Author: miahpaws@gmail.com

The Grid by Paul Teague

Title: The Grid
Author: Paul Teague
Pub. Date: 28-Nov-2015
Rating: 3.5 Stars

The Grid by Paul Teague is a dystopian sci-fi story of a post-apocalyptic society that chills the reader. However, before you start reading this book I must forewarn you of the massive cliff hanger. Not just one small thread is left hanging for the next book. The story just stops, as if someone has taken a sword and chopped off the ending.

The plot, at its most basic, is nothing new. A few elite, wealthy individuals have easy lives, as long as they play by the rules, the vast majority are repressed and live in horrid conditions. I know, sounds just like The Hunger Games. At least the similarities, for the most part, stop there. What is different is that the characters lack the depth you find in truly great dystopian stories. Oh, the world is different; don’t misunderstand me on that point. There is lots of action too and the plot moves along rapidly, more like an action/thriller novel. Continue reading “The Grid by Paul Teague”

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

Title: The Hazel Wood
Author: Melissa Albert
Pub. Date: 30-Jan-2018
Rating: 5 Stars

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert is probably going to end up being one of my favorite books this year. I would describe it as a little bit The Magicians, a bit Caraval meets Grimm’s Fairy Tales and it is all dark and delicious. My God, you have got to read this one.

Alice has grown up on the road. She and her mother have moved repeated over the course of her seventeen years in order to escape the bad luck that follows them no matter where they run. When Alice’s estranged grandmother, an author with a cult following, dies a recluse at her estate in the Hazel Wood, they falsely believe the bad luck died with her. They settle down in New York City. Alice goes to school, gets a job and her mother gets married. Then the unthinkable happens, Alice’s mother is kidnapped. Alice learns the kidnappers are from the Hinterland, the fictional place in her grandmother’s book of fairy tales. Continue reading “The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert”

The Waking Land by Callie Bates

Title: The Waking Land
Author: Callie Bates
Pub. Date: 27-Jun-2017
Rating 4.5 Stars

The Waking Land is a debut novel by Callie Bates. It is filled with complex characters and elegant world building. Ms. Bates has given the reader beautiful descriptions of this magical world without being verbose. Not an easy thing to do.

From the beginning I was hooked when Elanna Valtai, at the age of five, is kidnapped in her own home by King Antoine. The king takes her in an attempt to squash the rebellion Elanna’s father has been planning. Her continued captivity is the King’s insurance that there will be no further uprisings. Once at the king’s court in Eren, Antoine raises Elanna, for fourteen years, alongside his own daughter and Elanna becomes fiercely loyal to him.  Continue reading “The Waking Land by Callie Bates”

The Apprentice Witch by James Nicol

Title: The Apprentice Witch
Author: James Nicol
Pub. Date: 25-July-2017
Rating: 5 Stars

There is no other way to say it, The Apprentice Witch by James Nicol rocked. I started out reading to determine if the content was okay for my grandson. Once I started reading, I just could not put it down. What is not to like about a heroine who is so genuine that you can laugh and cry with her?

Arianwyn Gribble has been in the care of her grandmother ever since her mother died and her father joined the army. As old fashioned at it is, she is also apprenticed to her. Her peers, especially Gemma Alveston, never fail to remind her that she just does not quite fit in. Then in front of them all, she fails her witch’s evaluation test. Instead of the silver star signifying full witch status, she is given a bronze disk called the moon brooch, given to witches who show promise but have yet to pass the evaluation, and told she can retake the test in six months. Continue reading “The Apprentice Witch by James Nicol”

Horizon by Tabitha Lord

Title: Horizon
Author: Tabitha Lors
Pub. Date: 1-Dec-2015
Rating: 4 Stars

Horizon by Tabitha Lord is the first in a series, of at least one more book, and ends with a cliffhanger. While it is a sci-fi story, it is also heavy on the romance but nothing sappy (thankfully). Actually, the romantic scenes were well done and therefore nothing for me to quibble about.

The story opens from Caeli Crys’s point of view as a ship crashes on her planet. She is empathetic and she feels the terror of the crew in the moments before the actual crash. When she goes to investigate she finds that, of the two people on board, only one has survived, Commander Derek Markham. As empathetic, Caeli possesses the skill to heal with her mind and she quickly sets about saving Derek’s life. Continue reading “Horizon by Tabitha Lord”

Like Father Like Daughter by Christina Morgan

Title: Like Father Like Daughter
Author: Christina Morgan
Pub. Date: 12-July-2016
Rating: 5 Stars

Like Father Like Daughter has an opening scene that makes you want to devour this book. While I did not read it in one sitting it was close. The main character of Elizabeth “Libby” was so good. She was flawed in all the right ways and sometimes I just wanted to strangle her for making poor decisions. To me, things like this make a book a great read and not just a good read.

Libby Carter wakes up with a pounding headache to find her husband lying dead next to her. She cannot remember a thing about the previous evening.  Though her marriage was not perfect she loved her husband. She would never kill him. Would she? Continue reading “Like Father Like Daughter by Christina Morgan”

Crown of Stars by Sophie Jaff

Title: Crown of Stars
Author: Sophie Jaff
Pub. Date: 6-Jun-2017
Rating: 4.5 Stars

Crown of Stars is the second book in the Nightsong Trilogy. It can be read as a standalone, which I am thankful for since I have not read the first book. It is a mix of fantasy and psychological thriller and is a true good versus evil story. The plot shifts between Margaret in the 17th century and Katherine in the present.

Margaret is the daughter of a Traveler and has inherited supernatural gifts from her. The community is afraid of her and has shunned her. After her mother’s death, her father remarries and it is soon evident that Margaret will have to leave. She is finally able to secure a position as an alewife in the house of a young, wealthy lord whom she falls for. Tragically, her mother’s killer is now seeking her and she becomes determined to defeat him even at the cost of her own life. Continue reading “Crown of Stars by Sophie Jaff”

Mind Virus by Charles Kowalski

Title: Mind Virus
Author: Charles Kowalski
Pub. Date: 1-July-2017
Rating: 5 Stars

Mind Virus by Charles Kowalski is an award winning debut novel and a total adrenaline rush. As scary as the thought is, the events depicted could easily have been real. Given all the attention the media focuses on terrorism and religious extremism it is no wonder that the story will resonate with readers.

Robin Fox is a professor of world religions, ex-Army and conscientious objector. Since he is one of the few people in the world that has had dealings with a new deadly virus he is drawn back into the world of intelligence. As he works to uncover the mastermind behind the plot to kill people of faith, he is led on a chase which leads to various religious celebrations around the world. Robin must race against the clock to stop the planned attacks before this deadly virus is released into the populous. Then it becomes personal to him when his very dear friend Emily Paxton is kidnapped. I do not want to spoil a great story; therefore, I am intentionally being vague and stopping here. Continue reading “Mind Virus by Charles Kowalski”

Box of ARCs arrived.

It must be Christmas! Imagine my surprise when I found a box of books by the door when I arrived home from work. Since I was unable to attend BookExpo/BookCon, Flatiron Books was kind enough to send me these ARCs. I have already added them to my shelves at GoodReads and Library Thing. It was extra exciting to note that all six books had awesome reviews. I am eager to get started reading.

 

The Tourist by Robert Dickinson

Title: The Tourist
Author: Robert Dickinson
Pub. Date: 18-Oct-2016
Rating: 2 Stars

The Tourist by Robert Dickinson is a time travel novel that left me wanting. I did manage to get to the end, but it was a struggle at times. The tidbits of information that were supposed to move the plot along were few and far between and ambiguous at best. I love books that make me think and put all the puzzle pieces together in order to have that climatic moment where I can sigh with relief because I get it. That did not happen for me with this book. There were too many puzzle pieces missing for me to get a complete picture. Therefore, I was left wanting in the end.

Then to make matters worse the plot jumps around in time, to various places and different people. Making it more difficult to keep up with what was going on and whose time line I was reading about. I especially did not care for the use of second person for one of the characters. I have read other books were that technique worked well. Its use here turned murky waters to muddy. Continue reading “The Tourist by Robert Dickinson”