Inspired by the Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale, The Wish Granter is an adventure like I’ve never experienced before.  Teague is the infamous and titular Wish Granter, a fae who grants people their greatest desires in exchange for something quite valuable: their souls.  The exchange leads to nothing but misery for now King Thad and his sister, Ari.  Their mother was murdered, the former king and his family were killed, all in exchange for Ari’s safety.  When Ari learns about the magical contract between her brother and Teague, she’ll stop at nothing to save her brother and her community from the reign of the Wish Granter.  She gains a friend, Sebastian, along the way, who may not be exactly who he says he is.  Everything is on the line for both Ari and Teague, and if Ari can’t outwit him she’ll lose everything, including her soul. I loved this one so much that I’m giving it a full review on the blog! Read more to see my rating and full review. 

You are completely healthy.  Not a care in the world.  Then your life comes crashing down around you as it becomes difficult for you to walk, work, or enjoy anything.  Crippling pain is your constant reminder that things aren’t what they used to be.  Life sounds pretty miserable, right?

For Cami Walker, a thirty-something with multiple sclerosis, this was her reality.  Lost in the fog of chronic illness, she felt that there was no hope.  That is, until she received a life-changing prescription from her friend, an African medicine woman.  Walker was challenged to give 29 gifts, one gift a day, for 29 days.  What follows was a lesson in giving and receiving in order to change one’s outlook on life.  29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life was one of the first books I picked up when I first developed my chronic illness.  I was only given one chapter a day, which helped me keep my mind off of my physical limitations at the time and on what I could do to participate in my own 29 days of giving.  
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I have a special place in my heart for this book, and I think everyone can stand to benefit from Walker’s candid story.  Read more to find out the full story of how this book entered my life and why I think you should pick it up!

Reminiscent of The Chronicles of Narnia, Tiger Kingdom and The Book of Destiny is a middle grade read for kiddos who want to be transported into another land. Twins Suzie and Jack find themselves in Tiger Kingdom’s enchanted forest filled with talking animals and creatures. As they continue exploring they learn that they aren’t the only humans in the land and that they have been called to help find Queen Mohini and her cubs. The Tiger King, Sampson, sends them on a quest to find the Book of Destiny to help restore the Queen to her home. 

The Metropolitans is a fast-paced adventure that would make any history-buff kiddo fall in love with the story. Join the four thirteen-year-old heroes (or villains) as they attempt to save the world following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Taking place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (hence the title), history jumps off the page in the strangest ways! This fantasy allows the characters, and readers alike, to experience Arthurian tales that come to life as the teens attempt to stop more attacks on the US by the Nazis. It's a healthy mix of Arthurian tales, spies, and World War II, with diverse characters that will appeal to many middle-grade readers. It was reminiscent of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson adventures and some fun timey-wimey Doctor Who fun. My only qualm is that there is so much history packed into this novel, that it felt a bit overwhelming. However, if you can't get enough historical fiction with a fantastical twist, you'll think this book is the bee's knees.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars