tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60178466591263768132024-03-15T21:11:01.662-04:00Slapdash & SundryStevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.comBlogger594125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017846659126376813.post-75182831669346282352024-03-05T11:30:00.001-05:002024-03-05T11:30:30.689-05:00Review: Three Kinds of Lucky
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57427858" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1676721607l/57427858._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="Three Kinds of Lucky" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57427858">Three Kinds of Lucky</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17054">Kim Harrison</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5866999321">4 of 5 stars</a>
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Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the early copy of Three Kinds of Lucky. Below you'll find my honest review.<br /><br />I'm a huge fan of Kim Harrison's Hollows novels - both the original series and the recent continuation. I liked her Drafter novels and was disappointed we never got the end of the trilogy.<br /><br />This one was a really good series opener. She built a cool world with an interesting take on magic, along with some great characters. I did figure out the "traitor" early on, but she did set it up to be obvious to the reader.<br /><br />I had trouble putting this one down and absolutely loved it - except for one thing. I'll put it at the bottom so you can choose whether or not to read it. This will slightly spoil, so look away if you're not interested in a spoiler.<br /><br />All in all, definitely recommend for Urban Fantasy fans or fans of The Hollows. 4 stars.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />CONTENT WARNING<br /><br />CONTENT WARNING<br /><br />CONTENT WARNING<br /><br />CONTENT WARNING<br /><br />THE DOG DIES.<br /><br />CONTENT WARNING<br /><br />CONTENT WARNING<br /><br />CONTENT WARNING<br /><br />CONTENT WARNING<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5866999321">View all my reviews</a>
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017846659126376813.post-32164994458218142272024-03-05T11:29:00.001-05:002024-03-05T11:29:21.648-05:00Review: Murder Road
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/174137255" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1689089281l/174137255._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="Murder Road" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/174137255">Murder Road</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4981568">Simone St. James</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5719085949">4 of 5 stars</a>
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Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the pre-release copy. Below is my honest review.<br /><br />A wrong turn leads a newlywed couple down a back country road where they find a bloody injured woman wandering aimlessly down the middle of the road. They pick her up and take her to the local hospital, and on the way, they're chased down by pair of headlights belonging to a speeding pickup truck. When they get there, the police show up and tell the couple not to leave town... because they're now suspects. Things go sideways when legends of a local haunting creep into their own investigation, raising the stakes much higher than anticipated.<br /><br />I really enjoyed this one and will definitely pick up more by Simone St. James. The twist was a little predictable if you were paying attention, but guessing it ahead of time didn't detract from the story at all. The characters were full of depth and the story was dark and twisty.<br /><br />Definitely recommended for thriller/light horror fans.
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Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017846659126376813.post-501268414396183132024-03-05T11:27:00.001-05:002024-03-05T11:27:51.135-05:00Review: Aftermarket Afterlife
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198139926" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1693281657l/198139926._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="Aftermarket Afterlife" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198139926">Aftermarket Afterlife</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2860219">Seanan McGuire</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5871202560">5 of 5 stars</a>
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Thanks to Netgalley and DAW for the prerelease copy. Below is my honest review.<br /><br />I can't. There aren't words. I am struggling to write this review. Was the book good? Of course it was. It was five stars. It's Seanan-freaking-McGuire, so of course it was good. It was great. But...<br /><br />It was also devastating. I wasn't prepared for this, even a little bit. I know Seanan can be brutal, but wow. WOW.<br /><br />I don't want to spoil anything, so let me give you the quick rundown: All of the series leading up to this point has been about moving pieces into place. And those pieces? They're moved. And now, there is war. And neither the Covenant nor the Price-Healy clan are going to pull their punches.<br /><br />Prepare yourself before reading this.<br /><br />Also, this is one of those books that you REALLY need the context of the rest of the series going in, so do yourself the HUGE favor of reading all the fantastic books leading up to this one (including the three Ghost Road novels too, please and thank you). You won't regret it... though you might regret the trauma this book is likely to cause. *breaks down weeping*<br /><br />HIGHLY recommended.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5871202560">View all my reviews</a>
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017846659126376813.post-33920870020105065982024-03-05T11:21:00.001-05:002024-03-05T11:21:11.915-05:00Review: Rift in the Soul
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62804344" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1679615520l/62804344._SY160_.jpg" border="0" alt="Rift in the Soul" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62804344">Rift in the Soul</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/234115">Faith Hunter</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5419016728">5 of 5 stars</a>
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Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the pre-release copy. Below is my honest review.<br /><br />I love Nell Nicholson Ingram and her ragtag crew of strays that have formed not only her PsyLED team, but a little found family. This one throws them all into the middle of a very old vampire's machinations, which really gets complicated when the implications of Jane's Angel giving the vamps their souls back and removing the curse on weres comes into play. (This does beg the question - what happens to the grindylows? Because I love them!) In addition to that, Nell's connections to Soulwood *and* the creepy tree with a mind of its own also toss some crazy into the mix.<br /><br />I really liked this one, and hope hope hope this isn't the end. With Jane ending last year, I'm not ready to lose Nell too. Fingers crossed!<br /><br />Highly recommended, but please AT LEAST read the rest of the Soulwood series, but be warned that it does exist in the Jane Yellowrock world and is affected by events of that series as well.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5419016728">View all my reviews</a>
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017846659126376813.post-64622582011478694812024-03-05T11:18:00.001-05:002024-03-05T11:18:10.086-05:00Review: A Fate Inked in Blood
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61063372" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1690493016l/61063372._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="A Fate Inked in Blood" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61063372">A Fate Inked in Blood</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7091823">Danielle L. Jensen</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5787939574">5 of 5 stars</a>
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Thanks to Netgalley and Del Ray for the pre-release copy! Below you'll find my honest review.<br /><br />I put this one off for a bit because I wasn't sure I was in the mood for fantasy. Then I realized it comes out this month and that I needed to read it before release, so I dived right on in.<br /><br />I shouldn't have hesitated, even a little bit. It was so good! The magic was really cool, and I really liked so many of the characters. Did Freya have some whiny moments? Sure, but she kind of has a lot going on in her life. Is it a little unfair that Bjorn is as sexy as he is but trapped in the book and not here with me? Definitely.<br /><br />Once I really got going, the pages flew by. It was hard to put down and I just wanted to read a little bit more, a little bit more, to find out what happened next.<br /><br />I can't recommend this one enough for fans of mythological fantasy stories with spicy romance mixed in. Five stars.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5787939574">View all my reviews</a>
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017846659126376813.post-90704300522318846442024-03-05T11:05:00.001-05:002024-03-05T11:05:37.639-05:00Review: A Haunting in the Arctic
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/115370481" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1692008443l/115370481._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="A Haunting in the Arctic" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/115370481">A Haunting in the Arctic</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16582738">C.J. Cooke</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5772446246">4 of 5 stars</a>
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Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with a copy of this novel prior to release. Below you'll find my honest review.<br /><br />So, this one was a hard one to review. Mostly because it was insanely compelling and hard to put down, but had one major glaring issue - the twist is sooooo obvious. Like, neon lights big enough to see from space pointing at the twist saying "HERE! LOOK!" kind of obvious.<br /><br />But the two timeline stories unfolding chapter by chapter, with a third timeline woven throughout with research notes, etc, really were so interesting to read. I was invested in both of the main storylines and just couldn't fight that "okay one more chapter" feeling late into the night.<br /><br />There are also some MAJOR trigger warnings for this one when it comes SA/R scenes, so be aware going in if these things are difficult for you to read.<br /><br />All in all, the twist being obvious didn't take away from the compelling nature of the read or the desire to see how and when the reveal would happen, so I rated this one highly.<br /><br />Definitely recommend to fans of supernatural mysteries set in cold, remote climates and hauntings.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5772446246">View all my reviews</a>
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017846659126376813.post-24273248043317084602024-02-21T13:17:00.001-05:002024-02-21T13:17:02.159-05:00Review: Island Witch
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/157979441" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1692038732l/157979441._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="Island Witch" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/157979441">Island Witch</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20764500">Amanda Jayatissa</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5866994188">3 of 5 stars</a>
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Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the pre-release copy of this novel. Below you'll find my honest review.<br /><br />I really liked the story in this one. It was an interesting setting, an interesting cast, and a really cool way to learn about another culture through a tale involving their beliefs, mythologies, and religious practices.<br /><br />But it did have some downfalls. Namely, all of the twists are predictable. I knew every reveal before it happened, and it was obvious leading up to it. In addition, the use of words specific to their language is really neat, but the constant "here's a word, here's the definition" got a little distracting. And the main character's non-stop "my dad is treating me differently, what happened to make this change, etc" got very repetitive when it was in almost every chapter for over half of the book.<br /><br />It did have a strong protagonist, which I liked, and while the definitions did become tedious, I did like that the author put in actual words and historical references that were really part of history. I also loved that the story was about a part of the world and a history that we don't have a lot of published novels about. I'm really happy to see more diverse stories being published to share those things with the world of readers.<br /><br />All in all, I really enjoyed it, but felt like it needed some tweaking.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5866994188">View all my reviews</a>
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017846659126376813.post-37859781560855889362024-02-21T13:13:00.001-05:002024-02-21T13:13:21.014-05:00Review: The Atlas Maneuver
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/173403990" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1686361016l/173403990._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="The Atlas Maneuver" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/173403990">The Atlas Maneuver</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3621">Steve Berry</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5976334637">4 of 5 stars</a>
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Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central for the pre-release copy. Below is my honest review.<br /><br />I have a few things to praise about this one: I learned a lot about bitcoin and blockchain from this one, which was kinda cool as it's not something I knew much about. We also got more Cassiopeia Vitt, along with the return of Koger and TOO from recent previous stories. More Vitt = happy me. We also got a bit of backstory about Cotton's not-so-good history, meeting an old flame from the past, which was interesting.<br /><br />I do have a few complaints as well. First, there wasn't enough Stephanie Nelle. I miss her! Second, Vitt and Cotton were separated the whole book, which sucked. Third, there were SO MANY SENTENCE FRAGMENTS, and so many of them starting with "which." Seriously, I don't recall Berry's work being this poor level of grammar before. Maybe there were lots of sentence fragments in previous books and my mind blocked them out, but this time there were so many that it took me out of the story over and over, making it hard to binge.<br /><br />3.5 stars rounded up. Definitely still recommend for fans of the series.
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Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017846659126376813.post-70409824755471111942024-02-21T13:08:00.001-05:002024-02-21T13:08:13.860-05:00Review: The Boy Who Cried Bear
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/157672156" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1684565196l/157672156._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="The Boy Who Cried Bear" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/157672156">The Boy Who Cried Bear</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7581">Kelley Armstrong</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5837986817">5 of 5 stars</a>
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Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for gifting me an early copy of this novel. Below you'll find my honest review.<br /><br />Haven's Rock is a fledgling little town, Eric and Casey's attempt to rebuild a better, stronger Rockton. This one really raises the stakes as we learn that the "neighbors" hinted at in the first book have built themselves up and are now a full-fledged mining camp, very close to Haven's Rock and threatening the safety of Haven's Rock's residents.<br /><br />In addition, Haven's Rock has made some drastic changes from Rockton, including the acceptance of families with kids into the fold.<br /><br />When one of those kids goes missing, Casey and Eric and the rest of the town go into full search and rescue mode, and are reminded yet again that nothing is ever as it seems in the wilderness of the north.<br /><br />I absolutely loved this one. No complaints whatsoever.<br /><br />Highly recommend, but please please please read the rest of the series (both Rockton and Haven's Rock).
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5837986817">View all my reviews</a>
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017846659126376813.post-12632853624584471102024-02-13T16:20:00.001-05:002024-02-13T16:20:08.417-05:00Review: The Book of Doors
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/156480764" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1685909433l/156480764._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="The Book of Doors" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/156480764">The Book of Doors</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/40006932">Gareth Brown</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6059209681">4 of 5 stars</a>
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Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for the early copy of this novel. Below is my honest review.<br /><br />As I started this one, I wasn't sure I was going to like it. There were a few repetitive phrases going on and an entire paragraph was in there twice, written two different ways. There was also some head-hopping within the same scene that was a bit distracting.<br /><br />But after the first few chapters, the writing improved and the story really gripped me. The concept of the books with powers was super cool, and was really intriguing. Then you throw in the very twisty plot that could have been confusing but was well-plotted and clear.<br /><br />I'm hoping we get a sequel. This one was fun.<br /><br />Definitely recommended - pick it up if you like superpowers/magical artifacts and twisty plots. nd twisty plotting!
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6059209681">View all my reviews</a>
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017846659126376813.post-13323293767985230762024-02-13T16:17:00.001-05:002024-02-13T16:17:26.275-05:00Review: The Warm Hands of Ghosts
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/154462576" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1692543384l/154462576._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="The Warm Hands of Ghosts" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/154462576">The Warm Hands of Ghosts</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13922215">Katherine Arden</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5932275325">4 of 5 stars</a>
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Thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Del Rey for the advanced copy of this one. Below is my honest review.<br /><br />Katherine Arden was an instant request when I saw her newest book on Netgalley. Her series about Russian magic, starting with the Bear and the Nightingale, is absolutely divine, so I was pumped for this one.<br /><br />Alas, it didn't quite live up to my expectations - which might be unfair of me to go in with them, considering this is a new book in a new world from Arden, but I couldn't help it. Really cool concept, really cool villain, a little repetitive and dragged for a large portion of the book. But it's still good - it's Katherine Arden after all! And of course, I'll still pick up her next novel.<br /><br />3.5 stars rounded up.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5932275325">View all my reviews</a>
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017846659126376813.post-61218602797949926032024-02-11T13:26:00.001-05:002024-02-11T13:26:01.367-05:00Review: Our Satyr Prince
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/138363334" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1682206518l/138363334._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="Our Satyr Prince" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/138363334">Our Satyr Prince</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22205437">Dylan Drakes</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5632639196">4 of 5 stars</a>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5632639196">View all my reviews</a>
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017846659126376813.post-68022799997137364822024-02-06T14:18:00.001-05:002024-02-06T14:18:07.063-05:00Review: 10 Hours to Go
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/136276891" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1684207586l/136276891._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="10 Hours to Go" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/136276891">10 Hours to Go</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19525452">Keely Parrack</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5961107429">3 of 5 stars</a>
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Thanks to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for gifting me an advanced copy. Below is my honest review.<br /><br />This YA suspense is an intense look into the flames of friendships and the sparks of old grudges. As these three girls start their ten hour journey home, old issues between them come cropping back up, but what starts as a potential prank is quickly swapped for a situation much more dangerous when local wildfires threaten not only their path home, but their very ability to make to through the night.<br /><br />While I enjoyed the writing and think the author did a great job pushing the girls through the dangers of the night, I didn't love this one. It felt like there was a lot of hemming and hawing about past grudges, but then when it came down to it, the reveal was just meh. And while the fires definitely added a lot of tension and some great situational drama, but there was some wasted potential with the dropping of the "other people are dangerous" storyline. We got this whole situation with the scary guy and the disappearing people, but then it just got dropped completely.<br /><br />All in all, if you enjoy some good character tension and environmental suspense with a YA spin, then you'll really enjoy this one. I think the author is great and will definitely try their next novel to see their growth.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5961107429">View all my reviews</a>
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017846659126376813.post-72724555429282149472024-02-06T14:16:00.001-05:002024-02-06T14:16:11.870-05:00Review: The Tainted Cup
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/150249463" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1689089215l/150249463._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="The Tainted Cup" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/150249463">The Tainted Cup</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2916869">Robert Jackson Bennett</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5721502541">4 of 5 stars</a>
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Thanks to Netgalley and RHPG Ballantine Del Rey for gifting me an advanced copy. Below is my honest review.<br /><br />Robert Jackson Bennett is an expert at creating interesting new worlds, and The Tainted Cup is no exception. I loved that Bennett stepped into a new genre - murder mystery - with his own unique spin on it.<br /><br />I was going through a bit of a reading slump when I started this one, so it took me a bit to get into it, but as my reading mojo slowly returned, it got harder and harder to put this one down, and I tore through the pages like dappleglass bursting out of the victim's torsos in this one!<br /><br />Definitely will be picking up book two when it releases. This one really left me wanting a sequel and to see more of Din and Ana.<br /><br />Did I mention the alphabet representation? Yep. I loved it!
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5721502541">View all my reviews</a>
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017846659126376813.post-44434847521376186262024-02-06T14:14:00.001-05:002024-02-06T14:14:14.813-05:00Review: Your Shadow Half Remains
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/127281430" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1682379016l/127281430._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="Your Shadow Half Remains" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/127281430">Your Shadow Half Remains</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3149946">Sunny Moraine</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5900451539">4 of 5 stars</a>
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Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for gifting me an early copy. Below is my honest review.<br /><br />This short novel is quite powerful. What happens to us when we can't look others in the face? When we lose all true connection and contact with people? How do we define ourselves when we can't even figure out if we're sane anymore? What happens when complete isolation is the new normal? Or, even more importantly, when someone decides to break that isolation without giving you a choice?<br /><br />If you're a fan of Malerman's Bird Box or Saramago's Blindness (or their visual adaptations), this book will hit you hard. Just be prepared that you might not like what you see when you have to look at yourself as deeply as Riley does.<br /><br />Definitely recommended for fans of psychological thrillers/suspense/almost horror.
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Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017846659126376813.post-75059496269321199362024-02-06T14:12:00.001-05:002024-02-06T14:12:14.774-05:00Review: Infinity Alchemist
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/150277121" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1705691088l/150277121._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="Infinity Alchemist" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/150277121">Infinity Alchemist</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15809784">Kacen Callender</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6153280079">3 of 5 stars</a>
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Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Teen for the pre-release copy of this novel. Below you'll find my honest review.<br /><br />This novel had a bunch of good things: <br /><br />It knocks representation out of the park - trans, non-binary, polyamory, etc are all well represented in this novel in a respectful, teen-friendly way.<br /><br />It has an interesting magic system and House hierarchy.<br /><br />It also had some serious downsides:<br /><br />The non-binary representation gets a little confusing as the pronouns change randomly from chapter to chapter. It pulled me out of the story a bit as I would have to figure out which "he" was being referenced at the time. So it's less a problem with the non-binary and more a problem with clarity from the author.<br /><br />The whole point of the novel was to chase the Book, but then the Book wasn't even a real important thing at the end, and the story's conclusion was a bit of a mess. And honestly, the magic system didn't have rules or structure enough to really understand how it all actually worked.<br /><br />Overall, lots of potential, but lacking in some of the execution.
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Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017846659126376813.post-81283649773618492872024-02-01T16:46:00.001-05:002024-02-01T16:46:43.485-05:00Review: The House of Last Resort
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/126918644" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1681241011l/126918644._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="The House of Last Resort" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/126918644">The House of Last Resort</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4522">Christopher Golden</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5702363041">4 of 5 stars</a>
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Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for gifting me an early copy of The House of Last Resort. Below you'll find my honest review.<br /><br />I'm actually really disappointed at this one. The first 90% of the book was amazing: slow burn, perfect pace of reveals, lingering questions, horror elements building up over the course of the book. The last 10% though? I just wasn't satisfied. I can't really say much because I want to avoid spoilers, but the ending fell flat for me. All that build-up, all that emotional carnage, and the payoff just wasn't there for me.<br /><br />Like I said, I did love most of the book, so I'll only take away a star for not nailing the ending (in my opinion - others might really like it). And I'm definitely interested in reading more of Christopher Golden's works.<br /><br />Four stars, recommended for fans of horror.
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Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017846659126376813.post-85170862590447254542024-01-10T12:50:00.001-05:002024-01-10T12:50:05.626-05:00Review: Mislaid in Parts Half-Known
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/127305800" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1686859718l/127305800._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="Mislaid in Parts Half-Known" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/127305800">Mislaid in Parts Half-Known</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2860219">Seanan McGuire</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5721608857">5 of 5 stars</a>
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Special thanks to Netgalley and Tor for gifting me an early copy of this book. Below you'll find my honest review.<br /><br />This is one of those series that, even though each book is actually pretty dang short at around 200 pages, still hits hard with emotional depth. We continue the story of Antsy, girl from the store that holds the lost things and main character of the last book, Lost in the Moment and Found. She has found her way to Eleanor's school, and has started to settle in... so of course, people find out about her gift of being able to find almost anything, and some want to take advantage of it and use her to find their Doors. Hi-jinks ensue and it's a fantastic tale, hopping through multiple worlds, and with a twist at the end that makes me both happy *and* sad. <br /><br />All in all, yet another fantastic entry into this series, that you should definitely read... but start at the beginning, please. Highly recommended for fairy tale lovers, YA lovers, and adventure lovers, and of course, for all fans of McGuire's works.
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Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017846659126376813.post-72564177969693474432024-01-10T12:47:00.001-05:002024-01-10T12:47:10.594-05:00Review: The Heiress
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/126919284" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1684155150l/126919284._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="The Heiress" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/126919284">The Heiress</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2261547">Rachel Hawkins</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5627406312">4 of 5 stars</a>
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Huge thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley who gave me an early copy of this novel. Much appreciated! Below you'll find my honest review.<br /><br />I love a good mystery twisted into a story about a rich family, mysterious deaths and inheritances, and old houses passed down through the generations. I love a story about an underdog. I love a story with unreliable narrators, or at least ones that take their time revealing everything even when they're being truthful.<br /><br />I absolutely loved this book. The characters were developed and realistic and easy to picture. The family history was well presented and in a manner that really held attention. The slow build to "what's going to happen, because this powder keg will have to explode at some point," from tension to denouement, was precision.<br /><br />Highly recommended read.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5627406312">View all my reviews</a>
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017846659126376813.post-14907508774495368632023-12-28T16:29:00.001-05:002023-12-28T16:29:12.373-05:00Review: Cocktails & Chloroform
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/152261161" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1683844078l/152261161._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="Cocktails & Chloroform" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/152261161">Cocktails & Chloroform</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7581">Kelley Armstrong</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5760220183">5 of 5 stars</a>
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Thanks to Netgalley and Subterranean Press for gifting me an early copy of this novella in one of my favorite Kelley Armstrong series.<br /><br />This shortie really packs a punch. It's clear that Armstrong was going for some development of Alice and her relationship with Mallory/Catriona, and it was a wild success, in my opinion.<br /><br />The story felt complete without feeling rushed, without feeling like it left anything out or should have been longer. It was just right. <br /><br />And luckily, it was a perfect little morsel in the long wait for the next release in the main series.<br /><br />Highly recommended, but I'd suggest you pick up books one and two in the main series first, as this takes place after book two and does provide minor spoilers for the first two books.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5760220183">View all my reviews</a>
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017846659126376813.post-14700048003244406412023-12-28T16:21:00.001-05:002023-12-28T16:21:52.062-05:00Review: That's Not My Name
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123429195" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1684790275l/123429195._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="That's Not My Name" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123429195">That's Not My Name</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22753078">Megan Lally</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5867000655">4 of 5 stars</a>
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Thanks to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for gifting me an early copy. Below you'll find my honest review.<br /><br />This is how you write a thriller. I don't care if it's YA or adult, supernatural or fully realistic - this is how you do it. Absolutely unputdownable, totally just-one-more-chapter-able until the wee hours of the morning, and really, really compelling.<br /><br />You're immediately invested in BOTH of the stories that are running through this novel, and I can't really say much else without spoiling the story. Let's just say... "invested" isn't a strong enough word.<br /><br />Highly recommended!!! Read this one!
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5867000655">View all my reviews</a>
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017846659126376813.post-7402076412945169882023-11-14T11:30:00.001-05:002023-11-14T11:30:10.112-05:00Review: Good Girls Don’t Die
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/122658643" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1685351575l/122658643._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="Good Girls Don’t Die" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/122658643">Good Girls Don’t Die</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3409936">Christina Henry</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5569213546">5 of 5 stars</a>
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Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an early copy of this novel. Below you'll find my honest review.<br /><br />Christina Henry is a pretty much guaranteed amazing read... EVERY. DANG. TIME.<br /><br />This one is no exception! This one weaves themes of misogyny, sexism, and toxic masculinity in with a genre-bending, plot-twisting romp following the lives of women who find themselves in very... interesting situations.<br /><br />The three major players each wake up in a strange place, dropped into situation that isn't normal. One finds themselves smack dab in the middle of a cozy mystery, another in a slasher movie, and a third in dystopian death-games type story. But not all is at it seems, as these situations might be part of something much larger, and when it comes down to it, their lives might just be on the line.<br /><br />This one was so hard to put down. Seriously, I read late into the night, trying to race to the end to find out what was going on. And honestly, I was both thrilled and frustrated each time the story for one woman ended and a new one started, because each new beginning sucked me right in.<br /><br />Highly recommended for fans of mixed genres, strong women, and really great twists and turns.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5569213546">View all my reviews</a>
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017846659126376813.post-20556468522649877402023-11-07T15:30:00.001-05:002023-11-07T15:30:27.206-05:00Review: Where He Can't Find You
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/163792474" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1685657228l/163792474._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="Where He Can't Find You" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/163792474">Where He Can't Find You</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7734837">Darcy Coates</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5675002686">4 of 5 stars</a>
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Thanks to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for giving me an early copy of this novel. Below you'll find my honest review.<br /><br />I read my first Darcy Coates horror story earlier this year, and was really excited to get my hands on this one. It did not disappoint!<br /><br />This one drops you right into the thick of it, into the town of Doubtful. It lets you know that it's a bad place where bad things happen. It tells you the rules you must follow to have the best chance of staying alive, so the Stitcher doesn't take you. It doesn't explain what's going on, why these things are happening... it just lets you discover all of that as the story unfolds. <br /><br />And unfold it does... when one of the main characters' sister is taken by the Stitcher, vanishing into the night, they do the unthinkable... they decide to fight back and try to save her.<br /><br />The bonds of friendship, the isolation of only depending on each other as the town has given up trying, and the constant fear of the Stitcher - man or monster?, intertwined with the weird effects on wildlife and electronics and the empty, dead feeling of the town, really push this novel into true horror. The atmosphere is set up perfectly. The hook is set deep inside. And the action drives it forward.<br /><br />My one complaint is that I'd have loved a little more detail of how things became the way they are. The explanation is satisfactory, but I'm craving more information on this well-painted world.<br /><br />Absolutely loved this one. Highly recommend.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5675002686">View all my reviews</a>
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017846659126376813.post-71105867182631795582023-11-07T15:26:00.002-05:002023-11-07T15:32:54.762-05:00Review: The Olympian Affair
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26860699" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Olympian Affair" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1685085160l/26860699._SX98_.jpg" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26860699">The Olympian Affair</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10746">Jim Butcher</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1528575433">4 of 5 stars</a>
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Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for gifting me an advanced copy. Below you'll find my honest review.<br /><br />I'm really torn on this one. The parts I loved were definitely worthy of 5 stars - mostly Abigail's storyline, the interactions with Folly, and everything involving Bridget/Benedict/Rowl/Fenli. I also liked the redemption ARC of a certain character, and the masterful development of some of the characters.<br /><br />But there were a lot of places that felt like they needed more editing. There were sections that felt very repetitive, storylines that built and then were dismissed with no payoff, and lots of scenes that just weren't necessary to really push the story forward. This book could have lost probably 50-100 pages and been better off for it. So for those sections, which I still enjoyed for the most part, I'd have to give 3 stars.<br /><br />That averages out to 4 stars. I really like the world, and absolutely adore some of the characters - the cats especially.<br /><br />Recommended for those who enjoyed the first one and can deal with a little rambling.
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Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017846659126376813.post-43718263486332266362023-10-25T12:18:00.001-04:002023-10-25T12:18:50.012-04:00Review: West Heart Kill
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/75293522" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1684817565l/75293522._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="West Heart Kill" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/75293522">West Heart Kill</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23276389">Dann McDorman</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5538075550">3 of 5 stars</a>
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Thanks to Netgalley and Knopf for gifting me a pre-release copy. Below you'll find my honest review.<br /><br />I'm really torn on how to rate this one, because it's absolutely unique and brilliant in its own right, but some of that uniqueness turned it sour for me.<br /><br />I liked the characters - it felt very much like an old-timey, Agatha Christie era murder mystery story. I liked that the characters weren't really all that likeable half the time, even the detective, and I liked that there were a lot of twists in who people really were on the inside.<br /><br />I liked the mystery - a death, another death, another death, they just kept coming. I liked that one of those deaths was completely and entirely unexpected for me and subverted my expectations.<br /><br />I liked the unique style choices the author made - at one point, the novel becomes a screenplay, which was a very clever and interesting way to show the scenes.<br /><br />BUT, all of that being said, the non-stop style choices, the swaps between tenses, the jumping into lessons on the history of mystery writing, the charming-at-first bits about how the reader interacts with the story and has certain assumptions/guesses/etc.... these things all became tedious and distracting. Every few pages, you're pulled out of the story for another aside, and after a while, it just became hard to stay engrossed in the actual mystery.<br /><br />Couple this with a highly unsatisfying ending, and I just couldn't say I loved it like I wanted to when I started. I still enjoyed the novelty and clever shtick for much of it, so I will give it a solid, yet average, three out of five stars.
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Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14154104936419875205noreply@blogger.com0