THE VIOLET WEST
Fantasy Novels & Graphic Novels

#ThrashForce #TBRBeyondTours #RajSidhu @tbrbeyondtours Book Info: Thrash Force by Raj Sidhu Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy Publishing Date: July 15, 2025 Synopsis: When Riley Singh unwittingly offends a multiversal sorcerer, he and his friends are whisked into a freaky new reality in this hilarious middle grade fantasy adventure—perfect for fans of Dungeoneer Adventures and Once Upon a Tim. Seventh grader Riley Singh is a smart kid—smart enough to know that he could be an ex

@tbrbeyondtours & @ek_johnston #TitanoftheStars #TBRBeyondTours #EKJohnston Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh The end. (I'm still screaming and shaking the phone because I listened to an audiobook) Amazing cover. This book had me at Titanic meets Alien. An YA. Teens and New Adults on a journey to Mars on a ship with a very peculiar exhibition: aliens... they are NOT dead. I want more. I'm looking forward to reading book 2. Book Info: Titan of the Stars by EK Johnston Genre: YA Sci-

@topplingstackstours & @sabkleckner  #TheComplexArtofBeingMaisieClark #TBRBeyondTours #SabrinaKleckner #art #photogrpahy My review 5 stars "Artists are nostalgic." I loved reading this one. Very relatable, too, even if you are only an artist or in the photography niche. It's about taking a courageous step and being willing to experiment, and putting ourselves in uncomfortable situations. Maisie wants to challenge herself by learning different things, saying yes more, and sel

Book Info: The Art of Exile by Andrea Max Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Publishing Date: May 13, 2025 5 Stars Ok. This was a great start to a dark magical academy. I laughed out loud with the scene after the Met. She was hoping to catch him in a compromising hot scene and finds him... snacking. ahah (readers will know what it means) She is a Sire, and to get her family's acceptance, she spies on those hiding in the Genesis Academy. She has a difficult time accepting that these

Book Info: The Shadow of the World-Famous Nine (The World-Famous Nine #2) by Ben Guterson Genre: Middle Grade Mystery Publishing Date: May 13, 2025 4 stars If you liked book 1, you will love Book 2, I felt it was tense, fast-paced, woth lots of symbology and puzzles to solve, and the plot twist and mystery it will keep us turning the pages. Love the illustrations and that this is all focused on the different levels, stores, and people of this huge amazing department store. Sy

Book Info: The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon by Grace Lin Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy Publishing Date: May 13, 2025 5 Stars Ahah! This one was so wonderful. The worm, who is actually a dragon, won my heart. This is an amazing novel, always moving forward with surprisingly lots of action. The end surprised me. It's emotional and beautiful. I love Asian lore, sacrifices, and doing something for the sake of others. It's also a good story of letting go. A brilliant cast of cha

Book Info: The Grim Adventures (Fern’s School for Wayward Fae #2) by Piper CJ Genre: Middle Gray Fantasy Publishing Date: May 6, 2025 4.5 Oooh... Key words for this one: Reaper (who was a student) and mushrooms. Rosemary is the kind of character who always ends up doing the right thing. This is a fun academy portal adventure, with a great small format. I love the covers so much. It's the type of fantasy that I recommend for those wanting to start reading the genre (fantasy/po

Saint Catherine by Anna Meyer Genre: Adult Graphic Novel Publishing Date: April 29, 2025 4 stars Great dual-color artwork and story. I thought it was going to be focused on trauma and religion, but it became something more. Interesting, relationships at different levels, in a way humorous too. Synopsis: A relatable adult graphic novel about a woman who skips Sunday mass for the first time in her life only to discover she’s possibly being possessed by a demon. As a recoverin

Book Info: Nothing Bad Happens Here by Rachel Ekstrom Courage Genre: Young Adult Thriller Publishing Date: March 18, 2025 4.75 I wasn't expecting to like this one as much as I did. Some plot twists were predictable, but others were not, and the main character's growth towards the end was great. I liked the mystery parts, but the creative twist, too. It was entertaining and makes a great beach/summer reading. A teen who has lost a friend is about to find another dead body at

Book Info: The Dragon’s Apprentice by James Riley Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy Publishing Date: April 1, 2025 This paperback has beautiful sprayed Edges. Synopsis: In this hilarious fantasy adventure from the New York Times bestselling author of the Story Thieves series, a girl strikes a deal with the ancient, cranky dragon she accidentally summoned to teach her the forbidden magic she needs to save her mother. STOP. Don’t read any further. There are magic spells in this book,

Book Info: Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction/Fantasy Publishing Date: March 25, 2025 Synopsis: The death-defying conclusion to the "audacious," "razor-sharp," and "raucous" exploits of the notorious outlaws Scarlett and Browne from the bestselling author of Lockwood & Co., Jonathan Stroud. Throughout their lawless careers, Scarlett McCain and Albert Browne have gotten out of trouble by shooting first, then running away. Now that's no longer an option. In this non-stop thril

Book Info: Lovely Dark and Deep by Elisa A. Bonnin Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Publishing Date: March 25, 2025 My review 4.5 Dark Academy with a great cast and an amazing cover? Yes, please. I related immediately to the main character because she lives in limbo she doesn't belong to one side, but also she is not entirely just magic, I love characters that stand strong and still find a path when they are in "between" worlds. It's well written and the author made me fear the f

Book Info: The House No One Sees by Adina King Genre: Young Adult Poetry Publishing Date: March 18, 2025 5 stars So powerful, raw (honest) and sad. Verse and prose, switches from memories to present. Reflecting on her relationship with her addicted mother, awareness to opioids turning into deep adiction, family issues, second chances. It's well written, we can feel many emotions. Synopsis: Penelope Ross has always felt like a passenger in her mother’s fairytale – until the

Book Info: Camila Nuñez’s Year of Disasters by Miriam Zoila Pérez Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Publishing Date: March 18, 2025 5 stars I enjoyed this book a lot because the main character is not always doing the right thing. She suffers from anxiety a lot and that ruins part of her relationships but the stress comes from the many changes in her life from social anxiety, racism, bullying, lack of confidence, body shape, parents' relationship instable, coming out to family

#TrueLifeinUncannyValley #TBRBeyondTours #DebCaletti @tbrbeyondtours & @debcaletti  Book Info: True Life in Uncanny Valley by Deb Caletti Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Publishing Date: March 18, 2025 My Review: 5 plus Where to start. Uau. This was such a clever, wonderful read. There are so many layers. Let's go from general to particular: and YA story of a girl who wants to meet her father, who wants to know who this horrible person who made two daughters may be who neve

@tbrbeyondtours & @lindsayncurrie  #ItsWatching #TBRBeyondTours #LindsayCurrie Review 5 plus. This is my fav Middlegrade for Middlegrade March this year. I am going to focus on what makes this stand out from other ghosts, haunting mystery stories. This book is a great workshop for everyone (all ages) focused on journalism that saves lives not destroys them. Research and facts that care for the truth and history to write stories that will not shock or be trendy but result in p

Book Info: Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid Genre: YA Fantasy Publishing Date: March 4, 2025 Synopsis: The Last of Us meets The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in this standalone dystopian romance about survival, sacrifice, and love that risks everything. By encouraging massive accumulations of debt from its underclass, a single corporation, Caerus, controls all aspects of society. Inesa lives with her brother in a half-sunken town where they scrape by running a ta

Review 4.5 Artwork presented in blue monochromatic watercolor tones with great expression and detail. In some pages, the excess of artwork and text plays well in creating claustrophobic tension that goes well with the plot. Teenager issues, breaking up, community acceptance, betrayal, new and old friendships. New love, depression, addiction problems, family issues, senior year ending towards a scary undefined future, rejection, and acceptance. The novel touches on a lot of re

Book Info: Speak Up, Santiago! by Julio Anta & Gabi Mendez (Graphic Novel) Genre: Middle Grade Publishing Date: March 4, 2025 Review 4.5 stars Short, easy to read, and right to the point. All characters make mistakes, making it more realistic, and all know how to do the right thing and apologize at the right moment. Santiago is visiting his Colombian for the Summer and only Spanish is allowed (so he can improve his skills). It can't be easy to feel frustrated for not being

Book Info: The Scorpion and the Night Blossom (The Three Realms duology #1) by Amélie Wen Zhao Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Publishing Date: March 4, 2025 Synopsis: In a world invaded by demons, one girl will face the ultimate test when she is forced to enter into an ancient, deadly competition for the chance to save her mother’s soul… before she loses her forever. From the New York Times bestselling author of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night comes the beginning of a dark and