Tabitha Tomala

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!

The title of this novel is quite the accurate one as the angels and demons try to navigate coexistence. There's a slight problem though, they are literally allergic to each other in Heaven and Hell. This hatches the idea of volunteering Greta on a road trip through America. Can angels and demons co-exist in the mortal realm? Both the demons and the angels select a candidate to be studied while on their trip. Does the premise sound bizarre? Yes, and Greta fully agrees it is, however, she and Varney embark on the journey together. But their research barely begins when supernaturals begin suffering horrible consequences from a new adversary. Greta and Varney will have to triage a whole host of creatures and figure out what in the world is going on.

The strange new world where demons and angels work together is a hard concept for some characters to understand. And the take Vivian Shaw has on why the demons fell from heaven is delightful, putting an intrinsic spin on an old tale. The difficulty in trying to understand new and evolving beliefs is explored, and there are grievous mistakes made along the way in gaining full understanding. But it all adds to the mystery and tension in the story.

And let's not pass up the fact that the angel and demon who were volunteered to travel with Greta are quite the team up of personalities. Orlax has the attitude of a teenager who would rather surf on their phone than do work. Whereas Adarial is anxious but eager to be a helpful angel trying to understand the modern world. After all, he was only created after the events of the previous novel. Both have parts to play in the reveal of mystery and take very different yet compelling journeys of self discovery.

Strange New World is a bit slower to develop than the previous novels but introduces new creatures and possibilities for the series. And it does not disappoint bringing humor and the theme of found family to the writing once again. There are cozy vibes, yet high stakes, and fans of the fantasy genre will love this series.

Thank you to Rex Burke for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!

Jordan Booth never expected to be woken up early. After things fell apart for him on Earth, he looked forward to sleeping seventeen years and starting off fresh on a new planet. Yet near the journey's end, he finds himself on the deck of Odyssey Earth, fully awake and in charge of a group of teenagers. Teenagers that were never in the original plans, and who have no idea what it’s like to be planet side. Jordan will have his hands full as he tries to mentor the teens and learn how to navigate teenage angst and attitude.

In Orphan Planet Jordan finds himself up against know it all kids with a penchant for older movies and music. What starts off as a sarcastic overview of events leading to a seventeen-year space odyssey, quickly evolves into a heartwarming tale of found family. Jordan will face quite a mix of personalities and bravado as he tries to establish a relationship with the teens. Yet when the group of teenagers and Jordan face off against a life or death situation, they’ll only make it through alive if they work together.

The teens' reactions to Jordan are filled with witty remarks and comebacks. While this speaks of their age and view on adults, it also adds a needed layer of tension breaking humor. With the viewpoint focusing on Jordan, it’s quite the read to see inside his mind how he tries to figure out ways to get through to the teens. Jordan starts as a reluctant guardian and will go through quite a bit of character development by the end of the story. Readers who may not be entirely on his side at first will be won over by the end.

Orphan Planet is a great read for readers who enjoy sarcastic sci-fi stories and themes of found family and adventure. This is also a good starting point for anyone looking to explore the sci-fi genre.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!

When the company Darby works for shuts down, he’s left wondering what to do next. Despite finding a great group of friends he still feels as if he doesn’t belong in New York. Darby decides to take a break from the city and go back home to the small town of Oak Falls to help his mother move. The same town he left because of their attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community. And Darby will find more than just the town he left behind, but his high school best friend as well.

The In Between Bookstore has a wealth of representation and a beautiful portrayal of transgender identity. From the path to discovering your true identity, to finding a group of friends who are supportive. Darby’s mother is also a hoot. She is proud of Darby no matter what and will be there for him. And the way Edward Underhill portrayed the tension between Darby and his ex-best friend Michael was so well done.

There is a hint of magic in this novel, as Darby discovers the old bookstore, In Between Books, where he used to work. Strangely enough, he sees a younger version of himself behind the counter and soon realizes he’s travelled back in time. But to what purpose? Caught up in the moment we so often can’t see certain signs from those we care about. However, when you have the ability to gain an outside view, quite a bit can be revealed. One single miscommunication can cause a snowball effect.

The characters in this novel are a joy to read. They will inspire a range of emotions and become familiar friends by the end of the story. The In Between Bookstore is for those who enjoy stories about self discovery and friendship with a hint of magic and romance.

Thank you to Tim Hardie for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!

Hall of Bones is a complex web of inter-clan politics and the drive for those to dominate. The seven clans of Laskar raid and battle against one another, forging tenuous alliances through marriage and rallying against whichever clan is the current common enemy. However, the Vorund Clan seeks to change the endless battles and become the only clan to lead. And if they succeed an era of death and destruction will begin.

Readers will follow the journey of Rothgar, the younger brother to the future Reavesburg clan leader, and his treacherous journey through betrayal and heartbreak. Raised to be his brother’s right hand, Rothgar is privy to inter-clan politics and prejudices. And while he may not agree with all the choices his family makes, he is loyal to them. But childhood innocence will be stripped away from Rothgar as he grows to truly understand his place in the clan. Taking up arms against those threatening them, and brokering deals on their behalf.

Yet even the best trained soldiers fall. When a darker force seeks to take refuge in his homeland, Rothgar’s clan will be plunged into a time of despair. Betrayal runs deep as Rothgar is thrown into his greatest challenge yet. One that will torment both his body and mind. The Rothgar from earlier on in the book, is a very different character by the end.

Hall of Bones is a novel slow to build, painting readers a complete picture of how the clans work and their opinions of one another. Rothgar’s character growth is paced alongside the politics, allowing him to learn with the reader how his world truly works. If you are a reader who enjoys fantasy politics, this is the perfect book for you.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!

Jenny Greenteeth lives a relatively peaceful life. She keeps a tidy lake and shares meals with her pet pike. When a witch is thrown into her lake, she has to decide between eating the woman or saving her. Choosing to save Temperance, Jenny finds a bereft woman whose village has turned against her. But that is only the start. The new pastor has devious plans for fae and humans alike.

Jenny Greenteeth’s cranky older woman vibes are hilarious. When she finds herself questing with Temperance the hedge witch and Brackus the goblin hijinks ensue. The three will have to face their prejudices and biases to work together. Though they are unlikely allies, and they bicker back and forth, the trio will form quite a bond throughout the novel. Their developing friendships will foster heartwarming moments to counterbalance the darker ones readers will encounter.

Molly O’Neill is a master at hiding key details. There will be twists in store, both heartbreaking and advantageous ones. The story will evolve from being centered on Jenny’s lake and Temperance’s village, into a quest that encompasses Welsh lore and mythical creatures. There may even be some legends tied in that are hinted at in small bits at the very beginning of the story. Each piece of the world-building brought together over time creates an alluring tale of a found family and the quest to save those they love and hold dear.

The allure of the fae will always pull me into trying a novel, and Greenteeth did not disappoint. With the wonderful balance of cozy vibes and dark fantasy, this novel kept me riveted right to the end. Readers who enjoy the themes of found family and quests for the greater good need to read Greenteeth.

Simi is a Mami Water, a mermaid who collects the souls of the dead to pass on. And while her focus should remain on her task Simi sometimes questions the Mami Water’s purpose and wishes to do more. When she witnesses a boy thrown from a slave ship she tries to collect Kola’s soul, only to find him still alive. Defying her purpose, Simi saves his life, but at great cost. To go against the gods decree means there will be sacrifice.

Simi is such a complex character, torn between her duty as a Mami Water and her memories of a previous life. The more time she spends in the ocean, the more she is a Mami Water, and the more time spent on land, the more memories surface. But one thing remains clear, she can never go back to being a human without consequences. When Kola enters the story and Simi’s curiosity begins to take a turn, the inner struggle she has is set alight. Readers will be torn in her decisions and wish the best for Simi, only to know what the cost will be.

The Western African mythology woven into Skin of the Sea creates such a majestic and harsh world. Natasha Bowen brings to life such a fantastic world of lore and magical creatures. The emotional ties to the Orisas and each character are deep and meaningful. It’s great to learn more about beliefs and lore from other cultures. But this novel will also bring to light the atrocities caused to Africans and the heartbreaking fissures forcing people into slavery causes families and communities. The writing will set a parallel path of devastation when the Orisas are threatened as are the people of the land.

Skin of the Sea is a beautiful and tragic novel. Don’t just read this because it is a story about mermaids, there is so much more. There is a depth of mythology and worldbuilding that will enchant readers, and the emotional connection will make it hard to let go. By the end of this novel you will be looking forward to what happens next.

This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: All Systems Red

Murderbot has hacked its own governor module. Technically it doesn't have to listen to anyone or follow any program commands. But it does have to keep up some semblance of functionality so the company doesn't find out it's been hacked. When Murderbot is rented by a team of scientists, it will encounter humans that have never worked with a SecUnit before. And just when it thinks the contract is going to be a boring one, the unexpected happens. Suddenly Murderbot will find itself doing a lot more than watching the scientists dig up soil samples.

Murderbot's personality is fantastic. Picture a robot who knows it has a job to do, but would rather sit and watch soap operas all day. Begrudgingly Murderbot follows commands from the scientists, but it ignores all system commands. And every chance it gets, Murderbot is dissing the corporation that owns it. Martha Wells does clever world-building through Murderbot's sarcastic remarks. Painting the corporate ruled world that does everything as cheap as possible for the readers to see.

Martha Wells also brings a new perspective to artificial intelligence. Instead of hearing about the doubts and fears from humans, readers have a chance to see through Murderbot's eyes. It's not comfortable being around humans. It would rather stay in the cargo hold than socialize. Its entire purpose before hacking itself was to be a security robot. But with Doctor Mensha's team, it will be forced to come out of its shell and may just find that some humans aren't so bad.

Packed within less than two hundred pages is a story that will grab you from the first sentence. The evolution of Murderbot was fantastic. The sarcastic humor was undeniably hilarious. And it all came together to create a world I crave to see more of.

This series is the start of a nostalgia read for the year. I read Morganville Vampires when it was brand new and fell off around book 7. Let's finish it this time!

Claire Danvers has been accepted to early college in Morganville. And while being the youngest girl at the college wasn’t going to be easy, her dorm situation is downright deadly. When the bullying escalates to dangerous levels, she finds herself off campus looking for a new place to stay. What she finds is an old house with quite the arrangement of roommates and a town with a dark secret.

Readers can expect the relationship trope of a younger girl falling for an older guy, but Glass Houses doesn’t go into much development of it yet. Whether it will progress further in future books remains to be seen, but it is definitely a young adult themed budding romance.

Thankfully the story doesn’t focus on the romance, it instead builds up a dark and treacherous world of vampire politics. Claire has a lot to learn about Morganville if she expects to survive. And being the young protagonist, she steps on quite a few toes and makes risky judgment calls. She will cause mayhem not only for herself but for her new roommates as well.

And Rachel Caine does not hold back on the deranged antagonists. What Claire endures is gut wrenching, yet acceptable by the vampire standards. The level of conflict is more in line with adult reading, even if the main character is younger. There is a great balance between what makes this novel young adult, and what kicks it up a notch for adults also to enjoy.

Glass Houses sets the foundation for The Morganville Vampire series, dropping just enough lore to tempt readers into discovering more about the deadly denizens. Readers who enjoy character development will also see that Claire has quite the growing to do, and the determination to get there.

Five-Hop One-Stop is one of the destinations galactic travelers choose as their way station to pause in their journeys and take a break. Run by Ouloo and her child Tupo, the pair do their best to make it a comfortable and welcoming stop. But when an accident crashes the communication systems, their current guests, Pei, Speaker, and Roveg will have to stay over much longer than they originally planned.

The Galaxy, and the Ground Within is a wonderful tale of different cultures coming together during a crisis, learning from each other, and attaining a newfound sense of understanding. Taking a deep dive into each character’s culture is an eye-opening experience and continues to expand on the beautiful world Becky Chambers has created. There are great moments of representation woven within each culture. It grants readers various perspectives on how to process and understand others who do not share your beliefs or culture.

While there are many heartwarming moments, this novel is not without its share of conflict around beliefs and cultural past transgressions. Both sides of the story are told and the characters process their emotions in a way for readers to easily connect and understand. Sometimes there is no right or wrong answer, it is a matter of trying to see through another’s eyes to understand why and how they feel what they feel.

The Galaxy, and the Ground Within is the final installment of The Wayfarers series. Filled with themes of family, cultural learning, and collaboration it was a wonderful way to conclude the series. This book is for readers looking for a sci-fi focused on the characters and how their beliefs contribute to their actions and understanding of the world.

Becky Chambers is one of those authors who writes in a way where the core themes of her novels hit on a deep emotional level. The characters and stories are so much more than just words on the page. There are meanings behind every action, every dialogue, and every scene.

In Record of a Space Born Few, there are several characters looking for more in their life, searching for something missing yet not all can pinpoint what that something could be. Tessa is happy with her life at the Fleet, yet things are changing and it makes her feel as though she is losing her place. Kip bounces from one job trial to another, never satisfied with the work. He yearns to do more and to explore the world. Sawyer has lost everything and searches for a community to reconnect with. Isabelle is a Fleet archivist and host to Ghuh’loloan, a researcher who opens her eyes to new possibilities for the Fleet. And lastly, there is Eyas, a caretaker for the dead who knows her purpose, enjoys her work, and yet still wants to do more, but doesn’t quite know what.

Following each of these characters will take readers on thought provoking and touching journeys. Some will find their way, some will be lost, and others will be caught up in things greater than themselves. Not everyone’s story ends happily, but each serves as a catalyst for the next, unknowingly helping one another in their search for something more. The writing is so well done. Each piece fits smoothly together, giving readers a complex yet simple to understand network of characters and stories.

Readers who enjoy stories focused on the characters and wonderful themes need to try out Becky Chambers' books. While they don’t have to be read in order, each one has a small tie back to the original novel. And each one brings to light another hard hitting theme in a way that harmonizes with the reader and characters. Yes, they are in sci-fi settings, but even those who don’t normally read sci-fi will enjoy Record of a Space Born Few and the other novels.

Having Kit team up with Darius for an entire novel was brilliant. Readers meet the guild leader in the first Guild Codex novel. Rumors of Darius' past have been floating around for quite a while, and now readers will witness it unfold along with all the repercussions he has had to deal with.

The synergy between Kit and Darius is both hilarious and delightful. And while Darius brings in the nostalgia for earlier fans of the series, Kit shines for this newer segment in Mage Assassins & Other Misfits. Being a psycho-warper can help Kit out of quite a few situations, but when the enemy comes prepared to combat his abilities, Kit has to find ways around it. Armed with his movie quotes and wits, Kit is in for a high stakes ride. Discovering more about his limitations along the way.

Readers are also left on edge at the end of the last novel, waiting to see what happens between Kit and Lienna. Kit is just as twisted up and anxious as the readers. It is adorable to see his inner thoughts and concerns surrounding Lienna. Despite all the serious and life threatening situations, the story makes sure to give readers resolution on their potential relationship.

Mage Assassins & Other Misfits is a fast-paced and exciting read. The balance between action, comedy, and romance is spot on. The Warped series has come a long way since book one. Fans of urban fantasy, while I don’t suggest starting with the Warped series, the Guild Codex world is a must.