The nitty-gritty: This short novella was disappointing, unfortunately, due to a disjointed plot and bland characters. I’m afraid this book just didn’t work for me at all, which is a shame because I loved the idea and I was looking forward to reading something from Jeffrey Ford. Unfortunately, this novella reads almost like a first […]
The nitty-gritty: Thrilling and atmospheric, The Bone Ships is a rollicking sea adventure with heart, humor and a very large sea dragon. I’m not sure why I waited so long to read this book, but I guess I have Wyrd & Wonder to thank for kicking me in the butt and finally giving me the […]
The nitty-gritty: A thrilling standalone with heart and emotion, Race the Sands is guaranteed to satisfy both adult and YA readers. When fellow bloggers start raving about a book, I tend to sit up and listen. And there sure has been a lot of raving about Race the Sands! This is my second Sarah Beth […]
The nitty-gritty: Lam’s latest is harsh look at what our own future could be, full of thrilling action and interesting morale questions, but the uneven second half made this a mixed bag for me. Goldilocks has a fantastic premise and uses one of my favorite sci-fi tropes: leaving our dying Earth and striking out to […]
The nitty-gritty: Shipwrecks, sea monsters, and an engaging bunch of characters come together in this fantastic YA debut, full of thrills and plenty of mystery. Hi Dad, I’m going to write you until this pencil wears out. Until all of me wears out. I’m not sure what’s real and what’s not anymore, but these words, […]
The nitty-gritty: Creepy and atmospheric, this claustrophobic look at mental illness was surprisingly chilling. She had always loved sleeping and couldn’t understand people who didn’t. It was all of the best things about being dead, but without its permanence. What an unusual story! The Unsuitable is one of those books that blurs the line between […]
The nitty-gritty: Bennett’s complicated magic system dampened some of my enjoyment of this sequel, but the emotional connections between characters and exciting action sequences made up for it. If there’s one thing you can count on, it’s that Robert Jackson Bennett always delivers a complex, entertaining and emotional story, and I’m happy to say that […]
The nitty-gritty: For fans of Christina Henry’s Alice books, this collection fills in some of the blanks and gives readers a peek into the emotional lives of her characters. Looking Glass is a collection of four interconnected novellas set in Christina Henry’s Alice world and gives readers some new glimpses into the lives of Alice […]
The nitty-gritty: A promising start deteriorates into some very odd plot choices and pacing issues, although I adored the author’s atmosphere-infused writing. Have you ever read a book that started out strong—I’m talking five-star strong—but later deteriorated into a much lower rating? Well unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened to me with The Ancestor, I’m very […]
The nitty-gritty: History, witchcraft and romance collide in Louisa Morgan’s beautifully written story about a secret family lineage. I’m a big fan of Louisa Morgan’s “witch” books, and it’s a given that I’ll read every one she writes. The Age of Witches is another winner, with a wonderfully immersive story and solid writing. I fell […]