Sunday, October 8, 2023

Jane & Edward

Jane & Edward

by Melodie Edwards

 

In a modern retelling of Jane Eyre, Jane is the child of a literature professor who died when she was young, forcing Jane to enter the foster system. Years later, Jane leaves waitressing to become a legal assistant to Edward Rosen. The two bond and the story parallels the original tale by Charlotte Brontë.

Final thoughts: Decent retelling with little name drops and Easter eggs from the original story. My biggest problem is the logic issue with how Jane becomes a wealthy woman. It makes absolutely no sense and shows the author doesn't understand college textbook publishing.

Rating: 3.5/5

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

Amari and the Night Brothers

Amari and the Night Brothers

by B.B. Alston

A few months ago, Amari's brother disappeared and there has been no word what happened to him. After yet another visit from the local police, Amari received an odd briefcase from her brother. In it is a very ugly suit and a pair of goggles. Those goggles show Amari that there is a world all around her that she never knew existed.

Supernatural creatures are real and they live in and amongst regular humans.

With this briefcase also comes the invitation to spend the summer training at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. While Amari is interested in the bureau and its history, she's much more interested in finding out what happened to her brother. She wants to pass the training but only to help her get her brother back.

But her particular gift is illegal and there are many who don't want her to succeed.

Final thoughts: Harry Potter knock off with a great lead character and a decent plot structure but with poor world-building and too many things inserted just to be cute.

Rating: 3/5


Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Enter the Body

Enter the Body
by Joy McCullough


Under the stage, beneath the trap door, the women of Shakespeare's plays wait to be called up to die again in yet another retelling of their stories. But on this day, three of the women take the time to tell their stories and maybe even change the narratives.

Cordelia, Ophelia, and Juliet share their sides of the stories for which they are famed, while also showing that they are more than what one man put on the page.


Final thoughts: This is a sometimes glorious and sometimes draining read, but the worst of it is the inaccuracy. This is meant to change the course of the lives of the women that Shakespeare created, and I get that. What I don't get is changing the ages of characters. For a fan of The Bard, getting Hamlet's age so terribly wrong is practically a sin. In the play, Hamlet was approximately 30 when his father died, but he is referred to a boy in this book and written like a teen who couldn't become king because of his age (and totally forgetting that Denmark has an ELECTED monarchy, regardless of age). Ophelia is also portrayed as a teen and both of these ages are not only inaccurate, but those errors affect the story McCullough is trying to tell. Let's also add in that McCullough states Ophelia would never have been able to marry Hamlet even though, in the play, Gertrude specifically mentioned that she had hoped Hamlet would marry her. Confusing Rosaline and forgetting that she is a cousin of the Capulets makes the very ending a little incestuous. This might be an interesting addition to the reading list for an Advanced Placement Literature course, but it relies heavily on knowing the original plays and may not be accessible to those who are unfamiliar with Shakespeare's tragedies.


Rating: 2/5

Tuesday, June 20, 2023

The Gravity of Lies

The Gravity of Lies

by Dorothy Deene


Skye Lark Perry has never had a normal life. Ever since her uncle died, she and her mother have gone from place to place, shelter to shelter, and have even spent more than a few nights in their car. For the past three years, all Skye has known is that she has to take care of her mother because her mother can't seem to take care of her.

Skye is homeschooled so that she can go to various auditions around Los Angeles, which are booked by a not-so-trustworthy "agent". The few jobs she gets are the only money coming in for her and her mother and she knows starvation far too well.

When the opportunity comes for her to be in a small reality TV show, which is designed to find the next cast members for a new drama, Skye is forced to participate. While she's not eager to be there, she is eager for the opportunity to possibly find her father, a person about which she knows nothing.

With twists and turns, Skye finds that her life may be something she never thought possible.

Final thoughts: Clunky and stuttering narration plus a lack of any real chemistry among the characters makes this a difficult read at times. The twists about Skye's life are just very strange and hard to track. It was unbelievable both in plot and in relationships among the characters.

Rating: 2/5

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Sunday, June 18, 2023

Their Vicious Games


Their Vicious Games

by Joelle Wellington

After a small mistake has the very large consequence of having all of her college acceptance letters revoked, Adina Walker is forced to compete in The Finish, an annual set of games sponsored by the Remington Family. Winners are guaranteed a full ride to any school she chooses and the power of the Remington name behind them for the rest of their lives. 

But The Finish has never been discussed beyond a few rumors and Adina has no idea what she's getting in to. Additionally, this year The Finish has an extra goal of finding the wife for the future head of the family and that means that the stakes are much higher.

It's not just about school anymore. It's life or death.

Final thoughts: Interesting premise with a combination of The Hunger Games and the movie Ready or Not. It's a slow and awkward start to the book but once it gets going, it's a real ride. Will not be surprised if this gets made into a movie or Netflix series.

Rating: 4/5

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.


Sunday, May 28, 2023

Chosen

 
Chosen

by Shade Owens

 

TL;DL: Avoid this book. It's a blender version of Hunger Games, The Handmaid's Tale, 1984, Brave New World, etc... and it's only the stuff that floated to the top after the blender was off for a day or two. 

Rating: 1/5


Sunday, April 30, 2023

Simon Sort of Says

Simon Sort of Says

by Erin Bow

Simon O'Keefe and his family have just moved to Grin and Bear It, Nebraska, which is a National Quiet Zone in America. There is no Internet, no WiFi, no cell phones, and no microwaves. The town is the location of a giant satellite dish that is studying sounds an phenomena from space.

Where most people might struggle with this type of drastic change in lifestyle, Simon finally feels like he will be OK. Simon has spent the last two years dealing with the looks, the stares, the pity, and more from everyone who sees him. 

Simon was the only survivor from his 5th grade class after a mass shooting. Even though the school and the people in it did everything right to keep themselves safe, Simon's class was the one the shooter found and Simon was found later buried under the bodies of his classmates.

So getting away from all that infamy is exactly what Simon needs. 

Finding friends and learning how to be a kid again may now be possible. Or maybe not. His new friends have their own quirks and plans that might bring him attention all over again.

Final thoughts: I hate that this book had to be written at all, but it seems to do a decent job dealing the aftermath for a survivor of something so horrible. No one can ever really know what it's like for these survivors, but this does help develop a little empathy and understanding.

Rating: 3.5/5

 

Sunday, April 23, 2023

The Comeback

The Comeback

by Lily Chu

 

Ariadne "Ari" Hui is a Chinese Canadian working her way up the ladder at a prestigious law firm that her dad helped her get into. She's devoted to her job and works constantly to get ahead. But two things suddenly get in her way. First, her clientele are reassigned to the new caucasian associate who was literally just hired. Second, her roommate's cousin, Jihoon, comes to stay at their apartment after a "breakup" and Ari starts to fall in love. 

Hopes of becoming more than friends get dashed when she finds out that he's an "idol". He's one member of a worldwide phenomenon K-pop group and people have figured out where he's been hiding. 

Now Ari has to choose what is more important to her: her life in law and her reputation or her possible future with one of the members of Starlune and all of the baggage and fame that comes with it.

Final thoughts: Too much tell with not enough show. No real chemistry between Ari and Jihoon. And it feels like she's being very honest with her reservations, while he never listens but blames her for running.

Rating: 2/5

Friday, April 21, 2023

Not Your Ex's Hexes

Not Your Ex's Hexes

by April Asher


TL;DL - Enemies to lovers trope romance with some good moments but inconsistent writing and characterization.

Rating: 3/5


The Neighbor Favor

The Neighbor Favor

by Kristina Forest


TL;DL - Cute BIPOC romance with some hidden identities and secrets. Decent read.

Rating: 3/5

 

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Sleep No More

Sleep No More

Jayne Ann Krentz


TL;DL - The paranormal and psychic combine in this 80's style police procedural. Some good ideas and some very awkward writing.

Rating: 3/5

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Bookish and the Beast

Bookish and the Beast

by Ashley Poston

 

TL;DL Retelling of Beauty and the Beast filled with references to books and movies of the past. Tropes are poorly used and characters aren't realistic.


Sunday, February 12, 2023

A Thousand Heartbeats


A Thousand Heartbeats

by Kiera Cass


TL;DL - Enemies to lovers romance with some decent moments but too much telling instead of showing and some major logistics/consistency errors with time and travel.

Rating: 3/5


Sunday, January 1, 2023

The Do-Over

The Do-Over

by Lynn Painter

It's February 14th and Emilie is determined to have the absolute best Valentine's Day ever. It's the 3-month anniversary of dating her perfect boyfriend and he's perfect because he literally checks off all the items on her "perfect boyfriend" list. It's time to tell him the L-word.

Things start off a little awkwardly at home, but she won't let it worry her. She drives to school, gets distracted, gets in an accident, and is forced to accept a ride in the truck of the guy she hit.

But she's still going to make this day work.

Then her scholarship is revoked due to a mathematical error. She has to deal with the school mean girls. And her perfect boyfriend kisses his ex in the parking lot. 

Day ruined.

To make it all much worse, she gets home after school to find out that her dad, stepmom, and half-brothers will be moving to Texas and leaving her behind. 

So she goes to her grandma's house to cry and sleep only to wake up in her bed at her dad's house and it's all starting again. It's her own personal Groundhog Day.

Through the many repeated Valentine's Days, Emilie learns more about herself, the people around her and about the boy whose truck she kept crashing into. 

Nick is nothing like she thought and everything that she might need.

Final thoughts: Total cotton-candy book with fluff and strangeness. The only fully built characters are Emilie and Nick; the rest of the characters are one-day only versions of themselves with no real depth. Nick is awesome and there is some chemistry between him and Em. 

Rating: 3.5/5


Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Dirty Lying Faeries

Dirty Lying Faeries

by Sabrina Blackburry

 

After getting into an exclusive party with the help of her best friend, Thea has been exposed to a little too much fae influence, which causes her to start the change into a fae changeling. Her change was a mistake, but she's taking to it pretty well for someone who didn't even know that the fae really existed.

It helps that she's bonded to the Lord of the Winter Court, Devin, and he's going to do everything he can to make sure her accidental change works out well, especially because she is now his Lady.

But someone out there is not fine with Thea's change and has been actively shutting down all similar changes and opportunities for hundreds of years. Thea, Devin, and other friends (and enemies) must work together to stop the "rotting one" from destroying all fae forever.

Final thoughts: There are some great moments here but the whole story is pretty disjointed and incomplete. The world building is nice and fairly well-done, but that building comes at the sacrifice of a fuller story. Additionally, the title just doesn't match the content of the book itself. It just doesn't fit. 

Rating: 3/5


Sunday, November 20, 2022

Into Every Generation a Slayer Is Born

Into Every Generation a Slayer Is Born:

How Buffy Staked Our Hearts

by Evan Ross Katz

Uberfan Katz has written an amazing background book about Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Just over half of the book goes into depth on each season of Buffy, followed by the rest of the book breaking down the relationships both on and off of the set, accusations about Whedon, and (most importantly) the show's impact on individuals and culture as a whole.

There are a number of real issues in television culture that are covered from LGBTQ+ issues to the lack of POC. Those issues are discussed in both the positive as in Tara and Willow's relationship to the negative as with the "bury your gays" trope.  There is an entire section devoted to the depiction of POC in the show and the lack of representation there. 

But most of the book is about the positive impacts of this show on the people who watched it when it first came out, the people who are watching it now, television as a whole, and what it all means to people. 

Rating: 4/5


Saturday, November 5, 2022

When Life Gives You Vampires

When Life Gives You Vampires

by Gloria Duke

After a night that she doesn't remember, Lily awakens to discover that she's now a vampire. Apparently made undead by accident, Lily and her maker, Tristan, must navigate vampire politics and try to avoid being killed permanently.

Between her BFF and font of all fiction vampire lore giving her advice, a work colleague who suddenly seems to really hate her, a backstory that Tristan refuses to share, and a master vampire threatening her, Lily has quite a bit to learn and she must learn it in just a few days.

Final thoughts: Messy. No chemistry and the constant use of the phrase "obvi" is extremely frustrating by the end. This could have been cute but it just doesn't gel.

Rating: 2/5


Thursday, October 27, 2022

Big Bad

Big Bad

by Lily Anderson

In an alternate dimension Sunnydale, the skies over the town are permanently dark and the vampires and demons rule the newly named "Demondale". As the Trio work together to try and help Warren ascend, a teen girl appears and Warren ends up in pieces around the room.

The teen girl is Buffy and she's determined to destroy all demons in all dimensions.

It's up to Jonathan, Andrew, Anya, Angelus, Spike, and Drusilla to try and save their dimension and all the demons and vamps who live there. 

With all of the various characters from the Buffyverse making appearances, they must work together to stop the slayer.

Final thoughts: This is mediocre fanfic that's jammed up reference after reference, which takes away from actual storytelling. Pretty much every demon and vamp who Buffy fought over seven seasons are at least mentioned in this novel. The ending doesn't feel like it fits in with the character who we've grown to love over seven seasons. Those who don't know the Buffyverse and/or aren't fans won't get into this and those who are fans may just be distracted by the references without being able to enjoy the plot.

Rating: 2/5

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Bring Me Their Hearts


Bring Me Their Hearts

by Sara Wolf

Three years before, Zera was killed by bandits who also killed her parents. A witch who was near took Zera's heart from her and then reanimated her as a Heartless. After avenging her parents' deaths, Zera stays as the servant of the witch her "saved" her, unable to go far from her heart in the witch's lair.

For the past three years, Zera and two other Heartless have served the witch and been her thralls.

When all signs point to the king preparing for a new war against the witches, a plan is hatched to give Zera the ability to leave her small home, travel to the city, and try to capture the heart of the young prince, Lucien.

Literally.

If Zera can kill him, take his heart, and help to turn him into a Heartless, her heart and the hearts of the two other current thralls will be returned to her, allowing her to be human once more.

Getting to the city is easy. Convincing everyone that she's not a monster will be much harder. Capturing the heart of the prince, could be the most dangerous thing Zera has ever tried to do.

Final thoughts: This one had a nice concept but was a slow build. I almost gave up a few times at the start because I was struggling to get into it. However, once I was in I was all in. Zera is fascinating and many of the other characters are fleshed out well. Lucien was great and I felt for him by the end. There was an obvious twist early on but it actually was revealed to all of the characters early so it didn't bring down the book much. My biggest complaint was the cliffhanger so I'm off to read the next book.

Rating: 4/5



Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Becoming a Queen

 
Becoming a Queen

by Dan Clay

 

Mark has always been sure of two things: he is gay and his older brother loves him no matter what.

What Mark isn't sure of is how he will feel wearing a dress. He feels like he will love it with all of his heart but he's not sure that anyone else will. 

Luckily, Mark's brother supports him 1000% with the encouragement to, "Be yourself! Your full sequin-y self.”

Just as Mark is starting to find his footing and figure out who he may be, tragedy strikes and he must start to find himself all over again.

Final thoughts: Poignant, sad, sometimes depressing, and sometimes frenetic, this book has a real 'voice' and is a solid story. Some of the moments were a little odd and others just didn't always read well, but the overall story is well done. This book can be very raw and real and there should be some trigger warnings somewhere, but it's worth the read.

Rating: 4/5

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.


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