Really enjoyed the world built by Falaye, and its roots in the Orishas and West African religion. 

I think this one just wasn't quite for me. Perhaps for slightly younger readers (although I often enjoy YA, it tends to lean on the more mature side of YA), I found some of the writing repetitive and just not quite to my liking/preference/style. Glad to have experimented with this one - I think for younger readers who are looking for femme protagonists, SFF not rooted in Western mythos, and particularly those looking for SFF rooted in African religion, spirituality, etc. this might be a great pick! 

CWs for challenging content, depending on the reader. Minor CWs are for topics covered, but not explicit/directly covered and more indirectly mentioned/covered by the narrative. Moderate + graphic are more of a direct focus of the narrative/protagonist and things she experiences. The author provides a good warning at the front of the narrative as well, but I'm not sure it adequately prepared me for a couple of the CWs included in my review. 

Themes of found family, and more hopeful/uplifting by the end, but some heavy content, so be sure to check CWs on this one. 

Debut novel, and really solidly written! SF and multiple settings from space ports to planets to transport to ships, some wild ship technology, rinds between universes, etc. 

Looking forward to #2

Huge thanks to author Dave Dobson, who granted me access to a copy of Daros - grateful for reading and writing community during these strange times. 

This book is a joy. From Brecca to Lyra to Frim, as well as other secondary characters I was constantly laughing out loud at sarcastic antics from both meat and non-meat based intelligences, wondering what the other Zeelin were up to, and how the Old Ones played into things. 

Great balance of plot and character driving this story and a medium-fast pace. Loved some of the science and creative things done with it (a bright yellow ship that disappears, a being like pink goopy jello that can deliver psychic messages in single word communications, trapping a ne’er do well in expanding foam and using excavation bots to slowly get them out once info has been extracted). In all a goofy but good hearted joy of a novel. 

CWs: violence that Frim, a non-human primary character witnesses due to her position on a ship quite frequently as her crew mates are removed from their positions…and life. 

Based on lots of historical fact about the Grimké sisters originally of Charleston, SC, born into the land and slave-owning class of the plantation south. Both became abolitionists and feminists. While I do suspect it’s possible Monk Kidd overestimates how in favor of racial equality the sisters were (uncommon at the time even [sometimes especially] within abolitionist circles), it seems most of her characterization of them and their lives is rooted in reality. I find it interesting (and… unbelievable) that Monk Kidd has Sarah Grimké actively helping slaves at certain portions of the novel and find the ending unlikely to be historically accurate (white saviorism perhaps), but in all it was a decent read centered in significant research. 

Since Dolly co-wrote this one with Patterson, I had to give it a go. Similar structure and pacing to other Patterson novels, but Dolly’s voice definitely comes through clearly at moments and through certain characters. Worth a read for folks who enjoy thrillers! 

CW: abuse (psychological, child physical abuse in the form of memories being retold - minor/moderate), violence, threats of violence, sexual violence (minor/retelling rather than direct memories of a character or abuse happening in real time in the story)

This final novel in the Green Bone Saga is far-reaching in so many ways. Bringing in the strings of multiple characters across a number of years throughout the more than 700 pages, Lee gives readers exactly what we needed in this final portion of the series. With deep love for the Kauls, the clans and their Green Bone warriors, the tropes of political espionage, Ayt Mada's forever deep and vicious plans, and sadness at friends whose stories are now concluded, I end this series. If you're searching for an epic urban fantasy with a family of lovable and brilliant gangsters, look no further. 

I'll miss these characters and applaud Lee for the materpiece that is the Green Bone Saga. 

CW as with the rest of this series for violence, sometimes graphic, albeit a more moderate warning for this novel than the others in my opinion. 

First and foremost, thanks to Andy (A.R. Witham), and Nepenthe Press for providing me with a NetGalley eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jack Black is a swashbuckling adventure and coming of age tale that enmeshes the reader in other worlds, magic, legends of yore brought to the present, fighting cats, crocs, Minotaurs, pirates, and samurai knights, among others. The adventuring was solid, and I could see precocious younger readers really enjoying this (and any future adventures that may end up being written). 

Andy's imagination and storytelling skills are on full display in this novel! 

I am an enormous stickler for detail, so there were a couple of hinky details that stood out to me and detracted early on in from the story for me (about the first 25-30% of the book). These included mentions of baobab trees in rainforests (these don’t grow in rainforests, but DO grow in other types of forests), the description of the foster mother as not only abusive but overweight (smacked for me of the myth of the welfare queens and just rubbed me the wrong way personally), and our protagonist playing in childhood as a made up/combined Native warrior leader in the Badlands (“Chief Charging Bull” - seems like a combo of Sitting Bull and perhaps Charging Bear - both Sioux leaders from this region) being referred to as a “Buffalo killer” or “Buffalo hunter” which is… a strange take and one that feels troublesome to me given the intended audience of the novel. That said, these specifics may not bother most readers at all, let alone might they feel it detracts from the story. 

In all, I’m giving the novel four stars and forgiving some of the details I’m nitpicking on, as the novel itself once it gets rolling isn’t problematic in these ways, and tells a good story that’ll draw readers who enjoy adventure fantasy in quite nicely. 

Carruther's voice came for me at a needed time. I've been half done with this one for a while, and got the hope I needed for this moment, and had the voice of an elder at hand. Wrapped today with much appreciation.