Questland, By Carrie Vaughn ~ 3.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Humor, Mystery, School Shootings, Science Fiction, Suspense

Thanks to NetGalley and John Joseph Adams/Mariner Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: July 22nd, 2021

304 Pages

Synopsis: YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A MAZE FULL OF TWISTY PASSAGES…

Literature professor Dr. Addie Cox is living a happy, if sheltered life, in her ivory tower when Harris Lang, the famously eccentric billionaire tech genius, offers her an unusual  job. He wants her to guide a military strike team sent to infiltrate his island retreat off the northwest coast of the United States. Addie is puzzled by her role on the mission until she understands what Lang has built: Insula Mirabilis, an isolated resort where tourists will pay big bucks for a high-tech-powered, fantasy-world experience, complete with dragons, unicorns, and yes, magic.

Unfortunately, one of the island’s employees has gone rogue and activated an invisible force shield that has cut off all outside communications. A Coast Guard cutter attempting to pass through the shield has been destroyed. Suspicion falls on Dominic Brand, the project’s head designer—and Addie Cox’s ex-boyfriend. Lang has tasked Addie and the mercenary team with taking back control of the island at any cost.

But Addie is wrestling with demons of her own—and not the fantastical kind. Now she must navigate the deadly traps of Insula Mirabilis as well as her own past trauma. And no d20, however lucky, can help Addie make this saving throw. (Goodreads)

Questland is one of those books that’s a little off-the-wall, and imperfect, but is an entertaining escape from the real world. I’m not into Literary Role Playing Games or LitRPGs as they’re known, but I do LOVE fantasy, especially Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia, and Harry Potter, and Carrie Vaughn includes plenty of references to those. Plus, this has dragons AND unicorns in it! Need I say more?

There are a couple of things that prevent this from being a perfect read. In my opinion, the majority of characters are not well written and come across as stereotypical and in some cases, not very believable. The only two to deviate from this one-dimensional mold are a secondary character named Rucker who I disliked in the beginning, before he sneakily changed my mind, and the protagonist of the story, literature professor, Dr. Addie Cox, who fifteen years previously survived a school shooting, but helplessly watched two of her friends die. I absolutely loved her, both for her strength and vulnerability, and also for her humorous reactions to what she sees on the island. Throughout much of the book, she gets herself into situations where she has to be saved, but given that she’s suffering from PTSD, I was willing to cut her some slack. And during the second half of the book, she starts gaining more confidence in herself which was nice to watch. The story itself with its magic-mimicking technology is fascinating, and I found myself wistfully wishing to be able to go visit Insula Mirabilis. Thanks to the fast pace that leads to an ending which wraps everything up nice and neatly, I finished this in one sitting.

I’ll be honest and say that I don’t think Questland is one of Vaughn’s best books, but it’s fun nonetheless and I’m happy I read it. I think my fellow fantasy geeks would enjoy this as well. As for me, now I really, REALLY want a dragon!

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels, By India Holton ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Humor, Romance, Suspense, Victorian Fantasy

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: June 15th, 2021

336 Pages

Synopsis: A prim and proper lady thief must save her aunt from a crazed pirate and his dangerously charming henchman in this fantastical historical romance.

 Cecilia Bassingwaite is the ideal Victorian lady. She’s also a thief. Like the other members of the Wisteria Society crime sorority, she flies around England drinking tea, blackmailing friends, and acquiring treasure by interesting means. Sure, she has a dark and traumatic past and an overbearing aunt, but all things considered, it’s a pleasant existence. Until the men show up.

Ned Lightbourne is a sometimes assassin who is smitten with Cecilia from the moment they meet. Unfortunately that happens to be while he’s under direct orders to kill her. His employer, Captain Morvath, who possesses a gothic abbey bristling with cannons and an unbridled hate for entire world, intend to rid England of all its presumptuous women, starting with the Wisteria Society. Ned has plans of his own. But both men have made one grave mistake. Never underestimate a woman. When Morvath imperils the Wisteria Society, Cecilia is forced to team up with her handsome would-be assassin to save the women who raised her—hopefully proving, once and for all, that she’s as much of a scoundrel as the rest of them. (Goodreads)

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels is a fabulously fun historical fantasy that definitely delivers on its eye-catching cover, and it thoroughly captivated me from beginning to end. Cecilia is a bibliophile after my own heart. She’s also a first rate scoundrel and lady pirate, out to prove herself to the rest of the Wisteria Society. To say that I loved her, doesn’t quite describe my feelings. While I’m not usually a fan of insta-romance, it’s obvious from the first scene where Ned is attempting to assassinate(?) her, that Cecilia and Ned are destined for one another. Their banter is rapier sharp, and I greatly enjoyed their witty repartee. The secondary characters are equally enjoyable, even the cartoonish, Bronte-obsessed, Captain Morvath, and the plot, well, this is just something you have to experience for yourself. Let’s just say the The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels is utterly bonkers in the very best possible way. It’s so imaginative and original that it’s difficult to come up with a comparison, but if I were to do so I’d say think The Princess Bride, meets Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate series. As whimsically wacky as her debut is, I want to seriously predict that India Holton is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the literary world. If you’re looking for a laugh-out-loud historical fantasy with plenty of derring do over tea and crumpets, and swoon-worthy romance, I can’t recommend this enough!

April Fools Day 2021

Tags

April Fool's Day, Humor

The Library of the Dead ( Edinburgh Nights, #1) By T.L. Huchu ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Diversity, Edinburgh, Humor, Mystery, Post-Apocalyptic Fiction, Supernatural Fiction, Suspense, Urban Fantasy, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: June 1st, 2021

336 Pages

Synopsis: “Sixth Sense” meets “Stranger Things” in T.L. Huchu’s “The Library of the Dead,” a sharp, contemporary fantasy, following a precocious and cynical teen as she explores the shadowy, magical underside of modern Edinburgh.

When a child goes missing in Edinburgh’s darkest streets, young Ropa investigates. She’ll need to call on Zimbabwean magic as well as her Scottish pragmatism to hunt down clues. But as shadows lengthen, will the hunter become the hunter?

When ghosts talk, she will listen…

Ropa dropped out of school to become a ghostalker. Now she speaks to Edinburgh’s dead, carrying messages to the living. A girl’s gotta earn a living, and it seems harmless enough. Until, that is, the dead whisper someone’s bewitching children—leaving them husks, empty of joy and life. It’s on Ropa’s patch, so she feels honor-bound to investigate. But what she learns will change her world.

She’ll dice with death (not part of her life plan…), discovering an occult library and a taste for hidden magic. She’ll also experience dark times. For Edinburgh hides a wealth of secrets, and Ropa’s gonna hunt them all down. (Goodreads)

The Library of the Dead didn’t succeed in hooking me until I was almost 100 pages in, but once I passed that point, I couldn’t stop reading.

There’s a lot going on in this post-apocalyptic Edinburgh, that I think is slightly in the future. The exact time period is never really made clear, but given the technology and references to the not too distant past, I’m guessing it’s not that many years ahead of 2021. There’s been an unknown “Catastrophe” which has definitely made a huge impact, but it’s never explained what happened. And characters keep referring to the “King” which likewise remained a mystery throughout the story. I’m assuming more information will be given in subsequent books.

This first book’s focus is on fifteen-year-old Ropa, with her green dreadlocks, black lipstick, and um, extremely colorful language. Ropa is also half Zimbabwean and half Scottish, which is an intriguing mix. She’s smart, sarcastic, has a pet fox and can outswear a sailor, sometimes to hilarious effect. Outwardly, she’s a tough cookie and is stubborn as well as courageous. She determinedly takes care of her Nan, who is blind and has diabetes, and makes sure her younger sister goes to school. Once she’s introduced into the world of the Library, by her friend Jomo, she opens her heart more and lets in new friends. The secondary characters are interesting and include Priya, a young herbologist and healer who is confined to a wheelchair due to a spinal injury.

The world building is intriguing, but as I said, incomplete. Thankfully, knowing that this is the beginning of a series, ultimately made this more tantalizing than annoying for the most part. I loved the blend of magic, science, and supernatural, which added to my eagerness for more. Except for the first 1/3 of the book, the rest is extremely fast-paced and the ending wrapped up the mystery neatly.

The Library of the Dead is a promising beginning to Huchu’s Edinburgh Nights series. It’s a unique urban fantasy that stands out from other books of the genre, with a colorful heroine I guarantee readers will love. While Ropa is only fifteen, because of some of the darker imagery and at times sexually risqué language, I’d recommend this for older teens and adults. Otherwise, it’s a highly entertaining read, and I can’t wait for the next book!

Daylight Savings Time

Tags

Daylight Savings Time, Humor

Don’t forget to set your clocks ahead before going to bed!

The Album of Dr. Moreau, By Daryl Gregory ~ 4.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Humor, Mystery, Science Fiction, Suspense

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: May 18th, 2021

176 Pages

Synopsis: Daryl Gregory’s The Album of Dr. Moreau combines the science fiction premise of the famous novel by H.G. Wells, with the panache of a classic murder mystery and the spectacle of a beloved boy band.

It’s 2001, and the WyldBoyz band are the world’s hottest boy band, and definitely the world’s only genetically engineered  human-animal hybrid vocal group. When their producer, Dr. M, is found murdered in his hotel room, the “boyz” become the prime suspects. Was it Bobby the ocelot (“the cute one”), Matt the megabat (“the funny one”), Tim the Pangolin (“the shy one”), Devin the bonobo (“the romantic one”), or Tusk the elephant (“the smart one”)?

Las Vegas detective Luce Delgado has only twenty-fours to solve a case that goes all the way back to the secret science barge where the WildBoyz journey first began—a place they used to call home.

The Album of Dr. Moreau gives the typical locked-room mystery, an absolutely wild and zany spin that could only come from the mind of Daryl Gregory. There are dark moments which you’d expect from a story that’s based on the H.G. Wells classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, but there are surprising moments of levity and sweetness as well. The characters as you can probably guess from the synopsis are quite unique, although they share some personality traits with certain members of well known boy bands. I actually grew more attached to them than I expected given this is a 170 page novella. The big reveal wasn’t a huge surprise, but that didn’t matter because it was so much fun getting there. This is the third book I’ve read by Daryl Gregory, and I’ve concluded that he’s an author who isn’t afraid to take risks and go places where many wouldn’t even imagine. The Album of Dr. Moreau may be a little out there, but it’s a wonderful little respite from the real world that I highly recommend!

Christmas 2020 Be Like ~ Kurt Tocci

Tags

“Christmas 2020 Be Like”, Humor, Kurt Tocci

Hanukkah 2020

Tags

Hanukkah 2020, Humor

Tonight marks the first night of the Festival of Lights and I’d like to wish all my Jewish friends Hanukkah Sameach! I’m also turning this annual post in one a little more humorous this year so I hope no one minds.

Be Dazzled, By Ryan La Sala ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Comic-Cons, Humor, LGBTQ Relationships, Romance, YA Fiction

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

Release Date: January 5th, 2021

384 Pages

Synopsis: Who’s ready to sparkle?

Project Runway goes to Comic Con in an epic queer love story about creativity, passion, and finding the courage to be your most authentic self.

Raffy has a passion for bedazzling. Not just bedazzling but sewing, stitching, draping, pattern making—for creation. He’s always chosen his art over everything—and everyone—else and is determined to make his mark at this year’s biggest cosplay competition. If we can wow there, it could lead to sponsorship, then art school, and finally earning real respect for his work. There’s only one small problem…Raffy’s ex-boyfriend, Luca, is his main competition.

Raffy tried to make it work with Luca. They almost made the perfect team last year after serendipitously in the rhinestone aisle at the local craft store—or at least Raffy thought they did. But Luca’s insecurities and Raffy’s insistence on crafting caused their relationship to crash and burn. Now Raffy is after the perfect comeback, one that Luca can’t ruin.

But when Raffy is forced to partner with Luca on his most ambitious build yet, he’ll have to juggle unresolved feelings for the boy who broke his heart and his own intense self-doubt, to get everything he’s ever wanted: choosing his art, his way.

Oh my goodness! Are you looking for the perfect escape? Are you looking for a book that will cause uncontrollable smiles even after you’ve finished? Are you looking for a book that will give you ALL the feels? Do I sound like a car salesman? Ahem. Anyway, if you answered yes to any of those questions I enthusiastically suggest you mark your 2021 calendar for January 5th. That’s the day Ryan La Salla’s Be Dazzled is coming out, and I can’t think of a better way to kick off what will hopefully be a better year, than reading this adorably whimsical romance.

What can I say? Some kids do drugs. Some kids start fires. I embroider in the dead of night, for the attention of strangers.

Raffy is a seventeen-year-old misfit who you just can’t help falling in love with. While his artist mother, Evie, has no issues with him being gay, she is horrified at his proclivity for crafting and cosplay, feeling it’s completely beneath him. There are some genuinely funny moments between them, but underneath that is an intriguing layer of familial discord. On the surface, Luca is an all American jock, yet he’s so desperate not to let down his parents, he keeps his sexuality a secret from them. There’s a sweet odd couple chemistry between both boys, and the chapters alternate between present day and the past which details how they met, and what led to their initial breakup. The supporting cast is wonderfully fleshed out, and the main setting of a Comic-Con adds to the fun. Be Dazzled is a delightful, heartwarming love story, that’s screaming to be adapted to film. If you’re looking for a book that will charm your socks off I can’t recommend highly enough, particularly to fans of books like Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda. 

On the Lighter Side ~ Turkey Edition

Tags

Humor, On the Lighter Side, Turkey Memes