Trevaughn Malik Roach-Carter

Justice Montgomery is recovering from a series of brutal tragedies around town and a devastating fire at a party she attended that killed a classmate. In the midst of these strange tragedies, Justice learns that she is an Aziza, or half-Aziza, rather, a special form of hidden supernatural creatures that is meant to protect people from evil supernatural beings. On top of that, Justice is the chosen Guardian of the Aziza and must defeat an ancient evil to fulfill a prophecy. With demons running around town, neighborhood witches trying to help, a Strix advisor and new powers, Justice is simply trying her best to keep the Goddess of Hell from being resurrected to bring about the end of the world.

The Aziza Chronicles: Awakening is a magical young adult fantasy. I was very interested in the Aziza, their history, powers and what the Aziza Guardian is protecting the world from. I appreciated that this ancient magic originated in Africa and was passed down through descendants. Justice is an amazing and complex character who not only deals with finding out that she has amazing powers that are meant to save the world, but also the daily struggles of friendships, dating and a ghost that is following her around. Through all of this, Justice seemed to think deeply about her decisions and the effects they would have. I also held a soft spot for Esmerelda, the ghost, whose death seemed to make her a better, more caring person in her ghosthood and I wish we could see more of her. The writing was fast paced and exciting leaving Justice with more to do in following books.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.… (altro)

Her Daughters is a collection of stories exploring the author's family history throughout several generations. Through the female gaze, the hardships, triumphs and emotional toll of being a black woman in California are emotionally investigated. The stories are written and read almost like fiction with fully formed stories and interesting characters. Though each of the stories focuses on a different family member, the connections of each woman to one another are clear and are sometimes part of one another's stories. I enjoyed reading about their relationships, advice and how they navigated a world that is not always kind to black women. I especially enjoyed seeing them excel through college and family relationships. I could feel the strong sense of community that was built, extending not only to blood relations, but beyond. As the stories continued into the present day, I was intrigued by the feelings of belonging and feelings of blackness in certain spaces and appreciated the perspective. Overall, a strong, heartfelt collection of stories that emphasizes family, strength over adversity and connection.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.… (altro)