Scarlet

 Scarlet by Marissa Meyer 464 pages

Synopsis: Cinder is back and trying to break out of prison―even though she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive if she does―in this second installment from Marissa Meyer.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother, or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana.

My Thoughts: This book was based off of the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood and it did NOT disappoint! All of the characters are hilarious. I loved being able to focus on another character in the same world, but continue the story from the first book and the first character we were introduced to. 

Heir of Fire

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas | 576 pages | 2014

Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak-but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth . . . a truth about her heritage that could change her life-and her future-forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

The Reformatory by Tananrive Due

 

The Reformatory by Tananrive Due - 570 pages

Gracetown, Florida

June 1950

Twelve-year-old Robbie Stephens, Jr., is sentenced to six months at the Gracetown School for Boys, a reformatory, for kicking the son of the largest landowner in town in defense of his older sister, Gloria. So begins Robbie’s journey further into the terrors of the Jim Crow South and the very real horror of the school they call The Reformatory.

Robbie has a talent for seeing ghosts, or haints. But what was once a comfort to him after the loss of his mother has become a window to the truth of what happens at the reformatory. Boys forced to work to remediate their so-called crimes have gone missing, but the haints Robbie sees hint at worse things. Through his friends Redbone and Blue, Robbie is learning not just the rules but how to survive. Meanwhile, Gloria is rallying every family member and connection in Florida to find a way to get Robbie out before it’s too late.

The Reformatory is a haunting work of historical fiction written as only American Book Award–winning author Tananarive Due could, by piecing together the life of the relative her family never spoke of and bringing his tragedy and those of so many others at the infamous Dozier School for Boys to the light in this riveting novel.

This wasn't horror in the normal sense, at least for me.  Sure, there were haints, but the true horror was how the boys were treated at The Reformatory.  Based off of the real reform school, Dozier School for Boys in Florida which is a scary thing to read about as well. 

Wade Wilson: Deadpool (2026-) #2 by Benjamin Percy

Wade Wilson: Deadpool (2026-) #2 by Benjamin Percy-24 pages

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NO MORE CLOWNING AROUND! A deadly subway caper shows DEADPOOL the The secret message he received was right! And with intel on crimes before they are committed, Wade Wilson has no choice but to do the right exploit his insider knowledge for PROFIT and COLD HARD CASH! Merc's gotta merc! But can he outrun the horrible pain of his tragic mistake, or is this all setting Wade up for the worst fall of his life?

Thoughts: This is a fun, short read from a new series about Deadpool. I've seen all the Deadpool movies, so I thought I might enjoy this and I was right. 

Wonder Woman: Black & Gold 2026 Special by Steve Orlando, Tom King, and Rossi Gifford

Wonder Woman: Black & Gold 2026 Special by Steve Orlando, Tom King, and Rossi Gifford-40 pages

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Witness thrilling tales starring the Amazon Princess—embellished in the color of her famous lasso. This round, the Eisner Award-winning team of Tom King and Mitch Gerads (Mister Miracle, One Bad Day) reunites, Steve Orlando has Diana search for the truth in a land of lies, Alyssa Wong brings Wonder Woman to the Spirit World, and the team behind Wonder The Adventures of Young Diana is back for more!

Thoughts: I enjoyed reading this collection of stories. My favorite was the first in which a young girl, Penny, waits with a museum docent to finally meet Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman gets delayed fighting off several villains, but eventually shows up and Penny gets to meet her. I liked all 5 stories, though.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Battle Nexus #3 by Sophie Campbell; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Battle Nexus #4 by Caleb Goellner

 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Battle Nexus #3 by Sophie Campbell-32 pages

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Synopsis: As if the outcome of Leonardo vs. the original Shredder weren’t shocking enough, the Ninja Turtles are blown away to discover they’re not alone in the otherworldly realm of the Battle Nexus—or, indeed, in the universe itself. When the twisted battle master [REDACTED] calls for a wildcard match between former flames Raphael and Alopex, their prodigious fighting skills—and unbelievable tempers—could bring down the entire Battle Nexus!

Thoughts: This is a fun, short read! I've enjoyed reading this short series and getting back into TMNT. 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Battle Nexus #4 by Caleb Goellner-32 pages

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Synopsis: Where do Battle Nexus fighters go when they lose? You can bet it’s not very pleasant, as one of our Ninja Turtles heroes discovers when he’s transported there after a brutal bout. But what he finds is something he never himself. Meanwhile, Donatello is pitted against Metalhead, a robotic Ninja Turtle from another universe! Originally designed by a version of Donnie to help the TMNT become the best fighters they could be, this Metalhead has been reprogrammed to use all of Donnie’s brilliance against him! How can one Ninja Turtle hope to defeat a state-of-the-art machine that knows every fighting style in existence?!

Thoughts: Before reading this series I didn't realize there's a multiverse in TMNT. It seems like there's a multiverse concept in a lot of comics now. I continue to enjoy reading this series and I'm excited to read the conclusion, which is the next volume.

Ender's Game (Ender's Saga, #1) by Orson Scott Card

 Ender's Game (Ender's Saga, #1) by Orson Scott Card-324 pages

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Synopsis: In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race's next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves more than anyone else, his sister Valentine. Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program but didn't make the cut—young Ender is the Wiggin drafted to the orbiting Battle School for rigorous military training.

Ender's skills make him a leader in school and respected in the Battle Room, where children play at mock battles in zero gravity. Yet growing up in an artificial community of young soldiers Ender suffers greatly from isolation, rivalry from his peers, pressure from the adult teachers, and an unsettling fear of the alien invaders. His psychological battles include loneliness, fear that he is becoming like the cruel brother he remembers, and fanning the flames of devotion to his beloved sister.

Is Ender the general Earth needs? But Ender is not the only result of the genetic experiments. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway for almost as long. Ender's two older siblings are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. Between the three of them lie the abilities to remake a world. If, that is, the world survives.

Ender's Game is the winner of the 1985 Nebula Award for Best Novel and the 1986 Hugo Award for Best Novel.

Thoughts: I watched the movie a few years ago, but hadn't read the book before this. The book is a good, fast-paced read. I'm interested to watch the movie again and see how it compares with the book.