Daniel José Older

While there's nothing actively wrong with this middle-grade novel set in the Star Wars High Republic series, it is a rather bland experience. A lot of action and fighting, some attempt to make the young characters relatable, but everything is formulaic and uninspired. It's work for hire and it shows. There is little personality in the story, which looks like it has been designed by committee (it probably has).

Let's redefine "urban fantasy" to mean "fantasy novel brimming with uniquely urban communities, the immigrant experience, and people who struggle with urban violence, racism, gentification, homophobia, and police brutality." (Angsty white vampires need not apply.) Shadowshaper feels profoundly like New York, and the city verges on being its own character.

This came in my most recent Book Riot quarterly box. It's something I wouldn't have ever picked up to read in a million years. Much to my surprise I found it to be an engaging page turner!

It's the first book in a series and I'm not sure if I will continue with it but I think I might.

It's an interesting universe of ghosts and half-ghosts and I think maybe I want to know more.

It's fun to get out of your reading comfort zone every now and then!

Full of exciting adventure and violence.