Review: Infinity Alchemist

Infinity Alchemist by Kacen Callender
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Teen for the pre-release copy of this novel. Below you'll find my honest review.

This novel had a bunch of good things:

It knocks representation out of the park - trans, non-binary, polyamory, etc are all well represented in this novel in a respectful, teen-friendly way.

It has an interesting magic system and House hierarchy.

It also had some serious downsides:

The non-binary representation gets a little confusing as the pronouns change randomly from chapter to chapter. It pulled me out of the story a bit as I would have to figure out which "he" was being referenced at the time. So it's less a problem with the non-binary and more a problem with clarity from the author.

The whole point of the novel was to chase the Book, but then the Book wasn't even a real important thing at the end, and the story's conclusion was a bit of a mess. And honestly, the magic system didn't have rules or structure enough to really understand how it all actually worked.

Overall, lots of potential, but lacking in some of the execution.

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Review: The House of Last Resort

The House of Last Resort by Christopher Golden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for gifting me an early copy of The House of Last Resort. Below you'll find my honest review.

I'm actually really disappointed at this one. The first 90% of the book was amazing: slow burn, perfect pace of reveals, lingering questions, horror elements building up over the course of the book. The last 10% though? I just wasn't satisfied. I can't really say much because I want to avoid spoilers, but the ending fell flat for me. All that build-up, all that emotional carnage, and the payoff just wasn't there for me.

Like I said, I did love most of the book, so I'll only take away a star for not nailing the ending (in my opinion - others might really like it). And I'm definitely interested in reading more of Christopher Golden's works.

Four stars, recommended for fans of horror.

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Review: Mislaid in Parts Half-Known

Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Special thanks to Netgalley and Tor for gifting me an early copy of this book. Below you'll find my honest review.

This is one of those series that, even though each book is actually pretty dang short at around 200 pages, still hits hard with emotional depth. We continue the story of Antsy, girl from the store that holds the lost things and main character of the last book, Lost in the Moment and Found. She has found her way to Eleanor's school, and has started to settle in... so of course, people find out about her gift of being able to find almost anything, and some want to take advantage of it and use her to find their Doors. Hi-jinks ensue and it's a fantastic tale, hopping through multiple worlds, and with a twist at the end that makes me both happy *and* sad.

All in all, yet another fantastic entry into this series, that you should definitely read... but start at the beginning, please. Highly recommended for fairy tale lovers, YA lovers, and adventure lovers, and of course, for all fans of McGuire's works.

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Review: The Heiress

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

Huge thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley who gave me an early copy of this novel. Much appreciated! Below you'll find my honest review.

I love a good mystery twisted into a story about a rich family, mysterious deaths and inheritances, and old houses passed down through the generations. I love a story about an underdog. I love a story with unreliable narrators, or at least ones that take their time revealing everything even when they're being truthful.

I absolutely loved this book. The characters were developed and realistic and easy to picture. The family history was well presented and in a manner that really held attention. The slow build to "what's going to happen, because this powder keg will have to explode at some point," from tension to denouement, was precision.

Highly recommended read.

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Review: Cocktails & Chloroform

Cocktails & Chloroform by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Subterranean Press for gifting me an early copy of this novella in one of my favorite Kelley Armstrong series.

This shortie really packs a punch. It's clear that Armstrong was going for some development of Alice and her relationship with Mallory/Catriona, and it was a wild success, in my opinion.

The story felt complete without feeling rushed, without feeling like it left anything out or should have been longer. It was just right.

And luckily, it was a perfect little morsel in the long wait for the next release in the main series.

Highly recommended, but I'd suggest you pick up books one and two in the main series first, as this takes place after book two and does provide minor spoilers for the first two books.

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Review: That's Not My Name

That's Not My Name by Megan Lally
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for gifting me an early copy. Below you'll find my honest review.

This is how you write a thriller. I don't care if it's YA or adult, supernatural or fully realistic - this is how you do it. Absolutely unputdownable, totally just-one-more-chapter-able until the wee hours of the morning, and really, really compelling.

You're immediately invested in BOTH of the stories that are running through this novel, and I can't really say much else without spoiling the story. Let's just say... "invested" isn't a strong enough word.

Highly recommended!!! Read this one!

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Review: Good Girls Don’t Die

Good Girls Don’t Die by Christina Henry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an early copy of this novel. Below you'll find my honest review.

Christina Henry is a pretty much guaranteed amazing read... EVERY. DANG. TIME.

This one is no exception! This one weaves themes of misogyny, sexism, and toxic masculinity in with a genre-bending, plot-twisting romp following the lives of women who find themselves in very... interesting situations.

The three major players each wake up in a strange place, dropped into situation that isn't normal. One finds themselves smack dab in the middle of a cozy mystery, another in a slasher movie, and a third in dystopian death-games type story. But not all is at it seems, as these situations might be part of something much larger, and when it comes down to it, their lives might just be on the line.

This one was so hard to put down. Seriously, I read late into the night, trying to race to the end to find out what was going on. And honestly, I was both thrilled and frustrated each time the story for one woman ended and a new one started, because each new beginning sucked me right in.

Highly recommended for fans of mixed genres, strong women, and really great twists and turns.

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