Crimson Shore by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Crimson Shore by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Published 2015, Grand Central (November)
Stars: ★★★★★

A full review will be posted closer to release date, but I have to say...

OH. MY. GOD.  That ending was exactly what I WANTED.  I AM FLOORED.

Bring on book #16 asap, Preston/Child.  There's a reason Pendergast has been one of my top favorite series for over a decade... it's because Preston/Child know just how to play with your emotions, when to hold back, and when to let all hell break loose!

While it's not my favorite book of the series (that title still belongs to Cabinet of Curiosities, one of my favorite books of all time), it is one of my absolute favorite endings/cliffhangers of the entire series!!!

Getting Wilde by Jenn Stark

Getting Wilde by Jenn Stark
Published 2015, Elewyn
Stars: ★★★☆☆

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really like the characters of Sara Wilde and the Magician.  I feel like this book filled in a little of the backstory that I needed it to, and it introduced some new characters that will provide some good interactions in futures stories -- Brody, Nikki, the Devil, the High Priestess, etc.

I had FUN with this book, but I had a serious problem with it -- it felt UNFINISHED.  It didn't feel like there was a complete story, but instead was comprised of mostly character development and getting everything into place for future books.  I appreciate the world-building, but I needed it to have that story -- which in this case seemed to be the missing girls, who turned out to be a plot device and the last 25% of the book was more setup, rather than a big explosive finish leading into the next book's story.

Overall, I'd read another, to see what happens with Sara Wilde and if all this setup was worth it.  I'd give it that shot because of the snarky awesome-sauce that is Sara.

One Wilde Night by Jenn Stark

One Wilde Night by Jenn Stark
Published 2015, Elewyn
Stars: ★★★★☆

This little novella was an "introduction" to the world of Sara Wilde, a Connected artifact hunter who reads Tarot cards to find magical and psychic-powered special objects.  It also introduces the idea of The Magician, a character who forms a bond with Sara and will surely play a much bigger role in book one, Getting Wilde.

I am definitely looking forward to reading the first book, which I just got from Netgalley, as this novella did a good bit of world-building without making it tedious, introduced some intriguing characters, and definitely piqued my interest with the artifact-hunting and card-reading!

The Harvest by Chuck Wendig

The Harvest by Chuck Wendig
Published 2015, Skyscape
Stars: ★★★★☆

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy for an unbiased review.

What a trilogy!  Lots of twists and turns, and quite a few things going the exact opposite of the way I was anticipating -- which I love!  While it's fun to figure things out early sometimes, it can also be annoying to constantly be guessing and getting everything right.  Where's the fun in never being shocked?  Well, this series did that for me.  While there were a few things that played out just as I expected, there were others that played out in entirely the opposite way I forecasted.

I'm a little sad it's over, to be honest.  I actually cared about these characters and their fight to change their world.

Thanks Chuck.  Your books always entertain me!

Blightborn by Chuck Wendig

Blightborn by Chuck Wendig
Published 2014, Skyscape
Stars: ★★★★☆

Thanks, Netgalley, for giving me this great Chuck book in exchange for an unbiased review... though it's hard to be unbiased when Chuck is so awesome!!!

Seriously, this one kicked it up a notch... actually, way past a notch.  Our heroes and heroines got deeper into trouble, a few new characters were introduced, and some allegiances changed back and forth a few times.

This series is proving to be further and further from being what I thought it would be, based off my pre-judgments and the cover (strictly sci-fi, if you were wondering), and is turning out to be a handful of genres deftly joined into a fantastic world.

Book three is next up (okay, at the time of this, I'm a quarter of the way into book three already).  Let's see if the end of the trilogy is as explosive as the end of book two.

Under the Empyrean Sky by Chuck Wendig

Under the Empyrean Sky by Chuck Wendig
Published 2013, Skyscape
Stars: ★★★★☆

First, thanks to Netgalley for providing me with the Trilogy for review.  Not only do I get to read the whole thing and provide my unbridled opinion on it, but I get to do it for CHUCK books!!!  (Check out his Miriam Black series if you want a prime example of awesomeness.)  So thanks Netgalley. Other than these review copies, I got nothing in return for my review (well, maybe some satisfaction from reading a great book!)

Chuck's world this time is far from that of Miriam and her darkness.  It's a bright land of... corn.  Corn everywhere. As far as the eye can see... corn.  Not just any corn, but corn so GMO'd that it's barely edible and can move on its own.  Add yet another creepy level to the already creepy endless cornfield.  Yikes.

The Heartlanders live on the surface of the planet, tending the out-of-control kudzu-like corn and providing labor and supplies to the Empyrean, the rich people who live above in giant flotillas in the sky.

Enter Cael and his friends.  They're scavengers, trying to find anything they can to sell and provide for their families and their town.  But that's all about to change...

This book is drastically different in tone from Chuck's other works.  It's YA for one, but it's also a big story -- overall, the first one points the way towards what I think will be a revolution and a change in the status quo of Cael's entire world.

And I think the journey is going to be a good one, especially if it's half as fun and easy to tear through as this book one of the trilogy.