Goodreads blurb:

Survival on the prairies of 1850s Texas is full of hardship and tragedy. Felicia “Felix” Taylor would know. Raising her sisters, running the farm, and connecting with her neighboring friends keeps her grounded. But when the providential and the coincidental occur, how will she respond? Will she acknowledge that it may be the God she turned her back on? Will she let Him in? Or will she steel her heart against the faith that betrayed her?

My Thoughts: 4 Stars

Okay, where was this during my preteen/ teenage years?! For all you Christian Historical Fiction lovers out there, the Guardian is not something you want to miss. It's one of those books that doesn't have an intense plot but it's still every bit enjoyable. I'm so glad I read this while it's spring, ‘cause it is the perfect cosy-comfort read.

 After losing her parents to murder, Felix is left alone to take care of her two sisters Stacey and Millie, becoming the head or guardian. Understandably, she carries immense grief that later seeps into other facets of her life, including her faith. She no longer wanted to do anything with God, because, after all, He was the One who took her parents away from her. Stacey, Millie and Felix's best friend Jack try to make her understand that God's will for our lives need not be what we had in mind but she refuses to listen to their advice. Time and time again, she voices her rebellion but God plants a few things in her life to get her to see what He's trying to show her. Super relatable right? If that doesn't sum up my early twenties, I don't know what does! Far too often, we find ourselves questioning our purpose when we fail to see God's hand during that particular season in our lives. I love that the themes of redemption, grace, healing, trusting God and growing faith are prominent throughout the book.

You’ve completely shut out God because His will was different from ours. Yes, it hurts. But He is still God and He is still on the throne. We have to trust that what He did was for good. It’s hard to see it, but something good will come from it—it probably already has.

Witnessing Felix's change of heart was so special to me. It just goes to show that no one is “too far gone” and God can change the hardest of hearts. I can't help but appreciate the way the other characters didn't give up on her. Jack especially! Abbigail is a gifted writer and I can see her becoming a modern-day Louisa May Alcott, Lord willing! I particularly enjoyed the horse analogy that summed up the importance of trusting God, Abbigail's research and hard work are evident. 

Horses think they know better, but in some cases, they need humans to help them. When the horse is stuck, hurt, and in trouble, he needs to trust his master and rider to take care of him and guide him; to follow the rider’s lead even when he doesn’t understand what’s going on or what’s up ahead. He needs to have faith in his master to do what’s best for him, even if it’s uncomfortable or painful at the moment. Because once he’s through the obstacle, he comes out stronger in the end.

One critique, however: we know that the story is set in the 1800s but there is little to show for it. I do wish there were more historical elements included. The language used too, seemed fairly modern except for a few words here and there. But seeing as this is a debut, I'm hopeful that future books will only be better. 

Overall, I really liked The Guardian! It contains beautiful themes and lessons that are so special to us as Christians. Felix's journey is a stark reminder to let go and let God. I highly recommend picking The Guardian up if you're going through a trial! I guarantee it will leave you feeling changed. 

Age rating: 10+ 

The content is super clean, making it perfect for young readers! 

Disclaimer: I received this book free from the author. The opinions expressed are entirely my own. 

Goodreads blurb:

In the hidden desert city of Qalia, secret spice magic awakens affinities in those who drink the Misra tea. With an affinity for iron, seventeen-year-old Imani wields a dagger like no other warrior, garnering her the reputation as the next greatest Shield for battling the dangerous djinn, ghouls, and other monsters that lurk in the sands beyond city limits. Her reputation has been overshadowed, however, by her brother who tarnished the family name after he was discovered stealing their nation's coveted spice - a tell-tale sign of magical obsession. He disappeared soon after, believed to have died beyond the Forbidden Wastes, and leaving Imani reeling with both betrayal and grief.

My Review: 3.5 Stars

When I read the words “Arabian inspired” and “magic spice tea,” I knew the Spice Road was something I couldn't pass up. Let me start by saying that Maiya Ibrahim is an incredible story weaver. I was thoroughly impressed by the epic world-building and the fascinating magic system. I adored the fact that this was Middle-Eastern inspired, it reminded me of home and the culture that I grew up in. From the framing of sociopolitical history to unveiling family dynamics, everything was on point. The more I read, the more I craved to know. If I were to describe Ibrahim's book in one world, it would be ✨colourful✨. My heart raced as I imagined the burst of colour that the Qalia adorned itself with. From quaint stalls to glittering mansions, it was nothing less than magical. Speaking of magical, I'm a huge fan of the Misra spice-magic system! I loved that the spice gave each individual a different affinity. The plot was the star for me. It was paced perfectly and packed a strong punch of adventure and action! The pieces within the plot, fit each other perfectly. Nothing was random or out of the blue. My favourite themes were family and anti-colonisation, the latter being a topic not talked about enough, so I'm glad to see it in this book.

What I did find lacking, however, were the characters. They were painfully complicated and one-dimensional. Starting with the MC, I found her quite defiant and stubborn as the story unfolded. And don't get me started on Taha! At first, I found him extremely infuriating, then lovable in the middle and went back to infuriating again. I was disappointed to see a flat character development for both MCs. But Qayn on the other hand…pure gold! I didn't expect to be swept by the Djinni of all people. And oh, the glorious irony of a Djinni bound to a Djinni slayer, *chef's kiss*! He was loyal, honest and genuinely cared for Atheer and Imani. There's more to him than what meets the eye and I'm dying to know more! I hope in Book 2, we get to see more of him and his story. 

Overall, I believe that The Spice Road is a promising debut worth reading. Hence, I'm rating it a 3.5/5. If the world-building doesn't entice you, the epic plot definitely will, making it perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir and Hafsah Faizal.

Goodreads Blurb: 

My Review:

Okay, this book took me by surprise. I hesitated reading Cinder for so long! I love fairytale retellings, but the idea of a fairytale retelling with sci-fi elements intimidated me. I kept seeing the Lunar Chronicles everywhere and went “Meh, a dystopian fairytale retelling? Not my thing” lol jokes on me, I am now obsessed. I quickly fell in love with the characters and the storyline. 

The story is set during the 3rd Era, the period after the 4th World War, in the futuristic city of New Beijing. In the series, Asia is an empire known as the Eastern Commonwealth and this is where our protagonist lives. After surviving a tragic accident, Linh Cinder had to undergo surgery that wired her internal organs to her body and gave her a prosthetic hand and foot- thus making her a cyborg. In the 3rd Era, cyborgs aren't allowed the same rights as humans, mostly because their “additions” give them unnatural strength and capabilities. Cinder stays with her nightmare of a stepmother Linh Adri and her two daughters, Pearl and Peony. Linh Pearl as expected is arrogant and selfish but Peony, on the other hand, is an absolute angel! There's another important member and that's Iko! Cinder's android, who's funny, adorable and incredibly smart. She's one of my favourite fictional characters ever! To support the family and herself financially, Cinder runs a workshop and works as a mechanic. She's the best one in all of New Beijing- so reputed that the heir to the throne, Prince Kai sought her out and requested her services to fix his android. Let me just say that from that point on, her life was never the same. And no, they don't fall in love right away which is the best part, in my opinion! I'm not a fan of insta-love, so I'm glad to see some slow-burn action. The next set of events that follow uncover some shocking hidden truths and turbulent episodes- all of which, she is the centre of. On top of it all, The Earth, especially the Eastern Commonwealth is plagued with a deadly disease called Letumosis, of which there is no vaccine or cure- relatable because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The star for me was the characters. I loved how fleshed out they were, enabling us to truly understand their personalities and intentions. My favourites were Iko, Cinder, Kai and Doctor Erland. On the other hand, I couldn't stand Adri and Queen Levana. Especially Queen Levana. The world-building was amazing, the Lunar Chronicles would be perfect for an animated series! If there's a producer out there reading this, PLEASE ANIMATE THE LUNAR CHRONICLES, I beg!! The book was predictable, for sure. A few pages in, I could already map out the whole story. However, it was still a joy to see it all unfold. 

To sum it all up, Cinder might not be one that's on your radar, but it definitely should be. Though predictable, it is still so much fun! You’ll quickly fall in love with their characters and the dystopian feel of it all. The book ends with a cliffhanger, you’ll no doubt want to pick Scarlet (Book 2) right away. Marissa's writing is very easy to read and most importantly-clean! Making her one of my favourite YA authors. 

If you're interested in the following elements/tropes, Cinder is the book for you! 

• marriage of convenience 

• hidden identity

 • chosen one 

• pandemic setting 

• diverse characters 

• Asian representation