Book of the Month YA is a monthly book subscription box. Each month, 5 curators pick out their favorite new young adult hardcover books, and you can choose which one you want to receive on the first of the month. You can also add up to 2 additional books for only $9.99 each.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
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About this YA Book Box
The Subscription Box: Book of the Month YA
The Cost: $14.99 a month
The Product: Subscribers get to pick from a selection of hardcover books each month. Skip any month you aren't interested in. Add up to two additional books for $9.99 each.
Ships to: The US for free
Book of the Month YA November 2019 Review
Can we pause for a second to discuss how freaking excited I am to be reviewing the YA membership this month? When the chance popped up, I had to volunteer! I am a YA fantasy addict, and though I am certainly not "YA" I prefer the genre to more serious "adult" fare. I will be reviewing this sub from here on out, and the regular Book of the Month review will be passing into capable (and arguably more mature) hands.
This month, subscribers picked from the following 5 books:
I'm reviewing The Guinevere Deception:
The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising Trilogy) by Kiersten White - Retail Value $21.99
Book Summary from Amazon:
Princess Guinevere has come to Camelot to wed a stranger: the charismatic King Arthur. With magic clawing at the kingdom's borders, the great wizard Merlin conjured a solution--send in Guinevere to be Arthur's wife . . . and his protector from those who want to see the young king's idyllic city fail. The catch? Guinevere's real name--and her true identity--is a secret. She is a changeling, a girl who has given up everything to protect Camelot.
To keep Arthur safe, Guinevere must navigate a court in which the old--including Arthur's own family--demand things continue as they have been, and the new--those drawn by the dream of Camelot--fight for a better way to live. And always, in the green hearts of forests and the black depths of lakes, magic lies in wait to reclaim the land.
Deadly jousts, duplicitous knights, and forbidden romances are nothing compared to the greatest threat of all: the girl with the long black hair, riding on horseback through the dark woods toward Arthur. Because when your whole existence is a lie, how can you trust even yourself?
This book was an easy choice this month. A retelling of Arthurian legends with a dash of romance and magic? Sign me up! Alas, I have such conflicting feelings about this book for a few reasons. Let me set the scene for you before we dive in: Merlin is banished from Camelot because magic is seen as chaotic. Since Merlin cannot protect Arthur himself, he sends his daughter, a changeling, as his bride and secret shield against unknown threats.
The first is that the first half of the book was SO slow. And I can't help but feel that nothing really actually happened. You could argue that there was some world-building, which would be mostly true, but sheesh, it took a really long time for anything to start happening. Even the romance aspect is minor. I was really hoping for some sort of sparks between "Guinevere" and Arthur, but as lovable as he is, it is like watching two siblings bond. I get that this is YA, and I am all for a slow burn, but there was barely a spark here. Aside from my complaints, it is obvious that these two do share a special bond, and since this is a trilogy, perhaps that will be explored later.
If you can get through the first half of this book, you will be rewarded! Suddenly things start happening, major MAJOR plot twists delight, and the beautifully lush prose of this author starts to finally shine. There is a strong undercurrent of girl power in this novel too, and I never saw it coming. I will say though, if you are looking for action, that never really happens in this book. There are a few fights in the woods, a dragon, some good, old-fashioned knights and tournaments, but overall this is a pretty calm read. Magic is plentiful, but less flashy than in most books, which was actually fascinating to me and gave the book a level of believability that was really unique.
Will I pick up the second book? Sure! If only because the second half of this one was so delightful! I am hoping the author got all of the slow stuff out of the way, because if she can carry on that momentum, this trilogy will be breathtaking. I guess only time will tell!
And Book of the Month YA includes a bookmark every month.
If you picked this book this month, please let me know what you think of it!
Verdict: I found my first Book of the Month YA selection very entertaining, despite the slow start. I think this trilogy shows promise, and I love that I was able to select a fantasy book from this subscription. The odds are that I would have never stumbled across this book on my own, so I was pleased it was included in my options. I am so excited to review this sub next month and can't wait for selection time!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this book if you sign up today? No, but the December selections are currently available!
Check out all of our Book of the Month reviews and see what other book subscriptions made our favorites list!
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What do you think of the Book of the Month YA subscription? Which book (or books) did you pick this month?
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