Book Info: Genre: Literary Fiction Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: People who like deep stories exploring dark ideas Trigger Warnings: abuse of immBook Info: Genre: Literary Fiction Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: People who like deep stories exploring dark ideas Trigger Warnings: abuse of immigrants and minorities, (essentially) slavery, sweatshops, child abuse and neglect, murder
My Thoughts: I don't even know where to begin with this one. My rating is not about the quality of the book. This book is very well-written, almost lyrical at times. My rating is based upon the fact that this just isn't the sort of book I like. It turned out to be different from what I expected. I had hoped for a magical reality or fantasy and instead this is dark realism, very harsh, very ugly world in which asylum-seekers in England are essentially enslaved and treated like subhumans. It will probably enrage a lot of people to think of these sorts of abuses.
Another reason I didn't enjoy the book more was that I found Christie to be unbearably annoying. She has a bad attitude, a bad temper, treats everyone around her like dirt, and constantly complains about how unfair life is. The only character in this book that I didn't intensely dislike was Damon aka Diamond, and many of his sections are first-person, present-tense stream-of-consciousness, so somewhat hard to read. However, obviously the characters are well-defined and developed, because you cannot dislike someone who don't understand, right?
Also, the last two chapters of this book are the same. That is, the chapter simply repeats. I have no idea why it is like that, I assume it is some sort of error. It appears that it is the last chapter of the book, so I was able to read the whole thing; it was just weird to have that extra, duplicate chapter slapped on.
So, if this all sounds like something you would be interested in, check this book out.
Disclosure: I received an e-book ARC from the LibraryThing Early Reviewer's program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Mameluke Bath is the bizarre story of Christie Smithkin, a 39-year-old misfit, misanthrope and virgin, who lives in the nightmarish English city of St Pauly.
Friendless, paranoid, and lacking the funds she needs for the completion of her PhD thesis, mixed-race Christie’s only hope lies in a new ‘asylum-seeker mentoring’ scheme for which she has recently volunteered as a mentor. Offering guidance to recently-arrived African refugees fleeing torture will, she prays, provide her with a sense of social purpose and perhaps even emotional connection.
Christie’s plan goes awry when she discovers that Mukelenge, her Congolese mentee, has already been assigned a mentor: Damon, a cheerful, vapid, white male nurse. Worse still, Mukelenge is settling into urban East Midlands society with unnerving confidence and poise. Piqued by the immigrant’s miraculous feats of integration, Christie becomes uncontrollably jealous when she realises that Mukelenge is also casting a spell of seduction over the handsome, doll-like Damon.
Christie’s determination to solve the mystery of Mukelenge’s identity, to rescue Damon from the real or imagined horrors of a zombie-factory deep in the woods, and to come to terms with her own terrifying childhood, will hurtle all three protagonists towards a macabre conclusion in the nearby spa town of Mameluke Bath. ...more
Book Info: Genre: Dark Fiction Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: Those who like something different, those interested in Celtic culture Trigger WarniBook Info: Genre: Dark Fiction Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: Those who like something different, those interested in Celtic culture Trigger Warnings: murder, ritual sacrifice, mass murder Animals: Cat murder, goat murder, attempted cat murder
My Thoughts: Wow, what a powerful story. It will baffle all expectations, since it is written like a journal. Or did this truly happen? That is the question that is left floating in the reader's mind after reading this.
I've been fascinated by Celtic culture for decades, and so I found this particularly interesting. I wonder how much of this the author has confirmed, or if it is something she made up completely? There is no way to know. I wish I could have read this a couple weeks ago, it would have been perfect for Halloween. If you've been looking for something shiver-inducing, but not too long, check out this awesome novella.
Disclosure: I received an e-book ARC from the LibraryThing Early Reviewer's program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: When Lisa Morton, author of The Halloween Encyclopedia, is called in to consult on the recent discovery of a fifteen-hundred-year-old Celtic manuscript, she’s at first excited about the light this monumental find might shed on Samhain, the mysterious Celtic precursor to Halloween.
Conor ó Cuinn, the Irish archaeologist who excavated the manuscript, thinks it reveals ancient magic. Lisa is skeptical… until people around her begin dying. Dr. Wilson Armitage, the university professor who was translating the manuscript, is found torn apart by wild animals… or was he actually attacked by vicious sidh, malicious Celtic spirits that wreak havoc every Samhain?
As October 31st approaches, the border between our realm and one of murderous spirits begins to dissolve. Can Lisa survive Halloween night and use her knowledge to set the world right again? ...more
Book Info: Genre: Speculative fiction Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: fans of speculative fiction Trigger Warnings: murder, violence, torture
My ThBook Info: Genre: Speculative fiction Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: fans of speculative fiction Trigger Warnings: murder, violence, torture
My Thoughts: This was a really strange book, and I ended up reading it much more slowly that I normally read books. There was just so much going on that I kept needing to stop and process for awhile. On the one hand you have the caper aspect of the story, which involves Novik and Josie (and Benny and Mr. Car and then Marytha) doing their best to crash the economy, which is currently being bolstered by the administration urging people to buy, buy, buy. Then there is a huge conspiracy/dystopian element from the US administration, doing their best to take over the world. There are aliens (or are there?), and the talking car, and crazy weird weapons.
This world is very different from our current world in a lot of ways. For instance, in this future, it is “cool” and sexy to be heavy. Morbidly obese women are the superstars of the day. The pop group Bariatric Babes, and Palfinger Crane's daughter, Ellen, are held up as icons. The global temperature is higher, which has led to many low-lying areas along the coasts, and small islands, being flooded. In response, the EU has gone green, and Canada has planted a lot of trees, as have people in the Amazon.
Some of the things I found quite funny, such as some of the crazy rants that Novik and Benny went on under the influence of the drug on the money. I had one particular one highlighted to share, but my Nook is not working properly, so I'm not able to copy it out. But there is some very funny stuff there. Mr. Car is also very funny, especially when he goes out on his own and we keep hearing the rumors from various blog and magazine articles.
The idea of the para-humans is very cool, although I don't know how realistic it would be. There would need to be significant changes made to various creatures to allow them speech, for example. But it was a cool idea and one I enjoyed.
The US government is scary in this book. The president is crazy, and has surrounded herself with more crazy people. Another scary thing is the Meeja technology, which as nearly as I can tell is basically an artificial reality system.
The characters are wonderful, all very well developed. If you like speculative fiction, especially with some great characters, and a plot well balanced between character development and action, check out this book. Very enjoyable.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewer's Program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Novik and Josie have a lot of catching up to do. Two years he's been in jail; two years she's been waiting. They never want to be apart again. A stress-filled encounter with some "Old-fashioned Boys" at a chain eatery turns their best of intentions upside-down; they're now on the run and in possession of a super-hot sentient muscle car and over 190 million dollars, covered with a potent psychoactive powder. Welcome to the Shopocalypse. ...more
Book Info: Genre: Thriller Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: People who like very dark stories Trigger Warnings: murder, suicide
My Thoughts: I read aBook Info: Genre: Thriller Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: People who like very dark stories Trigger Warnings: murder, suicide
My Thoughts: I read and quite liked this author's earlier book, The Cursed Man (review linked here). As a result, I had fairly high expectations for this book. Unfortunately it was only mediocre.
First of all, the characters were all caricatures. The noble doctor, his perfect wife, the honorable police officer, the scumbag gangsters... There was very little depth to any of the characters, and what depth there was only ended up being exposed right at the very end. The editing also was less than stellar, including such things as “baron” for “barren” and “gruy're” for “gruyere”.
Finally, while I do enjoy dark fiction, and even horror, the existential angst that this book caused me was almost more than I could bear. The overall message is about how negative reactions will simply lead to more negative reactions in a never-ending cycle of death and despair. I'm okay with this sort of storyline in horror or fantasy, but this was realism and highly depressing.
Nonetheless, I think a lot of people will enjoy this book, especially if you like gritty reality in a thriller, and very dark fiction, so if it sounds like the sort of thing you like, go ahead and check it out.
Disclosure: I received an ARC e-book copy from LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Rainer is a successful doctor and father of two. He’s a celebrated member of the community for his exceptional care and charity work. Brick is a local street thug that can’t keep his nose clean. When fate brings the two together through tragedy, the life of Rainer is changed dramatically.
Glenn is a seasoned cop and Rainer’s younger brother. Trusting the justice system, he keeps his desire for revenge in check as Brick is brought to trial. But when the jury hands Brick a lean sentence, Glenn sets out to avenge his family’s suffering. But what he forgets in his rage is that for every action, there is a reaction. ...more
My Thoughts: I have loved Patrick Freivald's YA urban fantasy series Twice Shy, so was very excited he was releasing an adult book, and in one of my favorite genres: thriller.
This is a very strange book. I'm honestly not quite sure what to think of it. Of course it is very well written—this is Patrick Freivald after all—and the character development is very good. The twists and turns just keep coming, and there is just no telling who is going to do what at any given time. The writing, then, is very good. I'm just not sure what to make of the plot device regarding who is behind the murders. But I can't really go into that here, as that would be spoilers.
Anyway, the fact is this is a good, solid thriller, and fans of thrillers, mysteries, and suspense novels should find it an enjoyable read, so check it out.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this e-book from Journalstone via LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Paul Renner has toyed with the FBI since his first kill.
When an anonymous contract threatens his father’s life, his search for answers hits a dead end. Desperate to save his dad, he cuts a deal with Special Agent Gene Palomini.
With each new development, the FBI needs Paul less, and their agreement begins to unravel. As they fall into a world of inhuman violence and macabre medicine, each side knows that betrayal is only a matter of time. ...more
Book Info: Genre: Dark Urban Fantasy/Metaphysical Thriller Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: Those to whom it calls, those interested in something mBook Info: Genre: Dark Urban Fantasy/Metaphysical Thriller Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: Those to whom it calls, those interested in something more, deeper Trigger Warnings: fighting, violence, killing, suicide
My Thoughts: The books in the Apocalyptic Series are a strange beast. Mixing action with metaphysics, Buddhism, and a completely open way of looking at the world, we experience the evolution of Lilith from what she was toward what she could be. She's a great character, but I liked all the characters in this book. Jinx is, as in the first book, a complete delight; Arthur is cryptic, and Ananda is... Ananda. We meet Devlin (and I was so psyched when I found out who he originally was! I figured it out before Lilith, but in her defense it was one of my favorite topics so I caught the hints she did not) and Mara, and find out that everything is not always as it seems.
There is still so much to explore in this universe. I do not know when/if there will be another book in this series, but I know I'll be watching for it, because this is just the sort of mind-twisting that I find most irresistible. If you're looking for deeper meaning, if you enjoy reading things that will twist your brain and make you think, if you are interested in metaphysical ideas of time and space, definitely check out this amazing series.
Series Information: The Apocalyptic Series Book 1: Craving, review linked here Book 2: The One We Feed
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from JournalStone through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: After the bizarre suicide of her sister, Lilith Pierce discovered that the world was full of dangers and villains she could not have imagined, and that the history of human civilization was far from complete. Now, gifted with tremendous powers she barely understands, Lilith is determined to stop whatever plots and schemes her immortal cousins, the Sangha, can hatch. When a simple reconnaissance mission ends in tragedy; however, Lilith’s entire focus changes.
Attempting to save a child she's never met from a fate worse than death will require every ounce of Lilith’s strength, forge new and treacherous alliances, and possibly change the world forever. Suddenly all eyes are on her, and the destiny of the human race is on her shoulders.
A thrill ride with soul for a new generation of thinkers!...more
Book Info: Genre: Suspense/Thriller Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: Everyone Trigger Warnings: murder, kidnapping, themes relating to Japanese inteBook Info: Genre: Suspense/Thriller Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: Everyone Trigger Warnings: murder, kidnapping, themes relating to Japanese interment during WWII and the bombing of Hiroshima, revenge
My Thoughts: This is Douglas Wynne's second novel, following the “rock'n'roll horror” novel “The Devil of Echo Lake” (review linked here). I'm astonished by this author's versatility. His first novel has fantastical themes, while this one is limited to reality; his first novel is defined as horror (although I felt it was more dark fantasy), while this one is suspense/thriller. In both cases, the characters, the descriptions, the fast-paced action keep the reader flipping the pages as fast as possible. It's wonderful to see an author willing to experiment and try different things and succeed at it so well.
I felt Desmond was a really good character, nicely developed with realistic reactions and motivations. Fournier felt a bit less developed to me, but we still were aware of his motivations and why he was doing what he did. The ending was bittersweet and felt just right. Again, I highly recommend you read the books by this talented new(ish) writer. They're well worth the time.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this e-book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: It’s been a year since novelist Desmond Carmichael's wife Sandy was brutally murdered. Now, with someone stalking him and his four-year-old son, he fears that the wrong man has been imprisoned for the crime. Sandy’s parents and Detective Chuck Fournier have a different fear: that Desmond, despondent over Sandy’s death, has become too unstable to raise his own son.
To prove them wrong, Desmond must work outside the law to defeat a threat born in the dust of an American wasteland, baptized by fire, and hellbent on riding the winds of karma. ...more
Book Info: Genre: Short story anthology/Self-help parody Reading Level: MG on up Recommended for: Those who want to be a super villain, or a supervillaiBook Info: Genre: Short story anthology/Self-help parody Reading Level: MG on up Recommended for: Those who want to be a super villain, or a supervillain for that matter...
My Thoughts: Okay, this was just hilarious. A series of articles including advice on all aspects of being Super Evil, including the care and maintenance of minions, person.al presentation, etc. If you've been wanting some advice on how to be truly Evil, whether it's big or small, you can find that here. Don't miss the biography section at the end that gives information on the various villains that wrote the papers (and the pen names by which they are better known to the outside world). This is an all-ages sort of book, I think anyone with a sense of humor will enjoy it and have a lot of laughs, so definitely check it out
Disclosure: I received an e-book copy of this through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: In an almost unprecedented move, a conclave of The Super Evil convened last year at a secret lair in North America to create a guide book for aspiring ne'er-do-wells. The result? A collection of papers known generally as "A Method to the Madness: a Guide to the Super Evil," a collection destined to become the handbook globally of every evil genius.
The collection includes 24 papers presented by evil luminaries such as Her Serene Omnipotence Calassandra, Conqueror and Empress; Janus Kinase Hateyuaniwae, BFA, PhD, PhD, FRCCP, P.Eng; and Dr. Evil-n-Carnate, Frequent Flyer, Grocery Shopper and Overlord Of Cubical Block 3257J - to name but a few.
Between the 24 sages who assembled at the North American Conclave, they created insightful papers on the pressing subjects of "Cognitive Perspective in the Pursuit of Evil; Principles of Biology and Genetics for Minion Breeding Programs;" and, "The Importance of Date Night to the Married Super Villain."...more
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