Tag: Middle Grade

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Imaginative and Fun | Review of ‘The Missing Guardian’ (The Descendants #1)

Cynthia Ayala

By Cynthia Ayala

The Missing Guardian by Melanie McFarlane
Snowy Wings Publishing
Image Credit: Goodreads

“Seth Reid didn’t mean to run away with a shapeshifter. When he lost his Dad one year ago, Seth’s world fell apart. On the verge of pushing the rest of his family away, he meets Belvedere, a quirky shapeshifter, who seeks help to eliminate a dark infection that threatens the Four Worlds of Life. But when the guardian of the world of air and wind goes missing, everything falls apart. Seth is pulled into the Void, where he meets a dark figure who’s determined to become one with Seth. On an adventure filled with dragons, elemental crystals, and an unknown prophecy lost over time, Seth questions his ability to help. And the more his doubts grow, the stronger the dark infection becomes. Will his bond with his siblings be enough to stop the infection? And if Seth succeeds, will he finally be able to move past his father’s death?” —Goodreads

Published October 10, 2017, by Snowy Wings Publishing The Missing Guardian by Melanie McFarlane is a fun young adult tale that takes three kids on a wild adventure.
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Weekly Reading List #110

Cynthia Ayala

By Cynthia Ayala

Hey there avid readers! It’s almost Halloween time! Man am I excited. This year I’m going to be a Slytherin of my own making. Yay! I hope everyone else has some great Halloween plans. In a year I’m getting married. It’s going to be a Spooktacular wedding. I just need to order my damn wedding dress already. But in any case, personal excitement aside. I’m been slowly catching up with my to read list. Here’s hoping I can get all those featured book reviews in before the end of the year.

Anyway, check out this week’s reading list and let me know what you’ve got on yours.
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A Triumphant Return to the Endless Woods | Review of ‘Quests for Glory’ (The School for Good and Evil #4)

Cynthia Ayala

By Cynthia Ayala

“

Quests for Glory by Soman Chainani
HarperCollins
Image Credit: Goodreads

The students at the School for Good and Evil thought they had found their final Ever After when they vanquished the malevolent School Master. Now, on their required fourth-year quests, the students face obstacles both dangerous and unpredictable, and the stakes are high: success brings eternal adoration, and failure means obscurity forever. For their quests, Agatha and Tedros are trying to return Camelot to its former splendor as queen and king. For her quest, Dean Sophie seeks to mold Evil in her own image. But soon they all feel themselves growing more isolated and alone. When their classmates’ quests plunge into chaos, however, someone must lead the charge to save them…”

Published September 19, 2017, by HarperCollins Quests for Glory
by Soman Chainani is the fourth installment of his New York Times bestselling School for Good and Evil series bringing in new beginnings and new challenges for all.
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Weekly Reading List #109

Cynthia Ayala

By Cynthia Ayala

Hey there avid readers. I hope everyone is having a wonderful day and a wonderful October up to now. I’ve been working hard on my novel New Girl. Final edits are coming along great so I’m on schedule for publication next year. Don’t know when I’ll get to book two though. It’s written but not typed. It’s hard to type without a desk so right now I’m just focusing on this novel and getting it out there. I’m going to try to get a 2019 pub date for the second novel but the way things are looking right now it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen and I definitely don’t want to rush it. Besides, I’m only halfway done with book three.

But I can’t be a writer if I don’t read and relax. So, on that note check out this week’s reading list.
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Book of the Month Poll – September 2017

Cynthia Ayala

By Cynthia Ayala

Hey there people of the page! I hope everyone is having a wonderful week, but as it’s another month what we have here is another poll! Woo! Let me just personally say that I am super excited by this month’s selection of books. There are about 5 books here that I am most definitely going to read. I hope you’re as excited for these upcoming ten titles as I am. Let me know by voting right here which novel should this Septembers book of the month title. Remember, the winner gets a featured book review right here on Cyn’s Workshop. You can vote by clicking this link here or by clicking the picture below. Happy voting!
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Magical and Brilliant | Review of ‘Akata Witch’ (Akata Witch #1)

Cynthia Ayala

By Cynthia Ayala

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
Speak
Image Credit: Goodreads

“Sunny Nwazue lives in Nigeria, but she was born in New York City. Her features are West African, but she’s albino. She’s a terrific athlete, but can’t go out into the sun to play soccer. There seems to be no place where she fits in. And then she discovers something amazing—she is a “free agent” with latent magical power. And she has a lot of catching up to do.

Soon she’s part of a quartet of magic students, studying the visible and invisible, learning to change reality. But just as she’s finding her footing, Sunny and her friends are asked by the magical authorities to help track down a career criminal who knows magic, too. Will their training be enough to help them against a threat whose powers greatly outnumber theirs?” —Goodreads

Published July 11, 2017, by Speak Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor is the first in her YA fantasy series where magic and culture collide. Originally published back in 2011, the novel is being republished to mark the announcement of a long-awaited sequel.
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Weekly Reading List #93

Cynthia Ayala

By Cynthia Ayala

Hey there avid readers! I’ve been staying true to my goal. Well, waking up early has been a challenge, always so hard to wake up in the morning. But I have been working out! My lower abdomen and thighs still feel sore from my workout Monday night. Progress. And I have been making time to do more reading at least. Three books that are about to expire. Gotta get to those soon.

Anyway, check out some of the titles I will be reading this week. Happy reading!
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Book of the Month Poll – July 2017

Cynthia Ayala

By Cynthia Ayala

Hey there avid readers. I hope everyone is having a wonderful day. Another month’s means another poll for you to cast your votes and choose the book of the month for July. So check out these titles below and vote for your favorite upcoming title, author or book cover. Oh, and don’t forget to check out this month’s winner. Remember, the winner will get a featured book review. Vote here on Qzzr or by clicking the link below.
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Book of the Month, Book ReviewsLeave a comment

19-Years-Later & Still Magical | Review of ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ (Harry Potter #8)

Cynthia Ayala

By Cynthia Ayala

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany
Arthur A. Levine Books

The Eighth Story. Nineteen Years Later.

With Voldemort dead and gone, Harry Potter’s life hasn’t gotten any easier. As an overworked employee of the Ministry and a father of three, his life is as hard as ever. But not only for him. The past is creeping on the Potter’s, especially on his son Albus, and on their journeys, they must each come face to face with the darkness around them.

Published on July 31, 2016, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a work compiled by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany. It is a special version of the story written by J.K. Rowling and adapted for the stage continues the story in a beautiful way that shows the challenges of parenthood and living up to your parents.
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A Fairy Tale Twist | Review of ‘The Unfairest of Them All’ (Ever After High #2)

Cynthia Ayala

By Cynthia Ayala

The Unfairest of Them All by Shannon Hale
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Image Credit: Goodreads

In the aftermath of The Storybook of Legends, the school is in upheaval. It is Royals against Rebels, those who don’t want to follow their preordained destinies and those who want to live Happily Ever After in their safe, predictable lives. For Raven Queen, she just wants to live her life, not be the leader of the Rebels, and for Apple White, who wants everything to go back to normal; she can’t seem to figure out how to be a leader at all. And when all the madness puts Madeline Hatter in jeopardy, the two must find a way to bring everyone together to save their best friend.

Published on March 25, 2014, by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, The Unfairest of Them All by Shannon Hale is the second novel in her fantasy and fairy tales series for young readers.
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