On McPig's Wishlist - Ghost Talkers

Ghost Talkers
by Mary Robinette Kowal

Ginger Stuyvesant, an American heiress living in London during World War I, is engaged to Captain Benjamin Harford, an intelligence officer. Ginger is a medium for the Spirit Corps, a special Spiritualist force.

Each soldier heading for the front is conditioned to report to the mediums of the Spirit Corps when they die so the Corps can pass instant information about troop movements to military intelligence.

Ginger and her fellow mediums contribute a great deal to the war efforts, so long as they pass the information through appropriate channels. While Ben is away at the front, Ginger discovers the presence of a traitor. Without the presence of her fiance to validate her findings, the top brass thinks she's just imagining things. Even worse, it is clear that the Spirit Corps is now being directly targeted by the German war effort. Left to her own devices, Ginger has to find out how the Germans are targeting the Spirit Corps and stop them. This is a difficult and dangerous task for a woman of that era, but this time both the spirit and the flesh are willing…


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Alphas - Book Review

Alphas (Alphas #1)
by Lisi Harrison

What is it about:
At OCD the losers are tormented.

At Alpha Academy, they're sent home.

Skye Hamilton has scored an invitation to the ultra-exclusive Alphas-only boarding school where beta is spelled LBR . What happens when the country's best, brightest, and hawtest begin clawing and scratching their way to the top?

What did I think of it:
I'm a sucker for boarding school stories, so that's how I ended up giving this book a try.

Pet Peeve number one: When the girls would say things like 'really' or something like that it was spelled sort of phonetically. Only because I'm not American to me it looked really dumb.

Pet Peeve number two: Weird speak. One girl kept talking about lip-kissing. I wondered what kind of kissing she usually got up to that she had to specify she was talking about normal kissing.

Those two things could have been overlooked if the rest of the story was good, but alas...

Most of the girls start out really obnoxious and bratty. Instead of them growing on me, or growing up, they only spiraled further out of control and even the one girl I liked at the start of the book was starting to act dodgy. By the end of the book I hated all of them! If these girls are the countries best and brightest, the country is doomed!

It will be safe to say I won't be reading the next book in this series.

Why should you read it:
Maybe you like obnoxious and bratty teens.


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Teaser Tuesdays - The Power

Enjoying this so far, but there are a few issues I'm having with this book which I'll probably go into in my review.


It doesn't matter that she shouldn't, that she never would. What matters is that she could, if she wanted. The power to hurt is a kind of wealth.

(page 71, The Power by Naomi Alderman)



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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!

Conspiracy of Ravens - Book Review

Conspiracy of Ravens (The Shadow #2)
by Lila Bowen

What is it about:
Nettie Lonesome made a leap -- not knowing what she'd become. But now the destiny of the Shadow is calling.

A powerful alchemist is leaving a trail of dead across the prairie. And the Shadow must face the ultimate challenge: side with her friends and the badge on her chest or take off alone on the dangerous mission pulling her inexorably toward the fight of her life.

When it comes to monsters and men, the world isn't black and white. What good are two wings and a gun when your enemy can command a conspiracy of ravens?

What did I think of it:
I very much enjoyed the first book in this series, so I made sure to get my trotters on book 2.

And this is another cool and gritty read.

Nettie is not comfortable in her skin, but as Rhett she/he is finding his place in life. I'm not trans myself, so I'm in no way an expert, but I think the transformation from Nettie into Rhett over these two books was done really well. I loved reading how Rhett is discovering more about who he is, and about his sexuality.

The quest Rhett and his friends set out on is full of danger and mystery. I loved the parts where Rhett and his friends are together the most. I especially love Coyote Dan, I'll confess. When Rhett is on his own, he gets stupid at times, and I wanted to kick some sense into him. He sure needs to learn he's not invincible. Still I very much enjoyed the story, maybe even because the trouble he leads himself into.

I love the world building and the creatures that roam this world. The mix of a Western setting with lots of supernatural creatures is really cool in my opinion. The mythology is intriguing and lends itself for lots of adventures. The book ends with the main storyline resolved, but leaves you with a couple of other cliffhangers that makes me eager to get my trotters on the next book.

You bet I'll be getting the next book as soon as it releases!

Why should you read it:
It's a gritty and cool Paranormal Western read.


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On McPig's Wishlist - Iron Cast

Iron Cast
by Destiny Soria

In 1919, Ada Navarra—the intrepid daughter of immigrants—and Corinne Wells—a spunky, devil-may-care heiress—make an unlikely pair. But at the Cast Iron nightclub in Boston, anything and everything is possible. At night, on stage together, the two best friends, whose “afflicted” blood gives them the ability to create illusions through art, weave magic under the employ of Johnny Dervish, the club’s owner and a notorious gangster. By day, Ada and Corinne use these same skills to con the city’s elite in an attempt to keep the club afloat.

When a “job” goes awry and Ada is imprisoned, she realizes they’re on the precipice of danger. Only Corinne—her partner in crime—can break her out of Haversham Asylum. But once Ada is out, they face betrayal at every turn.


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Once A Witch - Book Review (repost)

Once a Witch (Witch #1)
by Carolyn MacCullough

What is it about:
Tamsin Greene comes from a long line of witches, and she was supposed to be one of the most Talented among them. But Tamsin's magic never showed up. Now seventeen, Tamsin attends boarding school in Manhattan, far from her family.

But when a handsome young professor mistakes her for her very Talented sister, Tamsin agrees to find a lost family heirloom for him. The search—and the stranger—will prove to be more sinister than they first appeared, ultimately sending Tamsin on a treasure hunt through time that will unlock the secret of her true identity, unearth the sins of her family, and unleash a power so vengeful that it could destroy them all.

What did I think of it:
I totally bought this book for the pretty cover. Luckily it turned out the cover isn't the only good thing about this book.

This is a great story.

I liked Tamsin from the start. Being the only one without magic she's the black sheep of the family. Mocked by her sister and cousins, she's happiest when away from her family among 'normal' people. I could really understand how she felt, and when someone mistakes her for her sister, I didn't even want to slap her for not telling the truth. Instead I wanted her to succeed and to show her family what she can do.

I loved Tamsin's roommate Agatha, who's a cool and quirky character. I was sad she only had a very small role in the book. Luckily Tamsin got help from another character I really loved: Gabriel.

Gabriel is the son of a family friend, and has a Talent, but he's not judging and mocking Tamsin for not being Talented. He sees Tamsin for who she is and not for what she can or can't do. He joins Tamsin on her search and together they get into lots of trouble.

I really enjoyed this story. It's fun, full of action and suspense, and has a sweet romance. The ending, although leaving you with a cliffhanger, is satisfying enough that you don't feel cheated. That being said: I immediately ordered the next book, because I want more.

Why should you read it:
It's a fun and very enjoyable Paranormal YA read.

TBR Orphans update

I managed to read one Orphan in November!

Earth by Shauna Granger

It's been languishing on my ereader, passed over in favor of print books. It is a very cool read, so I will read the next book soon.

How are you doing on your challenges?


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