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popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Octopus Curse
Author: Salma Farook
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: November 1, 2019
Genre: Poetry
Recommended Age: 16+ (some mature content)
Publisher: SeaShell Publications
Pages: 208
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Science would have us believe that we are nothing but cell upon cell. I disagree. We are made up of stories. The stories we hear from our mothers, the ones we tell our daughters. The tales we share with sisters and friends. The ones we never say out loud, but are heavy on our minds and run like a fever in our blood.
There are a multitude of great divides between us; race, religion, cultures, the way we dress, the languages we speak, but the stories we tell bridge us together in the universal tongue of smiles, tears, pain and laughter. They remind us that, as women, we’re all chasing similar fairy-tales.
This book is a call to celebrate the bridges, delight in our stories and to focus on the joy in our lives right now, rather than racing behind the happily-ever-after. That will come in it’s own time.
Review: I’m not normally a poetry reader and when I do read poetry I don’t normally review it because poetry is different. It’s designed to convey feelings and emotions, not really stories. There can be story poetry and I don’t doubt its powerful existence, but in my opinion poetry is hard to review because if I’m not in the proper mood for it that just ruins the whole point of the poem. I will say that while I wasn’t in the best mood for this book, it is definitely powerful and can force the emotions on you. The book deals with love, heartache, beauty, and motherhood. The book was also well written and it definitely did an excellent job conveying what needed to be conveyed to the reader and it’s an excellent tribute to women everywhere. The book is also full of beautiful pictures!
However, I did feel like the poems were long enough in my opinion and the book went by really fast. It was hard to slow down and read for me because poetry forces you to read slowly, but I was in a speed reader mood.
Verdict: Excellent poetry!
Book: The Octopus Curse
Author: Salma Farook
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: November 1, 2019
Genre: Poetry
Recommended Age: 16+ (some mature content)
Publisher: SeaShell Publications
Pages: 208
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Science would have us believe that we are nothing but cell upon cell. I disagree. We are made up of stories. The stories we hear from our mothers, the ones we tell our daughters. The tales we share with sisters and friends. The ones we never say out loud, but are heavy on our minds and run like a fever in our blood.
There are a multitude of great divides between us; race, religion, cultures, the way we dress, the languages we speak, but the stories we tell bridge us together in the universal tongue of smiles, tears, pain and laughter. They remind us that, as women, we’re all chasing similar fairy-tales.
This book is a call to celebrate the bridges, delight in our stories and to focus on the joy in our lives right now, rather than racing behind the happily-ever-after. That will come in it’s own time.
Review: I’m not normally a poetry reader and when I do read poetry I don’t normally review it because poetry is different. It’s designed to convey feelings and emotions, not really stories. There can be story poetry and I don’t doubt its powerful existence, but in my opinion poetry is hard to review because if I’m not in the proper mood for it that just ruins the whole point of the poem. I will say that while I wasn’t in the best mood for this book, it is definitely powerful and can force the emotions on you. The book deals with love, heartache, beauty, and motherhood. The book was also well written and it definitely did an excellent job conveying what needed to be conveyed to the reader and it’s an excellent tribute to women everywhere. The book is also full of beautiful pictures!
However, I did feel like the poems were long enough in my opinion and the book went by really fast. It was hard to slow down and read for me because poetry forces you to read slowly, but I was in a speed reader mood.
Verdict: Excellent poetry!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Wandering in Wonderland
Author: Aislinn Honeycutt
Book Series: Wandering in Wonderland Book 1
Rating: 1/5
Diversity: LGBT friendly
Publication Date: June 4, 2019
Genre: YA Dark Fantasy
Recommended Age: Can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: The Parliament House
Pages: 195
Amazon Link
Synopsis: “Lewis Carroll didn’t get it right?”
“No, my dear. I don’t think anyone truly will.”
Far away and down a rabbit hole sits the magical world known as Wonderland. A safe haven for the souls who lived less than ideal lives in the waking world get to experience peace in their afterlife. Jessica is the newest member of this enchanted land, but after eating a cookie that took away her memories of who she was, she doubts herself at every turn.
Jessica participates in The Looking Glass Ceremony to find her new role in the afterlife, but fate has different plans. As the Queen of Hearts takes Jessica under her royal wing, plots of regicide bubble up from the depths of Wonderland. With the help of new and eccentric friends, Jessica might be able to stop the treasonous threats and bring true peace to Wonderland. But only if she heeds the cryptic words of the Caterpillar.
Familiar faces take on new roles in this fantasy retelling with a dark and romantic LGBT twist This isn’t the Wonderland you’ve experienced before, and you definitely don’t want to be late for it.
Review: I had to DNF this book. While I thought it was interesting and had a good premise, the writing is disjointed and the way that it’s told with the time skips really throw me off. There’s so much going on in these, but it’s not in the story. The story lacks substance in my opinion.
Verdict: Not for me.
Book: Wandering in Wonderland
Author: Aislinn Honeycutt
Book Series: Wandering in Wonderland Book 1
Rating: 1/5
Diversity: LGBT friendly
Publication Date: June 4, 2019
Genre: YA Dark Fantasy
Recommended Age: Can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: The Parliament House
Pages: 195
Amazon Link
Synopsis: “Lewis Carroll didn’t get it right?”
“No, my dear. I don’t think anyone truly will.”
Far away and down a rabbit hole sits the magical world known as Wonderland. A safe haven for the souls who lived less than ideal lives in the waking world get to experience peace in their afterlife. Jessica is the newest member of this enchanted land, but after eating a cookie that took away her memories of who she was, she doubts herself at every turn.
Jessica participates in The Looking Glass Ceremony to find her new role in the afterlife, but fate has different plans. As the Queen of Hearts takes Jessica under her royal wing, plots of regicide bubble up from the depths of Wonderland. With the help of new and eccentric friends, Jessica might be able to stop the treasonous threats and bring true peace to Wonderland. But only if she heeds the cryptic words of the Caterpillar.
Familiar faces take on new roles in this fantasy retelling with a dark and romantic LGBT twist This isn’t the Wonderland you’ve experienced before, and you definitely don’t want to be late for it.
Review: I had to DNF this book. While I thought it was interesting and had a good premise, the writing is disjointed and the way that it’s told with the time skips really throw me off. There’s so much going on in these, but it’s not in the story. The story lacks substance in my opinion.
Verdict: Not for me.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Cycles of the Phoenix: The Whole Interlaced Souls Series
Author: Charlie Avinash Nicholas
Book Series: Interlaced Souls Series
Rating: 1/5
Publication Date: May 4, 2019
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: Can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 306
Amazon Link
Synopsis: C.A. Nicholas's magnum opus symphony is about to begin and he's reserved a seat for you. So come on in and I'll lead you to your place of honour as the house lights dim. Yes, your spot is beside the maestro as he teleports you and he through various worlds to befriend diverse souls who'll reveal the beauty of your life through their stories.
***
C.A. Nicholas's Interlaced Souls Series has ended and he has collected it into one tome on your behalf. "Cycles of the Phoenix" consists of "Sanity's War", "Strange: And Other Accounts from the Taboo War", and "Kaya: Where Have You Gone?"
Hope, love, and perseverance infuse this art piece; ready to embrace anyone who feels lonely and enchained within the essence of a starless and moonless night. However, not all of his stories of fantasy, humour, and horror within may have happily ever afters though take heart in knowing that there is a humanity enriching purpose to any of the possibly devastating conclusions.
Review: I had to unfortunately DNF this one as well. I felt like that the writing was really stiff and it threw off the whole vibe of the book. The book almost felt like it just threw things out there and didn’t really conclude them either.
Verdict: Not for me.
Book: Cycles of the Phoenix: The Whole Interlaced Souls Series
Author: Charlie Avinash Nicholas
Book Series: Interlaced Souls Series
Rating: 1/5
Publication Date: May 4, 2019
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: Can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 306
Amazon Link
Synopsis: C.A. Nicholas's magnum opus symphony is about to begin and he's reserved a seat for you. So come on in and I'll lead you to your place of honour as the house lights dim. Yes, your spot is beside the maestro as he teleports you and he through various worlds to befriend diverse souls who'll reveal the beauty of your life through their stories.
***
C.A. Nicholas's Interlaced Souls Series has ended and he has collected it into one tome on your behalf. "Cycles of the Phoenix" consists of "Sanity's War", "Strange: And Other Accounts from the Taboo War", and "Kaya: Where Have You Gone?"
Hope, love, and perseverance infuse this art piece; ready to embrace anyone who feels lonely and enchained within the essence of a starless and moonless night. However, not all of his stories of fantasy, humour, and horror within may have happily ever afters though take heart in knowing that there is a humanity enriching purpose to any of the possibly devastating conclusions.
Review: I had to unfortunately DNF this one as well. I felt like that the writing was really stiff and it threw off the whole vibe of the book. The book almost felt like it just threw things out there and didn’t really conclude them either.
Verdict: Not for me.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Carla
Author: Michael Gryboski
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: April 4, 2017
Genre: Thriller
Recommended Age: 17+ (death, violence, gore, terrorism)
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 211
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Carla al-Hassan lives in two worlds.
In one, she is known as a mild-mannered young woman who dropped out of college to work full time to pay for her grandfather's medical bills.
In the other, she is a professional killer who does the will of a mysterious domestic terrorist group called the Cicero Organization.
For years, Carla maintained this delicate balance. But a jealous act of betrayal and an investigation by a determined lawyer
threaten this balance...and her life.
Review: I really liked this book overall. I liked the characters and I thought the characters and the plot were very well developed. The book was full of plot twists and it really kept you on your toes.
However, I think that the writing could have been a bit better and I felt it was a bit too short. Other than that, that was my only complaint!
Verdict: A great book!
Book: Carla
Author: Michael Gryboski
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: April 4, 2017
Genre: Thriller
Recommended Age: 17+ (death, violence, gore, terrorism)
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 211
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Carla al-Hassan lives in two worlds.
In one, she is known as a mild-mannered young woman who dropped out of college to work full time to pay for her grandfather's medical bills.
In the other, she is a professional killer who does the will of a mysterious domestic terrorist group called the Cicero Organization.
For years, Carla maintained this delicate balance. But a jealous act of betrayal and an investigation by a determined lawyer
threaten this balance...and her life.
Review: I really liked this book overall. I liked the characters and I thought the characters and the plot were very well developed. The book was full of plot twists and it really kept you on your toes.
However, I think that the writing could have been a bit better and I felt it was a bit too short. Other than that, that was my only complaint!
Verdict: A great book!
Disclaimer: I got this book from Owlcrate. Aka I bought it. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: October 2, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, death, brutality, slight sexual content)
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 409
Amazon Link
Synopsis: One thousand years ago, the great Kami Dragon was summoned to grant a single terrible wish—and the land of Iwagoto was plunged into an age of darkness and chaos.
Now, for whoever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers, a new wish will be granted. A new age is about to dawn.
Raised by monks in the isolated Silent Winds temple, Yumeko has trained all her life to hide her yokai nature. Half kitsune, half human, her skill with illusion is matched only by her penchant for mischief. Until the day her home is burned to the ground, her adoptive family is brutally slain and she is forced to flee for her life with the temple’s greatest treasure—one part of the ancient scroll.
There are many who would claim the dragon’s wish for their own. Kage Tatsumi, a mysterious samurai of the Shadow Clan, is one such hunter, under orders to retrieve the scroll…at any cost. Fate brings Kage and Yumeko together. With a promise to lead him to the scroll, an uneasy alliance is formed, offering Yumeko her best hope for survival. But he seeks what she has hidden away, and her deception could ultimately tear them both apart.
With an army of demons at her heels and the unlikeliest of allies at her side, Yumeko’s secrets are more than a matter of life or death. They are the key to the fate of the world itself.
Review: Okay so for the most part I thought this was a well done novel. I thought that the book was great, especially if you’re a fan of manga or anime. I also felt that the characters were pretty well developed and the story was very intriguing.
However, I do feel that the world building wasn’t as well done and the pacing was everywhere. I also felt that the book was kind of hard to follow. The book introduced a lot of different monsters and legends, but didn’t explain in the writing. There was a glossary in the back, but there was still a lack of description as to what the monsters looked liked and acted, etc.
Verdict: An okay book, but great for manga or anime lovers.
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: October 2, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, death, brutality, slight sexual content)
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 409
Amazon Link
Synopsis: One thousand years ago, the great Kami Dragon was summoned to grant a single terrible wish—and the land of Iwagoto was plunged into an age of darkness and chaos.
Now, for whoever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers, a new wish will be granted. A new age is about to dawn.
Raised by monks in the isolated Silent Winds temple, Yumeko has trained all her life to hide her yokai nature. Half kitsune, half human, her skill with illusion is matched only by her penchant for mischief. Until the day her home is burned to the ground, her adoptive family is brutally slain and she is forced to flee for her life with the temple’s greatest treasure—one part of the ancient scroll.
There are many who would claim the dragon’s wish for their own. Kage Tatsumi, a mysterious samurai of the Shadow Clan, is one such hunter, under orders to retrieve the scroll…at any cost. Fate brings Kage and Yumeko together. With a promise to lead him to the scroll, an uneasy alliance is formed, offering Yumeko her best hope for survival. But he seeks what she has hidden away, and her deception could ultimately tear them both apart.
With an army of demons at her heels and the unlikeliest of allies at her side, Yumeko’s secrets are more than a matter of life or death. They are the key to the fate of the world itself.
Review: Okay so for the most part I thought this was a well done novel. I thought that the book was great, especially if you’re a fan of manga or anime. I also felt that the characters were pretty well developed and the story was very intriguing.
However, I do feel that the world building wasn’t as well done and the pacing was everywhere. I also felt that the book was kind of hard to follow. The book introduced a lot of different monsters and legends, but didn’t explain in the writing. There was a glossary in the back, but there was still a lack of description as to what the monsters looked liked and acted, etc.
Verdict: An okay book, but great for manga or anime lovers.
Disclaimer: I bought this book at an indie store! Support your authors and your indie stores!
Book: Soul of the Sword
Author: Julie Kagawa
Book Series: Shadow of the Fox series
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: June 25, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, murder, curses, demons, and overthrowing a government)
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: 304
Amazon Link
Synopsis: One thousand years ago, a wish was made to the Harbinger of Change and a sword of rage and lightning was forged. Kamigoroshi. The Godslayer. It had one task: to seal away the powerful demon Hakaimono.
Now he has broken free.
Kitsune shapeshifter Yumeko has one task: to take her piece of the ancient and powerful scroll to the Steel Feather temple in order to prevent the summoning of the Harbinger of Change, the great Kami Dragon who will grant one wish to whomever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers. But she has a new enemy now. The demon Hakaimono, who for centuries was trapped in a cursed sword, has escaped and possessed the boy she thought would protect her, Kage Tatsumi of the Shadow Clan.
Hakaimono has done the unthinkable and joined forces with the Master of Demons in order to break the curse of the sword and set himself free. To overthrow the empire and cover the land in darkness, they need one thing: the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers. As the paths of Yumeko and the possessed Tatsumi cross once again, the entire empire will be thrown into chaos.
Review: I thought this book did so well! Usually the second book in a series will not do as well as the first, but this one actually surpassed it! The characters were more lively and better developed, the writing was well done and fast paced as well. The book had me totally invested in the world!
The only issue I had was that sometimes I got lost in the world. I feel like it could have been better developed and built.
Verdict: An amazing series!
Book: Soul of the Sword
Author: Julie Kagawa
Book Series: Shadow of the Fox series
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: June 25, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, murder, curses, demons, and overthrowing a government)
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: 304
Amazon Link
Synopsis: One thousand years ago, a wish was made to the Harbinger of Change and a sword of rage and lightning was forged. Kamigoroshi. The Godslayer. It had one task: to seal away the powerful demon Hakaimono.
Now he has broken free.
Kitsune shapeshifter Yumeko has one task: to take her piece of the ancient and powerful scroll to the Steel Feather temple in order to prevent the summoning of the Harbinger of Change, the great Kami Dragon who will grant one wish to whomever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers. But she has a new enemy now. The demon Hakaimono, who for centuries was trapped in a cursed sword, has escaped and possessed the boy she thought would protect her, Kage Tatsumi of the Shadow Clan.
Hakaimono has done the unthinkable and joined forces with the Master of Demons in order to break the curse of the sword and set himself free. To overthrow the empire and cover the land in darkness, they need one thing: the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers. As the paths of Yumeko and the possessed Tatsumi cross once again, the entire empire will be thrown into chaos.
Review: I thought this book did so well! Usually the second book in a series will not do as well as the first, but this one actually surpassed it! The characters were more lively and better developed, the writing was well done and fast paced as well. The book had me totally invested in the world!
The only issue I had was that sometimes I got lost in the world. I feel like it could have been better developed and built.
Verdict: An amazing series!
Disclaimer: I received an e-arc of this from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Night of the Dragon
Author: Julie Kagawa
Book Series: Shadow of the Fox Book 3
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: March 31, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, death, slight love and romance)
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: 384
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Kitsune shapeshifter Yumeko has given up the final piece of the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers in order to save everyone she loves from imminent death. Now she and her ragtag band of companions must journey to the wild sea cliffs of Iwagoto in a desperate last-chance effort to stop the Master of Demons from calling upon the Great Kami dragon and making the wish that will plunge the empire into destruction and darkness.
Shadow clan assassin Kage Tatsumi has regained control of his body and agreed to a true deal with the devil—the demon inside him, Hakaimono. They will share his body and work with Yumeko and their companions to stop a madman and separate Hakaimono from Tatsumi and the cursed sword that had trapped the demon for nearly a millennium.
But even with their combined skills and powers, this most unlikely team of heroes knows the forces of evil may be impossible to overcome. And there is another player in the battle for the scroll, a player who has been watching, waiting for the right moment to pull strings that no one even realized existed…until now.
Review: I thought this book did amazing! I loved the relationships and how the characters interact with one another. I think that’s one of the best things about this series, the author realistically portrays relationships between others in a way that anyone can relate. The plot did well and the book continued well from the second to this. The ending was amazing and this will definitely be a series that I reread!
My only issue is, again, the world building, but it was better than the first two books.
Verdict: I recommend this series!
Book: Night of the Dragon
Author: Julie Kagawa
Book Series: Shadow of the Fox Book 3
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: March 31, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, death, slight love and romance)
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: 384
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Kitsune shapeshifter Yumeko has given up the final piece of the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers in order to save everyone she loves from imminent death. Now she and her ragtag band of companions must journey to the wild sea cliffs of Iwagoto in a desperate last-chance effort to stop the Master of Demons from calling upon the Great Kami dragon and making the wish that will plunge the empire into destruction and darkness.
Shadow clan assassin Kage Tatsumi has regained control of his body and agreed to a true deal with the devil—the demon inside him, Hakaimono. They will share his body and work with Yumeko and their companions to stop a madman and separate Hakaimono from Tatsumi and the cursed sword that had trapped the demon for nearly a millennium.
But even with their combined skills and powers, this most unlikely team of heroes knows the forces of evil may be impossible to overcome. And there is another player in the battle for the scroll, a player who has been watching, waiting for the right moment to pull strings that no one even realized existed…until now.
Review: I thought this book did amazing! I loved the relationships and how the characters interact with one another. I think that’s one of the best things about this series, the author realistically portrays relationships between others in a way that anyone can relate. The plot did well and the book continued well from the second to this. The ending was amazing and this will definitely be a series that I reread!
My only issue is, again, the world building, but it was better than the first two books.
Verdict: I recommend this series!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own!
Book: The Darkness We Hide
Author: Debra Webb
Book Series: The Undertaker’s Daughter Book 3
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: March 31, 2020
Genre: Thriller
Recommended Age: Can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 352
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Some secrets are worth dying for.
For months, Doctor Rowan Dupont has been staring death in the face. It followed her back to her hometown of Winchester, Tennessee, ten months ago, cloaking the walls of her family’s Victorian funeral home like a shroud. In investigating the mysterious deaths of her loved ones, Rowan has unearthed enough family secrets to bury everything she’d previously thought true. But each shocking discovery has only led to more bodies and more questions; the rabbit hole is deeper than she ever imagined.
Despite settling in to a comfortable life with Police Chief Billy Brannigan, Rowan knows dangerous serial killer Julian Addington is still out there. She can’t let her guard down now. Not when she’s this close to ending his torment once and for all. But with a storm brewing on the horizon, she’ll get only one shot before the impending darkness takes hold, threatening to wipe away every truth she’s uncovered—and everything she holds dear.
Review: I had to DNF this book. It was very hard to keep everything straight with it being a third book and I’d rather wait to read the first two before I jump in. This isn’t a DNF because the book is bad, it’s a DNF for now because I need to make a book review for this and I don’t want to DNF a book with amazing writing and characters because I can’t understand what’s going on.
Verdict: Read book 1 and 2 before this!
Book: The Darkness We Hide
Author: Debra Webb
Book Series: The Undertaker’s Daughter Book 3
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: March 31, 2020
Genre: Thriller
Recommended Age: Can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 352
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Some secrets are worth dying for.
For months, Doctor Rowan Dupont has been staring death in the face. It followed her back to her hometown of Winchester, Tennessee, ten months ago, cloaking the walls of her family’s Victorian funeral home like a shroud. In investigating the mysterious deaths of her loved ones, Rowan has unearthed enough family secrets to bury everything she’d previously thought true. But each shocking discovery has only led to more bodies and more questions; the rabbit hole is deeper than she ever imagined.
Despite settling in to a comfortable life with Police Chief Billy Brannigan, Rowan knows dangerous serial killer Julian Addington is still out there. She can’t let her guard down now. Not when she’s this close to ending his torment once and for all. But with a storm brewing on the horizon, she’ll get only one shot before the impending darkness takes hold, threatening to wipe away every truth she’s uncovered—and everything she holds dear.
Review: I had to DNF this book. It was very hard to keep everything straight with it being a third book and I’d rather wait to read the first two before I jump in. This isn’t a DNF because the book is bad, it’s a DNF for now because I need to make a book review for this and I don’t want to DNF a book with amazing writing and characters because I can’t understand what’s going on.
Verdict: Read book 1 and 2 before this!
Disclaimer: I received this book from Reedsy Discovery! Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Hybrids, Volume One: Trouble
Author: Jennie Dorny
Book Series: Hybrids Volume One
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: April 7, 2020
Genre: Science Fiction
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, lots of water)
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 443
Amazon Link
Synopsis: She sought refuge on an ocean-covered planet. She didn’t learn its codes until too late. Now she must leave to survive. Theo’s dreams of exploring distant lands are cut short when her father betrays her. On the run, she flees to Eridan, where Washone, the spiritual leader, is expecting her. As she is about to reach this ocean-covered planet inhabited by telepaths, she is kidnapped by a bounty-hunter. Ashta, an Eridani Savalwoman, befriends Theo, rescues her, and they land together on Eridan. While Theo trains to become a Savalwoman – a warrior – bleak memories of past hurts disrupt her attempts to trust herself and others. She is unaware of her own mental powers, so when she believes that she has been betrayed by Ashta, she nearly destroys her friend’s mind in a fit of wounded rage that blazes across the planet. To protect Theo from those who, like ambitious Keith of Rain Forest, would like to use her powerful mind for their benefit, Washone decides that she must leave Eridan. Can Theo convince Washone to let her stay? Or will she have to leave her new friends and go on the run again, with no place to go?
Review: This book gave me definite water-world feels! I loved the story and plot, I loved the writing and I felt like the author has a real talent for this! The characters were also very well developed.
However, I did have some thing I didn’t like about the book. I felt like the banter between the characters were a bit dry and could have been better. I felt like the world building could have been better as well. The action scenes were a bit chaotic and hard to follow as well. Also, at certain times, the pacing really slows down and it really drags the novel along.
Verdict: Overall, I really liked this book! Definitely one worth reading!
Book: Hybrids, Volume One: Trouble
Author: Jennie Dorny
Book Series: Hybrids Volume One
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: April 7, 2020
Genre: Science Fiction
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, lots of water)
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 443
Amazon Link
Synopsis: She sought refuge on an ocean-covered planet. She didn’t learn its codes until too late. Now she must leave to survive. Theo’s dreams of exploring distant lands are cut short when her father betrays her. On the run, she flees to Eridan, where Washone, the spiritual leader, is expecting her. As she is about to reach this ocean-covered planet inhabited by telepaths, she is kidnapped by a bounty-hunter. Ashta, an Eridani Savalwoman, befriends Theo, rescues her, and they land together on Eridan. While Theo trains to become a Savalwoman – a warrior – bleak memories of past hurts disrupt her attempts to trust herself and others. She is unaware of her own mental powers, so when she believes that she has been betrayed by Ashta, she nearly destroys her friend’s mind in a fit of wounded rage that blazes across the planet. To protect Theo from those who, like ambitious Keith of Rain Forest, would like to use her powerful mind for their benefit, Washone decides that she must leave Eridan. Can Theo convince Washone to let her stay? Or will she have to leave her new friends and go on the run again, with no place to go?
Review: This book gave me definite water-world feels! I loved the story and plot, I loved the writing and I felt like the author has a real talent for this! The characters were also very well developed.
However, I did have some thing I didn’t like about the book. I felt like the banter between the characters were a bit dry and could have been better. I felt like the world building could have been better as well. The action scenes were a bit chaotic and hard to follow as well. Also, at certain times, the pacing really slows down and it really drags the novel along.
Verdict: Overall, I really liked this book! Definitely one worth reading!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author! Thanks! All opinions are my own!
Book: Among the Red Stars
Author: Gwen Katz
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: October 3, 2017
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 16+ (romance, violence, gore, death)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 384
Amazon Link
Synopsis: World War Two has shattered Valka’s homeland of Russia, and Valka is determined to help the effort. She knows her skills as a pilot rival the best of the men, so when an all-female aviation group forms, Valka is the first to sign up.
Flying has always meant freedom and exhilaration for Valka, but dropping bombs on German soldiers from a fragile canvas biplane is no joyride. The war is taking its toll on everyone, including the boy Valka grew up with, who is fighting for his life on the front lines.
As the war intensifies and those around her fall, Valka must decide how much she is willing to risk to defend the skies she once called home.
Inspired by the true story of the airwomen the Nazis called Night Witches, Gwen C. Katz weaves a tale of strength and sacrifice, learning to fight for yourself, and the perils of a world at war.
Review: I really liked this book for the most part. The character development was well done, the plot was intriguing, and the writing was amazing! The world building was also well done and the girl power in this book was great as well!
However, it was kinda weird to pair it with the romance heavy letters between the main character and her love interest. It did liven up the book, especially during the slow moments, but the letters also took the reader away from the moment in my opinion.
Verdict: A well done story from an angle of WWII that you haven’t read a lot about! Definitely a favorite now!
Book: Among the Red Stars
Author: Gwen Katz
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: October 3, 2017
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 16+ (romance, violence, gore, death)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 384
Amazon Link
Synopsis: World War Two has shattered Valka’s homeland of Russia, and Valka is determined to help the effort. She knows her skills as a pilot rival the best of the men, so when an all-female aviation group forms, Valka is the first to sign up.
Flying has always meant freedom and exhilaration for Valka, but dropping bombs on German soldiers from a fragile canvas biplane is no joyride. The war is taking its toll on everyone, including the boy Valka grew up with, who is fighting for his life on the front lines.
As the war intensifies and those around her fall, Valka must decide how much she is willing to risk to defend the skies she once called home.
Inspired by the true story of the airwomen the Nazis called Night Witches, Gwen C. Katz weaves a tale of strength and sacrifice, learning to fight for yourself, and the perils of a world at war.
Review: I really liked this book for the most part. The character development was well done, the plot was intriguing, and the writing was amazing! The world building was also well done and the girl power in this book was great as well!
However, it was kinda weird to pair it with the romance heavy letters between the main character and her love interest. It did liven up the book, especially during the slow moments, but the letters also took the reader away from the moment in my opinion.
Verdict: A well done story from an angle of WWII that you haven’t read a lot about! Definitely a favorite now!