Slay - Book Review

Slay
by Brittney Morris

What is it about:
By day, seventeen-year-old Kiera Johnson is an honors student, a math tutor, and one of the only Black kids at Jefferson Academy. But at home, she joins hundreds of thousands of Black gamers who duel worldwide as Nubian personas in the secret multiplayer online role-playing card game, SLAY. No one knows Kiera is the game developer, not her friends, her family, not even her boyfriend, Malcolm, who believes video games are partially responsible for the "downfall of the Black man."

But when a teen in Kansas City is murdered over a dispute in the SLAY world, news of the game reaches mainstream media, and SLAY is labeled a racist, exclusionist, violent hub for thugs and criminals. Even worse, an anonymous troll infiltrates the game, threatening to sue Kiera for "anti-white discrimination."

Driven to save the only world in which she can be herself, Kiera must preserve her secret identity and harness what it means to be unapologetically Black in a world intimidated by Blackness. But can she protect her game without losing herself in the process?

What did I think of it:
I totally got this book because there was a mention of an online role-playing game.

And this is a cool read even though I didn't really connect with Kiera. She had made things unnecessarily complicated for herself in my opinion. How can you really be partners or friends if you keep the thing that controls most of your life from those you love? That aside: there were other characters inside the game Slay I really liked and rooted for. Once their safe haven was threatened I feared for what would happen to them if they would lose it entirely.

The story was intriguing and had my attention from start to finish. There were some things I'd have liked to go differently, but overall this was a good read.

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


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Terminal Alliance - Book Review

Terminal Alliance (Janitors of the Post-Apocalypse #1)
by Jim C. Hines

What is it about:
When the Krakau came to Earth, they planned to invite humanity into a growing alliance of sentient species.

This would have worked out better for all involved if they hadn’t arrived after a mutated plague wiped out half the planet, turned the rest into shambling, near-unstoppable animals, and basically destroyed human civilization. You know—your standard apocalypse.

The Krakau’s first impulse was to turn their ships around and go home. After all, it’s hard to establish diplomatic relations with mindless savages who eat your diplomats.

Their second impulse was to try to fix us.

A century later, human beings might not be what they once were, but at least they’re no longer trying to eat everyone. Mostly.

Marion “Mops” Adamopoulos is surprisingly bright (for a human). As a Lieutenant on the Earth Mercenary Corps Ship Pufferfish, she’s in charge of the Shipboard Hygiene and Sanitation team. When a bioweapon attack by an alien race wipes out the Krakau command crew and reverts the rest of the humans to their feral state, only Mops and her team are left with their minds intact.

Escaping the attacking aliens—not to mention her shambling crewmates—is only the beginning. Sure, Mops and her assortment of space janitors and plumbers can clean the ship, but flying the damn thing is another matter. As they struggle to keep the Pufferfish functioning and find a cure for their crew, they stumble onto a conspiracy that could threaten the entire alliance.

A conspiracy born from the truth of what happened on Earth all those years ago…

What did I think of it:
I absolutely love Hines' Jig the Goblin trilogy, but couldn't get into his Princess series. Then I saw this book and knew I had to try it!

And what a fun SF adventure.

Mops is the head of the janitor crew aboard the Pufferfish. When things go horribly wrong she , her crew, and an alien technician named Grom are the only ones who might be able to save the day.

This book mixes a really suspenseful adventure with lots of humor. I was both on the edge of my seat and laughing. I immediately bonded with Grom, they might be alien, but they were so easy to relate to. Mops and her team were really cool as well. I rooted for all of them to stay alive and to find out what was going on.

Each chapter starts with either a short piece of history or a conversation log, filling in gaps and providing entertainment. As Mops and her crew chase the truth danger stalks them from every side. I had to keep reading to see how this story would end.

All in all a really fun and entertaining read. You bet I will get my trotters on the next book.

Why should you read it:
Janitors in Space! Need I say more?


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More print books by Jeffe Kennedy!

Good news for fans of Jeffe Kennedy and lovers of print books!

Four novella's from the Twelve Kingdoms/Uncharted Realms series are now bundled into two print books!

The Snows of Windroven and Negotiation can be bought as a print book here

Heart's Blood and The Crown of the Queen can be bought as a print book here

International readers can buy these books at the online amazon store closest to them (uk, de, fr, etc...)

Gideon the Ninth - Book Review

Gideon the Ninth (The Locked Tomb #1)
by Tamsyn Muir

What is it about:
The Emperor needs necromancers.

The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman.

Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead bullshit.

Tamsyn Muir's Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cut-throat politics, and lesbian necromancers. Her characters leap off the page, as skillfully animated as necromantic skeletons. The result is a heart-pounding epic science fantasy.

Brought up by unfriendly, ossifying nuns, ancient retainers, and countless skeletons, Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude and an afterlife as a reanimated corpse. She packs up her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and prepares to launch her daring escape. But her childhood nemesis won't set her free without a service.

Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and bone witch extraordinaire, has been summoned into action. The Emperor has invited the heirs to each of his loyal Houses to a deadly trial of wits and skill. If Harrowhark succeeds she will become an immortal, all-powerful servant of the Resurrection, but no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier. Without Gideon's sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die.

Of course, some things are better left dead.

What did I think of it:
Necromancers in space? Sign me up!

I will confess I've been lusting after this book ever after seeing an early copy in Dublin this August. So I was very happy to get my greedy trotters on it, and I'd have loved it just for its looks alone.

Luckily this book doesn't just look absolutely awesome, it's also a totally amazing read.

I was immediately hooked and I loved Gideon. I could totally understand why she wants nothing to do with the house she grew up in, and why she begrudgingly accompanies Harrow to the first house, where all other eight houses will be submitted to a test.

The story that develops can best be described as a Gothic murder mystery in space, and is absolutely fabulous! There were many characters, but all are so well worked out I didn't have a problem keeping up with who's involved in what scheme, and who is on the ball in the contest and who is not. I had my favorites, and once the bodies started falling, I was fearing for their lives.

Even with this book being over 400 pages long, it felt too short. I could have stayed lost in this Gothic adventure for ever. And the ending!!! OMG! I need the next book! You bet I've already preordered it and I'll be impatiently waiting for the release.

Why should you read it:
Necromancers in space!!


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Teaser Tuesdays - Taming Demons for Beginners

With one ear tuned for sounds from the upper floor, I pried the lid off a plastic tote and shone my phone's flashlight inside.

(page 27, Taming Demons for Beginners by Annette Marie)


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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 sh"are 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!

A Breath of Eyre - Book Review

A Breath of Eyre (Unbound #1)
by Eve Marie Mont

What is it about:
Emma Townsend has always believed in stories--the ones she reads voraciously, and the ones she creates. Perhaps it's because she feels like an outsider at her exclusive prep school, or because her stepmother doesn't come close to filling the void left by her mother's death. And her only romantic prospect--apart from a crush on her English teacher--is Gray Newman, a long-time friend who just adds to Emma's confusion. But escape soon arrives in an old leather-bound copy of Jane Eyre. . .

Reading of Jane's isolation sparks a deep sense of kinship. Then fate takes things a leap further when a lightning storm catapults Emma right into Jane's body and her nineteenth-century world. As governess at Thornfield, Emma has a sense of belonging she's never known--and an attraction to the brooding Mr. Rochester. Now, moving between her two realities and uncovering secrets in both, Emma must decide whether her destiny lies in the pages of Jane's story, or in the unwritten chapters of her own. . .

What did I think of it:
This was a nice, but forgettable read for me.

The story set in the now is one that I've seen done before, and the parts where Emma finds herself in Jane Eyre's world could have been so much more. Especially her first visit is practically a rehash of the original novel.

Still it was nice enough to keep reading to see where things would lead. There were some unique twists to the story, but not enough to lift the story to the heights I had hoped for. I won't continue this series.

Why should you read it:
It's a nice Paranormalish YA read.


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Ghost Town - Book Review

Ghost Town (The Morganville Vampires #9)
by Rachel Caine

What is it about:
While developing a new system to maintain the town's defenses, Claire discovers a way to use the vampires' powers to help keep outsiders from spreading news of Morganville's "unique" situation once they've crossed the city limits.

But the new system has an unexpected and possibly deadly consequence: People inside the town start forgetting who and what they are - even the vampires. And when Claire's boyfriend, Shane, and her best friend, Eve, start treating her like a perfect stranger, Claire realizes she has to figure out a way to pull the plug on her experiment - before she forgets how to save herself... and Morganville.

What did I think of it:
It took me awhile to pick up this book after reading book 8 which was annoying at times (especially Shane), but this book is back in Morganville and much better than the previous book.

I will confess I'm not loving Shane. He seems to get more obnoxious, but it might be I'm just in an unforgiving mood. Myrnin, my favorite character has a nicely sized role in this book though, so I was all happy.

The stakes in this book are high: if Claire can't find a solution to the problems Morganville is facing, everyone will lose their memories with devastating results. I was hooked from the start and kept reading to see what was going on and how Claire would fix it.

All in all a very enjoyable addition to the series. I'll pick up the next book soon.

Why should you read it:
It's a fun YA Vampire read.


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