Book #104: The Inquisitor's Tale, by Adam Gidwitz

I think my chief problem with this was that I read it right after The Girl Who Drank The Moon, and therefore was v.e.r.y. picky about my Middle Grade at the time.

It's impeccably researched and the story is neat, but it's not as deft as tGWDtM, and it's certainly very dude-heavy. (I mean, there's a reason I rarely read books written by men in the first place.)

So anyway, it was interesting but not really gripping, and then I read the author's note and felt it was a little patronizing, but it's a solid entry, and it doesn't fall prey to any of the "But there weren't any black people!" bullshit that lazier medieval storytelling does (the three main characters were a girl, a Jewish boy, and a boy whose mother was African). Also, the whole book is illuminated, and the art is wonderful.

Anyway, so I didn't love it, but I do kinda respect it? YMMV.

Book #105: Royal Tour, by Amy Alward

This is the sequel to Madly/The Potion Diaries, which I read last year and really enjoyed. Basically, it's modern England/Europe, but with magic, so everything is slightly more complicated, as you do. It's a "light" fantasy, which means it's a fun read and there's not death and rape all over the place, which I also really appreciate.

Anyway, Sam, our heroine, continues to make potions and defend the crown princess. There's magic and science, friendship and romance, adventure and family legacy, allies and betrayal...all the good stuff, really. Alward's world-building is top notch, and the structure of the book is also excellent. I don't think the book suffers from 'second book' syndrome (the trilogy will end next year), which is also nice.