The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter

Blogger's note: I'd like to apologize for two Mondays that have gone by without a new review. I recently started grad school, which means that I can't read as much as I used to. For the foreseeable future, reviews will no longer be every Monday, but will be posted when they are written. Thank you.

More info*

Publication date: 2017
Publisher: Ace Books
Pages: 417
My rating: 3 stars
Ages: 16+
Series: Noctis Magicae

Gray is a talented magician, studying at the best college in the country, when he suddenly finds himself in the kind of trouble that can't be easily fixed. He's taken to work at his professor's country home in the north, which is where he meets Sophie, the professor's second daughter. But there is more to the professor and Sophie than it seems at first, which leads Gray and Sophie into an dangerous adventure which could change the entire country.

This is a revisionist, fantasy historical novel. The world building is great and fully developed; not once did I feel like Hunter was talking down or delving into exposition, instead it was natural and understandable.

Though this is the first of a series, it reads as a standalone. It was enjoyable to read (solid 3 stars), but it took me a long time to get through it. This could have just been because of life events, but I did find myself wondering when it was going to end.

There was no language or sex.

*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

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Publication date: 2017
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 388
My rating: 3 stars
Ages: 16+

When Bailey moves across the country to live with her dad, she attempts to find the guy she only knows as Alex she's been chatting with online who lives in the same town. Instead, she ends up meeting Porter, a cocky and rude surfer boy who Bailey can't seem to get away from. But when things start to change with Porter, will Bailey be able to forget Alex?

This is kind of a take on You've Got Mail or The Shop Around the Corner—two people meet through writing to each other and don't realize when they meet in real life who they are.

What makes it interesting is that both Bailey and Porter are damaged, both physically and mentally. It makes their friendship and interactions deeper and more difficult to understand. Fortunately, there isn't a lot of misunderstandings, or if there are, they don't last long.

There were times when I wondered about descriptions of the town, set in central California, since I've been to that area and it isn't the sunniest and usually isn't very warm, but the characters would be wearing shorts, but I suppose it could be different from where I was thinking.

There is swearing and sex.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.