn that takes a while to get to the point. There are some logistical errors here and there (or I just missed the explanations for them). The primary narrator is Tom but about 20% of the novel is told from Amy's (the new student) point of view to fill in some blanks. If you like "safe" mysteries/thrillers that don't really cause too much stress, this may be a good pick.

Rating: 3/5

Go Hex Yourself

Go Hex Yourself

by Jessica Clare

When Reggie Johnson responds to an ad to be the assistant to a Spellcaster, she assumes that the person in question is someone who works for the company that creates and publishes her favorite card game. What shes doesn't know is that spellcasters are real and she has managed to find an enchanted ad that lead her to this dotty old woman and her grumpy nephew.

Now Reggie must start believing in witchcraft and curses while learning to be the familiar of one of the most renowned witches to have lived. The grumpy nephew isn't happy with her being there but Reggie will convince him, ignore him, or both.

However, when a mysterious curse hits the family, all thoughts of not working together go out the window because only together can they solve the mystery and get that dotty old woman back on her feet.

Final thoughts: Cute book with a nice progression in the relationship between Reggie and Ben. Some of the other parts of the book have issues that were not resolved well, but I always like a book that shows instead of tells when it comes to romance.

Rating: 3/5

Warning: this is NOT a kids' book

How to Date a Superhero

How to Date a Superhero
(and not die trying)

by Christina Fernandez

Astrid is in her sophomore year of college working on her premed courses to someday become a doctor. It's not that she really wants to be a doctor but more that she feels she needs to really do something with her life after she almost died in high school when a supervillain attacked her school bus. 

Yup. That's right. Supervillain. In this alternate universe New York, superheroes and villains are everywhere and just a part of life.

When Astrid is kidnapped by a villain from her dorm room, Kid Comet saves her from a fate worse than death and just admits that he's really Max Martin, her boyfriend and the clumsy guy she's known since high school.

Now Astrid must add in to her very busy schedule time for The Program, which is designed to teach the significant others of superheroes how to survive all things that may happen to them when (not if) they are kidnapped.

If she can't find some balance in her life, Astrid may not survive college let alone the murderous rage of a supervillain intent on revenge.

Final thoughts: The idea of this alternate universe is cool. I would love to see how people who are in the world of the Avengers deal with all of the new complications in life. Unfortunately, this story is more about Astrid's personal issues dealing with time, planning, and over-scheduling. Some interesting ideas but just not enough world building for me.

Rating: 3/5

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.