Book Info: Genre: Cyberpunk/Science Fiction/Detective Noir Reading Level: Adult
My Thoughts: This is a very dark book – the world in 2078 is not a nicBook Info: Genre: Cyberpunk/Science Fiction/Detective Noir Reading Level: Adult
My Thoughts: This is a very dark book – the world in 2078 is not a nice place at all. Seattle has completely changed – what used to be a quirky and artistic place has been replaced with corporate sterility, only the Verge standing between the New City and the Old City retains any of the original charm.
The book was well-written with good characterization and a smooth plot flow, but for some reason I just couldn’t get into it; my mind kept wandering away and I’d have to re-read a section and force myself to keep going. It makes no sense to me, because this is the sort of book I tend to like – science fiction mixed with thriller and police procedural. I almost didn’t finish it, but I pushed through and managed to do so. The last 8 percent of the story is pretty important to understanding the whole thing, so I was glad I did so. However, I just didn’t like the story all that much – nothing wrong with it, it just didn’t hold my attention. Maybe it was just too dark – because it was very, very dark. If you like dark fiction, you should check it out.
Disclosure: I received a free e-Galley from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Seattle, 2078. The future hasn't been kind to the spirit of humanity; commercial obsession and technological fetishism rules the day, religion and belief has died screaming in the fires of war, and what remains is moral decrepitude. Life in the future is hard on the soul.
As an agent of the Industrial Security Bureau, Thomas Walken knows that better than anyone. His job is to keep the worst kind of black-market technology out of the hands of citizens, technology born out of the shadowy nation nicknamed Wonderland. But the kind of fantasies that come out of that place aren't for the good people of the world. Wonderland technology is like black magic made real.
Walken's newest assignment starts out simply: intercept a smuggled shipment of Princess Dolls, little girls turned into sex toys, and bring them into custody. But when the girls are hijacked from federal custody and Walken gives chase, he finds a trail of bodies in their wake. Before he's through, Walken will find himself confronted revelations that will answer every question that the troubled lawman has ever had about himself and the world he lives in - but his mind and soul may not survive it.
Merged review:
Book Info: Genre: Cyberpunk/Science Fiction/Detective Noir Reading Level: Adult
My Thoughts: This is a very dark book – the world in 2078 is not a nice place at all. Seattle has completely changed – what used to be a quirky and artistic place has been replaced with corporate sterility, only the Verge standing between the New City and the Old City retains any of the original charm.
The book was well-written with good characterization and a smooth plot flow, but for some reason I just couldn’t get into it; my mind kept wandering away and I’d have to re-read a section and force myself to keep going. It makes no sense to me, because this is the sort of book I tend to like – science fiction mixed with thriller and police procedural. I almost didn’t finish it, but I pushed through and managed to do so. The last 8 percent of the story is pretty important to understanding the whole thing, so I was glad I did so. However, I just didn’t like the story all that much – nothing wrong with it, it just didn’t hold my attention. Maybe it was just too dark – because it was very, very dark. If you like dark fiction, you should check it out.
Disclosure: I received a free e-Galley from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Seattle, 2078. The future hasn't been kind to the spirit of humanity; commercial obsession and technological fetishism rules the day, religion and belief has died screaming in the fires of war, and what remains is moral decrepitude. Life in the future is hard on the soul.
As an agent of the Industrial Security Bureau, Thomas Walken knows that better than anyone. His job is to keep the worst kind of black-market technology out of the hands of citizens, technology born out of the shadowy nation nicknamed Wonderland. But the kind of fantasies that come out of that place aren't for the good people of the world. Wonderland technology is like black magic made real.
Walken's newest assignment starts out simply: intercept a smuggled shipment of Princess Dolls, little girls turned into sex toys, and bring them into custody. But when the girls are hijacked from federal custody and Walken gives chase, he finds a trail of bodies in their wake. Before he's through, Walken will find himself confronted revelations that will answer every question that the troubled lawman has ever had about himself and the world he lives in - but his mind and soul may not survive it....more
Book Info: Genre: Cyberpunk/Dark Science Fiction/Police Procedural Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: fans of police procedurals, sci-fi
My Thoughts: Book Info: Genre: Cyberpunk/Dark Science Fiction/Police Procedural Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: fans of police procedurals, sci-fi
My Thoughts: This book is set in the same universe as Shadow of a Dead Star (review link here for places that support links), which is set two years after this one, set in 2076.
I should point out that galleys – even e-galleys – are usually uncorrected proofs, so hopefully this will be fixed in the final copy, but Angie’s eyes kept changing color: first green, then blue, then green again, then blue again... There were also a lot of missing words – mostly “a” and “the” and things like that, but it still broke up the flow a bit.
There was one scene that really bothered me – Dan, the main guy, had a run-in with a Pacification officer who was a serious racist. Dan was thinking to himself how ironic it was that this officer, who was a homosexual, was no longer under stigma for this, yet was a racist – it just felt like “ZOMG look at us, we’re so advanced now that our homosexuals are racist!” It felt... forced, I guess.
Now you would think with all this complaining I didn’t like it, but that would be wrong. I actually did like it – much better than the other one, which I had a very difficult time finishing. I’m really not certain why I had a difficult time with Shadow of a Dead Star but enjoyed this one. I suppose a lot of it had to do with the subtle humor in phrases like “a look that would have shamed a cat with its sheer lack of approval” or “matching the Iceman act with the power of Like-I-Give-A-Fuck”. Dan is also a great character, and the reader develops a really good feel for him. I enjoyed the character interactions and thought the writer did a great job of keeping us in the dark about the secret behind everything until the denouement.
So, fans of police procedurals set in a futuristic world should enjoy this, as well as those who enjoyed Shadow of a Dead Star or those who like cyberpunk thrillers.
Disclosure: I received a free e-galley from Curiosity Quills via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: In the wasteland of commercial culture that is future America, police are operated not by government but by private companies. In Seattle, that role is filled by Civil Protection, and Daniel Gray is a detective in Homicide Solutions. What used to be considered an important – even glamorous – department for public police is very different for the corporate species, and Gray finds himself stuck in a dead end job.
That is, until the Spine Thief arrives.
When a serial killer begins harvesting the spinal tissue of corporate employees all over the city, Detective Gray finds himself plunged into the first truly major case of his career. Caught in a dangerous mix of murder, betrayal and conflicting corporate interest, Gray will find himself not only matching wits with a diabolical murderer but grappling with his growing doubt toward his employers in the dawning months of the American tricentennial. A thrilling mystery set in the same world as the Wonderland Cycle, Bone Wires is a grim trip into the streets of the empty future
Merged review:
Book Info: Genre: Cyberpunk/Dark Science Fiction/Police Procedural Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: fans of police procedurals, sci-fi
My Thoughts: This book is set in the same universe as Shadow of a Dead Star (review link here for places that support links), which is set two years after this one, set in 2076.
I should point out that galleys – even e-galleys – are usually uncorrected proofs, so hopefully this will be fixed in the final copy, but Angie’s eyes kept changing color: first green, then blue, then green again, then blue again... There were also a lot of missing words – mostly “a” and “the” and things like that, but it still broke up the flow a bit.
There was one scene that really bothered me – Dan, the main guy, had a run-in with a Pacification officer who was a serious racist. Dan was thinking to himself how ironic it was that this officer, who was a homosexual, was no longer under stigma for this, yet was a racist – it just felt like “ZOMG look at us, we’re so advanced now that our homosexuals are racist!” It felt... forced, I guess.
Now you would think with all this complaining I didn’t like it, but that would be wrong. I actually did like it – much better than the other one, which I had a very difficult time finishing. I’m really not certain why I had a difficult time with Shadow of a Dead Star but enjoyed this one. I suppose a lot of it had to do with the subtle humor in phrases like “a look that would have shamed a cat with its sheer lack of approval” or “matching the Iceman act with the power of Like-I-Give-A-Fuck”. Dan is also a great character, and the reader develops a really good feel for him. I enjoyed the character interactions and thought the writer did a great job of keeping us in the dark about the secret behind everything until the denouement.
So, fans of police procedurals set in a futuristic world should enjoy this, as well as those who enjoyed Shadow of a Dead Star or those who like cyberpunk thrillers.
Disclosure: I received a free e-galley from Curiosity Quills via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: In the wasteland of commercial culture that is future America, police are operated not by government but by private companies. In Seattle, that role is filled by Civil Protection, and Daniel Gray is a detective in Homicide Solutions. What used to be considered an important – even glamorous – department for public police is very different for the corporate species, and Gray finds himself stuck in a dead end job.
That is, until the Spine Thief arrives.
When a serial killer begins harvesting the spinal tissue of corporate employees all over the city, Detective Gray finds himself plunged into the first truly major case of his career. Caught in a dangerous mix of murder, betrayal and conflicting corporate interest, Gray will find himself not only matching wits with a diabolical murderer but grappling with his growing doubt toward his employers in the dawning months of the American tricentennial. A thrilling mystery set in the same world as the Wonderland Cycle, Bone Wires is a grim trip into the streets of the empty future...more
Book Info: Genre: Literary Suspense Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: Fans of the series, of gothic fiction, those interested in reincarnation theorBook Info: Genre: Literary Suspense Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: Fans of the series, of gothic fiction, those interested in reincarnation theories Book Available: In hardcover, Kindle, MP3 CD, and Audible formats Trigger Warnings: Euthanasia, murder, suicide, torture, brother beating his sister with a whip
My Thoughts: M.J. Rose's latest Reincarnationist book is as beautifully evocative as previous entries into the series. Generally speaking, the Reincarnationist series is set up in two trilogies—books one through three, then books four through six—so this book concludes the Jac trilogy.
This book, like the The Book of Lost Fragrances and Seduction, deals with scents and sensualness with a lushness that is intoxicating. The scents are described so well I can almost smell them, and the few sex scenes are beautifully sensual without being crude.
The ideas raised on reincarnation are fascinating to me, and resonate strongly to me with a sense of truth. M.J. Rose appears to have done a great deal of research into theories of reincarnation, and it shows in this book. Like any book by this amazing author, I strongly recommend this latest. I do recommend starting at least with The Book of Lost Fragrances if you don't want to start all the way at the beginning of the series.
Series Information: The Reincarnationist series. Book 1: The Reincarnationist; I read in 2010 or 2011, but didn't review. 5 stars Book 2: The Memorist; I read in 2010, or 2011, but didn't review. 5 stars Book 3: The Hypnotist; I listened to audiobook in 2010 or 2011, but didn't review. 5 stars Book 4: The Book of Lost Fragrances; read and reviewed March 2012. Review linked here where formatting allowed. Book 5: Seduction, review linked here where formatting allowed. Book 6: The Collector of Dying Breaths, Available April 8, 2014 If you like this author's style, you can also check out The Butterfield Institute series. Prequel: Lip Service; I read in 2010 or 2011, but didn't review. 5 stars Book 1: The Halo Effect; I read in 2010 or 2011, but didn't review. 5 stars Book 2: The Delilah Complex; I read in 2010 or 2011, but didn't review. 5 stars Book 3: The Venus Fix; I read in 2010 or 2011, but didn't review. 5 stars
Disclosure: I received an e-galley ARC from Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: A lush and imaginative novel that crisscrosses time as a perfumer and a mythologist search for the fine line between potion and poison, poison and passion… and past and present.
Florence, Italy—1533: An orphan named René le Florentin is plucked from poverty to become Catherine de Medici’s perfumer. Traveling with the young duchessina from Italy to France, René brings with him a cache of secret documents from the monastery where he was trained: recipes for exotic fragrances and potent medicines—and a formula for an alchemic process said to have the potential to reanimate the dead. In France, René becomes not only the greatest perfumer in the country but the most dangerous, creating deadly poisons for his Queen to use against her rivals. But while mixing herbs and essences under the light of flickering candles, Rene doesn’t begin to imagine the tragic and personal consequences for which his lethal potions will be responsible.
Paris, France—The Present: A renowned mythologist, Jac L’Etoile, is trying to recover from personal heartache by throwing herself into her work, learns of the 16th century perfumer who may have been working on an elixir that would unlock the secret to immortality. She becomes obsessed with René le Florentin’s work—particularly when she discovers the dying breathes he had collected during his lifetime. Jac’s efforts put her in the path of her estranged lover, Griffin North, a linguist who has already begun translating René le Florentin’s mysterious formula. Together they confront an eccentric heiress in possession of a world-class art collection. A woman who has her own dark purpose for the elixir… a purpose for which she believes the ends will justify her deadly means. This mesmerizing gothic tale of passion and obsession crisscrosses time, zigzagging from the violent days of Catherine de Medici’s court to twenty-first century France. Fiery and lush, set against deep, wild forests and dimly lit chateaus, The Collector of Dying Breaths illuminates the true path to immortality: the legacies we leave behind. ...more
My Thoughts: I'm running out of adjectives to describe how awesome these books are. In this one, Murph runs across a hippie commune in the mountains past Boulder and, as usual, breaks his vow to not become involved in his passengers' personal lives, leading him into a labyrinthine plan involving passing himself off as a hippie. It's pretty funny. As always, Murph is full of advice on many things. I don't want this review to be all quotes like a couple of my earlier ones, but I will give you this.
Murph on Fashion:
“The big house... reminded me of the types of structures you can still see in places like Center City: gingerbread houses, two-story affairs built back in the nineteenth century when people didn't have televisions and were forced to build interesting things out of wood. I have a theory that the outrageous fashions you see in pre-twentieth century culture came about as a result of the lack of television. I'm talking wild hats on women with lots of feathers, pelts, sequined dresses with long trains, as well as top hats on the men, with long-tailed coats. I figure that life in those days was so dull that people themselves became televisions. I'm still working on the theory. I include European royalty in this construct, but let's move on.”
I can't think of anyone who wouldn't like this book, honestly. It's funny and thought-provoking. Check it out.
Disclosure: I received a copy from JKS Communications/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: In Doctor Lovebeads, the fifth in novelist Gary Reilly's Asphalt Warrior series, Murph must go undercover to accomplish his mission. He lets his hair go untamed, dresses in muslin and sandals and arrives on the scene in a beat-up VW van called the Cosmic Wonderbus and Mobile Mercantile.
Murph tries to pass himself off as an old love child in his confrontation with Brother Chakra. As the good Brother might say, It's a mind-blowing trip. ...more
Book Info: Genre: Speculative Fiction Reading Level: Adult (there is also a YA version available) Recommended for: fans of speculative fiction Trigger WaBook Info: Genre: Speculative Fiction Reading Level: Adult (there is also a YA version available) Recommended for: fans of speculative fiction Trigger Warnings: mention of domestic violence in the past
My Thoughts: All in all, this is a fairly entertaining book. I'm no physicist, so I can't tell you how accurate the science is, but it seems plausible in a rather fantastical way.
The one complaint I had was the method the author used for exposition. He would have one character bring something up that he felt needed explanation and then have another character explain what it meant. The reason this bothered me is that some of the lack of knowledge shown by some of the characters is very unrealistic. For example, Dacey has a PhD (admittedly in Geology), but has no idea what a black hole is? I mean, come on, I know what a black hole is. So, essentially, unrealistic holes in characters' knowledge.
However, other than that I was highly entertained by the story. The characters are all well rounded and developed, and there is plenty of action to keep the reader engaged. If you enjoy speculative fiction, heavy on the science, definitely check this one out.
Disclosure: I received an e-galley from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Something is devouring Earth. . .
A suburban house in Oklahoma vanishes into a roaring abyss. A supertanker at sea suffers a fiery destruction. A blast in China drills a gigantic cavern into a mountainside. A severed arm plummets from the sky in Missouri.
Could these catastrophes possibly be related? Intrepid geologist Dacey Livingstone is nearly killed by her first attempt to plumb the mystery—a perilous descent into a house-swallowing sinkhole. Still determined, she joins with eccentric physicist Gerald Meier in a quest that takes them from the ocean's depths to interstellar space.
What are these exotic "wormholes" that threaten Earth? Can their secrets be discovered, their power even harnessed? Or will they spawn a celestial monster that will annihilate the planet?
Brilliantly original, Wormholes reflects Albert Einstein's famous assertion that, "Not only is the universe stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine." ...more
Book Info: Genre: Urban Fantasy (Fairly dark) Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: fans of darker urban fantasy, the first book Trigger Warnings: rape oBook Info: Genre: Urban Fantasy (Fairly dark) Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: fans of darker urban fantasy, the first book Trigger Warnings: rape of young girls, threats of rape, killing, murder
My Thoughts: A year has passed since the events of the first book, when things go crazy for Nick again. When a young man dies in Nick's shop, and Nick suspects he is Amish, Nick and Vivian travel to the nearest Amish community—Zion—and search for answers. What they find... is way more than they expected.
“I realized then that my life had reached a new low. The Devil was sitting with me in a haunted grove, and I was sighing with relief, thankful that it wasn't something really scary.”
The cool thing about the Devil in these books is that he is really quite charming. Nick is also quite charming, and is just a person most of the time. There are some interesting theological thoughts in this book, such as the idea that Yahweh defeated all the Old Ones and took over Earth from them, and redecorated, basically, and also the idea that the Devil was made exactly the way he was supposed to, to serve a vital function.
I love the character development in these books. While they are all in first person, Nick is a trained observer, and he notices things about the other characters that allow us a glimpse into their lives. I just loved several of the Amish characters. This is not a typical Amish community, by the way; the Ordnung has some rather shocking differences from a normal community of the Plain Folk.
I really like this series. I also hope desperately that there will be more books, since there are a couple threads that still need to be tied up. There is no word as to if or when there will be more books, but I'll be watching. I really like this author's style, and she has several other books out, so I plan to go through and add more of her stuff to my collection. If you like darker urban fantasy with some fascinating theological ideas, then definitely check these books out.
Series Information: Nick Englebrecht series Book 1: The Devil You Know, review linked here Book 2: The Devil Dances See also: The Devil's Companion: A Guide to Nick Englebrecht's World for more information about the Nick Englebrecht universe. Includes glossary, playlist, sample chapters from the books, full-color illustrations and more.
Disclosure: I received an e-galley from Curiosity Quills via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: “You want to know something about me? Something important? When I was a kid, I used to read a lot of comics. I watched all the TV shows. Hell, I wanted to be a superhero. Then one day I grew up, and I learned I wasn’t the Lone Ranger. I’m not Spider-Man or Captain-Fucking-Marvel. I’m not a good man, and I never will be. My name is Nicholas Englebrecht and I’m the heir to hell. I’m the Angel-breaker. I’m the goddamn son of the fucking devil and you should know that if you piss me off, things are going to go very bad for you…”
Nick Englebrecht is lured to a strange, isolated Amish colony by the mysterious death of a nameless young man. It’s supposed to be a simple enough investigation. Find the kid’s family. Find out what happened to him. But when you’re the devil’s kid, with angels and demons gunning for you at every turn, things have a habit of turning bad fast. Before Nick knows it, he’s up to his ass in bodies, femme fatales, and ancient, bloodthirsty gods with a taste for human flesh. ...more
Book Info: Genre: Suspense Reading Level: Young Adult Recommended for: fans of suspense novels Book Available: November 5, 2013 in Kindle and Hardcover fBook Info: Genre: Suspense Reading Level: Young Adult Recommended for: fans of suspense novels Book Available: November 5, 2013 in Kindle and Hardcover formats and November 12, 2013 in Audio CD format Trigger Warnings: murder, torture, mutilation
My Thoughts: Shortly after I added this to my bookshelves on a social media site, I received a comment from someone telling me they were going to turn this into a TV series. I can really see that. It has all the elements that a good TV series needs: suspense, action, and lots of young people. I do not know if there are plans to turn this into a series of books, but I would enjoy seeing such a thing. This is a very fast read, and the characters are each distinct, if somewhat cliché, and full of interesting quirks and pain.
It is, of course, full of angst with a love triangle, because otherwise it just wouldn't be a young adult book. However, these things weren't as intrusive as I'd feared they might be. All in all an enjoyable and very quick read, and one I can recommend to fans of young adult suspense without paranormal elements. If you've been looking for a sort of police procedural type book in the YA category, here you go.
Disclosure: I received an e-galley from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. But it’s not a skill that she’s ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI come knocking: they’ve begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie.
What Cassie doesn’t realize is that there’s more at risk than a few unsolved homicides— especially when she’s sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own.
Sarcastic, privileged Michael has a knack for reading emotions, which he uses to get inside Cassie’s head—and under her skin. Brooding Dean shares Cassie’s gift for profiling, but keeps her at arm’s length.
Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms closer than Cassie could ever have imagined. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive. ...more
Happy Halloween! To see the full blog tour post and take part in the giveaway for a chance to win this book, follow this link (giveaway ends Nov. 7).
BHappy Halloween! To see the full blog tour post and take part in the giveaway for a chance to win this book, follow this link (giveaway ends Nov. 7).
Book Info: Genre: Horror Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: Fans of Horror, those who like their vampires mean Trigger Warnings: killing
My Thoughts: Have you been wanting vampires that are mean, nasty, eating machines? Tired of the glitter and sparkle and angst? Well, check this book out. These vampires are not at all pleasant, even if they occasionally appear to be, and are spine-chilling in their focus.
While this is a high-action book, there is plenty of plot and character development as well, which is a difficult balance to keep. This author does it well, making this book a perfect blend of action and pathos that most readers of horror should enjoy.
Another book, at least, is planned for this series, called Nightlife: As the Worm Turns, although no word on specifically when to expect it. I know I'll be watching for it. If you like horror, and like your vampires mean, check this one out.
Disclosure: I received this book from NetGalley in conjunction with a blog tour, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: For centuries an ancient evil has slept beneath the streets of New Harbor. This Halloween, it wakes up.
Nightclub bartender and serial heartbreaker Beth Becker might be a cynic. But when her best friend goes missing Halloween night, Beth knows it's up to her to find out what happened.
Her quest will take her on an odyssey through the crumbling city of New Harbor, Connecticut. Along the way she meets a homeless prophet warning of something he calls the "Night Angel"—a bloodthirsty creature that feeds on the forgotten. And she will form an unlikely bond with a hunted stranger who knows all too well what stalks the streets at night. ...more
Book Info: Genre: Dystopian (?) Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: People who like to have their minds played with Trigger Warnings: Suicide, suicidal ideation, rape
My Thoughts: Is this all real? That is the question I kept asking myself as I read this book. Is this actually happening, or is this some sort of irreality playing out in the narrator's brain. A hallucination? These questions are never answered, it is left up to the reader to decide if this is real or the imaginings of a very damaged mind. So many of the things that happen have the feeling of a drug-induced psychotic break that I never did decide this for myself.
The fact that this book invaded my dreams should give you a good idea of how strongly these thoughts affected me as I was reading it. But it was also a very hard book to read, with some difficult things running through it. Not only the suicide pact that Ang was part of, but also surviving in the leftovers of the world after everything goes crazy. The starvation, the fear, the danger, the eating of cats and dogs. I just really had a difficult time. In a good way, I hasten to add. This book made me think, made me wonder, and left tendrils of itself in my brain. If you're interested in this book, check it out. Just be99 aware it will seriously mess with your mind.
Disclosure: I received an e-galley from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Sole survivor of a suicide pact, Ang has fallen into an underground music scene obsessed with the idea of the end of the world. But when the end finally does come, Ang and her friends don't find the liberation they expected. Instead, those still alive are starving, strung out and struggling to survive in a world that no longer makes sense. As Ang navigates the world's final days, her emotional and physical instability mix with growing uncertainty and she begins to distrust her perception in a place where nothing can ever be trusted for what it seems to be. Bleak and haunting, "PostApoc" blends poetry and punk rock, surrealism and stark imagery to tell the story of a girl wavering at the edge of her sanity. ...more
Book Info: Genre: Literary Fiction w/ aspects of Magical Reality Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: Just about anyone Book Available: November 5, 2013Book Info: Genre: Literary Fiction w/ aspects of Magical Reality Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: Just about anyone Book Available: November 5, 2013 in Kindle, Hardcover and CD Audio Book formats and November 4 in Audible format
My Thoughts: Wow, this was a really amazing book. The writing style is beautiful, almost poetic at times, and the bits and pieces about rooks that are scattered throughout the text are absolutely fascinating. It's described as a ghost story, but to me it is more about how a person will subsume their emotions into something else so that they don't have to remember their life's trauma. Trust me, it will all make sense once you read it.
The problem with writing a review of a book like this is that it is impossible to tell you much of anything about it without spoiling things, so this will have to remain short. I will say that anyone who enjoys a well-told story that is strongly character driven will enjoy this book. If you're looking for action and 'splodies you won't really find it here, but if you like a good story, well, this is the one you're looking for.
Disclosure: I received an e-galley through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: As a boy, William Bellman commits one small, cruel act: killing a bird with his slingshot. Little does he know the unforeseen and terrible consequences of the deed, which is soon forgotten amidst the riot of boyhood games. By the time he is grown, with a wife and children of his own, William seems to be a man blessed by fortune—until tragedy strikes and the stranger in black comes. Then he starts to wonder if all his happiness is about to be eclipsed. Desperate to save the one precious thing he has left, William enters into a rather strange bargain, with an even stranger partner, to found a decidedly macabre business.
Book Info: Genre: Science Fantasy Adventure Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: Fans of Science-fantasy adventure Trigger Warnings: killing, murder, vBook Info: Genre: Science Fantasy Adventure Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: Fans of Science-fantasy adventure Trigger Warnings: killing, murder, violence
My Thoughts: Wow, this book could not be any more different from the last book I read, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Mixing science fiction with multiple fantasy tropes, this was a really fun, fast, and furious book. When the action went from a fantasy world to a space opera world to a steampunk world I knew I was going to enjoy this story a lot.
There is plenty of action and adventure (and 'splodies) in this book. There is some character development, but mostly the action is too fast to take the time to worry about the characters much. There were problems with editing, such as “waive” for “wave” and “reign” for “rein”, as well as capitalization problems with Red and Dragon Star at times, so be aware of that. It's not too bad, though, and I imagine a lot of people won't even notice it.
If you're a fan of both science fiction and fantasy, this book will likely have something you will like. It is very obviously the first book in a series, as it ends on a minor cliffhanger. I know I'll be watching for future books in this series to find out what happens next, and to see more of the various worlds.
Disclosure: I received an e-book copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. I also accepted it on NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: On a secret military base tucked in a remote desert mountain, a dangerous machine lies hidden from the American public.
Known as “The Actuator”, this machine is capable of transforming entire communities into alternate realities. In theory, these often terrifying realities are reversible. The scientists in charge of this machine employ operatives called Machine Monks, who attune their minds to manifest single ideas from the realms of fantasy and science fiction. These ideas are then superimposed upon sparsely inhabited areas for testing.
For a while, the enigmatic Actuator cooperates with the experiments, using dampeners to limit the affected area. But those in charge of the project eagerly anticipate exploring the full potential of this amazing device. Experiments progress to where they feed more than twenty different genre ideas simultaneously into the Actuator’s database. Meanwhile, an unknown saboteur dismantles the dampeners. The effect is catastrophic. The entire world is plunged into chaos, and familiar landscapes become a deadly patchwork of genre horrors. Overnight, the Actuator becomes the worst menace the earth has ever seen, claiming lives in staggering numbers.
Can a few surviving Machine Monks band together to set things right again? It all depends on whether Red McLaren and the Monks can survive their journey through the various realms that separate them from the Actuator, where ever-present orcs, aliens, pirates, and vampires seek to destroy them. They must move quickly, as time is running out to stop the Actuator and the villain who controls it and the earth’s destiny....more
Book Info: Genre: Dark fiction Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: Those more interested in the journey than the destination, those who are more interBook Info: Genre: Dark fiction Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: Those more interested in the journey than the destination, those who are more interested in the characters than the plot Trigger Warnings: stalking, murder
My Thoughts: This is a very odd little book. I'll tell you right away that if you like a fast-paced plot with lots of action, you'll probably dislike this book intensely. Most of the book consists of naval-gazing and searching for meaning, with a subtle tension running through the whole book, since it is set during the time of the Rodney King trial, and that tension explodes toward the end with the riots. The book is about finding oneself, about learning to understand oneself, to face one's fears, to follow one's heart and dream. There are bits and pieces that are almost paranormal in nature—Dwayne's fascination with the paranormal, the artist Feldman's claims that he's a 300+ year-old alchemist—but we never see any proof of any of this, and we never find out what happens with Feldman and his Neo-Naturalist movement, other than the bits and pieces we hear from Ritter at the end.
The story is told from the point of view of a few different people. It's mainly Max that is followed, but we also spend time with Karen, Dwayne, James (a client of Karen), and Ritter, a journalist. Each of these people has an obsession of some kind, something that each is trying to find or understand about him- or herself. Most of this story is told in the negative space of what is not said, if that makes any sense. This is the sort of story I would bet that college English classes would read and dissect for hidden meanings. Definitely an intriguing book, and if it sounds like something you might like, if you like the journey more than the destination, if you prefer character-driven plots, and enjoy a bit of naval-gazing in a book, then check this one out.
Disclosure: I received a copy from Curiosity Quills in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Negative Space tells the story of a provocative Los Angeles painter named Max Higgins, on the verge of local fame. The secret to his work's haunting allure? He collects photos of missing persons and incorporates them into his paintings, giving the often melancholy faces, as he puts it, a "home in his work." This fascination stems from the bizarre disappearances of people he knew growing up, including his father. Then, one day, someone recognizes a face in one of his paintings, and he is suddenly thrust into a journey as surreal as anything from his brush, a journey into his past that will determine irrevocably his future. ...more
Book Info: Genre: Mystery/Thriller Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: fans of thrillers, mysteries, suspense novels, the series Trigger Warnings: chilBook Info: Genre: Mystery/Thriller Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: fans of thrillers, mysteries, suspense novels, the series Trigger Warnings: child abduction, pedophile, suicide, attempted murder
My Thoughts: I think being trapped in one's own head and not able to communicate must be one of the most terrifying things ever. I remember that the first time I listened to the lyrics to “One” by Metallica it gave me the shivers. Noah isn't that bad. He is able to communicate to a certain degree. But how he keeps from becoming completely frustrated, how he manages to maintain his happy disposition, is something that is truly amazing to me. Cerebral Palsy is a very challenging illness, and it's obvious the author did a lot of research on the illness and how it affects people for this book.
There are a lot of triggers in this book, but it's a really good story. Unlike the earlier book in this series, I think this one could probably be read without having read the previous books as most of the important stuff is reiterated. However, this whole series is really good and if you like mysteries and thrillers, then you'll probably like them all. Just be aware that the first three books must be read in order to have the best appreciation for them. Recommended.
Disclosure: I received an e-galley from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: From birth, Noah Hogarty has lived with severe cerebral palsy. He is nearly blind, unable to speak, and cannot run, walk, or crawl. Yet his mind works just as well as any other twelve-year-old’s—maybe even better. And Noah holds a secret dream: to become a great spy, following in the footsteps of his aunt, Liv “Boots” Bergen.
Now, freshly returned from training at Quantico, FBI agent Liv Bergen is thrown into her first professional case. Working side by side with veteran agent Streeter Pierce, enigmatic agent and lover Jack Linwood, and her bloodhound Beulah, Liv must race to find five-year-old Max—last seen at the Denver International Airport—before this Christmastime abduction turns deadly. Meanwhile Noah, housebound, becomes wrapped up in identifying the young face he sees watching him from his neighbor’s bedroom window, but he can neither describe nor inscribe what he knows.
And his investigation may lead to Noah paying the ultimate price in fulfilling his dream. ...more
Book Info: Genre: Science-fiction Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: fans of post-apocalyptic science-fiction Book Available: September 24, 2013 in maBook Info: Genre: Science-fiction Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: fans of post-apocalyptic science-fiction Book Available: September 24, 2013 in mass market paperback and Kindle editions, and a trade paperback edition on September 27, 2013 Trigger Warnings: violence, killing, murder, fighting
My Thoughts: I liked this book best of all. I wasn't too impressed with the first book, and enjoyed the second book well enough, but finally in this book everything is falling together and we're developing a much better sense of who all these people really are. While there are plenty of 'splodies to keep things busy, we also have more character development all around, and that made me very happy.
The ending was a bit weird. The story itself cut off, and then the epilogue explained what happened. I wish that more detail had been shared, but it was enough, I guess. A very interesting idea, a very interesting story. Don't let the first one turn you off from finishing the series, that's for sure.
Series Information: Dire Earth Cycle series Book 1: The Darwin Elevator, scheduled for release July 30, 2013. My review posted here where formatting allowed. Book 2: The Exodus Towers: scheduled for release August 27, 2013. My review posted here where formatting allowed. Book 3: The Plague Forge: scheduled for release September, 24, 2013
Disclosure: I received a copy from NetGalley (e-ARC) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: There is no official synopsis available for this book at the time. This completes the Dire Earth Cycle. Skyler, Ana, Tania and the other settlers from Brazil race to find the Builder ships that crashed all across the world to find the Keys hidden in each. With each Key found, half the aura towers that followed them return to Belèm, again allowing a larger colony. They struggle to place each found Key into the Builder ship in orbit before the final Builder event occurs. Meanwhile Sam tries to survive under the rigid Jacobite order in Darwin, working with Skadz and Prumble to try to bring down Grillo....more
Book Info: Genre: Urban Fantasy/M/M romance Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: Anyone who likes vampire stories especially with plenty of humor TriggeBook Info: Genre: Urban Fantasy/M/M romance Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: Anyone who likes vampire stories especially with plenty of humor Trigger Warnings: murder, torture, slavery
My Thoughts:
“Somehow, Matheus expected the night he died to be fraught with weather straight out of the Old Testament: thunderstorms and hurricane winds and floods with arks.”
Right from that first line I knew I was going to absolutely love this book. So here's the thing. While the book isn't funny, it's very comedic at times.
Matheus's thoughts and comments made me laugh over and over, especially things like, “Quin stalked beside him, his anger a physical presence between them. Matheus named it Bob, and addressed imaginary questions to it to distract himself.” and “Quin took on the air of someone who has just realized it's time for the yearly visit to the spinster great-aunt in a desperate attempt to woo her inheritance away from her thirty-eight cats.”
Matheus and Quin both are highly sarcastic and it's often quite hilarious. I was also amused by Matheus's often random thoughts, such as his “Lose-Weight-Or-We'll-Come-To-Your-Home-And-Remove-Your-Shinbones-With-A-Pair-Of-Pliers Plan.” Oh, there are lots more I could give you, but hopefully that will give you the idea!
I was amused by that fact that while this is set in the US with an ancient Roman and Matheus, a lot of the statements are very British, such as “can't be arsed” and “poncy git” and “jumper” and the like. Once I looked up more info on this author I learned she was a fan of silly British books, so I guess that explains that. I tend to sprinkle a lot of Britishisms into my language as well, but for those few people who are bothered by it, be aware there are lots of them in this book. It is actually explained, but that would be spoiling things, so you'll just have to find out for yourself. While the editing isn't perfect—there are plenty of missing or extra words—I was delighted to see this author using “discrete” and “discreet” correctly. That's a frequently seen error, and it was nice to see them used correctly.
This is apparently slated to be the first book in a new series. I, for one, want the next book out now. I absolutely loved this book and recommend it heartily to anyone to whom it appeals. Highly recommended!
Disclosure: I received an e-book version of this book from Curiosity Quills (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Matheus Taylor didn’t ask to be murdered.
To be fair, the percentage of people actually asking to be murdered is probably small enough to be safely ignored, but he felt it was worth stating regardless.
His life might have been ordinary, but it was his life and he wasn’t done with it yet. Quin didn’t care. A seventeen-hundred old Roman, Quintus Livius Saturnius had a different view of morality than most people. Killing Matheus and hijacking his undead existence seemed perfectly acceptable to him.
Now, Matheus spends his nights running for his life, questioning his sexual orientation, and defying a mysterious new threat to the vampires within his city. Not that he set out to do any defying; he just wanted to be left alone.
Unfortunately, that was never going to happen....more
Book Info: Genre: Dystopian science-fiction Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: Anyone interested in this ook Book Available: October 29, 2013 in KindlBook Info: Genre: Dystopian science-fiction Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: Anyone interested in this ook Book Available: October 29, 2013 in Kindle, hardcover, and MP3-CD audiobook formats Trigger Warnings: attempted murder, killing, murder
My Thoughts: Well, this book opens with a real bang. Okay, maybe not a bang, but with some pretty freaky and interesting scenes. As it progresses, things just become more and more freaky. I'm a fairly active reader, in that I react fairly strongly to things as I'm reading, and I'll admit there were more than a few times that I completely freaked out while reading this book.
This was an incredibly engrossing story. It's a fairly long book, but it didn't feel like it was that long because it is a real page-turner. The characters are wonderfully well-done. Sal is such an endearing cross between naïve and strength, and Nathan is very supportive and kind. Tansy is a real hoot and just stole every scene she was in. The twists and turns never stopped surprising me, and I think a lot of people will really love this book. I highly recommend it, and hope the sequel comes out sooner rather than later, because it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger and I need to know what happens next.
Series Information: Parasitology series Book 1: Parasite Book 2: Symbiogenesis, release date TBA
Disclosure: I received an e-galley from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: A decade in the future, humanity thrives in the absence of sickness and disease.
We owe our good health to a humble parasite—a genetically engineered tapeworm developed by the pioneering SymboGen Corporation. When implanted, the tapeworm protects us from illness, boosts our immune system—even secretes designer drugs. It's been successful beyond the scientists' wildest dreams. Now, years on, almost every human being has a SymboGen tapeworm living within them.
But these parasites are getting restless. They want their own lives...and will do anything to get them. ...more
Book Info: Genre: Paranormal Romance Reading Level: Older YA, younger NA Recommended for: fans of YA/NA Paranormal romance, mermaid stories Trigger WarniBook Info: Genre: Paranormal Romance Reading Level: Older YA, younger NA Recommended for: fans of YA/NA Paranormal romance, mermaid stories Trigger Warnings: violence, mutilation
My Thoughts: Karen Amanda Hooper does something amazing. She writes romance stories that I actually enjoy. This particular book is less about the romance and more about the action, about going to Harte (pronounced “Har-tay”) to try to save Vienna, Rownan's wife, who—in desperation—traveled there 16 years ago trying to return to the Earth realm to be reunited with Rownan. A good part of the book is also about Yara learning about her new abilities and how to use them, as well as deepening the ties between her and Treygan.
At any rate, this is a highly enjoyable story. While the first one was definitely YA, this one is starting to move a bit more toward younger NA readers, but I think readers of all ages will enjoy this story. If you enjoy magical, romantic stories, definitely check this one out.
Series Information: The Sea Monster Memoirs Book 1: Tangled Tides, review linked here Book 2: Dangerous Depths Book 3: Sacred Seas, available in 2014
Disclosure: I received an e-Galley from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Hell hath no fury like a selkie separated from his true love.
The gate to the sea creature realm is finally open. Yara wants to bask in the glow of her budding relationship with Treygan and explore Medusa’s world, but as the new leader of Rathe her powers are needed to save a sea creature she’s never met.
Rownan assumes the worst is behind him when he returns home to be reunited with his wife, Vienna, only to discover she’s gone. She traveled to the evil realm of Harte to find another gateway to Earth and was never heard from again. Rownan claimed he would go through hell to be with her, and now he must prove it.
Rownan, Yara, and Treygan will put their lives and souls at risk by traveling to the most dangerous realm of all. Love is supposed to conquer all, but no one has ever conquered Harte. ...more
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