The Drowning Kind, By Jennifer McMahon ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Bipolar Disorder, Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Substance Abuse, Supernatural Fiction, Suspense

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: April 6th, 2021

336 Pages

Synopsis: Be careful what you wish for.

When social worker Jax receive nine missed calls from her sister, Lexie, she assumes it’s just one of her sister’s episodes. Manic and increasingly out of touch with reality, Lexie has pushed  Jax away for over a year. But the next day, Lexie is dead: drowned in the pool at their grandmother’s estate. When Jax arrives at the house to go through her sister’s things, she learns Lexie was researching the history of their family and the property. As she dives deeper into the research herself, she discovers the land holds a far darker past than she ever could have imagined.

In 1929, thirty-seven-year-old newlywed Ethel Monroe hopes desperately for a baby. In an effort to distract her, her husband whisks her away on a trip to Vermont, where a natural spring is showcased by the newest and most modern hotel in the Northeast. Once there, Ethel learns the water is rumored to grant wishes, never suspecting the spring takes in equal measure to what it gives. (Goodreads)

I started The Drowning Kind about 2:00 p.m and after a brief break for supper found myself at the end, a scant four hours later. This is the type of book that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. 

The storyline alternates between Ethel in 1929, and Jax in 2019. The common denominator are the sinister Springs which are rumored to grant wishes, but in return, to take something of equal value. As the story progresses, the two timelines are drawn inexorably closer. Through the main characters, the reader learns the complex history of the sinister Springs and the tragedies surrounding their reflective black waters. It’s incredibly suspenseful and I literally could not tear myself away. There were just two things that spoiled my enjoyment. One was the portrayal of bipolar disorder. I’ve known a couple of people who have suffered from this, and I’ve never seen the mean and vindictive behavior that Lexie displayed as a child as part of it. I also think that depicting Lexie and the sisters’ father (who also is bipolar) as flaky artists with substance abuse issues treats the topic rather stereotypically.

This is the second book in a row where the author did something a little different with the ending, that has left me with mixed feelings. I have to admit though, I’m still thinking about it a day later. Overall, The Drowning Kind is another twisty, spooky, atmospheric page-turner by Jennifer McMahon, that I guarantee will keep you up at night!

 

The Castle School (for Troubled Girls), By Alyssa B. Scheinmel ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Coming-of age, Contemporary Fiction, Mental Illness, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: March 2nd, 2021

400 Pages

Synopsis: When Moira Dreyfuss’s parents announce that they’re sending her to an all-girls boarding school deep in the Maine woods, Moira isn’t fooled. She knows her parents are punishing her; she’s been too much trouble since her best friend, Nathan, died—and for a while before that. At the Castle School, isolated from the rest of the world, Moira will be expected to pour her heart out to the odd headmaster, Dr. Prince. But she isn’t interested in getting over Nathan’s death, or befriending her fellow students.

On her first night there, Moira hears distant music. On her second, she discovers the lock on her window is broken. On her third, she and her roommate venture outside…and learn they’re not so isolated after all. There’s another, very different, Castle School nearby—this one filled with boys whose parents sent them away, too.

Moira is convinced that the Castle Schools and the doctors who run them are hiding something. But exploring the schools will force Moira to confront her overwhelming grief—and the real reasons her parents sent her away.

The Castle School (for Troubled Girls) was not what I was expecting, which was more along the lines of another boarding school mystery that’s so popular in YA fiction. Instead, it’s a thoughtful exploration of various mental health disorders in teen girls. The students of the Castle School suffer from a myriad of illnesses: cutting, selective mutism, depression, kleptomania, trichotillomania (obsessive hair pulling), and alcoholism. While most of the story is focused on Moira, each of her fellow classmates have their own chapters which briefly relate what led them to the point where they wound up at the school. This is the strongest part of the book. The so-called “mystery” of why there are two schools is superfluous and actually detracts from what the characters are going through, and I wish the author had simply stuck to the main theme of the story. Despite this, I think The Castle School (for Troubled Girls) would be a solid choice for YA book discussion groups.

Lore, By Alexandra Bracken ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Contemporary Fiction, Greek Mythology, LGBTQ, Mystery, Romance, Thriller, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: January 5th, 2021

480 Pages

Synopsis: Every seven years, the Agon begins. As punishment for a past rebellion, nine Greek gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals, hunted by the descendants of  ancient bloodlines, all eager to kill a god and seize their divine power and immortality.

Long ago, Lore Perseous fled that brutal world in the wake of her family’s sadistic murder by a rival line, turning her back on the hunt’s promises of eternal glory. For years she’s pushed away thought of revenge against the man—now a god—responsible for their deaths.

Yet as the next hunt dawns over New York City, two participants seek out her help: Castor, a childhood friend of Lore believed long dead, and a gravely wounded Athena, among the last of the original gods.

The goddess offers an alliance against their mutual enemy and, at last, a way for Lore to finally leave the Agon behind forever. But Lore’s decision to bind her fate to Athena’s and rejoin the hunt will come at a deadly cost—and still may not be enough to stop the rise of a new god with the power to bring humanity to its knees.

Before I start this review, if you’re getting a sense of deja vu, or see that you’ve already written a comment, that’s because this is an updated post I did a few months ago on the chapter sampler of Lore. I apologize for being lazy, but instead of writing out the entire synopsis again, I thought I’d just update my original review now that I’ve had the opportunity to read the entire book.

What do you get when you combine bestselling YA author Alexandra Bracken with Greek gods? A surefire blockbuster is what I’m thinking! Except for Madeline Miller’s phenomenal Circe(2019), once Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series ended, there haven’t been many Greek mythology-based books released, so I had high hopes for Lore. Well, it starts off with a bang and plenty of blood, gore, and even a decapitation. One word of warning, the violence continues throughout the book, including two scenes involving the murder of little girls. These two particular sections relate the murders in the third person, and compared to other parts, aren’t terribly graphic, but they still made me squirm, and may make some readers uncomfortable as well. While the storyline may sound similar to previous series, like Percy Jackson and The Hunger Games, let me assure you that this is completely unique. There are a lot of characters but they’re easily remembered because they each have an integral part to play. The romance is a bit ho-hum, but that’s okay because there’s so much else going on. The pacing is insane, and I flew through this in two days despite it being just under 500 pages. The only reason why I rated this 4 stars is because there are some rough passages, especially in the first fifty or so pages where the reader is being introduced to the history and rules of the Agon. I’ve been a voracious reader of Greek Mythology since I was a child and I consider myself fairly well-versed in the stories and characters involved, but there were a few times I was left confused and frustrated. Thankfully things became clearer the deeper I got into the story. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Lore and unhesitatingly recommend it to my fellow mythology enthusiasts who are looking for a refreshing take on the old legends.

What She Found in the Woods, By Josephine Angelini ~ 2.0 Stars

Tags

Contemporary Fiction, Mental Illness, Mystery, Serial Killers, Substance Abuse, Suicide, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: December 1st, 2020

384 Pages

Synopsis: Running from a scandal at her New York private school, Magdalena heads to her family home to recover under the radar.

Over-medicated and under-confident, she’s fearful she’ll never escape her past.

Until she meets Bo out hiking. Gorgeous, wild, and free he makes her believe she might finally be able to move on.

But when a mutilated body is discovered in the woods, Magdalena realizes she can’t trust anyone.

Not even herself.

I’ve enjoyed Josephine Angelini’s previous books, especially her Starcrossed series, so it comes as a shock that I really didn’t care for her standalone What She Found in the Woods.

My biggest issue was the way social issues like mental illness and drug addiction were portrayed. I don’t want to venture into spoiler territory, but in my opinion these themes were used as shallow plot devices instead of being a thoughtful exploration of the afflictions that plague so many. I feel terrible writing this after reading Angelini’s reasons why she included these topics as part of the story, but as always, I feel the need to be honest with my review.

While the enigmatic Magdalena was a puzzle to me that I felt the need to solve, most of her teen friends were pampered, entitled brats who annoyed the heck out of me. The romance between Magdalena and Bo was sweet, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the main problems I had.

There were some elements here that I enjoyed, namely the mystery of what was really happening and who was responsible, but as intriguing as that was, my distaste for the mainly superficial depiction of the all too real illnesses that millions battle, overrode everything else. There are many positive reviews of What She Found in the Woods, on Goodreads, so if your interest is peaked by the premise, don’t just go by my opinion, as I believe I’m an outlier regarding my feelings. As I said, I’ve enjoyed Angelini’s other books, so I’m looking forward to her next.

 

The Awakening (The Dragon Heart Legacy #1), By Nora Roberts ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Diversity, Fantasy, LGBTQ, Romance, Suspense

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: November 24th, 2020

464 Pages

Synopsis: #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts, begins a new trilogy of adventure, romance, and magick in The Awakening.

In the realm of Talamh, a teenage warrior named Keegan, emerges from a lake holding a sword—representing both power and the terrifying responsibility to protect the Fey. In another realm known as Philadelphia, a young woman has just discovered she possesses a treasure of her own…

When Breen Kelly was a girl, her father would tell her stories of magical places. Now she’s an anxious twenty-something mired in student debt and working a job she hates. But one day she stumbles upon a shocking discovery: her mother has been hiding an investment account in her name. It has been funded by her long-lost father—and it’s worth nearly four million dollars.

This newfound fortune would be life-changing for anyone. But little does Breen know that when she uses some of the money to journey to Ireland, it will unlock mysteries she couldn’t have imagined. Here she will begin to understand why she kept seeing that silver-haired, elusive man, why she imagined his voice in her head saying “Come home Breen Siobhan. It’s time you came home.” Why she dreamed of dragons. And where her true destiny lies—through a portal in Galway that takes her to a realm of faeries and mermaids, to a man named Keegan, and to the courage in her own heart that will guide her through a powerful, dangerous destiny…

Many of you already know that I’m a longtime fan of Nora Roberts, and her upcoming novel is a perfect example of why. The first in a new fantasy trilogy, The Awakening is a gorgeously told tale that has left me eager for more.

For personal reasons, I really connected with Breen and enjoyed her transformation from timid mouse, to the beginnings of a fierce warrior. I was a little slower to embrace Keegan as his alpha male persona put me off in the beginning, but it didn’t take long for my feelings toward him to thaw. The secondary characters are numerous, but all are immensely likable. The world building is, well in a word, magical. From a Philadelphia drag queen club, to the misty Irish countryside, to the delightful world of Talahm, I was fully immersed with the delightful settings and characters. Except for a few scenes with the big bad and a couple of his minions, there’s not a lot of action, but due to Robert’s talented storytelling skills, this in no way takes away from the story.

For me, the mark of a perfectly written story is when it’s so immersive that it’s difficult to get my head back in the real world. If you’re looking for an escape I can’t recommend The Awakening enough. It’s an enchanting tale with memorable characters that will leave you eager for the next book.

THE ASSIGNMENT, by Liza Wiemer ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Anti-Semitism, Contemporary Fiction, Education, Homophobia, Racism, The Holocaust, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: August 25th, 2020

312 Pages

Synopsis: In the vein of the classic The Wave, and inspired by a real-life incident, this riveting novel explores discrimination and antisemitism and reveals their dangerous impact.

Senior year. When an assignment given by a favorite teacher instructs a group of students to argue for the Final Solution, a euphemism used to describe the Nazi plan for the genocide of the Jewish people, Logan March and Cade Crawford are horrified. Their teacher cannot seriously expect anyone to complete an assignment that fuels intolerance and discrimination. Logan and Cade decide they must take a stand. As the school administration addresses the teens’ refusal to participate in the appalling debate, the student body, their parents, and the larger community are forced to face the issue as well.

The situation explodes, and acrimony and anger result. What does it take for tolerance, justice, and love to prevail?

Author Liza Wiemer with Jordan April and Archer Shurtliff, the two teens who inspired the upcoming The Assignment.

Many people find it difficult to take a stand against the majority, no matter what the issue, and for teens, it’s nearly impossible when faced with peer pressure. In 2017, two teens, Jordan April and Archer Shurtliff took a courageous stand when their teacher gave their class the assignment of debating the Nazis Final Solution. For the pro side, students were asked to promote the slaughter of Jews. For those arguing against genocide, they were supposed to instead argue for forced sterilizations, ghettos, and concentration and work camps. The idea behind this exercise is that would foster critical thinking. Neither Jordan or Archer is Jewish, but they found the assignment morally reprehensible. If you’d like more on this story, please follow this link: https://www.newyorkupstate.com/schools/2017/04/oswego_teens_give_new_york_a_lesson_on_nazi_holocaust_assignments.html

THE ASSIGNMENT is inspired by these two teens and I found it very thought-provoking. Liza Wiemer has said she was originally going to write this from a third person omniscient perspective, but decided to switch to multiple povs after hearing from several agents. This was the best decision she could have made because it allows the story to pack an even more powerful punch. The chapters primarily alternate between Logan and Cade so you’re privy to their innermost thoughts. You also get glimpses into what other characters are thinking including the teacher, which lends even more nuance to this complex story. There are a couple of things which prevent me from giving this a perfect 5 stars. First, I found the dialogue formal and stilted a few times and it didn’t sound like teens talking to each other. And second, while I really connected with Cade due to the amount of detail about his personal life, unfortunately there wasn’t that same level of detail in regards to the other characters, not even Logan who I’d have liked to know more about.

As someone with Jewish heritage and a distant cousin who barely survived the death camps, I have very strong feelings regarding this. For me, there are certain things, no matter how well-intentioned, that should never be debated. An assignment requiring students to reenact Hitler’s Wannsee Conference to debate the Final Solution is one such topic. By opening this up for debate, you’re allowing for an argument to be made that the Holocaust was justified. Students can be taught about these events and the mindset behind anti-semitism without lending credence to these abhorrent beliefs. In her author’s note Liza Wiemer, in addition to relating her own experiences with anti-semitism as a child, gives some examples of other jaw-dropping school assignments that have been given out in recent years. These include a slave auction where white students bid on their black classmates, and an exercise where students were asked to write down “three good reasons and three bad reasons for slavery.” There are other examples as well, so it’s imperative that you read this section as well. Despite the couple of flaws I found, I highly recommend THE ASSIGNMENT for classrooms, libraries, book discussion groups, and community reads. 

 

 

 

Never Ask Me, by Jeff Abbott ~ 4.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Mystery, Suspense

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: July 14th, 2020

368 Pages

Synopsis: In a quiet neighborhood in the wealthy Austin suburb of Lakehaven, the body of Danielle Roberts is discovered on a park bench. Danielle was a beloved member of the community, an adoption consultant who delivered the joy of parenthood to a number of local families. Her murder shocks Lakehaven.

Perhaps no other family is as shocked as the Pollitts, who lived two houses down from Danielle and thought of her almost like family. Her death becomes the catalyst for a maelstrom of suspicion and intrigue. “You have been told a huge lie,” an anonymous email charges the son, Grant. “No one can learn the truth now,” thinks the father, Kyle. “Never ask me what I’ll do to protect my family,” resolves the wife, Iris. “I’ll do whatever it takes to save him,” vows the daughter, Julia, of Danielle’s grieving teenage son.

The Pollitts always thought they’d be there for each other. When each begins to suspect the others of the unimaginable, the strength of their bonds will be tested in extraordinary new ways. The latest from New York Times bestselling author Jeff Abbott, is his most suspenseful thriller yet: a riveting tale of the dangerous secrets one family has concealed—and what happens when the question each Pollitt hoped they’d never be asked threatens to expose their darkest truths.

I’ve enjoyed Jeff Abbott’s previous books and in my humble opinion Never Ask Me will further cement his solid reputation for writing exciting twisty mystery/suspense stories filled with flawed characters who keep you guessing. While it turns out that just about everyone featured has a motive for killing Danielle, I honestly didn’t start figuring out the identity of the true culprit until the last few chapters. The mystery does segue into a somewhat crazy and convoluted plot, but as long as you can suspend disbelief, it’s still an enjoyable page turner. At its core, Never Ask Me is the quintessential summer beach read. It doesn’t require a lot of heavy thinking, and it has relatable characters whose mistakes are usually understandable and more often than not will leave you emphasizing them. If you’re looking for a thoroughly enjoyable escape, I highly recommend you give this a try!

Little Creeping Things, by Chelsea Ichaso~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Contemporary Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: June 2nd, 2020

352 Pages

Synopsis: When she was a child, Cassidy Pratt accidentally started a fire that killed her neighbor. She’s pretty sure she didn’t mean to do it, and she’d give anything to forget that awful day. But her town’s bullies, particularly the cruel and beautiful Melody Davenport, have never let her live it down. In Melody’s eyes, Cassidy is a murderer and always will be.

Then Melody goes missing, and Cassidy thinks she may have information about what happened. She knows she should go to the cops, but she recently joked about how much she’d like to get rid of Melody. She even planned the perfect way to do it. And then she gets a chilling text from an unknown number: “I’m so glad we’re in this together.“

Now it’s up to Cassidy to figure out what’s really going on before the truth behind Melody’s disappearance sets the whole town ablaze.

The disturbing cover and title are what first attracted me to this debut by Chelsea Ichaso, and I’m happy to say the story was an enjoyable mystery that I easily breezed through.

The teen angst and romantic drama are the weakest part of the story, and whenever I hit one of these passages I found myself itching to get back to the main storyline. Thankfully these aren’t numerous enough to become a major distraction.

Cassidy is the quintessential unreliable narrator, and her backstory kept me guessing as did her present day motivations and questionable intentions. By the halfway point of the story I had narrowed my suspects down to two individuals, and ultimately one of them turned out to be the villain. My major complaint about the big reveal is that there’s not enough information regarding the why of it all. I’m one of those who don’t ascribe to the notion of someone just being evil. I want to know everything that went into shaping the person they become, and in this case I was left slightly unsatisfied. That said, I think most readers will be just fine with this.

While elements of Little Creeping Things aren’t the most original, and there are some moments of predictability, these are not enough to spoil what is overall an intriguing and well-woven mystery. I unhesitatingly recommend this to readers who are looking for a compelling YA mystery that’s a quick read.

 

 

 

Hunting November (Killing November #2), Adriana Mather ~ 4.5 Stars

Tags

Adventure, Contemporary Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Secret Societies, Thriller, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: May 5th, 2020

368 Pages

Synopsis: Surviving a few weeks at the world’s most lethal boarding school was one thing. But now comes the real test: Can November Adley find her missing father before her enemies find her? Subterfuge is the name of the game in this thrilling sequel to Killing November, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of How to Hang a Witch.

After surviving a crash course in espionage at the mysterious Academy Absconditi, November only has one purpose: finding her missing father. Along with fellow student (and heartthrob) Ash, November follows the clues that her father left, embarking on the deadliest treasure hunt of her life. The first clue is in her hometown, where old friends beckon and unexpected enemies lurk around every corner. The second clue is in Europe, where revelations about her family history will plunge her into an international web of deception, lies, and intrigue. The third clue is deep in enemy territory surrounded by skilled assassins and master strategists, and where everyone wants her and her father dead. Can one girl with limited training infiltrate a centuries-old organization that is powerful enough to topple empires? November only knows she’ll do whatever it takes to save her father…or die trying.

Hunting November picks up exactly where Killing November left off, and while it moved away from the sinister boarding school for assassins-to-be, it lost none of the thrills and chills that made the previous book so much fun.

Having left the insular world of the Academy Absconditi, November and Ash hopscotch across Europe, desperately trying to find her father before the mysterious and sinister assassin known only as the Ferryman, does. Aided only by the cryptic clues left for her by her father, November is taken for a trip down memory lane as each clue is tied to a specific childhood memory. This was one my favorite parts of the book as you got to see November and her father’s close bond as it developed through the years. It was emotional and very touching. The scenes from the past were so beautifully woven in by Mather that they added this lovely undercurrent to the story. While this is contemporary fiction, the way the Strategia interact with each other and do business plays out like it was in the distant past. Their weapons of choice are knives, poison, and blow darts, and because of this and the settings which seem almost like old world Europe, I spent half my time reminding myself this wasn’t the 1800s.

The only reason why I’m not giving this a perfect 5 star rating is because I thought the ending was a little rushed, especially in terms of the Strategia families and their connections. I believe this is going to only be a duology, which is a shame because there’s a lot more to explore here. Overall though, I HIGHLY recommend both Killing November and Hunting November to anyone who loves spy/secret society novels with plenty of excitement and adventure!

 

You’re Next, by Kylie Schachte ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Contemporary Fiction, LGBTQ, Mental Health, Mystery, Suspense, Violence, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Jimmy Patterson for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: June 23rd, 2020

480 Pages

Synopsis: Flora Calhoun has a reputation for sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong. After stumbling across a classmate’s body years ago, the trauma of that discovery and the police’s failure to find the killer has haunted her ever since. One night she gets a midnight text from Ava McQueen, the beautiful girl who had ignited Flora’s heart last summer, then never spoke to her again.

Just in time to witness Ava’s death from a gunshot wound, Flora is set on a path of rage and vengeance for all the dead girls whose killer is never found. Her tunnel-visioned sleuthing leads to valuable clues about a shocking conspiracy involving her school and beyond, but earns her sinister threats from the murderer. She has a choice—to give up the hunt for answers, or keep digging and risk her loved ones’ lives. Either way, Flora will regret the consequences. Who’s next on the killer’s list?

If you pick up You’re Next, be prepared to leave a healthy dose of scepticism at the door. It’s a combination of Veronica Mars, Nancy Drew and Riverdale, and while it’s a little rough at times, overall it’s a fun read.

The beginning is a little awkward because of the previous murder. The way it’s written kind of leaves the impression that there was another book, but there’s not. At the same time though, it gives you more insight into Flora’s troubled mind. She’s never gotten over that trauma and the combination of that, this new murder of her ex-girlfriend, and her tumultuous relationship with her absentee mother makes her careen out of control. I loved her relationship with her grandfather who has become parent to both Flora and her younger sister Olive, but I was also frustrated at times because I felt he gave her far too much latitude in regards to her detective work. I also found it unbelievable that psychological counseling was never even considered.

I loved Flora’s relationship with the enigmatic Valentine and found myself rooting for these two emotionally scarred human beings. While their romance is rocky in the beginning due to miscommunication and lack of trust, it slowly evolves during the story into something more meaningful.

The two other characters I loved the most were Olive and Flora’s best friend, Cass. They’re both supportive yet unafraid to call Flora out when she says or does something unacceptable. While she tends to take them for granted, toward the end of the book she realizes how much she depends upon them.

At almost 500 pages long, this probably could have had about 50-75 pages edited out, but it still manages to move along at a surprisingly fast pace thanks to the almost continuous action. The ending is a whopper and I’m assuming there will be a sequel. If not, I’m taking a point off my rating!

You’re Next is an enjoyable read that I think fans of YA authors like Karen McManus and Jennifer Lynn Barnes will enjoy. It provided a nice distraction from current events and I’ll be on the look out for the next book.