IA: Union (IA #3), by John Darryl Winston ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Coming of Age Stories, Coping With Loss and Grief, Inner City Life, Relationships, Science Fiction, YA Fiction

 

Thanks to the author for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: November 24th, 2017

385 Pages

Synopsis: Naz races to put the pieces of his life together while D’s life hangs is the balance.

Naz has lost everyone that he loves. And while he may have found refuge and pause at International Academy, he has found no piece and certainly no answers. All that he knows calls to him from the streets of the Exclave and Union High School where he reunites with friends and mentors.

Naz struggles, unsuccessfully, to put the pieces of his shattered life back together again—-until D comes into his world and changes everything. She helps him put everything into perspective, sees things he couldn’t see before and helps him remember things he had all but forgotten.

But when D goes missing, it will take more than Naz’s newly found abilities to discover her whereabouts, rescue her, and bring her unlikely captor to justice. Will he reach her in time?

I was first introduced to young Naz, back in 2015, when John reached out to me on Goodreads and asked if I’d like to read and review his debut, IA: Initiate. I immediately fell in love with this young teen who had lost so much yet never stopped pushing forward. In IA B.O.S.S. Naz suffers from another devastating loss, and I was anxious as to how he was going to cope with this latest blow. IA: Union perfectly wraps up this trilogy with an action-packed story that also explores love, loss, and closure.

Naz is such an empathetic and relatable character. Because of the horrible things that have happened in his young life, he has been forced to grow up much too quickly. Yes he has special abilities that help him finally bring the villains to justice, but more importantly he has tremendous strength of character and moral integrity. That’s not to say he doesn’t stumble along the way. Struggling with self-doubt, he wants revenge for what’s been done to him and his family. Helping him though, are his friends, girlfriend and mentors who play an integral role in shaping Naz into the remarkable young man he becomes. 

While the story is set in the not too distant future, it also very similar to life in today’s inner cities. Society is not kind to under-privileged youth, especially ones like Naz, who have lost both parents. It’s a dark and gritty world where it’s difficult at times to know who to trust, including adults who seek to either control Naz and his abilities or destroy him. Yet there is hope here as well for new beginnings, especially at the end.

While IA: Union does an outstanding job at wrapping up Naz’s story, I’m going to have a difficult time saying goodbye. He is someone I feel like I personally know and I’ve watched him grow up.  John Darryl Winston teaches when he’s not creating incredible stories, and it’s obvious he knows his audience. From the first book to the last, Naz is someone teens will like, admire, and relate to. I enthusiastically recommend this book and the entire trilogy for teens ages 13 and up. As hard as it is for me to picture John writing another book not featuring Naz, I’m eagerly looking forward to his next venture. 

 

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Rosemarked (Rosemarked #1), by Livia Blackburne ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Fantasy, Politics, Relationships, War, YA Fiction

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

Release Date: November 7th, 2017

400 Pages

Synopsis: A healer who cannot be healed…

When Zivah falls prey to the deadly rose plague, she knows it’s only a matter of time before she fully succumbs. Now she’s destined to live her last days in isolation, cut off from her people and unable to practice her art—until a threat to her village creates a need that only she can fill.

A soldier shattered by war…

Broken by torture at the hand of the Amparan Empire, Dineas thirsts for revenge against his captors. Now escaped and reunited with his tribe, he’ll do anything to free them from Amparan rule—even if it means undertaking a plan that risks not only his life but his very self.

Thrust together on a high-stakes mission to spy on the capital, the two couldn’t be more different: Zivah, deeply committed to her vow of healing, and Dineas, yearning for vengeance. But as they grow closer, they must find common ground to protect those they love. And amidst the constant fear of discovery, the two grapple with a mutual attraction that could break both of their carefully guarded hearts.

I have to admit that I initially requested Rosemarked based almost solely on the cover art. You have to admit though, it really is gorgeous! The premise though also intrigued me. A young healer that catches an incurable disease and a man who has survived the disease, teaming up as spies to infiltrate the capital city of an empire who threatens both of their people. I just couldn’t resist!

This is definitely a character-driven story which is told alternately by Zivah and Dineas. They are both very complex characters, but Zivah stood out the most strongly for me. Knowing she wanted to be a healer from a very young age, she has only just attained her goal when she becomes sick. Living with this incurable disease transform her from this sweet, naive girl to someone with much more purpose in her life. She’s determined to not only find a cure, but to also protect her people from the ruthless Amparan Empire. 

Dineas has managed to survive not only the rose plague, but also torture at the hands of the Amparan military. In the beginning, he’s angry and bitter. He also suffers from what the reader would recognize as PTSD. But as the story unfolds, you get to see literally the type of man he would be if he hadn’t gone through the horrific trials he was forced into. Underneath his harsh exterior he’s kind and compassionate, and it’s because of this previously hidden nature, that he and Zivah start becoming more than friends. Their relationship slowly evolves throughout the story and is believable and engrossing. 

The world-building is fascinating, but I wish there had been a little more to it. As Zivah and Dineas spent part of the story traveling, I was hoping for a little more descriptive detail. I would have also liked more backstory as to what life was like before the rise of the Amparan Empire. What does make it more compelling  is that while this is a fantasy, there are some political aspects to the tale that are not dissimilar to our own world. 

The story itself was interesting, yet lacked any truly climactic moments until right near the conclusion, and those were somewhat predictable. However, I think because the story was relatively uncomplicated, that gave more time for character development which is so brilliantly done that in the end, I can’t complain too much.

Overall, I enjoyed Rosemarked, despite the few issues I had with it. I went back and forth between giving this a 3 1/2 star or 4 star rating, but Zivah and Dineas truly are so beautifully written, that they stand out from characters in other fantasy books. Livia Blackburne focuses a lot of her time on the human elements and personal growth of not only Zivah and Dineas, but some of the secondary characters as well. I’m interested in seeing how they continue to evolve in the next book. I’m also hoping there’s a little more action and suspense in the sequel. I highly recommend this to fans of politically-themed fantasy who love complex characters they can instantly connect with. 

The Girl Who Was Taken, by Charlie Donlea – 4.5 Stars

Tags

Abduction, Adult Fiction, Mystery, Relationships, Suspense

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corporation for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: Available Now

320 Pages

Synopsis: Nicole Cutty and Megan McDonald are both high school seniors in the small town of Emerson Bay, North Carolina. When they disappear from a beach party one warm summer night, police launch a massive search. No clues are found, and hope is almost lost until Megan miraculously surfaces after escaping from a bunker deep in the woods.

A year later, the bestselling account her ordeal has turned Megan into from local hero to nation celebrity. It’s a triumphant, inspiring story, except for one inconvenient detail: Nicole is still missing. Nicole’s older sister Livia, a fellow in forensic pathology, expects that one day Nicole’s body will be found, and it will be up to someone like Livia to analyze the evidence and finally determine her sister’s fate. Instead, the first clue to Nicole’s disappearance comes from another body that shows up in Livia’s morgue. that of a young man connected to Nicole’s past. Livia reaches out to Megan for help, hoping to learn more about the night the two were taken. Other girls have gone missing too, and Livia is increasingly certain that the cases are connected.

But Megan knows more than she revealed in her blockbuster book. Flashes of memory are coming together, pointing to something darker and more monstrous than her chilling memoir describes. And the deeper she and Livia dig, the more they realize that sometimes true terror lies in finding exactly what you’ve been looking for.

The Girl Who Was Taken is the first book I’ve read by Charlie Donlea, but I’m certain it won’t be my last! The only reason why I’m not giving this a perfect 5 stars, is because I thought the beginning was a little slow. There’s a lot going on with Megan and Nicole, with switching POVs and timeframes, and it took me a few chapters to get comfortable with the author’s writing style, but once I did I was completely glued to the pages and finished it in two sittings. 

Livia was my favorite character. She’s career driven and also shows a fierce determination to finding out what happened to Nicole. I can’t even imagine working as a forensic pathologist and having the ever present fear in the back of my head that the next dead body that comes in may be my missing sister’s. Yet Livia doesn’t let this effect her job performance, nor does it deter her from trying to find her search. Once Megan returns, and Livia finds what she believes may be the first clue on a body that shows up in the morgue, the two of them work together to uncover the truth of what happened that night. Other girls have also gone missing and while the police don’t see a connection, Livia does. Unfortunately, Megan is suffering from flashbacks and missing time, which further complicates things. 

As the narrative moves back and forth from months before Megan’s and Nicole’s abduction, to the present, in addition to the tension rising, you get to see how two girls who started off as good friends, wound up as enemies, although this was mostly on Nicole’s part. And the odd thing is, that even through these flashbacks, I found Nicole to be an obnoxious, jealous, attention-seeking twit, I was still fully invested in learning what happened to her. 

There were so many twists and turns, that all of my detective work wound up being wrong. There are definitely moments that require a little suspended disbelief, but nothing that’s over the top. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough because I needed to know what happened. The ending perfectly fits this harrowing tale, and while it leaves some loose threads, I’ve heard rumors there’s to be a sequel so I’m not taking any points off. 

The Girl Who Was Taken, is a well written mystery and suspense story that’s filled with realistic and relatable characters, and will keep you second guessing right up until the end. I cannot recommend it highly enough!

 

The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond ~ 4.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Cults, Psychological Suspense, Relationships

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

Release Date: Available Now

432 Pages

Synopsis: Newlyweds Alice and Jake are a picture-perfect couple. Alice, once a singer in a well-known rock band, is now a successful lawyer. Jake is a partner in an up-and-coming psychology practice. Their life together holds endless possibilities. After receiving an enticing wedding gift from one of Alice’s prominent clients, they decide to join an exclusive and mysterious group known only as The Pact.

The goal of The Pact seems simple: to keep marriages happy and intact. And most of its rules make sense. Always answer the phone when your spouse calls. Exchange thoughtful gifts monthly. Plan a trip together once per quarter…Never mention The Pact to anyone.

Alice and Jake are initially seduced by the glamorous parties, the sense of community, their widening social circle of like-minded couples. And then one of them breaks the rules. The young lovers are about to discover that for adherents to The Pact, membership, like marriage, is for life. And The Pact will go to any lengths to enforce that rule. For Jake and Alice, the marriage of their dreams is about to become their worst nightmare.

The Marriage Pact poses an interesting question. With so many marriages ending in divorce, how far would you go to guarantee that your own marriage stayed intact? I have to be upfront and say that there’s a certain amount of disbelief you have to suspend going into this book. I mean, who in their right mind would sign a contract to join a group that they really know nothing about? And, Jake and Alice don’t even read the contract, despite Alice being a lawyer herself. But they both have their own reasons why they’re drawn to this group, and much to my surprise, I found myself being a lot more understanding than I thought I would. 

The story is told by Jake, and perhaps because of this I felt more connected to him than Alice. They’re both highly educated people, but because of their individual insecurities, they allow themselves to be sucked into this cult. Naturally, it’s not long before the newlyweds discover that The Pact is not the benevolent group of “…like-minded individuals intent on achieving a similar goal.” Far from being supportive of their members, there are consequences for breaking the rules listed in the Manual. At this point Jake and Alice want to leave, but no one ever leaves The Pact. 

There are many twists and turns in this story, which kept me glued to its pages. For the majority of the book, I honestly had no idea where this was going to end up, and as the conclusion neared I found myself shocked at the way events unfolded. And the ending? Well, let’s just say you’re going to either love it, or you’re going to hate it.

The Marriage Pact had me hooked from the very beginning, and with its relentless pace, I finished it over the course of two nights. Yes, there are some moments that will leave you incredulous, but the book is so well written, that this doesn’t negatively impact the story. It’s a truly creepy tale that will leave you wondering “What if?”

You’re Welcome, Universe ~ By Whitney Gardner – 5.0 Stars

Tags

Bullying, Deaf culture, Eating disorders, Graffiti Artists, LGBTQ Families, Relationships, YA Fiction

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

Release Date: March 7th, 2017

304 Pages

Synopsis: When Julia finds a slur about her best friend scrawled across the back of the Kingston School For the Deaf, she covers it up with a beautiful (albeit illegal) graffiti mural.

Her supposed best friend snitches, the principal expels her, and her two mothers set Julia up with a one-way ticket to a “mainstream” school in the suburbs, where she’s treated like an outcast as the only deaf student. The last thing she has left is her art, and not even Banksy himself could convince her to give that up. 

Out in the ‘burbs, Julia paints anywhere she can, eager to claim some turf of her own. But Julia soon learns that she might not be the only vandal in town. Someone is adding to her tags, making them better, showing off–and showing Julia up in the process. She expected her art might get painted over by cops. But she never imagined getting dragged into a full-blown graffiti war.

Told with wit and grit by debut author Whitney Gardner, who also provides gorgeous interior illustrations of Julia’s graffiti tags, You’re Welcome, Universe introduces audiences to a one-of-a-kind protagonist who is unabashedly herself no matter what life throws in her way.

After reading You’re Welcome, Universe the first word that popped into my head was “Wow!” I started this at 9 p.m. last night and couldn’t put it down until I reached the last page around midnight. The story is told from the first person POV of Julia who is deaf, Indian, and has two moms. So yes, this book is extremely diverse. I know we’re still in the early part of 2017, but I already know Julia is going on my top ten list of favorite fictional characters for this year. She’s confident in who she is and isn’t afraid to stand up for herself. She’s sarcastically funny and downright blunt at times, which I absolutely loved. Because she was hurt badly by her former best friend, she has some serious trust issues which makes her eventual friendship with a girl who she nicknames “YP” even more touching. Both girls have been the victims of betrayal so their relationship is rocky and slowly develops throughout the course of the story. While the deaf culture is thoroughly explored in this book, it’s not the only theme. There’s also: bullying, body image, racism, eating disorders, and “slut shaming”. These are all blended into the story in a very realistic way, and I was impressed that the author managed to balance all of these successfully in a just over 300 page book. But what’s really at the heart of this book is Julia’s graffiti, and how it helps her cope with the stresses in her life. As the premise states, the Julia’s graffiti tags are very much a part of her story. The black and white illustrations literally leap off the page and fit in perfectly with the narrative. In my opinion Whitney Gardner is a refreshing and vibrant new voice in YA fiction. You’re Welcome, Universe is an incredible debut and one that I can’t recommend highly enough for teens and adults. It’s touching and full of humor, and Julia isn’t a character you’ll forget anytime soon!

Revenge Of The Librarian (Evil Librarian #2) ~ By Michelle Knudsen – 3.0 Stars

Tags

Paranormal Fiction, Relationships, YA Fiction

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

Release Date: February 14th, 2016

215 Pages

Synopsis: Last fall, Cynthia Rothschild saved her best friend, as well as the entire student body, from the demon librarian, Mr. Gabriel, all while executing the most awesome set design for the school musical, Sweeney Todd. But now that all the demon stuff is behind her, Cyn is looking forward to the best summer ever at theater camp with her former-crush-and-now-boyfriend, Ryan Halsey. Once she gets to camp though, Cyn realizes this summer might not be all she’s been hoping for. First, Ryan’s best camp friend is a girl (which Ryan has never mentioned to Cyn) and she just happens to be ridiculously pretty. Plus, it seems the demon stuff is not entirely over as Cyn had hoped. At least any new demons that show up to ruin her summer can’t possibly be as evil as Mr. Gabriel. It’s not like he could somehow come back to life to seek his terrible revenge or something.

I really enjoyed The Evil Librarian, so I was looking forward to this sequel. Unfortunately this has a lot more relationship drama ( including an annoying love quadrangle) without the campy fun that made the first book so enjoyable. Cyn continues to be loyal and protective of her friends, but this protectiveness veers into more controlling behavior when she starts keeping secrets and takes it upon herself to make decisions for them instead. Unsurprisingly, this causes problems not only in regards to friendships, but also adds to the danger that pops up this time around. The aforementioned love quadrangle drove me a little nuts. Cyn spends much of the book moaning and whining over her boyfriend Ryan’s friendship with a girl he’d known for years through the camp, yet she herself harbors some feelings for another camp member. The whole thing came off as hypocritical to say the least. And finally, there’s Mr. Gabriel aka The Evil Librarian, who was thought to have been vanquished, yet proves in this book that you can’t keep a good, er, bad, demon down. While he was scarily funny in the previous story, in this one he’s pretty much a one-dimensional character who’s lost the snarkiness which made him so appealing to begin with. The ending makes it seem likely that there will be a third book, and if this is the case, I hope it contains more of the humor that made The Evil Librarian such a hit. In my humble opinion, Revenge of the Evil Librarian isn’t a bad book, just a disappointing one, that didn’t quite live up to its predecessor. 

The Devil Crept In ~ By Ania Ahlborn – 4.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Child Abuse, Horror, Relationships

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

Release Date: February 7th, 2016

384 Pages

Synopsis: Young Jude Brighton has been missing for three days, and while the search for him is in full swing in the small town of Deer Valley, Oregon, the locals are starting to lose hope. They’re well aware that the first forty-eight hours are critical and after that, the odds usually point to a worst-case scenario. And despite Stevie Clark’s youth, he knows that, too; he’s seen the cop shows. He knows what each ticking moment may mean for Jude, his cousin and best friend.

That, and there was that boy, Max Larson…the one from years ago, found dead after also disappearing under mysterious circumstances. And then there were the animals: pets gone missing out of yards. For years, the residents of Deer Valley have murmured about these unsolved crimes…and that a killer may still be lurking around their quiet town. Now fear is reborn–and for Stevie, who is determined to find out what really happened to Jude, the awful truth might be too horrifying to imagine.

I loved Ania Ahlborn’s previous book, Brother, and while I had a few issues with The Devil Crept In, it’s clear that she is an excellent storyteller along the same lines of horror writers like Stephen King. The book is divided into three sections with part one focusing on ten-year-old Stevie Clark’s determination to find his cousin and best friend, Jude. While I’m all for slow-building horror and suspense, I found myself getting a bit impatient with the pacing in the beginning. I felt as though Ahlborn spent a little too much time on the set-up. The second part takes you back in time, detailing a creepy house in the woods and the backstory of Rosie, the woman who lives there. The third part brings both storylines together.  I never once felt disconnected and Ahlborn does a brilliant job at fitting all the pieces together. My biggest issue was that with the exception of a few, the majority of adults in this story are completely one-dimensional and do not come across in a positive light. You’ve got the abusive step-father stereotype, the abused mother who can’t/won’t protect her children, and the judgmental, holier-than-thou townsfolk. There are two characters that don’t fall into these stereotypes. One is Stevie’s teacher, but sadly she only makes a brief appearance. The other is an elderly shop keeper who tries to help Stevie, but he’s maddeningly slow at giving him much needed information. And of course there’s Rosie, who I found utterly exasperating at times, yet still emphasized with the horror her life had become. Ania Ahlborn is also an absolute genius at creating subtle and menacing atmospheres and creepy goosebump-raising storylines. I was completely sucked into the small town of Deer Creek and its hidden horrors and I felt as though I were actually in the story. But the absolute best part of the book is ten-year-old Stevie, whose courage and innocence is what drives the story and his attributes are in direct contrast to the disturbing nature of the narrative and the rest of the characters. His resilience is remarkable given that he’s surrounded by adults, who at best don’t believe the things he insists he’s witnessed, and at worst are verbally and physically abusive. Making things worse is that Stevie suffers from an unnamed disorder(s), which further adds to the suspicion and doubt that people view him with. Yet despite all this, this small child never gives up and I absolutely loved him. The ending is complicated, and there’s some questions I had that weren’t answered, yet for the most part it’s in keeping with the rest of the story. Despite its flaws, I found The Devil Crept In to be a disturbing and emotional read, and one which I have no problem recommending. It’s a solid blend of horror, mystery and suspense and it’s left me excited for Ania Ahlborn’s next venture.

 

 

 

The Most Dangerous Place On Earth ~ By Lindsey Lee Johnson – 2.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Cyberbullying, High School, Relationships

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

288 Pages

Synopsis: In an idyllic community of wealthy California families, new teacher Molly Nicoll becomes intrigued by the hidden lives of her privileged students. Unknown to Molly, a middle school tragedy in which they were all complicit continues to reverberate for her kids: Nick, the brilliant scam artist; Emma, the gifted dancer and party girl; Dave, the B student who strives to meet his parents expectations; Calista, the hippie outcast who hides her intelligence for reasons of her own. Theirs is a world in which every action may become public postable, shareable, indelible. With the rare talent that transforms teenage dramas into compelling and urgent fiction, Lindsey Lee Johnson makes vivid a modern adolescence lived in the gleam of the virtual, but rich with the sorrow, passion, and beauty of life in any time, and at any age.

The most dangerous place on earth is… middle school and high school? I’m not sure I can argue with that. Anyway, this book is divided into three sections: 8th grade, Junior year, and Senior year in high school. Set in wealthy Mill Valley (Marin County) CA, the  story begins with a case of cyber bullying which could be taken straight out of the headlines. Unsurprisingly, what happens ends in tragedy. The second part picks up three years later and looks at each of those who were involved and how their lives have changed in the ensuing years. It’s told in the third person by each student as well as their new idealistic teacher, Molly Nicholl. While I don’t generally mind stories told in the third person, I think this story would have been served better by use of the first person POV. Because of the story switching between several characters, it’s informative but there’s no real emotional connection. As each kid’s backstory is revealed, we get to see a different side to them but we’re told this, rather than shown it. Adding to this is the sheer unlikability of most of them. They are for the most part representative of your stereotypical high school cliques. There are only a couple of characters that I felt any sympathy for whatsoever. It also felt like the author spent a lot of time researching the absolutely worse cases of cyber-bullying, the perils of social media, and the prevalence of alcohol and drugs and threw them all in. There’s the victim of bullying who commits suicide. The vulnerable girl preyed upon by a sexually predatory teacher. The bully, who’s abused at home. The Asian-American who’s put under incredible pressure by his perfectionist parents to excel. The list just goes on and on. To be honest, the whole thing came across as manipulative. What really got to me though are the way the teachers and parents are portrayed. They’re the worst kind of caricatures and no one comes out looking good, even Molly in the end. Despite the negatives, I will admit this was a quick read and I finished it in one sitting. Overall, though I think The Most Dangerous Place On Earth has a fantastic premise, but is filled with missed opportunities. While there are some interesting aspects, there is a lack of clarity as to what exactly Johnson was hoping to accomplish, which for me, overshadowed any positives. There are many Goodreads reviewers as well as professional publications such as Publishers Weekly and the Chicago Tribune who have given this positive reviews, so as always I encourage you to check them out if you’re on the fence about trying this. One last thing I do want to say is that several reviewers have called this a YA book. I respectfully disagree with this even though the majority of characters are teens. I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone under the age of sixteen, and the way it’s written, I’ll go a step further and say this is written more for an adult audience. 

The Obsidian Chamber (Pendergast #16) ~ Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child – 5.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Mystery, Relationships, Suspense, Thriller

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

Release Date: October 25th, 2016

560 Pages

Synopsis: 

A TRAGIC DISAPPEARANCE

After a harrowing, otherworldly confrontation on the shores of Exmouth, Massachusetts, Special Agent A.X.L. Pendergast is missing, presumed dead.

A SHOCKING RETURN

Sick with grief, Pendergast’s ward, Constance, retreats to her chambers beneath the family mansion at 891 Riverside Drive–only to be taken captive by a shadowy figure from the past.

AN INTERNATIONAL MANHUNT 

Proctor, Pendergast’s longtime bodyguard, springs to action, chasing Constance’s kidnapper through cities, across oceans, and into wastelands unknown.

BUT IN A WORLD OF BLACK AND WHITE, NOTHING IS AS IT SEEMS

And by the time Proctor discovers the truth, a terrifying engine has stirred–and it may already be too late…

Before I get into the nitty-gritty of my review, as always, I want to caution readers that to really know and love Aloysius Pendergast, you have to read the previous books. If you don’t want, or have the time to go all the way back to the beginning, at the very least read the Diogenes trilogy, beginning with Brimstone. If you’re new to this series I know what a time commitment this is, but I’m telling you, it’s worth it. So, The Obsidian Chamber is one gigantic roller coaster ride made up of a multitude of plot twists, mysteries and an absolutely awesome cliffhanger. The story is for the most part divided between Pendergast, Constance, and Proctor. I’m going to be honest and admit that because I love Pendergast so much, I usually get quite cranky when a new book isn’t all about him. In this instance though, dividing the focus between the three characters really worked. I loved the stalwart and ever faithful Proctor finally getting the opportunity to show off his chops. And while Constance hasn’t been one of my favorite characters in the past, the inner workings of her mind is really put under the spotlight, and although I still have mixed feelings about her, I feel as though I understand her more. This book has three central themes: love, redemption and revenge. They’re all woven together in an intricate, beautiful and mesmerizing dance that leaves you on the edge of your seat. Starting from the very first chapters which made me think of Alfred Hitchcock, to the thrilling conclusion, to say this is a page-turner, doesn’t quite do it justice. If I have one complaint it’s that we only get one new Pendergast novel a year. Readers who are already fans will not be disappointed in 16th Pendergast outing. And if you’re new to this series, as I said, please go back and read the previous books. I guarantee it’s worth it!

The Next ~ By Stephanie Gangi – 4.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Ghost Story, Literary Fiction, Relationships

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

Release Date: October 18th, 2016

320 Pages

Synopsis: Is there a right way to die? If so, Joanna DeAngelis has it all wrong. She’s consumed by betrayal, spending her numbered days obsessing over Ned McGowan, her much younger ex, and watching him thrive in the spotlight with someone new, while she wastes away. She’s every woman scorned, fascinating about revenge…except she’s out of time.

Joanna falls from her life, from the love of her daughters and devoted dog, into an otherworldly landscape, a bleak infinity she can’t escape until she rises up and returns and sets it right–makes Ned pay–so she can truly move on.

From the other side into right this minute, Jo embarks on a sexy, spiritual odyssey. As she travels beyond memory, beyond desire, she is transformed into a fierce female force of life, determined to know how to die, happily ever after.

I have to be honest and admit this was an impulse request from NetGalley. From the synopsis I wasn’t even sure if I was going to like Joanna, but the story sounded very different and quirky, so I went for it. Much to my surprise, I really liked her. Joanna’s pain and anger just radiated off the pages, yet so did her love for her daughters and her poodle, Tom. Her transformation from a caring, compassionate woman to a vengeful, hate-filled ghost, is for the most part understandable and lends a humanizing quality to her. The secondary characters were also richly drawn, even Tom, the poodle, who’s devotion to Joanna extends well beyond her death. You get to see things from both the daughters’ and Ned’s perspectives, which gives you a real sense of who they are. The close relationship that Joanna has with her daughters was beautiful and amazingly I even wound up liking Ned a little near the end. The author’s prose is elegant and flows smoothly right up until the perfect ending. The Next is a very unique mix of literary fiction and ghost story, and I think it’s going to attract a lot of readers once it’s released. I know that I’ll definitely be looking into any future books by Stephanie Gangi.