Teaser Tuesdays - Middlegame

"Your parents didn't name you 'Jessica,'" says Snake. There's no rancor in his tone: this is a conversation they've had before.
"No, they gave me a name white people can't pronounce. I'm tired of hearing it butchered, so everyone gets to call me Jessica, and we all feel good about how progressive we are."

(page 180, Middlegame by Seanan McGuire)


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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!

The Future of Another Timeline - Book Review

The Future of Another Timeline
by Annalee Newitz

What is it about:
1992: After a confrontation at a riot grrl concert, seventeen-year-old Beth finds herself in a car with her friend's abusive boyfriend dead in the backseat, agreeing to help her friends hide the body. This murder sets Beth and her friends on a path of escalating violence and vengeance as they realize many other young women in the world need protecting too.

2022: Determined to use time travel to create a safer future, Tess has dedicated her life to visiting key moments in history and fighting for change. But rewriting the timeline isn’t as simple as editing one person or event. And just when Tess believes she's found a way to make an edit that actually sticks, she encounters a group of dangerous travelers bent on stopping her at any cost.

Tess and Beth’s lives intertwine as war breaks out across the timeline--a war that threatens to destroy time travel and leave only a small group of elites with the power to shape the past, present, and future. Against the vast and intricate forces of history and humanity, is it possible for a single person’s actions to echo throughout the timeline?

What did I think of it:
I have a weak spot for time travel stories, so when Jeffe was so kind to get hold of an Advance Reader Copy of this book for me I was over the moon.

And this is such an intense and cool read.

The time travel theory used in this book is one that totally worked for me. Yes, I had questions, but so do the people who were travelling , which made it easier to accept what was happening than when the author would have tried to 'explain' things and bungle them up.

The story itself drew me in right away. I was invested in Tess and Beth from the start. I was rooting for them and hoping the things they want will turn out as they think they will. There were several other characters I really liked and was rooting for as well.

The book tackles a couple of universal and relevant themes without losing momentum and without losing sight of the story. It did make me think about what could have happened if someone could change just a tiny thing somewhere in our past. It was intense, gripping, and at times emotional. I cared for the world and for the characters Newitz created.

All in all a really wonderful read. You bet i'll read more by Newitz.

Why should you read it:
It's an awesome and intense Time Travel read.


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A Human Stain

A Human Stain
by Kelly Robson

What is it about:
A Human Stain by Kelly Robson is a disturbing horror novelette about a British expatriate at loose ends who is hired by her friend to temporarily care for his young, orphaned nephew in a remote castle-like structure in Germany.

What did I think of it:
I loved Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach so I picked up this book to read more by Kelly Robson.

And this story is atmospheric and beautifully creepy!

It combines Gothic horror and Lovecraftian vibes in a story that gets more and more disturbing as you get further into it.

Robson manages to draw you in and won't let you go until the chilling conclusion.

You can be sure I'll reread this and that I'll keep an eye out for Robson's next release.

Why should you read it:
It's a deliciously creepy read.


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Worldcon stories on my other blog

I'm still posting about Dublin & Worldcon over at my other blog

Wanted by the Alpha - Book review by Voodoo Bride

Wanted by the Alpha (Knotted Omega 0.5)
by Laxmi Hariharan and Scarlette Brooke

What is it about:
She belongs to me...

Just a glimpse and I know she is MINE.

She isn't like any other omega I've ever met, I hadn’t anticipated this need for her.

I should have stayed away...

But there's a twisted, yearning, full of fear and anger inside me,

That insists that I claim her.

No one can stop me, from breaking her

From making her MINE...

No one... not even her.

*This is the prequel to the Knotted Omega Series. Dystopian romance with Mf Omegaverse flavor.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
With all the giveaways where you get signed up for a gazillion newsletters I can't even remember when and how I got signed up for the newletter from Laxmi Hariharan. But I was in the mood for something short and this prequel was free, so I decided to give it a change.

Maybe I should have tried another book instead of this prequel though. From what I now understand it's the prequel to a book where the hero and heroine will meet. They didn't in this book.

There are some steamy dreams that foretell what might happen when these two meet, but to be honest, I was in the mood for some romance, not for two horny people dreaming about each other. Add a story that didn't really grab me,and this book was a miss for me.

I might try another more complete book instead of this appetizer somewhere in the future.

Why should you read it:
It's Dystopian PNR I think.


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Teaser Tuesdays - Magic for Liars

There it was again. That feeling like maybe, in another life, I could have fit in here.

(page 46, Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey)


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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!

Borrowed Souls - Book Review

Borrowed Souls (Soul Charmer #1)
by Chelsea Mueller

What is it about:
Callie Delgado always puts family first, and unfortunately her brother knows it. She’s emptied her savings, lost work, and spilled countless tears trying to keep him out of trouble, but now he’s in deeper than ever, and his debt is on Callie’s head. She’s given a choice: do some dirty work for the mob, or have her brother returned to her in tiny pieces.

Renting souls is big business for the religious population of Gem City. Those looking to take part in immoral—or even illegal—activity can borrow someone else’s soul, for a price, and sin without consequence.

To save her brother, Callie needs a borrowed soul, but she doesn’t have anywhere near the money to pay for it. The slimy Soul Charmer is willing to barter, but accepting his offer will force Callie into a dangerous world of magic she isn’t ready for.

With the help of the guarded but undeniably attractive Derek—whose allegiance to the Charmer wavers as his connection to Callie grows—she’ll have to walk a tight line, avoid pissing off the bad guys, all while struggling to determine what her loyalty to her family’s really worth.

Losing her brother isn’t an option. Losing her soul? Maybe.

What did I think of it:
Confession: I tried to read this book in 2017 and DNFed it because I couldn't stand Callie. I thought she was narrow minded and prejudiced. I did enjoy the worldbuiling and the story however, so I wasn't totally ready to give up on the book. So when I saw that Chelsea Mueller would be at Worldcon I decided it was time to give Borrowed Souls a second try.

And I'm so glad I did!

Yes: Callie is really narrow minded at the start of the book, but where in 2017 I thought she wouldn't change, I now found out that not long after the point where I DNFed on my first read, she actually gets more mellow and even though she still is quick to judge, she shows signs of being able to see when she's wrong.

And there's the story and the worldbuilding, and Derek, the guy she has to work with! I was soon totally engrossed and eager to see what would happen. (I also really hoped Callie would realize her brother is a jerk who should solve his own problems). There is action, suspense, shady characters, strange and creepy magic, and more cool stuff.

So it turns out I DNFed too soon that first time. I ended up really enjoying this book and liking Callie more than I thought possible. You bet I had Chelsea Mueller sign the book, and that I'll be getting my trotters on the next book soon.

Why should you read it:
This book has a really cool story, and great worldbuilding and characters.


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