✨ GOLDEN BOOK: APRIL 27TH ✨
(young adult, romance)
written by: _natoceanx

❝ April O'Brien is the perfect example of a firefly. Fresh out of highschool, she knows what she wants and it does NOT involve college, quite unlike what her father has planned. When she finds herself on summer vacation to a beach in Hawaii, she's determined to let loose and set herself free of all the bad tensions surrounding her impending future.

But then April's 'once upon a time' kryptonite is back-and hotter than ever-which means trouble can't be far behind. After wearing a façade of perfect resilience this whole time, will she keep pretending she doesn't care, or will they fall back into the pool of feelings they had before?

Javier's return throws them into a whirlwind of passion, but when his alterior motives are revealed, will April be able to brace herself and take it, or will their tumultuous vacation be too much, even for her? ❞

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✨ RUNNER-UP: THE FANGED THRONE ✨
(fantasy, adventure, young adult)
written by: tamarasarahb

❝ Elora is a prisoner and he is her ticket to freedom.

Deep in the frozen heart of the harsh Northern Realm, Elora's lonely world gets turned inside out by a visit from a dangerous stranger. Plagued by disturbing visions and dreams, she sets out to find answers across the different realms and enters a world full of magic, love and betrayal.

Accompanied by her handsome new friend, her actions set off a series of events that will shake the very core of the Realms while confronting a terrifying evil. ❞

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R  E  V  I  E  W  S

1. APRIL 27

The title of the book made sense compared to the story and the font used in the cover made it clear and visible even from far away. The color used for the text contrasted with the color palette used in the image of the cover, making sure it fit in but was clear. The blurb was brief and easy on the eyes because of the different paragraphs and spacing. It gave a good introduction of the book, not revealing too much but still hooking the readers.

What I liked was that right in the beginning, you went straight to the point, introducing the character and vaguely foreshadowing the plot such as mentioning Javier without giving too much away. Another thing that I enjoyed is that the author wrote in the 3rd POV, which is refreshing and not seen that often in YA/TF books, at least in my experience.

I feel like the emotions, thoughts and experience described were fairly similar to what someone would feel in that particular situation which gives rapport to the reader, making them relate to the book which gives a large positive impact.

There were some hints of cliché but nothing that made the book too obvious to the ending or what was to come. I found that the book had a nice balance between description and dialogue, it wasn't confusing to read and the text wasn't too repetitive.

The vocabulary used was diverse but it was easy to read which makes it so a wider range of readers can enjoy the book. I think this was important because it made it so that it's understandable for adults and teens alike.

We can also see some flaws as well as character development and how the characters interact with one another, making us imagine them clearer.

If I had to suggest one thing it would be character description. There is only the basic information (at least in the first couple of chapters.) and the author could go more in depth with it. Other then that the book was almost flawless.

2. APRIL 27TH

In the beginning it's not draggy. April 27th hits with very great dialogue which keeps the reading flowing lovely. It doesn't pour out like a cup, giving the solid personalities right then and there and that cliffhanger in the main chapter? Awesome.

The cover is cutesy and though not too fancy it does fit the book very well.

This book leaves the suspense and the desire to read on remains.

I love the way the first chapter was delivered with a cunning opening. Starts off strong, then there's a middle grace period only to be hit with... Dayum at the end. (I can say damn, yes?)

The character interactions were very well written. Without much movement or too much detail the word choices in the interactions and hitting important character movements brought out the emotion enough to understand or relate. Yelling and cursing was not needed to portray disappointment and shame. The social cues are very much relatable as everyday life and it gives the reading a... 'dang, I know that feeling.' type of feel.

This book captures that essence earlier on and that is a very strong thing to have. Many books do not have this grasp.

3. APRIL 27TH

April 27th is a novel which will pull at all your heartstrings at once.

From the very beginning, the author hooks you in with hilarious dialogue and a fast-paced narrative. There is a perfect balance of dialogue and descriptions, which helps keep the readers alert and prevents them from being bored or overwhelmed with unnecessary details. Moreover, the anticipated scene described in the blurb does not come too late in the story, nor does it disappoint. At the end of the very first chapter, the readers are introduced to the story's conflict and left on a cliffhanger.

In regards to technical aspects, April 27th has very few grammatical mistakes. The vocabulary used is appropriate for the genre of the book, young adult.

The characters are three-dimensional and relatable. As I read the book, I could feel their pain and happiness. Their personalities are also well-rounded, and they develop significantly from beginning to end.

Overall, April 27th is the perfect novel for fans of the young adult genre who enjoy reading about characters in their late teens dealing with betrayal, exes and unwanted romantic feelings!

4. APRIL 27TH

From the moment I laid eyes on it, I was instantly captivated by this story. April 27th has quickly become one of my favorites.

The title intrigued me, as well as the name of the main character. I just had to find out what they meant. The cover is very clean and understandable. It fits the book's aesthetic and genre.

I immediately understood the personality of the main character and the main problem she has to face. I like that readers can immediately make an assessment as to whether or not it's they're kind of book. As for me, I was awed by the work that had gone into it, and had to check it out. The figurative language of the prologue helps to set a lovely tone, that is carried throughout the whole book. I feel like I was drawn in from the very beginning.

The rest of the book lived up to my expectations, and it was really a joy to read. I found myself riding an emotional rollercoaster as the characters went through their journey. I felt like I could relate to them in many ways. Their thought, words, and actions all seemed very real. Everyone was different, and no one was without flaws, just like a real human.

Overall, amazing work! I wouldn't be surprised if I find myself back to read again.

*****

1. THE FANGED THRONE

I found that the author's descriptions were exceptional, reading them was my favorite part of the book. I also loved the way they described Elora and her personality because we could really imagine her with ease. The author made Elora so that we can relate to her struggles and what she went through, one way or another, even though it's fantasy. Lastly, I found the vocabulary used in the book absolutely mesmerising and diverse. I also found the book to be quite suspenseful and intriguing.

2. THE FANGED THRONE

The fanged throne is filled with a bit of suspense. I enjoyed the opening. With such abundance in detail, the abilities to picture every scene to every object has a very fascinating feel. It's new, refreshing and delivers a feast to vivid eyes. Such powerful descriptions keep this book at an all time high. I enjoyed the main character, Elora's struggle are understandable and honestly this book takes me for a ride.

3. THE FANGED THRONE

If I had to pick only one positive aspect of this book, it would be the beautiful descriptions. The setting and emotions were described in great detail; it was like everything came to life in front of my eyes as I read. The main character was relatable and three-dimensional. This book had it all for me--vivid descriptions, a character whose struggles I understood as if they were my own, mystery which kept me on the edge of my seat, magic and love.

4. THE FANGED THRONE

The Fanged Throne took the fantasy genre and added some action! From the start, I felt like I was moving along with the story. There is a lot of wonderfully worded imagery at the beginning, to help readers understand this new place. Throughout the whole story, I felt like the descriptions were exquisite. I could see what the characters saw and feel what they felt. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes fast paced and interesting fantasy books.