Pages of Perfiction

I've been trying to write this post for the past two weeks, and I'm finally getting around to doing it. It's about time! This the second bite-sized review post I've ever written, and here's the first one .  The Summer of Broken Rules  by K. L. Walther (5/5 stars) I'm a little late to the party, but this booktok sensation definitely lived up to its hype! This contemporary YA novel is an escape into a summer filled with romance, family traditions, and the poignant process of healing, with Taylor Swift references sprinkled throughout. The story follows Meredith Fox as she navigates grief, love, and self-discovery during her cousin's wedding festivities .  It's different from other summer novels because of the amazing subplot: a game of Assassin . Basically, everyone gets a target (another guest at the wedding) who they try shoot with a water gun. The last people standing win. The Summer of Broken Rules is a charming mix of the Assassin element, a heartwar

 Dear "10:59", From the moment I turned your first page, I knew this journey would be unlike any other. Your narrative, so intricately woven with threads of urgency and hope, captured my heart and refused to let go. It's rare to find a story that resonates so deeply with me, stirring a passion for change and a profound sense of connection to our world. Your tale is a masterpiece of speculative fiction, artfully blending the critical themes of environmental crisis and societal complacency with a narrative that is both compelling and deeply human. Your characters, so vividly drawn, became friends I cheered for, cried with, and, ultimately, learned from. Their struggles and triumphs echoed my own fears and hopes for our planet. Your brilliance lies not just in your ability to tell a story, but in your power to inspire action and reflection. You are more than a book; you are a clarion call to recognize the fragility of our world and the urgent need for change. Through your

Welcome back, everyone! I'm Paige, and today I'm doing a review of "Sheine Lende" by Darcie Little Badger. In the evolving landscape of middle-grade literature, this author is a beacon of innovative storytelling. Her books offer tales filled with magic and mystery but also profoundly explore themes of cultural identity, family, and the importance of heritage- a unique combination that I'm so excited to talk about in this post. So, what is Sheine Lende about? Well, "Elatsoe" was released first, back in 2020, and introduced a 17-year-old Lipan Apache girl named Elatsoe. She has a unique gift inherited from her ancestors- the ability to summon dead creatures. " Sheine Lende," set to release in April 16, 2024, is a prequel about her great-grandmother , who has the same ability. I read Elatsoe in preparation for this post, but you can understand this book even without reading Elatsoe. the heart of shiene lende Shane, Elatsoe's grandmother, emba

Picture this: I'm sitting on my couch, with this computer on my lap, staring at it intently as I hammer out these words. The TV in front of me is on Disney+, and the words "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" are emblazoned on the screen. The remote is set beside me, and I let out a long breath as I finally clicked the play button. Here I am, about to dive in to the long-awaited Percy Jackson  TV series. I've heard many good things about this new addition. Is it worth the hype? In this review post, I'll be talking about the series and give you my honest opinions on it. And yes, I'm actually writing these words while watching the show. After watching first 30 seconds of the percy jackson TV show Maybe I'm taking this reaction post too far, because it's been only 37 seconds and I already paused the episode to write this. At this rate, it's going to take a decade to get through the season. But in all seriousness, the beginning hooked me. The first senten

Featuring "The Last Dragon King" by Leia Stone, "Age 16" by Rosena Fung, "The Wife You Know" by Chad Zunker, and "Every Silent Thing" by Alan Brenham  Introduction Hello everyone, and welcome back to Pages of Perfiction! Today, I'm doing a quick post: bite-sized book reviews for four books I've recently read.  Let me know in the comments which one of these books are the most appealing to you! "The Last Dragon King" by Leia Stone (Kings of Avalier book one) No. Just no. This YA fantasy left me pacing angrily in my room and venting to my friends. Here's why: Characters: In the beginning, the characters seemed lovable, but as the story continued, the protagonist acted more and more like a pick-me . "I don't like dresses, I'm so unique, I should marry the king because I'm so different" Weird references to wombs every few pages: I have no idea what was up with this, but literally every 3 pages the word &quo

There's nothing easier to dismiss than a conspiracy theory- until it turns out to be true. When Theodosia Benton abandons her career path as an attorney and shows up on her brother's doorstep with two suitcases and an unfinished novel, she expects to face a few challenges. Will her brother support her ambition or send her back to finish her degree? What will her parents say when they learn of her decision? Does she even have what it takes to be a successful writer? What Theo never expects is to be drawn into a hidden literary world in which identity is something that can be lost and remade for the sake of an audience. To protect the carefully constructed narrative, Theo Benton, and everyone looking for her, will have to die.  Intro Hello everyone, and welcome back to Pages of Perfiction. I'm Paige, and today I'm reviewing "The Mystery Writer" by Sulari Gentill , with no spoilers, as always. Those of you who have been here before know that my review style is he

Oh. My. God. Where do I even start? "All the Things We Never Said" is one of the best novels I've read in 2023. No, scratch that. This is one of the best novels I've ever read, period. I'm so excited to be reviewing this book, so instead of fumbling through the intros like I usually do, let's jump right into it!  Just a quick trigger warning first- A few of this book's themes include anxiety and depression. By the end of the novel, the protagonists have undergone a positive character arc and understand that life can be worth living; however, some sensitive readers might want to avoid this book.  Initial Reactions + Summary You've probably already gotten a good idea of my thoughts on this book. It's a unique, refreshing read that made me get really emotional.  Mehreen, a 16-year-old girl, has a voice in the back of her head. This voice tells her that she's not good enough, that she's always going to be left out. Mehreen's barely able to

This post is primary spoiler-free, and the mild spoilers included won't take away from the book. Twenty teenagers enter. Only five become guardians. Yahshi Konya shouldn’t be one of them. With low test scores, his selection for the Empire’s boarding school raises red flags. The guardians are offering him the opportunity of a lifetime, but at what cost? Taking a chance, he joins the aggressive military program and strikes an alliance with two trainees. Vell, the only girl, and Pinto, the overachiever. United, they tackle relentless challenges, watching their competitors dwindle. But the Academy is not what it seems. When dangerous truths emerge, Yahshi finds himself killing his friendships—and possibly his humanity. Hello and welcome to Pages of Perfiction! For those of you who are new here, I'm Paige and I post YA book reviews on this tiny corner of the internet. Today, I'm going to be sharing a review of Nightshade Academy , a fantasy/dystopian novel by Mel Torrefranca, a

The Kane Chronicles, Book One Hey there, everyone! Welcome to this review session. I'm Paige, and today, I’m beyond excited to share my honest thoughts on The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan, book one of The Kane Chronicles. Brace yourselves, because this book took me on an unforgettable journey filled with both laughter and mythological mystery. I was torn between awarding it four or five stars because it struck the perfect balance between humor and myth. However, after careful consideration, I've settled on giving it a solid four-star rating. So, let's dive right in and find out why. We’ll be covering three things in this review: a spoiler-free summary, my thoughts/the book’s statistics, and the rating breakdown. Summary of the book/Teaser: "The Red Pyramid" by Rick Riordan is an exhilarating adventure that immerses readers in the captivating world of Egyptian mythology. The story follows Carter and Sadie Kane, two siblings with a complicated family history, as

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Neilsen Hey, everyone! Thanks for stopping by. I'm Paige, and today we'll be diving into my honest (but brief) review of "The False Prince" by Jennifer A. Nielsen. Before we begin, I want to let you know that this post will be quick and fairly spoiler-free, only covering information revealed in the first ten-ish chapters. So, let's get started! Summary of the book/Teaser: "The False Prince" takes place in the fictional land of Carthya, nestled between Avenia and Britain. The story revolves around the royal family of Carthya, particularly King Eckbert, Queen Erin, and their two sons, Prince Darious and Prince Jaron. However, tragedy strikes when the royal family meet a devastating fate one by one, leaving the throne without a rightful heir.  Enter Sage, the intriguing protagonist with a mysterious past, who finds himself part of more than what he bargained for. Adopted by a man named Connor, Sage becomes part of a daring sc

Realistic Fiction: An underrated genre Hey everyone! Welcome back. I have a question for you: When’s the last time you read a heartwarming realistic fiction? This genre is usually drowned out by other popular themes like fantasy and mystery, so I truly hope this post inspires you to check out this usually underrated genre. To get you started, here are 25 of the greatest realistic fiction reads. What is realistic fiction? Bookriot.com perfectly states, "Realistic fiction can be defined as a genre of writing in which the characters, setting, and events are made up but could be real. The word “fiction” indicates that the story is imagined, while the word “realistic” means it is true-to-life. These stories resemble real life because they reflect real experiences—things people like you and I go through." What realistic fiction book for kids/teens should I read next? Here is a list to help. These titles are in no particular order. This list doesn't imply that I prefer "Th