V. E. Schwab: Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil

 

V.E. Schwab takes readers on a journey of if one lives forever, what efforts will one go to survive but to also love:

I have not read too many books by Schwab, but like the other books that I have read by her this one was beautifully written. I felt transported into the different timeline that Schwab presents here and I love that we get to know each of the characters at the beginning of their transformations into vampires. I enjoyed that Schwab used some of the traditional vampire lore but not all and had some of her own in there as well. She was able to put her own stamp on vampires especially how becoming a vampire really heightens an individual’s personality/who they are before they are turned.

Yes, Thank you Schwab for making the vampires deadly and cruel and gruesome at times and using their powers not only to survive, but thrive and to terrify. I enjoyed that for the most part they do not shy away from the predators that they are and that they are the top of the food chain especially at night. I also enjoyed that each of the women are different and that their voices are different that you know who you are reading. 

I do hope that Schwab does a spin off series for this with either some of the characters or who is left at the end of this book. I know I want more of these types of vampires and the span, scope and journey that the women in this book go on.

This book makes me want to read more by Schwab and I completely understand the hype around her books and writing.

Enjoy!!!

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Jennifer Hillier: Heart of Glass

Jennifer Hillier takes readers back to Seaside and Wonderland, where nothing in the small town is what it seems:

I will start with saying I have not yet read Wonderland before reading this book and while I do not think it is required reading (this book can be read as a standalone) I wish I would have had more background about seaside as a town. All that said, I enjoyed this book. I loved that there was more than one mystery that is played out in the book as well as the differ t POV. I was shocked and happy when Hillier change to POV that I did not expect.

I’m a sucker for small towns with even bigger secrets and I think that Hillier does a great job with both here. Hillier was able to keep me guessing on both fronts of the mysteries in this book. You wonder what happened not only years earlier with Barb and Cole but also the missing women. And that end twist I did not see coming.

I will say there were a few things that by the end that were left unanswered, maybe this is on purpose, maybe not. Hillier released this Wonderland in 2015 so maybe there might be another story based on Seaside coming our way eventually, as it seem Hillier is okay to play the long game.

Hillier is one of my favourites for thriller and suspense books. I’m still working my way through her backlist but Wonderland has moved to the top of the list for me. I can’t wait to read more by her

Enjoy!!!!

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Lynette Noni: The Prison Healer

 

In the first in a series, Lynette Noni show the length a girl has had to go to to survive ten years in prison.

I had not heard of Noni or this series before, but I am extremely happy that I picked this book up and that the trilogy is completed as you better believe I will be picking the next book up ASAP. This book had me hooked from the beginning mainly with Kiva's character and what she has been forced to do and then as the plot unfolds I could not turn the pages fast enough. There are deadly trials in this book, but I found they were secondary to the overall plot as Kiva waits to be rescued (she has been waiting for ten years) and her dedication to figuring out a deadly illness that has appeared in the prison. The ending of the book, the twist I don't think anyone will see it coming, it was so well done.

Kiva is both liked and hated within the prison as she has had to do anything to survive in a prison since she was seven. This means that she has spied for the warden, been loyal to the warden therefore against the prisoners, manly those who are part of the rebellion. But Kiva is also the prison doctor so those who hate her also need her and Kiva does everything in her ability in order to help them.

This book is considered YA but due to the fact that Kiva has had to grow up really fast in order to survive in the prison, I do not feel like she reads as a teenage character. She is wiser than her years and you can tell that she has seen some things and survived a lot of things.

The world building is okay. I understand most of it, but due to the fact that Kiva was 7 when she was imprisoned, we don't get much about the outside world. We know there is a rebellion going on, that would seek to usurp the current ruling family and that members of the royal family have elemental powers. So the world building that we do get is that within the prison and the lives that people have there. I think the farther we get into the trilogy more will become known, so this did not take away from my overall enjoyment of this book.

I really enjoyed this book. It is fast paced YA fantasy that I think adults will also enjoy. It's a completed trilogy so no waiting for the next books to come out and you'll want to next book on hand after the cliffhanger at the end of this book. To me this is YA fantasy done right.

Enjoy!!!!

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Freida McFadden: The Inmate

 

Freida McFadden show that one night of love can turn to horror in a heartbeat:

This is the first book that I have read by McFadden and I get why people flock to her books if they are like this one. This book was very much a popcorn thriller, one where a reader is kept guessing as to what happened in the past and what is going to happen in the present. I personally am one that enjoys two timeline and each gets equal time in the book. I also think that McFadden does a great job with the pace of the book and giving nuggets of information each time.

I don't think that i was the biggest fan of Brooke, but I think that she does the best that she can when she was younger, but I am not going to lie a totally question most of her decisions as an adult. I can understand moving back to her hometown and why she chose that but her choice of where to work was just crazy to me. I felt like Brooke did not question anything enough, once again as an adult and not when she was a teenager. She should have known better as an adult.

One thing that i guess that you need to dispel belief a bit is that they would let Brooke work as a nurse in a place where the person who attempted to kill her in. I feel like there are way too many red flags and liability issues before a prison would let her work there. And this point is not consistent in the book at times it seems like where she works is aware of her past but then it changes at a different time. I will say that nearing the end of the book, I was starting to get the "just get on with it" feeling. Though I really enjoyed the epilogue, that was a nice twist that McFadden threw in there.

I think that this was a good introduction for me to McFadden and I look forward to reading another book by her.

Enjoy!!!

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K.L. Speer: Bones

 

In the first in a series, K.L. Speer shows the strength of a woman who is just trying to survive and maybe just maybe heal:

I read this book a few months ago and I am still thinking about it. I think that tells you how much I enjoyed this book. I did not know what to expect when I picked up this book, I was craving a dystopian book. This book deserves so much more hype that it has gotten, it had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish and going through all the feelings within this book. This book is also Dark, with little signs of hope along the way but mainly a dark. If you ever thought that healing powers could not be used for darkness, this book is going to change that perspective. 

Bones is such a strong character, where there are times you love her, hate her and just feel horrible for her and what she has experienced in her life starting as a child. You can understand why her mental health is not good and how she is just trying to protect herself, she is broken for most of the book. She does have a heart though when it comes to trying to protect children. In all, all Bones wants to do is survive and she does whatever she can to do that.

My one criticism is that there is a lack on world building, so if you need a book with strong world building you will want to skip this one. I am hoping more of the world is explained in book 2. I mean we don't even get an explanation as to why or how Bones has received the powers. This makes the book much more character driven.

I think this will be one of my top reads for this year. I love the Bones as a character and the darkness that Speer has throughout this book. I cant wait to read the second book in the series.

Enjoy!!!!

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Elise Kova: Prince of Swords

In the second book in her Arcana Academy series, Elise Kova show what it takes and the sacrifices that need to be made when you want to remake the world:

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, it was probably one of my favourite reads last year with the extremely unique magic system set around the tarot cards and how they are wielded. That said I felt like this book fell short for me. The beginning and the last 25% were very strong but the middle aspect is where Kova lost me.

This book lacked the political intrigue that i really enjoyed in the first book as well as the suspense with Clara not wanting to be found. Is there some of these aspects in this book yes, but they are very much at the beginning and end of the book and they fall to the background in the middle. The main aspect of this book is the relationship between Clara and Kaelis and while this is important, especially with the ending, I found it cause the book to drag a bit for me.

Clara’s resilience is tested multiple times within this book and her ability to adapt is her new reality and situations is astounding. As much as this book was about Clara’s and Kaelis' relationship. I still feel like I don’t know him as a characters I do wish we had some  POV from him.

I honestly adore the magic system in this book and I love that Kova has a glossary in the back of the book that explains which each card can do and what each set has an affinity for. I loved that we get even more cards in this book.

While this book did not meet my expectations, I will for sure be reading the next book in the series. I can’t wait to see how Kova will have the ending of this trilogy play out. I think there are some interesting aspect coming and I for one cannot wait to read them.

Enjoy!!!!

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Ana Huang: The Striker

 

The first in a series Ana Huang shows that the one you're not supposed to want may just be the best person for you:

This is the first book that I have read by Huang and I really enjoyed this story, and to make it better I read it during the World Cup, so it was just a fitting time to dive into it. This is a fun easy read, that had just the right amount of spice and while this book is on the longer side for a sports romance book (it's just shy of 600 pages), I did not really notice it's length until the very end.

For some reason I keep finding romance books where the FMC is a ballerina and for me other than Scarlet's injury, a lot of the women in this industry are portrayed the same and have very similar storylines. So while I enjoyed Scarlet as a character and her perseverance through all that has gone through, I felt like I had read her character before.

Asher was a surprise, I loved him as a character and he is so much more than the playboy that he is portrayed as. He is totally a golden retriever of a man and I loved every second of him. To top it off, he has such a huge personal journey in this book and you cant help but love him more. My one thing that I could deal without is the amount he calls Scarlet Darling, but that is just a me thing.

This book has some great tropes in it; Rival's sister, forced proximity, trainer and trainee, he falls first.

If you are looking for a sports romance, that is not hockey but still has similar flare of sports and MMC attitude then I recommend this book. I really enjoyed it and looking forward reading the next book in the series featuring Scarlet's brother.

Enjoy!!!

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Elliot Ray: Heist in Paradise

 

In the first in a new series Elliot Ray some thieves get more than the bargained for on an Island Heist:

The Premise of this book got me. I mean who wouldn't want to read a book about an unhinged merry Band of thieves, that are okay with doing some bad things but at the same time end up having some heart as well. I enjoyed how Ray brought Jax's team and Olivia together on the island, as i didn't expect that to be the set up that Ray went with. I also appreciated that Ray went for a darker subject manner a few times in the book which I was not expecting. I was also not expecting how Ray had the plot unfold there are a few surprises along the way.

This book is very much insta-lust between Jax and Olivia so if that is not your thing you will want to avoid this book. I will say that while you feel the tension between Jax and Olivia and at a later point Olivia and Madoc, the true tension is between Jax and Madoc. I personally wish that this was more of a Jax and Madoc story and just left Olivia out of it. Does she add to the story, yes her reasons for being there are solid, but I think that Ray could have had a similar plot without her. Now this book does end on cliffhanger, so I feel like the next book will explore this relationship more.

Madoc is by far my favourite character. He is the unhinged secondary MMC in the book, who has the darker side and knows how to get things done. Also to me it seemed like most of the banter in the book is associated with him or about him. Other than Madoc, I you don't really get to know the secondary characters, even though we get Jax's POV, the side characters are just there. I wish we got more information about who they are and how they ended up being in Jax's crew.

Overall, this was a fun quick read, that is fairly spicy and a bit of mystery throughout with a cliffhanger ending that will want you to pick up the next book.

Enjoy!!!!

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Stephen King: Mr. Mercedes

 

In the first in a series, Stephen King puts solving a mass murderer in the hands of a retired Detective:

This is the first book that I have read by King (shocking I know) so I had some expectations but more about the content than the actual writing. I thought that this book would be darker and more scary that it was but this was much more a police procedural/PI book than anything else. I appreciate the cat and mouse aspect of this book but it is underplayed at times as we get POV from Hodges and Brady.

I enjoyed that King decided to have the two main characters have the POV in this book. Through Hodges we get to see how even retired a police officer never really gives up the hunt for those who got away and the need to have a puzzle in their life. Through Brady we get an a look into the mind and life of the killer and the Why and High that he wants to get through the mass murder. We also get to see the depraved life that Brady had growing up (very much a nature vs nurture aspect). You can also tell that Brady needs to have someone know what he did and needs to have some attention on him. I also enjoyed the two side character of Jerome and Holly as they add more 21 century to the book, I think that Hodges would have been lost without them, especially Jerome.

I appreciate that King did not feel the need to keep adding up the bodies in the book. The first mass murder at the beginning is enough to set up the book and the motive for why Hodges wants to find Mr. Mercedes.

My one problem with the book is with Janey. Before we know Janey's age, I thought she was closer in age to Hodges and she is written as such from how she acts and the language that she uses.

For my first book by King I would say that it was a success. Though it was not dark or scary like it thought it would be, I enjoyed Hodges hunt for Brady and I look forward to continuing on with this series.

Enjoy!!!!

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Kate Alice Marshall: The Girls Before

 

Kate Alice Marshall shows how far a woman will go to find those who have been lost.

This is the fourth book that I have read by Marshall and once again she was very quicky able to draw me into the story that I did not want to put this book down. Even though this is the fourth book I have read by her, the books have not felt like they follow the same formula with the mystery. Yes, there are  similar aspects within them, but nothing that makes the plots/story feel the same.

I loved how Marshall decided to tell the plot in this book, with two POV and we are not really sure what the time frame is for the second POV. You don't know if the timelines are ever going to meet, and i appreciated the unpredictable nature of this. It really became a question of who Audrey is trying to save.

I have not read a book in a long time where the main character has a search and rescue background and I really enjoyed that aspect. I loved that Audrey was willing to shirk the law and go where she was not allowed because of where she thought a lost child may be. Does this make her Audrey reckless at times throughout the book, totally, but it makes her more interesting and serves her well throughout the book.

I think that would be my one complaint as I never felt any danger or suspense in the events surrounding Audrey. She is mainly left to her own devises in the investigations she decides to partake in, you'd think there would be someone who would do more to try and stop her (permanently), as she does not hide her intent at all.

Barry is the best and I will not hear otherwise.

Marshall was able to keep me on the edge of my seat with this one. I really enjoyed Stranger's POV, Stranger really is the highlight of this book and how Marshall had the story unfold. I look forward to reading more by Marshall.

Enjoy!!!!

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Antonia Hodgson: The Raven Scholar

 

In the first in a series, Antonia Hodgson brings a story where one woman fights to discover the truth of herself, murder and the empire:

I don't think there are enough words to express how much I enjoyed The Raven Scholar. and right now it is going to be one of my favourite reads for the past year. I was lucky to have a physical copy and get access to the audiobook via my library that I never had to put this book down.

When the book starts, I totally had an idea of where Hodgson was going to take the story and man was i completely wrong. Hodgson has created a fantasy world that is easy to understand (there is not too much info dumping). The empire is divided between different groups that worship a different animal god, each of which has it's own strengths and weaknesses. Whichever animal sits on the throne dictates how the empire will be won. When it is time for a new leader to steps down (24 year cycle) a tournament is held to determine who the next successor will be (there is no birth right succession in this empire). The top candidate from each animal house will compete. Cue in not only a tournament with trial but also so much political intrigue that I was kicking my feet throughout (I love political intrigue books). The mystery and intrigue are so well done, that you will be questioning everything and everyone till the very end and what an ending it is.

I loved Neema as a character and the amazing mind that she has. The Raven's don't understand what they have with her. As with many court, she is looked down upon as she is not from the high class but she takes this to be the best Raven that she can be. When she is thrust into the tournament to be the neI will say that Neema did seem younger than the 30 years that she is supposed to be, especially in social interactions, she is all book smart and full of facts. I think this immaturity is due to that fact that she is the loner, she has no friend and the one she did have was gone near the beginning of the book..

This book does have multiple POV throughout but Neema is the main POV and the main character. I also adored the loan crow. And that we do get it's POV from time to time in short bursts, which is the perfect amount.

My main quip is I now have to wait till October 2027 to get my hands on the next book, so I would personally wait if i were you till closer to that date, as you are going to want to jump in from this book till the next. Great Fantasy read and I cannot wait for more.

Enjoy!!!

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Bal Khabra: Spiral

 

In the second book in a series, Bal Khabra show's how a fake date may just lead to something real:

This may be the second book in a series but I found that I was still able to follow the relationships and story. You do have a bit of intersection with the first couple in this series but not enough that you need to read the first book before this one.

I'm not sure if it is just me, but I seem to keep finding sports romances where the FMC is a ballerina and I don’t mind it. I love the juxtaposition of ballet to more “traditional” sports and for the MMC to acknowledge how hard ballet actually is.

I enjoyed  Khabra did not just have them jumping into a relationship and bed together right after they meet each other and Khabra takes the time for the relationship between Sage and Elias to grow.

Sage is such a determined character to the point that she will not accept any help for herself from her wealthy uncle, but if it something for her brother she has no problem. You can tell that Sage does not want to be in anyone's debt or have to rely on anyone else because of her past and it is a tragic one. This is a big thing that she needs to work on in this story and you get to watch her grow albeit slowly. I really loved that Sage would just speak what was on her mind, even when it was something dirty to try and set Elias off.

Elias was a good character but really not a memorable as Sage and really his backstory was not as interesting and I find it hard to believe his choices after one incident plus his inability to score goals should not be made into a big of a deal as it is. I mean he leads with assists and that is just as important. I do love how much Elias put Sage first and that it was okay for someone to take care of her for once. He really is a golden retriever. 

This book is very much about the characters and their relationship, but I wish there would have been more to the ballet drama as well as Elias' past as well. They are big parts of both of them and it felt like the surface is barely scratched with them especially with the ballet drama

Overall this is a cute and spicy (at times) read and I enjoyed it. I would read another one by Khabra and would continue on with the characters in this series.

Enjoy!!!!

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Kelley Armstrong: An Ordinary Sort of Evil

 

In the Fifth book in Kelley Armstrong's A Rip Through Time series, things are are getting ghostly:

This series has gotten the better and better with each book. I have loved the overall arc of the story and the relationship between the characters. You can tell that Armstrong has done some research of what was hot and popular with the wealthier class at that time and I always find it interesting when she incorporates them into her story. From the Mummy unwrapping a few books back to now the introduction of seances. It is also fun when she has actual historical figures making their appearance known and maybe that is why she chose this point in time.

I think the aspect of the seance was done really well. Mallory knows that they are fake, but even with them just starting to happen, it is not entirely clear how they are making all the noises or maybe there truly is a spirit contacting them from the other side. The introduction of this spirit and the way the plot unfolds is done really well. There are a few suspects along the way and Armstrong does a great job of keeping you guessing of who the murder is.

Now normally I am not the biggest fan of the miscommunication trope, though in this setting (and that of the previous book) it is fitting. Since Gray and Mallory are from different times, how things are interpreted are going to be different as well as you have Mallory trying to adapt to how things are done in the 1800 there is going to be some confusion and miscommunication along the way. I think it is cute as they bumble around their feelings for each other and very mush everyone else can see it but them. 

Am I the only one who thinks that Jack needs her own spin off novella or something like that? 

Once again Armstrong has written an interesting story by showing that one can weave together character development, atmosphere and an engaging plot. It are these aspects that have me coming back not only to this series but the other books and series that she writes.

Enjoy!!!

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