Breaking the Dark Marvel Crime series #1 by Lisa Jewell Adventure Mystery Suspense Thriller Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) If you like a great detective novel with many twists and turns, I would recommend Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell. The book revolves around a detective and her struggles with her personal and professional life. The antagonist in this story is a woman who is power-hungry and craves to remain in power … Read more
The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey Realistic Fiction Romance Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) Daphne and her two best friends have spent all of their summers together at camp since they were six. Now that they are adults, this has not stopped them from having fun and getting close. Except for some hiccups in the past… “Summer of Songbirds” is about coming closer together while learning to deal with individuality … Read more
The Stand by Stephen King Dystopian Horror Science Fiction Supernatural Suspense Thriller Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Stephen King’s “The Stand” is a dystopian genre novel (though flavorings of multiple genres are present in the text) that chronicles the journeys of an ensemble cast of characters as they learn to survive in an America that has been ravaged by a genetically engineered plague known as the Superflu. As the survivors of … Read more
The Endless War by Danielle L. Jensen Adventure Fantasy Romance Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Political romance, Zarrah has been sent to Devil’s Island, which no one has escaped. She is sent there because of her star-crossed love to the enemy’s kingdom’s new king. The king must team up with neighboring nations to help rescue Zarrah. Published for adults.
A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent Lady Trent Memoirs #1 by Marie Brennan Adventure Fantasy Historical Fiction Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Growing up in a Victorian-esque era, Isabella Hendemore has a problem. She likes dragons—, no, she loves dragons. However, this is not very ladylike. And, when an incident with a dragon who is most definitely not dead leaves Isabella with several scars across her shoulder, … Read more
Aurora Aurora #1 by Red Adventure Fantasy Graphic Novel Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) The city of Vash has fallen to a mysterious mage known as the Collector, who has taken the soul of its god. Kendal, the city’s sole survivor, has been tasked to retrieve said god. He soon encounters Alinua, a hermit who is finally free to see the world. The two set off on an adventure neither of … Read more
A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher Fantasy * * * * Stars (Great!) Cordelia’s mother Evangeline is a sorceress who often makes her behave by taking control of her body. She’s not allowed any privacy, and if her mother disapproves of anything she does she is punished by being made to be obedient. It is the most horrible feeling/experience. When their current benefactor stops paying the bills, Evangeline decides that it’s time for … Read more
Through the Elder Woods Nothing Special, v. 1 by Katie Cook Adventure Fantasy Funny Graphic Novel * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Callie’s dad has a magical items shop, and he regularly goes through the gate (she’s not allowed) into another world where he retrieves these objects. The reason of WHY she’s not allowed beyond the gate is a discussion they’ve tabled until she’s older, but before they can have that talk, he disappears. … Read more
The Raven and the Reindeer by T. Kingfisher Adventure Fantasy Retelling of the Snow Queen Romance * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) In her author’s note, T. Kingfisher says this has its roots Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen,” but it’s much more palatable. “Hans Christian Andersen was a weird dude…His idea of a happy ending is that everybody died attended by angels (or if you are very fortunate, in church with your feet … Read more
Toto by AJ Hackwith Fantasy Retelling * * * Stars (Pretty good) The Wizard of Oz from Toto’s point of view (with nods to current culture trends). This is a breezy read in some ways – just touching upon a lot of plot points that receive more attention in L. Frank Baum’s books/the movie. But the characters offer up a lot of surprises – the Scarecrow wasn’t always thus and is a magic practitioner in … Read more