Review: Soul Taken

Soul Taken by Patricia Briggs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for gifting me an advanced copy. Below I provide my honest review.

Seriously, everyone... this one is GOOD. It has some major implications for the series and some huge stakes. If I had to sum up this book's theme in one word, it would be Connections. Mercy learns so much more about the pack bonds, about vampire bonds, about fae bonds. Relationships are revealed and created and strengthened. Events are shown to be related to each other. Connections all around.

This one has some horror elements, which I loved. If you're not a fan of horror, that's okay, but this one is still along the lines of the rest of the series.

I need the next one now!!! Next year we get another Mercy book, and I am foaming at the mouth in anticipation! (I'm also super excited about the Alpha and Omega book in 2024... but I also still want that hinted at Tom and Moira book! Maybe that will be a story in the upcoming 2023 Instincts anthology? Fingers crossed!)

Highly recommended for fans of Urban Fantasy... but please please please read the rest of the series first!

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Review: Ruby Fever

Ruby Fever by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for gifting me an advanced copy of this book. I was so excited to get my hands on it! Below is my honest review.

Anything Ilona Andrews writes is gold, pure gold. Hidden Legacy is no exception. I know they had a lot of struggle on getting this one to where they wanted it to be, but it turned out to be top notch and the perfect conclusion to Catalina's time as the main character.

Ruby Fever brings the Arkan story to an explosive ending, and is chock full of action. Twists and turns abound! Catalina has really grown into her role, and having to step up and do this job without Linus really pushes her limits. Thankfully, she has Alessandro and an amazing family/framily to support her.

I absolutely loved this trilogy and adore this world, and really hope that the tidbit at the end was a hint of more to come.

Highly recommended - with the caveat that this is the third Catalina book, which followed a Nevada trilogy, and threads of all of those previous books are found in this one.

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Review: Stay Awake

Stay Awake by Megan Goldin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's for providing me with this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was un-put-down-able! This is my third Megan Goldin - since her release of the Escape Room a few years ago, I've read all her new releases. I just discovered in preparation for this review, that she has one more book - her debut - that I haven't read yet. I'll be remedying that this year, and in the future, all of her books will be on my radar.

I absolutely loved this one. The premise is pretty awesome, and while I did figure out the mystery (I read a lot of mystery and sometimes it just jumps out to me), I loved the ride. I was so sucked in that I couldn't stop reading it. I needed to know what happened, both in the present and in Liv's past.

This was an intensely-paced and fantastically plotted, with reveals showing up at just the right speed.

My only gripe was that the main character was supposed to be an American, and it's set in New York City, but some of the language used is clearly outside US vernacular. Example: whereas in the US, we'd say "his phone was busy" or "she got a busy signal when she called him," this novel uses "his phone was engaged."

All in all, a very minor gripe, but did pull me out of the story a little bit.

If you're a fan of fast pace, danger at every turn, and never knowing who to trust kinda thrillers, this novel is for you! Highly recommended.

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Review: Upgrade

Upgrade by Blake Crouch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love Blake Crouch. His Wayward Pines trilogy was a massive yes for me, and I really enjoyed both Excursion and Dark Matter. Unfortunately, this one fell a little flat for me.

I really enjoyed the concept and most of the execution, but I think what really pulled me out of the story was the constant reminder that Logan had been upgraded. I understand that's the point, but after a while, knowing what his heart rate was and how it had changed from the prior paragraph got to be distracting for me.

His moral of the story was on point though - we as humans fail epically at empathy for humankind as a whole, and we're driving ourselves to the point of extinction and refusing to sacrifice for change.

I liked this one, but didn't love it, so I gave it 3.5 stars. I rounded up to 4.

Would I recommend it? Yes, it's still a fantastic story... just go in knowing there's some info-dumping that might pull you out of the tale for a bit.

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Review: They Want to Kill Americans: The Militias, Terrorists, and Deranged Ideology of the Trump Insurgency

They Want to Kill Americans: The Militias, Terrorists, and Deranged Ideology of the Trump Insurgency by Malcolm W. Nance
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the gift of an advanced copy. The opinions below are my honest review.

Wow. Malcolm Nance provides a thoroughly researched and cited look into what led to the Trump Insurgency movement and the possible future ahead. It's absolutely terrifying how many people have fallen prey to and joined this radicalized fellowship and how violent their hate has been shown to be.

My biggest gripe is that there are some sensationalist parts.

All in all, a chilling glimpse at what our future might hold if we don't fight to save our fellow Americans from the crazy radical Trump cult. 3.5 stars, rounded up.

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Review: The It Girl

The It Girl by Ruth Ware
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Special thanks to Netgalley and Gallery/Scout Press for the gift of an advanced copy! Below is my honest review.

Ruth Ware has done it again. This is probably her best plotted book so far. The "Before" intertwined with the "After" format really worked for me. The story was expertly structured to shift suspicions back and forth and reveal new clues at different times. The solution is hidden in plain sight through lots of very subtle but obviously-there-when-you-look-back clues. Did I figure it out? Yes, but only because I had a nagging suspicion at the very beginning, before anything even happened, that made me look out for those tiny hints. Did that take anything away from my enjoyment? No, absolutely not.

Ware has proven repeatedly that she's a mystery powerhouse, reminiscent of Agatha Christie's great stories. I need to read the two earliest books of hers that I haven't yet while I wait anxiously for her next great mystery. She's definitely joined my instant read author list.

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Review: Chrysalis

Chrysalis by Lincoln Child
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for gifting me an advanced copy.

I really enjoy the Jeremy Logan series. It's a lot of fun. This one wasn't quite as good as the others I've read in the series. I think I just wasn't as invested in the technology that made up the premise of the novel, nor did I connect with any of the characters all that much. That said, the story was entertaining, action-packed, and a fast read, so this one got three and a half stars rounded up.

Recommended for fans of technothrillers or Pendergast/Lincoln and Child.

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