Teaser Tuesdays - Grave Memory

 

"And she proves she;s not a complete idiot. Yes, ghouls - in at least four different graveyards. Which means you, Ms. Craft, are being charged with murder."

(page 137, Grave Memory by Kalayna Price)

---------

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously 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!

The Nothing - Book Review

 

The Nothing (The Between #3)

by Kerry Schafer

What is it about:

Vivian has one last chance to save the worlds, if she’s willing to pay the price...

There’s no rest for the weary. With the Black Gates irrevocably sealed, Vivian and Zee search for another way into The Forever in a desperate attempt to stop Aidan from her plan of ultimate destruction. But the dreamworlds are dying, the Between is growing increasingly unstable, and it’s clear they’re going to need some help.

In Wakeworld, doctors and world leaders are scrambling to determine the source of a mysterious illness that is killing healthy people in their sleep. Weston Jennings knows the truth: dreamworlds are dying and taking dreamers with them. When fate unites him with an orphaned child who has latent dreamshifting ability, he takes her through into the Between in the hope that Vivian can save her – and all of Wakeworld -- from what the child calls the Nothing.

Vivian and Zee have entered the world of the treacherous Sorcieri, who alone hold the secret of an alternate path into the Forever. But even if the Sorcieri can be persuaded to share the secret knowledge, or trusted to uphold their end of a bargain, saving the worlds can come only at the cost of unimaginable sacrifice.

What did I think of it:

This is an awesome read!

I knew things would be difficult and I knew not everyone was going to make it out in one piece, or even alive, but I still hoped and rooted for all my favorites.

What an emotional roller coaster!

Vivian and the others encounter lots of danger, difficult decisions, and heartache. There are choices to be made, sacrifices... I can tell you I shed some tears over events in this book.

Everything leads up to an edge of your seat finale that blew me away. What a great ending to a wonderful and emotional series. This series is a keeper for sure!

Why should you read it:

It's an awesome and emotional UF read with dragons and a cool penguin!

Buy from amazon

Touched by an Alien - Book Review by Voodoo Bride (reread/repost)

Touched by an Alien - Gini Koch

What is it about:

How can a sexy marketing manager join forces with an Alpha Centauri male in Armani to save the planet-using hairspray, a Mont Blanc pen, and rock n' roll?

Easy...

She's "Touched by an Alien"

Marketing manager Katherine "Kitty" Katt steps into the middle of what appears to be a domestic dispute turned ugly. And it only gets uglier when the man turns into a winged monster, straight out of a grade-Z horror movie, and goes on a killing spree. Though Kitty should probably run away, she springs into action to take the monster down.

In the middle of the chaos a handsome hunk named Jeff Martini appears, sent by the "agency" to perform crowd control. He's Kitty's kind of guy, no matter what planet he's from. And from now on, for Kitty, things are going to be sexy, dangerous, wild, and out of this world.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:

This is a great book! It has witty humor, gorgeous aliens, a heroine I could really relate to and a fast paced story packed with lots of action. The romance part of the story didn't overshadow the main storyline while still adding an extra layer to the story and even though the story is kept light by the humor used throughout the book the plot and action still are exciting enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. Kitty is a strong heroine, but also fun, nice and quirky. All in all a delightfully fun read.

Notes on rereading:

I hadn't reread this in several years and almost forgot how much fun this book is. It hits several sweet spots for me when it comes to romance. Jeff is absolutely among my favorite romantic heroes. I might need to reread more books in this series.

Why should you read it:

Fans of romantic urban fantasy and science fiction will love this book 

Teaser Tuesdays - The Davenports

 

Amy Rose nearly stuck her own finger with a needle at his response. She blushed and pretended not to hear him.

(page 53, The Davenports by Krystal Marquis)

---------

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously 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!

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet - Book Review

 

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers #1)

by Becky Chambers

What is it about:

Follow a motley crew on an exciting journey through space-and one adventurous young explorer who discovers the meaning of family in the far reaches of the universe-in this light-hearted debut space opera from a rising sci-fi star.

Rosemary Harper doesn’t expect much when she joins the crew of the aging Wayfarer. While the patched-up ship has seen better days, it offers her a bed, a chance to explore the far-off corners of the galaxy, and most importantly, some distance from her past. An introspective young woman who learned early to keep to herself, she’s never met anyone remotely like the ship’s diverse crew, including Sissix, the exotic reptilian pilot, chatty engineers Kizzy and Jenks who keep the ship running, and Ashby, their noble captain.

Life aboard the Wayfarer is chaotic and crazy—exactly what Rosemary wants. It’s also about to get extremely dangerous when the crew is offered the job of a lifetime. Tunneling wormholes through space to a distant planet is definitely lucrative and will keep them comfortable for years. But risking her life wasn’t part of the plan. In the far reaches of deep space, the tiny Wayfarer crew will confront a host of unexpected mishaps and thrilling adventures that force them to depend on each other. To survive, Rosemary’s got to learn how to rely on this assortment of oddballs—an experience that teaches her about love and trust, and that having a family isn’t necessarily the worst thing in the universe.

What did I think of it:

I'd seen this series being recommended a lot, so when I got a giftcard for my birthday I decided to give the first book a try.

And this is a really fun and entertaining read.

I liked the aliens on board of the Wayfarer the most of all the characters I will confess. Some of the humans felt a bit bland next to awesome characters as the reptilian Sissix, or the friendly, inquisitive Dr Chef. Of the humans who weren't bland Kizzy was too Manic Pixie Dreamgirl, although I did like Jenks (I did wonder if he was based on Joker from Mass Effect, I must say).

As I was enjoying the exploits of the crew of the Wayfarer I did sometimes feel like I was missing something. It took me a while to figure it out, but the story didn't feel cohesive enough for me. It was as if every chapter was a complete episode with its own contained storyline, much like an episode of Star Trek. I would have liked this book even more if it had felt more whole.

All in all I did have fun with this book though. And I might pick up the next one if I am in the mood for cozy SciFi.

Why should you read it:

It's a very enjoyable SF read.

On McPig's Radar - System Collapse

 

System Collapse (The Murderbot Diaries #7)

by Martha Wells

Am I making it worse? I think I'm making it worse.

Everyone's favorite lethal SecUnit is back.

Following the events in Network Effect, the Barish-Estranza corporation has sent rescue ships to a newly-colonized planet in peril, as well as additional SecUnits. But if there’s an ethical corporation out there, Murderbot has yet to find it, and if Barish-Estranza can’t have the planet, they’re sure as hell not leaving without something. If that something just happens to be an entire colony of humans, well, a free workforce is a decent runner-up prize.

But there’s something wrong with Murderbot; it isn’t running within normal operational parameters. ART’s crew and the humans from Preservation are doing everything they can to protect the colonists, but with Barish-Estranza’s SecUnit-heavy persuasion teams, they’re going to have to hope Murderbot figures out what’s wrong with itself, and fast!

Yeah, this plan is... not going to work.

Expected publication November 14, 2023

Book Review: Wakeworld

 

Wakeworld (The Between #2)

by Kerry Schafer

What is it about:

Vivian Maylor is trying to hold it together. But her attempts to build a life with the man she loves seem doomed by the dragon inside her yearning to break free. Vivian is a dreamshifter, the last line of defense between reality and the dreamworld, and the only one of her kind.

Weston Jennings also believes he is the only one of his kind. He fears his powers as a dreamshifter, and resists learning to control them. After suffering a tragic loss, Weston heads deep into the woods of the Pacific Northwest to embrace a safe life of solitude. But when a terrible mistake leads to an innocent’s death, his guilt drives him to his former home, where he encounters what he never thought he would find: another shifter.

Now Vivian and Weston must work together to defeat a new threat to the dreamworld.

What did I think of it?

This book is as awesome as the first book!

Schafer doesn't make it easy for her characters. They have to struggle and fight to get where they're trying to go. I felt for Vivian, and even more for Zee (Vivian's love interest). They get challenges thrown their way that could easily break them. Still they keep trying.

I really liked to see that Vivian has grown since the first book. There she let herself be dragged along mostly, powerless to stop what was happening to her. In this book she was starting to take control of things, not always with success, but at least she was doing everything she could to change her fate.

The story is full of twists and turns, and you have to keep paying attention to what's happening. I was on the edge of my seat and had to keep reading to see if Vivian and Zee would manage to get out alive and (mostly) well.

The ending was satisfying, but left many things open that make me eager for the next book. so I'll be picking it up soon, because I want more!

Why should you read it:

It's a wonderful (Urban) Fantasy read with dragons.

Buy from Amazon

Teaser Tuesdays - My Heart is a Chainsaw

 

Because she's the one he saved, and he wants to see her all the way through?

Because he...

(page 92, My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones)

---------

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously 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!

And What Can We Offer You Tonight - Quick Book Review

 

And What Can We Offer You Tonight

by Premee Ahmed

What is it about:

In a far future city, where you can fall to a government cull for a single mistake, And What Can We Offer You Tonight tells the story of Jewel, established courtesan in a luxurious House. Jewel’s world is shaken when her friend is murdered by a client, but somehow comes back to life. To get revenge, they will both have to confront the limits of loyalty, guilt, and justice.

What did I think of it:

I will confess that even though I absolutely loved this novella, I don't think I can write a review that does it justice. It's a story you must read and feel for yourself I think, because to me this is so much more about emotions, mood and atmosphere than about plot.

Why should you read it:

It's mesmerizing, haunting, and beautiful

Hollywood Heroine - Book Review

 

Hollywood Heroine (Heroine Complex #5)

by Sarah Kuhn

What is it about:

The fifth book in the smart, snarky, and action-packed Heroine series continues the adventures of Asian-American superheroines Evie Tanaka, Aveda Jupiter, and Bea Tanaka in a demon-infested San Francisco.

Over the years, the adventures of superheroines Aveda Jupiter and Evie Tanaka have become the stuff of legend--and now they'll be immortalized in their very own TV show!

The pair head to LA for filming, but Aveda struggles to get truly excited. Instead, she's preoccupied wondering about the fate of the world and her role in it. You know, the usual. Now that Otherworld activity has been detected outside the Bay Area, Aveda can't help but wonder if the demon threat will ever be eradicated.

When the drama on set takes a turn for the supernatural, Evie and Aveda must balance their celebrity commitments with donning their superhero capes again to investigate. And when the evil they battle reveals a larger, more nefarious plot, it's time for the indomitable Aveda Jupiter to rise to the occasion and become the leader she was meant to be on a more global scale--and hopefully keep some semblance of a personal life while doing so.

What did I think of it:

This is the 5th book in the series, and the 2nd book with Aveda in the lead. After the relationship drama in book 4 (which was Evie's 2nd book), I was prepared for more relationship drama, because how else will you keep a book with an established couple exciting *eyeroll* so I wasn't as annoyed  by it this time when there was indeed relationship drama.

Aside from the drama this was a really fun read. I had a great time with it, even though some things were pretty obvious. But I don't read these books for their unbreakable plot: these books are fun, wacky, and super entertaining. 

The supernatural creatures, the way our heroine's use their powers, the minor characters were great as always. New creatures are introduced, characters from the previous book got bigger roles. I raced through this book while having tons of fun with it.

All in all this was a cool read. I'll be picking up the last book in this series soon.

Why should you read it:

It's a fun and super entertaining Super Heroine Read.

Teaser Tuesdays - The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

 

But its digital voice cracked around the edges, and the tendrils twitched with palsied age. Nothing about it could be confused with something alive.

(page 107, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers)

---------

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously 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!

The Atlas Six - 25% DNF

 

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

What is it about:

The Alexandrian Society is a secret society of magical academicians, the best in the world. Their members are caretakers of lost knowledge from the greatest civilizations of antiquity. And those who earn a place among their number will secure a life of wealth, power, and prestige beyond their wildest dreams. Each decade, the world’s six most uniquely talented magicians are selected for initiation – and here are the chosen few...

- Libby Rhodes and Nicolás Ferrer de Varona: inseparable enemies, cosmologists who can control matter with their minds.

- Reina Mori: a naturalist who can speak the language of life itself.

- Parisa Kamali: a mind reader whose powers of seduction are unmatched.

- Tristan Caine: the son of a crime kingpin who can see the secrets of the universe.

- Callum Nova: an insanely rich pretty boy who could bring about the end of the world. He need only ask.

When the candidates are recruited by the mysterious Atlas Blakely, they are told they must spend one year together to qualify for initiation. During this time, they will be permitted access to the Society’s archives and judged on their contributions to arcane areas of knowledge. Five, they are told, will be initiated. One will be eliminated. If they can prove themselves to be the best, they will survive. Most of them.

Why I Did Not Finish:

This is totally not the story I was hoping for.

From the blurb I was expecting there to be a lot of suspense, secrets, and backstabbing. It turned out there was lots of blah and high school like drama instead. There was exactly one character I liked, and she seemed almost an afterthought in the story.

At 25% I was bored, annoyed, and not interested in finding out what happened to these jerks, so I decided to DNF.

Why should you read it:

Maybe you'll like the characters and the relationship aspect of this story more than I did.

Grave Dance - Book Review

Grave Dance (Alex Craft #2)

by Kalayna Price 

What is it about:

 Whoever said dead men tell no tales obviously never met Alex Craft.

After a month spent recovering from a vicious fight with a sorcerer, grave witch Alex Craft is ready to get back to solving murders by raising the dead. With her love life in turmoil thanks to the disappearance of Fae Investigation Bureau agent Falin Andrews and a shocking “L” word confession from Death himself, Alex is eager for the distractions of work. But her new case turns out to be a deadly challenge.

The police hire Alex to consult on a particularly strange investigation in the nature preserve south of Nekros City. The strange part: There are no corpses, only fragments of them. A serial killer is potentially on the loose, and Alex has no way to raise a shade without a body, so she’ll have to rely on the magic of others to find leads. But as she begins investigating, a creature born of the darkest magic comes after her. Someone very powerful wants to make sure the only thing she finds is a dead end—her own.

What did I think of it:

After rereading the first book in this series I was eager to get to book 2. 

And this is yet another really cool read.

There's a lot going on and Alex and her friends get caught up in it. Soon it's no longer just an investigation, but a race against the clock. I was eager to find out what was going on and if Alex would be able to save herself and her friends. 

I absolutely love the worldbuilding. Next to the shades and ghosts, there's fae and they are so intriguing and scary. And then there's the shady dealings of the Humans First movement and other human agencies/groups. 

Overall this was a rollercoaster ride with lots of suspense, danger, and revelations. The love triangle is still triangling, but not annoyingly so. I do have my favorite of course, so we will see who Alex ends up with.

Why should you read it:

It's a really suspenseful Urban Fantasy read.