Review: Stage of Fools

Stage of Fools by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

<3 Tybalt... need I say more?

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Review: Dreams and Slumbers

Dreams and Slumbers by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's always a lot of fun when UF writers give us short stories from the points of view of a secondary character. Arden's quest to awaken her brother Nolan from his elf-shot slumber takes an interesting turn, and we get some time with Walther and Cassandra too.

Just makes me MORE excited for the next Toby book!!!

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Review: Once Broken Faith

Once Broken Faith by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Yet another Toby book has come to an end, and I'm still stunned at how McGuire manages to keep the series fresh and entertaining. It's probably because her cast of characters is SO GOOD.

Anyways, this was another strong entry in the series, dealing with the fallout and repercussions of Toby's trip to the north from the previous book. It left me with quite a few more questions about the overall story arc, ones I'm excited and terrified to see play out.

Why do we have to wait another year for more? *sigh*

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Review: Shadow Heir

Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

With the Winter Enchantment and the travelling and intrigue, this one had the potential to be my favorite of the series. Unfortunately, the last 15% or so killed it for me. I now understand why everyone was disappointed with the ending.

This book lost two and a half stars strictly because, well, Eugenie is a hypocritical bitch. Completely unlikeable, chock full of double standard bullshit, and ugh... I just can't even.

I could understand some parts of the end, but Eugenie's choice regarding a very important truth was just too far. Her decisions in prior books have been cringeworthy, especially when it came to breaking up with one of her two men "in her head"... but this just takes the cake.

Such a shame, because by the end, I liked all the supporting cast (outside of Kiyo/Maiwenn), especially Jasmine and Dorian.

Blah. Two and a half stars, rounded up ONLY because of characters like Jasmine and Dorian.

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Review: Chasing Embers

Chasing Embers by James Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dragons? Check. Egyptian mythology? Check. Urban Fantasy setting? Check.

At first glance, this book seems to have been written with me in mind. You've got a dude that turns into a dragon (rawr!), witches and gods and fairies (oh my!), and all sorts of fun locales.

Honestly, this book was a wild ride. My only gripe is that there were a few "infodumps"... granted, they were worked into flashbacks or portrayed as a history lesson at a museum gala, but still... infodumps. Other than that, it was a solid story that entertained.

Looking forward to seeing the fallout from the events of this book in the sequel.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review!

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Review: Iron Crowned

Iron Crowned by Richelle Mead
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the storyline in this one, but I just felt like, after reading so many of Richelle Mead's VA and Bloodlines books, that this series is less polished in its execution.

The whole ghost/murder mystery background story felt unnecessary, a lot of things felt repetitive (oh, look, I am spending more time in the Otherworld now... over and over and over)...

And the back and forth between Dorian and Kiyo is giving me whiplash. He's bad, I want that one. No, wait, that one is bad, I want this one. Oh, no, I was right before, I want the first one, the second one is bad....

And, sorry, Eugenie, sweetie, your justifications for your actions don't fly with me.

Overall, I still enjoyed the book and am enjoying the series. I'm just disappointed to see that not all her work is as awesome as prior reads.

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Review: The Ferryman Institute

The Ferryman Institute by Colin Gigl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Technology may have changed, but the job is still the same -- luckily, Charon happened to figure out a way to make his job of ferrying souls into the afterlife way easier. He created The Ferryman Institute...

Enter Charlie Dawson. Star Ferryman. 250 years of being an immortal Ferryman, and never once failing an assignment. The assignments aren't always easy, but they always end with the main objective -- open a door to the Afterlife, convince the soul to enter of its own free will. Succeed, get another successful mark on your record. Fail, and the soul is doomed to wander the earth, haunting humans and causing problems as its existence slowly fades and is lost forever.

But 250 years has had its toll on Charlie. His immortal life revolves around the sadness that is death. Men, women, young, old, accident, nature, self-inflicted... it's all tragic, and its getting to him.

A secret assignment from the office of the President of the Ferryman Institute send Charlie to assist the soul of one suicidal Alice Spiegel into the Afterlife. Or not. WAIT WHAT? For the first time ever, as time ticks close to her ETD (estimated time of death), the assignment's special envelope opens and gives him a choice... the choice to SAVE her.

What follows is a crazy rollercoaster of action, adventure, and discovery... what is the purpose, the meaning, the point of living?

Take a chance on Colin Gigl. This may be his debut, but it was a damn good one. The only thing I can complain about is that occasionally, the editors missed some repeated "in the works" and "per se" phrases all on the same pages, enough to be noticeably overused. And that's so minor. There are a few predictable things, but the ride is so fun and fresh and original that you probably won't even mind.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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