Review: I Kissed Shara Wheeler

I Kissed Shara Wheeler 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.

Casey McQuiston strikes again! So far, I've loved everything they've written.

This one brought back some memories of private Christian school (for me, from third to twelfth grade!!) - some good, some not so good. I'm a little jealous of Chloe's support circle. I didn't have that in my life in school.

I feel like this was probably more of a four or four-and-a-half star read, but I literally could not put it down. I stayed up well into the night until I couldn't keep my eyes open, then picked it up again first thing in the morning. To me, that kind of a book gets that extra star.

I really enjoyed following Chloe, Smith, and Rory as they delved into this puzzle that Shara created for them, seeing the aftermath, and basking in the afterglow.

Highly recommended.

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Review: Heroic Hearts

Heroic Hearts by Jim Butcher
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 knew I had to request this one when I saw who some of the authors were!!!

Overall score: I have to give this one 5 stars, because the 4 and 5 star stories were just THAT GOOD.

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Little Things by Jim Butcher
Series: The Dresden Files
My Series Status: Devoted Follower/Obsessee
Stars: Four

NOTE: Do not read this without having read the series up to Battle Ground. Spoilers, people, spoilers.

I love Toot-Toot. Seriously, he's the reason I requested this anthology. Sure, there are plenty of great authors contributing to it, but a story from Toot's perspective was NECESSARY in my life.

I loved this one! It was really cool to be in Toot-Toot's head and see how he views Dresden, Mister, feelings, and the world around him.
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The Dark Ship by Anne Bishop
Series: The Others
My Series Status: Devoted Follower/Obsessee
Stars: Five (I'd give more if five weren't the limit)
Absolute gem of a story. We get a story set in the world of The Others, but this time, it's in Cel-Romano and revolves around a separate cast in the Mediterranean Sea area. This story was fantastic - I loved the characters, the buildup, and the way she ended it just right.
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Comfort Zone by Kelley Armstrong
Series: Darkest Powers/The Otherworld Universe
My Series Status: New to me and Devoted Follower/Obsessee
Stars: Four

New characters in a side story from The Otherworld. A necromancer and a werewolf. Honestly, I feel like they might have been from the secret lab in Stolen. But it's been a long time since I've read the early books. Either way, we get a brief mention of the Nasts too! These two characters decide to start using their powers for good, and this is their first case. Really enjoyed it.
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Train to Last Hope by Annie Bellet
Series: N/A
My Series Status: N/A
Stars: Five

I have no idea if these are side characters from her Twenty-Sided Sorceress world or not, as this is my first time reading Annie Bellet, but I very much enjoyed this one. It threw you right into the story and built the history up as you went along, but it worked really well and showed pretty damn deep characterization for such a shorty. Nailed it.

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Fire Hazard by Kevin Hearne
Series: The Iron Druid Chronicles
My Series Status: Read through book 7 (currently two books behind)
Stars: Three

I liked the first few books in this series, but the last few haven't been as fun or as exciting. Maybe it's just me, but I grew kinda bored of the whole series, which is a shame, because I love Oberon and Granuaile. This one is from Oberon's point of view, which made it more entertaining, but I also am missing a few things for this one since I haven't read the last two books of the series.

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Grave Gambles by R.R. Virdi
Series: The Grave Report
My Series Status: New to me
Stars: Four

Umm, wow. That was a great story! Definitely going to have to pick up this series. I loved the premise - body-hopping soul jumps into murdered people's bodies and solves their murders!

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Silverspell by Chloe Neill
Series: Heirs of Chicagoland
My Series Status: New to me
Stars: Three and a half

It was a little predictable, but it was also interesting enough that I will definitely be checking out the main series (though I'll start with the series Chicagoland, as this Heirs series is a followup/spinoff).

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Troll Life by Kerrie L. Hughes
Series: N/A
My Series Status: N/A
Stars: Four

I'd read more about this world! I loved the development in such a short story. Excellent job building the world. I really liked all the different supernaturals in one story!

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The Return of the Mage by Charlaine Harris
Series: Southern Vampire Mysteries/Sookie Stackhouse Universe
My Series Status: Devoted Follower/Obsessee
Stars: Three

Batanya and Clovache, Britlingen Mercs from All Together Dead, are back in this shortie. It was a very strange story, but oddly intriguing. I'd read more about these Britlingens! :)

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The Vampires Karamazov by Nancy Holder
Series: N/A
My Series Status: N/A
Stars: Two and a half

I really didn't care much for this one. I liked Alexei's struggle with good/evil, but I thought the ending was contrived and just wasn't a fan.

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The Necessity of Pragmatic Magic by Jennifer Brozek
Series: N/A
My Series Status: N/A
Stars: Four

First, I want more Maureen and Felicia. They were hilarious and brave. Second, I want to know what "Him" was. This story was super fun!

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Dating Terrors by Patricia Briggs
Series: Alpha & Omega (Mercyverse)
My Series Status: Devoted Follower/Obsessee
Stars: Five

Asil is such an interesting character, and these little side shorts reveal so much more of who he is at his core. His gracious protection of the characters in this book really make his personality shine, and I very much enjoyed meeting Ruby and her team. I also loved seeing Asil's wolf become his partner again after so long... and the claim it made... I'm gonna need so much more of this story! Please give us more, Patty!!

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Review: Of Claws and Fangs

Of Claws and Fangs by Faith Hunter
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've read many of these short stories before, as this anthology is a compilation of all the shorties that she's put out since the release of her first compilation anthology, Blood in Her Veins. But of course, revisiting Jane's world is always a pleasure and it's been a long time for most of these stories, so I'm reading them all again! Yay!

ALL of these stories were good, most of them I'd call great.
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Story: Candy from a Vampire
I love Leo and I love Del, and I liked this glimpse of seeing Leo's growth. I also really loved getting the story of Leo's decision to give Del real responsibility. Plus, I love Halloween!
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Story: Make It Snappy
We get another glimpse of Leo in this one, and it has a fantastic twist. I also love seeing some of Leo's history come back to haunt him.
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Story: It's Just a Date
Wish we'd had a little more of the date before the stuff happens... or a little more of the date after. But it was cute to see Wrassler and Jodi so nervous. :)
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Story: Life's a Bitch and Then You Die
Hard to read, but great history of Wesa and Cat working together for the first time and understanding the origin of the "Beast" moniker.
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Story: Black Friday Shopping
I love me some Nell and Occam, but this story just left me wanting more - more explanation, more resolution, more!
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Story: How Occam Got His Name
Devastating story. But I sure do adore Occam.
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Story: Shiloh and the Brick
Leo always has plans within plans within plans, years ahead.
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Story: Beast Hunts Vampire with Jane
It's always fun to be in Beast's thoughts.
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Story: Of Cats and Cars
Do you know how much I love Edmund? SO MUCH. And Beast has always wanted to ride in that car... deals and hinjinx ensue, obviously. I really enjoyed getting Edmund's POV - especially his grief over you know who's death - juxtaposed with Beast's.
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Story: Beast Hunts Pie-Bald Deer
That was a cute interaction between Beast and Faith Hunter, told from Beast's perspective.
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Story: Jane Tracks Down Miz A
What a truly sad tale. :(
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Story: Anzu, Duba, Beast
Gee is a very interesting character. Feathers and lightning and Mercy Blade status. Plus, it's really fun to see Jane get to shift into new things. Plus who doesn't love a good zombie were-bear-hyena story?
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Story: Eighteen Sixty
Ayatas is so interesting and I loved getting to see some of his backstory... also, Everhart reference!!!
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Story: Wolves Howling in the Night
More of Ayatas and Etsi Everhart. A little harder to read, based on the subject matter (potential trigger warning!), but a good story and shows Ayatas' sense of justice and morality.
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Story: Death and the Fashionista
My favorite supernaturals to read about are... witches! And I adore the Everharts. Personality-wise, they're fantastic. Power-wise, they're badass. This story is no exception. We get to see a handful of the Everhart Trueblood clan go up against Death, Fear, and demon of dark magic... and it's a BLAST.
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Story: My Dark Knight
Witch stuff AND Edmund? Yes please! Angie and Edmund's bond is such good reading. I can't wait to see future books after Jane ends. I need to see Angie grown up!
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Story: Bound into Darkness
Eli + Liz 4eva. I love them together!!! Definitely one of my favorites of the anthology. Plus it was way longer :)
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Story: The Ties That Bind
Whaaaat? We get a story with the famous Everhart daughters' MOTHER!? Awesome! :) We get to see a little bit more of what's going on in Bound into Darkness, but events that took place elsewhere. I love Faith's witch lore.

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Review: Ballad & Dagger

Ballad & Dagger by Daniel José Older
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

Overall, I gave this book 3.5 stars, rounded up. The first half was... a slog. It was slow and political and not much happened. It picked up after that, and I'm really glad that I finished it. The last 30% or so was fantastic - things finally picked up, more powers were used, stuff happened!

I loved the lore of San Madrigal, and I loved the spirits. I wish we'd been able to see more use of the powers and a bit more action in the first half to make it interesting. It was a lot more political than I expected for a YA book.

I loved the POC representation and the cultural aspects of the book.

Will I pick up the sequel? Probably. The end of this one was good enough to warrant that.

Recommended for fans of mythology and Rick Riordan books with patience for slow beginnings.

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Review: The Agathas

The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Delacorte for the ARC. This is my honest review.

I really loved this one! It was a well-crafted YA mystery with some homages to the Queen of Crime herself, Dame Agatha Christie.

The two main characters, Iris and Alice, are well-developed and have depth. The potential murderers are all pretty well-developed too, and the mystery throws enough wrenches in the works to make you keep jumping from suspect to suspect. I think the Dame would be proud of Alice, using her Christie obsession to help them solve the case.

I would absolutely love if this were a series, so here's hoping for more. If you're a fan of Agatha Christie, YA, and mysteries, then you should definitely pick this one up. Highly recommended.

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Review: Seasonal Fears

Seasonal Fears by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tor through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own honest ones.

Yet again, Seanan McGuire proves why she's in my list of top favorite authors. She writes a unique story, full of twists and turns, while building a world that is deep, developed, and believable. She made me care about these characters, just like in Middlegame, and root for them. She made me want to get more glimpses of the alchemical world.

In this one, we follow Harry and Melanie as they learn that their future is a bit predetermined, and their journey to make that fate their own.

Highly recommended for those who love Seanan McGuire, seasons, the supernatural, urban fantasy, and road trips. I'd also say it's probably best to read Middlegame first. There is some stuff revealed in this one that spoils the first book. That's your fair warning! I'm thinking there will be more in this world, so fingers crossed for another installment.

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Review: Hide

Hide by Kiersten White
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.

You ever read one of those books that plays out like a movie in your head? It's got a good pace. It's got a good premise. It's got a good cast. It's got a good setting. It's got everything needed to fit the mold of a modern day smash at the box office.

This book... is that. It has all of those things. And I think it should be a movie.

The characters were great - I hated some, I loved some, I had some to root for.

The premise was awesome - the readers were given hints that not all was as it seemed, but we watched the cast slowly figure it out.

The storyline was fantastic - the perfect horror movie setup and build.

All in all, the only complaint that I had was that, at the end, I was hoping for just a tad bit more. But that's also not a complaint, because the best books always leave you wanting more (in a good way).

Five stars. Highly recommend. Will definitely be picking up more of this author's work in the future.

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Review: The Stardust Thief

The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit for gifting me an advanced copy. Below is my honest review.

WOW. That is a debut! This book was a fun romp through the wild heat of the desert, steeped in magic and dripping with violence (but not in a gory way).

I loved the magic in this book. The jinns were fantastic, their magics and histories were intriguing, and while the beginning was a little slow to get going (which I think was a mood thing for me and nothing to do with the book itself), it picked up pretty quickly. The relics were so much fun - think Xiaolin Showdown meets A Thousand and One Nights.

But do you know what is disappointing? I read this one early... which means my wait for book two will be longer than the average reader. *stomps feet* Not fair!

Highly recommended. Definitely will pick up book two as soon as it's available to me!!! While in London for vacation this past week, we went the famous Piccadilly Circus 6 floor Waterstones. They had multiple displays of this one... and anyone nearby who was looking at it got my recommendation!

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