More September Books! So many September books!

When Villains Rise by Rebecca Schaeffer
The Other Side of the Sky by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
Bearmouth by Liz Hyder
The Insomniacs by Marit Weisenberg

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When Villains Rise by Rebecca Schaeffer
Series: Market of Monsters #3
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on September 8, 2020
Pages: 384
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Edelweiss

Dexter meets Victoria Schwab in this dark and compelling fantasy about a girl who is determined to take down the black market once and for all in the conclusion to the trilogy that started with the critically acclaimed Not Even Bones.

Nita finally has Fabricio, the boy who betrayed her to the black market, within her grasp. But when proof that Kovit’s a zannie—a monster who eats pain in order to survive—is leaked to the world, Nita must reevalute her plans.   With enemies closing in on all sides, the only way out is for Nita and Kovit to take on the most dangerous man in the world: Fabricio’s father. He protects the secrets of the monsters who run the black market. Stealing those secrets could be the one thing that stands between Nita and Kovit and certain death in the thrilling conclusion to the trilogy that began with the critically acclaimed Not Even Bones.

I have enjoyed this series throughout, and while I will say that the first book probably remains my favorite, this is definitely a satisfying conclusion! I am going to try to keep out all spoilers for the series, so this will probably be a shorter review!

The characters are, as always, a huge highlight. They take gray morality to the next level, and are undoubtedly antiheroes. And of this, they’re not deluded, they fully understand that they are at the very least the villains of someone’s story. But with their lives on the line, we can certainly feel sympathetic and understanding of their fight for survival.

The settings the books have taken place in are kind of fabulous. This one is no different, but I will keep it vague because where they end up is likely a spoiler. I will say though, it won’t disappoint!

And yes, the plights of the characters are appropriately resolved, which is always my biggest worry in a series, so rest assured that the conclusion of this one will satisfy you! It is still a very dark book with a lot of brutality, but there is a sort of glimmer of hope, too.

Bottom Line: The Market of Monsters series is pretty much a hit from start to finish, so if you’ve been curious about it, now is a great time to dive in!

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The Other Side of the Sky by Amie Kaufman, Meagan Spooner
Series: The Other Side of the Sky #1
Published by HarperTeen on September 8, 2020
Pages: 480
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Edelweiss

Prince North’s home is in the sky, in a gleaming city held aloft by intricate engines powered by technology. Nimh is the living goddess of her people on the surface, responsible for providing answers, direction—hope.

Linked by a terrifying prophecy and caught between duty and fate, they must choose between saving their people or succumbing to the bond that is forbidden between them.

Magnetic and gorgeously thematic, New York Times bestselling author duo Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner have crafted a gripping tale of magic and logic, fate and choice, and an impossible decision between an empty future and a deadly love.

Perfect for fans of Claudia Gray and Laini Taylor.

Definitely a fabulously unique and well-built world, I found myself feeling a bit mixed on this one. But fear not, the good definitely outweighs the not-as-good!

What I Loved:

• The world was definitely impressive and unique! I mean, there was so much about the world to uncover, which in itself is fun! But I also loved how each character had their specific view of what the world was. North’s world was very based in technology and science, while Nimh’s is full of magic and mystery and mayhem. And neither really had a clue about the former!
• I loved how skeptical North was of the magic! I mean, same, my dude. I would have been just like him, rolling my eyes and figuring it was just science that no one understood. It felt really realistic, no question!
• I liked the characters, even if I didn’t feel particularly connected to them. I mean, they were definitely interesting to read about. A prince falling from the sky, a reluctant goddess who accepted her responsibility to her people even if she didn’t love the idea. And frankly, I felt like they were alike in a lot of ways- trapped in situations that were outside their control, situations they didn’t quite know how to free themselves from (or, if they should free themselves, even).
• I mean, the cover is a work of art. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention it. I want it on my bookshelves, is what I am saying.

What I Didn’t:

• Gosh, I just didn’t feel very connected to the characters! Like, I didn’t dislike them or anything, don’t get me wrong! I just… didn’t quite grasp their motivations for stuff? (“Stuff” of course is potentially spoilery, hence my vagueness.)
• I just wanna talk to whoever compared this to The 100. Look, I understand that not everything can be The 100, much to my chagrin. And I love plenty of things that aren’t The 100! I do, promise! But like… this is just not a thing that is similar?
• The pacing seemed a little slow. Especially in the middle. The beginning was interesting enough to hold my attention for sure, and things really picked up at the end, but there were some points in the middle that felt a little sloggy to me.

Bottom Line: I am super curious about North’s world, and what will happen next (that cliffhanger though!), so I’m probably going to pick up the sequel, but I do hope for more character connections going forward!

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Bearmouth by Liz Hyder
Published by Norton Young Readers on September 8, 2020
Pages: 256
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Edelweiss

Life in Bearmouth is one of hard labor and isolation, the sunlit world far above the mine a distant memory. Newt has lived in the mine since the age of four, and accepts everything from the harsh working conditions to the brutality of the mine’s leaders—until the mysterious Devlin arrives and dares to ask the question, “Why?” As tensions rise, Newt is soon looking at Bearmouth with a fresh perspective—challenging the system and setting in motion a change of events that could destroy their entire world.

An utterly distinctive voice, propulsive and page-turning storytelling, high stakes, heart-stopping twists, and a sense of moral purpose make Bearmouth an unforgettable and unparalleled debut.

This was definitely a very different sort of book! The first thing you’ll notice in Bearmouth is the writing style- it’s written as Newt assumes words are spelled, in a phonetic way, which does take some getting used to. We’re told the story of the mine through Newt’s perspective, one that has seen quite a few atrocities. So let’s dive into what worked for me and what didn’t!

“I am diffrent see. I am not one thing or the uvver. They call me YouNuck for I am not a boy nor yet a wimmin an they hold no truck for gels down here so I must by all akkounts be a YouNuck. Not one thing or the uvver. Thomas dunt lyke them calling me that tho so he calls me Newt.”

Yays:

• The atmosphere was very on point. The book is set in an underground cavern, and yep, you absolutely feel it. You also feel how isolating and just flat out depressing the whole environment is.
• I love when characters are able to fight back against their circumstances. These characters could have easily just accepted their lot and no one would have blamed them. But instead, they fought hard against their oppressors, even when they knew it could cost them everything- even their very lives.
• Speaking of, the stakes were obviously high. We see from the very start of the book that this mine is brutal. Newt and the rest of the bunk sees loss constantly, to the point that it’s seemingly commonplace.
• Newt and the rest of the group are certainly sympathetic. While I didn’t fully connect with them (see below), I still liked them! And you cannot help but root for Newt, especially after seeing the horrors that take place in the mine. No one deserves that, but we’re talking mere children in some cases, and it’s brutal.

Nays:

• I know that it was purposeful and I appreciate it, but I also can’t pretend that the writing style wasn’t very hard to read. Because not only did I have to read it, but it was like I was on-the-fly translating as well, and so it took a long time to read, basically.
• I don’t know if it was because of the writing style, or if it just happened this way, but I had a bit of a hard time connecting to the characters. I absolutely felt sympathetic toward them, but beyond being in really a really horrible situation, I didn’t know much else about them.
• I feel like this may have been purposeful, but I wanted more worldbuilding. I am just too curious a person to not know. And I didn’t, at all. Why were these people subjected to this place? (Though I will say, I enjoyed the author’s note, perhaps that will help you as it did me!)  What other horrors were happening in the world around them? Because it takes place all in this one hellish mine, we don’t really get an idea of the outside.

Bottom Line: A unique story that manages to be at once bleak but hopeful.

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The Insomniacs by Marit Weisenberg
Published by Flatiron Books on September 1, 2020
Pages: 336
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Netgalley

A sharp and romantic novel about two suburban teens who can’t sleep uncovering the secrets of their neighborhood by night. Think The Summer I Turned Pretty with flashes of Rear Window!

When seventeen-year-old competitive diver Ingrid freezes up and sustains a head injury at a routine meet, her orderly life is turned upside down. Now housebound and sedentary on doctor’s orders, Ingrid can’t sleep and is haunted by the question of what triggered her uncharacteristic stage fright.

The only thing she remembers about the moment before the dive is seeing Van, her neighbor, former best friend, and forever crush, on the sidelines. Then one sleepless night, she sees Van outside her window...looking right back at her. They tentatively begin “not sleeping” together every night but still living separate lives by day.

Ingrid tells herself this is just temporary, but soon, she and Van are up every night together, increasingly intertwined in helping each other put pieces of memory together. As Van works through his own reasons for not being able to sleep, both of them are pulled into a mystery that threatens to turn their quiet neighborhood into a darker place than they realized.

Oh hi, I loved this book. A lot. It centers around Ingrid, who has just suffered a concussion during a brutal diving injury. Have you ever seen a diver hit their head on the board? It is horrifying. The blood, the dead silence of the crowd… 0/10, do not recommend. Well, neither does Ingrid. After a very successful career, she’s doubting herself and her capabilities. She’s never before felt that sense of doubt, so it’s shaken her. And with her injury, she is forced to step back from diving, which has become her life.

One of the side effects of her concussion seems to be insomnia, and while she’s awake roaming the halls, Ingrid reconnects with neighbor/former friend/longtime crush Van. Van just so happened to be at the meet where Ingrid was hurt and okay, maybe Ingrid had been a bit rattled when she saw him canoodling her teammate right before her dive. Look, this is why my high school coach would kick any guy immediately off the deck, she’d not even need security, she’d just drag him away herself. By the ear, probably. I digress.

Not only are Ingrid and Van rekindling their friendship, but they’re on a mission to find out a few things: What is up with the creepy, abandoned house next door; what the deal is with their other (former) mutual friends; why neither one of them can sleep; and a whole other slew of mysteries that creep up along the way.

I’ll say no more, because spoilers. But the mystery is really fun (and I didn’t see where it was headed at all!) but even more wonderful is how Ingrid learns and grows, and takes the time to build (and rebuild) relationships with her family, her friends (current and former), and begins to figure out what she really wants out of life.

Bottom Line: I loved this book so much, and I am so afraid to spoil any of it for you, so you should really just read the thing.

Have you read any of these books? Plan to? Let us chat about them!