Fiction · Historical · Horror · LGBTQ+ · Science Fiction · Young Adult

Deathless Divide

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Title: Deathless Divide

Author: Justina Ireland

Performers: Bahni Turpin & Jordan Cobb

Length: 14 hr, 34 min

Series: Dread Nation, Book 2

Publishing Date/Publisher: February 4, 2020 by HarperAudio

Format: eAudiobook

Review: Dare I say it, I might like the sequel even better than the first book. Considering how impressed I was by Dread Nation, that is high praise. I really loved the dark direction Jane’s story goes in, and we get to know Katherine on a deeper level. In the first book, I felt giving it an LGBT+ label was a bit of a stretch, but after reading this book I have amended my opinion. The romantic relationships, however, are not the focus of this story, at least not in the way you would expect. It is a story of revenge, justice, friendship and women who kick butt – both dead and alive. I personally loved it and was a little sad to learn that this is a duology, not a trilogy. It did have a satisfying ending though, so I can’t complain too much. It was a very creative combination of science fiction, history, and horror.

I highly recommend that readers listen to it in audiobook format.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 5 Stars

Fiction · Historical

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

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Title: The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

Author: Kim Michele Richardson

Page Count: 309

Series: The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, Book 1

Publishing Date/Publisher: May 7, 2019 by Sourcebooks Landmark

Format: Hardcover

Review: I first want to start off by saying that the history this book is based on is absolutely fascinating. I had heard of the blue people of Kentucky, but I had never really looked into them too extensively. I had not heard of the Pack Horse Library Project, so that was particularly fascinating to learn about. The author combined the two histories in a unique way that I could appreciate. The story held my interest for the most part, but I would not describe it as unputdownable. Although there is a great deal of conflict spread throughout the story, it oddly doesn’t feel like it. Some of the resolutions felt too tidy, and some traumas are moved past altogether too quickly. I also did not understand the romantic angle. It was clear from the moment a handsome bachelor was introduced that he would become Cussy’s love interest, but there was no relationship building leading up to the professions of love. They actually interact hardly at all throughout the whole story and his easy acceptance of her unusual skin color from their very first encounter did not make a lot of sense in the context of the story. Blue people were reviled and exiled by the community that he grew up in, so you would think that there would be a little social conditioning he would need to shed in order to develop a romantic relationship with her. A lot of readers loved this book, but there was just something missing for me that prevents me from rating it over 3 stars. It is very possible I just did not really connect with the author’s style of storytelling. There is an overall lack of character development, which is something I place a lot of value on as a reader.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 3 Stars

Fantasy · Fiction · LGBTQ+

Black Sun

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Author: Black Sun

Title: Rebecca Roanhorse

Performer: Cara Gee, Nicole Lewis, Kaipo Schwab, & Shaun Taylor-Corbett

Length: 12 hr 47 min

Series: Between Earth and Sky, Book 1

Publishing Date/Publisher: October 13, 2020

Format: eAudiobook

Review: I was intrigued by the synopsis of this book, and it really lived up to my expectations. Set in a lush world inspired by the early civilizations of the Americas, this is a story rich in mythology, culture, and magic. All of the characters were mostly interesting, but I was quite taken by Xiala and Serapio, especially once their stories intersected. In my opinion the story was really about them. The rest of the POVs felt more like periphery characters, particularly Okoa. He had relatively little page time, and I think his perspective could have been removed without damaging the story. Naranpa, the Sun Priestess, had more depth and her importance to the plot was more clearly defined, but I still did not connect with her the same way that I did with Xiala and Serapio. She became infinitely more interesting once more of her backstory was revealed, but by then the book was almost finished.

Although the journeys leading to the story’s climax were fascinating, the climax itself was rather…anticlimactic. As a reader, it became apparent to me a little too early on how things would go down when Serapio made his prophesied return to his mother’s homeland on the day of convergence. The actual ending was rather abrupt and wasn’t really the cliffhanger I was expecting. When I read the synopsis for the next book in the series, I was confused, because it contains the revelations I would have expected to read at the end of the first book. That aside, I think the stage has been set for some great character arcs and I look forward to jumping back in where the story left off.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 4 Stars

Fantasy · Fiction · Romance · Young Adult

Muse of Nightmares

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Title: Muse of Nightmares

Author: Laini Taylor

Performer: Steve West

Length: 15 hr, 54 min

Series: Strange the Dreamer, Book 2

Publishing Date/Publisher: October 2, 2018 by Hachette Audio

Format: eAudiobook

Review: This is a review that is long overdue, considering I finished the book last summer. In summary, a perfect finish to a stunning duology. So imaginative, so masterful. Taylor introduces interesting new character POVs and wraps up the fascinating mystery of Weep with an utterly original conclusion. It’s hard to even describe how I feel about this book because I have never read anything quite like it, which is perhaps why I have taken so long to write any sort of review. I cannot sing it’s praises enough. If you are a lover of fantasy, complex characters, and storylines that connect in surprising ways, READ. THIS. BOOK.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 5 Stars

Contemporary · Fiction · Thriller

The Push

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Title: The Push

Author: Ashley Audrain

Page Count: 307

Series: N/A

Publishing Date/Publisher: January 5, 2021 by Pamela Dorman Books

Format: Hardcover

Review: This was a unique sort of thriller, and I almost don’t want to label it as such. There is some amount of suspense, but it is of the creeping “glance over your shoulder” variety. What makes this novel stand out in my mind is the narration style. Blythe, who is a writer by trade, is telling her story to her ex-husband, who has lived the same path of events, but has experienced them entirely differently. Blythe is a character I felt myself feeling deep sympathy for as she struggles to settle into motherhood. She does not connect with her first child in the way she hoped for and when she starts observing disturbing behavior, she is immediately dismissed by her husband. This is a woman who has virtually no support network. No friends or family she can turn to. No one to validate her feelings and help her process her trauma. As readers we watch the slow dissolution of her marriage and the unraveling of her sanity. She questions her own words and actions, and develops a deep sense of paranoia that permeates the story. But are her fears valid? Is her daughter really a little sociopath? Or is she imagining things? What makes this story so enthralling is that it is difficult to say. It is clear that Blythe is an unreliable narrator and as an outsider, it’s painful to see the fallout of generational trauma, untreated post-partum depression, and crippling grief. If I were to rate this book on the writing alone, I would give it 4+ stars. I rate it lower because the truth is I really did not enjoy it. Blythe is living a mother’s worst nightmare, and quite frankly, it left me feeling anxious and deeply unsettled.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Fantasy · Fiction · LGBTQ+ · Young Adult

The Bone Spindle

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Title: The Bone Spindle

Author: Leslie Vedder

Page Count: 416

Series: The Bone Spindle, Book 1

Publishing Date/Publisher: January 11, 2022 by Razorbill

Format: eBook

Review: This book fits comfortably in the category of “liked it but didn’t love it.” Things I liked: genderbent retelling, treasure hunting, a ghostly prince who isn’t really a ghost. Things I didn’t like: Fi never really grew on me as a character, the relationships between characters just didn’t vibe for me, the “villain” was easy to identify.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 3 Stars

Fantasy · Fiction · Paranormal · Romance · Young Adult

Wickery duology

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Title: Cast in Firelight

Author: Dana Swift

Performers: Priya Aayar & Assaf Cohen

Length: 11 hr, 54 min

Series: Wickery, Book 1

Publishing Date/Publisher: January 4, 2022 by Listening Library

Format: eAudiobook

Review: The imaginative world that was introduced in this series was a real joy to immerse myself in. So rich in color (literally) and built upon a fascinating magic system. We see many of the stereotypical things associated with wizardry & witchcraft, but they are modified with their own creative spin. For example, the flying brooms….loved what Swift did there. There were certain aspects of the story that seemed a little far fetched, (i.e. why would her future father-in-law be ok with Aadra putting herself in dangerous situations on the reg??), but I was willing to overlook those little details because I enjoyed the rest of the story so much. The “enemies” to lovers and mistaken identity tropes are executed well and the spark between the two characters is fun to watch ignite (can’t help the puns).

The two readers were excellent for the eAudiobook. Priya in particular I could listen to all day. I was eager to start the second book in the duology.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 4 Stars

Title: Bound by Firelight

Author: Dana Swift

Performers: Priya Ayyar & Assaf Cohen

Length: 11 hr, 14 min

Series: Wickery, Book 2

Publishing Date/Publisher: January 18, 2022 by Listening Library

Format: eAudiobook

Review: This sequel did not quite carry the momentum of the first book, but I still enjoyed it. Aadra and Jatin get almost no page time together, and a new character is introduced in Jatin’s POV that I don’t feel was particularly well-written. In fact, I don’t even really understand why the addition of this character was necessary. She added almost nothing of value to the story and the relationships between her and the other characters were confusing.

Aadra’s storyline had potential that I don’t think was fully realized. Her friendship with her cell mate was interesting, and I loved the incorporation of sign language. I don’t think I have ever seen signing described in a fantasy novel like this before, or ever really.

This book wasn’t as tightly written or fast paced as the first in the duology, but it wrapped up nicely and I was satisfied with the ending.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Fantasy · Fiction · Romance · Young Adult

Strange the Dreamer

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Title: Strange the Dreamer

Author: Laini Taylor

Page Count: 544

Series: Strange the Dreamer, Book 1

Publishing Date/Publisher: March 28, 2017 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Format: Hardcover

Review: Magnificent title. Unforgettable characters. Staggeringly beautiful prose. This book had me hooked from start to finish. I could not have predicted all the directions this story goes in, as it was all utterly original. Couple that with a poetic writing style and this book had me mesmerized. It’s the type of writing where you want to savor the words, and you re-read sentences just because you like the way they sound. My only regret is that I did not discover this author sooner. Oh and I can’t forget to mention that this book is about a librarian. It makes the story all the more enchanting.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 5 Stars

Fantasy · Fiction · New Adult · Paranormal · Romance

The Crown of Gilded Bones

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Title: The Crown of Gilded Bones

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Page Count: 645

Series: Blood and Ash, Book 3

Publishing Date/Publisher: April 20, 2021 by Blue Box Press

Format: eBook

Review: The most insane thing about this low rating is that I am actually contemplating reading the next book in the series when it is released. My hopes that this book would be better than A Kingdom and Flesh and Fire were quickly dashed when I realized that this book was basically just an insufferable extension of it’s predecessor. Same cringe worthy dialogue, same smut, same pointless plot filler. So am I glutton for punishment for wanting to continue? Yes. The answer is yes and I will tell you why. Armentrout somehow manages to write 600 pages of barely tolerable storyline and then BAM! She lays an incredible finale on you that leaves you just interested enough to want to see how the rest of the saga plays out. Looks like I’m roped in for at least one more book. Ugh.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 2.5 Stars

Fantasy · Fiction · Paranormal · Romance · Young Adult

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire

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Title: Kingdom of Flesh and Fire

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Page Count: 637

Series: Blood and Ash, Book 2

Publishing Date/Publisher: September 1, 2020 by Blue Box Press

Format: eBook

Review: The first book in this series far exceeded by expectations. Going into this book, I had far more optimism, which was quickly doused. Everything that bothered me about the first book, that I was willing to overlook because the overlying storyline was interesting, is multiplied 1000 fold in this one. The dialogue between Casteel and Poppy is so ridiculous that I didn’t know whether to laugh or cringe. There are a couple interesting reveals throughout the book, but they are smothered in layers of unnecessary nonsense. Am I continuing forward with the series? Yes, but only because the heart of the story is interesting and I am still curious about Poppy’s heritage.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 2.5 Stars