Book Spotlight - The Equinox Test (School for Unusual Magic #1) by Liz Montague + Giveaway

About The Book:

Title: THE EQUINOX TEST

Author: Liz Montague

Pub. Date: April 2, 2024

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 240

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/THE-EQUINOX-TEST 

Three friends discover magic and mayhem around every corner of their school in this brand-new illustrated series from New Yorker cartoonist and NAACP Image Award nominee Liz Montague that's perfect for fans of Witchlings and The Wizards of Waverly Place.

Welcome to the Brooklyn School of Magic, where seeds of enchantment are planted and magic sprouts in every corner. And where each fall, fifth years must pass the Equinox Test if they want to move up to Middle Magic.

Rose is worried. She's never been the best student. And if she doesn't pass with flying colors, Principal Ivy says she may have to transfer to a boring, non-magical school. Amethyst knows she's got the skills to ace the test. But to really impress her mom, she's got her eye on the school's top prize. Lavender just wants to fit in. Even after a few years in the States, he still feels homesick. All. The. Time. Passing the test might just be his ticket back to the island.

But with best friend battles, a cheating scandal, and trouble brewing in the magical community, the Equinox Test may not even be the biggest challenge these Magic Bearers will face this year…

 

INSERT YOUR POST OR REVIEW HERE!

 

 

About Liz Montague:

Liz Montague began as a cartoonist for The New Yorker in 2019. She is the author-illustrator of the graphic novel Maybe an Artist, which was nominated for an NAACP Image Award, the picture book Jackie Ormes Draws the Future, and the middle grade series Magic for Beginners. Liz is passionate about nature and emotional literacy. She lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with her husband Pat.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

Go see Liz on tour!

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of THE EQUINOX TEST, US Only.

Ends April 23rd, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/25/2024	YA Books Central	Interview/IG Post
3/26/2024	Comic Book Yeti	Guest Post/IG Post
3/27/2024	@darkfantasyreviews	Guest Post/IG Post
3/28/2024	@dharashahauthor	IG Post
3/29/2024	onemused	IG Post
3/30/2024	Review Thick AndThin	Review/IG Post

Week Two:

3/31/2024	avainbookland	IG Review
4/1/2024	Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's	Review/IG Post
4/2/2024	GryffindorBookishnerd	IG Review
4/3/2024	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post
4/4/2024	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
4/5/2024	nerdophiles	Review
4/6/2024	Paws.Read.Repeat	Review/IG Post

Week Three:

4/7/2024	@pickagoodbook	Review/IG Post
4/8/2024	@stargirls.magical.tale	IG Review
4/9/2024	Callisto’s calling	IG Review
4/10/2024	@dana.loves.books	IG Review/TikTok Post
4/11/2024	The Book Critic	Review/IG Post
4/12/2024	@evergirl200	IG Review
4/13/2024	avainbookland	IG Review

Week Four:

4/14/2024	@enthuse_reader	IG Review/TikTok Post
4/15/2024	FUONLYKNEW	Review
4/16/2024	One More Exclamation	Review/IG Post
4/17/2024	Karma Zee Readz	Review/IG Post
4/18/2024	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post
4/19/2024	Two Points of Interest	Review

Book Review - Resonant: The Complete Series by David DB Andry + Giveaway

 

 

Resonant: The Complete Series by David DB Andry is a post-apocalyptic horror graphic novel about fighting dark urges. It has been a decade since the first Wave hit. The Wave causes humans to succumb to their darkest impulses and they can’t control themselves. Paxton is a single father of three kids. He worries about leaving them alone in their secluded home in the forest but knows he needs to get medicine for his youngest son. When the routine trip takes a turn for the worse, Paxton and his children are separated and will have to find a way back to each other.

The graphic novel was a quick read. It was a bit predictable and felt like other post-apocalyptic graphic novels, but it was worth the read. I liked the dark and moody drawing style that kept me interested in seeing what happened to Paxton and his family. I enjoyed that the book discussed the different types of families and things we would do to protect them. I would have loved to learn more about these Waves and how they started! The book has a lot of action and world-building but doesn’t go into too much detail about how it all came about and what happens to Paxton and his family in the end after his realization about the Wave. I would be open to reading more books by the author.

*Disclaimer - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion*

 

About The Book:

Title: RESONANT: THE COMPLETE SERIES

Authors: David “DB” Andry, Ale Aragon (Illustrator), & Skylar Patridge (Illustrator)

Pub. Date: April 2, 2024

Publisher: Vault Comics

Formats:  Paperback, eBook

Pages: 264

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/RESONANT-THE-COMPLETE-SERIES 

In a terrifying dystopian world,true horror arises and chaos rules when humankind's moral defenses fall and our worst impulses run wild. RESONANT is a post-apocalyptic horror story where Cormac McCarthy's THE ROAD meets THE ODYSSEY, by way of THE WALKING DEAD - for fans and readers of Bird Box, Y: The Last Man, A Quiet Place, Road Warrior, and The Walking Dead.

NOW IN SERIES DEVELOPMENT FOR BET+ with Gerard McMurray as executive producer, director, and writer
Adapted for television by CBS Studios, Ridley Scott’s Scott Free Productions, and Gerard McMurray

RESONANT: The Complete Series FOREWORD BY GERARD McMURRAY!

OUR WORST IMPULSES UNLEASHED.
A decade has passed since the first Waves hit, unleashing humanity’s darkest impulses and plunging the world into chaos. Paxton, a single father of three, must venture from the secluded haven they’ve built to restock the medicine his chronically-ill youngest son needs to survive. When the somewhat routine trip goes awry, Paxton and his children—now separated—will battle everything in their path to reunite.

Can you resist the Call of the Void?

Collects the entire ten-issue series in a deluxe trade paperback omnibus with a foreword by Gerard McMurray (Director - The First Purge, Director, Executive Producer, and Writer - Burning Sands)

For fans of The Walking Dead, The Road, Bird Box, A Quiet Place, Y:The Last Man, and Road Warrior.

"What stands out in RESONANT is how the real horror comes not from the waves, but the other people...The scary moments are amplified by the great character development."
- Horror DNA

Top 25 Best Comics of 2021 -- Comics Bookcase

“…an odyssey even more terrifying than Bird Box.” -- The Beat

“…a firestorm of raw emotion, anxiety, and fear that any horror buff is going to appreciate.” – AIPT

“Pick this one up if you like apocalyptic stories and comics that speak to something dark and creepy in all the worst ways, even in the light.” – Black Nerd Problems

 

 

About David "DB" Andry:

David "DB" Andry is a physical therapist and comic book writer from Sacramento, CA. His works include RESONANT and END AFTER END from Vault Comics and the self-published graphic novel, THE WILD UNCERTAIN. Follow him on Twitter @dbandry for updates and excessive amount of chicken pictures

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

 

About Ale Aragon:

Alejandro is the co-creator of DEATH ORB, a sci-fi cyberpunk story, written by RYAN FERRIER and originally published by DARK HORSE in 2018. The same title is going to be translated to Spanish and published through MULTIVERSAL EDICIONES in Argentina along 2021.

Alejandro has been working around the industry over almost a decade, with credits at DARK HORSE COMICS (Death Orb, Eve: True Stories), BOOM! STUDIOS (28 Days Later, Robocop, The Expanse), IDW (Sons of Chaos), VAULT COMICS (Resonant), IMAGE COMICS (Overlook) and lots of other cool projects.

He lives in Rosario, Argentina.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

 

About Skylar Patridge:

Skylar Patridge: Comic artist, illustrator, and sometimes writer. Currently working on RESONANT from Vault Comics. Has done work for Image, Dark Horse (REVERSAL), Vault, Black Mask & Scout (VOLUME) as well as a variety illustrations and pinups for comics, anthologies & books.

Home location: New Mexico

Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

 

Giveaway Details:

2 winners will receive finished copies of RESONANT: THE COMPLETE SERIES, US Only.

Ends April 23rd, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/25/2024	Comic Book Yeti	Interview/IG Post
3/26/2024	jlreadstoperpetuity	IG Post
3/27/2024	@darkfantasyreviews	Excerpt
3/28/2024	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt/IG Post
3/29/2024	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt
3/30/2024	The Momma Spot	Excerpt

Week Two:

3/31/2024	Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's	Review/IG Post
4/1/2024	GryffindorBookishnerd	IG Review
4/2/2024	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post
4/3/2024	The Book Critic	Review/IG Post
4/4/2024	Callisto’s calling	IG Review
4/5/2024	Karma Zee Readz	Review/IG Post
4/6/2024	@evergirl200	IG Review

Week Three:

4/7/2024	@sparks_books	IG Review
4/8/2024	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
4/9/2024	@stargirls.magical.tale	IG Review
4/10/2024	nerdophiles	Review
4/11/2024	Lifestyle of Me	Review
4/12/2024	Books and Zebras	IG Review
4/13/2024	@enthuse_reader	IG Review/TikTok Post

Week Four:

4/14/2024	Two Points of Interest	Review/IG Post
4/15/2024	@shangread_la	IG Review
4/16/2024	Rajiv's Reviews	Review/IG Post
4/17/2024	@dana.loves.books	IG Review/TikTok Post
4/18/2024	FUONLYKNEW	Review
4/19/2024	Sadie's Spotlight	Excerpt/IG Post

April 2024 Empties!

 

I am finally back with an empty post! I have been taking a break on posting but hopefully I can get some time and start posting more consistently.  I think I have been making a bit of progress with some of my stuff but that would be lying to you! I am definitely buying more than I am using.

I bought the Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum to help with the dark spots from acne and also from blackhead extractions. Unfortunately, this serum did almost nothing. It made my skin tacky and tight instead. I didn't notice a difference when using.

I love Welly bravery badges (their branded bandaids). So, I was excited to learn that they were making lotions and vitamins too! I tried their daily hydration cream and was disappointed. Like the Mad Hippie, this just sat on my skin and left it tacky. I usually put lotion on before bed and this just made all the sheets and clothes stick to me.

I have been trying to paint my nails more often and some days, it works well. Other days, I am just so tired on how long it takes to remove the polishes off. However, I was pleasantly surprised by Pronto non acetone nail polish remover. It removed most of the polishes so easily without much effort on my part. I was surprised that it didn't have a drop of acetone in it!

Lastly, I tried the new Keys Soulcare Harmony Mask and I liked it. I could have done with the natural herbal scent but I notice a difference when using it. My skin looked more radiant and smoother. I am open to trying the other products from her line!

Have you tried anything new this month that you loved?

Book Review - Quintessence by Jess Redman

 

 

 Quintessence by Jess Redman is about a young girl who tries to find herself in a new town.  Three months ago, twelve year old Alma moved to Four Points with her family. A week after the move, she had her first panic attack and they continued to happen. She told her parents that they’d stopped just to avoid them being worried. However, she knows the panic attacks won’t stop because she feels homesick and has no friends at her new school. With every passing day, she feels less and less like herself.

While visiting her parents at work, she decides to visit the town’s junk shop. The shop always looks empty and abandoned. While exploring the store’s contents, she comes across a telescope. She was so excited by her discovery and took home the telescope.

Later that night, Alma uses the telescope to view the stars. She notices a star that looks like a child falling from the sky and into a crater in her backyard. Alma knows what it feels like to be lost, afraid, and missing her home. She is determined to help find and save the star. However, Alma is at a loss on how to help the star. She decides that she would need to open up to her classmates in the Astronomy Club for help. Will Alma and her friends be able to help the star?

I was on the fence for this children’s book. I normally like reading children’s books as the majority of them are well written and very entertaining. I found this book to be a bit boring and predictable, and at times, long winded. I would have liked a bit more humor and character development. I felt like other than Alma, most of the other characters fell flat.

While I did like reading about Alma blossoming out of her shell and finding herself, I did worry for her and her friends. A lot of the tasks they were assigned to do took place at night and involved dangerous situations, i.e. like climbing a mountain in the dark or descending deep into a cave in the dark or accepting a ride from a stranger. I felt like while I understood it was a part of the story, the characters had to lie to their parents to go out at night and partake in these situations. I was a bit torn on this portion of the book because I wouldn’t want a book to encourage a child to put themselves in a dangerous situation and then lie about it. I  did like the bits about the science and magical adventures but I could have done without all the danger these kids were putting themselves into.