sup3r_xn0va_maya's reviews
387 reviews

💬: “To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness. —Confucius

Abby, S.T.. Sidetracked (Mindf*ck Series Book 2) (p. 28). S.T. Abby. Kindle Edition. 

📖Genres: romance, dark, thriller, mystery, crime, novella

📚Page Count: 115

🎧Audiobook Length: 03h 08min

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 


Sidetracked is the second novella in The Mindf*ck Series by S. T. Abby. Lana is being questioned by member of Logan's team and now the serial killer known as "The Boogie Man" is after Lana because of she's dating Logan. While all this is happening, Lana is still going along with her plan of revenge. She's still risking everything to remove child abusers from the world. Will Logan find out about Lana hidden murder spree? Will The Boogie Man attack Lana to get at Logan?

Overall, this story was just as entertaining as the first novella. Part two was a little more complicated than part one because there is so much more information, story elements, and characters being added to the story. The story is beginning to get complicated with all the characters that have been added, and because the story is a novella it moves at a fast past. Maybe too fast? I'm worried that with the next installation of the story, I'll start to get lost with the names of the growing cast of characters within such a short book. 

Like the first novella, or part one, there were a few spicy scenes. I think it's wonderful that Lana feels safe with Logan enough to trust him and be intimate with him. I still don't think spicy scenes fit in-between scenes of the ped0s and child abusers getting murdered. I'm giving it one chili 🌶️🌶️ out of five chilies

Overall, this novella was just as good as the first one, although the subject matter is a bit triggering.  I'm giving this 4 stars out of 5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/5

I listened to this audiobook for free on [HooplaDigital.com]

 💬: “That was the biggest problem with getting used to someone, she thought. You were lonely when they weren’t there."

Robb, J.D.. Naked in Death (In Death, Book 1) (p. 347). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. 

📖Genres: romance, dark, thriller, mystery, crime, suspense

📚Page Count: 373

🎧Audiobook Length: 10h 17min

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️ 2/5 


Naked in Death is the first book in the "In Death" series by J.D Robb (who is actually romance writer, Nora Roberts). In the year 2058 Detective Eve Dallas is residing in New York when she gets a case where a senator's daughter is murdered and it's discovered that the vicitim was a full service sex worker. The case then becomes a high profile case and Dallas enters a world of politics in order to track down the killer. While the case is taking place, Dallas becomes enthralled with Roarke, one of the leading suspects. Is Dallas' attraction to Roarke leading her to disaster or will she find the murderer and close the case?

I think overall this story was okay, there were things I liked and things I didn't like. I really have issues with Roarke because

he's very controlling and seems to not take "no" for an answer.

I found it a bit disturbing how the sex workers in the book were talked about but I keep trying to remind myself that this was written in 1995 and there are going to be some characters who are against sex workers because of prejudice so their dialogue about the sex workers reflects that. I did like how this takes place in the future, and all the futuristic and scientific advancements and inventions in the story were clever and very interesting. I also like how I didn't guess what the ending was going to be until it was already in motion and being explained to the reader. 

The spicy scenes in here were either the beginning of murder scenes or they were intended to be sexy but were lacking consent, and in these instances it was evident that this novel was written in the 90s. The love interest has the idea that he knows what the main character wants more than she does, and so he's not respecting her boundaries. In fact, the love interest keeps pushing up against Eve's boundaries in the hopes that he can bend them. I'm giving it zero chilies 🌶️ out of five chilies.

Overall, this novel had it's issues but it also had some interesting elements. I think the lack of consent when it came to the love interest was a big issue with the story. I really enjoyed the ending, it was action packed and even though I still had questions at the end I definitely didn't guess that it was going to end the way it did. Instead of giving this novel 1 stars for the lack of consent all throughout, I'm giving this 2 stars out of 5.
⭐️⭐️
2/5

I listened to this audiobook for free on [Libbyapp.com]

💬: “Einstein said, “The weak revenge. The strong forgive. The intelligent ignore.” 
F*ck that. Einstein wasn’t always right."

Abby, S.T.. The Risk (Mindf*ck Series #1) (p. 6). Kindle Edition. 

📖Genres: romance, dark, thriller, mystery, crime, novella

📚Page Count: 132

🎧Audiobook Length: 03h 28min

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 

TW -

The Risk is the first novella in The Mindf*ck Series by S. T. Abby. The Risk is about Lana, a victim of sex trafficking, who decides to get revenge on the men who harmed her and left her for dead. To make things complicated, Lana has started dating Logan who happens to be an FBI agent. Will Lana be able to finish her revenge mission or will she get caught by her new boyfriend, the FBI agent?

I think overall this story was entertaining, I'm not a fan of how short it is and how it ends on a cliff hanger. The novella ends at just over 130 pages and that's why it ended on a cliff hanger. I think the story is good for what it is so far, I can feel the thriller element in the book. I do like how the story is literally a mix of the shows "Criminal Minds" and "Dexter" and that mix itself is interesting. 

There were a few spicy scenes, they were just okay. I feel like because there's multiple murders going around and there's gore in the book that sex wouldn't really fit and I maintain that idea. This is my first dark romance and I just can't get into the spicy scenes when someone was graphically murdered a few pages beforehand. I'm giving it two chilies 🌶️🌶️ out of five chilies

Overall, this novella was interesting.  I'm giving this 4 stars out of 5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/5

I listened to this audiobook for free on [HooplaDigital.com]

💬: "The wind blew her hair forward, surrounding him in a silken wave of deepest brown threaded with black. He closed his eyes, drew in her scent. “I can wait,” he said when he opened his eyes. “For you, Kaia Luna, I’ll wait an eternity.”

Singh, Nalini. Ocean Light (Psy-Changeling Trinity Book 2) (p. 285). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. 

📖Genres: paranormal romance, romance, urban fantasy, adult

📚Page Count: 403

🎧Audiobook Length: 12h 52min

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 

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Silver Silence is the 17th book in the Psy/Changeling series and 2nd in the Psy/Changeling Trinity series both by Nalini Singh. Ocean Light is about human Security specialist Bowen Knight and Kaia Luna who is a former scientist turned cook where Bowen is being taken care of

because he suffered a major injury in the last book trying to save his sister

. Kaia is eventually kidnapped by those who mean to harm her and Bowen will do anything to save her. 

This book was interesting half of the time and boring the other half of the time. This book was more interesting than the one before it (Silver Silence) but it's still not as exciting as some of the original Psy/Changeling novels. Eventually Bowen and Kaia grew on me as a couple but it definitely took some time. I'm okay with the books being as long as they are, I just wished it was entertaining all the way through instead of only being exciting at select parts. 

I would say the spicy scenes were okay but I'm struggling to remember any of them, needless to say they weren't memorable. I'm giving it two chilies 🌶️🌶️ out of five chilies

Overall, Ocean Light was just better than the last book in the series, Silver Silence, but half the time the book was a bit boring. I'm getting a little concerned because so far The Trinity series hasn't really impressed me. This wasn't a terrible book, but it wasn't amazing either. I'm giving this book 3 stars out of 5. 
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 Stars

I listened to this for free on the library app [HooplaDigital.com]

💬: "Be wary what you read, Big Barda. Knowledge without scrutiny is poison."

Ukazu, Ngozi. Barda (pg. 111) DC Comics. NetGalley Advanced Reader's Copy Edition.

📖Genres: comics, graphic novels, super heroes, DC Comics, romance

📚Page Count: 191

🎧Audiobook Length: 00h 00min

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 4/5 
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Barda by Ngozi Ukazu is a comic published by DC Comics about the anti-hero, Big Barda. The story takes place on Apokolips and it's about the leader of the Female Furies on Apokolips, Big Barda. Barda has secretly thinking about the ideal of love, something that isn't talking about, accepted, or allowed on Apokolips. Granny Goodness the boss of the furies thinks that Barda is becoming too soft, so she's given Barda the task of torturing their new prisoner, Scott Free. Somehow, Barda finds herself allured by Scott Free. Will Barda be able to help Scott or will she stomp out this new ideal of love?

I think this graphic novel was entertaining and exciting. I loved that we get a backstory on Big Barda (even though it wasn't extensive) and that we get to see what it's like for her being the leader of the furies. Speaking of the furies, I really loved that each one of them had their own personalities. That was so pleasant. I also enjoyed the art style throughout the entire graphic novel. 

Overall I really enjoyed what this graphic novel had to offer. I love the art and I love that we get a Big Barda comic that shows the different sides to her as a character. This was an emotional story and it was told very well. I'm giving this 4 out of 5 stars. 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 4/5  Stars

Thank you [NetGalley.com], Ngozi Ukazu (the author), and DC Comics (publisher) for the arc (advanced reader's copy) of the audiobook.

💬: He pointed at my drink. 
"What are you drinking?"
"Malibu Sunrise, it's delicious"
'It looks good but I can't be seen drinking that."
I blinked rapidly, "Oh?" 

Allen, Danielle. Curvy Girl Summer (Chapter 6, p.?). Bramble. NetGalley Advanced Reader's Copy. 

📖Genres: romance, contemporary, contemporary romance

📚Page Count: 210

🎧Audiobook Length: 12h 23min

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 5/5 
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Curvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen is about Aaliyah James a plus sized 29 year old who wants to find a boyfriend for her 30th birthday celebration. Aaliyah's family members think that she's getting older and her time find a boyfriend, get married, and have children is running out. Annoyed with her family's comments, she lets them know that she does have a boyfriend and that he'll be at her 30th birthday celebration. She doesn't have a boyfriend yet but with online dating, how hard could finding one be? When the first date goes not as planned, the local bartender, at the bar where the date took place seems to be kind and funny enough to make Aaliyah feel hopeful about finding more people to date. The more she spends time with Ahmad the closer she feels to him. Will she find a boyfriend in time for her birthday and will he be from the online dating app "Tinderfish" or will he be the funny, handsome, and caring bartender?

Reading this book was such a great reading experience. This is my first slow burn romance novel and now I still why people like this trope so much. There's so much built up sexual an romantic tension and it feels as if everything will erupt during the climax of the book. I loved how Aaliyah and Ahmad teased each other relentlessly, it was so cute. It was so nice that they both loved concerts, live shows, and music in general. The miscommunication trope was in there and it was so annoying, like the situation was very obvious but the main character was just not getting it. That was annoying but the book was so good overall that I'm not going to change my rating because of that annoyance. Something the author did a really good job of including is what it feels like to be a plus size woman dating with dating apps and websites in the real world.  

The audio book narrator was really good, I enjoyed their voice for all the characters. Sometimes when an author voices several or many characters some of the voices sound off but that was NOT the case with Wesleigh Siobhan and their narration. All of the words are clear and concise and the individual voices they use for each character fits so well with the story. 

Talk about a slow burn! There are two spicy scenes and let me be honest, the spicy scenes don't start happening until well over 80% through the book. The scenes come late in the book but I honestly think it was worth it. I don't really like spicy scenes with unprotected sex with almost strangers or first time lovers, though I did like the scenes in general. I'm giving the spicy scenes four chilies 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️out of five chilies

This book was a pleasant surprise! I really enjoyed myself while listening to this audiobook. It was fantastic. I'm giving this 5 out of 5 stars. 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 5/5  Stars

Thank you [NetGalley.com], Danielle Allen (the author), and Macmillan Audio (publisher) for the arc (advanced reader's copy) of the audiobook.

💬: "The Trinity Accord is the fragile foundation of all their hopes and dreams of a future without war, without violence, without shattering loss. It is a noble ambition. But the past is not an old coat that can be discarded and forgotten. It is a scent that clings and clings and clings.

Singh, Nalini. Silver Silence (Psy-Changeling Trinity Book 1) (p. 1). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. 

📖Genres: paranormal romance, romance, urban fantasy, adult

📚Page Count: 479

🎧Audiobook Length: 16h 01min

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 

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Silver Silence is the 16th book in the Psy/Changeling series and 1st in the Psy/Changeling Trinity series both by Nalini Singh. This book is about Silver Mercant, a Psy and Valentin Nikolaev, an alpha bear. Silver is stationed at Valentin's bear compound where she's been helping keep an eye on things since the Trinity Accord as been established. Silver gets poisoned and almost dies as a result and now Silver along with the Mercant family and Valentin are looking for the culprit. 

This book had stuff going on but it really FELT like nothing was happening for the duration of the book. Silver gets poisoned at the beginning so I assumed this book would be about hunting down the culprit and they eventually do that but it takes so long. Valentine courted Silver and it was a cute story but it went by so slowly, this book took me 4 weeks (A WHOLE MONTH) to finish because there was very little action on the page. I'm actually disappointed with how boring this was. 

The spicy scenes were below average for me,  there were two of them and they weren't my favorite scenes. I'm not a huge fan of the virgin heroine and the painful first time, the second scene was a little better but still just "okay". I'm giving it two chilies 🌶️🌶️ out of five chilies

Overall, Silver Silence was just okay but it was definitely on the boring side. I'm giving this book 3 stars out of 5. 
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 Stars

I listened to this for free on the library app [HooplaDigital.com]

💬: "Of my friend, I can only say this...of all the souls I have encountered in my travels his was the most human."

Kirk's eulogy for Spock and "The Most Human: Reconciling with my Father's" opening quote.

📖Genres: non-fiction, memoir

📚Page Count: 272

🎧Audiobook Length: 09:18 

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️  - 4/5


The Most Human: Reconciling with My Father, Leonard Nimoy by Adam Nimoy is a moving and emotional account of Adam Nimoy's experience of growing up with his famous father, Leonard Nimoy. In this memoir Adam Nimoy recounts the ups and downs that he had with his father growing as well as substance abuse issues and alcoholism that he and his father dealt with respectively. He uses the journey of writing this memoir to finally reconcile with his father and the struggle that Adam Nimoy had with a distant family member (his father) was very relatable. The audiobook was read by Adam Nimoy and his reading of his memoir was good. 

I don't normally give ratings to memoirs, but I'll give this 4 stars. 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️  - 4/5

Thank you [NetGalley.com], Adam Nimoy (the author), and Dreamscape Media (the publisher) for the arc audiobook (advanced reader's copy.)

💬:N/A

📖Genres: fiction, fantasy,  young adult, LGBT, queer

📚Page Count: 474

🎧Audiobook Length: N/A

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: DNF

TW -

Abandonment, Gun violence, Death, Cursing, Murder, Violence, Death of parent, Blood, and Grief

Thank you so much to NETGALLEY and the PUBLISHER for my arc (advanced reader's copy) of this book. 

This story is about Venus, a Witcher (a person who controls a type of magic) and her family of Witchers. Venus is a powerful brewer and her and her mother sell illegal potions to people for money. At around 25% of the way through the book someone

kills Venus' mother.

Eventually Venus is offered a chance at revenge, will she take it?

The pacing in this book felt slow and I had a hard time caring about the characters. The side characters all seemed one dimensional but I'm putting this novel on hold until the audiobook releases, so I can't be for sure. The world building felt very heavy but not in a good way. 

The world building was interesting but the way it was delivered felt really clunky. At the beginning of each chapter there was exposition in the form of a newspaper article, an email, or some other source. On top of that at the beginning of every chapter, there was exposition littered throughout the conversations and through the narrator's comments. The information overload became too much. 

What I read of this book was just okay, I'm going to DNF for now and then finish it once the audiobook is released. 
DNF until later date.

💬: N/A

📖Genres: sci-fi, fiction, adult, fantasy, space, robot, space opera

📚Page Count: N/A

🎧Audiobook Length: 02h 33min

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 5/5 
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All Systems Red written by Martha Wells produced by Graphic Audio is the dramatized adaptation of the first book in the Murderbot Diaries series of the same name, All Systems Red. This is the story of an android SecUnit named Murderbot who's hacked their governor module so they can watch their favorite show, or serial. Murderbot wants nothing more than to be left alone but when a mission goes sideways, they have to get involved with the humans they're there to protect. 

I enjoyed the original novella, All Systems Red by Martha Wells. It was really interesting and a bit funny, I instantly liked Murderbot. The dramatized adaptation gives each character a voice actor and that adds so much charm to the story and the characters. I really enjoyed the story and the characters, it kind of makes me sad that

Murderbot decided to leave and journey to a new place alone, even though I understand the idea of them wanting to be free and not controlled in any way. I was just growing to like the crew of characters, but I know we'll meet new characters down the line.

Overall, the dramatized adaptation was entertaining, action filled, and funny. I enjoyed the time I spent listening to Murderbot and their crew of specialists. I'm excited to hear about what they get into next. I'm giving it 5 stars out of 5.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 5/5  Stars

I listened to this for free on [Hoopladigital.com]