Review: The Untold Story

The Untold Story by Genevieve Cogman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, now that is what I call fun... for me, that is. Not really all that much fun for Irene and her motley crew. No, not fun at all for them. Really, the exact opposite of fun.

Big developments in this one. HUGE ones. Like super uber ginormous. With vast repercussions for the library and every single world.

I really want to be a Librarian, just so I can explore worlds and use the Language. But maybe I'd like it a little more AFTER the events of this book, considering.

I know, I know, I'm beating around the bush a lot. But I really don't want to spoil anything.

Pick this one up as soon as you can, but only if you've read the rest. This one is the culmination of a SERIES WORTH of storyline.

Highly recommended.

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Review: In Every Generation

In Every Generation by Kendare Blake
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Disney Hyperion for providing me with a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

Can this be made into a TV show? Please? Going into this, I was expecting a cheesy lame attempt to recreate the snark of Buffy without all the heart. It was not. It had the heart.

It had a new set of Scoobies. It had appearances from the OGs - heck some of them are still major players. It had a new and really fun villain. It had tension and buildup. It had snark and silly one-liners.

Was it perfect? No. Was it a great homage to BtVS and a lot of fun? Heck yes.

Recommended for Buffy fans who like YA books.

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Review: Archangel's Light

Archangel's Light by Nalini Singh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this one. I knew it wouldn't be as... graphic... as the others, as this is a mainstream M-F series, but I was okay with that. I'm just happy that we got this pairing. Maybe I shouldn't be so happy for scraps, but as I wasn't expecting her to actually go there, I'm just pleased beyond words. I love Bluebell and Sparkles! We got a lot of Illium and Aodhan's backstories (finally), and I'm so excited to see what comes next.

Trigger warnings for this one, though, as some of Aodhan's history is rough, and we get some information (not in too much detail, thankfully) about that.

This slow burn of a novel doesn't have much "action," but it does have a lot of events that are building up the next phase of this world's story. Lijuan's influence isn't gone, and there certainly seems to be something coming.

And the COVER. Can't we all agree that this cover is absolutely STUNNING?

Highly recommend this series, but please don't make this the place you start the series. You'll have no idea what's going on. Jump in from the beginning - you'll want to catch up for sure.

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Review: Along the Saltwise Sea

Along the Saltwise Sea by A. Deborah Baker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Tor.com/Tor-Forge, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another great entry in this wild fairy tale "book from a book world" series. I'm assuming this one will play a role in Seasonal Fears, like it's predecessor did in Middlegame.

This time we find Zib, Avery, Crow Girl, and Niamh pulled off the Improbable Road and taken to the Saltwise Sea. It's very piraty. :)

I would have given it five stars, but it didn't quite feel like there was a complete story in this one, just some travel and what happened to them during said travel, but no overarching plot.

Still, I highly recommend this one and the first one, Over the Woodward Wall, if you enjoy Seanan McGuire's works or loved Middlegame like I did.

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Review: Summer Sons

Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Yeesh, sometimes giving an honest review is hard for me... when I just didn't like a book. I feel bad, because authors put their soul, their blood, their sweat, their tears into their work, and I hate feeling like I'm somehow diminishing them by giving a low rating.

Alas, I didn't enjoy this one. The characters weren't likable, even in the least. The story was slow, the pacing was off, and I just was bored for most of it. It hooked me at the beginning, but that hook was pulled out and left bleeding for the majority of the rest of the book as Andrew makes bad decision after bad decision, uses drugs, races cars, gets angry, treats his friend like garbage, and just screws everything up royally.

It definitely has a Gothic atmosphere that was rather enjoyable, and I really wanted to like it, especially with the LGBTQIA+ tags, but it just felt... meh.

I didn't like Andrew, I didn't like Eddie from what we learn of him, I didn't like the roommates. Heck I didn't like any of them.

Overall, I just felt like this was a time sink that I shouldn't have invested my valuable reading time in, and I absolutely abhor saying that out loud.

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Review: Under the Whispering Door

Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Tor (MacMillan-Tor/Forge) for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved The House in the Cerulean Sea so much, so I was super excited to receive an ARC of Under the Whispering Door. Boy was my excitement spot on?!

This story is a much different one than Cerulean Sea. This one immediately starts with death, and all that comes after it. I don't want to spoil it too much, but the main character, Wallace, dies and is taken to a way station on the path to the afterlife, where he meets a ferryman, Hugo, and his "team"/family of Mei, Nelson, and Apollo. It is at this way station that Wallace learns what it truly means to be alive.

This book is a beautiful tale of grief - the grief of losing ones self, the grief of losing someone you love, the grief caused by life. A line from one of my favorite songs, Human by Jon McLaughlin, says it best, "I'm smart enough to know that life goes by, and it leaves a trail of broken hearts behind."

But also at the core of this story is another beautiful tale of becoming. Wallace's arrival and subsequent time at the way station changes him to his core. It changes Hugo. It changes Mei. It changes Nelson and Apollo. It changes EVERYTHING.

This book is highly recommended. It does have some slow parts, so I had to round down my 4.5 rating instead of up, but definitely highly recommended. This was a beautiful tale of grief and becoming.

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Review: When Sorrows Come

When Sorrows Come by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Well, we finally made it to the altar. Or at least, the book about the altar. No spoilers on if we actually get there or not. ;)

Toby and her motley crew (at least, a big chunk of them... someone has to hold down the fort at home!) make their way to Toronto for "the big day!" which obviously means that she's walking into trouble and stabbystabs and bloody clothes.

We've got intrigue. We've got danger. We've got elfshot and blood and poison and disguises and royalty and deception and meeting new kinds of Fae and pomp and ceremony and SO MANY CHARACTERS in the same book!

And most importantly.... THE LUIDAEG - one of my favorite characters of all time, ever, EVER.

You definitely should NOT start with this one. This is 15 books and countless short stories worth of history and plot and character development leading up to a wedding. Please don't do yourself a disservice and read this without the depth of all of that backing it up. :)

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

(Also includes a fun novella, With Reveling, that takes place immediately after the final scene of the book!)

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Review: True Dead

True Dead by Faith Hunter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for nothing more than an honest review.

FAITH YOU ARE A GENIUS. You've given new life to an already amazing series. You've sent some surprising shockwaves through Jane's world that are sure to massive consequences and reverberations throughout the rest of the Jane series and into Nell's series as well. And you've just blown me away.

I loved the heck out of this one. More big bad setup. Some storylines tied up, but in a way that means they were really threads of a bigger story. Progress on some already setup plotlines. Huge shocks. More Jane-family. More Beast.

Needless to say, I am even more excited about the next (and final *sad face*) Jane book now, and I know that while it's a longer wait, it'll be worth it.

Gosh, I can't rave about the Jane-verse enough!!!!

GO READ THIS! But if you've not read the rest of the series and it's Nell spinoffs, please read those too. You'll be glad you did, both because they're awesome books and because there's so much history that you'd miss out on!

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Review: The Book of Accidents

The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Del Rey publishers for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a big fan of Chuck Wendig. His Miriam Black series is fantastic, and I loved the Heartland Trilogy. I had some issues with his last chunkster novel, Wanderers, but still enjoyed it overall.

The Book of Accidents was a home run. Seriously, if you're a fan of the weird, wacky, deep character driven Stephen King type story, then you'll enjoy this one. It's weird. It's creepy. It's got some scary human things and some scary supernatural things.

I was really impressed with this one. It was plotted well. It explained just enough without explaining everything. It showed instead of just told. It had unexpected reveals. It developed a strong cast of characters. It built and built, without being too slow.

I'm actually hoping we get a sequel, as there was just enough left open that I could see a sequel happening. But we'll see.

Definitely recommended! Four stars!

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Review: Bloodless

Bloodless by Douglas Preston
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Phew, what a ride it's been. 20 books in (plus the standalones that tie in with character crossovers, so more like 23-24), and I still love this series.

Potential spoilery hints ahead. I haven't given any specifics, but if you don't want to even have a hint of what's going on, please stop reading!

But this one hit like a ton of bricks. It jumped the shark quite a bit with its main antagonist/plot, and the ending left much to be desired, with a seriously disappointing ending to a long-developed storyline that left a bad taste in my mouth. Much of the story and plot in this one was made moot by later events, to the point where the book felt bloated a bit.

I know things have to change to keep the story moving forward, but not at the expense of what you've been working towards for soooo many books.

I guess we'll see how it plays out. I'll still pick up the next one... I am invested in this series and in these authors, after all. But I'm not nearly as excited about the series any more after this entry. I've never given an entry in this series such a low rating...

Just wasn't my favorite in the series. As always, with a series like this, please start at the beginning. Jumping in here wouldn't provide you with the context you need to understand who these characters are, what makes them tick, or the emotional effects of the events of this book.

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Review: The Final Girl Support Group

The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley publishers for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love cheesy horror movies, and while I tend to find the slasher genre a bit meh, the concept for this book sounded like a lot of fun (for the reader, not for the characters!). A bunch of final girls form a support group, and then slowly start getting killed off again.

I figured out the biggest twists early, but that didn't really diminish the entertainment value of the story and the journey to the end. I do wish we'd had a little more after-the-fact closure, but I think the ending did justice to the characters and who they were, and I liked the growth in the heroine.

Was it as good as The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires? No, I don't feel that it was. Would I recommend it? Yes, it was still very entertaining.

Four stars!

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Review: The Night Hawks

The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

When I was younger, as in grade school/high school/college, I mostly read mysteries. They were just my thing. I started with Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, the Clue books from Scholastic Book Fair brochures, the Boxcar Children. I graduated into Agatha Christie and some more modern authors.

And then I discovered Goodreads and branched out into other genres. After that, a friend's Urban Fantasy suggestion led to a years long obsession with the genre, at the expense of reading more mysteries.

But you know what? I picked up Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway series, book one - The Crossing Places, for a group read, and fell in love with her writing. I love her characters, her mysteries, the perfect balance of intrigue and character development with a dash of history and setting thrown in.

This entry into the series was no exception. As we've gotten to know the people of the town, we've seen the cast grow, and that's blossomed into being deeply invested in their lives outside of the main mystery plot as well.

This one definitely throws some wrenches into the works.

Highly recommended for mystery lovers, but please please please, jump in with the first book rather than delving into this one too early. There are plot points that will be much more appreciated with knowing the character history.

Four and a half stars, rounded down.

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Review: Angel of the Overpass

Angel of the Overpass by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rose Marshall is an intriguing character. She's been dead for decades, but she still has an afterlife. And the beast of a man who forced her from the daylight into the twilight's debt has come due. Because of the events of Annie's books in the Incryptid series, particularly 7 and 8, there's a huge vacuum in power in the land of the dead that has left Bobby Cross in a precarious position. And unfortunately for Rose, she owes some powerful beings some favors for the things they've helped her with before, which leaves Bobby's destruction up to her.

One thing I always love about Seanan's books is the depth of her characters, and Rose is certainly deep. This is just book three of the series, and we know an awful lot about her. Even more importantly, because of this depth, we've seen Rose's choices and rooted for her, not realizing that every choice she's made has led her down this path. It'll be interesting to watch how these choices and this path forward change her story, and I'm totally there for it.

Highly recommend, but please start with book one... and maybe read up through Incryptid 8 at least, if you've not read that series. It's not entirely necessary, but this will spoil that a bit.

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Review: Million Dollar Demon

Million Dollar Demon by Kim Harrison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely fantastic entry into the Hollows series! Vampire leadership in the US is sending Constance to fill the power vacuum, and boy is she a nutter! She's evil and vile and an all around awful character, and a great antagonist. She's the perfect foil to Rachel, as they're both really powerful and have people around them supporting them, but both use their power differently and keep that support around through wildly different means.

But it all boils down to one important detail - they can't both live in Cincinnati. That would just be impossible. And Rachel won't leave without a fight.

One thing I've said since the beginning of this series is that Jenks is one of my absolute favorite literary characters of all time. That still remains true. He's only a few inches tall, but he's a giant of a hero. He's brave, loyal, honest, and strong, and I adore him!

There are a few threads left dangling, as with any good series, but I'm really excited to see where the new paths take us - as long as some of those threads are woven back in soon, because I need some answers on two of the big ones.

Highly recommended, but start at the beginning of the series. Not a good entry to start the series.

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Review: One Last Stop

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, what a story. This book was a roller coaster, and I loved every second of it. The dips, the turns, the surprise loops, the beauty of a love story that was never supposed to be.

Very few books have ever made me feel the love through the pages so deeply. I literally wept for the last 15% of the book - happy tears, sad tears, heartbroken tears, elated tears, every single emotion under the sun tears.

I'm not sure there are the right words to recommend this book highly enough. So just read it.

Every single freaking star.

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Review: The Light Fantastic

The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Slightly better than the first. At least this one felt like a more cohesive plot. Was it my favorite book ever? Nah. Was it the worst book ever? Not even close. I've heard the third is much much better, so here we go.

Also, chapters are good things, Sir Terry. But I can appreciate the symbolism of not having chapters and just being one journey the whole way through. I guess.

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Review: Yes, Daddy

Yes, Daddy by Jonathan Parks-Ramage
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Massive trigger warnings for this one. MASSIVE.

This book was insanely fucked up. But it was compelling. And it does shine a light on some serious issues in a fictional setting that have some applicability to reality.

I felt really bad for the main character. He does make a lot of bad decisions, but he jumps from one brainwashing/control situation after another.

I'm not sure I liked it. I'm not sure I didn't like it. It was a hard to put down book.

I really have no idea how to rate it.

If you have a strong constitution and can handle a long list of potential triggers and some serious darkness, give this book a shot. It was well-written and, like I said before, very compelling. It made you want to keep reading. It made you want to know what was going to happen. It made you root for the victims, even when they were making bad decisions. It made you hate the abusers. It made you keep reading, knowing what was going on, seeing all the little steps the abusers were taking to isolate the main character and entrap him.

This book won't leave you happy. It's a rough, tough, heartbreaking read. But it's a good book overall.

3.5 stars rounded up.

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Review: Up in Smoke

Up in Smoke by Annabeth Albert
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin's Carina Press for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I've really enjoyed Annabeth Albert's Hot Shots MM series. Hot firefighters? Check. Relationship goals? Check. Light easy escape reads? Check.

Unfortunately, this one wasn't my favorite. The author's notes afterwards indicate that this is the last in the series, and it was sort of a weak entry to end the series. I loved Brandt. I loved Shane. I loved their chemistry. But my biggest issue was that the book dragged an extra 40% because they tiptoed around their feelings and just wouldn't say anything. I felt like there was a lot of filler just to meet a page goal, and that some tightening up of the plot and relationship progress would have made it a better book.

It was also a a little sad, the whole story with Jewel and Shelby, and with as much tension was created by the looming threat of Shelby's return that didn't payoff with the eventual return and easy-out ending.

I still enjoyed the book, and I really loved the first three in the series, so I'll still recommend Hot Shots!

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Review: Gilded Serpent

Gilded Serpent by Danielle L. Jensen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Macmillan/Tor-Forge for providing me with a review copy in exchange for nothing more than an honest review. It is most appreciated.

That being said, I'm also a little mad that you provided me with this review copy... and now you're making me wait an entire year to get more of this story... after that ending! Book torture is the cruelest of all tortures, I think!

Just kidding (mostly). To be honest, this book was fantastic. We get a lot more development of character relationships in this book, and we get to see that not all of our main characters are perfect. We see the ugly sides. We see the amazingly strong sides. We get to see what some of them do when thrown into completely new situations, cut off from everything they know. While much of this book was moving the chess pieces to where they needed to be for the final tale, it was done in a way that led to all of this development, growth, and revelation - an indication of Danielle Jensen's writing talent.

And we get to see the setup to what is now one of my most anticipated books of next year. It's going to be a wild ride, and I am totally here for it. If I survive the book torture waiting until then. :)

Highly recommended, but please start with Dark Shores and Dark Skies first.

5 Stars Marked by the Gods
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I am not pleased to have to wait a year for the last book. Or longer. Omg please don’t be longer than a year.

Anyone know how to bribe an author? :)

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Review: Near the Bone

Near the Bone by Christina Henry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is how you do a horror and thriller combo! It was just the right blend of scary and mysterious.

Mattie lives high in the mountains with her husband, William. While checking their animal traps one day during the winter, she finds a dead fox on the path, cut open but not eaten or taken by the predator that killed it. What follows is classic horror movie - discovery of a creature, the hunt, other people getting involved, and the long night fight for survival... and the author has done an amazing job at that.

But where the book truly shines is in the element of character. You see, the creature in the cold, dark forest isn't the only monster that preys on Mattie, and sometimes, you don't have the sharp claws and vicious fangs to reveal a predator's nature... sometimes, humans are the worst monsters of all.

While this book definitely shows that dark side of human nature, it also excels at showing the resiliency, hopefulness, and brave sides of humankind as well.

Highly recommended. For non-horror fans, this one is only moderately scary in the creature-feature department. If you like thrillers, the horror in this one probably won't phase you much.

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Review: The Girl and the Mountain

The Girl and the Mountain by Mark Lawrence
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley publishing for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Mark Lawrence, you wily minx, you've tricked me. You somehow got that one big character introduction over on me (I blame my failing memory and how many books I read in between releases for yours). Then you made me think I could read this trilogy, having only read the Ancestor trilogy so far, when clearly you have your own little universe of interconnected books going on and I was completely unaware. My plan for this year was to read this ARC and then pick up the Impossible Times trilogy and save the other two series you've written (Red Queen and Broken Empire) for next year... I need stuff to fill in between releases but don't want to binge them all so fast and be out of them. But you messed with my brain, Mark. You've made me want to read them all this year and dig in for connections.

If you've not read Mark Lawrence, give him a shot, but don't start with this one. This one is second in a new trilogy, and book three won't come out until next year. I started with Red Sister. It's not a bad place to start. I'm pretty sure you can start with any of his trilogies you like. But be warned, you'll want to read them all.

When it comes to the nitty gritty of this book, The Girl and the Mountain, I do have one complaint amidst all the glowing praise. There's a point in the book, around halfway, that this book feels like it ends and another starts, and that second book starts with a part that drags a bit. Yes, that's a semi-intended pun that you'll understand when you read it. Some action still occurs, but that was the hardest part of the book for me. That's why I gave the book the rating I did (4.5 stars, rounded up since I can't do half stars).

I love the characters in this world. The magic system is freaking cool. And this book delves even deeper (another intended pun) into the history and mythology of the world they live in and the planet they live on.

Highly recommended - but again, don't start with this book. :)

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Review: You Love Me

You Love Me by Caroline Kepnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for providing me with a copy of this in advance of the publication date in exchange for an honest review.

I don't know how Caroline Kepnes does it, over and over again. She puts us inside the head of a person that for all intents and purposes is not a good human, and she makes us root for him. She makes us empathize with him. She makes us FEEL for him and with him. It's pretty incredible, really.

I loved book one, You, and I thoroughly enjoyed (but didn't love as much) book two, Hidden Bodies. I didn't really like Love or Forty from the beginning, and so I didn't get invested as deeply as I had in book one. This book stepped it up a notch. I was SO invested in this one that, just like Joe, I was blinded to some very clear truths that I should have noticed... and that made me happy. It's not often that I get stunned by a book, especially one with some things I absolutely should have seen coming and was too distracted by other things to pick up on them.

Ironically enough, though, this one is also probably the saddest one in the lot, at least for me, which is a pretty weird thing considering the series is about a creepy stalker/killer dude.

Five stars from me, and go ahead and sign me up for book four.

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Review: Wild Sign

Wild Sign by Patricia Briggs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I'm going to start with some brutal honesty. I love the Mercy Thompson books, I really do, but Anna's books just seem to have created a mate bond with me. They're something special, for sure, and I pretty much always love them in their entireties. Don't get me wrong, as I said a second ago, I do so adore the Mercy books as well, but whenever a new Alpha & Omega book comes out, I get more excited than for a Mercy book. Even if it's just slightly, there's a definite difference in excitement levels.

I think it's because even though I love Adam and Mercy, we really don't get much insight into Adam's head nearly as often as we get to see into Charles, and we get a much deeper understanding of the bond between Anna and Charles. I love the trust that they have for each other, and how they were both broken in different ways and the other's presence helped them have the safe space to begin to heal.

Many readers don't like Leah, but I have always liked her character. Sometimes it's been a "love to hate" situation, but generally, I've always found her an interesting character to read about and one who had a lot of depth that I thought we would one day get to see more of... and we finally do. We see another dark bit of Bran, which might push some readers (those who hated the tidbit offhand comment in the last book), to an even bigger disliking. But there is good in Leah that we haven't gotten to see much of, and there is pain. So much pain. This book goes a long way to plumbing the depths of Leah's self, and I was thrilled to get to know her better.

Lastly, that epilogue really set some new stories up, and I am totally here for it. GIVE ME THE NEXT ONE NOW. *sigh* I'm sure we will get a Mercy or two before another Alpha & Omega... and maybe that promised Tom & Moira book. We'll see (no blind/Moira pun intended).

[also, that cameo!]

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Review: The Kaiser's Web

The Kaiser's Web by Steve Berry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love Cotton Malone. It's no secret. I have followed this series for years, give it consistently high ratings, and buy a hardcover copy of every entry for display on my bookshelves religiously.

Alas, it was inevitable that eventually one would come that I didn't love. This novel deals heavily with the conservative and far right movement taking over through the use of propaganda and misinformation, specifically in the nation of Germany - a country with a notorious history involving the far right and the damage that it can do to the world. Sadly, while this would normally intrigue me, the similarities in the fictional German election in this novel and the last four years of conservative politics in the US were too much for me. It felt all too similar and all too real. That made it harder to read, for me at least, because my anxiety and disgust with a huge chunk of people in our nation who could support and vote for a monster were all overwhelming feelings.

In addition to this, there was one thing I absolutely despise in books/movies/tv shows (the unnecessary death of a beloved animal/pet), and I also was appalled at the ending to this novel, what Cotton essentially condones and participates in. It bothered me deeply.

All in all, I would probably give this book around 2.5 stars. Because I have faith that the author will redeem himself in the next book, I can round that up to 3 stars... but it does mean I'm going into the next installment with a wary and guarded attitude.
---
My least favorite entry in the series, and almost earned a lower rating than this one - my lowest rating in the series thus far.


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Review: The Russian Cage

The Russian Cage by Charlaine Harris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was hesitant to pick up this series as Westerns aren't really my jam, but I requested this one off of Netgalley thinking it was a new series from Charlaine Harris and didn't realize it was third in the Western-esque Gunnie Rose series. So, after approval, I saw that it was book three and went to find books one and two.

I'm really glad I picked these up and I should have trusted Charlaine Harris. Yeah, the series is a little Wild Wild West adjacent, but it's got magic and mystery as well.

This installment finds Lizbeth going west to the Holy Russian Empire (formerly known as California) to rescue an ally from the prior books. It put her WAY outside her comfort zone, and was a refreshing change of pace from Western settings of the first two books.

Plenty of character growth, some romance, and a lot of magical explosions, this one was a riotous amount of fun.

Definitely recommended, but only after reading the first two.

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Review: Calculated Risks

Calculated Risks by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love pretty much everything Seanan McGuire writes. Seriously, she's one of my favorite authors and she's highly prolific at releasing content. She writes at least one installment in each of her three main series (Incryptid, October Date, Wayward Children) every year, along with short stories and novellas every month, comic books, and usually at least one other novel a year. So there's the caveat - I'm a fanboy, so you'll probably see me raving over the books even when they have flaws. :)

This one picks up like half an hour after the last one ended, give or take. And boy is this one a doozy - they've ended up in an unexpected place and in a very unexpected situation. Yikes, the situation is bad. Annie, Artie, James, Sarah, and Mark have to navigate the new territory while also navigating each other, which adds some fun to the mix. But as someone who has high levels of empathy, it was also hard to read because I kept feeling so bad for Sarah! Trying not to spoil anything here.

So basically, this book involves all the usual fun of Incryptid - witty banter, great characters, weird situations... but for the first time we've got zombies (okay, sorry Annie, "husks"), giant bugs (sorry if you're afraid of spiders... Calculated Risks might exacerbate that greatly), and multiple-mooned-orange-colored skies.

Basically, it was a lot of fun, with a minor annoyance of the repetitive discussions on good and bad cuckoos.

This series is HIGHLY recommended - but please start at the beginning.

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Review: The Project

The Project by Courtney Summers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I requested a copy of this book through Netgalley for a few reasons. First, I had heard some very positive things about one of Courtney Summers’ earlier books, Sadie. Second, the blurb indicated that the book involved a cult, which intrigues me. We live in a time where people seem to be more likely to be extreme in their views, and even political leanings have shifted into an almost cult-like following, so the topic of the book felt fitting to me with the current culture/climate. Lastly, I love a good mystery thriller where the main character is a reporter, digging up the dirty and juicy details.

The book didn’t thrill me but didn’t disappoint me much either. I felt like some sections of the plot were a little dragged out, but not too many, as most of the book actually moved at an excellent pace. It was fast enough to keep you interested, but had enough backstory and detail to flesh out the story in your mind. One plot device used had a nice surprise reveal - the author didn’t go the expected route, but made you think she was. I really liked that she got that one over on me.

One thing that I really loved about this book was the depth of pretty much all of the major players. Lo was a strong, independent and ambitious young woman, but we also saw her vulnerabilities and weaknesses in a powerful way. Lev’s history and ability to charm were developed perfectly, leaving the reader to wonder if his patience and loving behavior were a facade or his true nature. Bea’s need to believe in something bigger, her latching on to a spot of light in her time of darkness, and her innate drive to connect with others is superbly written. Lev’s right hand Casey, Unity Project members Foster and Emmy, Lo’s boss Paul, Unity Project member Jeremy’s father Arthur - all are fleshed out and we’re allowed to see what pushes them forward, what has broken them, and glimpses into their inner selves. Honestly, I’d say this author’s best skill is her ability to write characters extremely well.

This is marked as a young adult novel, but while it wasn’t super gritty, it got pretty dark at times. It didn’t read as a young adult novel, at least to me. So please don’t let that genre tag stop you from giving the book a chance.

Overall, I’d say it’s a little more than three and a half stars, but a little less than four, so I’ll round up to four. I enjoyed this book enough that I’ll definitely be going back and picking up some of the author’s other books, including Sadie.

I’d also like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: The Sanatorium

The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, the medical community opened a new type of institution: the sanatorium. Designed to be a place where tuberculosis patients could receive treatment for their illness, these care facilities were usually built in high altitude locations in order to provide the freshest of air, as at the time, that cold and fresh air was believed to be the best treatment for diseases of the lung. They offered nutrition, sunlight, peaceful rest, and cool, crisp mountain air as the ideal course to help patients heal. Having a beautiful and cold mountain region that fit these criteria perfect, Switzerland was home to many of these sanatoriums. This was, of course, before the discovery of antibiotics, which provided an actual cure for tuberculosis and other diseases. After this breakthrough, these places either shut down or were repurposed for other uses. Unfortunately, sometimes these places also have sordid histories…

Sarah Pearse’s debut novel takes one of these treatment facilities and gives it new life. Architects Lucas Caron and Daniel Lemaitre took an old sanatorium and turned it into a hotel, redesigning this place of illness and suffering into a top of the line luxury resort, tucked deep into the mountains of Switzerland. Main character Elin Warner and her boyfriend Will are headed there to celebrate the engagement of her brother Isaac to their childhood friend, Laure. Alas, someone has other plans for the hotel guests and as winter storms cut them off from the rest of the world, a murderer’s plot unfolds. What the killer doesn’t know is that, even though she’s on leave, Elin just so happens to be a detective, and she’s thrust into a thrilling hunt for a clever killer.

I love a good mystery thriller, especially one set in a locale that’s cut off from the rest of the world, where one (or a few) characters have to use the limited resources they have to solve the case. This book reminded me of some of my favorite stories, with elements reminiscent of The Shining, one of my absolute favorite horror novels and also set in a snow-isolated hotel with a sordid history; of Agatha Christie, a Master of mystery and the Queen of devious plotting with a limited cast of suspects; of the masterpiece PlayStation 4 game “Until Dawn,” in which a group of friends go to a remote cabin lodge that just so happens to have creepy mines and an abandoned sanatorium nearby - and of course, a fantastic, deliciously horrifying storyline.

The Sanatorium was a superbly written amalgam of the aspects I loved best about these stories, minus the paranormal, of course. It’s hard to believe that this is Pearse’s debut novel, as it reads as if it were written by a seasoned author. While I did suspect the killer early on, my theories as to why and how were way off base, and there were some twists and turns that knocked my suppositions off their feet. I love when a mystery author can find new ways to shock and confuse, and Pearse definitely had me second-guessing myself the whole way through.

All in all, highly recommended read for those who love mystery, thriller, and almost-horror suspense novels.

Thanks to Netgalley and the Penguin Group/Pamela Dorman Books for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com

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Review: The Scorpion's Tail

The Scorpion's Tail by Douglas Preston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The creators of Pendergast have done it again. I've always loved both Nora and Corrie, and was super excited to hear about their first book, Old bones, in which they come together to solve a historical mystery *and* a modern mystery. Lucky for us, Preston & Child had bigger plans than just one book, and from this plan comes The Scorpion's Tail.

Interestingly enough, it's pretty clear early on who the bad guy is. The fun in this story is all the twists and turns it took to get there - all of the clues, all of the dead ends, all of the puzzles and conundrums that build towards an explosive finale.

I'm really interested to see, after that ending, where the next Nora and Corrie book will take us. I'm *so* along for this ride.

Highly recommended but pick up book one first. (Honestly, you don't have to read all of the Pendergast books first, but you'd know so much more about these characters if you did.)

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