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2.51k reviews by:
popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Ben Braver and the Vortex of Doom
Author: Marcus Emerson
Book Series: Ben Braver Book 3
Rating: 45/5
Publisher: Roaring Book Press
Publication Date: March 3, 2020
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 8+ (some dark stuff, slight gore, and some violence)
Pages: 336
Amazon Link
Synopsis: An ordinary kid like Ben Braver is no match for a band of super villains, but he may be humanity's only hope in Marcus Emerson's Ben Braver and the Vortex of Doom.
The world will never be the same . . .
When the baddest of bad guys threatens the world with a giant black hole, Ben Braver is the only one who can stop it. Ready or not, he's about to learn what it really means to be a hero.
The Ben Braver series is “a crazy fun ride--action packed and loaded with laughs!” says Max Brallier, author of the New York Times–bestselling series The Last Kids on Earth.
Review: Again, I still love all of the illustrations and the characters! The character develop continues to amaze me with how great it is and the POV is just as engaging as it was in book one. The pacing picked up in this one and the plot really drew me in from the first page. I think this book is the best one in the series.
However, there are still dark themes, so reader discretion advised!
Verdict: Again, a great read for graphic novel lovers looking to go into novels!
Book: Ben Braver and the Vortex of Doom
Author: Marcus Emerson
Book Series: Ben Braver Book 3
Rating: 45/5
Publisher: Roaring Book Press
Publication Date: March 3, 2020
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 8+ (some dark stuff, slight gore, and some violence)
Pages: 336
Amazon Link
Synopsis: An ordinary kid like Ben Braver is no match for a band of super villains, but he may be humanity's only hope in Marcus Emerson's Ben Braver and the Vortex of Doom.
The world will never be the same . . .
When the baddest of bad guys threatens the world with a giant black hole, Ben Braver is the only one who can stop it. Ready or not, he's about to learn what it really means to be a hero.
The Ben Braver series is “a crazy fun ride--action packed and loaded with laughs!” says Max Brallier, author of the New York Times–bestselling series The Last Kids on Earth.
Review: Again, I still love all of the illustrations and the characters! The character develop continues to amaze me with how great it is and the POV is just as engaging as it was in book one. The pacing picked up in this one and the plot really drew me in from the first page. I think this book is the best one in the series.
However, there are still dark themes, so reader discretion advised!
Verdict: Again, a great read for graphic novel lovers looking to go into novels!
Disclaimer: I received this book from TheNovl! Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Plain Janes
Author: Cecil Castellucci
Book Series: Janes Book 1-2 and Janes Attack Back
Rating: 5/5
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 7, 2020
Genre: Graphic Novel Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (bombing TW, terroristic threats mention TW, hijinks and law breaking behavior in the name of art!)
Pages: 336
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Meet the Plain Janes--teenage artist activists on a mission to wake up their sleepy suburban town in this graphic novel bind up, perfect for fans of This One Summer and Awkward.
After getting caught in the midst of a terrorist attack on Metro City, artsy misfit Jane Beckles is forced to leave her beloved bustling metropolis for the boring suburb of Kent Waters. At first Jane thinks her life is over, but then she finds where she belongs: at the reject table in the cafeteria, along with Brain Jayne, Theater Jane, and sporty Polly Jane. United by only two things--a shared name and an all-too-relatable frustration with the adults around them--the girls form a secret club dedicated to waking up their fellow citizens with guerrilla works of art scattered around town.
But for Main Jane, the group is more than just a simple act of teenaged rebellion, it's an act of survival. She's determined not to let fear rule her life like it does her parents' and neighbors'. Armed with her sketchbook and a mission of resistance, she's out to prove that true passion and a group of good friends can save anyone from the hell that is high school.
Includes the original two installments of the cult classic graphic novel The Plain Janes--The Plain Janes and Janes in Love--plus a never-before-seen third story, Janes Attack Back. And it gets even better: In the final book, each part will be printed in its own distinct color, because there's nothing plain about these Janes.
Review: This book was amazing! I loved how the book was wrote in graphic novel form and I think it really enhanced the theme of how important art is to everyone. Art is everywhere and this book really highlights that fact. The book had amazing character development, especially for our main character, and it did well to discuss sensitive topics. The plot is also very well developed and immediately engrosses you.
The only issue with the book is that the pacing is very fast, so if you’re not usually one for graphic novels it’ll throw you off balance. The book also ends on a cliffhanger but I’m so pumped for book 2 (3? I’m confused as I had two books in one arc but I think it was one book lol).
Verdict: Amazing graphic novel series about art!
Book: The Plain Janes
Author: Cecil Castellucci
Book Series: Janes Book 1-2 and Janes Attack Back
Rating: 5/5
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 7, 2020
Genre: Graphic Novel Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (bombing TW, terroristic threats mention TW, hijinks and law breaking behavior in the name of art!)
Pages: 336
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Meet the Plain Janes--teenage artist activists on a mission to wake up their sleepy suburban town in this graphic novel bind up, perfect for fans of This One Summer and Awkward.
After getting caught in the midst of a terrorist attack on Metro City, artsy misfit Jane Beckles is forced to leave her beloved bustling metropolis for the boring suburb of Kent Waters. At first Jane thinks her life is over, but then she finds where she belongs: at the reject table in the cafeteria, along with Brain Jayne, Theater Jane, and sporty Polly Jane. United by only two things--a shared name and an all-too-relatable frustration with the adults around them--the girls form a secret club dedicated to waking up their fellow citizens with guerrilla works of art scattered around town.
But for Main Jane, the group is more than just a simple act of teenaged rebellion, it's an act of survival. She's determined not to let fear rule her life like it does her parents' and neighbors'. Armed with her sketchbook and a mission of resistance, she's out to prove that true passion and a group of good friends can save anyone from the hell that is high school.
Includes the original two installments of the cult classic graphic novel The Plain Janes--The Plain Janes and Janes in Love--plus a never-before-seen third story, Janes Attack Back. And it gets even better: In the final book, each part will be printed in its own distinct color, because there's nothing plain about these Janes.
Review: This book was amazing! I loved how the book was wrote in graphic novel form and I think it really enhanced the theme of how important art is to everyone. Art is everywhere and this book really highlights that fact. The book had amazing character development, especially for our main character, and it did well to discuss sensitive topics. The plot is also very well developed and immediately engrosses you.
The only issue with the book is that the pacing is very fast, so if you’re not usually one for graphic novels it’ll throw you off balance. The book also ends on a cliffhanger but I’m so pumped for book 2 (3? I’m confused as I had two books in one arc but I think it was one book lol).
Verdict: Amazing graphic novel series about art!
Disclaimer: I bought this book at a ghost tour! Support your authors!
Author: Jessica Penot and Amy Petulla
Book Series: Haunted America Book 2
Rating: 4/5
Publisher: History Press (SC)
Publication Date: August 16, 2011
Genre: Historical Fiction/Supernatural
Recommended Age: 10+ (ghosts)
Pages: 106
Amazon Link
Synopsis: It is the home of one of the most famous railways in American history, the site of a historically vital trade route along the Tennessee River and the gateway to the Deep South. Chattanooga has a storied past, a past that still lives through the spirits that haunt the city. Whether it is the ghost of the Delta Queen still lingering from the days of the river trade, the porter who forever roams the grounds of the historic Terminal Station or the restless souls that haunt from beneath the city in its elaborate underground tunnel system, the specter of Chattanooga's past is everywhere. Join authors Jessica Penot and Amy Petulla as they survey the most historically haunted places in and around the Scenic City.
Review: I really liked this book! I thought this was a great book that was steeped in the history of Chattanooga. The writing was well done and compelling and I miss this town already.
However, I did feel like there could have been more to the book. It was very factual and stuck to a few stories, but didn’t really elaborate on the ghosts or theories or anything like that outside of a few sentences here and there. I think there’s enough about Chattanooga to write a full length novel, not just a novella.
Verdict: If you’re into history and ghosts you’ll like this one!
Author: Jessica Penot and Amy Petulla
Book Series: Haunted America Book 2
Rating: 4/5
Publisher: History Press (SC)
Publication Date: August 16, 2011
Genre: Historical Fiction/Supernatural
Recommended Age: 10+ (ghosts)
Pages: 106
Amazon Link
Synopsis: It is the home of one of the most famous railways in American history, the site of a historically vital trade route along the Tennessee River and the gateway to the Deep South. Chattanooga has a storied past, a past that still lives through the spirits that haunt the city. Whether it is the ghost of the Delta Queen still lingering from the days of the river trade, the porter who forever roams the grounds of the historic Terminal Station or the restless souls that haunt from beneath the city in its elaborate underground tunnel system, the specter of Chattanooga's past is everywhere. Join authors Jessica Penot and Amy Petulla as they survey the most historically haunted places in and around the Scenic City.
Review: I really liked this book! I thought this was a great book that was steeped in the history of Chattanooga. The writing was well done and compelling and I miss this town already.
However, I did feel like there could have been more to the book. It was very factual and stuck to a few stories, but didn’t really elaborate on the ghosts or theories or anything like that outside of a few sentences here and there. I think there’s enough about Chattanooga to write a full length novel, not just a novella.
Verdict: If you’re into history and ghosts you’ll like this one!
Disclaimer: I received this book from somewhere, I think it was from @yatllive, but I’m not entirely sure. But thank you to the publisher regardless! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Fever King
Author: Victoria Lee
Book Series: Feverwake Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: LGBT main character, he’s bi and he’s also Jewish!
Publication Date: March 1, 2019
Genre: YA Dystopian Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (death, violence, gore, some slight animal abuse, immigration issues, and abuse/torture mention)
Publisher: Skyscrape
Pages: 409
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In the former United States, sixteen-year-old Noam Álvaro wakes up in a hospital bed, the sole survivor of the viral magic that killed his family and made him a technopath. His ability to control technology attracts the attention of the minister of defense and thrusts him into the magical elite of the nation of Carolinia.
The son of undocumented immigrants, Noam has spent his life fighting for the rights of refugees fleeing magical outbreaks—refugees Carolinia routinely deports with vicious efficiency. Sensing a way to make change, Noam accepts the minister’s offer to teach him the science behind his magic, secretly planning to use it against the government. But then he meets the minister’s son—cruel, dangerous, and achingly beautiful—and the way forward becomes less clear.
Caught between his purpose and his heart, Noam must decide who he can trust and how far he’s willing to go in pursuit of the greater good.
Review: So I never read the synopsis of books and I mostly go off short 140 character blurbs from twitter or what the book is a mix of (I know, not the best way to choose books but twice burned twice shy). So I did not know this was a dystopian virus book and damn it was so good. The characters were amazingly well developed and complex, the story was intriguing, the magic system was super well explained, and the pacing was on point! I loved every bit of this book and Victoria Lee has become one of my all time faves now!
My only issue is that all of the timelines and the extras that are in the book threw off the rhythm of the book because they were just placed in the end of the chapter, but I also had an arc so I’m sure this was more developed in the final book.
Verdict: If you feel sick this is the perfect pick me up!
Book: The Fever King
Author: Victoria Lee
Book Series: Feverwake Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: LGBT main character, he’s bi and he’s also Jewish!
Publication Date: March 1, 2019
Genre: YA Dystopian Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (death, violence, gore, some slight animal abuse, immigration issues, and abuse/torture mention)
Publisher: Skyscrape
Pages: 409
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In the former United States, sixteen-year-old Noam Álvaro wakes up in a hospital bed, the sole survivor of the viral magic that killed his family and made him a technopath. His ability to control technology attracts the attention of the minister of defense and thrusts him into the magical elite of the nation of Carolinia.
The son of undocumented immigrants, Noam has spent his life fighting for the rights of refugees fleeing magical outbreaks—refugees Carolinia routinely deports with vicious efficiency. Sensing a way to make change, Noam accepts the minister’s offer to teach him the science behind his magic, secretly planning to use it against the government. But then he meets the minister’s son—cruel, dangerous, and achingly beautiful—and the way forward becomes less clear.
Caught between his purpose and his heart, Noam must decide who he can trust and how far he’s willing to go in pursuit of the greater good.
Review: So I never read the synopsis of books and I mostly go off short 140 character blurbs from twitter or what the book is a mix of (I know, not the best way to choose books but twice burned twice shy). So I did not know this was a dystopian virus book and damn it was so good. The characters were amazingly well developed and complex, the story was intriguing, the magic system was super well explained, and the pacing was on point! I loved every bit of this book and Victoria Lee has become one of my all time faves now!
My only issue is that all of the timelines and the extras that are in the book threw off the rhythm of the book because they were just placed in the end of the chapter, but I also had an arc so I’m sure this was more developed in the final book.
Verdict: If you feel sick this is the perfect pick me up!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Mountains Sing
Author: Nguyen Phan Que Mai (I can’t do the accent marks to properly spell their name, so sorry!)
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Vietnamese Main Family!
Publication Date: March 17, 2020
Genre: Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 16+ (war, violence, slight gore, family conflict)
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Pages: 352
Amazon Link
Synopsis: With the epic sweep of Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko or Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing and the lyrical beauty of Vaddey Ratner’s In the Shadow of the Banyan, The Mountains Sing tells an enveloping, multigenerational tale of the Trần family, set against the backdrop of the Việt Nam War. Trần Diệu Lan, who was born in 1920, was forced to flee her family farm with her six children during the Land Reform as the Communist government rose in the North. Years later in Hà Nội, her young granddaughter, Hương, comes of age as her parents and uncles head off down the Hồ Chí Minh Trail to fight in a conflict that tore not just her beloved country, but her family apart.
Vivid, gripping, and steeped in the language and traditions of Việt Nam, The Mountains Sing brings to life the human costs of this conflict from the point of view of the Vietnamese people themselves, while showing us the true power of kindness and hope.
The Mountains Sing is celebrated Vietnamese poet Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai’s first novel in English.
Review: I thought this book was very well written and almost lyrical in how it was written. The book is a multi-generational book (kind of like Roots) where this family weaves their story together. It’s a wonderful tale that describes the absolute horrors, but absolute strength of people in war time.
However, I did feel like the characters didn’t connect with me. I’m not sure if it was because we were just forced into each character or if it was just the slow pacing that didn’t make me connect with the book, but I kind of want to reread it to try and connect with them again.
Verdict: Definitely recommend!
Book: The Mountains Sing
Author: Nguyen Phan Que Mai (I can’t do the accent marks to properly spell their name, so sorry!)
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Vietnamese Main Family!
Publication Date: March 17, 2020
Genre: Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 16+ (war, violence, slight gore, family conflict)
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Pages: 352
Amazon Link
Synopsis: With the epic sweep of Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko or Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing and the lyrical beauty of Vaddey Ratner’s In the Shadow of the Banyan, The Mountains Sing tells an enveloping, multigenerational tale of the Trần family, set against the backdrop of the Việt Nam War. Trần Diệu Lan, who was born in 1920, was forced to flee her family farm with her six children during the Land Reform as the Communist government rose in the North. Years later in Hà Nội, her young granddaughter, Hương, comes of age as her parents and uncles head off down the Hồ Chí Minh Trail to fight in a conflict that tore not just her beloved country, but her family apart.
Vivid, gripping, and steeped in the language and traditions of Việt Nam, The Mountains Sing brings to life the human costs of this conflict from the point of view of the Vietnamese people themselves, while showing us the true power of kindness and hope.
The Mountains Sing is celebrated Vietnamese poet Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai’s first novel in English.
Review: I thought this book was very well written and almost lyrical in how it was written. The book is a multi-generational book (kind of like Roots) where this family weaves their story together. It’s a wonderful tale that describes the absolute horrors, but absolute strength of people in war time.
However, I did feel like the characters didn’t connect with me. I’m not sure if it was because we were just forced into each character or if it was just the slow pacing that didn’t make me connect with the book, but I kind of want to reread it to try and connect with them again.
Verdict: Definitely recommend!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: One monsoon in Mumbai
Author: Anitha Perinchery
Book Series: Standalone?
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: Indian characters!
Publication Date: September 15, 2019
Genre: Romantic Political Thriller
Recommended Age: 16+ (politics, some mature love scenes)
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 344
Amazon Link
Synopsis: One Nerdy Hero, One Dashing Villain, One Interfering Auntie...
Life's complicated for Seema Rawat, cyberspy.
From the files of the Intelligence Bureau:
Name: Seema Rawat
Job: Child pickpocket-turned-cyberspy
Mission: Infiltrate the suspect's place of work and extract information from his computer.
Target: Adhith Verma, son of India's finance minister. Handsome, charming, well-dressed.
Threat: Vikram Joshi, suspect's boss and BFF, cybersecurity prodigy hot on the trail of the spy in their systems. Always says the wrong thing at the wrong time but has pecs and abs which can send Seema's hormones into a Bollywood group dance.
Complication: Seema's auntie who is determined to protect her virtue from both men.
Operation: ONE MONSOON IN MUMBAI.
Review: I thought this was a pretty good book. The plot is intriguing and kept me hooked throughout the book, the characters were all well developed, and the writing was pretty good.
However, I didn’t like how each character got a back story. I felt like it was too much development and I would have rather had the time put into the setting and bigger plot points, as there is a lot of information in this book and some of it did go over my head. This also focuses heavily on the romance, which isn’t for me.
Verdict: If you like political romance thrillers, this is for you!
Book: One monsoon in Mumbai
Author: Anitha Perinchery
Book Series: Standalone?
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: Indian characters!
Publication Date: September 15, 2019
Genre: Romantic Political Thriller
Recommended Age: 16+ (politics, some mature love scenes)
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 344
Amazon Link
Synopsis: One Nerdy Hero, One Dashing Villain, One Interfering Auntie...
Life's complicated for Seema Rawat, cyberspy.
From the files of the Intelligence Bureau:
Name: Seema Rawat
Job: Child pickpocket-turned-cyberspy
Mission: Infiltrate the suspect's place of work and extract information from his computer.
Target: Adhith Verma, son of India's finance minister. Handsome, charming, well-dressed.
Threat: Vikram Joshi, suspect's boss and BFF, cybersecurity prodigy hot on the trail of the spy in their systems. Always says the wrong thing at the wrong time but has pecs and abs which can send Seema's hormones into a Bollywood group dance.
Complication: Seema's auntie who is determined to protect her virtue from both men.
Operation: ONE MONSOON IN MUMBAI.
Review: I thought this was a pretty good book. The plot is intriguing and kept me hooked throughout the book, the characters were all well developed, and the writing was pretty good.
However, I didn’t like how each character got a back story. I felt like it was too much development and I would have rather had the time put into the setting and bigger plot points, as there is a lot of information in this book and some of it did go over my head. This also focuses heavily on the romance, which isn’t for me.
Verdict: If you like political romance thrillers, this is for you!
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from an event with @yatllive! Thanks! All opinions are my own!
Book: Kingdom of Souls
Author: Rena Barron
Book Series: Kingdom of Souls Book 1
Rating: 1/5
Publication Date: September 19, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+( I dnf-ed but I did want to point out there is blood magic all throughout this book, so if you’re not into that then you might want to skip this read)
Publisher: HarperVoyager
Pages: 496
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Magic has a price—if you’re willing to pay.
Born into a family of powerful witchdoctors, Arrah yearns for magic of her own. But each year she fails to call forth her ancestral powers, while her ambitious mother watches with growing disapproval.
There’s only one thing Arrah hasn’t tried, a deadly last resort: trading years of her own life for scraps of magic. Until the Kingdom’s children begin to disappear, and Arrah is desperate to find the culprit.
She uncovers something worse. The long-imprisoned Demon King is stirring. And if he rises, his hunger for souls will bring the world to its knees… unless Arrah pays the price for the magic to stop him.
Review: I had to DNF this book for now. It’s going back on the shelves to be tried again later, but I couldn’t really get past the first 100 pages. I felt it was very repetitive in its narrative and I couldn’t connect with the main character. She was too much for me and I felt very exhausted by her. I also didn’t like how some of the scenes were rushed and how the time seemed to dip back and forth throughout the book. Hopefully, I’ll try again later.
Verdict: It wasn’t for me but it might be for you!
Book: Kingdom of Souls
Author: Rena Barron
Book Series: Kingdom of Souls Book 1
Rating: 1/5
Publication Date: September 19, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+( I dnf-ed but I did want to point out there is blood magic all throughout this book, so if you’re not into that then you might want to skip this read)
Publisher: HarperVoyager
Pages: 496
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Magic has a price—if you’re willing to pay.
Born into a family of powerful witchdoctors, Arrah yearns for magic of her own. But each year she fails to call forth her ancestral powers, while her ambitious mother watches with growing disapproval.
There’s only one thing Arrah hasn’t tried, a deadly last resort: trading years of her own life for scraps of magic. Until the Kingdom’s children begin to disappear, and Arrah is desperate to find the culprit.
She uncovers something worse. The long-imprisoned Demon King is stirring. And if he rises, his hunger for souls will bring the world to its knees… unless Arrah pays the price for the magic to stop him.
Review: I had to DNF this book for now. It’s going back on the shelves to be tried again later, but I couldn’t really get past the first 100 pages. I felt it was very repetitive in its narrative and I couldn’t connect with the main character. She was too much for me and I felt very exhausted by her. I also didn’t like how some of the scenes were rushed and how the time seemed to dip back and forth throughout the book. Hopefully, I’ll try again later.
Verdict: It wasn’t for me but it might be for you!
Disclaimer: I bought this book! Support your authors!
Book: Royal Captive
Author: Michael Pierce
Book Series: Royal Replicas Book 2
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: October 13, 2017
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 18+ (TW attempted rape, TW torture and abuse, TW human experimentation, violence, gore, some mature romance scenes)
Publisher: ParousiaSix Press
Pages: 356
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Victoria's journey continues in the heart-pounding second book of the Royal Replicas series.
Victoria Sandalwood has escaped the palace, but not with any of the people she intended on saving. Now it’s up to her to retrieve the coveted information the Queen so desperately desires. Victoria’s life is safer if she never returns. However, her remaining sisters are counting on her to come back for them.
After watching Victoria leave, Prince Byron feels terrible about his inaction at the Choosing Ceremony and vows to win back her favor. Victoria doesn’t know if she can trust him anymore and she’s ready to move past that small, but sweet part of her life and remain steadfast on her new mission.
To free her sisters from the Queen’s grasp, Victoria will need to enlist the aid of unlikely allies, some of whom may have far from altruistic intentions. And once again, Princess Amelia may be the key.
Victoria is determined to return for her sisters. She’s determined to free Princess Amelia, who remains locked away within the lower maze of the palace. But the costs of such actions may be much higher than Victoria expects… and may end up costing her everything.
Review: I really love this series and I think this is a great series for people who are looking for more adult content in their ya fantasies ala The Selection. The book has well developed characters and the settings are well described as well.
However, I didn’t like this one as much as I did the first one. I think there were too many characters and too many subplots going on. There were backstabbing backstabbers who were double and triple playing both sides and this just made for mass confusion. The action scenes were chaotic at best as well. Also, whenever a player was playing a part, it made it hard to realize that if they were acting or if that’s how they really felt. It was a weird one for sure.
Verdict: Not my fave novel, but still interested in continuing it!
Book: Royal Captive
Author: Michael Pierce
Book Series: Royal Replicas Book 2
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: October 13, 2017
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 18+ (TW attempted rape, TW torture and abuse, TW human experimentation, violence, gore, some mature romance scenes)
Publisher: ParousiaSix Press
Pages: 356
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Victoria's journey continues in the heart-pounding second book of the Royal Replicas series.
Victoria Sandalwood has escaped the palace, but not with any of the people she intended on saving. Now it’s up to her to retrieve the coveted information the Queen so desperately desires. Victoria’s life is safer if she never returns. However, her remaining sisters are counting on her to come back for them.
After watching Victoria leave, Prince Byron feels terrible about his inaction at the Choosing Ceremony and vows to win back her favor. Victoria doesn’t know if she can trust him anymore and she’s ready to move past that small, but sweet part of her life and remain steadfast on her new mission.
To free her sisters from the Queen’s grasp, Victoria will need to enlist the aid of unlikely allies, some of whom may have far from altruistic intentions. And once again, Princess Amelia may be the key.
Victoria is determined to return for her sisters. She’s determined to free Princess Amelia, who remains locked away within the lower maze of the palace. But the costs of such actions may be much higher than Victoria expects… and may end up costing her everything.
Review: I really love this series and I think this is a great series for people who are looking for more adult content in their ya fantasies ala The Selection. The book has well developed characters and the settings are well described as well.
However, I didn’t like this one as much as I did the first one. I think there were too many characters and too many subplots going on. There were backstabbing backstabbers who were double and triple playing both sides and this just made for mass confusion. The action scenes were chaotic at best as well. Also, whenever a player was playing a part, it made it hard to realize that if they were acting or if that’s how they really felt. It was a weird one for sure.
Verdict: Not my fave novel, but still interested in continuing it!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Deep
Author: Alma Katsu
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: March 10, 2020
Genre: Historical Fiction/Horror/Paranormal
Recommended Age: 15+ (horror, gore, slight violence, paranormal activity)
Publisher: Transworld Digital
Pages: 320
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Someone, or something, is haunting the Titanic.
This is the only way to explain the series of misfortunes that have plagued the passengers of the ship from the moment they set sail: mysterious disappearances, sudden deaths. Now suspended in an eerie, unsettling twilight zone during the four days of the liner's illustrious maiden voyage, a number of the passengers - including millionaires Madeleine Astor and Benjamin Guggenheim, the maid Annie Hebbley and Mark Fletcher - are convinced that something sinister is going on . . . And then, as the world knows, disaster strikes.
Years later and the world is at war. And a survivor of that fateful night, Annie, is working as a nurse on the sixth voyage of the Titanic's sister ship, the Britannic, now refitted as a hospital ship. Plagued by the demons of her doomed first and near fatal journey across the Atlantic, Annie comes across an unconscious soldier she recognises while doing her rounds. It is the young man Mark. And she is convinced that he did not - could not - have survived the sinking of the Titanic . . .
Review: I thought this was a great horror book for the most part. The story was intriguing and the characters were developed. The setting was creepy and uninviting, like any horror book should be, and the author did well to research this story as fact and fiction are woven interchangeably throughout the book.
However, I got so lost on occasion with the dual POV running side by side. The switching back and forth and the overlap of characters make this sometimes hard to follow.
Verdict: I really enjoyed this read!
Book: The Deep
Author: Alma Katsu
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: March 10, 2020
Genre: Historical Fiction/Horror/Paranormal
Recommended Age: 15+ (horror, gore, slight violence, paranormal activity)
Publisher: Transworld Digital
Pages: 320
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Someone, or something, is haunting the Titanic.
This is the only way to explain the series of misfortunes that have plagued the passengers of the ship from the moment they set sail: mysterious disappearances, sudden deaths. Now suspended in an eerie, unsettling twilight zone during the four days of the liner's illustrious maiden voyage, a number of the passengers - including millionaires Madeleine Astor and Benjamin Guggenheim, the maid Annie Hebbley and Mark Fletcher - are convinced that something sinister is going on . . . And then, as the world knows, disaster strikes.
Years later and the world is at war. And a survivor of that fateful night, Annie, is working as a nurse on the sixth voyage of the Titanic's sister ship, the Britannic, now refitted as a hospital ship. Plagued by the demons of her doomed first and near fatal journey across the Atlantic, Annie comes across an unconscious soldier she recognises while doing her rounds. It is the young man Mark. And she is convinced that he did not - could not - have survived the sinking of the Titanic . . .
Review: I thought this was a great horror book for the most part. The story was intriguing and the characters were developed. The setting was creepy and uninviting, like any horror book should be, and the author did well to research this story as fact and fiction are woven interchangeably throughout the book.
However, I got so lost on occasion with the dual POV running side by side. The switching back and forth and the overlap of characters make this sometimes hard to follow.
Verdict: I really enjoyed this read!
Disclaimer: I received an e-arc and a finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Iphigenia Murphy
Author: Sara Hosey
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: March 10, 2020
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Pages: 272
Recommended Age: 17+ (abortion *nothing wrong with it, but it's not some people's cup of tea and I like to be upfront.*, Rape and attempted rape, sexual assault, language, some violence)
Synopsis: Running away from home hasn't solved Iphigenia Murphy's problems. In fact, it's only a matter of time before they'll catch up with her. Iffy is desperate to find her long-lost mother, and, so far, in spite of the need to forage for food and shelter and fend off an unending number of creeps, living in Queens' Forest Park has felt safer than living at home. But as the summer days get shorter, it all threatens to fall apart.
A novel that explores the sustaining love of friendship, the kindness of strangers, and the indelible bond of family, Iphigenia Murphy captures the gritty side of 1992 Queens, the most diverse borough in New York City. Just like Iffy, the friends she makes in the park--Angel, a stray dog with the most ridiculous tail; Corinne, a young trans woman who is escaping her own abusive situation; and Anthony, a former foster kid from upstate whose parents are addicts--each seek a place where they feel at home. Whether fate or coincidence has brought them together, within this community of misfits Iffy can finally be herself, but she still has to face the effects of abandonment and abuse--and the possibility that she may be pregnant. During what turns out to be a remarkable journey to find her mother, will Iffy ultimately discover herself?
Review: I really loved the story overall. I thought the characters were well developed and the plot was intriguing. I like the world building as well and it's definitely a book that'll make you cry!
However, the writing was a bit weird in my opinion. It just felt more documentary style that in the main characters head style.
Verdict: A well done contemporary!
Book: Iphigenia Murphy
Author: Sara Hosey
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: March 10, 2020
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Pages: 272
Recommended Age: 17+ (abortion *nothing wrong with it, but it's not some people's cup of tea and I like to be upfront.*, Rape and attempted rape, sexual assault, language, some violence)
Synopsis: Running away from home hasn't solved Iphigenia Murphy's problems. In fact, it's only a matter of time before they'll catch up with her. Iffy is desperate to find her long-lost mother, and, so far, in spite of the need to forage for food and shelter and fend off an unending number of creeps, living in Queens' Forest Park has felt safer than living at home. But as the summer days get shorter, it all threatens to fall apart.
A novel that explores the sustaining love of friendship, the kindness of strangers, and the indelible bond of family, Iphigenia Murphy captures the gritty side of 1992 Queens, the most diverse borough in New York City. Just like Iffy, the friends she makes in the park--Angel, a stray dog with the most ridiculous tail; Corinne, a young trans woman who is escaping her own abusive situation; and Anthony, a former foster kid from upstate whose parents are addicts--each seek a place where they feel at home. Whether fate or coincidence has brought them together, within this community of misfits Iffy can finally be herself, but she still has to face the effects of abandonment and abuse--and the possibility that she may be pregnant. During what turns out to be a remarkable journey to find her mother, will Iffy ultimately discover herself?
Review: I really loved the story overall. I thought the characters were well developed and the plot was intriguing. I like the world building as well and it's definitely a book that'll make you cry!
However, the writing was a bit weird in my opinion. It just felt more documentary style that in the main characters head style.
Verdict: A well done contemporary!