The Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros is gaining a new addition on January 21, 2025: Onyx Storm. The book series has been extremely popular with only two editions so far: Fourth Wing and Iron Flame.
In a quick summary, the novel follows Violet Sorrengail joining the Riders Quadrant and her entire life changes. She begins to discover herself through physical and mental challenges, while gaining new friends, finding romance, challenging family dynamics, and battling larger political issues. The last book, Iron Flame, ended on a heart wrenching cliffhanger concerning the two main characters.
My thoughts:
The series has been an absolutely beautiful enemies to lovers with amazing world building. I often am a bit opinionated when it comes to some popular BookTok recommendations as the books serve as easy to read introductions to new readers and sometimes can be lackluster, boring, and/or repetitive. Sometimes this is manifested through its reliance on a certain trope to carry the story along. Although, I think is series has gotten traction for it just being a wonderful book. I enjoy the sociopolitical aspects of the books and it really brings out a popular dystopian political dynamic that I have seen showcased in book series like Divergent and The Hunger Games. I also feel the relationships between characters are realistic , even to some readers dismay.
Anyways, look out for Onyx Storm and I hope everybody who decides to read it enjoys it as much as I did.
The Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.
The Serpent & the Wings of Night: Book 1 of the Nightborn Duet –
I give this book a 6.5/10 because I felt like it jumped around a lot. I feel like there were a lot of interesting storyline points, such as the Kejari, but for the main character was a bit too self-deprecating for my taste. I found it repetitive of how many times she would put herself down for being human, but I know specific readers enjoy that trope. At times the book was extremely immersive from how detailed Carissa was in the fight scenes and descriptions of others. I also really enjoyed how it was able to depict healthy, supportive relationships.
The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King: Crowns of Nyaxia- Book 2 of the Nightborn Duet
Out of the two books I give this one a 7.5/10 and prefer this one over the other. The journey of the main character finding herself and her strength through the kindness of her partner supporting her was heartwarming. How she explored her relationship with grief was definitely accurate, but I felt it was annoying that she kept forgiving Raihn for literally killing her father. I loved how they expanded on their relationship and how they explored different parts of him. Thinking on the positive side, it does possibly dip into the concept of not holding grudges and forgiveness. The book is a good slowburn and my ratings are a bit low just because I have oversaturated myself in this genre.
I do recommend this duology for people who are into action, fantasy, and romance.
The Nightborn Duet by Carissa Broadbent is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.
10 Things I Hate About You is a teen romance film that is a modern adaptation of Shakespeare The Taming of the Shrew. It takes place in the late 1990s at an American high school, following Cameron James, a new student played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. A guide takes him around the school, explaining the different cliques and how they work in the high school hierarchy. Cameron then sees Bianca Stratford, which then kick-starts the conflict of the movie. Bianca, a sophmore, is not allowed to date unless her outspoken, feminist older sister, Kat, does.
Cameron then goes on a journey to find somebody to date Kat, who everybody thinks of as a shrew, a bad-tempered or aggressively assertive woman. They enlist the help of a narcissistic, student model Joey, who is attempting to court Bianca, to find somebody for Kat. They pick infamous bad boy Patrick Verona. The rest of the movie follows Patrick trying to woe Kat, while also getting bribes from Joey and information about Kat from Cameron.
Joey bribes Patrick with more money to take Kat to prom, but she is still angry with him for rejecting to kiss her when she was drunk. In response, he organizes an elaborate celebration with a marching band and embarrassing himself to ask her out. Kat reveals to Bianca her past with Joey and why she is trying to protect Bianca from him. Bianca listens to her sister’s side , but is angry at her for not allowing her to make her own decisions. Kat sees how much this affects her sister so she then agrees to go to prom with Patrick to allow Bianca to go.
Bianca decides to go with Cameron, instead of Joey. This angers Joey and he reveals the arrangement between Patrick, leaving Kat heartbroken. Patrick surprises her with a guitar to apologize and her father allows for her to attend her dream school, Sarah Lawrence.
Overall I would give this movie a 9/10! It is a beautifully done rom-com and great adaptation. Even though Patrick is being bribed, we can tell throughout the movie he feels guilt for it and even tries to give the money back at some points. It is a little bit sad because we know his alternative motives , but aside from that, I think it’s beautiful in the ways Patrick tries to charm her. He does this by learning her favorite bands, respecting her battle for autonomy, thoughtful dates, and embarrassing proposals of love. I think it really speaks to how his understanding of her deepens throughout the movie as he gets to know her. I can emphasize with Kats complete rejection of conformity that allows for her to have a clear understanding of herself and how this could demonize her to other people.
I enjoy how they explore Bianca’s character, and that even if she presents more girly, it is clear she is not completely naive and clueless. She understands Joey’s intentions and gains revenge for her sister by beating him up at the end of the movie. I think the position the father has put them in makes for an interesting plot, but is completely unfair and causes unnecessary tension between her and her sister. I think it speaks to the prejudice women have faced in attempts to assert themselves in society.
I believe some of the cliques in this movie to be harmful and stereotypical, but I believe the can be looked past in remembering Shakespearean dramatics, the time period the movie was made, and for plot continuation.
I would recommend this movie to those who are looking for a strong women protagonist, a heartwarming rom-com, or a look into 90s teenage life.
10 Things I Hate About You is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.
As technology has taken a great hold onto society, people have unlimited access to everything at all times. We are constantly being updated on what others are doing, world events, advertisements, and others are always to reach each other. This along with short-form content leads to the issue of constant stimulation that the brain was not equipped to handle, adding unnecessary stress to our lives. Here I will list some things that I have incorporated that have helped me relax and feel better in daily life:
Meditation
Meditation reduces stress. It allows for the individual to practice mind and body integration by creating awareness , usually through breathwork. I once thought of it as the act of clearing away thoughts, but I have reformed it into allowing my thoughts to flow while you observe their passing and then letting them slowly dissipate.
There are great resources on guided meditation on YouTube for whatever subject you are interested in. I would recommend Joe Dispenza.
Yoga
Yoga is another practice that is included in some cultures. It is similar to meditation as it seeks to create a mind and body connection.
It is a low impact exercise that concentrates on building balance, strength, increasing flexibility, and improving respiration. I use it to stretch in the mornings to help me start my day.
There are many channels on YouTube that cater to different levels and shorter sessions for when you are in a rush. Somebody I enjoy is Yoga with Adriene and Yoga with Bird.
Reading
Reading has been proven to lessen stress and helps your brain form new neural connections. The rhythmic moving of the eyes back and forth and the feeling of the paper against the skin helps integrate mind and body.
It can help you discover new hobbies, improve your vocabulary, help with empathy, and allow yourself to take a break from everyday life. I have found it to be a more fulfilling alternative to scrolling on my phone. It is definitely one of my favorite pastimes.
Skincare & Facial Massage
Skincare involves taking care of your skin. Facial massaging is exactly what it says, massaging the face. I sometimes will use a gua sha, which is a part of traditional Chinese medicine practice, where I use movements with a tool to drain lymphatic fluid from my body.
A simple skincare routine includes a cleanser and a moisturizer with sunscreen during the day. If you want to be a little more complex than you can include extra products, like serums, spot treatments, and exfoliators. If you do use sunscreen during the day, it is recommended to use a double cleanser, using both an oil based and a water based cleanser, to remove it at night.
Facial massaging has allowed me to release tension I store in my face and have made me look less puffy. You do not need to use a gua sha and using your hands works just as well. It helps for there to be a “slip” so the tool glides across the skin; this can be water or skincare products. There are many tutorials on what to do on YouTube and TikTok.
Thank you for reading and I hope you experiment with any of these tips! Remember you deserve to have time for yourself to nurture your mind and spirit.
Mission Viejo Library Teen Voice 