THE STEEP & THORNY WAY/WINK POPPY MIDNIGHT/UNICORN TRACKS

The Steep & Thorny Way

by Cat Winters

From Goodreads:


Scene: Oregon, 1923. Dramatis personae: Hanalee Denney, daughter of a white woman and an African American man Hank Denney, her father—a ghost Greta Koning, Hanalee’s mother Clyde Koning, doctor who treated Hank Denney the night he died, now Hanalee’s stepfather Joe Adder, teenage boy convicted of accidentally killing Hank Denney Members of the Ku Klux Klan Townspeople of Elston, Oregon Question: Was Hank Denney’s death an accident…or was it murder most foul?


What I thought:

The writing is beautiful. The story is brilliantly crafted. I loved everything about the book. The setting was a character in itself. The friendships were perfectly drawn. Really, I have only nice things to say. I'd highly recommend this to anyone who likes YA and adult novels.

My Rating: *****

Find it on Goodreads.

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Wink Poppy Midnight

by April Genevieve Tucholke

From Goodreads:

Every story needs a hero.
Every story needs a villain.
Every story needs a secret.

Wink is the odd, mysterious neighbor girl, wild red hair and freckles. Poppy is the blond bully and the beautiful, manipulative high school queen bee. Midnight is the sweet, uncertain boy caught between them. Wink. Poppy. Midnight. Two girls. One boy. Three voices that burst onto the page in short, sharp, bewitching chapters, and spiral swiftly and inexorably toward something terrible or tricky or tremendous.

What really happened?
Someone knows.
Someone is lying.

What I thought:

I loved this book. I have so many feelings but can't put them into words without giving spoilers. Ugh! Love the multi-POVs. Short chapters kept the action moving. Love the WTF atmosphere. Overall just yes, read this book. 

My Rating: ***** 

Find it on Goodreads.

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Unicorn Tracks

by Julia Ember

From Goodreads:

After a savage attack drives her from her home, sixteen-year-old Mnemba finds a place in her cousin Tumelo’s successful safari business, where she quickly excels as a guide. Surrounding herself with nature and the mystical animals inhabiting the savannah not only allows Mnemba’s tracking skills to shine, it helps her to hide from the terrible memories that haunt her.

Mnemba is employed to guide Mr. Harving and his daughter, Kara, through the wilderness as they study unicorns. The young women are drawn to each other, despite that fact that Kara is betrothed. During their research, they discover a conspiracy by a group of poachers to capture the Unicorns and exploit their supernatural strength to build a railway. Together, they must find a way to protect the creatures Kara adores while resisting the love they know they can never indulge.


What I thought:

Fell in love with the characters here and fantastic world building. Mnemba's story was touching and I loved the relationship between her and Kara. I wanted them to make better decisions regarding putting themselves into danger, and there was a moment or two that left me shaking my head, but, for the most part, I was swept away by this story and definitely recommend it.

My Rating: ****


Find it on Goodreads.

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Happy Reading,

Chelly

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RATING SCALE:



5* = OMFG loved it. Will read it again. Touch my book and I will cut you.

4* = Really good. Highly recommend. Miiiight reread. Maybe. Don't touch my book.

3* = Good. I liked it. Go ahead and touch it. 

2* = Not for me, finished but struggled. Didn't connect.

1* = DNF. Couldn't do it.