Skyward - Book Review

Skyward (Skyward #1)
by Brandon Sanderson

What is it about:
Spensa's world has been under attack for hundreds of years. An alien race called the Krell leads onslaught after onslaught from the sky in a never-ending campaign to destroy humankind. Humanity's only defense is to take to their ships and combat the Krell. Pilots are the heroes of what's left of the human race.

Becoming a pilot has always been Spensa's dream. Since she was a little girl, she has imagined soaring above the earth and proving her bravery. But her fate is intertwined with that of her father--a pilot himself who was killed years ago when he abruptly deserted his team, leaving Spensa's chances of attending Flight School at slim to none.

No one will let Spensa forget what her father did, but she is determined to fly. And the Krell just made that a possibility. They've doubled their fleet, which will make Spensa's world twice as deadly . . . but just might take her skyward.

What did I think of it:
This book was even better than I hoped.

It's not mentioned in the above blurb, but other blurbs, like the one on Goodreads mention Spensa finds a spaceship that is sentient. People talked so much about the spaceship that I expected that it would be the focus of the story. But it is not, luckily enough.

Yes, the spaceship certainly plays a big role, but Spensa's attempts to become a pilot, and to discover the truth about her father and the Krell are just as important if not even more so. All these storylines together, the worldbuilding, and the characters grabbed me from the start, and I read the book in a single day. I just couldn't put it down.

I liked Spensa, even though she is reckless and rash at times. She is passionate, stubborn, and loyal. I rooted for her to succeed. There were some really interesting and cool other characters as well, but Sanderson isn't afraid to sacrifice characters for the good of the story, so I lost a few of my favorites. There is the start of something that might become a romance, I'm curious to see how it will develop.

All in all this is a really cool SciFi read, and you ca bet I'll get my greedy trotters on the next book once it releases. In the mean time I'll have to investigate Sanderson's Fantasy books.

Why should you read it:
It's an awesome YA SF read.


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The Star-Touched Queen - Book Review

The Star-Touched Queen (The Star-Touched Queen #1)
by Roshani Chokshi

What is it about:
Fate and fortune. Power and passion. What does it take to be the queen of a kingdom when you’re only seventeen?

Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of death and destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father’s kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran’s queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar’s wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire…

But Akaran has its own secrets—thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most…including herself.

What did I think of it:
This is a beautifully written fairytale.

When I started this book I thought it would be a story filled with political intrigue, but soon I discovered it was more of a fairytale. One that uses a lot of elements I recognized from other fairytales. And I loved it!

The writing is lyrical and fits the fairytale feel. This being a fairytale the relationship between Maya and Amar and the feelings between them went fast and wasn't really shown, but I didn't mind. I was too engrossed in the story to grumble about minor details like that.

I loved the worldbuilding and the atmosphere, and I also loved discovering all the familiar fairytale themes. This story really shows how closely linked European and Indian mythology are. All in all a wonderful read. You bet I ordered the next book in this series (which is readable as a standalone as far as I understand).

Why should you read it:
It is a beautifully told fairytale.


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Teaser Tuesdays - Cinder

Another reread, although I remember more from this story than from my previous two rereads.


The little orange light clicked on and she dropped the wrench in surprise. It clattered to the tile floor, but she was too dazed to worry about it.
He hadn't said anything/ How could he be lying?

(page 96, Cinder by Marissa Meyer)


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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet - Book Review

Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet (Charley Davidson #4)
by Darynda Jones

What is it about:
Sometimes being the grim reaper really is, well, grim. And since Charley’s last case went so awry, she has taken a couple of months off to wallow in the wonders of self-pity. But when a woman shows up on her doorstep convinced someone is trying to kill her, Charley has to force herself to rise above...or at least get dressed. It becomes clear something is amiss when everyone the woman knows swears she’s insane. But the more they refute the woman’s story, the more Charley believes it.

In the meantime, the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, is out of prison and out of Charley’s life, as per her wishes and several perfectly timed death threats. But his absence has put a serious crimp in her sex life. While there are other things to consider, like the fact that the city of Albuquerque has been taken hostage by an arsonist, Charley is having a difficult time staying away. Especially when it looks like Reyes may be involved.

Just when life was returning to normal, Charley is thrust back into the world of crime, punishment, and the devil in blue jeans in this hilarious fourth installment in the New York Times bestselling series.

What did I think of it:
This series keeps being fun and suspenseful.

I liked that Charley isn't indestructible. At the start of the book she is suffering from trauma caused by the events in book three. I felt for her and cheered her on.

The case she gets involved in is cool and intriguing. I kept trying to guess what was going on. There were some surprises along the way.

The storyline involving Reyes and the demons was both thrilling and frustrating. Of course there is another woman to make Charley jealous, and Charley falls for it. Still I was too invested in the story to be really annoyed. The demons are a lot more interesting than the love drama though.

All in all this is a fun and very entertaining addition to the series. I'll be reading the next book soon.

Why should you read it:
It's a very enjoyable UF read.


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A Ghostly Affair - Book Review

A Ghostly Affair
by Merrie Destefano

What is it about:
A GHOSTLY AFFAIR: One haunting tale of romance and revenge, told in four short stories.

ONE: A Dark And Twisted Heart
Katrina is so beautiful, she's almost perfect. She only has two flaws. She's possessive. And she's dead.

TWO: A Long and Wild Hunt
Trapped in a cursed forest with the boyfriend who murdered her wasn't how Katrina planned to spend the Afterlife. She might be a ghoul and hell-bent on revenge, but that doesn't mean she has to be miserable. Or does it?

THREE: A Dark And Wicked Night
One wicked night. One blast from a silver horn. Then the Wild Hunt begins as the Faery King summons all the dead to rise from their graves and join him.

FOUR: A Long And Wretched Curse
Girlfriend. Victim. Ghost. Katrina has been all of these things. Now, the Faery King wants her to become his Queen. But she’s seen what the King does when a ghost disobeys him. He turns the ghost to ash and erases him from existence.

For fans of AND I DARKEN by Kiersten White and MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN by Ransom Riggs.

Please note, this set was previously published as The Dark Heart Boxed Set.

What did I think of it:
I read the first two short stories in this bundle when they just released and loved them, but didn't read the other two. So when I saw this bundle I thought it was time to reread the first books, and finally read the others as well.

This is a great read.

Destefano knows just how to create a creepy, dark atmosphere to go along with this bittersweet tale of death, love, and redemption. The first book is told from the viewpoint of William. He has dark secrets he is hiding, but it seems his murdered love Katrina won't stay silent and is set on teaching him a lesson. This book is haunting and disturbing in a good way.

From the second book onward we see the story through Katrina's eyes. She is brave, stubborn, and emotional. As she discovers she and the two people closest to her are trapped in a cursed faerie forest, she starts to plot a way out. The tone of the story changes a bit, from disturbing to spooky. I was eager to find out if Katrina would succeed to be happy in the afterlife she ended up in. Her impulsive decisions might not always lead to the best outcome.

All in all this is a wonderfully atmospheric bundle that mixes ghosts and faeries, making this a great read for a dark autumn night. You might reconsider taking a walk through the woods late at night after reading this though.

Why should you read it:
It's a beautiful, atmospheric read.


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The Penguins and Pigs of Christmas Book Exchange

Random Penguin and Sullivan McPig are excited to collaborate on this fun holiday book exchange! Here are the details:

You are invited to join the Penguins and Pigs of Christmas Book Exchange, organized by Kerry & Carien with help from Random Penguin and Sullivan McPig.

We thought it would be fun to spread joy and books this Christmas. So if you like books and spreading some Christmas cheer and the love of books, this exchange is the thing for you.

How it works:

This is a one on one exchange, not a pyramid scheme promising that when you send one book you might get a gazillion books, and you don’t have to try to talk other people into joining. You will send one book, get one book. Each participant will get the address of one other participant and send a book to that person. No need to sell others on this exchange, unless you want them to join the fun.

If you want to participate, please send the following information to sullivanmcpig(at)gmail.com:
your name
your mailing address
a book wish list - please only include books that are $10 or less OR
elect to have the giver send you one of their favorite books. Beware that with this option you may already own the title you receive.
If you want to join, let us know before November 30.

Once we have a list of participants Carien will send everyone the name and address of the person you are sending a book to. (This might not be the person who is sending to you, btw) Please try to send around December 8th the latest, especially if you are sending overseas.

You can then either buy and send a book to this person yourself, or buy from bookdepository or amazon and have it shipped directly to that person. If you are assigned to someone overseas bookdepository.com is the best option, as there will be no extra shipping costs. You can of course send a card separately in this case to add to the Christmas fun.

Once you receive your book, you can tell Carien at sullivanmcpig(at)gmail.com so she can keep track who still needs to get their book. And if you want you can share on social media with #PenguinPigCBExchange.

Guilty Pleasures - Book Review

Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #1)
by Laurell K. Hamilton

What is it about:
Anita Blake is small, dark, and dangerous. Her turf is the city of St. Louis. Her job: re-animating the dead and killing the undead who take things too far. But when the city’s most powerful vampire asks her to solve a series of vicious slayings, Anita must confront her greatest fear—her undeniable attraction to master vampire Jean-Claude, one of the creatures she is sworn to destroy...

What did I think of it:
Another book I read back in 2011, but where the story was deleted by my brain. As a friend gave me 12 books in this series I decided to do a reread of this book.

And this first book is... problematic.

The world building, setting, and Anita's profession are promising, but not fully realized in this first book. And once again this is a first book where I felt that it started at the wrong place. There seemed to be a history and connection between Anita and Jean-Claude that I apparently just had to fill in myself. It also felt like there were important things missing from the story at times.

Still I was entertained enough to keep reading. Anita wasn't making it easy though: she's a bigot and quick to judge those who are different. Luckily I was told by several people that the books get better, and there is significant character development ahead, so I kept reading and only grumbled softly at Anita.

Overall this a nice read. I'll pick up the next book soon to see if Anita will indeed shape up, and to read more about Jean-Claude, because he seems interesting.

Why should you read it:
It's a nice Urban Fantasy read.


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Teaser Tuesdays - Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet

His words caused my pulse to quicken, my breath to shorten. The only thing that wanted me, the only animal Reyes would hunt, was a demon.


(page 74, Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet by Darynda Jones)


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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Mass Effect: Annihilation - Book Review

Mass Effect: Annihilation (Mass Effect: Andromeda #3)
by Catherynne M. Valente

What is it about:
An official tie-in to the hit video game Mass Effect: Andromeda.

As the Quarian ark Keelah Si'yah sails toward the Andromeda galaxy, it carries 20,000 colonists from several races including the Drell, Elcor, and Batarians. Along the way a routine check reveals that many of the Drell colonists have died in their cryopods, and a pathogen is discovered. It begins to jump species, then the ship's tech begins to fail, making it clear that this is no accident. It's murder, and the perpetrator is still on board.

The ship's systems rapidly degrade, and panic spreads among the colonists. To make matters worse, the virus yields a terrible swelling of the brain that causes madness, hallucinations, and leads to violence. If the ship's crew can't restore their technology and find a cure, the Keelah Si'yah will never make it to the Nexus.

What did I think of it:
I loved Mass Effect Andromeda and for a long time after finishing the game I held hope there would be DLCs. One of those could have been about the Quarian ark, as at the end of the game it is revealed the Keelah Si'yah is in trouble. Alas: EA decided to pull the plug and I didn't get a Quarian ark DLC. So you bet I preordered this book as soon as I knew it was about the Keelah Si'yah.

And this is a really great book. Even better than Nexus Uprising.

The Quarian ark is travelling through space, all its occupants in cryosleep when three sleepwalkers (specialists who wake up once in awhile to check the ship) are woken up off schedule, because the ship detects an anomaly. The three of them soon realize there is trouble and they need to act fast or the whole ark may be lost.

The three specialists are the viewpoint characters in this book, and I especially loved Yorrik: an Elcor doctor who dreams of being an actor once the ark reaches Andromeda. He has to work on finding a cure together with a Hanar who doesn't like him. Yorrik's chapters were my favorite, and I rooted for him to save the day and realize his dreams.

Then there is Senn, a Quarian who loves machines and VI's. He's not your typical Quarian, and I very much liked him as well. He is levelheaded, and open to change and creative solutions.

The last viewpoint character was a Drell detective and she was the least interesting to me. Most probably because she keeps lying and adapting herself according to who she is talking to, so you don't really get to know her. Luckily the characters she gets teamed up with - a Batarian and a Volus - are interesting.

The story is suspenseful and tense. I couldn't put the book down, I had to know if they could catch the culprit and save the ark. There were some really heartbreaking moments, and the ending was bittersweet. If it was impossible to get this story as a DLC, this book is certainly the next best thing. I might need to do another playthrough of the game soon.

Why should you read it:
It is a suspenseful and beautiful SF read


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Diamond Fire - Book Review

Diamond Fire (Hidden Legacy #3.5)
by Ilona Andrews

What is it about:
Nevada Frida Baylor and Connor Ander Rogan cordially invite you to join their wedding celebration. Summoning, weather manipulation, and other magical activities strictly forbidden.

Catalina Baylor is looking forward to wearing her maid of honor dress and watching her older sister walk down the aisle. Then the wedding planner gets escorted off the premises, the bride’s priceless tiara disappears, and Rogan's extensive family overruns his mother’s home. Someone is cheating, someone is lying, and someone is plotting murder.

To make this wedding happen, Catalina will have to do the thing she fears most: use her magic. But she’s a Baylor and there’s nothing she wouldn't do for her sister's happiness. Nevada will have her fairy tale wedding, even if Catalina has to tear the mansion apart brick by brick to get it done.

What did I think of it:
I loved the first three books in the Hidden Legacy series, so was eager to give this novella a try.

And while it has nothing of the suspense and danger the other books have, this is a fun and entertaining read.

I liked Catalina, she is capable and level headed. I can understand why people put her in charge of things. Why people also let her younger sister help is a mystery however. She has annoyed me since the start of the series.

Events in this book were predictable in my opinion, but I didn't mind. Even with the predictability it was an entertaining story. There was information that Catalina discovered during the story held back for the big reveal at the end, but that was a minor annoyance.

All in all a quick and fun read. I will most probably read the next book as well once released.

Why should you read it:
It's an enjoyable UF Mystery read


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Girls of Paper and Fire - Book Review

Girls of Paper and Fire (Girls of Paper and Fire #1)
by Natasha Ngan

What is it about:
Each year, eight beautiful girls are chosen as Paper Girls to serve the king. It's the highest honor they could hope for...and the most cruel.

But this year, there's a ninth girl. And instead of paper, she's made of fire.

In this lush fantasy, Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most oppressed class in Ikhara. She lives in a remote village with her father, where the decade-old trauma of watching her mother snatched by royal guards still haunts her. Now, the guards are back, and this time it's Lei they're after--the girl whose golden eyes have piqued the king's interest.

Over weeks of training in the opulent but stifling palace, Lei and eight other girls learn the skills and charm that befit being a king's consort. But Lei isn't content to watch her fate consume her. Instead, she does the unthinkable--she falls in love. Her forbidden romance becomes enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens the very foundation of Ikhara, and Lei, still the wide-eyed country girl at heart, must decide just how far she's willing to go for justice and revenge.

TW: violence and sexual abuse.

What did I think of it:
*spoiler about love interest*

So I'm going to give a spoiler about the love interest, because it was what made me interested in this book. Lei falls in love with one of the other Paper Girls. I loved how this romance unfolded, and rooted for both of them to be able to be together, and to escape their gilded prison and the king.

I also really loved the interaction between all the girls. There is friendship, jealousy, competition. I liked how Ngan showed the different ways people can react to the same situation depending on background, character, and things like that.

The setting and the worldbuilding was beautiful. It is inspired by Eastern cultures and Ngan's writing painted a clear picture of the opulence of the palace, which starkly contrasted with the small village Lei grew up in.

I was a little annoyed by Lei being special as she isn't part of the normal selection, but gets added to the girls at the last minute. For a while it even looked like she was one of those special YA heroines who are so special that they miraculously manage to escape the horrors that happen to all the other girls around them, but luckily Ngan didn't make that mistake.

The violence and sexual abuse was handled well I think. There were some brutal scenes, but the abuse was mostly kept of page and mentioned instead of shown. Still I can advice to stay clear of this book if you're easily triggered.

All in all I loved this book and was hooked from the start to the end. The way the end was written makes that it can be read as a standalone, but it also makes me eager for the sequel. You bet I'll keep an eye out.

Why should you read it:
It's a beautiful (YA) Fantasy read.


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Teaser Tuesdays - Guilty Pleasures

Another reread, because I got 12 books in the series from a friend, but can't remember much about this book.


The hair at the back of my neck crawled. I could meet her gaze, but evil has a certain feel to it.


(page 56, Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton)


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---------

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Once Bitten, Twice Shy - Book Review

Once Bitten, Twice Shy (Jaz Parks #1)
by Jennifer Rardin

What is it about:
I'm Jaz Parks. My boss is Vayl, born in Romania in 1744. Died there too, at the hand of his vampire wife, Liliana. But that's ancient history. For the moment Vayl works for the C.I.A. doing what he does best--assassination. And I help. You could say I'm an Assistant Assassin. But then I'd have to kick your ass.

Our current assignment seemed easy. Get close to a Miami plastic surgeon named Assan, a charmer with ties to terrorism that run deeper than a buried body. Find out what he's meeting with that can help him and his comrades bring America to her knees. And then close his beady little eyes forever. Why is it that nothing's ever as easy as it seems?

What did I think of it:
I've read this book before in 2011, but couldn't remember a thing! Usually this is a bad sign. My brain has the habit of blocking books and movies I hated. Still, my review from back then didn't sound ranty, and I even stated being willing to try a second book in the series. As I could get the first 5 book in this series for a steal at the charity shop I decided to give this series another chance and reread this book.

And this is an enjoyable read. My brain must have decided to also forget reasonably nice reads.

The book starts with Jaz being told she's going to work with Vayl, and then immediately switches to six month later. I will confess I wish I got the story of their first six month working together as well. Still I really like Jaz and Vayl. The tension between them is interesting and promising.

The story itself is suspenseful, but at times a bit chaotic. I'm not sure if it's the writing or that the plot might be too convoluted. A small annoyance was the fact that Jaz as narrator didn't reveal information she had, but kept eluding to it: "I haven't been the same since.... THE THING!!!" Ok, I'm paraphrasing here, but mention like that were many before we finally were informed about what happened in the past.

That aside the story was entertaining enough that I'm curious about the next book, and want to see how the relationship between Jaz and Vayl will develop. I'll be picking up book two one of these days.

Why should you read it:
It's a nice Urban Fantasy read


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Wickedly Dangerous - Book Review (repost)

Wickedly Dangerous (Baba Yaga #1)
by Deborah Blake

What is it about:
Known as the wicked witch of Russian fairy tales, Baba Yaga is not one woman, but rather a title carried by a chosen few. They keep the balance of nature and guard the borders of our world, but don’t make the mistake of crossing one of them…

Older than she looks and powerful beyond measure, Barbara Yager no longer has much in common with the mortal life she left behind long ago. Posing as an herbalist and researcher, she travels the country with her faithful (mostly) dragon-turned-dog in an enchanted Airstream, fulfilling her duties as a Baba Yaga and avoiding any possibility of human attachment.

But when she is summoned to find a missing child, Barbara suddenly finds herself caught up in a web of deceit and an unexpected attraction to the charming but frustrating Sheriff Liam McClellan.

Now, as Barbara fights both human enemies and Otherworld creatures to save the lives of three innocent children, she discovers that her most difficult battle may be with her own heart...

What did I think of it:
This is a fun book.

I really liked the concept of Baba Yaga being a job title instead of being just one person. Barbara is and intriguing character, and I liked her and her otherworldly friends.

The story was fun although I thought there could have been a bit more obstructions along the way. But even though it didn't seem to take any real effort, I very much enjoyed the read.

I thought when I started on the book that the whole series would have the same lead character, but it turned out that each book has another lead character, so there are no big cliffhangers to frustrate you at the end of the book.

All in all a fast and fun read that falls somewhere between Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance.

Why should you read it:
It's a very enjoyable UF/PNR read

Reading Update - Podcast

Kindling the Moon - Book Review (repost)

Kindling the Moon (Arcadia Bell #1)
by Jenn Bennett

What is it about:
Being the spawn of two infamous occultists (and alleged murderers) isn’t easy, but freewheeling magician Arcadia “Cady” Bell knows how to make the best of a crummy situation. After hiding out for seven years, she’s carved an incognito niche for herself slinging drinks at the demon-friendly Tambuku Tiki Lounge.

But she receives an ultimatum when unexpected surveillance footage of her notorious parents surfaces: either prove their innocence or surrender herself. Unfortunately, the only witness to the crimes was an elusive Æthyric demon, and Cady has no idea how to find it. She teams up with Lon Butler, an enigmatic demonologist with a special talent for sexual spells and an arcane library of priceless stolen grimoires. Their research soon escalates into a storm of conflict involving missing police evidence, the decadent Hellfire Club, a ruthless bounty hunter, and a powerful occult society that operates way outside the law. If Cady can’t clear her family name soon, she’ll be forced to sacrifice her own life . . . and no amount of running will save her this time.

What did I think of it:
In an attempt to at least get one TBR-orphan read this month I picked up Kindling the Moon from my tbr-pile.

And now I'm wondering why it took my so long to get to reading it!

This is such a cool read.

I fell in love with the setting and with Arcadia from the start. The world building is fun and original. And then Lon entered the stage and I was completely sold. Lon is gruff, grumpy, but strangely likeable. I loved getting to know him.

I also love how Lon, as the love interest, has a son who is also part of the story. I usually get annoyed by lead characters or love interests with children/wards, because those children are often only there for being cute or showing the vulnerable/softer side of the parent/sibling. Not so with Jupe. He's past the age to play the cute card. instead he's a teenager and a handful. I really like how he got included in the story and I'm actually hoping to see lots more of him in future books.

The action is almost non-stop and I almost couldn't put this book down. I had to keep reading to find out what happened next. All in all I finished this book in two days and that's only because I had previous engagements that I couldn't cancel in favor of reading.

So you can bet on it that I'll be getting my trotters on book 2 as soon as possible and that it won't end up as a TBR-Orphan.

Why should you read it:
It's an awesome UF read with magicians and demons.

Teaser Tuesdays - Girls of Paper and Fire

I'm finally about to be trained for the most important role of a Paper Girl-and the one I've been dreading the most.


(page 140, Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan)


Buy from bookdepository

---------

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Of Monsters and Madness - Book Review (repost)

I'm behind on my reading, so more reposts this week


Of Monsters and Madness (Of Monsters and Madness #1)
by Jessica Verday

What is it about:
A romantic, historical retelling of classic Gothic horror featuring Edgar Allan Poe and his character Annabel Lee, from a New York Times best-selling author.

Summoned to her father's home in 1820's Philadelphia, a girl finds herself in the midst of a rash of gruesome murders in which he might be implicated. She is torn romantically between her father's assistants-one kind and proper, one mysterious and brooding-who share a dark secret and may have more to do with the violent events than they're letting on.

What did I think of it:
This is a very entertaining read.

Verday used poems and stories by Edgar Allan Poe as extra inspiration for this YA retelling of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.

If you are an E.A. Poe fan and can't handle it when people take liberties with the truth you should probably avoid this book. For people who don't mind a little bit of history bending and enjoy retellings of classics, this is a fun read.

I liked Annabel and her maid. It's clear from the start that Annabel has something to hide, and even though she is the viewpoint character we're not told what it is. But that annoyance aside I very much enjoyed this book. There are no big surprises for those familiar with the original tale, but I don't read to be surprised.

All in all I can advice this to anyone looking for an entertaining historical YA read.

Why should you read it:
It's a very nice retelling of a classic.


Buy from amazon

Rosemary and Rue - Book Review (repost)

I need to read more books in this series


Rosemary and Rue (October Daye #1)
by Seanan McGuire

What is it about:
October "Toby" Daye, a changeling who is half human and half fae, has been an outsider from birth. After getting burned by both sides of her heritage, Toby has denied the Faerie world, retreating to a "normal" life. Unfortunately for her, the Faerie world has other ideas...

The murder of Countess Evening Winterrose pulls Toby back into the fae world. Unable to resist Evening's dying curse, which binds her to investigate, Toby must resume her former position as knight errant and renew old alliances. As she steps back into fae society, dealing with a cast of characters not entirely good or evil, she realizes that more than her own life will be forfeited if she cannot find Evening's killer.

What did I think of it:
I really liked McGuire's Discount Armageddon, but her book Feed (written under the name Myra Grant) was boring imo, so it was a DNF for me. That's the reason I was hesitant to start on this series, and this book stayed in my TBR pile for a long, long time before I dared pick it up.

This turned out to be a cool read though!

I loved the world building and the faerie world. McGuire uses a lot of old faerie mythology, but weaves it into the story so it feels like it belongs.

October had to grow on me (she's a bit too closed off and self reliant when she should know she should ask for help), but some of the other characters I was intrigued by from the start. Especially Tybalt, king of the Cat Faeries sounds like a character I want to read lots more about.

There were two possible love interests, both not to my tastes and with their own set of troubles, but luckily the romance isn't too present in this book, so it didn't spoil the story for me. although I am wary for how things might develop later on in this series.

The situation Toby is in felt desperate at times, and I had my doubts if things could turn out right. It did keep me reading though, to find out.

All in all I enjoyed this book much more than I ever expected, and I will pick up the next book in this series soon. I will most probably also dig up the second book in McGuire's InCryptid series as my next TBR Orphan.

Why should you read it:
It's a cool Urbab Fantasy read.


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Love Minus Eighty - Book Review (repost)

Love Minus Eighty
by Will McIntosh

What is it about:
Years in the future, dead women in cryogenic dating farms await rich, lonely suitors to resurrect them and take them home.

LOVE MINUS EIGHTY follows interconnected lives touched by these dating farms.

There's Rob, who accidentally kills a jogger, then sells everything to visit her, seeking her forgiveness but instead falling in love. Veronika, a socially-awkward dating coach, finds herself responsible for the happiness of a man whose life she saved against his will. And Mira, a gay woman accidentally placed in the heterosexual dating center near its inception, desperately seeks a way to reunite with her frozen partner as the centuries pass.

What did I think of it:
This is a beautiful read.

The future world McIntosh describes feels cold and impersonal. People interact mostly through screens, with help of coaches. Dead women, who have been frozen after death, have to try to seduce rich men with lurid promises so they can get resurrected. Still this story breathes warmth and love. It shows that human interaction and friendship is important to stay human yourself.

The stories of Rob and Veronika are the most worked out, while Mira's story seems almost an afterthought at times. Added only to show the horrors of the frozen women, who have to date and catch a husband even in death. Still her story might have been small, but it touched me the most. Rob's quest to make enough money to keep visiting the woman he accident killed was touching as well, but it felt more like a faerie tale at times, where Mira's struggles felt more real to me.

I also really enjoyed Veronika's story line. She's the character in this book that grows the most as a person. Starting out as insecure, with an impossible crush, but blooming into the person she is meant to be.

All in all this is a story about friendship, love, and fighting for what you believe in. I will most certainly put this book on my keeper shelves, and I will investigate what other books McIntosh has written.

Why should you read it:
It's a beautiful and though provoking read.


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