Trust No One by Paul Cleave

Trust No One by Paul Cleave
Published 2015, Atria
Stars: ★★★★☆

Netgalley provided me with a copy of this book for reading and review purposes.  My review is unbiased and based strictly upon my opinion of the quality of the work.

After much pondering since I finished yesterday, I've settled on some feelings.  For most of this book, I was entirely certain it would be a five star read.  The concept was awesome, the cover was gorgeous, the writing was convincing -- seriously convincing. Alzheimer's is a scary disease.  It eats away at who you are, slowly killing you while leaving you alive.  This book does an amazing job of providing some level of feeling that people who have this terrible sickness must go through.  Sure, it's probably not all medically accurate... but it's a thriller.  And it really works for the narrative.  It allows us to question as much as the protagonist does, while knowing bits and pieces more than he does because we remember things from his journal entries that he no longer can recall.

I guess what killed that fifth star for me was the ending.  An understandable but heartwrenching twist totally irked me.  Everything had built up just the way I was anticipating... and those last few pages just ripped my proverbial feet out from under me.  The ending made sense, and was almost necessary... but it tore my heart out. 

The Conquering Dark: Crown & Key #3 by Clay and Susan Griffith

The Conquering Dark: Crown & Key #3 by Clay and Susan Griffith
Published 2015, Del Ray
Stars: ★★★★☆

In exchange for an unbiased and honest review, Netgalley gave me this ARC.  Thanks, Netgalley!

Now that is what I call a roller-coaster ride!  Non-stop action, pretty much right from the beginning.  The battle versus Gaios takes center stage as two of his minions, the Baroness of mechanical mayhem and Fergus the Fire Elemental, attack a royal coronation... from there, it's a globe-hopping, city-destroying crazy romp that culminates in a final battle that proves the team works better together.  It's not all happy endings though... sadness ensues.

Overall, a lot of fun.  I very much enjoy this series!

Crossed by Eliza Crewe

Crossed by Eliza Crewe
Published 2015, Independent
Stars: ★★★★★

Wow!  This one is chock full of twists and turns!!! Every time you think you've got it nailed down how it's going to go, the story takes another sharp turn... even straight into Hell!

Meda yet again proves to be one of the best YA-esque protagonists in the genre, with her not-so-good-girl attitude, spunk, and snarky wit ruling the narration.  Jo proves for the billionth time that she's not all talk, but isn't phased by hard choices.  Chi remains the lovable, heroic, stupidly reckless and hopelessly hopeful Crusader.  Some other characters make returns in this book, which ties up a lot of loose ends.

I've heard rumors that this *could* be the last Meda book.  Say it ain't so, Eliza! SAY IT AIN'T SO!!!

Another solid entry in the Soul Eater series.  Tied up enough that it's believable as a series ender, but left enough potential threads that Crewe could return to it if she so chooses (and she'd better so choose, so help me Meda).

If I had more than five stars to give, this series would get the extras.

Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
Published 2006, Tor
Stars: ★★★★★

Way to go Sanderson. You did it to me yet again.

Yet again I go in slow, learn the world, and hesitate to love your characters... because I know, somehow, you're going to make me invest in them and then RIP MY HEART OUT.

Really cool world, super-developed and original magic system, great characters, heart-breaking but logical and shoulda-seen-that-one-coming twists, and an overall sense of atmosphere and connection that makes me long to have even a fraction of Sanderson's talent as a writer and world-creator.

The Tournament by Matthew Reilly

The Tournament by Matthew Reilly
Published 2015(US), Gallery
Stars: ★★★★☆

Matthew Reilly is really good at thrillers.  Like, super fun, crazy explosions, fast pace, unbelievable yet unputdownable thrillers.  But then I attempted to read Troll Mountain, his foray into fantasy.  No thanks.  Not so good.  So when I saw that Reilly had branched out into historical fiction and mystery, I was a little concerned... but since I love Reilly's work (other than Troll Mountain, ick!), I had to see if this would be any good.

And it was.  I loved the characters of Bess and Ascham, and there were plenty of murders and lots of intrigue to keep it entertaining.  I'll give it four stars, with the missing star because of the convoluted solution.

All in all, a strong entry by Reilly into the historical mystery genre.  Much better than I had expected, considering Troll Mountain's blah-ness.  (Did I mention I really didn't care for Troll Mountain at all???)

Thanks Netgalley for this review copy.  I've provided my honest opinion, and gotten nothing other than the ARC in return.

A Dying Fall by Elly Griffiths

A Dying Fall by Elly Griffiths
Published 2013, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Stars: ★★★★☆

This was probably my favorite one since the first one.  Plenty of suspects, a different locale that set our team on edge, actual danger for some of the characters, and...

I thought I had the killer(s?) figured out, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was wrong.

Highly entertaining one, this. :)

Quick Review: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
Published 2010, Delacorte Press
Stars: ★★★★☆ (3.5)

3.5 stars

Holy hell.  MORE questions, few answers, and yet, I can't look away.

Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch

Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch
Published 2011, Del Ray (US version)
Stars: ★★★★★

This one was a little slower paced than book one -- if you don't count the character/world introductions from the first one -- at least at the beginning.

Honestly, I didn't think that this one, with all the focus on jazz music, would appeal to me very much. I was wrong.  By the end of it, I loved it.  The book, not jazz.  Still not a jazz person.  I don't dislike it.  I just don't go out of my way to listen to it.

The world is growing in this book.  More characters, more good guys, more villains, more creatures, more kinds of magic.  I like that.  Growth is good.  And some events at the end, while sad (and almost a little trope-ish in the male UF world), didn't feel unnecessary to me.  In fact, I felt like what happened HAD to happen.  It's going to make Peter Grant a different, more rounded character, who has a deeper respect for what he is dealing with, the consequences, and the lives involved.  It's going to make him better.

If I didn't have, oh, a bajillion ARCs and library books and challenge books to read, I'd be picking up book three immediately.  Instead, I'll have to wait a few weeks -- but it will be in the queue as soon as possible, especially considering that little twist of the last few pages.

Crushed by Eliza Crewe

Crushed by Eliza Crewe
Published 2014, Independent
Stars: ★★★★★

Eliza Crewe better be really glad I read this so close to the release of book three, or she would have had to deal with a temper tantrum bigger than any war between Crusaders and Demons.  Just saying.

Absolutely a blast.  Lots of fun, lots of action, lots of MEDA-SNARK. :)

A Room Full of Bones by Elly Griffiths

A Room Full of Bones by Elly Griffiths
Published 2012, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Stars: ★★★★☆ (3.5)

3.5 stars

I'm having a hard time deciding just what to rate this between 3 and 4 stars, so I'm going to settle on 3.5 stars.

Storywise, I feel like it was a pretty week entry in the series.  There were a LOT of plot strings in this one, and while it's nice that they all didn't end up being the same culprit/storyline, they made for a tangled mess at certain points.  Also, the plot twist was interesting.  Not what I expected, but also made for a little bit of a letdown in terms of solving a whodunnit.  Thus, 3 stars of "like it" but not "love it" quality.

On the other hand, there was quite a bit of development in many of the characters, Ruth, Cathbad, Nelson, Michelle, Max, Judy, Clough, etc.  I'm a big fan of character growth and development (one primary reason I love series so much), so this tempted me to make it 4 stars.

All around, still entertaining, so a little more than liked it, a little less than loved it.

Skinwalker by Faith Hunter

Skinwalker by Faith Hunter
Published 2009, Roc
Stars: ★★★★★

This book was HELL YES I LOVED IT good.  Interesting premise? Check.  Badass main character? Double check, actually. Twisted plot? Check.  Unique take on vampires? Good enough for me, check.  Really cool superpowers? Check.  Female MC not afraid of sexuality but not obsessed with it either? Check.

Jane is a BAMF.  TOTAL BAMF.  Throw Beast into the mix, and you've got "one" awesome main character.

I can't wait to get my grabby hands on book two!