Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

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Publication date: 2017
Publisher: Random House
Pages: 384
My rating: 3 stars
Ages: 15+
Series: DC Icons

Diana, though princess of the Amazons, has tried to prove her place an Themyscira her entire life. When she rescues a human from a shipwreck, she has the choice to either let her die or to save her. Alia has been overprotected her entire life and just wanted to experience some freedom. What she doesn't realize is that, as a warbringer (a descendant of Helen of Troy), she creates a spirit of discord wherever she goes. It's up to Diana to try to break the warbringer line and bring peace to the world, even if it means sacrificing her place as an Amazon.

There is something I learned from reading this book, and that is that you can't try to fit these new superhero books into what you know about the character and their story line. If you'll remember, I had a problem with that before. It's important to keep this in mind because it doesn't follow the time line of the old TV series, or the new movie. Instead, Warbringer takes place in the present day, though Diana is still a teenager.

I felt like it was slow to get into, with the middle being interesting and intriguing, and the end again slowing down. The twist was unexpected, though I'm not sure how well I liked it, even if it did go against cliches and tropes.

I was also a little disappointed when my copy came and the cover had been printed incorrectly.

There wasn't any language that stood out to me, and very little mention of sex.

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

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale

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Publication date: 2017
Publisher: Marvel Press
Pages: 336
My rating: 4 stars
Ages: 10+

Doreen Green has just moved to New Jersey and ready to make new friends, just like any other 14 year old. However, Doreen isn't your run-of-the-mill teenager--she has a giant squirrel tail. She usually hides it, but when some trouble starts going down in her neighborhood, she takes action. Now, she's Squirrel Girl! Saving babies and befriending squirrels!

Having never heard of Squirrel Girl before it was announced that the Hales were going to write the novel, I went into this with no expectations. I was very pleasantly surprised! It was fun, with great little jokes peppered throughout (some that maybe kids wouldn't get as they are plays on words). I especially liked Doreen's optimism and kindness, even as she's fighting the villain.

I would say that this is more of a "middle grade" book than young adult. Also, I feel that Doreen acts younger than her age. Granted, it's been a few years since I was 14, but I don't quite remember it the way it's portrayed in the book. Of course, I try to block out a lot of my teen years, so it's completely possible.

Anyway. Great book for any one who likes superheros. No language or sex.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl

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Publication date: 2015
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 399
My rating: 2.5 stars
Ages: 13+

Eight years ago, Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow, returned to Ukraine to finish off the man who created her, Ivan. In destroying Ivan's work, S.H.I.E.L.D. inherited his last project--a young girl name Ava. Eight years later, Ava—haunted by dreams she doesn't understand—learns that Ivan isn't as dead as everyone thought. It's up to Natasha and Ava to get rid of him, once and for all.

I was SO excited for this book. I love the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) and the women in the movies are awesome. I thought this book would give me a closer look into Natasha's training in the Red Room and perhaps how she came to work for S.H.I.E.L.D. Imagine my surprise when the book wasn't really about Natasha at all. Sure, Nat was in it and played a large role, but really it was about 16 year old Ava. I found the parts with Natasha much more interesting than the rest of the novel.

The whole time I was reading, I was trying to fit the book into the MCU. I don't know if it's meant to, but the inclusion of Phil Coulson as a character (a character who was created for the MCU) made me believe it. But there were too many inconsistencies regarding the Avengers and Coulson.

The book changed limited third person POV, and it would say at the beginning of each chapter which POV it was going to be told through. That was nice. What wasn't nice was that there were at least three chapters where the POV was labeled as one character, but then halfway through the chapter it would change over to another. This was most common with Ava and Natasha. I also felt that the love story was a little . . . strange. I didn't like it in the context of this story--it felt rushed and unbelievable.

There were a few blatant errors that should have been caught by a proofreader before it went to press.

I do have to give some props to the overall story and the dialogue. The characters that we know from the movies sound like their characters, for the most part, with Stohl creating her own twist on them.

No swearing or sex.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

Lois Lane: Fallout by Gwenda Bond

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Publication date: 2015
Publisher: Switch Press
Pages: 303
My rating: 3.5 stars
Ages:13+

Army brat Lois Lane and her family have finally settled down in Metropolis. Lois is determined to make friends and not make any trouble, but her plan changes her first day at her new school when she has a run in with the Warheads--a scary gamer group that acts as one. With her new job as a teen journalist, Lois is determined to discover the truth behind the Warheads. She enlists the help of her only friend, a person she only knows as SmallvilleGuy.

I thought this book was so fun. The Lois in this book is so different from the Lois Lane that I grew up with. She's intelligent, troublesome, determined, and kind; instead of just the "damsel in distress" type that are found in many comic books. The references to Superman and other DC comics is fun to pick up on.

I think this is a great book for anyone who likes comic books, mysteries, or comic book based TV/movies. Lois is spunky and reminds me a bit of Veronica Mars.

No swearing or sexual situations.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.