Though the years my tears may dry I shall love you til I die: MAKE ME A MONSTER.

Make Me a Monster by Kalynn Bayron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to a long drive and the power of audiobooks, I read this book in one day (half audio, half print)!

This is a Frankenstein-inspired horror story, with a YA romance bent. Be forewarned, it's a bit weird. But really good. But rather gruesome. And did I mention a bit weird?

High schooler Meka has grown up in her family's Redwood funeral home. (Literally, they live in the same building as their business.) Even though she's only in high school, Meka is already a certified mortician's assistant. She has a life plan and a wonderful boyfriend, Noah. Death is a part of her daily life, but it doesn't bother her.

But then, something awful happens. Strange happenings start occurring. And it seems like the dead people that Meka is so used to... aren't staying dead.

I love Bayron's books. They are just so compelling. This story is part love story between Maya and Noah, part horror, as body parts are falling off all around us. Be prepared, too, for some very detailed descriptions of funeral home procedures, death, and oh yeah, those severed body parts.

I'm not a big horror person, but while I grimaced at a few scenes, I really liked this story. As with pretty much everything Bayron writes, it's original and funny (even when laced with tragedy!) coupled with well-written, diverse characters. 4+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from Bloomsbury YA and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.

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And it takes all the strength I've got: SLEEP LIKE DEATH.

Sleep Like Death by Kalynn Bayron
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Even when doing a retelling, you can always count on Kalynn Bayron's books to be unique and different. Honestly, I either don't know the Snow White story well or Bayron made a ton of changes, because SLEEP LIKE DEATH was always surprising!

Princess Eve was raised to hate the Knight, a traveling creature who has tormented her Kingdom by granting wishes with a catch; no matter what, they only work out favorably for the Knight in the end. She knows this firsthand; one of her moms, wishing for a beautiful voice, was turned into a bird. Now Eve is catching her other mom, Queen Regina, acting strange, and talking into a looking glass/stone.

I won't lie; some of this book is really weird. I'm okay with that part; pieces of it were rather frustrating, though, and that was more difficult. I certainly wish the LGBTQIA+ angle was stronger beyond Eve's two moms (I mean one is a bird) and some pining. Based on Bayron's other books, there was so much more she could have done here. Instead, Eve has a romance with Nova, a messenger of the Knight, that often feels completely unfounded. They see each other, talk once or twice, and then boom, they are suddenly in love. The lack of connections or reasoning in the story made little sense.

DEATH is stronger when it comes to its allusions to myths and stories. There's a very neat parallel to the Seven Dwarfs and some decent attempts at reversing gender stereotypes from Snow White (some fail, though). The book explores dark magic, often veering deeply into sad and tragic territory--this is certainly not a Disney retelling. It looks at the relationships of mothers and daughters and women in general. Eve's relationship with Queen Regina is complicated; sometimes, you wish everyone in the story would simply communicate more. (Or stop making doomed wishes?)

I enjoyed the story the most when Eve was off exploring and attempting to save her kingdom. This was an interesting retelling, but it seemed like a lot of the connections were missing--not a lot of backstory to the Knight's vengeance, Eve's romance, and more. It's a quick read, but lacking some depth.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Bloomsbury YA in return for an unbiased review.

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She's showing you her scars, isn't she: YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DIE TONIGHT.

You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Charity Curtis has a summer job working as the "final girl" at Camp Mirror Lake, where guests pay to experience a full immersion horror terror game based on a movie filmed at the same location. As the camp nears closing for the season, some of Charity's coworkers stop showing up for work. Annoyed by her unreliable employees, Charity and her remaining crew press on, bringing in some friends as reinforcements. But soon, someone turns up dead--and Charity realizes they are playing the game for real.

I really love a lot of Bayron's books, but this one really wasn't for me. A lot of that is on me: I'm just not a huge horror person. This book is filled with characters who love horror tropes and the rules of horror, but they freaking ignore them all and make terrible decisions. I wanted to scream at them constantly! The camp setting, by an eerie lake, is certainly effective, and there are some truly terrifying, creepy moments.

The book takes a turn though about halfway through and turns into a strange weird horror fantasy mashup. There's a ton of blood and gore, but also a very weird plot twist that just made everything odd.

The book has excellent queer rep and strong black characters, so I loved that part. I just didn't care for the strange plot change-up and how slow it felt at times. But if you like horror and fantasy (especially together), you'll enjoy this one. 3 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Bloomsbury YA and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.


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But I've been searching high and low and all around this town: THIS WICKED FATE.

This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron
My rating: 4.5+ of 5 stars

Briseis has grown up a lot. (Spoilers if you haven't read book #1). She's learned how her family, descendants of Medea, daughter of Hecate, niece of Circe, wife of Jason, is tasked with guarding the Absyrtus Heart--a plant that just happens to be incredibly deadly. Pieces have been separated over hundreds of generations. Jason's line has always wanted the heart and has been hunting it and Bri's family. Her family has been trying to get the pieces of the heart back and destroy them all. But the stakes are even higher now: if they do not get them all back within 28 days, Bri's mom will be lost forever.

What follows is a wonderful, queer mythical fantasy adventure that will completely sweep you off your feet! Bri is one of my absolute favorite heroines in YA literature. She is smart, funny, and real (and bi), and her focus on family is just lovely. Bayron's writing is just gorgeous: the descriptions of gardens and plants are so beautiful, not to mention all the mythology. She brings to life the world of Medea and all these mythical places and gods and goddesses. I felt as if we truly got to know Circe more.

These books are wonderful in that they are fun fantasy reads but also cover serious topics; as Bayron states: generational burden, grief, and healing. It covers the bonds of family and also friendship.

Overall, I love this series, and I found this book to be absolutely stunning! 4.5+ stars.

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All the years seemed to take up air: THIS POISON HEART.

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Wonderful and captivating YA fantasy

Briseis knows she has a rare gift--with just a touch, she can grow plants. But this gift also attracts attention. So when she inherits an estate in rural New York from a relative, Briseis and her moms see this as a chance to get away and perhaps learn to control her power. Upon arriving at her new home, Briseis finds it to be beautiful--and mysterious. The property is filled with secret gardens and the house itself with notes and clues about her family's past. Then the local townsfolk start showing up at Briseis' doorstep, and she realizes the house once served as an apothecary. Briseis has an uncanny knack for whipping up the healing potions everyone desires, but the more she investigates, she realizes there is a darker side to the house and its powers. One that could have dangerous consequences for Briseis and her entire family.

"I was pretty sure that growing a poisonous bush in the park wasn't what they had in mind for how I should spend my summer."

This was a completely awesome book! The story is totally engrossing. There are poisonous plants, secret gardens, Greek mythology, and a gothic vibe--what's not to love? Briseis is an amazing character. She's strong, brave, and tough; she's also bisexual and loved unconditionally by her two moms, Mom and Mo. The book offers such a great family dynamic, with an excellent attitude toward adoption. It's no big deal that Bri is bi or that she has two Moms--it's just a fact of life. How I appreciate that in a YA book.

"'Did I--did I inherit the Addams Family Mansion?'"

I've read several books lately with Greek mythology and didn't care for them, but this one broke the mold. The stories are woven in perfectly and add to the plot flawlessly. The story is completely captivating and I loved all the strong women in it. It's also part mystery, part myth, which adds to the page-turning aspect. (Be forewarned, this is book #1, so this ends on a bit of a cliffhanger.)

Overall, cannot recommend this book enough. It's a unique and mesmerizing fantasy. The fact that it's so queer inclusive is lovely. I'll be impatiently waiting for book #2. 4.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Bloomsbury USA Children's in return for an unbiased review.

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Still I go home again in my heart: PAST PERFECT LIFE.

Past Perfect Life by Elizabeth Eulberg

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Ally Smith has a happy life in Wisconsin with her dad and her friends. Her only worry is her college applications, but that’s normal. But when Ally officially filed them, they send up a red flag due to her social security number. It seems that Ally Smith isn’t Ally Smith. Her real name is Amanda, and now her happy life is no more. Is her whole life a lie? And what’s going to happen now?

If you’re looking for a captivating and emotional read, look no further than PAST PERFECT LIFE! I won this book via a LibraryThing giveaway, and it was so enjoyable! I found this to be a totally mesmerizing book. If I could have, I would have stayed up all night and read it in one sitting (believe me, I tried. Darn responsibilities.). Ally’s voice was unique, sweet, and just so well-done. The book has a teen style, but this Mama couldn’t stop reading. I loved that it was character-driven yet there was almost a tinge of mystery. It’s emotional, funny, romantic, and completely compelling! Highly recommend! 4 stars.

Thanks to LibraryThing and Bloomsbury YA for my copy.

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