A Unicorn Named Rin - Blog Tour and Review

 

A Unicorn Named Rin

by Crystal Z. Lee

Publisher: Balestier
Release Date: April 22nd, 2021

Genre: Children's Books, Illustrated, Own Voices

 

Synopsis:

The royal phoenix is missing from the Tang dynasty palace! Princess Pingyang is worried. Can Rin the unicorn find Fan the phoenix? Together with her friends—dragon, tiger, and tortoise—Rin embarks on a journey to mystical lands in China. Along the way, Rin discovers the value of teamwork and the warmth of friendship.

A Unicorn Named Rin celebrates the wonder and beauty of Chinese history and culture. This exquisitely illustrated picture book makes an ideal read for children 3-8 years old:

- Easy-to-read vocabulary enables confidence in early readers

- Whimsical illustrations encourage imagination in all unicorn lovers

- Storyline fosters dialogue around collaboration, empathy, and kindness

My Take: 

This children's book surprised me in both good and not-so-good ways. For the not-so-good ways first, while most words were simple for younger children to read, there were some larger words that I completely unexpected and thought to myself "No way, will an elementary school kid know this word," words such as harmonious, harmonization, and auspicious. Furthermore, I felt that the story did not have a good flow to it. I understand the premise was a magical creature that flew away or got lost and the other magical creatures tried to find it, but the story felt very choppy. The names of all of the creatures along with what types of creatures they were, were repeated way too much in the story. I was surprised that to see that Rin got so emotional over the lost friend after only looking in two places as well. 

That said, I did really enjoy the Chinese names and words that were incorporated throughout the story. I feel that I liked the illustrations better than the story and that the story could be told with just the illustrations and the same message would have gotten across to the reader. 

I was surprised to see the Glossary in the back of the book of Rin's Map. Again, I feel like this is something that's above an elementary school kid's understanding, but as an adult, I really appreciated this look into the facts about the Chinese history behind the story. 

I would rate this book 4 stars because though it was choppy and a bit advanced, I love the illustrations and the premise. I will gift my copy to my 11-year-old niece. 

Favorite Quotes

"I'll help you, Rin," says Baiju. "That's what friends are for."

"Patience, my friend. Let's not give up," he says.

"As distant as the heavens and seas, no matter how far apart. A good friend stays close like a neighbor, living in my heart." 

BOOK LINKS:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57744820-a-unicorn-named-rin

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2SPsJga

Bookdepository:https://www.bookdepository.com/Unicorn-Named-Rin-Crystal-Z-Lee/9781913891138?ref=grid-view&qid=1621012114566&sr=1-1

B&N:https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-unicorn-named-rin-crystal-z-lee/1139186250?ean=9781913891138

 

Crystal Z. Lee is a Taiwanese American bilingual writer. She has called many places home, including Taipei, New York, Shanghai, and the San Francisco Bay Area. She was formerly a public relations executive who had worked with brands in the fashion, beauty, technology, and automotive industries. 'Love and Other Moods' is her first novel. 

 

AUTHOR LINKS 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20927312.Crystal_Z_Lee 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crystal.z.lee/ 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Z.-Lee/e/B08NT9ZJTG%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share 

 

The Immortal Game Review

 

The Immortal Game 

By Talia Rothschild & A.C. Harvey

An exiled goddess goes on a quest to clear her name and save Mount Olympus in Talia Rothschild & A. C. Harvey's action-packed young adult debut, The Immortal Game!

Galene, daughter of Poseidon, desperately wants to earn her place among the gods. But when a violent attack leaves Mount Olympus in chaos and ruins, she is accused of the crime. Banished from Olympus, Galene sets out to prove her innocence and discovers a more deadly plot—one that threatens even the oldest of Immortals.

Fortunately, she has allies who willingly join her in exile:

A lifelong friend who commands the wind.
A defiant warrior with deadly skill.
A fire-wielder with a hero’s heart.
A mastermind who plays life like a game.

All-out war is knocking at the gates. Galene and her friends are the only ones who can tip the scales toward justice, but their choices could save Olympus from total annihilation, or be the doom of them all.

My Review:

I was immediately intrigued once I learned of the Immortality Trial. Any time there are competitions to be won in YA, I'm in, but mix competition and Greek mythology and that makes for a whole new adventure.

I think the authors did a fantastic job with loyalty as the main theme in this one. Needless to say, if I was exiled, I can't imagine I'd feel I owe anything to anyone. Additionally, friendships stayed strong and solid and I really enjoyed that as well. 

Regardless, the four different POV's were enjoyable. I actually prefer multiple POV's as it helps keep the story fresh when you see the perspective by different characters. Because Kostas, Braxtos, Galene, and Iayana were all children of Gods, I felt a lot of Percy Jackson vibes while reading. It felt like a more mature, more grown up version. In fact, somewhere in between Percy Jackson and Clash of the Titans, which is an opinion that I love, as I love Greek mythology. 

It had a slow start but definitely picked up pace and hooked me for good. I'd be very interested in a sequel or a spinoff of this one, as I think the YA community does not have enough Greek mythology!

Even with a slow start and a few slower sections, I'm still giving this one 5 starts, because it everything that I love reading in a YA.

Favorite Quotes:

"This injustice will not stand with the Fates. The scales will balance out in the end."

"I am the daughter of Poseidon, God of the Seas."

"The only way out is the least likely route."

"Why do you always have to look so perfect?"

AUTHORS BIO:

Talia Rothschild, Italian American, is passionate about stories in many forms—music, dance, photography, film and, of course, great novels. She believes in thick hot chocolate and creamer in your tea. When she's not happily writing, she's mothering the sweetest baby girl and making memories with her husband. Her debut book The Immortal Game, coauthored with A. C. Harvey, hits the shelves May 2021.

Talia Rothschild

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20160338.Talia_Rothschild

Website: https://www.taliarothschild.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talianoelrothschild/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClekr3ostLlz1n0mV9qWgrg

 

Ashleigh Harvey is teaching high school physics and bringing her writing dreams to life. English-born and world-traveled, she loves filling her life with new adventures, such as visiting a new country or exploring the Wild West with her husband. She also finds escape in movies, music, literature, and yearly comic conventions. The Immortal Game is her debut novel, created alongside Talia Rothschild, her close friend.

Ashleigh Harvey

Website: https://www.acharveyauthor.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20904769.A_C_Harvey

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvOOeCBenBgT9ifjebt9qXg

TOUR SCHEDULE

https://favouritepagesbookclub.blogspot.com/2021/05/tour-schedule-immortal-game-by-talia.html

BLOG TOUR GIVEAWAY

Prize: Win a physical copy of THE IMMORTAL GAME by Talia Rothschild & A. C. Harvey (US Only)

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d9681b86530/? 

Prize: Win a physical copy of THE IMMORTAL GAME by Talia Rothschild & A.

More Than We Can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer

 

More Than We Can Tell

by Brigid Kemmerer

Synopsis:

Rev Fletcher is battling the demons of his past. But with loving adoptive parents by his side, he’s managed to keep them at bay...until he gets a letter from his abusive father and the trauma of his childhood comes hurtling back.

Emma Blue spends her time perfecting the computer game she built from scratch, rather than facing her parents’ crumbling marriage. She can solve any problem with the right code, but when an online troll’s harassment escalates, she’s truly afraid.

When Rev and Emma meet, they both long to lift the burden of their secrets and bond instantly over their shared turmoil. But when their situations turn dangerous, their trust in each other will be tested in ways they never expected. This must-read story will once again have readers falling for Brigid Kemmerer’s emotional storytelling.

*While this book exists in the same universe as Letters to the Lost, it is a standalone title.*

My Thoughts:

I didn't think I was going to love this story more than Letters of the Lost. To be honest, I wasn't sure I'd find another YA contemporary that would ever be better than Letters of the Lost but somehow, this one surpassed all of my expectations. I was immediately drawn into Rev's and Emma's stories and knew both of them truly. I wanted to be wrapped up in Rev's arms as much as I wanted have Emma's back. Wow, I think I need to read this one again and soon!

Where the Forest Meets the Stars Review

 

Where the Forest Meets the Stars

By: Glendy Vanderah

Synopsis:

In this gorgeously stunning debut, a mysterious child teaches two strangers how to love and trust again.

After the loss of her mother and her own battle with breast cancer, Joanna Teale returns to her graduate research on nesting birds in rural Illinois, determined to prove that her recent hardships have not broken her. She throws herself into her work from dusk to dawn, until her solitary routine is disrupted by the appearance of a mysterious child who shows up at her cabin barefoot and covered in bruises.

The girl calls herself Ursa, and she claims to have been sent from the stars to witness five miracles. With concerns about the child’s home situation, Jo reluctantly agrees to let her stay—just until she learns more about Ursa’s past.

Jo enlists the help of her reclusive neighbor, Gabriel Nash, to solve the mystery of the charming child. But the more time they spend together, the more questions they have. How does a young girl not only read but understand Shakespeare? Why do good things keep happening in her presence? And why aren’t Jo and Gabe checking the missing children’s website anymore?

Though the three have formed an incredible bond, they know difficult choices must be made. As the summer nears an end and Ursa gets closer to her fifth miracle, her dangerous past closes in. When it finally catches up to them, all of their painful secrets will be forced into the open, and their fates will be left to the stars.

My Review:

Where does one start when they are writing a review of probably one of the best, most intricate novels they’ve ever read? Seriously, I wasn’t expecting this book to be what it was. Not for any reason other than that it was a debut novel by an author I’ve never heard of and it was adult contemporary fiction which I do enjoy, but never thought of as a favorite genre.

This novel blew me away. I’m tearing up right now just thinking of things that occurred in the pages. The emotional rollercoaster that I was on did not disappoint in the slightest. It was revolutionary. It was powerful and raw and quaint and hilarious and comforting and hopeful. The main characters, each with their own perfect character arcs kept me interested from start to finish. The world building was even more than others I’ve read in this genre. I felt like I was there with Jo, Ursa, and Gabe. I wanted to grab a hold of each of them and hold them and cry or laugh with them.

The research for this story was thought out. The story unfolds flawlessly. I want to be careful to say anything else because I do not want to spoil anything for anyone, but please read this novel! You will love it. You will recommend it to everyone you know.

 

Eight Winter Nights 

by Liz Maverick

Synopsis: 

Last year, Rachel Bacharach met the man of her dreams at a Hanukkah party — and then her outgoing best friend Tamara swooped in and “called” Oz Caplan for herself. It’s a typical outcome for the dependable, bookish Rachel, who is never able to extinguish the spark she immediately felt for Oz. But being secretly in love with her best friend’s boyfriend all year hasn’t been easy.

As this year’s party approaches, Oz and Tamara break up. It’s a worst-case scenario when Oz asks Rachel to help him write Tamara love letters to win her back in time for their Hanukkah anniversary. Rachel’s been writing love letters to Oz in her journals for a year; she knows all the words he would need. But will Rachel be able to hide her true feelings from Oz any longer? And might this year’s party finally be Rachel’s chance to trust her heart and put everything on the line for love?

My Take:

This was such a cute read! I'm not Jewish but I'm always interested in learning about other cultures, religions and so forth. Plus there just isn't enough holiday novels out there! This was such a great listen on Audible! At first I thought maybe it had the same plot as Something Borrowed, but it pretty quickly changes and I was so very grateful for that. It was super fun and engaging and will probably read it again in the future!

 

Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory

 

Royal Holiday 

by Jasmine Guillory

Synopsis:

Vivian Forest has been out of the country a grand total of one time, so when she gets the chance to tag along on her daughter Maddie’s work trip to England to style a royal family member, she can’t refuse. She’s excited to spend the holidays taking in the magnificent British sights, but what she doesn’t expect is to become instantly attracted to a certain private secretary, his charming accent, and unyielding formality.

Malcolm Hudson has worked for the Queen for years and has never given a personal, private tour—until now. He is intrigued by Vivian the moment he meets her and finds himself making excuses just to spend time with her. When flirtatious banter turns into a kiss under the mistletoe, things snowball into a full-on fling.

Despite a ticking timer on their holiday romance, they are completely fine with ending their short, steamy affair come New Year’s Day. . .or are they? 

 

My Thoughts:

This was my first Jasmine Guillory novel and I wasn’t really sure what to expect, at least not entirely.  I was lucky in that I had a chance to read an excerpt of The Wedding Date and even though I haven’t read that full book, it gave me a pretty good idea as to what I might find in Jasmine’s books. Witty banter. Relatable characters. A fun time!

It was extremely refreshing to read a story from another’s perspective. Just little things that different people of different walks of life deal with for the day today. I felt like though Vivian was a mother of an adult child already, she was still a little too old for me. I actually haven’t read that many stories where the mc is more than 5 years older than myself and I’m 34. Hopefully, I will read more like this and it won’t seem strange at some point.  I really did enjoy Vivian’s honestly both with Malcolm and herself. I loved watching her character grow but even more, I enjoyed watching Malcolm grow both with his family and with Vivian. The last two things I wasn’t necessarily expecting and didn’t care too much for were the sex scenes and the foul language in the book. I am no saint by any means, but I’m just not a fan of specific curse words or terms for the body part. Yeah, I’m a clean romance kind of gal.

I thoroughly enjoyed this international affair and am excited to read more of Jasmine’s books!

Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer

 

Letters to the Lost

by Brigid Kemmerer 

Synopsis: 

Juliet Young always writes letters to her mother, a world-traveling photojournalist. Even after her mother's death, she leaves letters at her grave. It's the only way Juliet can cope.

Declan Murphy isn't the sort of guy you want to cross. In the midst of his court-ordered community service at the local cemetery, he's trying to escape the demons of his past.

When Declan reads a haunting letter left beside a grave, he can't resist writing back. Soon, he's opening up to a perfect stranger, and their connection is immediate. But neither Declan nor Juliet knows that they're not actually strangers. When life at school interferes with their secret life of letters, sparks will fly as Juliet and Declan discover truths that might tear them apart.

My Thoughts:

Oh.My.God. This book is phenomenal. This is one of those contemporaries that every teen, young adult and older adult should read. I know Brigid's writing was incredible because I've previously read Call it What You Want her newest YA contemporary and I've read the CurseBreakers series to date but this book STILL blew me away!

I want to jump into this story and not only bear hug Declan but I want to squeeze Juliet too! So much emotion in book. The real, raw emotion in this story speaks right to your soul. The side characters (which Brigid excels at writing also) Rev and Rowan are exceptional characters. The mc parents. Everything about this story is fantastic. The drama is real life drama and even if we have never lost someone in our own lives, we can relate to these characters. Their feelings are so palpable that they can't be ignored in any way. I listened to and read this book.  The narrators are phenomenal. I mean, seriously, just everything.  Brigid is my favorite!