Review: Zero Days

Zero Days by Ruth Ware
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery/Scout Press for gifting me an early copy. Below you'll find my honest review.

This was quite a change for Ruth Ware - it was more technothriller/fugitive mystery than her typical Christie-adjacent flare. Honestly though? I enjoyed it. It was a little obvious who the killer was, in my opinion, and the pacing had some issues that could have been adjusted, but all in all, I really liked it. Just keep in mind that it's different than her usual stuff, and go in with an open mind.

Four stars! Recommended for fans of Ruth Ware, Dan Brown, technothrillers, etc.

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Review: Demons of Good and Evil

Demons of Good and Evil by Kim Harrison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the gift of an early copy. Below you'll find my honest review.

This one was INSANE. It was a total rollercoaster, and completely shook the world of the Hollows, down to the very last words. It had demons, weres, witches, pixies, vampires, politics, danger, love, family, death, and sooo much more.

And the way this one set up for the next one? Let's just say I'm not pleased to have to wait!!! I need it NOW!

Highly recommended, but also not recommended if you're jumping in here. There is WAY too much history in this one that won't make sense without reading the series. If you haven't read this series yet, why not? Get started!!

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Review: Murdle: Volume 1

Murdle: Volume 1 by G.T. Karber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for gifting me an early copy of this book. Below is my honest review.

I love logic puzzles, and this book was a lot of fun. The mysteries are quick and somewhat challenging. My only gripe is that it's difficult to read this one in the ebook format. The solutions are at the end (without links set up to jump around), and they're one right after the other, so you can easily see the solution to the next one on accident.

Otherwise, it's a fun book full of great mini-mystery logic puzzles, just like the Murdle daily puzzle website.

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Review: The Night in Question

The Night in Question by Kathleen Glasgow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Delacorte for gifting me an early copy of The Night in Question. I absolutely adored it! Below is my honest review.

I'm obsessed with Agatha Christie, just like Alice. I love the first one in this series, so I was thrilled to find out there would be another, and even more excited to get an advanced copy.

This story has a nice slow burn... after an explosive beginning. It starts with a party at the eponymous castle of Castle Cove, CA, where someone is injured very badly, and things go nuts. Then, slowly, the plot begins to unfold, tied inextricably to the history of the Castle and the fatal fall of Hollywood starlet Mona Moody over half a century before. As our heroines Alice and Iris uncover the history of Mona's death, the modern mystery also unfolds around them, and danger is lurking.

While I kind of guessed the "Person X" early on, the story was so great. I just read a lot of mysteries! I can't help it!

I hope this series gets a third book. I feel like it's going to... *fingers crossed.*

Highly recommended for mystery and YA fans.

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Review: The Poisoner's Ring

The Poisoner's Ring by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press - Minotaur for gifting me an early copy. Below is my honest review.

This one was a rollercoaster! I had my suspicions of the killer, then changed my mind, then changed it back, then changed it again, then... over and over. Armstrong had me spinning and I love that!

It was an intriguing mystery, surrounding a confidence scheme, an interesting new poison, and some major players in Mallory's new locale.

I think my favorite part of this book was actually the development in character relationships that Mallory has, along with some new ones that have some familial ties to her current situation.

Honestly, I have to admit... I really am not rooting for Mallory to find a way home. I like her where she is now. Hash-tag shame on me, right?

Highly recommended, but please read the first one before picking this up.

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Review: Scarlet

Scarlet by Genevieve Cogman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for gifting me an early copy. Below is my honest review.

I'm a huge fan of the Invisible Library. I was devastated to find that the last book was indeed, the LAST book. But then Scarlet popped up on Netgalley, and I was intrigued. I remembered the story of the Scarlet Pimpernel from high school World History class, and I loved Cogman's other series, so for me, the request was a no brainer. And I'm really glad I got my hands on a copy.

The world building was so good in this one. You really delve into the French Revolution and the mindsets of the people at the time, seeing a little of both sides of the coin - the aristocrats AND the revolutionaries. But the fun twist? Yeah, VAMPIRES. That's right. It's Historical Urban Fantasy, and I. AM. HERE. FOR. IT.

I love Eleanor, the main character, and her battles to find herself. I love the introduction of a special character that pops up midway through (you'll know who I mean). I love Sir Percy. I especially loved the reference to that silly old rhyme "They seek him here, they seek him there."

I couldn't give it a full five stars though, because while I loved the world and the character development, the plot kinda fell short for me - the resolution didn't feel like much of a resolution and felt more like this entire book was an introduction to the rest of the story.

All in all, four strong stars and a "highly recommend for vampire and historical fiction fans."

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Review: The Book That Wouldn’t Burn

The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for gifting me an advanced copy. Below is my honest review.

Mark Lawrence is one of those authors that just knows how to set up a world. This is probably my favorite of his so far.

The Library (capital intended) is a timeless repository of everything ever written. Basically, it's a bibliophile's dream come true! There are cool agents of the library, assistants who help librarians and just happen to be semi-robotic type creatures, varied in shape as humanoids and different animals.

The story also has a Magician's Nephew type aspect to it, and I'll leave it at that to avoid spoilers, but let's just say that it's a really, really good story.

My biggest annoyance? I got an early copy of book one, and I knew better than to read the first book in a Mark Lawrence trilogy this early, because now I have to wait, and wait, and wait (because they come out once a year!).

Five stars, highly recommended.

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