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popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Author: Julia Drake
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Main is bisexual, one of the female characters is straight but then goes into a F/F relationship
Publication Date: October 1, 2019
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 17+ (TW suicide mentioning and possible food control/anorexia/bullimia)
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 400
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The Larkin family isn't just lucky—they persevere. At least that's what Violet and her younger brother, Sam, were always told. When the Lyric sank off the coast of Maine, their great-great-great-grandmother didn't drown like the rest of the passengers. No, Fidelia swam to shore, fell in love, and founded Lyric, Maine, the town Violet and Sam returned to every summer.
But wrecks seem to run in the family. Tall, funny, musical Violet can't stop partying with the wrong people. And, one beautiful summer day, brilliant, sensitive Sam attempts to take his own life.
Shipped back to Lyric while Sam is in treatment, Violet is haunted by her family's missing piece - the lost shipwreck she and Sam dreamed of discovering when they were children. Desperate to make amends, Violet embarks on a wildly ambitious mission: locate the Lyric, lain hidden in a watery grave for over a century.
She finds a fellow wreck hunter in Liv Stone, an amateur local historian whose sparkling intelligence and guarded gray eyes make Violet ache in an exhilarating new way. Whether or not they find the Lyric, the journey Violet takes-and the bridges she builds along the way-may be the start of something like survival.
Review: I am so perplexed by this book. I loved the writing, I loved the character development, and I loved how the author made something so complex but simple at the same time. I love the world building and the relationships between the family members.
However, I feel like the plot of the story isn't there? Like it felt like a lot of the story was circular and the pacing was super slow and nothing really happened, but yet I liked it and I felt like we were getting somewhere? I don't know, this was a trip lol.
Verdict: I definitely believe this is worth the read.
Author: Julia Drake
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Main is bisexual, one of the female characters is straight but then goes into a F/F relationship
Publication Date: October 1, 2019
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 17+ (TW suicide mentioning and possible food control/anorexia/bullimia)
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 400
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The Larkin family isn't just lucky—they persevere. At least that's what Violet and her younger brother, Sam, were always told. When the Lyric sank off the coast of Maine, their great-great-great-grandmother didn't drown like the rest of the passengers. No, Fidelia swam to shore, fell in love, and founded Lyric, Maine, the town Violet and Sam returned to every summer.
But wrecks seem to run in the family. Tall, funny, musical Violet can't stop partying with the wrong people. And, one beautiful summer day, brilliant, sensitive Sam attempts to take his own life.
Shipped back to Lyric while Sam is in treatment, Violet is haunted by her family's missing piece - the lost shipwreck she and Sam dreamed of discovering when they were children. Desperate to make amends, Violet embarks on a wildly ambitious mission: locate the Lyric, lain hidden in a watery grave for over a century.
She finds a fellow wreck hunter in Liv Stone, an amateur local historian whose sparkling intelligence and guarded gray eyes make Violet ache in an exhilarating new way. Whether or not they find the Lyric, the journey Violet takes-and the bridges she builds along the way-may be the start of something like survival.
Review: I am so perplexed by this book. I loved the writing, I loved the character development, and I loved how the author made something so complex but simple at the same time. I love the world building and the relationships between the family members.
However, I feel like the plot of the story isn't there? Like it felt like a lot of the story was circular and the pacing was super slow and nothing really happened, but yet I liked it and I felt like we were getting somewhere? I don't know, this was a trip lol.
Verdict: I definitely believe this is worth the read.
Disclaimer: I bought this book on my own! Support your authors!
Author: Margaret Atwood
Book Series: The Handmaid's Tale Book 2
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: September 10, 2019
Genre: Feminist
Recommended Age: 18+ (oh boy where do I begin? Suicide, attempted suicide, car bombings, terrorism, TW cutting, gore, violence, TW mentions of rape, TW actual rape/sexual assault, some romance, lots of death, and escaping to Canada is scary yo!)
Publisher: Nan A. Talese
Synopsis: In this brilliant sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, acclaimed author Margaret Atwood answers the questions that have tantalized readers for decades.
When the van door slammed on Offred's future at the end of The Handmaid's Tale, readers had no way of telling what lay ahead for her--freedom, prison or death.
With The Testaments, the wait is over.
Margaret Atwood's sequel picks up the story more than fifteen years after Offred stepped into the unknown, with the explosive testaments of three female narrators from Gilead.
"Dear Readers: Everything you've ever asked me about Gilead and its inner workings is the inspiration for this book. Well, almost everything! The other inspiration is the world we've been living in." --Margaret Atwood
Review:The Handmaid's Tale is one of those books that I consider a must read. It brilliantly describes, with somewhat eery similarity, what could happen to women. Rights in any country are fragile and any upset could destroy them and that book served as a reminder of that. This book is like a slap to your face, a wake-up call if you want to call it. It further details the horrors women in this universe face, 3 women who are not Handmaids but are in a different status. The character development is amazing and well done. The world building is magnificent. The plot is intriguing and the story just sucks you in and refuses to let you go until you read it in full.
However, I do have to admit this book is a really hard book to read. It's not because the author uses big words or complex thought patterns, but it's the subject matter. It's hard, as a woman, to realize that tomorrow I could wake up in a world like this. And it's harder to imagine what I would do. While I believe I would be relatively okay, I worry about those who wouldn't be.
Verdict: It's a hard but important read.
Author: Margaret Atwood
Book Series: The Handmaid's Tale Book 2
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: September 10, 2019
Genre: Feminist
Recommended Age: 18+ (oh boy where do I begin? Suicide, attempted suicide, car bombings, terrorism, TW cutting, gore, violence, TW mentions of rape, TW actual rape/sexual assault, some romance, lots of death, and escaping to Canada is scary yo!)
Publisher: Nan A. Talese
Synopsis: In this brilliant sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, acclaimed author Margaret Atwood answers the questions that have tantalized readers for decades.
When the van door slammed on Offred's future at the end of The Handmaid's Tale, readers had no way of telling what lay ahead for her--freedom, prison or death.
With The Testaments, the wait is over.
Margaret Atwood's sequel picks up the story more than fifteen years after Offred stepped into the unknown, with the explosive testaments of three female narrators from Gilead.
"Dear Readers: Everything you've ever asked me about Gilead and its inner workings is the inspiration for this book. Well, almost everything! The other inspiration is the world we've been living in." --Margaret Atwood
Review:The Handmaid's Tale is one of those books that I consider a must read. It brilliantly describes, with somewhat eery similarity, what could happen to women. Rights in any country are fragile and any upset could destroy them and that book served as a reminder of that. This book is like a slap to your face, a wake-up call if you want to call it. It further details the horrors women in this universe face, 3 women who are not Handmaids but are in a different status. The character development is amazing and well done. The world building is magnificent. The plot is intriguing and the story just sucks you in and refuses to let you go until you read it in full.
However, I do have to admit this book is a really hard book to read. It's not because the author uses big words or complex thought patterns, but it's the subject matter. It's hard, as a woman, to realize that tomorrow I could wake up in a world like this. And it's harder to imagine what I would do. While I believe I would be relatively okay, I worry about those who wouldn't be.
Verdict: It's a hard but important read.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Author: Lauren Mansy
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: October 1, 2019
Recommended Age: 15+ (lots of romance, some violence, some language)
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Blink
Synopsis: In the city of Craewick, memories reign. The power-obsessed ruler of the city, Madame, has cultivated a society in which memories are currency, citizens are divided by ability, and Gifted individuals can take memories from others through touch as they please.
Seventeen-year-old Etta Lark is desperate to live outside of the corrupt culture, but grapples with the guilt of an accident that has left her mother bedridden in the city’s asylum. When Madame threatens to put her mother up for auction, a Craewick practice in which a “criminal's" memories are sold to the highest bidder before being killed, Etta will do whatever it takes to save her. Even if it means rejoining the Shadows, the rebel group she swore off in the wake of the accident years earlier.
To prove her allegiance to the Shadows and rescue her mother, Etta must steal a memorized map of the Maze, a formidable prison created by the bloodthirsty ruler of a neighboring Realm. So she sets out on a journey in which she faces startling attacks, unexpected romance, and, above all, her own past in order to set things right in her world.
Review: I really loved the idea for this story and I thought that the premise behind it is great. I liked the world building and I liked the writing, it was smooth and easy to read.
However, I felt like this book was really too slow for me. The pacing is super slow and I got really distracted while reading it. I felt that the book would have been better without the romance aspect and there were a couple of mistakes with a character being in two places at once.
Verdict: A good concept but bad exposition for me.
Author: Lauren Mansy
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: October 1, 2019
Recommended Age: 15+ (lots of romance, some violence, some language)
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Blink
Synopsis: In the city of Craewick, memories reign. The power-obsessed ruler of the city, Madame, has cultivated a society in which memories are currency, citizens are divided by ability, and Gifted individuals can take memories from others through touch as they please.
Seventeen-year-old Etta Lark is desperate to live outside of the corrupt culture, but grapples with the guilt of an accident that has left her mother bedridden in the city’s asylum. When Madame threatens to put her mother up for auction, a Craewick practice in which a “criminal's" memories are sold to the highest bidder before being killed, Etta will do whatever it takes to save her. Even if it means rejoining the Shadows, the rebel group she swore off in the wake of the accident years earlier.
To prove her allegiance to the Shadows and rescue her mother, Etta must steal a memorized map of the Maze, a formidable prison created by the bloodthirsty ruler of a neighboring Realm. So she sets out on a journey in which she faces startling attacks, unexpected romance, and, above all, her own past in order to set things right in her world.
Review: I really loved the idea for this story and I thought that the premise behind it is great. I liked the world building and I liked the writing, it was smooth and easy to read.
However, I felt like this book was really too slow for me. The pacing is super slow and I got really distracted while reading it. I felt that the book would have been better without the romance aspect and there were a couple of mistakes with a character being in two places at once.
Verdict: A good concept but bad exposition for me.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher but then bought my own copy. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Author: Garth Nix
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: October 1, 2019
Recommended Age: 17+ (death, mutations, plague, violence, gore)
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Synopsis: More than a century has passed since Liliath crept into the empty sarcophagus of Saint Marguerite, fleeing the Fall of Ystara. But she emerges from her magical sleep still beautiful, looking no more than nineteen, and once again renews her single-minded quest to be united with her lover, Palleniel, the archangel of Ystara.
A seemingly impossible quest, but Liliath is one of the greatest practitioners of angelic magic to have ever lived, summoning angels and forcing them to do her bidding.
Liliath knew that most of the inhabitants of Ystara died from the Ash Blood plague or were transformed into beastlings, and she herself led the survivors who fled into neighboring Sarance. Now she learns that angels shun the Ystaran’s descendants. If they are touched by angelic magic, their blood will turn to ash. They are known as Refusers, and can only live the most lowly lives.
But Liliath cares nothing for the descendants of her people, save how they can serve her. It is four young Sarancians who hold her interest: Simeon, a studious doctor-in-training; Henri, a dedicated fortune hunter; Agnez, an adventurous musketeer cadet; and Dorotea, an icon-maker and scholar of angelic magic. They are the key to her quest.
The four feel a strange kinship from the moment they meet, but do not know why, or suspect their importance. All become pawns in Liliath’s grand scheme to fulfill her destiny and be united with the love of her life. No matter the cost to everyone else. . .
Review: For the most part I think this book is really interesting. It's definitely a different narrative than what you might read or expect from Garth Nix and it's highly imaginative. I think a lot of high fantasy lovers will like this book.
However, I felt like the book was really weirdly wrote. The book just jumps out of the hate without explanation and it's really hard for the reader to connect with the book and characters if you don't know what's going on. I also felt Lilith was an unlikable character and it made me not connect with her.
Verdict: It wasn't the book for me but it might be for you!
Author: Garth Nix
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: October 1, 2019
Recommended Age: 17+ (death, mutations, plague, violence, gore)
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Synopsis: More than a century has passed since Liliath crept into the empty sarcophagus of Saint Marguerite, fleeing the Fall of Ystara. But she emerges from her magical sleep still beautiful, looking no more than nineteen, and once again renews her single-minded quest to be united with her lover, Palleniel, the archangel of Ystara.
A seemingly impossible quest, but Liliath is one of the greatest practitioners of angelic magic to have ever lived, summoning angels and forcing them to do her bidding.
Liliath knew that most of the inhabitants of Ystara died from the Ash Blood plague or were transformed into beastlings, and she herself led the survivors who fled into neighboring Sarance. Now she learns that angels shun the Ystaran’s descendants. If they are touched by angelic magic, their blood will turn to ash. They are known as Refusers, and can only live the most lowly lives.
But Liliath cares nothing for the descendants of her people, save how they can serve her. It is four young Sarancians who hold her interest: Simeon, a studious doctor-in-training; Henri, a dedicated fortune hunter; Agnez, an adventurous musketeer cadet; and Dorotea, an icon-maker and scholar of angelic magic. They are the key to her quest.
The four feel a strange kinship from the moment they meet, but do not know why, or suspect their importance. All become pawns in Liliath’s grand scheme to fulfill her destiny and be united with the love of her life. No matter the cost to everyone else. . .
Review: For the most part I think this book is really interesting. It's definitely a different narrative than what you might read or expect from Garth Nix and it's highly imaginative. I think a lot of high fantasy lovers will like this book.
However, I felt like the book was really weirdly wrote. The book just jumps out of the hate without explanation and it's really hard for the reader to connect with the book and characters if you don't know what's going on. I also felt Lilith was an unlikable character and it made me not connect with her.
Verdict: It wasn't the book for me but it might be for you!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All options are my own.
Author: Bree Barton
Book Series: Heart of Thorns Book 2
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: November 5, 2019
Recommended Age: 16+ (sexual assault and depression tw, some violence)
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Synopsis: Mia Rose is back from the dead. Her memories are hazy, her body numb—but she won’t stop searching. Her only hope to save the boy she loves and the sister who destroyed her is to find the mother she can never forgive. Pilar is on a hunt of her own. Betrayed by her mother, and plagued by a painful secret, she’s determined to seek out the only person who can exact revenge. All goes according to plan… until she collides with Prince Quin, the boy whose sister she killed.
As Mia, Pilar, and Quin forge dangerous new alliances, they are bewitched by the snow kingdom’s promise of freedom and opportunity. But with the winter solstice drawing near, they must confront the truth beneath the glimmering ice, as lines between friend, foe, and lover vanish like snowflakes on a flame.
Review: Holy cow this book is so good. It's full of rich analysis and parallels to the issues that today's women and girls face. The book has amazing character development and touching yet realistic sibling relationship too. The writing is truly amazing and this book, for me, was a great improvement from the first one. The author is definitely one to watch for as she grows in her craft.
My only little nitpick issues are that the pacing was off in places and the world building could have been a bit better. That's it for me! Truly a wonderful book.
Verdict: definitely recommend.
Author: Bree Barton
Book Series: Heart of Thorns Book 2
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: November 5, 2019
Recommended Age: 16+ (sexual assault and depression tw, some violence)
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Synopsis: Mia Rose is back from the dead. Her memories are hazy, her body numb—but she won’t stop searching. Her only hope to save the boy she loves and the sister who destroyed her is to find the mother she can never forgive. Pilar is on a hunt of her own. Betrayed by her mother, and plagued by a painful secret, she’s determined to seek out the only person who can exact revenge. All goes according to plan… until she collides with Prince Quin, the boy whose sister she killed.
As Mia, Pilar, and Quin forge dangerous new alliances, they are bewitched by the snow kingdom’s promise of freedom and opportunity. But with the winter solstice drawing near, they must confront the truth beneath the glimmering ice, as lines between friend, foe, and lover vanish like snowflakes on a flame.
Review: Holy cow this book is so good. It's full of rich analysis and parallels to the issues that today's women and girls face. The book has amazing character development and touching yet realistic sibling relationship too. The writing is truly amazing and this book, for me, was a great improvement from the first one. The author is definitely one to watch for as she grows in her craft.
My only little nitpick issues are that the pacing was off in places and the world building could have been a bit better. That's it for me! Truly a wonderful book.
Verdict: definitely recommend.
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Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Author: Scarlett St. Clair
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: May 25, 2019
Recommended Age: 17+ (romance ewww lol)
Synopsis: Persephone is the Goddess of Spring by title only. The truth is, since she was a little girl, flowers have shriveled at her touch. After moving to New Athens, she hopes to lead an unassuming life disguised as a mortal journalist.
Hades, God of the Dead, has built a gambling empire in the mortal world and his favorite bets are rumored to be impossible.
After a chance encounter with Hades, Persephone finds herself in a contract with the God of the Dead and the terms are impossible: Persephone must create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom forever.
The bet does more than expose Persephone’s failure as a Goddess, however. As she struggles to sow the seeds of her freedom, love for the God of the Dead grows—and it’s forbidden.
Review: I felt like this was a great romance and I'm loving how popular Hades and Persephone's romance is now. They definitely have one of the best in classic literature. I loved the writing and I also loved the world building done.
However, I'm not a romance lover so I had an issue getting into the book and I didn't like the slower pacing (but if you love romance it would be perfect I think).
Verdict: a gorgeous book from start to finish.
Author: Scarlett St. Clair
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: May 25, 2019
Recommended Age: 17+ (romance ewww lol)
Synopsis: Persephone is the Goddess of Spring by title only. The truth is, since she was a little girl, flowers have shriveled at her touch. After moving to New Athens, she hopes to lead an unassuming life disguised as a mortal journalist.
Hades, God of the Dead, has built a gambling empire in the mortal world and his favorite bets are rumored to be impossible.
After a chance encounter with Hades, Persephone finds herself in a contract with the God of the Dead and the terms are impossible: Persephone must create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom forever.
The bet does more than expose Persephone’s failure as a Goddess, however. As she struggles to sow the seeds of her freedom, love for the God of the Dead grows—and it’s forbidden.
Review: I felt like this was a great romance and I'm loving how popular Hades and Persephone's romance is now. They definitely have one of the best in classic literature. I loved the writing and I also loved the world building done.
However, I'm not a romance lover so I had an issue getting into the book and I didn't like the slower pacing (but if you love romance it would be perfect I think).
Verdict: a gorgeous book from start to finish.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Author: JJ and Chris Grabenstein
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: November 5, 2019
Publisher: Random House
Recommended Age: 10+ (bullying)
Synopsis: "Who do you want to be?" asks Mr. Van Deusen. "And not when you grow up. Right here, right now."
Shine on! might be the catchphrase of twelve-year-old Piper's hero--astronaut, astronomer, and television host Nellie Dumont Frisse--but Piper knows the truth: some people are born to shine, and she's just not one of them. That fact has never been clearer than now, since her dad's new job has landed them both at Chumley Prep, a posh private school where everyone seems to be the best at something and where Piper definitely doesn't fit in.
Bursting with humor, heart, science, possibilities, and big questions, Shine! is a story about finding your place in the universe--a story about figuring out who you are and who you want to be.
Review: I really enjoyed this book. It was a cute story for younger kids that show the love of STEM/science and individuality. I think it's really important to get kids interested in STEM centered courses and I love that the main character was interested in it. I also think it's really important seeing as the main character was a female and I think we, as a society, still have a way to go in encouraging females to persue STEM classes. Also, the overall message is amazing. Figuring out who you want to be isn't for when you just "grow up". It's a now thing and an always thing. You change, you grow, you should always be thinking of who you aspire to be and how you can improve for now and not later.
My only downside is that sometimes during the book the pacing wanes and I feel like the bully issue wasn't entirely resolved but otherwise it was a great read!
Verdict: Definitely a book for yourself or younger kids!
Author: JJ and Chris Grabenstein
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: November 5, 2019
Publisher: Random House
Recommended Age: 10+ (bullying)
Synopsis: "Who do you want to be?" asks Mr. Van Deusen. "And not when you grow up. Right here, right now."
Shine on! might be the catchphrase of twelve-year-old Piper's hero--astronaut, astronomer, and television host Nellie Dumont Frisse--but Piper knows the truth: some people are born to shine, and she's just not one of them. That fact has never been clearer than now, since her dad's new job has landed them both at Chumley Prep, a posh private school where everyone seems to be the best at something and where Piper definitely doesn't fit in.
Bursting with humor, heart, science, possibilities, and big questions, Shine! is a story about finding your place in the universe--a story about figuring out who you are and who you want to be.
Review: I really enjoyed this book. It was a cute story for younger kids that show the love of STEM/science and individuality. I think it's really important to get kids interested in STEM centered courses and I love that the main character was interested in it. I also think it's really important seeing as the main character was a female and I think we, as a society, still have a way to go in encouraging females to persue STEM classes. Also, the overall message is amazing. Figuring out who you want to be isn't for when you just "grow up". It's a now thing and an always thing. You change, you grow, you should always be thinking of who you aspire to be and how you can improve for now and not later.
My only downside is that sometimes during the book the pacing wanes and I feel like the bully issue wasn't entirely resolved but otherwise it was a great read!
Verdict: Definitely a book for yourself or younger kids!
Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Author: Jerome Preisler
Rating: 2/5
Publication Date: November 26, 2019
Genre: Thriller (?)
Recommended Age: 18+ (terrorism, cyber attacks, frightening things and slow pacing)
Publisher: Hanover Square Press
Pages:704
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The number one threat to our nation’s security is in cyberspace. The new US president wants to tackle the urgent problem head-on and launches a top secret line of defense: Net Force. But before the organization can be announced, the country is hit by an unprecedented, two-pronged terror attack.
Not yet empowered by Congress nor embraced by a dubious intelligence community, still untested, unproven and officially unnamed, Net Force’s elite group of cyber experts and field operatives must lead the fight against the ongoing waves of hacks while tracking down the mastermind. Their failure could mean global catastrophe. Success may lead them to become the highest-level security agency in the United States.
A story that seems ripped from tomorrow’s headlines, Net Force: Dark Web relaunches one of the most prescient thriller series at a time when cybersecurity is more vital than ever
Review: I thought the overall plot was really good and the writing was pretty good. However, unfortunately, that's all I liked about this book.
I thought the book was way way way to lengthy for what it should have been. The book had too much going on in my opinion. The book pacing was really slow too and I felt like I was running a marathon reading this. I felt mentally exhausted and I was so confused throughout the whole book. I really thing it should have been split up into multiple books or something because how it is isn't working for me lol.
Verdict: Not my cup of tea.
Author: Jerome Preisler
Rating: 2/5
Publication Date: November 26, 2019
Genre: Thriller (?)
Recommended Age: 18+ (terrorism, cyber attacks, frightening things and slow pacing)
Publisher: Hanover Square Press
Pages:704
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The number one threat to our nation’s security is in cyberspace. The new US president wants to tackle the urgent problem head-on and launches a top secret line of defense: Net Force. But before the organization can be announced, the country is hit by an unprecedented, two-pronged terror attack.
Not yet empowered by Congress nor embraced by a dubious intelligence community, still untested, unproven and officially unnamed, Net Force’s elite group of cyber experts and field operatives must lead the fight against the ongoing waves of hacks while tracking down the mastermind. Their failure could mean global catastrophe. Success may lead them to become the highest-level security agency in the United States.
A story that seems ripped from tomorrow’s headlines, Net Force: Dark Web relaunches one of the most prescient thriller series at a time when cybersecurity is more vital than ever
Review: I thought the overall plot was really good and the writing was pretty good. However, unfortunately, that's all I liked about this book.
I thought the book was way way way to lengthy for what it should have been. The book had too much going on in my opinion. The book pacing was really slow too and I felt like I was running a marathon reading this. I felt mentally exhausted and I was so confused throughout the whole book. I really thing it should have been split up into multiple books or something because how it is isn't working for me lol.
Verdict: Not my cup of tea.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Author: J.W. Golan
Book Series: Stormfall Chronicles Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: January 19, 2019
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, mature scenes, some gore)
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 237
Amazon Link
Synopsis: A peasant girl who dreams of becoming a sorceress, a boy who imagines himself a knight – trailed by a ruthless mercenary armed with an ancient sword.
All Lynette wanted was to leave her boring village life – to attend the Fae Academy and become a Druid priestess like her teacher before her. Her clumsy attempts at magic are a reminder of how much she has yet to learn. But if they would only accept her, if the Fae Kingdom – closed to human visitors for centuries now – would only just open its doors, she is certain she could become a master of the magical arts.
Yet her journey puts her on a collision course with a reawakened evil – offering a king’s ransom for the recovery of a long-lost relic. Treasure hunters of every variety – werewolves, mercenaries, common thieves and undead alike – are soon locked in pursuit of its promised riches. Together with Baxter, a young squire who fled his own kingdom, and Eirlon, a gnome who trades in rare antiquities, Lynette is drawn unwillingly into the hunt for the elusive relic.
Hounded by goblins, ogres – and darker things – Baxter carries his own burdens: secrets that have made him the enemy of the crown. And then there is Garth, the mysterious mercenary who both frightens and intrigues Lynette: the weapons-master armed with an ancient blade – snatched from the hand of a long-vanished fae prince.
Willingly or not, Lynette, Baxter and Eirlon must together solve the riddles behind the relic – and stay one step ahead of the ruthless killers that pursue them.
Review: The book was pretty good! I loved the setting and the epic fantasy feel of this book. I liked the pacing of this book and the overarching story seems really interesting.
However, this is the first book and the book has a lot of introductions to make, which makes the reading a bit difficult in some spots. The POV changes a lot and without a lot of notice, so it’s a bit hard to follow in some spots too. The name dropping was kinda chaotic too. I think I need a map now, but other than that it was really good.
Verdict: I decent start to an epic fantasy!
Author: J.W. Golan
Book Series: Stormfall Chronicles Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: January 19, 2019
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, mature scenes, some gore)
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 237
Amazon Link
Synopsis: A peasant girl who dreams of becoming a sorceress, a boy who imagines himself a knight – trailed by a ruthless mercenary armed with an ancient sword.
All Lynette wanted was to leave her boring village life – to attend the Fae Academy and become a Druid priestess like her teacher before her. Her clumsy attempts at magic are a reminder of how much she has yet to learn. But if they would only accept her, if the Fae Kingdom – closed to human visitors for centuries now – would only just open its doors, she is certain she could become a master of the magical arts.
Yet her journey puts her on a collision course with a reawakened evil – offering a king’s ransom for the recovery of a long-lost relic. Treasure hunters of every variety – werewolves, mercenaries, common thieves and undead alike – are soon locked in pursuit of its promised riches. Together with Baxter, a young squire who fled his own kingdom, and Eirlon, a gnome who trades in rare antiquities, Lynette is drawn unwillingly into the hunt for the elusive relic.
Hounded by goblins, ogres – and darker things – Baxter carries his own burdens: secrets that have made him the enemy of the crown. And then there is Garth, the mysterious mercenary who both frightens and intrigues Lynette: the weapons-master armed with an ancient blade – snatched from the hand of a long-vanished fae prince.
Willingly or not, Lynette, Baxter and Eirlon must together solve the riddles behind the relic – and stay one step ahead of the ruthless killers that pursue them.
Review: The book was pretty good! I loved the setting and the epic fantasy feel of this book. I liked the pacing of this book and the overarching story seems really interesting.
However, this is the first book and the book has a lot of introductions to make, which makes the reading a bit difficult in some spots. The POV changes a lot and without a lot of notice, so it’s a bit hard to follow in some spots too. The name dropping was kinda chaotic too. I think I need a map now, but other than that it was really good.
Verdict: I decent start to an epic fantasy!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Author: Geoffrey Simpson
Book Series: The Three Hares Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: June 1, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+ (some scary moments and some violence)
Publisher: thewordverve inc
Pages: 318
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The Adventure of a Lifetime . . .
Ethan Drake is a living legend.
If only his late father had mentioned it.
Ethan and his friends decode a series of cryptic riddles from an ancient treasure map. Their discovery entangles them in a centuries-old struggle between warring secret societies.
It soon becomes clear that Ethan is not just an adventurous teen who accidentally stumbles upon a shadowy world.
He is a catalyst…
a spark which ignites the resurgence.
The Three Hares is a smart, twisty adventure mystery, one that will keep you reading until the remarkable end.
Review: This book is amazing. I loved the story, especially the riddles and plot. The book is super intriguing and the main character is amazingly well developed. I also loved the writing in general, it was very easy to read and it is perfect for young readers in my opinion.
However, I felt like the other characters in the book weren’t as developed as they could have been and I feel like they could have been better. I also feel like the setting and world building could have been better built up too.
Verdict: It was a fantastic read! Definitely worth it.
Author: Geoffrey Simpson
Book Series: The Three Hares Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: June 1, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+ (some scary moments and some violence)
Publisher: thewordverve inc
Pages: 318
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The Adventure of a Lifetime . . .
Ethan Drake is a living legend.
If only his late father had mentioned it.
Ethan and his friends decode a series of cryptic riddles from an ancient treasure map. Their discovery entangles them in a centuries-old struggle between warring secret societies.
It soon becomes clear that Ethan is not just an adventurous teen who accidentally stumbles upon a shadowy world.
He is a catalyst…
a spark which ignites the resurgence.
The Three Hares is a smart, twisty adventure mystery, one that will keep you reading until the remarkable end.
Review: This book is amazing. I loved the story, especially the riddles and plot. The book is super intriguing and the main character is amazingly well developed. I also loved the writing in general, it was very easy to read and it is perfect for young readers in my opinion.
However, I felt like the other characters in the book weren’t as developed as they could have been and I feel like they could have been better. I also feel like the setting and world building could have been better built up too.
Verdict: It was a fantastic read! Definitely worth it.