The Right Side of Reckless by Whitney D. Grandison

He’s never met a rule he didn’t break… She’s followed the rules her whole life… When they meet, one golden rule is established: stay away. Sparks fly in this edgy own voices novel, perfect for fans of Sandhya Menon, S. K. Ali, and Kristina Forest.

They were supposed to ignore each other and respect that fine line between them…

Guillermo Lozano is getting a fresh start. New town, new school, and no more reckless behavior. He’s done his time, and now he needs to right his wrongs. But when his work at the local community center throws him into the path of the one girl who is off-limits, friendship sparks… and maybe more.

Regan London needs a fresh perspective. The pressure to stay in her “perfect” relationship and be the good girl all the time has worn her down. But when the walls start to cave in and she finds unexpected understanding from the boy her parents warned about, she can’t ignore her feelings anymore.

The disapproval is instant. Being together might just get Guillermo sent away. But when it comes to the heart, sometimes you have to break the rules and be a little bit reckless…

 

 

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Hardcover (US)
Inkyard Press (HQN)

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
Regan is a really sweet and caring girl, but she is a people pleaser. Early on, I found her inability to stand up for herself and what she wants annoying but that is all part of growing up and maturing. By the end of the story, I was really proud of her. Guillermo likes Regan but her mother is supervising his community service and has told him to stay away from Regan. Trying to turn over a new leaf, Guillermo goes out of his way to try to not get into trouble, but he and Regan keep crossing paths. But he makes friends with different types of people than those he associated with before he went to juvie, including Regan’s geeky younger brother.

I really enjoyed the growing friendship between Regan and Guillermo. Their interactions felt natural and age appropriate and I think the time taken to develop their friendship is part of the reason for this. And it was good to have a potential romantic relationship based on friendship, and where holding hands and kissing are all that is expected.

There are several important issues dealt with in The Right Side of Reckless. One is consent. The contrast between the way Troy, Regan’s boyfriend, treats her and the way Guillermo treats her shows the difference between what would have been acceptable when I was a teen versus what we expect now. Another issue is the issue of forgiveness. Guillermo really wants to do the right thing to regain the respect and forgiveness of his parents, but it isn’t always clear what “the right thing” is. Guillermo also needs to forgive himself for his past mistakes so he can move on.

It was so good to get caught up in a young adult novel. It has been a long time since I read one and The Right Side of Reckless reminded me why I enjoy them so much. Strong character development and growth, a good story, and a lovely romance. I loved The Right Side of Reckless. A solid four stars from me.

 

 

WHITNEY D. GRANDISON is an American young adult fiction writer. Some of her works can be found on Wattpad, one of the largest online story sharing platforms, where she has acquired over 30,000 followers and an audience of over fifteen million dedicated readers. Outside of writing, she is a lover of Korean dramas, all things John Hughes, and horror films. Whitney currently lives in Akron, Ohio.

Connect with Whitney

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Right Side of Reckless by Whitney D. Grandison to read and review.

Red Wolf by Rachel Vincent

Powerful and compelling, this high-stakes, feminist reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood is perfect for fans of Stephanie Garber and Meagan Spooner.

For as long as sixteen-year-old Adele can remember, the village of Oakvale has been surrounded by the dark wood—a forest filled with terrible monsters. A forest that light itself cannot penetrate.

Unlike her fellow villagers, Adele cannot avoid the dark wood.

Adele is one of a long line of guardians: women who secretly take on the form of a wolf, in order to protect their village.

But when accepting her fate means giving up the boy she loves, abandoning the future she imagined for herself, and breaking her own moral code, she must decide how far she is willing to go to keep her neighbors safe.

 

 

Buy Links

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HarperTeen

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆
Red Wolf is a fantastical retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, from the imaginative mind of Rachel Vincent.

To be honest, I'm no fan of retellings, doesn't matter if it's my favorite tale. However, I am a major fan of Vincent's, so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to escape in the Little Red Riding Hood world as she sees it.

I'm also intrigued by the dark and mysterious air that wafts around stories featuring primitive villages, with their intriguing folklore to explain the inexplicable.

There truly is a strong likeness in the overall feel between Red Wolf and The Village, which is an amazing thing, as I enjoy rewatching the film over and over.

Read from cover to cover, a dark and ominous vibe causing the pages to turn at a rapid rate, I immersed myself in the tale Adele has to tell. Longing to create a life of her own, with the loss of her father, the grief ever hanging over her, Adele wishes to settle down with the boy of her dreams, surrounded by family.

Traipsing through the Dark Wood to visit her grandmother at her mother's behest, Adele is put to a test, one she didn't even realize she was taking, the twists and turns creating an intriguing read.

On the cusp of her birthday, Adele learns of a world she never knew existed, altering her plans for the future. She is now the protector of her village, keeping the villagers safe from the monsters in the Dark Wood. What she wants and desires no longer matters.

While Red Wolf is a retelling of the classic Little Red Riding Hood, there are few similarities, ensuring the story has a brand-new feel, allowing the reader to be surprised, to experience the unexpected.

Word of warning, Adele is sixteen, growing up in an isolated village, the story told with a young adult mindset. Some grown adults may find her personality immature or grating, as she has a know-it-all type personality and a stubborn streak a mile wide. Keep in mind, she is a child, even if in her world she would be considered an adult. Her upbringing and the age of the era influences her personality and how she views the world. Strong and capable, Adele is innocent, thrust into a world where werewolves and monsters exist. It was easy for me to be empathetic, understanding why Adele was making the decisions she was making, even if I didn't agree with them, because I have the advantage of looking at the situation as an adult who had access to an education and a wide world view. Adele is an isolated teen in a fairytale, who sometimes rubbed me the wrong way, but I appreciated the authenticity of it.

Is this a romance? No. While there is an undercurrent of romance influencing Adele's choices, the story itself is supported by the fantasy, whimsy, and folklore surrounding Oakvale and the Dark Wood.

While not a cliffhanger, the ending is rather abrupt, which is both satisfying as a standalone while leaving the door cracked open for a sequel.

Honestly, I was surprised in how much I enjoyed it. Not because Red Wolf is Rachel Vincent's creation, but because it was a retelling (not a fan) and I was thoroughly absorbed.

 

 

RACHEL VINCENT is the New York Times bestselling author of several pulse-pounding series for teens and adults. A former English teacher and a champion of the serial comma, Rachel has written more than twenty novels and remains convinced that writing about the things that scare her is the cheapest form of therapy. Rachel shares her home in Oklahoma with two cats, two teenagers, and her husband, who’s been her number one fan from the start.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Red Wolf by Rachel Vincent to read and review.

The Witch King by H.E. Edgmon

To save a fae kingdom, a trans witch must face his traumatic past and the royal fiancé he left behind. This debut YA fantasy will leave you spellbound.

Wyatt would give anything to forget where he came from—but a kingdom demands its king.

In Asalin, fae rule and witches like Wyatt Croft… don’t. Wyatt’s betrothal to his best friend, fae prince Emyr North, was supposed to change that. But when Wyatt lost control of his magic one devastating night, he fled to the human world.

Now a coldly distant Emyr has hunted him down. Despite transgender Wyatt’s newfound identity and troubling past, Emyr has no intention of dissolving their engagement. In fact, he claims they must marry now or risk losing the throne. Jaded, Wyatt strikes a deal with the enemy, hoping to escape Asalin forever. But as he gets to know Emyr, Wyatt realizes the boy he once loved may still exist. And as the witches face worsening conditions, he must decide once and for all what’s more important—his people or his freedom.

 

 

Book 1
Buy Links

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Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo
Audiobook (US)  ~  Hardcover (US)
Inkyard Press (HQN)

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is a fun young adult fantasy adventure with lovable characters and wonderfully complex world building. The story belongs to Wyatt, a witch with a dark past who is an outsider in both the fae and human worlds.

At its heart, this is a simple coming of age story. Wyatt must come to terms with his past and find out where he belongs as he becomes an adult. It’s not a completely fresh story. Fantasy and Urban Fantasy fans will recognise many familiar tropes. Fated mates, a reluctant heir, and an outsider with special powers aren’t new fantasy themes, but they do work well here.

Beyond Wyatt and Emyr, the character development in this story doesn’t feel completely consistent. Emyr is a complicated love interest for Wyatt. It is difficult to trust the beautiful prince – but it is also impossible not to love the tormented and reluctant heir to the throne. The rest of the characters feel somewhat loosely sketched. It’s a huge cast of witches, nobles, guards, and others. Without spoilers, I loved the world building and enjoyed the action. But I wasn’t invested enough in any of the other characters to feel any emotional impact from the action scenes and revelations at the end. The author leaves room to develop these characters further. The ending offers many exciting possibilities for further stories in this world.

I love that Wyatt’s trans identity is a non-issue. He’s a protagonist with a difficult past that has little to do with his gender. He’s a complicated survivor with a unique skill set and the potential to be a hero. This isn’t a book about being trans. It’s a book about a fabulous fantasy hero who happens to be trans. Sadly, that’s still a rare and special treat for modern young adult readers.

 

 

H.E. EDGMON was born in the Deep South but has had many homes, dropped out of school to do gay stuff, and is at least a little feral. In both their writing and daily life, they aim to center the voices of Indigenous people, trans people, and survivors of trauma. It is always their goal to make fascists uncomfortable. They have an eccentric little family of their own design, several very sensitive pets, and a lot of opinions. They can most often be found on Twitter.

Connect with H.E.

Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

 

 

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Witch King (The Witch King #1) by H.E. Edgmon to read and review.