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duskangelreads
One Word Kill was actually a reread for me. I first read it back in 2019 with the intention of reading both One Word Kill and the sequel Limited Wish then reviewing both but after falling into a reading slump I never got around to reading book 2 or reviewing either of them. Finally here it is!
One Word Kill is the perfect combination of sci-fi, unpredictable & humour. I love books involving time travel so this is already a win for me. It was also amazingly written and I love the idea of trying to keep everything the same rather than trying to change time to fix someones mistake. We all know that never goes well. So this take on time travel is refreshing.
This one is full of twists and turns. While obviously it was a reread, it has been a while, so there were still many things that shocked me. It definitely kept me on my toes & left me wanting more. So I’m glad book 2 & 3 are now out so I can binge them all!
I also love that while there were plenty of references to science, mathematics & dungeons and dragons, that I personally have no prior knowledge of, I was never left confused. Everything was explained in a way that it was enough to understand but never info dumping. Which is especially important in such a short read.
All the characters were extremely fleshed out which can be difficult in such a short book. I also really enjoyed the humour and banter between the characters. Also simply the friendship between them. I love a good friend group and this one delivered.
Just quickly thought I would also mention that I really enjoyed the audiobook. Originally I read the book on eBook but this time I decided seen as all 3 books are available on Scribd I’d pick up the audiobook. The narration by Matthew Frow is really well done and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for other books he narrates.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. It was quick, fun and engaging. Everything you want in a sci-fi with a hint of mystery! I’m very keen to start listening to Limited Wish and finish off this series. If there are any other Mark Lawerence books I should check out, let me know!
Actual Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Stars
This review can also be found on Dusk Angel Reads
Rats by Marlee Jane Ward
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This story wasn’t my favourite out of the book. It took me until about half way through the story to realise that this is set in either the future or an alternate Australia. There was some mention of robots and things, so that’s what gave it away eventually. My favourite part of this story was Maita! She was an interesting and fun character and I enjoyed her part of the story. The world & concept of the Rats was really interesting as well, once I figured out what was going on, and I would have liked to learn more about it but alas, the down fall of short stories, can’t be helped. The least interesting thing for me was the MC, whose name is I think Michelle. She was a bit flat for me and her attraction felt a bit forced.
In Case of Emergency, Break Glass by Erin Gough
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I actually enjoyed this one a fair bit! It was kinda odd, a little confusing and super interesting. I won’t give a way anything as I feel like you need to just go in and be confused like the rest of us. But I enjoyed our MC, Amy, there was some conflicting emotions & thoughts going on which I think was done well. Then there was a super odd and fun twist which I enjoyed too. This is one that I 100% would have kept reading if there was more too it! It left on a bit of a cliffhanger, I guess you could call it, with Boz and I am curious!
Bitter Draught by Michael Earp
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
This one had a fantasy element, which I loved! Ya’ll know, Fantasy is my stomping ground! My negative thing with this one is that is 100% felt like the first chapter of a book rather than a short story. Maybe that was intention, I don’t know but it just felt incomplete to me & wasn’t well rounded at all. The MC, Simeon felt very one dimensional. There wasn’t much too him besides being a tad annoying. I did enjoy Wyll though, I found him interesting & I loved that he choose to live & do what he wants rather than settling because that is what others want. Wren I am super curious about. We got barely any time with them but they interested me from the start. Would like to know more about them & the background of the magically side of the world.
I Like Your Rotation by Jax Jacki Brown
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
First off, love all the rep in this one! Two Queer Wheelchair bound disabled females? Hell yeah! I really liked Drew in this story and I definitely preferred her to Jem. She is a very out going, accepting, open & free person which I really enjoyed. Jem was very much the other end of the spectrum, she was anxious, quiet, questioned her every action and was not the most confident when it came to being a disabled or queer person. I did enjoy the rep but Jem did irritate me a little and thats why I didn’t like her as much as Drew. The other character we meet is Jem’s dad who I actually really liked. Even if he didn’t fully understand he tried to help in his own way and it was always super sweet. This was a very character based story, so basically no world building.
Sweet by Claire G Coleman
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Wow, just wow. This is my favourite story so far! This is set in a future alternate Australia and the concept of this world was so interesting! We got enough background to understand what was going on and the importance of the big reveal. There wasn’t much plot as this stories’ focus is definitely the characters and this world and I loved that! It was so unique and I would 100% read a full story by this author set in this world! Super vague, I know but you just need to read & experience this one for yourself!
Light Bulb by Nevo Zisin
⭐️⭐️
Okay, straight up, I don’t get this one. I’m guessing that the darkness mentioned in this story is meant to represent depression but besides that I have no idea what happened in the story, I don’t get it and I don’t really see the point behind. If you do understand it then that is awesome, but I have no idea.
Waiting by Jen Wilde
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Argh this was soo good! Jen Wilde has become and auto buy author for me after this! I’ve read Queens of Geek and loved it and now reading this, I loved it too! I want this story as a full novel so bad! Josie is freaking awesome and I love her! Audrey is amazing too and so strong for realising the bullshit and removing her self from it in a badass way! Vanessa I hated from the first sentence & Sully is just a dick. Everything about this story is well done, well written and just amazing! And SOO much Pride!! I really need to get my hands on a copy of The Brightsiders (i think it is) by Jen Wilde! LOVE IT!
Laura Nyro at the Weeding by Christos Tsiolkas
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I didn’t love or dislike this one. I enjoyed that it is was from the view point of a seasoned queer couple (I guess you could call it), rather than new romance & a developing romance, unlike the other stories & really most of the LGBT+ books I have read. I also liked the other themes the story features but I just felt a little underwhelmed by this one. It was good, just didn’t wow me.
And on an unrelated note, I don’t see why this is in a YA anthology when the characters are much older than typical YA. It said in one part that the MC’s partner was 10 when their family moved 25 years ago, so that makes him 35? So unless the MC is with a much older person, then I don’t really think this is YA. There was a couple short sections set in the past when the MC was a kid & teen, but for the most part, not really YA.
Each City by Ellen Van Neerven
⭐️⭐️.5
This is another confusing & underwhelming one. I get the general idea of the story but the writing was very bland & also very choppy. It felt like a long story with pieces removed to make it shorter. It was just kinda meh and I didn’t really care for it at all & still don’t really see any point or plot to it really.
An Arab Werewolf in Liverpool by Omar Sakr
⭐️
I really didn’t care for this writing of this one. Did we really need to know about you washing your hairy armpits or your Aunties Tits shaking?!?! Nope, not at all. Story would of gone just the same without knowing the finer details thanks. I didn’t even finish this one, the writing was just annoying me too much.
Stormlines by Alison Evans
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a decent story. It wasn’t amazing but it was interesting & enjoyable. The world was very interesting and I enjoyed learning about it. There isn’t really a plot to this one, it’s more about the characters & the world. Which I didn’t hate. We were learning about the characters & world enough that I didn’t feel like I was missing out on the plot. I would probably continue reading this is there was more to it, mainly as I’m curious.
Questions to Ask Straight Relatives by Benjamin Law
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed this one. It was short and didn’t really have a plot, nor a real focus on characters specifically. It was more just kinda in the head of this one character. It makes you think & question things that you mat see as just ‘normal’ & I really liked that about it.
Overall
Average Rating of all stories: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Overall, there was good & bad in this book! I never go into anthologies expecting to love every story, it’s just not realistic. But overall, there were enough good stories to out way the average & bad ones. So I’m happy!
This review can also be found on Dusk Angel Reads
Rats by Marlee Jane Ward
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This story wasn’t my favourite out of the book. It took me until about half way through the story to realise that this is set in either the future or an alternate Australia. There was some mention of robots and things, so that’s what gave it away eventually. My favourite part of this story was Maita! She was an interesting and fun character and I enjoyed her part of the story. The world & concept of the Rats was really interesting as well, once I figured out what was going on, and I would have liked to learn more about it but alas, the down fall of short stories, can’t be helped. The least interesting thing for me was the MC, whose name is I think Michelle. She was a bit flat for me and her attraction felt a bit forced.
In Case of Emergency, Break Glass by Erin Gough
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I actually enjoyed this one a fair bit! It was kinda odd, a little confusing and super interesting. I won’t give a way anything as I feel like you need to just go in and be confused like the rest of us. But I enjoyed our MC, Amy, there was some conflicting emotions & thoughts going on which I think was done well. Then there was a super odd and fun twist which I enjoyed too. This is one that I 100% would have kept reading if there was more too it! It left on a bit of a cliffhanger, I guess you could call it, with Boz and I am curious!
Bitter Draught by Michael Earp
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
This one had a fantasy element, which I loved! Ya’ll know, Fantasy is my stomping ground! My negative thing with this one is that is 100% felt like the first chapter of a book rather than a short story. Maybe that was intention, I don’t know but it just felt incomplete to me & wasn’t well rounded at all. The MC, Simeon felt very one dimensional. There wasn’t much too him besides being a tad annoying. I did enjoy Wyll though, I found him interesting & I loved that he choose to live & do what he wants rather than settling because that is what others want. Wren I am super curious about. We got barely any time with them but they interested me from the start. Would like to know more about them & the background of the magically side of the world.
I Like Your Rotation by Jax Jacki Brown
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
First off, love all the rep in this one! Two Queer Wheelchair bound disabled females? Hell yeah! I really liked Drew in this story and I definitely preferred her to Jem. She is a very out going, accepting, open & free person which I really enjoyed. Jem was very much the other end of the spectrum, she was anxious, quiet, questioned her every action and was not the most confident when it came to being a disabled or queer person. I did enjoy the rep but Jem did irritate me a little and thats why I didn’t like her as much as Drew. The other character we meet is Jem’s dad who I actually really liked. Even if he didn’t fully understand he tried to help in his own way and it was always super sweet. This was a very character based story, so basically no world building.
Sweet by Claire G Coleman
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Wow, just wow. This is my favourite story so far! This is set in a future alternate Australia and the concept of this world was so interesting! We got enough background to understand what was going on and the importance of the big reveal. There wasn’t much plot as this stories’ focus is definitely the characters and this world and I loved that! It was so unique and I would 100% read a full story by this author set in this world! Super vague, I know but you just need to read & experience this one for yourself!
Light Bulb by Nevo Zisin
⭐️⭐️
Okay, straight up, I don’t get this one. I’m guessing that the darkness mentioned in this story is meant to represent depression but besides that I have no idea what happened in the story, I don’t get it and I don’t really see the point behind. If you do understand it then that is awesome, but I have no idea.
Waiting by Jen Wilde
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Argh this was soo good! Jen Wilde has become and auto buy author for me after this! I’ve read Queens of Geek and loved it and now reading this, I loved it too! I want this story as a full novel so bad! Josie is freaking awesome and I love her! Audrey is amazing too and so strong for realising the bullshit and removing her self from it in a badass way! Vanessa I hated from the first sentence & Sully is just a dick. Everything about this story is well done, well written and just amazing! And SOO much Pride!! I really need to get my hands on a copy of The Brightsiders (i think it is) by Jen Wilde! LOVE IT!
Laura Nyro at the Weeding by Christos Tsiolkas
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I didn’t love or dislike this one. I enjoyed that it is was from the view point of a seasoned queer couple (I guess you could call it), rather than new romance & a developing romance, unlike the other stories & really most of the LGBT+ books I have read. I also liked the other themes the story features but I just felt a little underwhelmed by this one. It was good, just didn’t wow me.
And on an unrelated note, I don’t see why this is in a YA anthology when the characters are much older than typical YA. It said in one part that the MC’s partner was 10 when their family moved 25 years ago, so that makes him 35? So unless the MC is with a much older person, then I don’t really think this is YA. There was a couple short sections set in the past when the MC was a kid & teen, but for the most part, not really YA.
Each City by Ellen Van Neerven
⭐️⭐️.5
This is another confusing & underwhelming one. I get the general idea of the story but the writing was very bland & also very choppy. It felt like a long story with pieces removed to make it shorter. It was just kinda meh and I didn’t really care for it at all & still don’t really see any point or plot to it really.
An Arab Werewolf in Liverpool by Omar Sakr
⭐️
I really didn’t care for this writing of this one. Did we really need to know about you washing your hairy armpits or your Aunties Tits shaking?!?! Nope, not at all. Story would of gone just the same without knowing the finer details thanks. I didn’t even finish this one, the writing was just annoying me too much.
Stormlines by Alison Evans
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a decent story. It wasn’t amazing but it was interesting & enjoyable. The world was very interesting and I enjoyed learning about it. There isn’t really a plot to this one, it’s more about the characters & the world. Which I didn’t hate. We were learning about the characters & world enough that I didn’t feel like I was missing out on the plot. I would probably continue reading this is there was more to it, mainly as I’m curious.
Questions to Ask Straight Relatives by Benjamin Law
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed this one. It was short and didn’t really have a plot, nor a real focus on characters specifically. It was more just kinda in the head of this one character. It makes you think & question things that you mat see as just ‘normal’ & I really liked that about it.
Overall
Average Rating of all stories: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Overall, there was good & bad in this book! I never go into anthologies expecting to love every story, it’s just not realistic. But overall, there were enough good stories to out way the average & bad ones. So I’m happy!
This Review can also be found on Dusk Angel Reads
Writing
There hasn’t been a book written by Amanda Foody that I haven’t loved so far! Her ability to create absolutely incredibly detailed and unique worlds is just outstanding. You never know what you are going to discover next or what mystery will be unravelled about these worlds. It’s constant and I love it. The world of New Reynes is just so amazingly developed I can’t believe it’s not real. Next are her magic systems which are intricate, unique and interesting! I absolutely love them! Everything about this book is detailed, developed & amazingly written!
Plot
Just oh my god! The plot flowed amazingly. It had the perfect amount of action and false sense of security! SOO much happens in this book but it never feels overwhelming or unrealistic. Just perfectly action packed, heart breaking and gripping! This book will keep you at the edge of your seat most of the way through!
Characters
The characters of this book are so well developed they feel real. You see them grow throughout the book. There are characters you will love, once you will hate & ones that you will constantly be confused as to whether you love or hate them. They are so well written!
I love that we followed 3 POVs in this book as opposed to only 2 that we had in Ace of Shades. As well as Enne & Levi we also follow Jac in King of Fools which I loved. Jac is an amazing character having him as a POV just bought him to life even more.
Overall
King of Fools was an amazing sequel to Ace of Shades. Amanda Foody is starting to become one of my all time favourite authors! Especially if she keeps creating amazing books! The worlds, the magic, the characters, the plot! Everything is just soo freaking well done!
Writing
There hasn’t been a book written by Amanda Foody that I haven’t loved so far! Her ability to create absolutely incredibly detailed and unique worlds is just outstanding. You never know what you are going to discover next or what mystery will be unravelled about these worlds. It’s constant and I love it. The world of New Reynes is just so amazingly developed I can’t believe it’s not real. Next are her magic systems which are intricate, unique and interesting! I absolutely love them! Everything about this book is detailed, developed & amazingly written!
Plot
Just oh my god! The plot flowed amazingly. It had the perfect amount of action and false sense of security! SOO much happens in this book but it never feels overwhelming or unrealistic. Just perfectly action packed, heart breaking and gripping! This book will keep you at the edge of your seat most of the way through!
Characters
The characters of this book are so well developed they feel real. You see them grow throughout the book. There are characters you will love, once you will hate & ones that you will constantly be confused as to whether you love or hate them. They are so well written!
I love that we followed 3 POVs in this book as opposed to only 2 that we had in Ace of Shades. As well as Enne & Levi we also follow Jac in King of Fools which I loved. Jac is an amazing character having him as a POV just bought him to life even more.
Overall
King of Fools was an amazing sequel to Ace of Shades. Amanda Foody is starting to become one of my all time favourite authors! Especially if she keeps creating amazing books! The worlds, the magic, the characters, the plot! Everything is just soo freaking well done!
