The nitty-gritty: Ambitious in scope and imagery, Middlegame is an epic tale of friendship, both uplifting and heartbreaking. I’m a huge fan of Seanan McGuire/Mira Grant, although I’ve barely scratched the surface when it comes to her huge backlist. But I have been trying to keep up with new releases, and when I heard about […]
The nitty-gritty: A compelling, relationship-driven family drama with speculative elements and plenty of mystery, this is a page turner that you won’t be able to put down. This book was such a happy surprise! I enjoyed Morgan’s A Secret History of Witches a couple of years ago, but her latest really touched me in ways […]
The nitty-gritty: A weird and wonderful, multi-layered story with a tough-as-nails heroine, this delightful fantasy offers up plenty of mysteries, both big and small. “I answer little questions. Those impossible puzzles that burrow into our brains like splinters and keep us awake at night. I solve the mysteries that spoil marriages, ruin friendships, and curdle […]
With so many mixed reviews flying around, I was both anxious and excited to dive into Wicked Saints. On the surface it seemed like exactly the kind of book I love, with a Gothic sensibility, horrific elements, blood magic, warring religions and even monsters. And the verdict? I was pleasantly surprised by this book, and […]
The nitty-gritty: Book two in The Risen Kingdom series shines just as brightly as the first. If you love amazing world-building, daring adventure and sparkling, witty characters, you simply must read this series. The second book in Curtis Craddock’s delightful fantasy series started slow for me, I have to admit. It took me a good […]
The nitty-gritty: Bad, clichéd writing, cheesy and dramatic dialog, and distasteful elements that don’t work with the rest of the story make this a book I cannot recommend to anyone. I could sum up my thoughts on this book in five words if I really wanted to—The Dysasters was a disaster—but I’m in a ranty […]
The nitty-gritty: A tale brimming with magic that feels both familiar and new, The Beast’s Heart is the perfect Valentine’s Day read. It’s fitting that I’m posting this review on Valentine’s Day, because The Beast’s Heart, a Beauty and the Beast retelling, is full of magic, heart and romance. Even better, if you’re a fan […]
The nitty-gritty: An interesting world with lots of potential, Smoke & Summons was a fast-paced story that would have benefited from more cohesive world-building. I ended up with mixed feelings about Smoke & Summons, despite a solid beginning, but overall I did enjoy this book. Holmberg has created a fascinating world where humans are used […]
The nitty-gritty: A nostalgic trip down memory lane, Slayer deftly builds on the Buffy universe and brings new characters and situations into the mix. It’s not Buffy, but I loved it anyway. Being chosen is easy. Making choices will break your heart. I have to admit that my feelings about Slayer went through several changes […]
The nitty-gritty: Full of stunning world-building and epic in scope, The Gutter Prayer is a debut you don’t want to miss. Goodreads tells me that it took me ten days to read The Gutter Prayer, and dammit I’m now two books behind with my reading challenge! I start my review with this fact not to […]