C. J. Daley
I read this one as May's pick for book club. I started this one on a high, working through it fast, but then I petered out taking almost the entirety of the month to complete.
The novel features Nina, the daughter, and Maggie, the mother. The two live together, and hate each other, in perfect disharmony. The novel is always a back of forth of who is and is not telling the truth, who has the most trauma, and who is only doing what's right. They are both withholding incredible secrets, and the novel ends every chapter with a cliffhanger of a reveal.
At first, that was what dragged me in so hard, but I feel like over time, it honestly kind of felt like someone throwing every single idea they had ever thought of into a single novel. Every twist, betrayal, misdirect, red herring, and deception ever created under gods eye is used in this one. It just started to trip me up. I also feel as if some serious condensing might actually have amped up the pressure and pacing an incredible amount. The ending is stressful and seriously packed, but it does feel tacked onto what is probably 150 pages too long.
I'm not sure how else to feel, because neither main character is right or “good” by any means. Nor is there any kind of winner, truly.
Personally a 3/5*.
This is Elysia Dayne book 1. The author very nicely sent me an audio code for review. I think the narration done by Rhonda Pownall was very good. The characterizations she brought to life were enjoyable.
I have to be honest, this book is kind of chaotic, but I did enjoy it. Elysia faces hardship after hardship in life, a fact that makes her turn out rather...hard. Tough, but also maybe a little stubborn too. She's known for being a dragon slayer, a monster killer, but for the most part, the reader doesn't get very much of that. She rescues a princess, which then becomes a kind of enemies to lovers-ish trope. It wasn't that they weren't enjoyable together, it was just never outwardly started, and then in the end it's a very big deal as if it was official.
This novel features both past sequences and present ones. And it's not that I'm against chapters of varying lengths, but there were some that legitimately only lasted 8-11 minutes, while others were up to an hour+. It made it hard to follow, the past bled into the present story, and although Elysia, the main character, goes from age 13 to that of an adult (I think?) she's written entirely the same throughout, adding to the confusion. Perhaps more chapters to break things up, with additional time switches, would have really aided the pacing.
What I particularly enjoyed were the little tidbits throughout. The tiny glimpses of world the reader is given. At one point there is a parasitic, proboscis-having dragon leech-thing that gets mentioned because the proboscis is harvested to penetrate dragon hide like a needle. Super crazy, minute detail, but that's where this writing shone for me. The action is heavy and vicious as well, I'm pretty sure everyone ever is dead.
Personally a 3/5* for me. But I would like to petition the word “suckle” in all forms be removed from the English language.
The man himself offered me an e-ARC of his latest release and I'm super glad he did. This is the first in what the author is dubbing a mini-series of grimdark fantasy retellings of popular European fairytales. Not sure if anyone has had this idea or something similar before, but I'm all for it.
This is the Goldilocks fairytale (The Story of the Three Bears) on grimdark steroids. Goldie, a contract hunter/killer, is set with an unthinkable task, to take out three shapeshifting bears. With such an unpredictable course ahead of her, she realizes that others have been hired for the same hit. With so much at stake, how could the boss not? This leads her to a run in with her nemesis (and a fun villain) Southey. Which is one of my favorite inclusions and nods ever, as that's the last name of the OG creator.
The world is dark and gritty and I really enjoyed the set up, as it appears the mini-series will all take place within the confines of what the author has already created with this one. The world of contracts in the Baron's State has chairs and tables and unbelievable objects that are too tall and too short. There are beverages and foods that are simply too hot or even too cold. I mean, that's grimdark in itself isn't it...A tavern with mismatched dining areas?
Personally a 4/5*. Another worthy release from the author. This one's just right.
This is the prequel novelette to The Price of Power, which was a banger of a debut. You should check my review out, as well as the novel itself. And then buy both of these...
This has followed in the formulae that has recently taken over in the fantasy community where the first novel is now followed by a prequel. This is in no way a complaint, or shade, it just means that the novel should still be read first, as the detail and attention to world building is far greater in the larger work, as opposed to the short single-story driven tale told in the prequels.
This tells the story of Danath Ironlight before he had earned the name. When he was a slave confined to a life of toil, destined for an early grave. This is the story of hope. The story of unity, of bonding and freedom. This is the first glimpse of the rebellion that ended the reign of the Scoth. It features great characters and depth in such a short story, and it's a fantastic precursor to the novel. Namarr!
Personally a 5/5* for me.
This is a new release this month, and the second short story collection I've read by the author. See my review of Scribbles and Scrawls for more!
This is a set of 25 short stories. Some are a few hundred words, while others are a few thousand. The important thing here with each, is that they're all good! A year or two ago I wasn't really a fan of short stories, my complaint over and over was usually that they were too short to have enough oomph. With the author's first collection I read, I realized that short stories CAN be enjoyable, that they don't have to have cohesive beginnings or ends. That they can be good while having a cliffhanger ending. So when I saw this one coming out, I preorder immediately.
Some are silly, some are horror, some are contemporary drama or family based. Each one is unique while still giving you the feeling that they belong. I would suggest this to anyone looking for quick reads. I really enjoyed it.
Personally a 5/5*.
The author very graciously sent me a copy for my reading enjoyment. The paperback is a nice quality with some thicc pages.
In this scifi debut, I was pleased to feel refreshed with a new take on some very science fiction threads. It is both well written, and simply written, which to me is one of my favorite types of reading.
To me, this definitely felt like it was pulling from elsewhere out in the world, but not at all in the negative way. It is like a futuristic-Slaughterhouse-Five, with elements of Fight Club, Otherworld, Ready Player One, 1984, I, Robot. It touches upon all of these different elements whilst not being like any of them. For spoilers sake, that's about as far as I will go!
One thing that was a little shell-shocking—as an American—was to read a futuristic story where from multiple perspectives, America, now called the Anarcho-Capitalists (or Ancaps), are the bad guys. No redemption story or redeeming qualities, just outright bad and in the wrong. I of course know my country's history, so it's not like I don't understand it, or that it's any kind of stretch, but just to read a perspective like that was very different for me. However, with the story being multilayered, the enemies are everywhere, so look out!
There was a change added in part three that made the ending more concise. Therefore, there is less room for confusion overall and it helps it all come together. The narration by Dan Matha was fantastic. Damn that man has a deep voice.
Absolutely worth your time, effort, and money to acquire and read this one.
The author sent me a nice hardcover for review, which I did. Then he offered me an audible code to check out the audiobook, which I did again!
This is a medium paced, stream-of-consciousness horror novel that focuses on a highly diverse set of Canadian characters in a folklore filled landscape. Each character is touched by what is going on in a different way, and yet they are all pulled together towards a similar end.
The audio, done by Kristin Hamilton, was succinct, and added body and life to each individual character. If you recall my original review, SoC writing is not really for me, so I found the audiobook to be a far more digestible version of the story. I certainly enjoyed this second read through.
Personally a 4/5* for me.
It had been far too long, so I had to throw in another Hercule Poirot. This is number 12 in the series.
This mystery starts with a murder on an airplane. An old money lender is seemingly struck with a poison dart and dies instantaneously, not being discovered until the end of the flight. M. Poirot, who does not do well in planes, was trying to sleep through the indigestion.
This wasn't my favorite, I'll be honest. It technically happens on a flight from France to England, and yet the people involved keep running into each other even though some of them aren't even from the same country? It just seemed to fit together too neatly for me. After the inquest they were all allowed to go wherever they pleased and yet it kept happening?
Poirot is up to his usual antics, which is of course why I read these, but it did feel like she simply made up the ending. The clues and hints were simply not there for me. I like being surprised, and I like twists, but I do prefer when the information presented at least COULD point to what is true. And I felt as if it didn't. For me that's mostly what was lacking.
Personally still a 3/5* for me. I look forward to number 13, as it's the ABC Murders...
I received this from NetGalley and as a huge fan of the series, I was stoked.
Some checks for the game fans: Leap of Faith: Yes, but they didn't name it! Assassinations: Yes, but not a huge amount! Stealth: Yes, but only for small bits or mentioned outside of the main character's movements.
This novel follows Hytham and Basim before the events of Assassin's Creed: Valhalla. They are sent as representatives of The Hidden Ones to Constantinople in hopes of disrupting the Order of the Ancients grab for control. The Emperor, Basil I, has recently found reason to distrust his son Leo's lineage. The problem is that he's already announced him to be his co-emperor. So, what is there to do but try to have him killed?
As a huge fan of Roman history, I was excited for the setting. The story gives lush descriptions of an ancient place we could never visit. As with recent works from Ubisoft, the story felt very historic in its setting with big names from people that actually lived.
I enjoyed that this book sought to make a more realistic approach to the assassins, as we know with the games that the 1vs30 odds are never really a problem. Where that fell flat for me though, was a scene where Hytham is almost overcome in a fight that only features two enemies. I know he's an initiate in this, but he is a trained assassin, and not for nothing, you play an initial in 90% of the games. Failing against two enemies seemed too few for me. Otherwise, the minimal gripes I have is that Basim was not the main, and as the master, he ended up pulling a lot of the strings from the background. Which in turn ended up feeling a little cheapened.
Loads of fun still, but I was a bit surprised there was nothing modern day/animus wise! Personally a 4/5* for me.
Not only do I have a paperback, but the author offered me an audible code to check out the audiobook! I just wish I had listened sooner.
This is a dragon rider novel that features an underdog, found family, academy-like training, and uneven odds. The characters are fleshed out and the world feels real. I particularly liked that the novel does not tell you which side is the “correct” one to root for.
The dragons imbue their riders with fury, giving them enhanced strength, speed, and dragon scale-like skin. I enjoyed the slight dragonrider twist in that each dragon gives their rider a unique gifted power. Whether it's lightning, water, fire, or air, the elemental powers felt like The Last Airbender on dragons. The dragons can grow large to riding size at will by their riders imbuing them back with their own pool of fury. It is a 50/50 relationship.
The world could use some additional building, especially because they take up a big portion being trained. But it is only because I am interested that it could use more. I didn't really find it lacking, just interesting.
I cannot fathom why more of my SFF friends have not picked this book up yet. I know what side I'm choosing. I wonder if you'll agree.
Personally a 5/5*. Cannot wait for a book 2.
I originally received this as an eARC, but I was so backed up that I actually ended up buying a copy by the time I got to reading it. (Sorry about that.)
This is a near-future dystopian techno-thriller. It poses the question of what the world would look like if companies like Amazon were allowed to grow and buy and take completely unchecked. At some point, things would be so cutthroat that it would turn to blood, right?
While the concept is huge, the author gives a very personalized story within. As he warned me, “the book is very British” and yep, it is unapologetically so. But within that, the characters are presenting you with their world, as opposed to the grander world beyond. The characters deal with issues with family and friends, losing jobs, home damage from storms, and some damage from other's fists...the stakes get higher and higher as the story progresses, and I was incredibly happy with the fact that it didn't extend to the unbelievable.
The characters are believable, as are the relationships that intertwine between them all. Some dialogue was beyond me and my American brain, but that somehow read as especially authentic to me.
The only thing the story was missing for me was a little more. More backstory, more world building, more lore. More of the precipice that was crossed to bring the world to where it was. Also, the author further pushes his pineapple on pizza agenda...nah.
Personally a 4/5* for me.
This is the prequel novel to To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, or Book ‘0' in the Fractalverse, and it was long awaited for me for sure. I received the audiobook via NetGalley, and I was so stoked to get it early.
This was definitely a story meant to deepen the lore that's within TSIASS, but what I liked the most was that it's also a full story on its own. A small team of scientists leave the Adamura in 2243 after discovering the Anomaly—a 50km, circular pit found on Talos VII. The pit appears to be by design, not nature, and wouldn't it be incredible to be the first to ever step foot there? Find out when this drops this month!
Jennifer Hale does a fantastic job with the audio performance. She brings personality and style to each character, bringing them to life. The author does a great job also creating a diverse cast that highlights the universe and lore he's already created. The science reads as believable, and that's always my favorite kind. The emotional thread the author uses throughout also does a fantastic job to draw you in and hold you tight.
My only nitpicks are that some of the thuds the production added in kind of sound like someone literally just tapping a microphone. Then the other one is that I did find the ending to leave a bit to be desired. It's by no means bad, I just wish for more.
Personally a 4/5*. I can definitely see this stuff being turned into film.
This was offered to me in exchange for a review from some program (not directly from the author) but I since have not been able to figure out from where! It was pitched to me as crime fiction, which it is not. It is however, about two friends that commit crime together. Goodreads has it just tagged under just ‘crime,' which is right though!
So, this was not my typical kind of read, especially with me going into it expecting some kind of mystery/investigation to be taking place. However, it was still good, and I'm glad to read in a perspective I do not personally have.
Two friends in Chicago spend their time stealing parts off cars, selling them to junkyards, and taking from various victims which they call stains. When one of their grabs goes a little too far, against someone they shouldn't have, things take a turn for the worst. They'll have to decide whether or not to run or fight.
The novel was written well, but the ending did leave a bit to be desired for me. Was there remorse? Did they feel nothing? Did they go back to their old ways? Or did they actually get out? Sometimes ambiguity can be good, but I just wanted a tad more. Personally a 3/5* for me, I'd recommend.
I read this one for the Indie Ink Awards, but I got the book on kindle from a free event ran by the author!
The author's Twitter says, “Books on Amazon. They'll break your heart,” and I don't know for sure if she meant her own, but she's certainly still right. This is one of the most heartfelt, and heartrending stories I have ever read. Every sentence is like a gut punch. Destroying the reader with ease.
This novel is also one of the more unique stories I've ever read. It's fantasy, in a fantasy world, and yet it still reads like a period piece or historical fantasy for the Wild West. It has that industrial, gritty feel of a cowboy western, and it technically has a train heist!
The boundary, an invisible line to most that demarcates the civilized from the other, is where the fantasy elements are amped up. Inside the boundary folks are imbued through all things shine. Shine is somewhat like an essence or drug-like substance like in Dune, however here it functions as so much more. It stops the aging of food, keeps it at the correct temperature, stops rot, it heals people, and yet it can also destroy. Those that live with it and intake it show its use through a variety of colors. Your skin and hair may be orange or purple, green or blue.
In many ways this novel functions as a slice-of-life story. Except that every single character is being emotional decimated over and over, with nothing good staying. Cassandra has perhaps the most hurtful experience of all. And she has over a 15 year journey to her finally reaching her max. Arlen thinks everything is fine until it's not. Sadly he doesn't get to choose finding this out on his own, it's thrust at him, as it so often is in life.
The author uses such broad strokes and fanciful writing that the mundane reads magical, the typical is anything but. And every paragraph and page is truly emotionally astounding. Metaphorically, lyrically, poetically brilliant.
Personally a 5/5*. Just fantastic.
I read this for a book club and it was a super quick and enjoyable read.
This is a thriller novella with a strong concept and great execution of the plot twist. What I thought was an obvious twist actually wasn't the twist at all, and that's how you know it's good. I didn't see it coming and neither will you.
A coffee addicted writer has been struggling with her third novel for almost three years. She's having trouble getting the words out. She's having trouble focusing on it at all. So when murders begin happening around her, as well as various things going missing, or showing up, she starts to question her own sanity.
I am a big fan of writers being the focused character in novels, personally. I found Valerie Perittos to be a believable and engaging character as well. The author did a good job at making her situation seem real, and stressed, in such a short amount of pages.
Personally a 4/5* for me, I would have preferred just a slightly tighter formatting on the book itself.
Received the audio through NetGalley, and I thought that Rachel Fulginiti did a great job with this.
This was a unique story for me. I was for the most part pulled in by the cover, so I did not give the blurb a read. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it was not for the main character to be murdered in the very beginning of the story! I guess I thought with the book's title that it would be about her being haunted, not killed and becoming a ghost! (FYI, that is revealed in the blurb, so not me spoiling). So, it was a nice surprise and worked for me as a plot twist.
The main character is believable and relatable. Her grief and paranoia has pushed her to become a complete agoraphobe inside her well secured apartment complex. Even though she completely cuts herself off from the outside, it's not enough to keep her safe. Nothing is. I didn't really feel like that was creepy while listening to it, but now that I'm writing it out it surely does.
The author does a great job subverting a lot of the expectations around paranormal activity—what a ghost can do, and can not do, may surprise you a lot. It is much more along the lines of someone normal trapped in the in between of life and death, than it is like a malignant spirit in movies.
The author weaves a very twisting story, where every character, and every interaction, may lead to another clue or even another mystery. My only gripe is I did feel like this went on to the point where the main character's story is a little less mysterious than I wished it would have been. Personally a 4/5* for me.
I received an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Life was lifing, so I am a little behind, but it was not the fault of the book!
This is book one to the Aulirean Gates series. The main planet has people surviving in these craters across the landscape. They can move in between them, carefully, but the towns and cities are all within. There is also another planet and a moon. They were once connected via the gates, but when they could not stop warring, the dragons decided to get involved and put an end to the bloodshed. The moon still has a mixture of the races, and the subjugation has not ended. The other we haven't really seen...yet would be my guess.
This book honestly tackles a lot. It is in part a magical academy book, a coming of age story, an underdogs story, and an adventure book. There is so much magic, in so many ways, that it's surprising that it's so well balanced. There's singing magic, plant/potion magic, crystal magic, dog/hound magic, dream magic, alien race magic, and freaking space dragons. The story follows three main characters, but honestly there are so many strong and necessary characters within their perspectives that get developed that it's insane.
My only gripe is I wish the climax had kicked off just a smidge sooner. As a book one, I did not need explosive action necessarily, but the twist coming a little earlier would have allowed for it to open up a little more fully.
Creatively written, and interesting throughout. Who doesn't love a dog as a bonded companion? Who needs a dragon, we have hounds! Personally a 4/5*.
I also checked out the New Hope short story. It gave a really interesting new perspective and I thoroughly enjoyed the secondary introduction to the world!
This is Wahrheit book 2, and I enjoyed book one so much that I dove right into this one. Thanks again to the author, as he shared an audible code with me for both.
This book packs a punch. It comes back with a vengeance, it comes back for...REVENGE. The novel itself amps up the author's previous work in book one; political intrigue, character development, and dialogue. The characters face more betrayals, more twists, more turns. Now they have to deal with greater interference from the fae as well. Will the new Queen rise to the occasion?
This author has such a way with wording combat that the action feels both incredibly vast, yet also personal. You can picture the carnage in the background of battle. You can picture the lines of men ready for action, but then at the same time, he's actually dialing it down and focusing on a single person within their midst. It's fantastic, but it's also my one small gripe with the novel. There simply wasn't enough. It felt kind of like starting over from the first with a similar buildup, rather than starting on the precipice from the first and opening wide.
Personally still a fantastic read and I cannot wait for book 3. Travis Baldree's narration is exquisite. A 4/5* for me.
I read this for a book club, and I enjoyed it.
On the surface, I thought the way this was written was compulsively readable. It did some things I had never read before in a thriller, even though I have read that it is very similar to another. (I hadn't read it). Personally the change in perspective, even with the novel being first person, was a real surprise for me.
The plot itself is a little slow for me though, so when the climax finally came crashing in, it felt oddly short. The main character was also a bit unlikable, which comes to a head for me when the character does something I personally find despicable, then the novel has no one really likable in it at all.
Why does the new housemaid's bedroom have a lock on the outside of the door, not the inside? Read it and find out! Personally a 3/5*.
“Those were my books, and you didn't treat them very well, did you?” This is the best quote of the book, please enjoy it very out of context.
This is book 1 of the Wahrheit series. The author offered me a review copy of the audiobook, narrated by Travis Baldree, and it was a fantastic way to experience the book.
This book thrives on dialogue, characters, and political intrigue. The world is grey, if not bleak and dark, but it read like classical fantasy to me. Each chapter is in a character's perspective giving it a weaving plot line that takes you between various towns, cities, professions, and lives. Peasants, infantrymen, countesses, and spies. The action isn't too often, but it felt very big while it did.
The KING IS DEAD. (Without an heir). As the king is technically the only one with the ability to control the Dragon Knights, they're left with no direction. Some will seek to replace the king and hold things together, some will seek to sow dissent. Some control, and some chaos, ensues.
The author makes you curious about the world, while maintaining a high level of care for the cast of characters. There's magic, as well as magical creatures (the fae), but the story remained grounded the entire time. Unless they were flying dragons, of course. I really respected the choice to have the dragons be tamed animals, not sentient beings bonded with their riders, it made the entire plot feel fresh.
Personally a 5/5*, I immediately continued on with the second! Check this out!
I picked this up off of NetGalley and then the author doubled down and offered me the audio too! I went with the narration by Eric Baker for the sake of time, and he did a good job.
Right off the bat, I love a concise and simple cover, but I do wish this one had a little more along the lines of something plot/setting specific.
This is a multi-POV crime novel with mystery, betrayal, and a lot of twists and turns. New FBI agents work with their new division to investigate possible terrorist works involving American infrastructure. Slow works in hopes of making a coordinated attack in the future. Starting with a dam's destruction that could be natural or sinister. Something just doesn't feel right.
This was fast paced and enjoyable. I did feel like there were some issues with setting, where I didn't know where the character was, or if I did, it wasn't described enough. But with it being FBI and countrywide, they were in a lot of places.
Also, the dam incident went on to be called ‘Little 9/11,' and personally that just didn't sit well with me as the name overall. Personally a 3/5*.
This was edited and released by Amber Herbert from her grandmother's short story. I loved the story of its publication so much I decided to grab a copy.
The blurb: Lorna, a newlywed who moves to her husband's estate in a small town, must reconcile his family history to find out the truth behind his sudden disappearance.
I had not read the blurb beforehand, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but it definitely wasn't a mystery! There were some really cool elements in this short, with various common mystery threads as well as some unique ones.
I absolutely loved the old school feel to the dialogue. Personally a 5/5* short story. Please check this out! The copy is a super good price!
Got this audiobook through NetGalley and I'm glad I was approved. Going on a horror kick at the moment.
This is a horror that's got fantasy elements. Which is odd because I feel like it's usually the other way around? It also has super high, world ending stakes, so it's horror/epic fantasy. Epic horror? It features an inter-dimensional fairy world, but mostly takes place on a earth, so it's also urban fantasy? Either way, it was a really unique blend.
Thomas and Bobby are alike. They are linked. Both of them have a future, maybe a darkness too. Both also have a connection to a fairy. Unfortunately, depending on who's connection is with which fairy, decides what trajectory they're on. Good vs evil with many blurred lines and especially dark evil.
This book is one of a couple that I've read recently that has devolved into descriptors being about tightening scrotums and inappropriately hardening penises, and I'm not sure when horror became this, or if it always was, but it's been from different authors. I'm not a fan, but I agree it's horrifying.
This was a dark and enjoyable novel. The only thing I'll say is because it was horror first and fantasy second, there is a big build up, but it doesn't get the typically fantasy finisher, so in that sense it was a little underwhelming. However, as it's a horror, I wasn't surprised or disappointed really.
Lots of crazy kills and horrific descriptions. Personally a 4/5*.
Had this on the shelf for a while and kept meaning to get to it. Finally did!
This is a slow burn about a young woman that is pulled into what she thinks is a trial experiment that pays way too well. She just wants to make enough to take care of her mother and pay off their debts. It's not too much to ask, although the pay and benefits seem to good to be true. A deep dive about government experiments that deals with class, race, and whether or not you can continue to have control/consent while in a situation filled with unknowns.
I made the mistake of reading this while also reading The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher for the book club I'm in. So it was sadly just two slow burns at the same time. Honestly why it took me most of the month to read a 300 page book. I could see a reread for this one one day, I enjoyed it, but it was just a lot of nothing for a long period time across two books.
I really enjoyed the concepts and themes this book was jumping into, I just didn't grasp it as much as I would have if I read it faster/with no other book. Personally a 3/5*.