The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

Title: The Sun Down Motel

Author: Simone St. James

Publisher: Berkley 2020

Genre: Paranormal Thriller

Pages: 326

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Currently Reading - Can’t Wait to Give Someone!

Upstate New York, 1982. Viv Delaney wants to move to New York City, and to help pay for it she takes a job as the night clerk at the Sun Down Motel in Fell, New York. But something isnʼt right at the motel, something haunting and scary.

Upstate New York, 2017. Carly Kirk has never been able to let go of the story of her aunt Viv, who mysteriously disappeared from the Sun Down before she was born. She decides to move to Fell and visit the motel, where she quickly learns that nothing has changed since 1982. And she soon finds herself ensnared in the same mysteries that claimed her aunt.

I was hesitant coming into this book (I have a horrible track record with thrillers), but this one was deliciously creepy and kept me entertained. I hate when books claim to be creepy, but they are actually just plots with something vaguely suspenseful. This one is completely creepy and I loved every page of it. We get real ghosts! I love it when we get real ghosts in books. I was even hesitant to read this before bed due to the creep factor. Perfect! Beyond that aspect, I didn’t mind the modern storyline in this one. Usually I find that one of the sides of the story isn’t that interesting or boring, but Carly is a decent character in her own right. She’s not just driven to find out what happened to her Aunt Viv, but also exploring her own relationships in this new-to-her town. I really enjoyed this one!

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Title: The Beautiful Ones

Author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books 2017

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 323

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Currently Reading - Called to Me at the Library

They are the Beautiful Ones, Loisail’s most notable socialites, and this spring is Nina’s chance to join their ranks, courtesy of her well-connected cousin and his calculating wife. But the Grand Season has just begun, and already Nina’s debut has gone disastrously awry. She has always struggled to control her telekinesis―neighbors call her the Witch of Oldhouse―and the haphazard manifestations of her powers make her the subject of malicious gossip.

When entertainer Hector Auvray arrives to town, Nina is dazzled. A telekinetic like her, he has traveled the world performing his talents for admiring audiences. He sees Nina not as a witch, but ripe with potential to master her power under his tutelage. With Hector’s help, Nina’s talent blossoms, as does her love for him.

But great romances are for fairytales, and Hector is hiding a truth from Nina ― and himself―that threatens to end their courtship before it truly begins.

Oh what a disappointment! After absolutely loving Mexican Gothic and Gods of Jade and Shadow, I thought I would at least enjoy this previous work from Moreno-Garcia. Unfortunately, this is a slow-moving pseudo-fantasy novel filled with insufferable characters. Basically nothing happens for the at least the first half of the book. The characters go round and round rehashing the same arguments and sentiments. They move to a different house, but it’s still the same. I enjoyed Nina, but at a certain point, I really wanted her to run away from all the other characters and pursue her science interests. Maybe find a kind and loving male scientist to marry. But no, she stays with Hector even after Hector’s true feelings for Valérie come out into the open. I just found everyone to be very dislikable. And let me mention that the fantasy element (the telekinesis) is such a minor thing. Why is it even in the book? I have no idea. The one redeeming quality of the book is Moreno-Garcia’s writing style. Her prose just glides over the page. Thank goodness she kept at it and wrote much more intriguing books later.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary

Title: The Flatshare

Author: Beth O’Leary

Publisher: Flatiron Books 2019

Genre: Romance

Pages: 336

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Tiffy and Leon share an apartment. Tiffy and Leon have never met.

After a bad breakup, Tiffy Moore needs a place to live. Fast. And cheap. But the apartments in her budget have her wondering if astonishingly colored mold on the walls counts as art.

Desperation makes her open minded, so she answers an ad for a flatshare. Leon, a night shift worker, will take the apartment during the day, and Tiffy can have it nights and weekends. He’ll only ever be there when she’s at the office. In fact, they’ll never even have to meet.

Tiffy and Leon start writing each other notes – first about what day is garbage day, and politely establishing what leftovers are up for grabs, and the evergreen question of whether the toilet seat should stay up or down. Even though they are opposites, they soon become friends. And then maybe more.

But falling in love with your roommate is probably a terrible idea…especially if you've never met.

CW: Domestic abuse

My book club has had a string of not great and/or heavy books. We wanted to pick something a little lighter and fun and decided on this one. Overall, I really enjoyed this rom com in the vein of Jill Mansell’s novels or Bridget Jones’s Diary. We get one great in-person meet-cute, fun side character friends, a big conflict, and some sweet romance. I enjoyed Tiffy and the exploration of her life post-emotional abuse. I thought that portion of the story and character was well done. Her new romance with Leon isn’t an instanteous fix to her past trauma. Instead we get to follow along with her as she confronts her past (and present) and attempts to move forward. Yeah! Insta-love this is not. I loved seeing Tiffy turn to her friends for advice and comfort. And ultimately, I loved watching her and Leon develop a friendship and then something more. After reading this one, I’m more interested in reading O’Leary’s two other novels: The Switch and The Road Trip.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Red Queen by Christina Henry

Title: Red Queen (The Chronicles of Alice #2)

Author: Christina Henry

Publisher: Ace 2016

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 304

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

The land outside of the Old City was supposed to be green, lush, hopeful. A place where Alice could finally rest, no longer the plaything of the Rabbit, the pawn of Cheshire, or the prey of the Jabberwocky. But the verdant fields are nothing but ash—and hope is nowhere to be found.

Still, Alice and Hatcher are on a mission to find his daughter, a quest they will not forsake even as it takes them deep into the clutches of the mad White Queen and her goblin or into the realm of the twisted and cruel Black King.

The pieces are set and the game has already begun. Each move brings Alice closer to her destiny. But, to win, she will need to harness her newfound abilities and ally herself with someone even more powerful—the mysterious and vengeful Red Queen...

Overall I really enjoyed this book, but I didn’t love it as much as Alice. The first book really connected the original story to a darker, grittier version of Alice in Wonderland. We get direct characters and action parallels. I was expecting more of the same style, but this book departed from the direct comparisons. Instead, we get more of a dark fairy tale story incorporating different elements (enchanted forest, people turning into wolves, goblins, giants). I loved the beginning with Alice and Hatcher emerging from the tunnel into the burned meadow. I loved the ending when Alice got to connect with the Red Queen and defeat the White Queen. But some of the middle got a bit lost for me and I wanted more connection to Alice in Wonderland. I wanted more Chesire and maybe the duchess or Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Not quite as successful for me as the first book.

The Chronicles of Alice

• #1 Alice

• #2 Red Queen

• Looking Glass

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Black God's Drums by P. Djèlí Clark

Title: The Black God’s Drums

Author: P. Djèlí Clark

Publisher: Tor.com 2018

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 114

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

In an alternate New Orleans caught in the tangle of the American Civil War, the wall-scaling girl named Creeper yearns to escape the streets for the air--in particular, by earning a spot on-board the airship Midnight Robber. Creeper plans to earn Captain Ann-Marie’s trust with information she discovers about a Haitian scientist and a mysterious weapon he calls The Black God’s Drums.

But Creeper also has a secret herself: Oya, the African orisha of the wind and storms, speaks inside her head, and may have her own ulterior motivations.

Soon, Creeper, Oya, and the crew of the Midnight Robber are pulled into a perilous mission aimed to stop the Black God’s Drums from being unleashed and wiping out the entirety of New Orleans.

Another great novella from Clark! This time we’re thrown into a alternate history where the Civil War hasn’t really ended and New Orleans has been carved out as a free neutral city. From there, we get a fast-paced adventure story starring an orphan protected by a goddess. I love how Clark creates the most imaginative worlds and populates them with fascinating, complex, realistic characters. I sped through this story anticipating a large showdown and the book does not disappoint. Pick this one up for a big dose of fun fantasy.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Shadow and Bone (Shadow and Bone #1)

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Publisher: Square Fish 2013

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 413

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Modern Mrs. Darcy

Soldier. Summoner. Saint. Orphaned and expendable, Alina Starkov is a soldier who knows she may not survive her first trek across the Shadow Fold―a swath of unnatural darkness crawling with monsters. But when her regiment is attacked, Alina unleashes dormant magic not even she knew she possessed.

Now Alina will enter a lavish world of royalty and intrigue as she trains with the Grisha, her country’s magical military elite―and falls under the spell of their notorious leader, the Darkling. He believes Alina can summon a force capable of destroying the Shadow Fold and reuniting their war-ravaged country, but only if she can master her untamed gift.

As the threat to the kingdom mounts and Alina unlocks the secrets of her past, she will make a dangerous discovery that could threaten all she loves and the very future of a nation.

Welcome to Ravka . . . a world of science and superstition where nothing is what it seems.

Well… I didn’t hate it. But I didn’t love it either. There’s some interesting world building that’s hidden in here, but not quite fleshed out at much as I would have like. The characters are typical YA Fantasy tropes, but I don’t completely despise them. I would have liked a bit stronger of a female lead. I would have liked to get to know the Darkling a bit better. Seriously, a few more conversations with him would have gone a long way. I would have liked more action sequences. We only got a bit at the very end. I could have done with less training montages. Despite what sounds like a very negative review, Bardugo kept me wanting to turn the page and find out the next happening in the series. I will be picking the next one up soon. Hoping to read them all to then watch the television show…

Funny story: The last night I was read this, I stopped right after Alina and Mal crossed the Fold. My Kindle said I was 60% of the way through, so I stopped for the night. Turns out, I actually only had the epilogue chapter left and the rest of the pages were filled with previews for two other Bardugo books. Felt very silly sitting down to read the last 40% of my book and it was only three pages.

Shadow and Bone

• #1 Shadow and Bone

• #2 Siege and Storm

• #3 Ruin and Rising

Next up on the TBR pile:

Still Life by Louise Penny

Title: Still Life (Inspector Gamache #1)

Author: Louise Penny

Publisher: Minotaur Books 2008

Genre: Mysteries

Pages: 314

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf; Modern Mrs. Darcy; Seasonal TBR

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surêté du Québec and his team of investigators are called in to the scene of a suspicious death in a rural village south of Montreal. Jane Neal, a local fixture in the tiny hamlet of Three Pines, just north of the U.S. border, has been found dead in the woods. The locals are certain it's a tragic hunting accident and nothing more, but Gamache smells something foul in these remote woods, and is soon certain that Jane Neal died at the hands of someone much more sinister than a careless bowhunter.
Still Life introduces not only an engaging series hero in Inspector Gamache, who commands his forces---and this series---with integrity and quiet courage, but also a winning and talented new writer of traditional mysteries in the person of Louise Penny.

Okay, don’t throw anything at me, but my overwhelming feeling about this book was boredom. I was thoroughly bored. Police procedurals/murder mysteries are really not my genre. I rarely find one that I love, but do find a whole lot more that I hate. This one I didn’t hate, but I certainly didn’t love. The actual murder itself was fairly pedestrian. The characters in Three Pines weren’t that interesting to me. I definitely did not get the urge to up and move there. Inspector Gamache was okay, but he’s not Poirot. My biggest complaint is the writing. The beginning chapters are a muddled mess narration wise. We begin hearing the inner workings of one character and suddenly Penny switches to another character with little to no warning. I seriously had to back up and reread paragraphs to caught the practically non-existent transitions. Also, the writing can be overly flowery and descriptive. So many unnecessary sections thrown in. I just got really really bored with it all. At this point, I’m not sure if I will be continuing the series…

Inspector Gamache

• #1 Still Life

• #2 A Fatal Grace

• #3 The Cruelest Month

• #4 A Rule Against Murder

• #5 The Brutal Telling

• #6 Bury Your Dead

• #7 A Trick of the Light

• #8 The Beautiful Mystery

• #9 How the Light Gets In

• #10 The Long Way Home

• #11 The Nature of the Beast

• #12 A Great Reckoning

• #13 Glass Houses

• #14 Kingdom of the Blind

• #15 A Better Man

• #16 All the Devils are Here

• #17 The Madness of Crowds

Next up on the TBR pile:

Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark

Title: Ring Shot

Author: P. Djèlí Clark

Publisher: Tor.com 2020

Genre: Horror

Pages: 192

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

IN AMERICA, DEMONS WEAR WHITE HOODS.

In 1915, The Birth of a Nation cast a spell across America, swelling the Klan's ranks and drinking deep from the darkest thoughts of white folk. All across the nation they ride, spreading fear and violence among the vulnerable. They plan to bring Hell to Earth. But even Ku Kluxes can die.

Standing in their way is Maryse Boudreaux and her fellow resistance fighters, a foul-mouthed sharpshooter and a Harlem Hellfighter. Armed with blade, bullet, and bomb, they hunt their hunters and send the Klan's demons straight to Hell. But something awful's brewing in Macon, and the war on Hell is about to heat up.

Can Maryse stop the Klan before it ends the world?

Simply horrifying! And I loved every page of it! I read Clark’s novella The Haunting of Tram Car 015 and was intrigued by his writing enough to seek out his other works. This one is very different than Tram Car; heavy on the horror and racial commentary, while the previous novella was very steampunk fantasy with a bit of social commentary in a very different part of the world. This story reminded me a lot of Lovecraft Country in it’s mixing of racial commentary, history, and Lovecraftian style horror. There is some serious body horror going on in these pages; not for the feint of heart. I also loved that it was told by Maryse in her own language. We get a lot of dialect on the pages including some dialogue in Gullah. Makes me want to know more about the Gullah culture. I was sad when the story ended as I really wanted to spend more time with all the characters (okay maybe not the Ku Kluxes, but the rest).

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Toll by Neal Shusterman

Title: The Toll (Arc of a Scythe #3)

Author: Neal Shusterman

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Genre: YA Science Fiction

Pages: 640

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Seasonal TBR; Currently Reading - So Good I Didn’t Want It to End

Citra and Rowan have disappeared. Endura is gone. It seems like nothing stands between Scythe Goddard and absolute dominion over the world scythedom. With the silence of the Thunderhead and the reverberations of the Great Resonance still shaking the earth to its core, the question remains: Is there anyone left who can stop him?

The answer lies in the Tone, the Toll, and the Thunder.

What a ride! I was a little scared going into this book after the shocking conclusion to the second book. I should not have been scared. Right away, we’re pulled right back into the storyline following all of our favorite (or hated) characters. I was excited that we get even more Greyson in this book and the introduction to another amazing character, Jeri. I couldn’t wait to see how our beloved characters would take down Goddard’s new order and restore some type of harmony to the world. And then there was the question of the Thunderhead and it’s intentions. I loved that we got to see more inner workings from the Thunderhead. I did not guess it’s ultimate goal until after Anastasia’s first message. From then, I was so excited to see how it all ended. I loved every page of this series. A must read!

Arc of a Scythe:

• #1 Scythe

• #2 Thunderhead

• #3 The Toll

Next up on the TBR pile:

Something is Killing the Children Vol. 2

Title: Something is Killing the Children Vol. 2

Author: James Tynion IV, Werther Dell’Edera

Publisher: BOOM 2020

Genre: Comics

Pages: 144

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Erica Slaughter may have slain the monster terrorizing the small Wisconsin town of Archer’s Peak, but now she sets off deeper into the woods -- because the monster she killed was a mother… and now she needs to kill its children.

EVIL NEVER DIES...UNLESS ERICA SLAUGHTER KILLS IT.

Erica Slaughter may have slain the monster terrorizing the small Wisconsin town of Archer’s Peak, but the horror is far from over. As her mysterious handler arrives in town to clean up her mess and quarantine the townsfolk, Erica sets off deeper into the woods -- because the monster she killed was a mother… and now she needs to kill its children.

Oh goodness, this was horrifying and I loved every page of it. This is not for the squeamish. The pages are filled with horrifying deaths and so much blood. Erica solves one problem, but there are so many other problems out there now. I can’t wait to see where the storyline goes from here.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Buy Yourself the Fucking Lilies by Tara Schuster

Title: Buy Yourself the Fucking Lilies: And Other Rituals to Fix Your Life, from Someone Who's Been There

Author: Tara Schuster

Publisher: Dial Press Trade 2020

Genre: Nonfiction - Self-help, Memoir

Pages: 352

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Seasonal TBR

By the time she was in her late twenties, Tara Schuster was a rising TV executive who had worked for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and helped launch Key & Peele to viral superstardom. By all appearances, she had mastered being a grown-up. But beneath that veneer of success, she was a chronically anxious, self-medicating mess. No one knew that her road to adulthood had been paved with depression, anxiety, and shame, owing in large part to her minimally parented upbringing. She realized she’d hit rock bottom when she drunk-dialed her therapist pleading for help.

Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies is the story of Tara’s path to re-parenting herself and becoming a “ninja of self-love.” Through simple, daily rituals, Tara transformed her mind, body, and relationships, and shows how to

• fake gratitude until you actually feel gratitude
• excavate your emotional wounds and heal them with kindness
• identify your self-limiting beliefs, kick them to the curb, and start living a life you choose
• silence your inner frenemy and shield yourself from self-criticism
• carve out time each morning to start your day empowered, inspired, and ready to rule
• create a life you truly, totally f*cking LOVE

This is the book Tara wished someone had given her and it is the book many of us desperately need: a candid, hysterical, addictively readable, practical guide to growing up (no matter where you are in life) and learning to love yourself in a non-throw-up-in-your-mouth-it’s-so-cheesy way.

Hmmmm… this book is not for me, but I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad book. I just didn’t get a lot out of the life lessons included in the chapters.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Something is Killing the Children Vol. 1

Title: Something is Killing the Children Vol. 1

Author: James Tynion IV, Werther Dell’Edera

Publisher: BOOM 2020

Genre: Comics

Pages: 128

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

When children begin to go missing in the town of Archer’s Peak, all hope seems lost until a mysterious woman arrives to reveal that terrifying creatures are behind the chaos - and that she alone will destroy them, no matter the cost.

IT’S THE MONSTERS WHO SHOULD BE AFRAID.

When the children of Archer's Peak—a sleepy town in the heart of America—begin to go missing, everything seems hopeless. Most children never return, but the ones that do have terrible stories—impossible details of terrifying creatures that live in the shadows. Their only hope of finding and eliminating the threat is the arrival of a mysterious stranger, one who believes the children and claims to be the only one who sees what they can see.

Her name is Erica Slaughter. She kills monsters. That is all she does, and she bears the cost because it must be done.

I love the horror comics and this one was definitely a winner. Right from the first page, we’re dumped into a very scary situation and it proceeds to get even stranger as the pages go on. The pages are graphics and not for the feint of heart. I can’t wait to see where the story goes.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust

Title: Girl, Serpent, Thorn

Author: Melissa Bashardoust

Publisher: Flatiron Books 2020

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 325

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Currently Reading RC - Takes Me to Another World; Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading

There was and there was not, as all stories begin, a princess cursed to be poisonous to the touch. But for Soraya, who has lived her life hidden away, apart from her family, safe only in her gardens, it’s not just a story.

As the day of her twin brother’s wedding approaches, Soraya must decide if she’s willing to step outside of the shadows for the first time. Below in the dungeon is a demon who holds knowledge that she craves, the answer to her freedom. And above is a young man who isn’t afraid of her, whose eyes linger not with fear, but with an understanding of who she is beneath the poison.

Soraya thought she knew her place in the world, but when her choices lead to consequences she never imagined, she begins to question who she is and who she is becoming...human or demon. Princess or monster.

Now this is an excellent fairy tale retellings incorporated different myths and legends. I have read so many not well executed retellings and was hesitant to pick this one up. Thank goodness I did! In it, we get a beautiful combination of various Persian tales as well as elements of more western tales like Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel. Bashardoust weaves a beautiful story that feels both historical and fantastical. We follow Soraya on her journey of identity from the poisoned princess locked away to the poisoned princess free. I was so hoping that her ending would not involve being a simple human and thankfully we get a very different ending. Beyond Soraya we get wonderful characters including my favorite cameo, Nasu. If you read this, make sure to read the end notes about Bashardoust’s inspirations. I learned so much and now really want to read a book of Persian tales.

Next up on the TBR pile:

A Night Like This by Julia Quinn

Title: A Night Like This (Smythe-Smith #2)

Author: Julia Quinn

Publisher: Avon 2011

Genre: Romance

Pages: 384

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf; Unread Shelf Project RC - Favorite Genre

Anne Wynter might not be who she says she is....

But she's managing quite well as a governess to three highborn young ladies. Her job can be a challenge: in a single week she finds herself hiding in a closet full of tubas, playing an evil queen in a play that might be a tragedy (or might be a comedy; no one is sure), and tending to the wounds of the oh-so-dashing Earl of Winstead. After years of dodging unwanted advances, he's the first man who has truly tempted her, and it's getting harder and harder to remind herself that a governess has no business flirting with a nobleman.

Daniel Smythe-Smith might be in mortal danger....

But that's not going to stop the young earl from falling in love. And when he spies a mysterious woman at his family's annual musicale, he vows to pursue her, even if that means spending his days with a 10-year-old who thinks she's a unicorn. But Daniel has an enemy, one who has vowed to see him dead. And when Anne is thrown into peril, he will stop at nothing to ensure their happy ending....

CW: Rape, sexual assault (not described in details, but there)

Much better than the first book in the series. These characters are actually interesting and likable. I totally bought their romance. Their back-and-forth was lovely and engaging. I enjoyed the mystery of who Anne was and the lingering affects from Daniel’s banishment. I was even more excited that Quinn didn’t make Hugh a complete villain. He is going to be delightful as a hero in the next book. I cannot wait! My biggest complaint is the lack of steamy scenes. The one scene seems very rushed and unfocused, but I think this just might be how Quinn writes them.

Smythe-Smith Quartet:

• #1 Just Like Heaven

• #2 A Night Like This

• #3 The Sum of All Kisses

• #4 The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy

Next up on the TBR pile:

Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn

Title: Just Like Heaven (Smythe-Smith #1)

Author: Julia Quinn

Publisher: Avon 2011

Genre: Romance

Pages: 374

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf Project

Honoria Smythe-Smith is:

A) a really bad violinist
B) still miffed at being nicknamed "Bug" as a child
C) not in love with her older brother's best friend
D) all of the above

Marcus Holroyd is:

A) the Earl of Chatteris
B) regrettably prone to sprained ankles
C) not in love with his best friend's younger sister
D) all of the above

Together they:

A) eat quite a bit of chocolate cake
B) survive a deadly fever and the world's worst musical performance
C) fall quite desperately in love

It's Julia Quinn at her best, so you know the answer is...

D) all of the above

I was a bit disappointed by this one. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but found the main characters lacking in, well, character. I just didn’t find Honoria or Marcus very compelling as romantic leads. I was interested in learning more about the Smyth-Smith family, but I didn’t love this one. I wanted more from our romantic leads. And I definitely wanted more steamy scenes. One mostly closed door scene was not enough at all. I fear that this will continue, but I do have the second and fourth book in the series, so I’ll probably keep reading them.

Smythe-Smith Quartet:

• #1 Just Like Heaven

• #2 A Night Like This

• #3 The Sum of All Kisses

• #4 The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy

Next up on the TBR pile:

Lady Mechanika Vol. 6

Title: Lady Mechanika Vol. 6: Sangre

Author: Joe Benitez, M.M. Chen, Martin Montiel, Brian Ching

Publisher: Benitez Productions 2020

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 144

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: UnRead Shelf; Seasonal TBR

Lady Mechanika accepts a job in Spain protecting a Barón's son who was allegedly attacked by a demonic entity, but she quickly begins to suspect the young man's condition was actually caused by illicit experiments forced upon him by his narrow-minded father. As she investigates further, Lady Mechanika gradually uncovers the sinister truth, leaving her entangled in a dangerous situation which seems to have unexpected ties to her own past. A dark tale that exposes the devastating power of love...and hate. Collects the entire five-issue Sangre mini-series, featuring a main story by guest artist Brian Ching (Supergirl, Star Wars) and a prologue story by Joe Benitez and Martin Montiel.

Oh… this was turned much darker than I thought it would. I really did enjoy seeing Lady Mechanika grapple with a problem that she may not succeed at defeating. Plus we get a call back to a previous character incarnation from another volume. I’m still really loving this series and cannot wait to see what happens next.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Lady Mechanika Vol. 5

Title: Lady Mechanika Vol. 5: La Belle Dame Sans Merci

Author: Joe Benitez, M.M. Chen, Martin Montiel, Beth Sotelo

Publisher: Benitez Productions 2019

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 104

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: UnRead Shelf; Seasonal TBR

Lady Mechanika's investigation into her forgotten past is overshadowed by concern for her associate Mr. Lewis when he becomes enamored of a beautiful and enigmatic young widow, whose own past seems disturbingly linked to the untimely deaths of several creative geniuses. Will Mr. Lewis be next?

Another great volume of comics. I totally predicted where this storyline was going, but it was definitely fun to tag along on the ride.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After by Julia Quinn

Title: The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After (2nd Epilogues and Violet’s Story)

Author: Julia Quinn

Publisher: Avon 2013

Genre: Romance

Pages: 374

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Romance

Ever wonder what happens after the Happily Ever After?

Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series remains one of the most beloved among historical romance readers, and this collection of “second epilogues”—stories that take place after the original books end—offers fans more from their favorite characters. 

Also unique to this volume is a novella featuring Violet Bridgerton, beloved mother of the eight Bridgerton siblings, in addition to second epilogues for The Duke and I; The Viscount Who Loved Me; An Offer from a Gentleman; Romancing Mister Bridgerton; To Sir Phillip, With Love; When He Was Wicked, It’s in His Kiss; and On the Way to the Wedding sure to satisfy the legions of Julia Quinn fans.

I enjoyed being able to read all the second epilogues for the series. I had been able to read a few (namely books 1-3), but my editions of the rest did not include these stories. I loved Francesca and Michael’s epilogues and Gregory and Lucy’s made me tear up a bit. Overall they were pretty good stories to have. My one big complaint is that the second epilogue to An Offer from a Gentlemen didn’t feature enough Benedict! A travesty!

Bridgerton

• #1 The Duke and I

• #2 The Viscount Who Loved Me

• #3 An Offer from a Gentleman

• #4 Romancing Mr. Bridgerton

• #5 To Sir Philip, With Love

• #6 When He was Wicked

• #7 It’s in His Kiss

• #8 On the Way to the Wedding

• Happily Ever After (2nd Epilogues and Violet’s Story)

Next up on the TBR pile:

On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn

Title: On the Way to the Wedding (Bridgerton #8)

Author: Julia Quinn

Publisher: Avon

Genre: Romance

Pages: 381

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Romance

A funny thing happened ...

Unlike most men of his acquaintance, Gregory Bridgerton believes in true love. And he is convinced that when he finds the woman of his dreams, he will know in an instant that she is the one. And that is exactly what happened. Except ...

She wasn’t the one. In fact, the ravishing Miss Hermione Watson is in love with another. But her best friend, the ever-practical Lady Lucinda Abernathy, wants to save Hermione from a disastrous alliance, so she offers to help Gregory win her over. But in the process, Lucy falls in love. With Gregory! Except ...

Lucy is engaged. And her uncle is not inclined to let her back out of the betrothal, even once Gregory comes to his senses and realizes that it is Lucy, with her sharp wit and sunny smile, who makes his heart sing. And now, on the way to the wedding, Gregory must risk everything to ensure that when it comes time to kiss the bride, he is the only man standing at the altar ...

And we finally get Gregory’s story! I must say that I liked this one much more than Eloise’s and Colin’s stories, but definitely as much as Benedict’s and Francesca’s stories. We just don’t get enough of Gregory’s own personality to make this a 5 star book. I did completely adore Lucy and loved following her story. As an added bonus, we get a very fast-paced tense situation at the conclusion of this novel. A bit of a departure from the rest of the Bridgerton books. I really enjoyed the action sequences. I did want more steamy scenes (seriously such a lack in this one), but overall I thoroughly enjoyed the ending to the series.

For the record, my favorite overall book from the series is When He was Wicked featuring Francesca and Michael. But my favorite character pairing is Benedict and Sophie featured in An Offer from a Gentleman. Seriously, I would have totally picked Benedict out of all the male leads in the series.

Bridgerton

• #1 The Duke and I

• #2 The Viscount Who Loved Me

• #3 An Offer from a Gentleman

• #4 Romancing Mr. Bridgerton

• #5 To Sir Philip, With Love

• #6 When He was Wicked

• #7 It’s in His Kiss

• #8 On the Way to the Wedding

• Happily Ever After (2nd Epilogues and Violet’s Story)

Next up on the TBR pile:

All the Tides of Fate by Adalyn Grace

Title: All the Tides of Fate (All the Stars and Teeth #1)

Author: Adalyn Grace

Publisher: Imprint 2021

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 358

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

Through blood and sacrifice, Amora Montara has conquered a rebellion and taken her rightful place as queen of Visidia. Now, with the islands in turmoil and the people questioning her authority, Amora cannot allow anyone to see her weaknesses.

No one can know about the curse in her bloodline. No one can know that she’s lost her magic. No one can know the truth about the boy who holds the missing half of her soul.

To save herself and Visidia, Amora embarks on a desperate quest for a mythical artifact that could fix everything―but it comes at a terrible cost. As she tries to balance her loyalty to her people, her crew, and the desires of her heart, Amora will soon discover that the power to rule might destroy her.

I enjoyed the first one this this duology. I loved a lot of the side characters and was intrigued by the world building. But then I read this one and everything felt so different and backwards. Amora completely regressed in her growth becoming a severely whiny teenagers instead of the woman facing responsibility we saw at the end of the first book. And the plot is just boring. I was so bored by the bachelor tour masquerading as a way for Amora to finally get her country back on track. It was silly and added nothing except for a chance for Amora to be very irresponsible and immature. My favorite parts of the first book, the side characters, were all but nonexistent in this one. So incredibly sad that this just didn’t work at all.

All the Stars and Teeth

• #1 All the Stars and Teeth

• #2 All the Tides of Fate

Next up on the TBR pile: