Thank you to Macmillan Books, the author, and Bookish First for the complimentary advance readers’ edition of SKYHUNTER by Marie Lu.
SKYHUNTER is sent Thank you to Macmillan Books, the author, and Bookish First for the complimentary advance readers’ edition of SKYHUNTER by Marie Lu.
SKYHUNTER is sent in a world largely ruled by the Karensa Federation. Mara is one of the few free nations left and it has trained up an elite force of Strikers to fight against the Federation and the mutant creatures known as Ghosts who are sent to attack Mara. Even so, the Federation has all the resources that Mara lacks and it seems that their time of freedom is limited.
Talin has always been an outsider. Her original home was taken over by the Federation and her father and her own voice were lost. Talin and her mother have found asylum in Mara, but still they aren’t counted as equals. Talin has managed to prove herself a strong Striker, and in a population that values the ability to be silent, her own voiceless communication proves useful. When she impetuously stands up for a poisoner of war, she is tasked with partnering him. It is meant as a death sentence for them both, but she begins to sense there may be a benefit to their partnership.
I really enjoyed this scifi story and Talin’s perspective especially. She is a strong young woman, but not without her scars both physical and emotional. She doesn’t have a full recollection of what happened to her home and her father and her voice. She’s gutsy and determined to stand strong in her role as striker, even as she’s willing to sacrifice everything when she feels she must stand up for this prisoner against those in charge.
This book wrapped up well, while still leaving me eager for more. I would recommend this one to the scifi / fantasy fans. This was a fantastic read and I look forward to seeing what comes next! The second book STEELSTRIKER in this duology recently came out and I already have it on hold at the library.
Thank you to Kensington Publishing Corporation and Bookish First for the complimentary ARC of THE SUICIDE HOUSE by Charlie Donlea (pub date 7/28/2020)Thank you to Kensington Publishing Corporation and Bookish First for the complimentary ARC of THE SUICIDE HOUSE by Charlie Donlea (pub date 7/28/2020)!
I loved Charlie Donlea’s SOME CHOOSE DARKNESS last year, so when I saw his new book on Bookish First, I immediately used my points to get a copy even before reading the synopsis! I was therefore very pleased to learn that this was listed as book two in the Rory Moore/Lane Phillips series!
THE SUICIDE HOUSE begins big with a group of kids from Westmont Proeparatory High School playing a scary game in an abandoned boarding house, summoning the Man in the Mirror. In the end, two students are brutally killed and a teacher is fingered for the crime, though he is left permanently disabled by a failed attempt to kill himself in front of a train, so he is unable to answer the charges. In the year since this tragedy, two more students who survived that night have returned to the scene of the crime to kill themselves as well. The case has garnered a lot of attention in a true crime blog and a new serial podcast which is attempting to get more answers to what exactly a happened that night.
This book starts off creepy and had me hooked from page one. The author does an excellent job of giving you just enough detail to remain gripped to the pages, but with enough ambiguity to leave a lot of details to uncover as the investigation continues. Psychologist Lane Phillips is hired on by the podcast as a consultant and he in turn brings in forensic reconstructionist Rory Moore who is soon intrigued by the case. I especially enjoyed spending some more time with Rory Moore, a woman on the autism spectrum who has made the characteristics of this label into distinct strengths in her professional life and her hobbies (her doll reconstruction hobby makes a return as well and I again found this fascinating).
The mystery is laid out in alternating time periods, going back to the events surrounding the tragedy in 2019 and laying out the investigation taking place in 2020. Multiple points of view are involved as well in both time periods as the narrative follows students, school personnel, reporters, police and journalists. We also get snippets of the actual podcast itself in the beginning to introduce us to the events of 2019 and the remaining mysteries. All of this works really well to keep the story going at a good pace and I couldn’t help but keep flipping pages!
From the author’s note at the end, I now know that in addition to Lane and Rory, some of the side characters in this novel are also from Donlea’s prior books, but this book is absolutely written to work as a stand alone! I recommend adding this one to your TBR when it releases on 7/28/2020!...more
I won an Advance Reading Copy of HOLLYWOOD PARK by Mikel Jollett as part of a giveaway on Bookish First! I also received an Advance Listener Copy throI won an Advance Reading Copy of HOLLYWOOD PARK by Mikel Jollett as part of a giveaway on Bookish First! I also received an Advance Listener Copy through Libro.FM. Thank you to Celadon Books, Macmillan Audio and Mikel Jollett for the chance to read and provide an honest review review!
HOLLYWOOD PARK is a memoir, beginning with Mikel Jollett as a young boy who was raised in a commune in California which started with some potentially good intentions as a drug rehab but soon morphed into a cult. Children were kept separate from their parents. The cult leader decided who could have a relationship with who. Mikel’s mother eventually makes an escape with her two sons, but the family must then adapt to “normal” life.
This memoir covers Jollett’s childhood living in poverty, his mother’s mental instability and the men that came in and out of his life. Jollett’s older brother was appeared to be more heavily impacted by their history, showing anger and control issues. Their father was an ex-con and a former drug addict. The story does give hope for recovery though and Jollett has become a musician, frontman for rock band Airborne Toxic Event, and a skilled writer.
I really found this fascinating – both in print and in audio. The audio wraps in music which really enhanced the story as well. Jollett shows very clearly the broken and complicated relationships that really consumed his life. There were moments where he was struggling for a normal boyhood experience like collecting cans and doing chores to earn money for a new bike followed by heartbreaking moments when bullies went after him and his own brother wouldn’t or couldn’t stand up for him.
The book is written using the author’s own perspective without a lot of outside information. The life in the Church of Synanon isn’t covered in great detail. I would have maybe liked to hear a bit more about that part of the story, but it is understandable given Jollett’s young age when leaving. The lingering impact of that life is made very clear throughout the book!
This was a well written, engaging and heart touching book and I definitely recommend you check it out!...more
I received an Advance Reading Copy of THE SAFE PLACE by Anna Downes through Bookish First! Thank you to Minotaur Books for the chance to read and provI received an Advance Reading Copy of THE SAFE PLACE by Anna Downes through Bookish First! Thank you to Minotaur Books for the chance to read and provide an honest review review!
THE SAFE PLACE begins with Emily, a down on her luck struggling actress whose life is falling apart. After another failed audition, she is let go from her temp job. With her rent check bounced, she is facing likely eviction and she has no cash for food or other necessities. Her relationship with her parents is broken and she doesn’t have any friends in the city close enough to call on for help.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Emily gets the opportunity of a lifetime. Her former boss Scott wants to hire her for a different job, helping to take care of his wife and daughter at a gorgeous estate on the French coast. Emily has few options and can’t imagine a better offer, so she grabs her passport and heads out. The setting is idyllic just as described, but the little girl is unusual and there’s something off about the wife.
I was instantly hooked to this one and I wound up reading it in less than a day. We get different POVs, Emily and Scott in the present day and Nina’s flashbacks to her history with her husband and child. It was obvious early on that this setup was too good to be true with even Emily having early suspicions, but the reality of what was going on wasn’t clear.
I really enjoyed Emily as a character, though there were times when she made some frustrating decisions. She hasn’t had a perfect past and her struggle with her family leads her to be the perfect pick when Scott wants to send someone to this isolated estate. Scott’s motives aren’t initially clear, but as we see into his head, the worry for Emily is real.
This was a bit of a slow burn, but only in the best way as the mystery of what exactly was happening kept me hooked and turning pages.I wasn’t really surprised by the big twist, but I didn’t predict all of the nuances and I didn’t mind having my suspicions confirmed. I would recommend you keep your eyes out for this one when it’s released on July 14!...more
I won an Advance Reading Copy of A TANGLED WEB by Leslie Rule as part of a giveaway on Bookish First! Thank you to Kensington Publishing Corp for the I won an Advance Reading Copy of A TANGLED WEB by Leslie Rule as part of a giveaway on Bookish First! Thank you to Kensington Publishing Corp for the chance to read and provide an honest review review!
A TANGLED WEB is a true crime account of the crimes of Shanna “Liz” Golyar. Liz was a jealous ex of a man who never wanted a commitment. When she sees this man moving on, she takes steps that are unbelievably extreme. She was arrested in 2016 and sentenced to life in 2017, but she went undetected for years and continues to proclaim her innocence.
I don’t want to give too much about this case away, but the story had me hooked. Between the time that I entered the giveaway for this book and the time when I started reading it last week, the world has become much more plagued with distractions. To be honest I was a bit worried that picking up a nonfiction book, and a true crime genre especially given that this is not a comfort zone genre for me, would not hold my attention, but I was immediately drawn into the story. This has all the makings of a thriller in a truth is stranger than fiction kind of way.
Leslie Rule is the daughter of famed true crime author Ann Rule and she worked for her mother as an assistant and trial photographer, so the arena of true crime is not new to her. Though she has written other books, this is the first time she is publishing in the true crime genre herself. I thought her writing was very gripping and that she did a good job of balancing the narrative of the crimes being committed with her research into peoples’ back stories.
For the true crime fans out there, this is definitely one that you’ll want to keep an eye out for! A TANGLED WEB by Leslie Rule will be out on 4/28/2020!
If you haven’t signed up for Bookish First, I absolutely recommend it. This was my second book win and getting points toward free books is as easy as reading and reviewing and sharing! I would recommend that you check out my links page for more information. My referral code will get you some bonus points toward earning some free books of your own....more
I won an Advance Reading Copy of THE KINGDOM OF BACK by Marie Lu as part of a giveaway on Bookish First! Thank you to Penguin Teen for the chance to rI won an Advance Reading Copy of THE KINGDOM OF BACK by Marie Lu as part of a giveaway on Bookish First! Thank you to Penguin Teen for the chance to read provide an honest review review!
THE KINGDOM OF BACK is a YA historical fiction fantasy novel. Nannerl Mozart is the older sister of the better known Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Nannerel is a musical genius in her own right, but being a woman of the 18th century she is expected to play only until she is of marriageable age. She longs to compose her own music but knows her father will not allow her such pursuits. As her brother grows up behind her he too begins to show amazing musical talents and Nannerl feels as though she is getting lost in his shadow.
Wishing primarily to be remembered instead of forgotten by history, Nannerl is approached by a magical boy from the Kingdom of Back, a world she had thought she’d dreamed up. This alternate world becomes intertwined with her reality as she grows closer and closer to the age where she will have to abandon her musical pursuits. Nannerl is willing to make sacrifices to achieve her dreams, but how far she is willing to go is called into question.
I have enjoyed Marie Lu’s writing in the past, so was excited when I received notification that I had won a copy of THE KINGDOM OF BACK. Having read the first chapters before entering the raffle, I knew this was a book that was going to hook me right away. Marie Lu’s writing is beautiful and lyrical and it really draws you in.
The story has the feeling of a dark fairy tale full of magical creatures and stories within stories. At the same time you get depictions of 18th century Europe as the Mozart family travels between countries to show off the children’s talents. It made for such an interesting mix! The book keeps you guessing who can and can’t be trusted and what exactly is going on in the intersection of the real world and the kingdom.
This is a book I would heartily recommend checking out when it is released on 3/3/2020, so keep an eye out for this gorgeous cover!...more
Loading...
