The Empty Grave

Lockwood and Co are back for one last adventure in the final book of this series.  I have absolutely loved reading this series.  Jonathan Stroud has done an amazing job of writing a series with chills and nuance.  If you haven't read the other books in the series, STOP READING NOW.  Seriously, you will be spoiled to death if you read this review without reading the first four books, so go do that now.  You won't be sorry!

The Empty Grave opens with our intrepid friends breaking into the tomb of Marissa Fittes, herself.  Following up on a revelation from the skull in book four, they have come to find proof one of the most revered women in British history was a liar.  What they find in there sets them off on one last adventure to discover the truth about the problem and its origins.

Of course, it wouldn't be a true Lockwood and Co adventure without plenty of ghost hunting, including an especially creepy one who is haunting a theater and draining the life from her victims.  Plus, our team will meet some of the most infamous spirits in history.

The relationships in this book are so perfect.  Many of the doubts among team members are gone, and they are stronger because of their newfound trust.  Lucy and Holly are friends, Kipps is sardonic as ever, but completely loyal, and George is the best researcher in the city.  Lucy's only real concern is for Lockwood who she fears will do something foolish to protect her and the team.

The ending of this last book is perfect.  It wraps up all the major questions but still leaves the reader to imagine Lockwood and Co off doing what the do best--hunting ghosts!

Solo

Blade is sick of being a rockstar's son.  His dad's lifelong battle with addiction means he's never really there when Blade needs him and always pulling embarrassing stunts when he doesn't.

High school graduation should be a time for celebration, but when Blade's drunk father causes a scene, it just sets off an avalanche of bad that complicates things with his girlfriend and leads to the revelation of a family secret that threatens to shatter him.

He even tries to give up music, the one thing he loved inheriting from his father.

Blade decides to go to Africa to find out some things about himself and to get a fresh perspective.

I really enjoyed Kwame Alexander's new YA book and Blade's voice on his mission of discovery.  I did feel like the end was a bit rushed, but it's definitely worth the read!

Wonder Woman: Warbringer

Diana has always felt like a bit of an outcast among her Amazon sisters.  They have all earned their places on Themyscira through battle, but Diana was born there--created from her mother's desire to have a child.

She is hungry to prove herself, but an impulsive decision to rescue a girl from a shipwreck off the coast will cost her more than she can imagine.  Not only is the presence of a mortal destroying the island, but when she learns the true identity of the girl she saved, Diana wonders if she should have left the girl to die.

Alia is the warbringer--the latest in a long line of women to bear the curse of Helen, destined to bring war and strife into the world.  How the only options be to kill an innocent girl or doom millions to the horrors of war?

Diana believes there is another way, so she leaves her island home with a plan to break the curse for Alia and for future generations of girls.

I was so excited to read this book.  Wonder Woman plus Leigh Bardugo should have been amazing, but it was only okay for me.  It got better toward the end, but there were just a couple of things that should have made her suspicious but didn't because...plot?...I guess.  It was a good fantasy adventure, but I just expected something a little more elevated from this author.