Review: Archangel's Eternity

Archangel's Eternity by Nalini Singh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the pre-release copy of Archangel's Eternity by Nalini Singh. Below is my honest review.

So I'm torn on this one. It was a great tie-up to a fantastic series. It gave us reunions, rebirths, new births, updates, new matchups, etc. But it didn't really have a plot. It literally felt like a giant epilogue to the series, rather than its own separate installment. Lots of loose ends tied up. Lots of happy moments. Lots of setting up a long-term joy for almost all the characters. But no plot, no story thread that made it its own novel.

This is definitely a good one if you're a fan of the series. In fact, it's mandatory. You must read this and enjoy reaping the benefits of 17 prior books of fight, struggle, danger, war, and overcoming obstacles. But just be prepared going in for the fact that it's an epilogue. Knowing this, you'll enjoy it much more.

Four stars - one star off for not really having a plot, but the other four for being a perfect epilogue to a grand series.

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Review: The Masked Truth

The Masked Truth by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Tundra Books for the pre-release copy of The Masked Truth by Kelley Armstrong. Below is my honest review.

I'm so happy I was able to snag an ARC of this updated rerelease of The Masked Truth. It's one of Kelley Armstrong's YA books that I hadn't been able to get my hands on yet, so I was super excited to have the chance to read it.

I really enjoyed it. The danger definitely felt real for the characters as they were trying to find a way out of the locked building, full of gunmen. The you-know-what definitely hit the fan. The stakes were high, the losses were many, and the plot got more and more tangled as the story went along - in a good way.

The resolution was brutal. The explanation was devestating. But there was still hope.

The characters, at least Riley and Max, were really fleshed out and had depth, and I appreciated following the story in both of their minds. Armstrong handled a delicate subject and representation with grace and aplomb.

Definitely recommended, especially for Armstrong fans. Four stars.

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Review: I Know a Place: Rest Stop and Other Dark Detours

I Know a Place: Rest Stop and Other Dark Detours by Nat Cassidy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Shortwave for the prerelease copy of I Know a Place by Nat Cassidy. Below is my honest review.

Nat Cassidy is a new to me author, but I've heard so many of my current favorite horror authors talk about him and his work, so I was aware of him. When I saw this available on Netgalley, I knew it would be a good start to figuring out if his work was for me - multiple stories showing multiple aspects of his style and wit.

This one knocked it out of the park. The collection starts with Rest Stop, which was brutal and compelling and hard to put down. It should totally be a movie! The rest of the stories then kept me going deep into the night, with some favorites being The Art of What You Want, Come, and Laughlines. But overall, they were all strong stories, and it looks like by TBR will be growing, thanks to adding the rest of his works.

5 stars, highly recommended for horror and thriller fans.

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Review: The Power of Beliefs: How Strengthening Seven Core Beliefs Predicts Greater Success and a Better Life

The Power of Beliefs: How Strengthening Seven Core Beliefs Predicts Greater Success and a Better Life by Shawn Achor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: We Burned So Bright

We Burned So Bright by T.J. Klune
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Books for the pre-release copy of We Burned So Bright by TJ Klune. Below you'll find my honest review.

I love TJ Klune. He's weird. He's creative. He's queer. He's got so many fun ideas.

This is not one of those ideas. It's not fun. It's tragic, and it's dark, and it's brutal, but it's also full of joy and full of unexpected moments with random strangers, and most importantly, it's about finding that light in the darkness and grabbing hold of it with everything you've got.

I loved Rodney and Don. Experiencing their journey with them was an honor.

Further proof that TJ Klune knows how to write people well and with depth.

HIGHLY recommend. Pick it up! Just be warned that it's not pony rides and rainbows - it's facing down imminent and unavoidable death with joy, forgiveness, grief, and love.

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Review: The Caretaker

The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria 12:01 books for the pre-release copy of The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer. Below is my honest review.

What a wild ride! As we follow our hot mess express MC into the worst quick buck part-time job in the history of the world, we see a little glimpse into more of Kliewer's mind-bending imagination, and I am totally here for it.

This was an absolute gem. Paced well, crazy enough to make you wonder if things were real or not, creative to the very bone, and an excellent candidate for a screen adaptation (which I've heard is in the works?).

Between this and We Used to Live Here, Marcus Kliewer has reached my list of top must-buy-immediately horror/sci-fi thriller writers.

Highly recommended, five stars.

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Review: Thrall

Thrall by Rebecca Mahoney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Hyperion Avenue for the pre-release copy of Thrall by Rebecca Mahoney. Below is my honest review.

I absolutely LOVED this one. Great characters, good development, awesome setting, creepy villains, and a really fun take on vampire lore, without all the "oh vampires are so sexy" stuff that so many vampire stories have since Twilight.

I can't wait to see what Rebecca Mahoney comes up with next, because she's got a new fan here!

Five stars, highly recommended.

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