Review: Pendergast: The Beginning

Pendergast: The Beginning by Douglas Preston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central for the pre-release copy of Pendergast: The Beginning by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Below is my honest review.

I am *super* excited that we are getting a pre-Relic Pendergast tale. There is so much history that's hinted at and revealed over the course of the extremely long series, so having full length stories going into depth for some is such an awesome thing.

I really loved this one. It's classic Pendergast, but it's early on in his career and explains some really lingering questions: why was he transferred to NYC? Why is Proctor so loyal? What happened to his New Orleans partner agent?

It had a great plot, some very Pendergast-novel murders, and some fun little tidbits of sci-fi goodness.

Keep at it, Doug and Linc. We need more Pendergast stories, and I'll gladly devour any stories about him from ANY point on the timeline.

Five stars, highly recommended, AND since it's a prequel that was specifically written to be another potential starting point for new readers, you can start with this one if you'd like.

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Review: The Room in the Attic

The Room in the Attic by T.M. Logan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central for the pre-release copy of The Room in the Attic by T.M. Logan. Below you'll find my honest review.

Absolutely a five star read. I wanna start with that. I couldn't put this one down. I started it at bedtime (which is really the only time I have lately for reading) and meant to go to sleep at a decent hour, but read until almost 2 am. Then the next night, I did the same thing, finishing it in the second sitting.

The tension is so well designed, the mystery is so well plotted, and the chapters end with just the right little nudge to read one more. My only complaint is how long it took the main character to consider what was actually going on as a possibility.

Also, I really thought the kids were well written and adorable.

I'll definitely be reading more of Logan's thrillers. Hopefully they're as good as this one.

Highly recommended for mystery-thriller fans. Five stars.

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Review: Night Terror

Night Terror by Vincent Ralph
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's for the pre-release copy of Night Terror by Vincent Ralph. Below is my honest review.

I very much enjoyed the first novel, Dead Fake, in Vincent Ralph's new Bleak Haven YA horror/thriller series, but I think this one was actually way more fun. This one felt more like a horror type novel than the first, which was more mystery/thriller, and I really enjoyed seeing the characters rise to the occasion and fight for their lives while trapped in a locked mall with the villains. It was creepy and would make a decent movie (as would the first), so I'm hoping Ralph and his agents pitch this to Netflix to do like they did with the Fear Street trilogy.

This one takes place in the 80s, whereas the first novel was set in modern times, and Night Terror tells one of the stories alluded to in Dead Fake - how the history of the town is rife with tragedy and murder.

I liked the cast, especially Grace, and this one was definitely a win for me.

All in all, a solid entry into this new series about a town plagued by violence, blood, sadness, etc. Book one, Dead Fake, is set to be released at the same time as this one, with hopefully more to come.

If you're a fan of the horror/thriller genres and 80s nostalgia, then you'll enjoy this foray into the YA horror space. Fans of the Fear Street trilogy about the same story spread over different time periods, then you'll enjoy this series as well.

Four "why did you read from that cursed book, dude?!" stars.

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Review: Dead Fake

Dead Fake by Vincent Ralph
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's for the pre-release copy of Dead Fake by Vincent Ralph. Below is my honest review.

I really enjoyed the first novel, Dead Fake, in Vincent Ralph's new Bleak Haven YA horror/thriller series. It had lots of twists and turns and was a lot of fun to read. I liked the whole "preview deaths by AI video" concept, as it was both creepy and disturbing. I thought the main character was developed well enough to root for, and the cast of secondary characters was pretty good too.

All in all, a solid series opener about a town plagued by violence, blood, sadness, etc. Looking forward to reading my ARC of book two, Night Terror, also releasing soon.

If you're a fan of horror and thriller genres or slashers, then you'll enjoy this foray into the YA horror space. It's also a bit of mystery, so that made for some extra fun.

Four bloody slashery stars.

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Review: Twelve Months

Twelve Months by Jim Butcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the pre-release copy of Twelve Months by Jim Butcher. Below is my honest review.

MORE DRESDEN! FINALLY!

So it's no secret that this is one of my absolute favorite series ever, and I've been anticipating this book since the end of the last one. In 2020 we got TWO Dresden books, and I was in heaven. Until the thing happened, that is. THE THING. I can't speak it out loud, because it's spoilery and also because I still am in denial, five years later and having read the next book following THE THING where it's solidified over and over that THE THING is real. And I can't. Like seriously, I liked that character so much that I named my dog after them. I was (and still am) devastated.

But this book really felt like a tribute to that character and the impact that they had on Dresden, and that I can appreciate.

I couldn't give this one the fifth star that I usually would because it did feel kind of... filler. It was moving chess pieces to get the world ready for the next BIG STUFF, and didn't have a huge plot other that Harry and Chicago trying to heal from the huge battle of Peace Talks/Battle Ground.

But I still loved it. So much.

Overall, this got a four and a half stars from me. I couldn't bring myself to round it up to 5, and since I had to do full stars, it got rounded down to four. Still part of a masterpiece series.

Highly recommended but please, please don't start with this one if you haven't read the series. Go binge it all. It's worth it.

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Review: Through Gates of Garnet and Gold

Through Gates of Garnet and Gold by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Tor for the pre-release copy of Through Gates of Garnet and Gold by Seanan McGuire. Below you'll find my honest review.

Another trip through the Doors, not to Confection, not to the Moors,

This time a trip to Nancy's home, so close in nature to Christopher's bones.

The ghostly specters are riled up mad, the end for the statues gruesome and bad,

so back Nancy goes to the school for her friends, to get help to stop these untimely ends.

Off on a quest, a handful of them go, their bravery and courage and cleverness show.

Seanan's done it again, this book's a delight! Now hurry and go read all that she writes!

Highly recommended, especially if you've read the rest of these (this one does spoil prior books!)

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Review: The Storm

The Storm by Rachel Hawkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's for the pre-release copy of Rachel Hawkins' The Storm. Below is my honest review.

My first Hawkins novel was The Heiress, and I really loved it, so when I saw this, I knew I had to request it. And I'm glad I did, because yet again, I really enjoyed it. It was a little predictable in places, but it was also a great read - it would be even better as a beach read or a "sitting in the hot tub at a mountain cabin" kinda read.

I think Hawkins really excels at creating an immersive setting, and she's a master of setting up that compelling chapter ending that makes you want to read just one more.

Highly recommended for thriller/mystery fans.

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