Marissa Meyer: Supernova

This is the third and final series in Marissa Meyer’s renegade series and you will need to read the other two books in this series (Renegades and Archenemies) to fully grasp everything going on in this book.

In the final book of this trilogy Marissa Meyer shows the lengths people will go to to achieve power:

Nova knows what she has to do, she has to free Ace from the Renegades, get him his helmet and once and for all free the city from those in power and let humans fight their own battles. If only the plan was that simple or humans were that simple and things were black and white. As Nova and Adrian struggle to keep their identities a secret a war is about to take place and they need to protect the ones they love. Can hero and villain work together to save the city or can only one side rule them all.

Here we are at the end of the trilogy, everything has been leading up to this book and I will say this book was great. It ended the series really well. The darkness and showing what people will do with a little information to condemn those around them is abundant in this book. 

Wow, the suspense in this book is great and I do not know how Nova was able to keep her cool throughout the book with the possibility that her lies and betrayals could come to light at any second. I also enjoyed that this book did play out like I thought it would and Nova’s powers didn’t increase in a way that I thought they would as well.

Once again Nova is a great character and for me Adrian was just go-hum. He is totally the YA part of this books based upon his choices he makes throughout this book. Nova is just sensational as a character and her growth throughout the series is what I look for in series.

I think my main complaint with the book was that things seemed to drag on and it was a bit repetitive from the second book.

I like the little bit of information that was given at the end on the book as it explained a few things and also hinted at maybe another trilogy to come. I know I would read it.

I have really enjoyed this series by Meyer and I loved that it had some darker aspects throughout and I must say the suspense aspect was on point in this book. Highly recommended series.

Enjoy!!!

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Catherine Ryan Howard: 56 Days

Catherine Ryan Howard shows what happens when people take advantage of the COVID lockdown:

It starts with yet another fire alarm to an apartment building but ends with a body being discovered in an apartment that has been there for around three weeks. Who is this man? Was he murdered? Or accident? Or Suicide? We need to go back 56 days prior to the start of the lockdown to the pandemic, to figure out all these questions and realize that nothing is as it seems.

I think that it was an interesting that Howard decided to feature a book based around COVID, as I’m sure some people will say too soon. But hey if it inspires you to write I say why not and really the pandemic and lockdown did create a setting I had not read in a book before.

I enjoy the books that are on two different timelines as they slowly get closer together. I find, for me, this adds additional mystery to the book as you know how some things are going to end but you do not know how you get there. This was a slow burn of a book, but I found that even though it was a slow one it was able to keep me engaged by constantly changing the time frame that we were reading about.

There are three main POV in this book but I will say that you only really get to know two of the characters fairly well, Oliver and Ciara. I wish there would have been more from Leah, the detective, but I do understand why Howard chose to make Oliver and Ciara the main focus of the book. Speaking of them, you know right off that each is hiding something and really Oliver’s seems to come out of nowhere but Ciara’s I was able to figure out for the most of it out.

Part of the reason I wanted more from Leah’s POV was to see how the investigation unfolded more. I feel like there were many unanswered questions that they would have followed up on. 

This is the second book I have read by Howard and I really enjoyed it. It is also completely different from her other book I have read which I appreciate the lack of formula so fa. I look forward to see what Howard comes out with next.

Enjoy!!!

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Amanda Foody: All of us Villains

In the first in a new series, Amanda Foody shows the length that families will go to in order to retain the power of High Magic:

When the Blood Moon rises, it signals the fall of the veil and a tournament to the death begins. Seven families enter the tournament but only one can be the victor. The winner of the tournament grants their family access to the High Magic the most secret and powerful resource in the world. But this year is different, the tournament used to be done in secret but a new tell all book has been published and people have come to gawk, criticized and speculate who will wind. The whole world is watching and more than one of the contenders want to rewrite their typical family story.

This is the first book that I have read by Foody and I was not sure what to expect as I had never heard of her as an author, and was fully picked up this book for the cover and the book description. And I will say that I really enjoyed this book, it was much darker than I expected it to be and there were some twists early on that I did not see coming. It has been said that it is like the Hunger Games but with Magic and yes on a surface level this is true for the overall concept, but other than the competition to the death, I did not find them that similar than that. I think that Foody did a great job of separating herself from the Hunger Games comparison with the world building she has done at the beginning of the book, and having it take place in our modern time.

I was lucky enough to get and ARC audio version of the book and wow was this book ever enhanced because of it. I felt like narrator were able to capture the feelings, that you became more invested, or disliked them even more. This is a book that I would 100% recommend that you read the audiobook version of it, you will not be disappointed with it.

There are 4 main character that Foody attempts to develop in this book and for the most part she succeed on a very surface level for most of them. We know each of the 4 characters wants, needs and why winning the tournament means so much to them. I think the character that is developed the best is Alistair Lowe (or also known as The Lowe) as everything does seem to revolve a lot around him, as his family currently has the High Magic. Also there was just something about Alistair that drew me to him as a character, than the other ones.

I think the one thing that bothered me about the book is that all the villains are not really villainous throughout the book. Many of the characters just put up a front of how they believe they are supposed to act. Do not get me wrong there are some villainous acts that occur, I just thought there would be more, given the title and the nature of the plot of this book

Foody is off to an amazing start in this series. I was really impressed with the darkness of the book and developing four main characters fairly well. I look forward to reading the second book in this series, and I know I'll be looking for the audiobook version as it was simply awesome was to read this book.

Enjoy!!!

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Kevin O'Brien: The Night She Disappeared

Kevin O'Brien what happens when you cannot remember what happened the night before and you are the last person to see someone alive:

 

Anna is Seattle TV reporter and she ended up doing (more like forced) a piece on Courtney for the news who just happens to be her boyfriend/lover Russ's wife .Anna doesn't drink very often and she certainly should never drink with her lover and his wife, yet someone Anna finds herself in this situation. The hangover is brutal but she can't help thinking that something worse happened that night, and her mind first goes to that Courtney has realized that her and Russ are together. The truth is much worse, Courtney is missing and the last people to see her alive were Anna and Russ. The spot light is even more an Anna as everyone from neighbour, police to online TV celebrities try to figure out what happened to Courtney and are determined to try anything to get to the "truth". Anna only wishes she could remember what happened on the Night Courtney disappeared

 

I had high hopes for this book but to sum it up I was really bored throughout the book. I did not find it suspenseful at all, book just felt bland and flat and I was forcing myself to pick up the book just to finish. So you know by then that it is not a book that is keeping you engaged.

The main character was just okay and not really well defined as a character, though i think that O'Brien was trying to flesh her out as one, but just never got there. Most of the book is really spent with Anna sitting around her houseboat waiting for news of what happened to Courtney from the police. She does a bit of digging on her own, but that leads no where and is not the main focus that O'Brien chooses to take with the plot. I think I would have like the book better if Anna had done more sleuthing, but the type of reported that O'Brien has Anna a be (feel good pieces) sleuthing does not fit her wheel house.

I figured it out quite early and I will admit that i did not see one twist coming, but when that twist was revealed didn't find is shocking or adding anything to the story as I had already had it figured out. Like I said above the suspense was never there, from the mysterious phone call, to Anna not being able to remember what happened the night before, nothing gave me the edge of my seat feeling

I did like the nod to Gone Girl in the book as as you’re reading it you do start to think the same things, and there is a large portion of the population who had read that book.

I really struggles to finish this book, an honestly I give myself props for finishing it. I think if it had not bee a book i received off of Netgalley I wouldn't of. This one just wasn't for me. 

Cheers!!!

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Charlaine Harris: Dead Until Dark

In the first in the series, Charlaine Harris show's what happens when a Vampire shows up in a small rural town:

 

 Sookie Stackhouse could be an server in a bar in a small town, but the truth is that Sookie has a secret; She is able to read the minds of all the people around her. She shields herself the best she can but sometimes the noise slips through. That is until he walks into the bar, a Vampire, his mind is silent to her and it is heaven. But Vampires are not always wanted in small towns and someone or something is determined to make sure that this one does not stick around.

 

Yep you guessed it I am probably one of the few who enjoy the Urban Fantasy genre that has not read Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series, and my only defense is....I have no idea why I did not pick it up at the time of release, maybe i had read too many Vampire books at the time, but honestly I do not know why.

Maybe I would have enjoyed this book when it first came out, but reading it now, it just felt like there was a lack of story, lack of anything happening, just a woman who enjoys the silence in her mind that she feels whenever Bill is around. There is not much character development either and Harris tries to make the Vampires scary but yet it falls into the troupe that they are all good looking as well. We get a bit of a picture of the Vampire Underworld, but it is not really fleshed out.

I struggle with Sookie as a character, she does not really think anything of herself, other than how other people perceive her, which is basically dumb and slow. This has warped her own thinking of herself to fit these expectations and she considers her mind reading ability as a malady. I think I could get behind Sookie as a character, if all her problem were not solved by the introduction of a Man (Vampire). As soon as he comes into her life she all of a sudden has purpose? Not my thing. 

I know I won't be continuing on in this series, there wasn't much I liked about the book, except maybe the ending. Plus I feel hints of a love triangle coming around, so i'll just stop now. For those who have read the book and watched to show, is the show any good?

Cheers!!!

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Thomas Kies: Random Road

In his debut novel Thomas Kies introduces readers to crime reporter Geneva Chase:

Geneva Chase is a veteran crime reporter who knows how to find answers, cultivate sources while trying to hide her alcoholism so she is not forced to leave another job. Chase catches a break when she lands a homicide of 6 in a wealthy  neighbourhood. The headline is eventually picked up by major news outlets and Chase knows this is her time. Chase want to know everything about these rich and entitled citizens. But the more she digs, the further she puts herself in danger and her inability to get sober threatens to undo everything she has worked so hard for.
 

This is one of my favourite reads this past year. I really enjoyed the plot and characters that Keis created for this book. This book is very much a character driver more than plot but Keis is able to keep you engaged in the story. He achieves this by having Chase, an investigative reporter, investigate more than one crime. I mean there is the main event with the murder of 6 people, but as Chase is not a police officers so she doesn’t have access to all the crime scene information, she has to use different forms of digging in order to get information. I appreacite Chase's ability to think outside of the box to get the information that she needs, as well as cultivating sources.

Well to say that the main character has flaws is an understatement, as Chase is an alcoholic, hides the fact that she is one, lies about always needing a drink and for the most part she does not apologize about this side of her. She is fine, even happy to see the world through shades of vodka. Maybe disaster may be a better description of her.

I like flawed characters, they seem more like real people than the perfect ones that some authors write. I like Chase’s tenacity in her life and work and you can tell that she has heart as well. I will questions some of her decisions she makes especially with Kevin, the love interest in this book, but I’m sure people would do the exact same thing that Chase and Kevin do in those circumstances. Chase may be flawed but aren’t we all. And as this is very much a character driven book, I appreciate the complexity of Chase’s character and though she is flawed you cannot help but like her.

I will say I was able to figure out the main Murder, but this did not take away from my overall enjoyment of the book as I liked following Chase around while she investigated this and did reports on her other stories.

I look forward to reading another book in this series to see where Kies takes his characters and to see what case catches Chase's eye next.

Enjoy!!!

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Kerri Maniscalco: Kingdom of the Cursed

You will need to read the first book within this series, Kingdom of the Wicked, in order to understand the characters world and characters in this series.  

Kerri Maniscalco shows what happens when a woman makes a deal with the Devil:

Emilia is in big trouble, not only has she made a deal with the Devil (literally) to marry him, she must also navigate the court of the underworld and Hell is nothing like she thought it would be. But she is here to find out and punish who murdered her twin sister and she will stop at nothing to achieve this. Emilia will be tested in every way as she seeks the truth about herself, her sister and the path that she is on.

I was really excited to read this book. I thought that Maniscalco had done a great job in the first one in mixing murder and romantic tension throughout. Well I am not sure what I read here but It was not what was expecting at all. There was nothing in this book from the first book that I enjoyed in this book. Honestly, if you want to read about some steamy scenes and about dresses then pick up this book. But if you are like me and enjoyed Emilia trying to figure out who murdered her sister and the witch aspect (spell casting and such) then I am here to tell you that NONE of that is in this book except for in passing thoughts a few times by Emilia.

This book was all about sex, whether thinking about it, or almost getting there or wanting to get there. It was ever present in all of Emilia thoughts throughout the day so much so that the entire “plot” is centered around these facts. It's a whole enemies to lovers thing on steroids throughout the book. I ended up skipping a large portion of the book, as I had been told that the last 20% of the book where it picks up in interest level. Additionally, the book was very predictable, the big reveal can easily be deduced from the very beginning.

The thing is that Maniscalco introduced some interesting secondary characters but does nothing with them other than to give Emilia relationship or sex advice.

While i finished this book, I do not know if I will continue on in this series. Maniscalco seemed to think that by upping the book to a New Adult genre and loading it with romance and sex that we would not realize the lack of plot. So if Maniscalco continues down this path with the next one, I know I won't be reading it.

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T.J. Newman: Falling

In her debut novel, T.J. Newman, a pilot is forced to make the hardest decision, his passengers or his family:

Bill is called in on his day off to pilot a flight to New York City. 143 passengers don't realize that their lives are in Bill's hands more than normally. Bill's family has been kidnapped and he has been given a choice, Crash the plane or watch your family die. Only one choice can be made, will Bill choose his family or the 143 souls plus crew on his airplane.

Well if you want to add additional thrills while reading this book, start reading it on a plane like I did. Nothing will have you checking out the other passengers and flight attendants like this book, especially that opening scene, it had me looking over my shoulder and down the aisle constantly. If I could have seen into the cockpit I would have been checking it out as well.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and I think that it was well written. There are several twists within this book and some extremely tense moments, but that said I feel like you know how the book is going to end, it had to come to a happy ending as many authors shy away from the tragic ones, so this in itself took away the suspense of the book for me.

I personally preferred the airline aspect within this book. I think that is where Newman shines with the knowledge of how things are done, and how much of your life is in the hands of the pilot and flight attendants. I appreciated how they interacted with each other and the passengers as well. It was interesting to read how the flight attendance peg people right as they come on the flight as to whether they will be useful or not in a emergency situation.

I found for the most part that the characters in this book are underdeveloped and underwhelming. I think my favourite character is Jo, one of the flight attendants. But other than that, I just felt like the characters were very much on the surface level, and maybe Newman had a few too many of them to try to balance them all and create more in depth characters.

For a debut novel, Newman did a good job in creating and overall plot and story for this book, even though the suspense was lacking, I was still drawn into the overall story. I look forward to reading what Newman releases next.

Enjoy!!!!

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Shannon Mayer: Priceless

In the first in a series, Shannon Mayer shows the length one woman will go to, to find a missing child:

Rylee is a Tracker, she has set up her own PI business that specializes in finding lost or stolen children. All she needs is there name and she can get a lock on them, whether they are alive, dead or on the other side of the veil. The only child she has never been able to find was her own sister, which is how she got placed on an FBI watch list and giver her her own personal FBI stalker. On Rylee's latest salvage, everything seems to be going wrong, and Rylee is targeted by more than one creature or group. Rylee knows it is going to take everything she has to bring this child home.

 

Wow, this book really surprised me, in a great way, and I do not know why I have not heard of this series before. I picked up my copy of this book from a little free library. I have been struggling to find a series to replace Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, and I think I may have found it with this series. This book was dark, witty and just kept you on the edge of your seat the entire book, even when Mayer was developing the backstory of  Rylee.

Rylee is my type of character for Urban Fantasy books, she is already great with all assortment of weapons and can fight dirty when she need to. Plus you cannot help but love the profession she has chosen as a tracker of children who have been taken on either this side or the other side of the Veil. She just wants to bring them home whether it is dead or alive and this is helped with her ability to feel where the children are, as well as their feelings, she is also immune to most magic, vampire bites and werewolf bites as well. I feel like there is even more to Rylee that we have yet to discover.

Loved that there are different creatures in this book, ones you don't normally see in Urban Fantasy books, like Harpies, Unicorns (yep they kick some ass in this book), a different version of vampires/werewolves and some other creatures along the way. I appreciate that Mayer decided not to go to the traditional account with the creature and I liked that she had our side and the other side of the Veil. This just adds a whole new world element to the book and lets Mayer's imagination go even further.

 

I could have done with the insta-attraction aspect that was presented in the book as I was reading it, but the more that I have had a chance to think about this book, Rylee and O'Shea have known each other for years, have been enemies (yes that troupe) so having the attraction between them really wasn't that instant of an aspect when you look at the relationship as a whole. I'm just glad that Rylee and O'Shea have some sort of history with each other to establish the attraction to each other, even if it feel like a troupe.

 

I'm glad that is this an already established series, as there are quite a few books for me to pick up and hopefully enjoy. I hope that Mayer stays with the grittiness and darkness that is presented in this book. Can't wait to read the next one.

Enjoy!!!!

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Dayrnda Jones: A Good Day for Chardonnay

This is the second book in Jones' Sunshine series,, and you will want to read the first book in the series A Bad Day for Sunshine, as there is a case that goes across both books as well as establishes the relationship between the characters.

In the second book in this series, Jones shows that no day is easy for Sheriff Vicrim and that Chardonnay should never be to far away:

Ever since moving back home and becoming the Sheriff of the the town, all she wants is one day to be easy going and end with a date with a fun guy, or The guy that she has been pining for since she was a teenager. Instead she finds herself dealing with a bar fight that has gone seriously wrong, her daughter deciding to hunt serial killers, a racoon and receiving new information about her abduction that occurred when she was younger. To top all of that off, her first case as a detective, that of a missing kid, has come back into the spotlight and Sunshine is determined to have a different outcome this time. Sunshine is due for a day off and some wine.

I really enjoyed this book and I personally found this book more funny that the first one as this one had me laughing out loud at times, especially involving the racoon and again when Sunshine and Quincy try some new um things. I think that Jones has found a good way to mix the seriousness of the investigations that Sunshine is undertaking with humour to lighten things up. The mystery in the book is pretty straight forward, I still found that I was interested in the story and I appreciate that Jones had three separate mysteries in the book to keep it interesting. I like that for the most part

I think one of the reason that I enjoyed this book more than the first book as I found that there was less Auri parts which I appreciated. And really other than Auri constantly sneaking out she seemed a bit more mature in this book, which would also make sense from the events from the first book. I also like how Cruz and Auri's relationship is developing and the best way I can describe it is cute and intense at the same time.

I am really enjoying this series as it is a lighter read than what I normally read and I appreciate the characters that Jones has created in this book as well as the easy ability she has to combine humour and mysteries. I look forward to reading the next book in the series when it comes out.

Enjoy!!!

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Namina Forna: The Gilded Ones

Namina Forna debut novel shows the ends people will go to to ensure that they are in power:

 

Deka has always been different from the other girls and women in her village. Her mother was an outsider and Deka has always felt like one as well, as there are very few people who would be her friend because her skin was darker than theirs. Deka knew that this would all change after the ceremony when she turns 16, she knows that her blood will run red. But when there ceremony comes, the village is attacked by the monsters from the South, and while they are there Deka learns her fate....Her blood runs Gold. She is sentenced to a fate that is worse then death. But one day a strange woman comes to collect her, sent on behalf of the emperor and she is given a choice stay in the village and endure her fate every day, or come with this woman and become something more. All the gold blood girls are being gathered, to learn to fight, to give their lives to protect those whose blood runs red. Deka decides to leave her home, to try to be something more, to protect others and she will discover that there are many mysteries not only within the city but within Deka herself.

Honestly, I was shocked when I found out that it was Forna's debut novel. It is not often that you get a debut novel that is not only well written but the author had the ability to create, describe and portray a different world as well as memorable and interesting main character. Also, while this book may be portrayed as a YA novel, I would say it is on the darker side of YA with the murders, death and the matter in which the occur is not for the faint of heart. The Gilded Ones are essential told that their place in life is to die, so you can imagine how much it occurs within the book. Deka, herself, dies many times especially at the beginning in some horrific and I mean horrific ways, that even though they are not explained in detail you cannot but help but cringe. So this one is not for the faint of heart and probably not for a younger YA audience either. Plus, to top it all off, there is some political intrigue thrown in there that I enjoyed as well. See al this in a debut novel, how could you not pick this book up.

Deka is an admirable character, first she just wants to do what is right by her father and will do anything to achieve that, even if it means dying 1000 deaths for him. Then she is willing to do anything for her sisters and is also willing to die 1000 deaths for them as well. She puts everyone above herself and you cannot help but love her as a character. The supporting cast is also great, the main sisters whom she fights with, they all bring something different to their team and support each other in different ways. I can honestly say I do not remember much about Deka's love interest in this book (see I cannot even remember his name right now), he just seemed so secondary to Deka and i wasnt really a fan of the first kind of hate to insta-love troupe. I do understand why Forna put it in the book, it just wasn't for me. That it just may have skimmed over those parts a bit. I will say I am thankful that Forna did not have the dreaded love triangle that is so often in YA novels

While the plot was interesting as a whole, I did find a few things predictable and was able to figure out the major plots twist fairly early on in the book, so i was waiting for the Deka and the other girls to figure out what was really going on. I wish that this main twist/aspect was a bit better hidden, but over all it did not take away my enjoyment of the book.

This is a fantastic book and I highly recommend it for people who love fantasy books, great world building and strong female lead. Or if you just need a major boost to your feeling of Girl Power right now, then pick this book up. I know I will be grabbing the next book in the series when it comes out next year.

Enjoy!!!

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Riley Sager: Survive the night

Riley Sager shows the length that one woman will go to, to survive one more night:

Charlie is no stranger to death, her parents died when she was really young and she did not know how to cope properly with it then and she still does not know how when her best friend is found murdered and murdered by a serial killer. All Charlie knows is that she has to get away, even if that means leaving her incredible boyfriend and accept a ride from a complete stranger just to get her home, away from everything that reminds her of Maddie. Charlie also has a secret that she does not share with many people, there are times when Maddie enters into the movie world in her mind and things are not what they seem, this is how she deals with reality and the stressful moments of this world, it has always served Charlie well until the night Maddie was murdered and she saw the killer but a movie was playing. Now on the ride back home strange things are happening and she does not know if it is all in her mind, her only objective now is to survive this night.

 

This is the third book that I have read by Sager and I really like the Noir feel of this book. I think what helps the feeling as it takes place at night, in a car, on a long stretch of road and has movie references throughout, many of which are Noirs themselves.

 

I enjoyed that Charlie just was not a reliable character the movies in her mind was such and interesting twist in the book and I wish that it was really only told from her POV. I think introducing the other character POV took away from some of the suspense in the book as it gave away too many details that Charlie would not have known. I really just wanted Charlie and her movies in her minds and be with her when she is trying to figure out what just happened.

I did not see that final twist coming and I think that Sager did a great job throughout making the reader think they have it figured out then do a complete 180. I personally love books like this as they keep me engaged in the story as I try to figure out what was happening.

I think this book is unique and quite different from the other books I have read by Sager and I can see why some Sager fans were not a fan of it. I personally liked the uniqueness of it and anyone saying they say the full ending coming is lying. I'm not sure why Sager decided to have the book based in the 90s instead of present day, I feel like the book could have worked just as well in present time as it did in the 90s. And being in the 90s did not really add anything to the story, so once again confused by the choice there as majority of the movies that Charlie reference in the story are a lot older than that, so its not like it was a 90s movie throwback.

Another good book by Sager and I think the more he has developed as an author his books have gotten better and better. I look forward to reading another book by him.

Enjoy!!!

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Rebecca Roanhorse: Trail of Lightning

In the first of a new series, Rebecca Roanhorse show that the world will always need a monster hunter:

Most of the world has drowned, but a few places have survived and one is the Dinetah (formerly the Navajo reservation) when the gods helped the clan build giant walls to protect them. But this sudden apocalyptic event has given rise not only to Gods and heroes but monsters as well. Maggie Hoskie is a Dinetah monster hunter who has clan powers that make her a supernaturally gifted killer. Maggie answers the call when no one else will when there are monsters and Maggie is about to discover an entirely new Monster, one that she has never seen before. One that is going to make her confront what has happened to her in the past if she wants to survive and protect those still living in the Dinetah. But there are those who do not want her to succeed and will stop at nothing in order to prevent her from finding out the truth.

This was a random grab of a book for me, I am not sure why I picked this book up, but I am so happy I did. This is the first book that I have read by Roanhorse and what a read it was. It starts off really fast and quiet dark (almost to the horror sides of things) and the darkness is something that is a common occurrence throughout the book. Because the book starts off really fast is does slow down a bit around the 25% mark with the introduction of Coyote to things and well let just say he likes to talk a lot, but once Coyote leaves and Maggie has a new mission things really get rolling again.

 Maggie is a very interesting character, and well she has to be as a Monster hunter. When you hear her origin story presented in the book you cannot help but like her more, and care for her more as a character. Her Clan powers are a bit hard to describe, but they are a heightened ability to fight and over all awareness of her surroundings when she needs them to be. She can also sense the monsters that are threatening the people, especially it seems children. As much as Maggie does not want to think herself as a hero, she is one, even though sometimes heroes have to bring the bodies back in a body bag. She is selfless and willing puts herself in danger to help those she perceives as weaker or needing help. Even when payment for her services is offered she does not take advantage of people. 

I'm not sure what to think of Kia, as the book is told from Maggie's POV it is hard to fully judge Kia as a character as he is how Maggie perceives him and well he is a flashy guy who is supposed to be a medicine man, but also much more than that too and possible an alcoholic, but that may be a front as well. I hope in the next book that there may be some chapters from Kia's POV to flesh him out more as a character. And as for the love interest part of it I could have done without it but I understand why Roanhorse has it in there.

This is probably the first book that I have read that was based upon Native American myths and culture and I am all for it. We heard about it growing up but nothing really substantial just bits and pieces here and there, hence why i recognized the character Coyote in the book, but I liked that Roanhorse brought so much more that just Coyote into the book. I appreciated that she used the Navajos terminology throughout the book (though I am sure i butchered the pronunciation). This is a culture that I know little about and I enjoyed that Roanhorse had it so intertwined with the world. Though I did find some of the world building lacking at times, I have yet to figure out what caused the big flood, but that is really a side point to everything. You basically know that most of the world is under water and that includes most of the USA as well.

I really enjoyed this book by Roanhorse and I would recommend it to people who are fans or the dystopia/Urban fantasy/Supernatural genre, or looking for something a bit different. I look forward to reading the next book in the series and checking out other books by Roanhorse

Enjoy!!!

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