Hi, ready for more Buddy Reviews?! Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction (she’s the one I have to thank for this for including me in her Wrap Up Round Up hosting duties!) calls them “Dual Reviews”, but I already have that as a thing, just for a different kind of thing, so… Buddy Reviews it is!

Please give a warm welcome to Danielle Hammelef to the blog! She’s fabulous, and she read both of these books and wanted to review them with me, so she is extra awesome!!

Rebel Spy by Veronica Rossi
Published by Delacorte Press on June 23, 2020
Pages: 368
Format:ARC
Source:Gift

A reimagining of the story behind Agent 355--a New York society girl and spy for George Washington during the Revolutionary War--perfect for fans of Tatiana de Rosnay's Sarah's Key and the novels of Julie Berry.

Rebellious Frannie Tasker knows little about the war between England and its thirteen colonies in 1776, until a shipwreck off her home in Grand Bahama Island presents an unthinkable opportunity. The body of a young woman floating in the sea gives Frannie the chance to escape her brutal stepfather--and she takes it.

Assuming the identity of the drowned Emmeline Coates, Frannie is rescued by a British merchant ship and sails with the crew to New York. For the next three years, Frannie lives a lie as Miss Coates, swept up in a courtship by a dashing British lieutenant. But after witnessing the darker side of the war, she realizes that her position gives her power. Soon she finds herself eavesdropping on British officers, risking everything to pass information on to George Washington's Culper spy ring as agent 355. Frannie believes in the fight for American liberty--but what will it cost her? Inspired by the true "355" and rich in historical detail and intrigue, this is the story of an unlikely New York society girl turned an even unlikelier spy.

Our Thoughts

Shannon: I am a huge Veronica Rossi fan, and was so excited to get to this one (so, extra happy when Danielle picked it)! Admittedly, I had a little trouble getting into it at first, but soon enough I was fully immersed. I actually almost kept it for myself and bought Danielle a copy, but then I selfishly wanted to see what the finished copy looked like so I added it to my wishlist ?

Danielle: This is my first book by this author and it won’t be my last! The lyrical writing, especially about the sea, blew me away and made my heart happy. This is one of the best books I’ve read this year. I’m so pleased I picked it and I also hope to get a finished copy so I’m  adding it to my wishlist. I watched Hamilton when it dropped on Disney, so this book had excellent timing in my life.

Shannon: I approve of all of Danielle’s recent life choices, frankly. Also, Frannie makes the perfect spy, because she’s basically spent her whole life hiding who she is to survive. First, to deal with her mom’s crappy boyfriend, then to stay alive after her mom passes and she’s left alone with this scumbag, then when the opportunity to become a high-society orphan presents itself. So being a spy? Yeah, that’s in Frannie’s nature. Not that it makes it easy- she has to overcome all kinds of preconceived beliefs, but she’s well-suited for it.

Danielle: Agreed! Frannie pulled me in from the start and never let go. I felt every emotion along with her, including the anger and terror created by her stepdad. Frannie was flawed, but so intelligent and loving.

Shannon: Yeah she’s an awesome protagonist, no question! So, is the book predictable? Well, sure, in the sense that it literally tells you what happens in the prologue, and also you just kind of know where it’s heading, but that doesn’t make the adventure any less fun. Oh, and there is a romance that I loved. But my favorite part? That would be Frannie figuring out who she really was, underneath all the pretending, all the hidden facets of herself.

Danielle:I really enjoyed the format of the book with the prologue–I mean it’s historical fiction and just like Hamilton, the audience knows some of the facts, so showing the reader Frannie’s arrest first was an excellent literary choice. This book was so well researched and that made my enjoyment of Frannie’s story even better. And the romance was the best, agreed. I also loved the ending in which you mentioned Frannie’s revelation above–it was so hopeful, yet open ended to all the future possibilities for Frannie and Asa.

Shannon: Oh absolutely, I was quite impressed with how true to the time it felt- and I liked that it was hopeful but not like, unrealistic. Definitely a win for both of us!

FINAL VERDICT: 

Shannon:

Danielle:

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The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly by Jamie Pacton
Published by Page Street Kids on May 5, 2020
Pages: 378
Format:ARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review

Working as a wench ― i.e. waitress ― at a cheesy medieval-themed restaurant in the Chicago suburbs, Kit Sweetly dreams of being a knight like her brother. She has the moves, is capable on a horse, and desperately needs the raise that comes with knighthood, so she can help her mom pay the mortgage and hold a spot at her dream college.

Company policy allows only guys to be knights. So when Kit takes her brother’s place and reveals her identity at the end of the show, she rockets into internet fame and a whole lot of trouble with the management. But the Girl Knight won’t go down without a fight. As other wenches join her quest, a protest forms. In a joust before Castle executives, they’ll prove that gender restrictions should stay medieval―if they don’t get fired first.

Moxie meets A Knight’s Tale as Kit Sweetly slays sexism, bad bosses, and bad luck to become a knight at a medieval-themed restaurant.

Our Thoughts

Shannon: I mean, this was cute, right? Maybe it didn’t blow my mind or whatever, but it was a cute story. I am always here for a book where characters try to overthrow the patriarchal bullshit, and this has that in spades. And a medieval festival is obviously a fun place to be undertaking this. If non-males wanna joust, then you let them, because it’s 2020 for goodness sake!

Danielle: The girl rising up for women’s rights was one of the reasons I chose to read this book as I firmly believe women can do anything. I cheered for Kit on this fight. And as someone who loves horses, I also thought the medieval jousting was fun.

Shannon: Honestly, Danielle is right- I bet it would be a good time! I liked that Kit had some close friendships, too, and that they had her back in her fight against The Man. And there’s some romance, which… it was fine. There’s the Lie of Omission Trope™, which irks me, I won’t lie. Kit gets in a big old kerfuffle, because she doesn’t tell everyone the whole truth, and I just. I know this is a personal thing but I cannot with this trope. I do understand that it is a thing that happens in life! But I guess I don’t like it in life either, so there you go.

Danielle:The fierce friendships and family loyalty were really a high point of this book for me. I was very pleased with how Kit’s friends didn’t just forgive her, but made her earn back their trust.

Shannon:So yeah, cute, positive message, but not otherwise particularly memorable. Kit was fine, but not my fave, ditto… well, everyone else.

Danielle:Yes, definitely a cute and quick read with fun characters. I had bigger hopes for this one as I find myself struggling trying to remember now. I wished there had been more swoony moments between Kit and Jett. I never really understood the whole staying just friends aspect was their thing as friends to more relationships can be the strongest ones.

(Shannon: I agree, I never really understood that aspect either- which frustrated me a bit, because it seemed like they just kind of wanted to make themselves miserable for funsies! )

FINAL VERDICT: 

Shannon:

Danielle:

Have you read either of these? Thoughts? And hey, aren’t books better with friends?! Huge thanks to Danielle for coming to play!