The Other Girl

Title: The Other Girl
Author: Erica Spindler
Genre: Mystery, Thriller/Suspense
Source: Library Hardback
Rating: 4 out of 5 paws.

Miranda Radar is a highly trusted and respected officer in the small town of Harmony, Louisiana, but she had to work hard to overcome her troubled past.  But when the murder of a prominent college professor comes her way, she must once again face the trials of her past, including an assault that no one believes.  Miranda must now to try solve the case of the murder all the while trying to convince everyone around her that 1) the professor was not the man everyone thought he was and 2) that she had nothing to do with the gruesome and brutal murder.  When another man from her past winds up dead with more links to her, she struggles to prove herself innocent.  Will she be able to solve the issue of why her, why now? Or will the evidence be too much to handle?

 

I seen this one at my library and decided to check it out and see what it was about.  I am glad that I did, while this was my first Erica Spindler novel, I don't think it will be the last. I enjoyed every bit of the story, even though there were some elements that are normally not my cup of tea, but Spindler presents everything in a way that it's easy to handle to hard subjects.  The novel has shorter chapters which makes it feel like it reads fast, which is a good thing.  I finished this one in roughly 5 or 6 hours on a Saturday night.  I devoured the book, it would have been a shorter read time, but conversations were being had while reading.

There is nothing about this novel that I didn't like.  I love than the MC Miranda had a troubled past, run-ins with the law and overcame all of that and became an officer herself.  She quickly becomes the strong female lead that I love reading in novels.  As we read through the story, we see she has faults and weakness but that makes her all the more relatable and likable.  I could have done without the relationship aspect between her and her partner Jake, but it wasn't overdone nor did it overthrow the rest of the story.

The story is not completely predictable and sends a few red herrings your way.  I figured one aspect out, but not the other which blew my mind and I may have whispered "no way" when I got to the big reveal.  Spindler presents a story that holds its own without the need for excessive violence, gore, or sex scenes.  Sure there is a little bit of everything, but it isn't overdone, she presents it neatly and in a tasteful manner.

I would highly recommend this book to other mystery, thriller/suspense readers.  It is definitely one to add to the book shelf or to read shelf.  It will hold your attention and make you crave what happens next.  I have already added some of Spindler's other books to my to read shelf and will search my library for more.

WitchBorn

Title:  Witch Born
Author: Nicholas Bowing
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Library Hardback
Rating: 3 out of 5 paws

Alyce's mother is brutually burned at the stake when she was a young girl.  Witchhunters return to her home in search of Alyce, in a fit of self defense, Alyce manages to kill the hunter.  But she is captured and taken to an asylum, which she manages to escape after sometime and befriends an actor and innkeeper.  She knows she needs to find a Mr. John Dee, but she doesn't know what to expect when she finds him.  While she searches, witchhunters continue to hunt for her and Alyce manages to find herself in the company of actors who happen to be living in Queen Elizabeth I's palace.  Throughout her trials Alyce continues to wonder why her, why is she so important.  Caught in the battle between two Queens Alyce now has the fate of England on her shoulders.  Can she manage it?

I wonder why so many authors use Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary as witches in stories, granted I have only read two that utilize this, but I am sure there are more.  Let me just say this novel was nothing like what I was expecting it to be.  I expected a suspenseful novel of a young girl coming into her powers (yes there was that, but I don't think enough) trying to hide from a group of neredowells.  What we get is a young girl who sort of stumbles onto her powers I don't even remember when or how they began to manifest, but nothing extravagant.  We also have villains looking for her, but it seems all to easy that they find her basically in the second place they look.

I love love fantasy novels with witches and such, but this one seemed like a little bit of a let down for me and that makes me sad.  I was so excited to read this because it felt like a fantastic book.  I was able to predict almost everything that happened, the big "twist" towards the end was very predictable though I told myself it would be what I thought it was.  Overall it was kind of meh for me while reading.  I didn't find it super exciting or super dull.  It held pace, held my attention and had characters that could be more than what they were.  I enjoy Solomon a lot and wanted to see more from him, even maybe a little bit of magic from him too.  Like an opps kind of thing for him.

Young adult fantasy lovers I think would find this book enjoyable.  I would recommend it because even if it was the end all books for me, someone else might find it the best book they read this year.  I find myself more of a Deborah Harkness kind of witch lover.  Check it out for yourself see what you think. 

In Her Bones

Title: In Her Bones
Author: Kate Moretti
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Source: Paperback: Goodreads win
 Rating: 3 out of 5 paws.

Fifteen years ago a serial killer brutally murdered six women.  Now Lilith Wade is sitting on death row, but her murders still fascinate the public with an unauthorized biography and media frenzy.  Her daughter, Edie now thirty, is trying to survive her own life outside of the spotlight, but she finds herself obsessed with the families of the women her mother had killed.  Edie quickly finds herself in the home of one man, Paul whose wife had been murdered.  The morning after Paul is found murdered and Edie becomes the prime suspect.  Now she must elude the police while trying to find out who really killed Paul.  She goes into hiding while she conducts her research that leads are down the path of her past.  Can she figure it all out before it's too late?

 



I was lucky enough to receive this book as a Goodreads giveaway, if you haven't tried goodreads yet, you should.  It is a fantastic site.  Anyway, as I said I won this from the giveaway and I finally was able to read it over the Thanksgiving holiday.  I think I was more excited to read it and seen all great reviews for it, but I felt a little disappointed in this novel.  It was far from what I was expecting.

There were a lot of things, that while they were interesting to read they made no real sense to the story such as excerpts from the biography.  Sure it gave an idea of what had happened with the murders, and investigation etc, but it did nothing to contribute to the overall story.  Most of the book is Edie hiding and questioning people who were in Paul's life which barely takes her anywhere.  I understand the idea and use of "red herrings" in a story, but to have over half the book be one, made it uninteresting.  I will give the author credit in that I was unable to predict who the killer actually was in a weird turn of events, that gave the book a few more points.

The characters felt a little drab, I was  unable to really connect or have any feelings for Edie or the other minor characters.  I would have liked to have seen Brandt in the story more than he was, he seemed like an interesting character who was left to the back-burner a little, the same with her brother Dylan.  There was a lot of potential for depth in the characters but it didn't seem like this novel really scratched the surface of them much.

Mystery fans may like this novel, I don't think there is much thrill or suspense to entertain or interest thriller/suspense fans.  I would be willing to attempt another one of Kate Moretti's novels, but I have a feeling they may be much like this one....fall short of expectations.

Daughter of the Pirate King

Title: Daughter of the Pirate King
Author: Tricia Levenseller
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Source: Library Hardback
Rating2.5 out of 5 stars.

Alosa's father sent her out on a secret mission, to find and steal a piece to a treasure map, one that will lead the pirate to a secret treasure trove.  In order to do so, Alosa must allow herself to be kidnapped by the pirates who hold this piece.  But the only thing standing in her way of success is the first mate: Riden.  Not only is he her captor/guard, but also devilishly handsome.  She must somehow keep him occupied while she searches the ship for what her father desires.  She has many tricks up her sleeves to accomplish her goals, no one can stop the pirate princess.

 

I was intrigued with this novel, a little unsure of what to expect from it, but it wasn't as impressed as I had hoped I would be. I felt "meh" about this book and didn't fully care if I finished the book or not. I almost didn't, but kept with it because I had started it.  It wasn't overly entertaining or thrilling.  Just....meh.  There wasn't anything that really made me excited about this book.  Alosa spent most of her time trying to seduce one of the brothers so she can search their chambers, or trying to figure out her feelings for Riden, or talking about how great she is, but she kept getting caught hmm.  There didn't seem to be much action nor did it seem like there was any urgency for Alosa to find the treasure map.

I couldn't stand the characters I wanted to like them so much but there was so much wrong with them.  Such as Riden just standing by while Alosa is assaulted and virtually abused because in his mind she was able to handle herself and situation...say what?  But then gets upset and jealous when she mentions his brother's assault, not because of the brother harming her, but because he thought she had sex with him whether it was consensual or not..there's something wrong with that there. 

There was one element that could have been interesting if it wasn't thrown into the story almost out of nowhere, like the author liked the idea but didn't know how to incorporate it into the story properly and just boom magical elements.  The tale wasn't all that streamlined and bits were just thrown about haphazardly.

I don't think I would recommend this to too many people.  It had so much potential only to fall way way short of the mark.

Literary Quote

Discovery of Witches

Title: A Discovery of Witches
Author:Deborah Harkess
Genre: Fantasy, Magic
Source: Library Hardback
Rating: 5 out of 5 paws

Diana Bishop is doing research when she comes across an old manuscript, thought to be lost.  Upon further inspection she finds the manuscript is different that the others she has read.  Diana comes from a long line of powerful witches, and she wants nothing to do with that life, but because of her connection with the manuscript all sorts of creatures are looking for her.  Members of each race descend upon the library and Diana has no choice but to turn to handsome vampire Matthew Clemont to help her discover the truth about the manuscript and herself.  But soon Diana finds herself face to face with her powers and her fears.  She must learn what her powers are and how to control them. She will find herself traveling outside her comfort zone and facing dangers untold and unspeakable horrors, but she will also find her way to guidance and assistance, to the one who will help her understand her new life.  How will she be able to unlock the secrets hidden within the manuscript?

 



This book series has been recommended countless times from book store staff to friends, and those in my book club group on facebook.  Because of all the glowing fantastic reviews, I decided to pick this one and see what all the fuss was about. I am so glad that I did, I enjoyed this novel more than I expected too.  I like the alchemy aspect of it because I love the idea of alchemy and hope the series continues with this.  I love that Diana is in her 30's (I think) and she is still learning about herself and the world around her.

The story is very vivid and easy to picture the world Harkess has created, but sometimes it was a little too much description, but I still enjoyed it none the less.  I love that it felt like she knew what was talking about down to ruins, covens and practices.  She must have done her research or was already familiar with some aspects of the culture.  I love love that she included that.  I don't think many authors really create a culture within their worlds, but Harkess does just that.  She creates something new and exciting to read.  I couldn't stop reading!

There was a bit of action and explanation throughout the story.  When there was an action scene it was exciting and thrilling to read, Harkess did not hold back from the descriptions here.  I enjoyed that there was some romance in this as well, but I wished there was some more action or conflict maybe not so much fighting but confronting one another.  But there is a lot going on in this novel that makes me really excited to pick up the second and see what will happen next.  There are some dark themes and horrible moments, but they are handled well and not overdone.

Overall, I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good fantasy novel with witches, vampires, and daemons (not to be confused with demons or fallen angels.)  This book will give you everything you are looking for in an epic tale and leaves you wanting more. 

The Sin Eater's Daughter

Title: Sin Eater's Daughter
Author: Melinda Salisbury
Genre: Fantasy
SOurce: Library Hardback
Rating: 4 out of 5 paws

Twylla spends most of her das inside the castle, where those around her cower in fear of her touch.  She is engaged to the Prince, but hasn't seen him in years, and she isn't a member of the court, but she is goddess-embodied.  This means she has the power to kill anyone with one touch, thus making her the kingdom's executioner.  Every week she must kill traitors to the crown.  When she is given a new guard things begin to change and she discovers things about herself that make her question everything she knows.  A plot is discovered that the queen plans to destroy her enemies, but with the use of an age old legend.  Can legends be real? or are they just legends?  Can Twylla protect those she loves as well as her kingdom or will she abandon all she knows in favor of her love?

I picked this book up on the recommendation of a co-worker.  She basically told me the premise but couldn't remember the title, so I had to do a little research to find it. I am glad my library had it available.

I was drawn in on the premise of Twylla having skin or pores that were poisonous, thats something I have not seen done before and Salisbury did a good job presenting the story, characters, and setting.  I loved that she created a legend for this story and developed the tale around that, and even had other characters skeptical about it.  Thinking the rumors were stuff of fairy tales.

I loves Twylla's character as well as her guard (forgive me his name completely escapes me right now).  He was a character that gives the reader hope and then breaks your heart.  They are both relatable characters 4i enjoyed their banter and relationship.

Overall this book was very enjoyable to read it was a quick read as the story progressed very quickly. I think many young adult and fantasy readers would enjoy this story there's a lot in it that will appeal to readers. I myself look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Demon: A Memoir

Title: Demon: A Memoir
Author; Tosca Lee
Genre: Mystery/Suspense, Christian Fiction (though not marketed as such),
Source: Paperback
Rating:  2.5 out of 5 paws




Clay had a mysterious meeting on his calendar that no one knew about.  He stayed late at work only to  have no one show up.  One his way home he stops for some dinner when a man in the corner begins speaking with him, as if he was waiting for him.  Clay believes he is a writer looking to get his book published but Lucian claims to be so much more; a demon.  A demon who wants his story, or rather his memoir, published and has decided that Clay is the person to do this.  Clay sprials down a demonic rabbit hole as he strives to piece together Lucian's tale.  But...it seems there are some frightening similarities between Lucian's tale and Clay's own life. But he is now beyond the point of no return and has to finish things and find out how the story ends.

I have had this book on my to-read shelf for years, since 2012 in fact, so I decided to buy it and see what it was that intrigued me six years ago. The idea behind the story is an interesting one, a demon wants to write his memoirs, tell his side of the story.  Then the man he's telling the story to begins to feel the story is as much his as it is the demon's.  Seems interesting and compelling right?  At some points it was, at other points...it fell flat, it didn't compel me to continue reading it as much as I had hopped it would.  At times it felt like it dragged on and didn't go far.  There wasn't any..umph so to speak to this story.


The name of the main character: Clay, seems to be a play on words, but it didn't feel like a clever one, especially as it is mentioned time and time again. Clay comes off as a man desperate to cling to anything that might define his life, or bring excitement to his life; even if it is a memoir from a demon.  He continues to wallow in self-pity and it gets old rather quickly.  Lucien doesn't come off as being demonic and doesn't anything outright demon like, he has moments of being "bad" but those aren't really what you would expect from a demon of his self proclaimed caliber.  The story he tells doesn't go beyond things most Christians know or beyond Lucien basically stating "we hate humans, and are mad that Elohim chose them over us" over and over again.


There seemed to have been the beginnings of a subplot of agents from both realms following the two characters, but this is never fully expanded on.  If it was it might have brought my rating and enjoyment of the novel up a little more than where it is at.  At the end Clay has a revelation about his own life, but we don't see anything that provides evidence of him coming to this conclusion.  It felt like there are so many questions opened that have no satisfactory resolutions. 


I am on the fence on whether or not I would recommend this book.  I may not have liked it but someone else might.  Do not go into this book thinking you will read  horror or thriller type novel as it is marketed as, go into it expecting to read something that is Christian Fiction at best.

A Head Full of Ghosts

Title A Head Full of Ghosts
Author: Paul Tremblay
Genre: Horror
Source: Library Hardback
Rating: 3 out of 5 paws


The Barretts seem like a normal suburban family.  Soon their perfect life begins to crumble, dad loses job and the oldest daughter begins acting strange and saying things a 14 year old girl shouldn't say.  There are signs of schizophrenia, but dad believes their is something more sinister happening.  With the help of Father Wanderly, they come to the conclusion Marjorie is possessed.  If life with a possessed daughter wasn't hard enough a production crew is ever present in the house as they film a reality show "The Possession."  This could be the answer to all their prayers.  Years later, a writer interviews Merry, the youngest sister about the events that happened during the show.  Secrets and painful memories are brought back to life as Merry relives everything the family went through.  But the question an avid horror blogger poses is....was it all real or was it all fake?

I picked up this novel as an attempt to step outside of my reading comfort zone.  I have only ever really read 2 or 3 horror novels and know it is not a genre for me, but I decided to give this one a shot and see if Paul Tremblay could win me over.  Unfortunately, he didn't.  I found the story to be a little bland.  While it was interesting and I did finish the book in about two days, it seemed to really drag on and didn't have much that was actually scary.  If you want scary and demon possessed story check out Seven X by Mike Wech.  Now that was one I didn't want to read at night.  I digress....


I couldn't find myself really relating or caring about the characters all that much, they were just....there.  Merry while she was 8 seemed to think and talk in a way an 8 year old wouldn't yet she was still obsessed with childlike things like a playhouse and children's picture books.  From the beginning, I felt like there was something a little bit...off with Merry.  There was more to her than we actually see in the novel because the primary focus was always on Marjorie.  We learn virtually nothing about any of the characters including Merry who is supposed to be the main character.


Then we have the blog posts which made no real sense to me other than to explain what was happening in the house during the show and attempts to debunk what we see.  The writer of this blog I feel is revealed a little too early.  I think it should have been held back or not even used at all, it didn't shed light onto anything within the story.  I would think Merry would have been a little more traumatized to witness some of these events even if her sister claimed she was faking.  Almost nothing added up for me and I felt a little let down.  I wanted to be scared. 


There were a lot of references to pop culture items such as The Exorcist, but only to point out all the similarities and how much alike it was. Was this to make the readers feel like it was all fake?  It was an okay book for me and I would recommend it to others who like this genre, but don't expect it to actually be scary or even creepy.

D Like Doll E Like Evil

Title: D Like Doll E like Evil
Author:Omid Olfet
Genre: Horror
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars





John's mother and father have split and John losses his connection with her, the only thing he has that connects him to her is a doll.  John moves in with his dad and step mother, whom he struggles to find any affection towards.  Shortly after he becomes mute and no one understands why.  When he opens his mouth to speak, all he says is utter gibberish.  Throughout the course of John's young life events occur that make his feel more animosity towards his step mother, which in turn puts a strain on the relationship with his father Max.  Stepmother is able to manipulate his father enough to make him turn on the young boy as well. Causing him to turn more towards his doll which in turn has some interesting effects on the step mother. Will John be able to overcome his evil step mother or will he succumb to her tactics as well?


I like the idea of this story, young boy loses his mother, is abused by his step mother, therefore turns to the only thing he has that connects him to his mom, a doll.  Great idea, a lot potential, but very poorly executed.  The novel is rather short about 67 pages long, so while it is a quick and easy read there are still many questions left at the end of the novel.  We know what happens, but readers are left with more questions than need be.  There were many parts of the story that felt awkward and didn't fit well with the rest of the story. 


Some of the wording was off for example in the beginning of the novel when Max's mother is speaking "'Everything is God's will never forget that.' Max's mother named Martha said"  When reading that sentence it feels choppy.  This kind of choppy sentence structure continues throughout the rest of the novella which makes it difficult to read.  There are also no spaces between paragraphs so it feels as though one is reading a rather long paragraph rather than a book.  In the same sense, there is no spacing or clear distinction between speakers making it hard on the reader to determine who exactly is speaking.


I think Omid has a wonderful idea for a great novel, it just needs to be cleaned up a bit.  Part of me wonders if the book was originally written in another language, different from English, and then translated, which might explain some of the awkward sentence structure.  If you enjoy horror and can look past odd sentencing and long paragraphs, the by all means pick up a copy of this book.  I personally had a hard time finishing it, thus giving it a rating of 2 out of 5 stars.

Fifth to Die

Title: Fifth To Die

Author: J.D Barker

Genre: Mystery, thriller, suspense

Source: Paperback, Publisher

Rating: 5 out of 5 paws

The feds have taken over the 4MK case and Porter and his team are not happy about it, but they hand it over, except Porter can't.  When a young woman is found frozen in a lake new questions arise.  How did she end up in the late when it froze a month or 2 prior to her body being placed there?  Is it 4MK, has he changed his MO? The detectives begin working every angle to try to solve this case, and Porter continues to try and find Bishop.  When he is discovered he is taken off of both cases, but that doesn't stop him.  He follows a lead that takes him into the heart of Bishop's past.  Meanwhile, back in Chicago, girls are disappearing and being murdered it doesn't seem like Bishop's work, but there is something eerily similar.  The detectives race against the clock to find out who is kidnapping these girls.

I read Fourth Monkey Killer and absolutely loved it.  I instantly fell in love with JD Barker's writing, and he's a local author so bonus points.  I would say before you read Fifth to DIe, you need to read the first book.  They reference things that are mentioned in the first book that you need to know about to understand their significance to the story.  I was so excited to get an ARC version of the book to review and couldn't be happier. 

I could not put this book down and found myself staying up til 3 am trying to finish it. There is so much going on and the cliffhanger he leaves us on OMG! Seriously!!  I cannot wait to read book three and find out what happens next and how everything relates to one another.  Barker is an expert and making his reader want more. So okay we know about Bishop aka 4MK getting away and Porter basically having to deal with people thinking he let Bishop get away. He is told to leave the case to the feds but he can't something just doesn't add up for him about one of the girls. When more girls are taken things look eerily similar, but he is convinced these new killings are not Bishop. They couldn't be right? We get a first hand look at the obsession Porter has, he simply cannot let it go and knows there is more to Bishop than meets the eye.  He doesn't share anything he knows with anyone else...why?  Why can't he even tell Nash about what he thinks he found?  I think deep down he knows there is something more to Bishop, and to himself and is afraid to admit it.  We also see Bishop's own obsession with Porter which makes one wonder, why.  Why latch on to Porter, what is his significance to Bishop? There were so many things in this book that makes it completely unique down to the use of classic poetry as a clue from Bishop to Porter. I love all the tiny clues the reader is given then once we start putting things together it's fantastic. I liked the small religious elements makes me wonder if the killer is a religious fanatic, we get an idea of why he wants the girls to "see", but then how does he know they are lying (well we know how he knew Katie was lying).  I love the idea/feel that there is a connection somehow to everyone involved in the story, one way or another and most of those we don't find out yet. Can we say frustrating JD! But then again this makes me anxious and CRAVE the next book like I crave chocolate cake.  JD Barker takes his readers on a thrilling ride through multiple character views to give readers the full story instead of just bits and pieces. I like his use of the diary to help give a further backstory to Bishop, almost like flashbacks without really having to do a flashback. I am very interested to see where the story will continue to go.  Barker is a master story teller than drags his readers into the depths of his stories.  You will lose time, you will forget everything around you and wonder what will happen next.  You will be on the edge of your seat waiting.



 

 

Thinblade (Sovereign of the Seven Isles #1)

Title: Thinblade
Author: David Wells
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Kindle eBook
Rating: hmm 3.5 out of 5 paws


While out hunting Darius is shot and kill with a poison arrow.  While Alexander and his family mourn the lose of the heir they discover an ancient evil has came back into the world.  Alexander is now marked as the protector of the realm, and the one who could defeat this evil.  He travels to the mountain city of Glen Morillian and discovers before he can claim his throne he must find the Thinblade. Seven were forged to help protect royal bloodlines from evil forces. But the Thinblade was lost to years ago and no one knows where it is hidden.  Alexander begins his quest looking for the Thinblade and gaining alliances all the while fighting against the powers of a necromancer. 

I had this book on my kindle for quite a while from bookbub and it took me some time before I picked it out of the hundreds of books on there.  I almost forgot about it!  I like the idea of this novel: ancient evil has come back and young princling must learn to wield a special sword to defeat him among other things.  There is a lot that happens in this book from various battles to Alexander learning so much about himself.  It is a great beginning to a series.  I am looking forward to getting the other books and finding out what happens next. Lets start by talking about the cover.  Just look at it house gorgeous is it?  No wonder it caught my eye, I want to go there!!


Okay now to the story, it was evenly paced, some parts were slower than others but it seemed to keep an consistent pace throughout the novel.  There was a lot of telling rather than showing, but for me it seemed to work.  Everything was described in great detail, down to the food.  While this may become a little burdensome, it really drew me into the story.  It made me feel like I was there and could almost smell the feast that was happening.  There is some depth to the world that we don't get to see yet, but I am sure we will see in upcoming novels.  Some things we learn as characters learn them and I absolutely love it.  It makes feel like I am sitting beside Alexander listening to stories being told.  It is definitely a TELLING story, and I wonder if that will change once we have all the information we need and get into the heart of the epic tale.


The magic is a bit interesting in this in that mages aren't born with this innate talent (well some are) but develop it through trial and fasting.  The more talented you are the more specialized your magic is which is rather interesting.  I would have liked to have seen more of this throughout the story.  I also like the alchemy aspect of this with the potions and herb usage.  I like that Alexander appears to be rather powerful, but at this point he is too powerful for one who hasn't trained in his magic.


I would recommend it for those who like novels along the lines of Dragonlance.

HAPPY LABOR DAY

Happy Labor Day everyone. The Literary Cats and I will be taking advantage of the day and getting some much needed rest and relaxation in.  So many books to read so little time!  Enjoy your day, and let me know what books are you reading today?

Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters

Title: The Sea of Monsters
Author: Rick Riordan
Genre: Children's, Fantasy, Mythos
Source: Library Paperback
Rating: 3 out of 5 paws


Percy Jackson and friends are back in a new tale of adventure and danger.  When Percy begins having dreams about Grover being in danger, he knew he needed to do something.  But at the same time Camp Half Blood has been attacked and Talhia's tree that is protecting the camp was poisoned.  No one knows who did it, but Percy and Annabeth have an idea of how to save it.  Add in a Cyclops half brother and a stubborn female and you have yourself a epic tale with thrills and drama.

So this one fell a little short for me.  I read the first book and enjoyed it more than I did this one.  There didn't seem to be as much mythos or danger or something.  It was missing something and I cannot put my finger on what that something is.  As someone who loves mythology, I think this book didn't have as much in as the last one did.  Sure there were short mentions of the Golden Fleece and Cyclopes but I think the last book delved more into the myth stories to make something new.  While this is something different, I don't think it played off the myths as much.  There was a little bit more humor in the first one as well and the absence of Grover was really prevalent.


We seem some familiar characters like Clarisse and Luke both still have the same personalities, though Clarisse seems to have grown up just a little bit and is learning how to play nice with others.  We don't see Charion, or any of the gods as we did in the first one so I was a little disappointed in that as well.  I loved Tyson, though I wasn't a little more from him and hope we see more from him in the next novel.  He was such a sweet character and so precious I wonder how he would change as the story progresses will he remain sweet?  I guess we will see.


I like that they sail to the sea this time, but it's the Bermuda Triangle.  I am not sure how I feel about ancient Greek gods centering around America, I get the books say the Pantheon follows civilization, but it seems wrong to me probably because there would be other Pantheons already in place.  While there were a few things that didn't sit so well with me this was a decent book.  It is good for the age range, but I think someone older, such as myself it's a little...simplistic, on the surface type of thing.  I want something with more depth and compels me to keep reading.  Not that this book/series doesn't have that, just in a different way that appeals better to a younger audience.  I would recommend it to young readers and some adult readers as well for a break from the norm. 

The Cruel Prince

Title: The Cruel Prince
Author: Holly Black
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Source: Hardcover: Library
Rating: 4 out of 5


When Jude was a young child, her parents were murdered in front of her.  To make it worse, the man who murdered them took Jude and her two sisters with him away to the realm of the Faeries.  Ten years later Jude wants nothing more than to simply belong, to have a place in their world beyond being the ward of a warrior.  Many of the fae despise humans and will do anything to torment the girls.  In order to win a place in the Court, Jude must defy the crown prince himself.  She accepts an offer from the prince's brother, an offer that may shows Jude she is capable of incredible things including bloodshed.  When a traitor threatens the royal line, Jude places herself in the line of danger to save herself, her sisters, and the fate of the Faerie kingdom.  Will she have the strength?  Will those she trust prove to be allies or enemies?

This was a book that I was excited about being published this year and couldn't wait to get my hands on it at the library. I have read The Darkest Part of the Forest before and I loved that book, so why wouldn't I love this one right?  I thought the plot and the story line were interesting though I have read other books with the similar idea of human girl in the faerie world.  But what Holly Black does with this novel is different from other books out there.  She takes this idea and puts a new twist to it and creates something truly remarkable.


I liked that throughout the novel you don't know the true motives of various characters.  You think one person is Jude's ally and then they betray her.  Everyone has their own reasons for doing what they do and you don't pick up on it until Jude finds out.  I love that about the book, it isn't as predictable as some other novels.  When you begin this novel you are hooked from the beginning.  You are connected to Jude and feel the emotions she feels.  You begin to hate the characters she hates and love the ones she loves, though I admit I liked Madoc's new wife (I admit I forget her name), while she seemed put off by the human girls, it seemed all she wanted to truly do was protect them from the dangers of the faerie world.  I also liked the Madoc was sometimes the bad guy but sometimes the good guy too.  He seemed to have some sort of love for the girls, but didn't know how to show it or it seemed misinterpreted especially when he denies Jude the honor of fighting with his colors/flag.


I have seen Holly Black referred to as the Queen of all things Fae, and after reading two of her books revolving around the fae...I think this is a correct moniker for her.  Her books, while the revolve around the same general theme of the Faerie World, they are vastly different, though there are rumors they take place in the same world.  Interesting.  Her writing style is very lyrical and beautiful.  There isn't the normal "fluff" or unnecessary information.  Everything in her book leads to something else, everything plays off of each other and that's what makes Holly Black such an amazing writer.  She has the ability to write a story that will linger with you until you pick up another one of her books and that adds to your addiction.  I look forward to reading more books by Holly Black and definitely recommend The Cruel Prince to anyone who loves fantasy and the world of faeries.


Check out some of these reviews for The Cruel Prince


Book Smugglers
Her Bookish Things
Word Nerd Scribbles

The Scourge

 

Title: The Scourge
Author: Jennifer Nielsen
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Library Hardback
Rating: 4 out of 5 paws


A deadly plague threatens the land.  Ani is trapped in a tree when two guards are looking to bring in some of the river people for testing.  Because she is there, they take her.  She continues to insist that she does not have the Scourge, she tests positive and is sent in exile to Attic Island, a colony to quarantine those who are sick.  Ani quickly learns the truth about the illness, with her best friend Weevil at her side, she is determined to reveal the truth and the horrors that the beloved governor is doing to her own people. Who will succeed, Ani or the Scourge?

I enjoyed reading Jennifer's other book "Traitor's Game" so much that when I seen this one at the library I decided to read it as well.  I was pleasantly surprised at  how much I liked it.  I was a little surprised that this was not a part of a series, I could see where this novel progresses into something longer.  As I neared the end it felt like there is more story to tell here.


Ani is a fearless character who gets herself into trouble quite often because she doesn't know when to let things be.  But then again if she did, she wouldn't have discovered the truth.  She has a smart mouth, is loyal to her friends and will do anything for them.  The theme of friendship is really strong and continues throughout the story as readers see friends stand together in times of sorrow, need, and jubilance.  And out of that friendship love blooms is a sweet thing.  I also loved seeing two characters on opposite ends of the social class learn they aren't so different and form a friendship that goes beyond stereotypes and class structure.


The world within this novel is a little bland, we don't see much setting and world building.  But what the story lacks in that department it makes up in the character building.  Jennifer focuses on her characters and shaping them, making the story be told through them rather than "telling" the story.  It was really interesting to read through the story.  It was really one of those books that I couldn't put down because I wanted to see what each character would do next.


I would recommend it to those who enjoy a good fantasy, unknown illness plaguing the country type of story.  Jennifer Nielsen really knows how to tell a fantastic story that keeps her readers engaged.

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

Title: The Lightning Thief
Author: Rick Riordan
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mythology
Source: Paperback, Library
Rating: 3 out of 5 paws


Percy is your typical 12 year old kid.  School is not his favorite thing in the world and he tends to lean towards trouble.  Then while on a field trip, Percy swears a monster tried to kill him.  When his mom finds out she decides it's finally time to tell him who his father is..Posiden, God of the Sea.  He then goes to the one place he will be safe, a camp for Half Bloods.  While there he discovers he needs to go on a quest and retrieve a stolen lightning bolt, one stolen from Zeus.  Along with his friends, Percy travels across the county to enter the Underworld to stop a war between the gods and save his mom.

So I admit I watched the movie before I read the book, and that kind of tainted my image of the story. I have a strong interest in Greek Mythology (well mythology in general) and Rick's story is an interesting twist to the mythology I have come to know.  One things that stood out for me was Percy's age, I feel like he could have been older than 12 but that's just me, and can see why it would appeal to a younger reading crowd.  Rick's series is the perfect way to introduce young readers to the beauty that is Greek Mythology.  Rick's writing is perfect for the age group he aims for, as an adult it seemed a little too simplistic, but again I am reading this as a 34 year old woman not a 12 year old girl.


I loved how loyal and brave Percy comes off, he starts out as a trouble-marker, but we see that maybe some of those things weren't exactly his fault.  I liked how the monsters slowly came into play like with the algebra teacher turning into a monster, Fury I think.  He develops into his powers, but I think he could have learned how to use them and be a little more powerful with them sooner, and more often in the book.  Sometimes it seemed like he got out of situations based on pure luck.  I hoped for more magic I guess, but I guess mythology didn't use much magic.  I love how Rick include Annabeth and shows her with power and strength of her own.  This shows young girls that you can be just as powerful and strong as male counterparts.

I liked that RIck included some beings everyone can be familiar with in this novel like the Minotaur, Furies, Fates, and Medusa.  I hope he tackles some other creatures in the other novels, maybe ones we don't see so often like sirens, something.  The Ever After Casino was interesting and I loved how the movie portrayed this scene, it was interesting but creepy at the same time, along with Medusa's Shop of garden statues.  How creepy to think she tries to sell the statues, or maybe she doesn't make a sale but uses people in her gardens.  Poseidon has always been one of my favorite gods, and I had hoped for a little bit more from him and was disappointed that we didn't see more of him or any indication that he might have been watching over Percy the whole time.

While I enjoyed reading this book and will read the whole series, I don't see myself becoming a super fan girl that way I have with other novels like The Lunar Chronicles or Harry Potter.  But I still think it is a cute story, great for the age range and some adults.  I recommend it if you haven't read it yet.

The Book of Speculation

Title:  The Book of Speculation
Author: Erika Swyler
Genre: Mystery, Family History
Source: Library Ebook
Rating: 4 out of 5 paws

Simon is a library with a love and appreciation for books. His parents have both passed on, his sister is off traveling the land in a circus, his home is slowly crumbling into the ocean, and he just lost his job due to budget cuts.  Out of nowhere Simon receives a book in the mail from a book seller.  The man who sent it to him, believed it would be of interest to his family history.  The book is a circus diary of sorts, a book written by the circus owner chronicling important events and dates.  Simon begins to notice a pattern.  On the same date, women who perform as mermaids or swimmers die, by drowning.  The same way his mother died, and all the women seem to be tied to his family.  He begins to worry about the safety of his sister as she comes to visit and the date slowly draws closer.  But the more Simon reads, the more he discovers about not only his family's past but also that of his neighbor.  Can Simon stop fate before it's too late?

I have sort of been drawn into circus books or books that relate to a circus, so when I saw this book at the library (or rather on the library list), I decided to give it a shot.  I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it, but also a little disappointed that more was not done with a certain aspect of the book.  But don't let me get ahead of myself.  The book overall was an interesting one to read.  I liked all the characters.  They each had their own interesting quirk and element to add to the story.  They all helped drive the story forward even if it is in a small way such as that of the book seller.

Simon, I found Simon to be an interesting character in that he got so wrapped up in the family history he didn't see anything else around him.  He began to alienate and hurt the people around them despite him thinking he was helping or protecting them.  He was a warm, lovable character but had so many faults to him, but that is what made me love him even more.  I loved how protective he got when Enola comes with a boyfriend, one covered in tentacle tattoos and can apparently create electricity. Throughout the book, the readers see many different sides to Simon that makes him a well rounded likable character.  Honestly I wanted more of Enola and her boyfriend in the book (I forget his name right now).  They floated around in the background and every so often would pop back up almost like a "hey remember me" kind of thing.  I wanted more of Enola's tarot reading skills and them correlating with the book aside from her tearing some out or hiding them when Simon came into the room.  Maybe a scene without Simon, where Enola is reading the cards and mutters "it's happening again" or something like that.  Something to tie her into the story a little more.

 enjoyed how the book went between the two story-lines but did it in a way that it was easy to follow.  The reader found out more information as Simon found it out, so it was exciting to read.  It left me excited to find out what would happen next and what happened to the circus characters as well as how they all related to Simon. I loved the incorporation of people drawn to water and knowing various techniques to holding their breath underwater for long periods of time.  As a kid I remember trying to see how long I could do that, and had contests with my brother.  How I longed to be a mermaid or Skelkie.  I got really excited when the legend of skelkies were alluded to, I was hoping this would be played up more, but it wasn't.  They are one of my favorite creatures of lore.

There is a lot of descriptions in this book that some may feel takes away from the story, but at times it adds to the story.  I say this because it helps build the picture.  It helps create the world that the author intends the reader to see.  She wants us to see her vision and goes the extra mile to do so.  The pacing is a little slow in the beginning but it does pick up after a while.  There were some things that were never really explained such as how Amos was able to appear like he disappeared (made me think of that part in Avengers Infinity War when Drax thinks he's moving so slow he's invisible).  Or why the women of the family mysteriously drowned when they could hold their breaths or were strong swimmers.  While I did enjoy reading the book and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it, being left with a lot of unanswered questions left me feeling unsatisfied.

Kiss Me First

Title: Kiss Me Fist
Author: Lottie Moggach
Genre: Philosophy, Maybe thriller
Source: Library Hardback
Rating:3 out of 5 paws

All Leila wants to do is fit in somewhere, everywhere she goes she feels outside the crowd.  That is until she finds a site called Red Pill where people discuss ethics and philosophical ideals.  Leila has found her place.  When founder Adrian asks Leila to do something outside the ordinary, she is put into a situation where ethics becomes a major question.  Her task is to pretend to be someone else, someone who has committed suicide, so that friends and family would not feel pain from their death.  Leila doesn't consider the consequences of her decision until it is too late.

So I picked up this book from the library because my boyfriend and I started watching the Netflix show Kiss Me First, that was based off this book.  I should have learned not to read books that shows are based off of, because sometimes I will be disappointed.  In this case I was.  The book is nothing close to what the show was about, the only similarities were the names, location and personalities.  Story-lines were completely different.  If they were similar I might have liked either one, the show or book better.  I liked neither.

I did enjoy the philosophical aspect of Red Pill and how Leila becomes tested in real life on the aspects of ethics and stealing a person's identity even though it isn't explained as such.  She doesn't think much on the proposition and comes across as rather impulsive rather than organized and meticulous as she is when she is Tess (with the exception of her interactions with Connor).  The whole book revolves around her being Tess, so readers don't really get much of Leila except when she is making decisions on Tess related things again like with Connor and trying to find out who he is.  I wanted a little more from Jonty, his character almost felt like an afterthought, something to throw in to give an element of risk, but we never see that element or much interaction between the two.

There were moments in the story where it got rather boring and hard to continue.  I liked the moments when the story went into present day with Leila attempting to find where Tess went.  It was almost like she was rediscovering herself through her determination to find Tess.  It was difficult to relate to any character, they didn't feel developed enough to feel a sort of connection most find with some characters. You don't really get to know them in the book, nor do you like any of them.  Everyone in the book has their own selfish agendas regardless who what their motives may be. 

I seen that Kiss Me First is marketed as a "thriller that tackles a life lived online."  I expected something we see in the show, where Leila plays an online game and lives through that or something like Sword Art Online.  The book does mention her playing World of Warcraft, but she doesn't become engrossed in it the way I was expecting it too. While we don't see her becoming engrossed in the internet as one may expect she still hides behind an avatar, the one of Tess.  She builds her own world of delusions around Connor and is then disturbed and upset that he doesn't reciprocate her feelings, but is repulsed by her actions (clearly he has every right but to Leila he is in the wrong).  Even after Adrian is exposed, she still believes he is the one in the wrong and she did nothing but help someone who wanted to die.  Which brings back the question of is assisted suicide even if the assistance is stealing one's identity ethical?

Overall I was not a fan of the book, I appreciate what it attempted to do and the questions it poses while doing it, but it all fell flat.  Nothing evoke emotion or a certain reaction while reading it. It is interesting, but not necessarily likable.

LIterary Quote

Alice In Wonderland will always and forever be one of my favorite stories.  There are so many thing in the story that resonates with me including this quote.  If I don't know where I want to go, does it matter which way I turn?  Does it matter if I take the road less traveled or the one well worn?

There are times I stop and think about how life would be different if I took a different path.  Would I still have met the people in my life now?  Would I be with the man I am with now?  What experiences would be different, what jobs would change?  Most importantly how would I have changed if I took a different road?

The roads we take in life shape who we are.  We learn the path we walk on and adjust to it as one would adjust to roots or stones along a hiking trail.  The idea includes many books one reads.  Sometimes a book can shape how we think and view different situations.  Books tend to have themes and ideals inside that we tend to not think about when reading them until someone else brings it up and we think "hmm I didn't think of that"  How would my thinking be different if I didn't read books like Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe or I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou?

Which path have you take, do you wish you took a different path?  What books have shaped your way of thinking or perspective of life?  I would love to know.

Curses! A F**ed up Fairy Tale

Title: Curses! A F**ed up Fairy Tale
Author: J.A. Kazimer
Genre: Fantasy,
Source: Library Paperback
Rating: 2 out of 5 paws.


RJ is pulled into a mystery surrounding the death of a princess: Cinderella.  Her sister: Asia asks RJ for his help in finding her killer, and he cannot help but assist her.  But RJ is a villain who has been suspended from his villain duties.  Once RJ begins his search he discovers too many family secrets and mysteries for one villain to solve including a curse placed on each of Cinderella's step-sisters.  This is not your average fairy-tale.

I admit there were times when I struggled to get through this book.  I love fairy tale retellings and I thought this one would be a funny one to read, a villain gone good or sort of good.  interesting right?  Wrong, so very wrong.  I was disappointed in this book and wanted to give up on numerous occasions but stuck with it to the end.


 There were a lot "humorous" things (not laugh out loud humor, more like...oh ha that's cute humor) that ended up getting played out too much and there was too much emphasis on RJ wanting to get Asia into bed.  I get it he's a villain and she's a pure damsel princess who needed help, but it was overdone way too much.  The readers are consistently reminded that Asia is fat, but RJ still finds her beautiful...um really?  It was mentioned that she weight about 150 lbs...if that is fat in this author's mind, many a female readers will be offended, this one included.  And Dru is ugly, we get that, but it is drilled into the reader and the idea that no one could love her based on her looks...is that all that matters?  We are also reminded time and time again about how he is a villain forced to be good...but we never actually see it other than his desire to swear or get Asia into bed.


I expected more of a mystery, but the novel was more about him trying to get to Asia and win her over so he can get her into bed.  Don't get me wrong, sometimes i indulge in the steamy romance, but this wasn't even steamy, it was more stalkerish creepy than sexy.  The author seems to try hard to be witty and raunchy, but falls epically short.  How many times can one reader read the words "villain, fat, and ugly" before it becomes annoying and trite?  Tthere were things included in the story, that didn't fit with the tale or made no sense why they were included such as red riding hood towards the end, it had no baring on the story nor did it supply anything worth while to the plot...but the plot wasn't really there either.


I am glad I borrowed the book rather than buying it.  I wouldn't recommend it.