Review: The Sacrifice

The Sacrifice by Rin Chupeco
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for the advanced copy. Below is my honest review.

I was really in the mood for a good horror novel, and this one fit the bill.

Deep in the wilds of the Philippines lies a mysterious island, said to be cursed and home to a god, waiting for sacrifices to awaken and remake the world. Young Alon and their dog are the only locals willing to step foot on this island, full of things seen only out of the corner of the eye, so when a film crew swoops in to make a documentary of the sordid history of strange occurrences and deaths, Alon steps in to help guide them in an attempt to quell the spirits of the island's desires. Thing is, not everyone who came along is there to be respectful, and inner demons will clash with outer ones in this dark tale of secrets and judgment.

Also really liked the multiple forms of representation in this book. It was really well done.

I just wanted a little bit more, so four and a half stars, rounded to four.

Definitely still impressed with this one, and absolutely want to pick up more of this author's works.

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Review: House of Hunger

House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the advanced copy. Below is my honest review.

I really enjoyed the author's debut novel, The Year of the Witching, so when I saw this one, I knew I had to pick it up.

This one was fantastic! It was an interesting take on a historical legend (no spoilers), and was really well done. It was so compelling that I read it in less than a day! I just had to know what was going to happen next... and then I got the end and was disappointed that such a good story was over.

Looking forward to her next idea! :)

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Review: Monsters Born and Made

Monsters Born and Made by Tanvi Berwah
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for gifting me an advanced copy. The opinions below are my own honest review.

The Pros: a (mostly) strong female protagonist, neat mythical creatures, a high stakes tournament, a relatively interesting caste system

The Cons: feels a lot like a ripoff of Scorpio Races and Hunger Games, a confusing world - both in setup and in mythology (the mythology feels like a very poorly executed amalgam of too much mythological lore crammed together), a bit predictable, and it took way to long to really understand why so much revolved around maristag hunting (seriously, aren't there other ways to get income?).

Overall, it was a decent book. I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. I'm not sure I liked it that much, so, an average star rating it is. Two and a half stars rounded up. Recommended for patient enjoyers of dystopian YA with lots of mythological influence.

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Review: Final Heir

Final Heir by Faith Hunter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

Final Heir... the last book in the Jane Yellowrock series. I wasn't ready for this. I've been following this series for years, and I knew it was coming, and I still wasn't ready for the end.

Thankfully, Faith Hunter did an excellent job tying up the series with a satisfying ending and a helluva ride to get to that ending.

This series is long - this is book 15 - and you definitely need to read the rest for the proper appreciation of all of the character development and plot woven into Final Heir.

Highly recommended series. One of my absolute favorites, it will be missed greatly.

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Review: Be the Serpent

Be the Serpent by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Berkeley gave me an advanced copy through Netgalley. I really appreciate it! I've decided to review the book, and this is my honest opinion.

Phew, this one was a long time coming, and it has completely shaken up the world of October Daye. Big reveals, big twists, big losses, big changes, and what appears to be a cliffhanger that will kill me slowly over the next year waiting for the following book.

I really can't say much about the book, because pretty much anything will give away spoilers. Let's just say that this one has some devastating consequences for both Toby, her family, and Faerie in general. Like big massive serious consequences. I'm totally here for it... but I'm also saddened by the hits Toby has taken.

Following the novel, there is a brief novella staring the Luidaeg, long before we know her, with some big things happening to her as well.

Five+ stars, but highly recommended to read the rest of the series first.

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Review: Suburban Hell

Suburban Hell by Maureen Kilmer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC. This review is my honest opinion.

This was an absolutely fantastic horror debut. I really love horror that juxtaposes the horrors of everyday life with even more sinister things. For example, Buffy the Vampire Slayer did a really good job at showing that vampires weren't the only monsters - high school could also be hell, parents could die, relationships were hard. Suburban Hell showed that being an adult is difficult, but even more so that being a mother in today's world is challenging. Women still face societal expectations of filling the subservient role of childrearing and housekeeping, and men seem to find excuses to not carry their share of the burden.

But alongside this, we also see a group of friends face off against a possession... and that entity wants them DESTROYED.

Absolutely loved this book. Highly recommended for horror fans.

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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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