The World of Lore: Monstrous Creatures by Aaron Mahnke

Title: Monstrous Creatures (The World of Lore #1)

Author: Aaron Mahnke

Publisher: Del Rey 2017

Genre: Horror

Pages: 299

Rating: 3/5 stars*****

Reading Challenges: Share-a-Tea; A to Z - M; I Love Libraries

In this beautifully illustrated volume, the host of the hit podcast Lore serves as a guide on a fascinating journey through the history of these terrifying creatures, exploring not only the legends but what they tell us about ourselves. Aaron Mahnke invites us to the desolate Pine Barrens of New Jersey, where the notorious winged, red-eyed Jersey Devil dwells. He delves into harrowing accounts of cannibalism—some officially documented, others the stuff of speculation . . . perhaps. He visits the dimly lit rooms where séances take place, the European villages where gremlins make mischief, even Key West, Florida, home of a haunted doll named Robert.

In a world of “emotional vampires” and “zombie malls,” the monsters of folklore have become both a part of our language and a part of our collective psyche. Whether these beasts and bogeymen are real or just a reflection of our primal fears, we know, on some level, that not every mystery has been explained and that the unknown still holds the power to strike fear deep in our hearts and souls. As Aaron Mahnke reminds us, sometimes the truth is even scarier than the lore.

So I am conflicted on this collection. I'm giving it 3 stars, but for most people, I would give it 5 stars. I thought I would be reading more and/or extended stories from the Lore podcast, but by and large, it was just the podcast episodes written out. Given that I have listened to almost all of the episodes of Lore, I was just revisiting the same stories. For those that do not listen to the podcast this is a very fun collection of scary maybe true/maybe not stories. I really did enjoy that aspect. And the illustrations are really great.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Great Halifax Explosion by John U. Bacon

Title: The Great Halifax Explosion

Author: John U. Bacon

Publisher: William Morrow 2017

Genre: Nonfiction - History

Pages: 432

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - Nonfiction Adventure; Popsugar - Set at Sea; I Love Libraries

After steaming out of New York City on December 1, 1917, laden with a staggering three thousand tons of TNT and other explosives, the munitions ship Mont-Blanc fought its way up the Atlantic coast, through waters prowled by enemy U-boats. As it approached the lively port city of Halifax, Mont-Blanc's deadly cargo erupted with the force of 2.9 kilotons of TNT—the most powerful explosion ever visited on a human population, save for HIroshima and Nagasaki. Mont-Blanc was vaporized in one fifteenth of a second; a shockwave leveled the surrounding city. Next came a thirty-five-foot tsunami. Most astounding of all, however, were the incredible tales of survival and heroism that soon emerged from the rubble.

This is the unforgettable story told in John U. Bacon's The Great Halifax Explosion: a ticktock account of fateful decisions that led to doom, the human faces of the blast's 11,000 casualties, and the equally moving individual stories of those who lived and selflessly threw themselves into urgent rescue work that saved thousands.

After hearing about this disaster on an episode of Stuff You Missed in History Class, I heard about a book detailing the event. Randomly the library had it on the new releases shelf last week and I knew that I had to read it. The book is very well researched in detailing the events leading up to the explosion and the aftermath. I was horrified to read about the tragedy that befell the citizens of Halifax. And yet, it was a fascinating read. I was thoroughly engrossed in the book for the entirety. Definitely a great read for fans of history.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Revival Volume 8

Title: Revival Volume 8: Stay Just a Little Bit Longer

Author: Tim Seeley, Mike Norton, Jenny Frison

Publisher: Image 2017

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 144

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

This is it, the final chapter in the critically acclaimed crime/horror rural noir, REVIVAL! Police Officer Dana Cypress has solved the mystery of the murder of her sister, but now she must decide whether too seek justice or help the perpetrator save the town of Wausau from eating itself alive.

Such a great ending to this very weird story. I was hooked on the series in Volume 1, and barreled through to the end. Definitely a weird storyline. But such great characters. I was fully into this series.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Penny Dreadful Volume 1

Title: Penny Dreadful Volume 1

Author: Chris King, Jesus Hervas

Publisher: Titan 2017

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 112

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

Continues the story directly after the shocking events of Penny Dreadful's season three TV finale!

A bit of a disappointment I must say. I was excited to see that they created a comic continuing the storyline that we thought ended at the conclusion of Season 3. Unfortunately, the storyline wasn't that great And more importantly, the artwork was very messy and confusing. I was having a hell of a time trying to figure out what the panels were trying to portray. Darn. I had high hopes for this one.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Dead Bolt by Juliet Blackwell

Title: Dead Bolt (Haunted Home Renovation #2)

Author: Juliet Blackwell

Publisher: Obsidian 2011

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Pages: 314

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries; Seasonal Series - Pink on cover

Turner Construction's latest restoration project is a historic Queen Anne Victorian in San Francisco. This time general contractor Mel Turner has to work around the owners who insist on sticking around- along with some ghosts that insist in their own way that the work stops...

The ghosts aren't the only ones standing in the way of the renovations. A crotchety neighbor, Emile Blunt, secretly wants this house, and could be behind some of the disturbances. But when Emile is found dead, it's Mel who appears guilty. Now she must restore the building-and her reputation-before it's too late.

Second book in this series and I am still loving it! Mel is a great character and this book continues to explore her awesomeness. I loved this story I evolving a beautiful old house, some eccentric characters, and a collection of ghosts. Too fun! And even I didn't quite catch the killer on this one. Oh yeah, and we get some traction on the Mel and Graham front. Love it.

Haunted Home Renovation

#1 If Walls Could Talk
#2 Dead Bolt
#3 Murder on the House
#4 Home for the Haunting
#5 Keeper of the Castle
#5.5 A Haunting is Brewing
#6 Give Up the Ghost
#7 A Ghostly Light

Next up on the TBR pile:

If Walls Could Talk by Juliet Blackwell

Title: If Walls Could Talk (Haunted Home Renovation #1)

Author: Juliet Blackwell

Publisher: Obsidian 2010

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Pages: 316

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: A to Z - I; I Love Libraries; Seasonal Series - First Book

Melanie Turner has made quite a name for herself remodeling historic houses in the San Francisco Bay Area. But now her reputation may be on the line.

At her newest project, a run-down Pacific Heights mansion, Mel is visited by the ghost of a colleague who recently met a bad end with power tools. Mel hopes that by nailing the killer, she can rid herself of the ghostly presence of the murdered man-and not end up a construction casualty herself...

Finally started this series after reading and loving Blackwell's Witchcraft Mystery series. I do enjoy a good cozy mystery now and again. This one really hit the spot. I immediately fell for Mel and her band of misfit characters. The storyline was a great introduction to her world and what we can expect from the rest of the series. Can't wait to dive into the next one.

Haunted Home Renovation

#1 If Walls Could Talk
#2 Dead Bolt
#3 Murder on the House
#4 Home for the Haunting
#5 Keeper of the Castle
#5.5 A Haunting is Brewing
#6 Give Up the Ghost
#7 A Ghostly Light

Next up on the TBR pile:

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

Title: 84, Charing Cross Road

Author: Helene Hanff

Publisher: Grossman Publishers 1970 (Penguin Books 1990)

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 97

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Popsugar - Bookstore; I Love Libraries

This charming classic love story, first published in 1970, brings together twenty years of correspondence between Helene Hanff, at the time, a freelance writer living in New York City, and a used-book dealer in London at 84, Charing Cross Road. Through the years, though never meeting and separated both geographically and culturally, they share a winsome, sentimental friendship based on their common love for books. Their relationship, captured so acutely in these letters, is one that has touched the hearts of thousands of readers around the world.

This book has been mentioned on Anne Bogel's podcast What Should I Read Next so many times, I had to add it to my library holds list. And I'm glad I did. I wasn't quite sure what I was expecting, but was pleasantly surprised by the cute letters between Helene and the various people at the bookstore at 84 Charing Cross Road. Over the course of a few years, a relationship develops that I wasn't expecting but was delighted by. Such a slim little volume, but a great read.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Glamour in Glass by Mary Robinette Kowal

Title: Glamour in Glass

Author: Mary Robinette Kowal

Publisher: Tor 2012

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 334

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series; I Love Libraries; Seasonal Series - Second in Series

Mary Robinette Kowal stunned readers with her charming first novel Shades of Milk and Honey, a loving tribute to the works of Jane Austen in a world where magic is an everyday occurrence. This magic comes in the form of glamour, which allows talented users to form practically any illusion they can imagine. Shades debuted to great acclaim and left readers eagerly awaiting its sequel. Glamour in Glass continues following the lives of beloved main characters Jane and Vincent, with a much deeper vein of drama and intrigue.

In the tumultuous months after Napoleon abdicates his throne, Jane and Vincent go to Belgium for their honeymoon. While there, the deposed emperor escapes his exile in Elba, throwing the continent into turmoil. With no easy way back to England, Jane and Vincent's concerns turn from enjoying their honeymoon…to escaping it.

Left with no outward salvation, Jane must persevere over her trying personal circumstances and use her glamour to rescue her husband from prison . . . and hopefully prevent her newly built marriage from getting stranded on the shoals of another country's war.

A good second volume in this series. I don't think this will be one of those series that I rave about to everyone I meet, but I am enjoying myself. I love the mix of fantasy and Regency. I love the descriptions of using glamour and the results of the efforts. I enjoy the characters although both of the main characters can be trying at times. I did enjoy the moving of the setting to France. Interesting little volume.

The Glamourist

#1 Shades of Milk and Honey
#2 Glamour in Glass
#3 Without a Summer
#4 Valour and Vanity
#5 Of Noble Family

Next up on the TBR pile:

Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser

Title: Not That I Could Tell

Author: Jessica Strawser

Publisher: St. Martin's Press 2018

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 324

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Share-a-Tea

When a group of neighborhood women gathers, wine in hand, around a fire pit where their backyards meet one Saturday night, most of them are just ecstatic to have discovered that their baby monitors reach that far. It’s a rare kid-free night, and they’re giddy with it. They drink too much, and the conversation turns personal.

By Monday morning, one of them is gone.

My Book of the Month selection for March. I picked this one as it was a read-alike to Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. I really loved that book and was hoping for an intriguing mystery with interesting characters. Unfortunately, this book lacked the hook that got me invested in the characters. For the most part, I just didn't care about them. I wanted to figure out what happened to Kristin, but wasn't perched on the edge of my seat with suspense. The plot line was okay. I was just really not connected to any of the characters.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Philosopher's Flight by Tom Miller

Title: The Philosopher's Flight

Author: Tom Miller

Publisher: Simon & Schuster 2018

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 422

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Popsugar - Published in 2018; Share-A-Tea

Eighteen-year-old Robert Weekes is a practitioner of empirical philosophy—an arcane, female-dominated branch of science used to summon the wind, shape clouds of smoke, heal the injured, and even fly. Though he dreams of fighting in the Great War as the first male in the elite US Sigilry Corps Rescue and Evacuation Service—a team of flying medics—Robert is resigned to mixing batches of philosophical chemicals and keeping the books for the family business in rural Montana, where his mother, a former soldier and vigilante, aids the locals.

When a deadly accident puts his philosophical abilities to the test, Robert rises to the occasion and wins a scholarship to study at Radcliffe College, an all-women’s school. At Radcliffe, Robert hones his skills and strives to win the respect of his classmates, a host of formidable, unruly women.

This was my Book of the Month selection for February, but I wasn't quite sure what I picked. Turns out, this is exactly the type of book that I enjoy reading. We're drawn into an alternate history where women (and a few men) have discovered and begun practicing a version of science/magic. This, of course, has impacted the course of history in very interesting ways. The book itself is set decades after the discovery of these powers and we connected to an unusual man who has the ability to do empirical philosophy. Obviously there is a fantastical element to the book. But really the book connects us to interesting characters that go on a journey of self-discovery. Slow-moving in certain parts, but overall a really entertaining read.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell

Title: Cranford

Author: Elizabeth Gaskell

Publisher: 1853

Genre: Classics

Pages: 257

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Popsugar - Movie I've Already Seen; A to Z - C

Cranford is an affectionate and often moving portrait of genteel poverty and intertwined lives in a nineteenth-century village. One of Elizabeth Gaskell's most beloved works, it centres on a community dominated by women and governed by old-fashioned ways. The formidable Miss Deborah Jenkyns and the kindly Miss Matty's days revolve around card games, tea, thriftiness and an endless appetite for scandal, until change comes into their world - whether it is the modern ideas of Captain Brown, a bank collapse, rumours of burglars or an unexpected reappearance from the past.

Classic that has been sitting on my shelf for too long. I enjoyed this one, but it's definitely not for everyone. I love how Gaskell has structured the book as more of vignettes than cohesive consecutive chapters. The reader gets little slices of life in Cranford filled with colorful characters and insights into relationships. I see this as a mix between Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. I'm not a huge fan of Dickens, but I adore Austen. This was a good mixture of the genres. While the book is very good, I loved the BBC miniseries starring Dame Judi Dench as Miss Matty. She is a treasure!

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant

Title: The Birth of Venus

Author: Sarah Dunant

Publisher: Random House 2003

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 426

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: TBR Pile; Popsugar - Set in a country that fascinates me;

Alessandra Cecchi is not quite fifteen when her father, a prosperous cloth merchant, brings a young painter back from northern Europe to decorate the chapel walls in the family’s Florentine palazzo. A child of the Renaissance, with a precocious mind and a talent for drawing, Alessandra is intoxicated by the painter’s abilities.

But their burgeoning relationship is interrupted when Alessandra’s parents arrange her marriage to a wealthy, much older man. Meanwhile, Florence is changing, increasingly subject to the growing suppression imposed by the fundamentalist monk Savonarola, who is seizing religious and political control. Alessandra and her native city are caught between the Medici state, with its love of luxury, learning, and dazzling art, and the hellfire preaching and increasing violence of Savonarola’s reactionary followers. Played out against this turbulent backdrop, Alessandra’s married life is a misery, except for the surprising freedom it allows her to pursue her powerful attraction to the young painter and his art.

Hmmm... So I think this is a perfectly fine book with a fine plot and gorgeous setting. I just couldn't find myself connecting to anything or anyone in the book. I finished it, hoping to make a connection t some point, but I just didn't. Possibly this book just wasn't for me. I must say that the setting in Florence is perfect! I usually love stories set in Italy. I just didn't love this one.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

Title: Darkfever (MacKayla Lane #1)

Author: Karen Marie Moning

Publisher: Bantam Books 2006

Genre: Paranormal Fantasy

Pages: 347

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (Fantasy Project); Reading Assignment

When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death—a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone—Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae. . .

As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister’s death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane—an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women–closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac’s true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book—because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands. . . .

This novel was quite a disappointment for me. I was hoping for a fun paranormal fantasy and instead I got an extremely unlikable main character, a confusing storyline, and way too many unanswered questions. I don't mind when the first book in a series leaves things unanswered. I do mind when it seems like all we get are questions and nothing more. Plus, MacKayla is a horrid character. Her Barbie doll exterior and seeming interior were of no interest to me. I hope that she grows through the series, but I don't really have an interest in following her journey. Probably an entertaining book for some, but not for me.

MacKayla Lane:

#1 Darkfever
#2 Bloodfever
#3 Faefever
#4 Dreamfever
#5 Shadowfever
#5.5 Fever Moon
#6 Iced
#7 Burned
#8 Feverborn
#9 Feversong
#10 High Voltage

Next up on the TBR pile:

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

Title: The History of Love

Author: Nicole Krauss

Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company 2005

Genre: Literary Fiction

Pages: 252

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (21st Century Women Authors); Modern Mrs. Darcy -- Recommended by Someone with Good Taste; I Love Libraries

A long-lost book reappears, mysteriously connecting an old man searching for his son and a girl seeking a cure for her widowed mother's loneliness.
Leo Gursky taps his radiator each evening to let his upstairs neighbor know he’s still alive. But it wasn’t always like this: in the Polish village of his youth, he fell in love and wrote a book…Sixty years later and half a world away, fourteen-year-old Alma, who was named after a character in that book, undertakes an adventure to find her namesake and save her family. With virtuosic skill and soaring imaginative power, Nicole Krauss gradually draws these stories together toward a climax of "extraordinary depth and beauty" (Newsday).

I really really wanted to like this book. It's our book club selection and I've heard so many great things about it. I loved the final scene between Alma and Leo. I loved the mystery of the novel and the characters' pasts. And yet, I just couldn't find myself to love this novel. The format of pseudo-stream of consciousness and enumerated memories threw me off. I kept getting lost as to the multitude of characters and their perspectives. I even found myself confused by the time period on certain pages/chapters. I can see that this is a worthwhile book and I'm sure that there are people who love this one. That person is just not me...

Next up on the TBR pile:

Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Demon Glass (Hex Hall #3)

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Publisher: Hyperion 2012

Genre: YA Paranormal

Pages: 327

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series; I Love Libraries

Hailed as "impossible to put down," the Hex Hall series has both critics and teens cheering. With a winning combination of romance, action, magic and humor, this third volume will leave readers enchanted. Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that's what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn't as confident. Sophie's bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it's too late?

A fitting end to the series. I wasn't particularly surprised by anything that happened in this volume, but I did enjoy the ride. Hawkins writes in a very easy manner, pulling the reader along at a fast pace. I enjoyed the characters (especially Archer) and the storyline. And even though one particular death was devastating, I understand why it had to happen. Overall, a very good fun series. Now I can finally read School Spirits that has been sitting on my shelf for over two years.

Hex Hall:

#1 Hex Hall
#2 Demonglass
#3 Spell Bound

Next up on the TBR pile:

One Week in the Library by W. Prince

Title: One Week in the Library

Author: W. Prince, John Amor, and Frazer Irving

Publisher: Image 2016

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 96

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

Welcome to the Library. It's here that every story ever written is catalogued and monitored by a single man, who's begun to notice something strange: the books are rebelling. Image Comics proudly presents this experimental graphic novella from writer W. MAXWELL PRINCE and artist JOHN AMOR, which recounts a troublesome week in the Library via seven short stories—one for each day—that use comics, infographics, prose, and poetry to play with the graphic medium and explore the multivalent world of living narrative.

Such a weird little comic that I picked off the library shelf. I loved the strange tales collected in this slim volume full of wonder and mystery. Plus, we get a serious love of books celebrated. I sped through this but it was a good one.

Next up on the TBR pile:

A Summer to Remember by Mary Balogh

Title: A Summer to Remember (Bedwyn Saga #0.2)

Author: Mary Balogh

Publisher: Dell 2003

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 384

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Finishing the Series; What's in a Name - Season

Kit Butler is cool, dangerous, one of London’s mostinfamous bachelors—marriage is the last thing on his mind. But Kit’s family has other plans. Desperate to thwart his father’s matchmaking, Kit needs a bride...fast. Enter Miss Lauren Edgeworth.

A year after being abandoned at the altar, Lauren has determined that marriage is not for her. When these two fiercely independent souls meet, sparks fly—and a deal is hatched. Lauren will masquerade as Kit’s intended if he agrees to provide a passionate, adventurous, unforgettable summer. When summer ends, she will break off the engagement, rendering herself unmarriageable and leaving them both free. Everything is going perfectly—until Kit does the unthinkable: He begins to fall in love. A summer to remember is not enough for him. But how can he convince Lauren to be his...for better, for worse, for the rest of their lives?

A fluffy romance was just what I needed this week. I accidentally read the related series to the this one before so the ending was a bit spoiled (although most of these books are easy to predict the endings). I did enjoyed the story of Kit and Lauren. I especially liked seeing Lauren come out of her ice queen shell from the last book. This volume was quick and enjoyable. Just what I like in my Regency Romances.

Bedwyn Saga

#0.1 One Night for Love
#0.2 A Summer to Remember
#1 Slightly Married
#2 Slightly Wicked
#3 Slightly Scandalous
#4 Slightly Tempted
#5 Slightly Sinful
#6 Slightly Dangerous

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Wicked + The Divine Volume 6

Title: The Wicked + The Divine Vol. 6: Imperial Phase Part 2

Author: Kieron Gillen; Jamie McKelvie; Matt Wilson

Publisher: Image 2018

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 168

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

When you're at the peak of your powers, there's only one way to go. The question becomes—how many people are you willing to drag down with you? The bestselling, critically acclaimed comic by KIERON GILLEN, JAMIE McKELVIE and MATT WILSON reaches its most dramatic arc yet. Collects THE WICKED + THE DIVINE #29-33

Oh holy cow that was a crazy collection of issues. I truly did not see the ending twist coming, but the earlier ones weren't as much of a surprise. This volume has me falling more and more for the remaining gods. So very interesting! I love how this series combines modern times and problems with ancient mythology. Plus the graphics are just absolutely amazing. I can't wait for the next volume.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Demon Glass by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Demon Glass (Hex Hall #2)

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Publisher: Hyperion 2011

Genre: YA Paranormal

Pages: 359

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries; Finishing the Series

Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch. That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

I sped through this middle volume of the trilogy. It was fast-paced and action filled. We follow Sophie to England and to the Council and then lots of things happen. I enjoyed getting to meet her father and learn about the history of the Prodigium and specifically her family. I loved the inclusion of Cal and Jenna. And I especially enjoyed the continuing storyline between Sophie and Archer. But I must say that this volume left the readers on one hell of a cliffhanger...

Hex Hall:

#1 Hex Hall
#2 Demonglass
#3 Spell Bound

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Passion of Cleopatra by Anne Rice and Christopher Rice

Title: The Passion of Cleopatra (Ramses the Damned #2)

Author: Anne Rice

Publisher: Anchor Books 2017

Genre: Horror

Pages: 399

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (Anne Rice); Popsugar - By Two Authors; Finishing the Series

Ramses the Great, former pharaoh of Egypt, is reawakened by the elixir of life in Edwardian England. Now immortal with his bride-to-be, he is swept up in a fierce and deadly battle of wills and psyches against the once-great Queen Cleopatra. Ramses has reawakened Cleopatra with the same perilous elixir whose unworldly force brings the dead back to life. But as these ancient rulers defy one another in their quest to understand the powers of the strange elixir, they are haunted by a mysterious presence even older and more powerful than they, a figure drawn forth from the mists of history who possesses spectacular magical potions and tonics eight millennia old. This is a figure who ruled over an ancient kingdom stretching from the once-fertile earth of the Sahara to the far corners of the world, a queen with a supreme knowledge of the deepest origins of the elixir of life. She may be the only one who can make known to Ramses and Cleopatra the key to their immortality—and the secrets of the miraculous, unknowable, endless expanse of the universe.

I finally got to read the long-awaited sequel to The Mummy. Overall I really enjoyed the continuation of the story. We get to see how the relationships between Ramses, Julie, Alex, and Cleopatra evolve. We get to see and hear the backstory of the elixir. We get to hear about the long-lost kingdom of Shaktanu. I even loved the inclusion of a few new characters from the past. When they first appeared, I was concerned that they would muddle the storyline, but in the end they were good additions. I loved traveling around the world with all the characters. What I wasn't a huge fan of was a few of the long philosophical passages about the soul that appeared towards the end of the novel. To me, they got a bit preachy in tone.

Ramses the Damned:

#1 The Mummy
#2 Ramses the Damned: The Passion of Cleopatra

Next up on the TBR pile: