Thunderhead – book review

Thunderhead Arc of a Scythe #2 by Neal Shusterman Dystopian Science Fiction Suspense Thriller * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) The Scythedom is split into factions – those who respect the old ways and take their responsibilities seriously, and those who embrace killing for its own pleasure and who would like to repeal their self-imposed restrictions. The Mid-American High Blade’s position is left vacant when Xenocrates accepts a new title – Grandslayer. Whomever is … Read more

Warcross – book review

Warcross Warcross #1 by Marie Lu Mystery Science Fiction Suspense Thriller * * * * Stars (Great!) Emika Chen is a teenage hacker who has been trying to survive as a bounty hunter since her father died and she was kicked out of school for illegally retrieving and releasing sensitive data about other students and their parents.  Facing crushing debt and eviction, she uses one of her hacks to steal a valuable power-up during the … Read more

Artemis (Weir) – book review

Artemis by Andy Weir Mystery Science Fiction Suspense Thriller * * * * Stars (Great!) Jasmine (Jazz) Bashara is a brilliant porter/smuggler living in Artemis (moon colony) who makes really poor life choices.  When she agrees to sabotage some harvesters for one of her clients in return for a million slugs (a sort of moon-based credit system), Jazz has no idea that the company she’s violating is a front for the mob, and that her … Read more

Girl with the Wrong Name – book review

The Girl with the Wrong Name by Barnabas Miller Mystery Psychological Suspense Thriller * * * Stars (Pretty good) Theodore (Theo) Lane has a new obsession – Andy Reese.  She’s been watching him (and filming him for her documentary) for several days now at an NYC café, and when she finally gets up the courage to talk to him and hears his sad story, she can’t resist helping him.  Andy has been waiting for a … Read more

Dire King – book review

The Dire King Jackaby #4 by William Ritter Mystery Supernatural Suspense Thriller * * * * Stars (Great!) Jackaby and his assistant Abigail Rook are facing the greatest challenge of their professional lives.  The Dire King now has almost everything he needs to rip away the barrier between the Anwynn (Faerie) and the human world.  In fact, looking back, now they can see his hand behind the troubles that have been brewing between their world … Read more

Through the Woods – book review

Through the Woods by Emily Carroll Graphic Novel Horror Short Stories Supernatural Suspense Thriller * * * * Stars (Great!) Emily Carroll shares 5 chilling tales in this short story, graphic novel collection. Murders, ghosts, voices in the dark, supernatural creatures, inexplicable happenings. Sharp reds bleed through black and grey pages, highlighting suspenseful and terrifying scenes. Corpses and blood and disturbing teeth permeate these pages, but scenes are not overly graphic. Those who enjoy the … Read more

Bitter Side of Sweet – book review

The Bitter Side of Sweet by Tara Sullivan Realistic Fiction Suspense Thriller * * * * Stars (Great!) Amadou and his younger brother Seydou have been tricked into working on a small, remote, cacao plantation in the Ivory Coast.  They are far away from their home in Mali, which they left 2 years ago in order to find work and make money to send back home.  This “job,” however, doesn’t pay, and the brothers, along … Read more

Martian – Read It and Rate It

The Martian by Andy Weir Adventure Science Fiction Suspense Thriller Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) The Martian is one of those books that exceeds your expectations by a long shot. You may think it’s a boring book, but wait, it has potatoes! Astronaut Mark Watney is left on Mars when a satellite his him and his crew abandons him. He has to figure out how to make food, water, and energy … Read more

Nerve – book review

Nerve by Jeanne Ryan Suspense Thriller * * * Stars (Pretty good) Vee is used to being overshadowed by her best friend who gets starring roles in theatrical productions while Vee works on makeup and costuming behind the scenes.But when the guy she likes dares her to shine by auditioning for the reality show, Nerve, Vee decides to take a chance. All she has to do is get filmed while completing a dare. It’s not … Read more

When We Wake – book review

When We Wake by Karen Healey Science Fiction Suspense Thriller * * * * Stars (Great!) Tegan Oglietti’s life is just getting good when a sniper’s bullet accidentally finds her. She wakes up confused and disoriented 100 years later – the first successful revival in a cryogenics experiment. As Tegan learns more about the world she now lives in she’s equal parts delighted and dismayed to discover what’s changed – for the better and the … Read more