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Tag Archives: Supernatural

Best Seller, by Susan May ~ 5.0 Stars

28 Wednesday Mar 2018

Posted by By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 63 Comments

Tags

Adult Fiction, Book Publishing, Supernatural, Thriller

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I’d like to thank Susan May for sending me an ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: Available Now

462 Pages

Synopsis: JEALOUSY IS A GREEN-EYED MONSTER AND HIS NAME IS WILLIAM BARNES.

A girl with power over luck. An obsessed author consumed with envy. Two nemeses drawn down a path from which only one will return.

After witnessing her mother’s brutal murder, ten-year-old Nem’s life seems destined for tragedy. Then she discovers an old journal which holds an incredible secret. Nem now possesses the ability to control the fortunes of others. It is said that luck is probability taken personally, and she’s about to get personal with her own brand of justice.

Decades later, the literary world hails William Barnes’ debut as a masterpiece. His best seller success, though, doesn’t survive his next two books. Readers abandon him, his publisher cancels his contract, and his agent isn’t returning his calls. 

Meanwhile his undeserving protégé, Orelia Mason, enjoys a meteoric rise in the charts, coinciding suspiciously with his fall. So William embarks on a plan to win back the life he’s certain she’s stolen. If people die along the way, well that’s their problem. He’ll discover though, that’s battling fate when luck is not on your side can be a deadly game. 

This is A Star is Born meets A Portrait of Dorian Gray and the consequences are not pretty. In fact they’re darn well bloody.

From the internationally best selling author readers call the new Stephen King, comes a dark and twisted tale of jealousy, revenge, and a very special power.

I first saw Best Seller reviewed over on Carrie’s blog at http://carriesbookreviews.com After reading her 5 star, stellar review, I knew I had to try to get my hands on this, and at her suggestion, reached out to the author on Goodreads. I was thrilled when Susan May graciously sent me an ebook and I’m even more delighted to say that the book is everything that Carrie said it was.

The story alternates between Nem’s and William’s POVs, and while right up until the halfway point, I had pretty much made up my mind who was the protagonist and who was the antagonist, everything wound up being completely upended much to my surprise.

The plot itself is creatively ingenious and manages to perfectly meld the real world difficulties of becoming a bestselling author (and remaining one), with a fantastic supernatural addition. Thanks to plenty of twists and turns which happen right up until the shocking end, the pace was breathtakingly fast which had me finishing the almost 500 page book in two sittings. 

Best Seller is a fun and exciting read from beginning to end, and I HIGHLY recommend it! This is the first book I’ve read by Susan May, but it certainly won’t be my last!

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Glimpse, by Jonathan Maberry ~ 3.5 Stars

26 Monday Mar 2018

Posted by By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 30 Comments

Tags

Addiction, Adult Fiction, Horror, Supernatural

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

Release Date: March 27th, 2018

352 Pages

Synopsis: How far would you be willing to go to save those you love?

Rain is a young woman trying to rebuild herself after years of drug addiction and abuse. Ten years ago, at the age of sixteen, she gave up her baby after the father , her first love, dies in Iraq. Now, three years clean and on the way to a job interview, Rain borrows a pair of reading glasses from an old lady on a Brooklyn train. The lenses are cracked and through the crack she catches a glimpse of a little boy running and screaming. The boy looks so much like Rain’s dead lover. Like their son must look like now.

Rain realizes that the glasses give her quick glimpses of her lost son Dylan, who needs her to find him. Dylan is important to our damaged, hopeless world. But he’s in terrible trouble because evil creatures—-the Shadow People—-are trying to corrupt and destroy him. If Dylan dies, then hope dies. 

But how does a recovering junkie fight supernatural monsters? And how far will one woman go to saver her lost son?

One of my favorite horror trilogies is Jonathan Maberry’s Pine Deep, and I also have quite enjoyed his long running Joe Ledger series. So when I saw the standalone novel Glimpse, I was quite excited. After finishing it last night, I don’t think it’s one of his best novels, but I’m still glad I read it.

Part of the problem is that this is a horror story, but it takes quite awhile for things to get going. I don’t mind slow burning plots most of the time, but in this case it just seemed to take too long for the excitement to build. 

Another issue for me was with these two characters, Gay Bob and Straight Bob. I’m not sure why Maberry chose to bestow upon them these unfortunate monikers, but it was annoying and distracting and I know other reviewers have commented on this as well, so I know it’s not just me.

There were parts of the book I loved. Rain, the main character is complex yet entirely empathetic, especially when more of her background is revealed. She’s coping with guilt, grief, memory loss and trying to recover from drug addiction, so when she’s first introduced she’s in a very fragile state. Yet she’s determined and doesn’t run from this supernatural fight. And Monk, the tattooed, psychic private investigator, Rain teams up with, in my opinion deserves a series of his own. And then there’s the bogeyman of the story who is such a nasty piece of work that most of the characters won’t even use his name. He was a fantastic villain. 

To me, Glimpse was reminiscent of Stephen King’s Dr. Sleep and Joe Hill’s NOS4RT2, so if you’re a fan of these, you may want to try this. Despite the few issues I had with it, there was still a good part of the book I enjoyed. The story is complex and the characters are memorable and although it’s technically a standalone, I could see it being developed into a series and if that did happen, I’d definitely keep reading. 

 

The Price Guide to the Occult, by Leslye Walton ~ 4.0 Stars

20 Tuesday Mar 2018

Posted by By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 27 Comments

Tags

Child Abuse, Contemporary Fictio, LGBT, Self-harm, Supernatural, YA Fiction

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

Release Date: March 13th, 2018

288 Pages

Synopsis: The Blackburn women are cursed. Ever since the extraordinary witch Rona Blackburn landed on Anathema Island centuries ago and was shunned by the eight “original” settlers, Blackburn witches have been doomed to carry out a brief whirlwind affair with a descendant of the Original Eight. The vengeful curse, however, had unintended side effects: it diluted the Blackburns’ supernatural powers. That’s perfectly all right with seventeen-year-old Nor Blackburn. All she wants is a quiet, unremarkable life—-her powers are blissfully unexceptional, her love life pretty much nonexistent. Nor hopes the curse has played itself out through enough generations that she’ll finally be spared the drama. But when a mysterious book comes out promising to cast any spell for the right price, Nor senses a dark storm headed straight for Anathema—-and straight for her.

I loved Leslye Walton’s glorious debut, The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, so I’ve been looking forward to The Price Guide to the Occult for the last year. While I didn’t think it was quite as magical, I think it’s a solid sophomore book.

What I loved about the previous book was the author’s exquisite and lush style of writing and storytelling and that’s definitely on display here. The protagonist, Nor, is someone many readers will relate to with her mix of vulnerability and steely determination. A word of warning, though it’s handled with care and sensitivity, self-harm is part of her story, so this could be a trigger for some. It’s an understandable outcome to a trauma in her past, and it’s written very realistically.

Some of the secondary characters aren’t quite as well-rounded. I loved Nor’s gruff yet loving grandmother, and her quirky best friend Savvy. The others, though, I just got to know enough, to want more, especially Nor’s sweet love interest.

The setting of the rainy Pacific Northwest is the perfect backdrop in terms of atmosphere, and the mythology behind Nor’s family as well as the plot is well written, albeit a little slow at times. To be honest, I wasn’t thrilled with the ending and found it a little vague, but after reading the epilogue, I’m hopeful there may be a sequel.

Despite a few issues, I thoroughly enjoyed The Price Guide to the Occult and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that there will be a second book.

 

Between the Blade and the Heart (Valkyrie Book One), by Amanda Hocking ~ 3.5 Stars

30 Tuesday Jan 2018

Posted by By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 38 Comments

Tags

Fantasy, LGBT Relationships, Norse Mythology, Supernatural, YA Fiction

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

Release Date: Available Now 

319 Pages

Synopsis: Valkyries have one great responsibility to return immortals to the afterlife by slaying them. As a Valkyrie, Malin has always known that the balance of the world rests on her ability to carry out orders. But when Malin discovers that her mother spared the life of an immortal who was destined to die, her world is thrown into chaos.

Malin not only wrestles with the knowledge that her mother might not be who she thought—-she’s also thrust into the path of a gorgeous blue eyed guy named Asher who needs her help slaying the rogue immortal who destroyed his family. The balance of the world is at stake. And, as Asher competes with Malin’s ex for her love and loyalty, so is her heart.

I’ve enjoyed Amanda Hocking’s previous books and when I first heard about this new series with Valkyries my eyes immediately lit up. I LOVE Norse mythology! Between the Blade and the Heart wasn’t perfect, but it’s a pretty decent start and has me hopeful that some of the kinks will be worked out in the next book.

I wound up with mixed feelings about the heroine of the story, Malin. She’s bisexual which made me very happy. She’s kick-ass with a tough attitude which is perfectly in keeping of what a Valkyrie should be. But then there’s a love triangle between the new guy in her life, Asher, and her ex-girlfriend and as I’m not a fan of love triangles, naturally this got on my nerves. Making it worse was that I didn’t buy into the relationship that Malin had with either of them. There just didn’t seem to be any depth to them. And her helpless dithering between the two of them just didn’t  fit with the rest of her personna. 

Besides the Norse mythology, there’s a lot of other supernatural and mythological creature that live in this world. I had mixed feelings about this as well. There was a lot I liked, but at times it almost felt like too much was being introduced. That said, Amanda Hocking always impresses me with her world building and what she does here did not disappoint. It’s detailed and wonderfully descriptive and it’s most definitely unique. The plot itself was exciting and kept me turning the pages and I finished this in two sittings.

Overall, Between the Blade and the Heart left me feeling a slightly disappointed, but there are enough positives that I’m still looking forward to reading From the Earth to the Shadows, the second book in this duology. And I just won an ARC in a Goodreads giveaway so I’m a happy camper. So, if you’re a fan of Norse mythology I recommend you give this a try, especially if your already a fan of Hocking.

 

The Mask Beneath Her Face, by Rafael Chandler ~ 5.0 Stars

18 Thursday Jan 2018

Posted by By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 52 Comments

Tags

Adult Fiction, Horror, Slashers, Supernatural, Thriller

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

Release Date: Available Now

412 Pages

Synopsis: During the 1980s, slashers terrorized America. With machetes and masks, these unstoppable killers stalked college campuses, quiet suburbs, and lakeside cabins.

Thirty years ago, Bobbi Metzger survived a massacre at her 16th birthday party. She spent decades putting her life back together.

Tonight, Bobbi will face a new killer; a high-tech slasher hell-bent on opening the doorway to an abyss of unimaginable horror.

How long can Bobbi survive this nightmare? What will she do to protect the people she loves? How much blood is she willing to spill?

Before I start my review, I need to issue a warning. Do not. I repeat—DO NOT— make the same mistake as I did, and read Mask Beneath Her Face right before bed. If you do, I can guarantee you will have a difficult time falling asleep!

To give you an idea of how much I loved this book, I started it at about 3:00 on a stormy afternoon, took an hour and a half off for supper, and then was fully emersed in it until I finished right before midnight. Then I stayed awake, staring at the ceiling, twitching at every creak in the house and scraping of branches against the window for at least another hour before dropping into an uneasy slumber. 

The premise is that there was a huge outbreak of slashers (think Jason, Freddie, Michael Myers, etc.), and claimed untold victims in their bloody mayhem. Bobbi and the other main characters in the stories are all survivors, sort of. Bobbi has spent the years since her sister and friends were massacred running from the supernatural monster that’s still after her. She copes by drinking and popping pills. Jessie, likewise haunted, lives as a recluse, terrified to have mirrors lest the slasher who haunts him, steps out of one to finish the job. Sam, a school counselor, seems to be doing better than his two friends, but is hiding a secret that puts him at risk physically as well as psychologically. And finally there’s young Cris. She’s a victim of human monsters rather than supernatural ones, but as a result has some dark ambitions that will shock the others. These are all flawed characters, yet well-rounded ones and I was surprised by how much I grew attached to them, especially Sam and Cris.

The world-building and plot are just insane. I’ve read other slasher books, but this blows them all out of the water! It’s bloody and gory and thrilling to the extreme. If this was a movie, I probably would have covered my eyes during some of the scenes, but since this is a book I couldn’t do that, hence my trouble sleeping afterwards. The ending is jaw-droppingly perfect, and I’m praying that this is not the last we see of these characters and their terrifying world. Ahem, Rafael? If you read this review I’m begging you to write a sequel, okay?

Mask Beneath Her Face may not be for everyone. It’s extremely violent, and I wouldn’t have been surprised to see blood leaking out from my Kindle, after I finished. But it’s a wonderfully imaginative and unique homage to 1980s slasher flicks and if you’re a fan of these like me, you’re going to gobble this up! Most of you know what a fan I am of Stephen King. Well, in my humble opinion, this is unequivocally King-worthy! But, if you decide to try this, be sure to read it during the day. Preferably in the sun. With lots of people around.  And wear running shoes, ‘cause you know, just in case.

 

 

Summoner, by S. D. Grimm ~ 4.5.Stars

10 Tuesday Oct 2017

Posted by By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 41 Comments

Tags

Coping With Loss and Grief, Romance, Supernatural, YA Fiction

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

Release Date: Available Now

320 Pages

Synopsis: When Allie’s best friend dares their group to play a game in a cemetery—something she calls “witching”—Allie never expects what it might mean for her. When she plays, she doesn’t just find bodies, she summons their souls. But one soul wants more than Allie is willing to give.

And the boy next door could be the key to saving her.

Cody Burkhart. Straight from Montana, cowboy hat weary, and smoking hot, he’s just the thing to help Allie become “normal” again after the death of her mother. And as her newly appointed Guardian, he’s also just the thing to help Allie ward off the vengeful spirit who’s after her soul. Except Cody has his own demons to slay that keep him closed off. But as the full moon approaches, so does their only chance to break the curse, and Cody will have to make the biggest sacrifice of all.

I have to admit Summoner was a complete impulse request for me because of the gorgeous cover, but thankfully the story more than lived up to it.

What I loved about this story was the way it balanced the supernatural elements with the very real process of coping with loss. By including the grief process and dealing with survivor’s guilt, it gives a power to this book that makes it stand out from others in the same genre.

Allie and Cody are both deep into mourning when they become neighbors. Allie is still coming to terms with losing her mother, and Cody is trying to deal with his own loss as well as survivors guilt. This is definitely a case of insta-love, but I honestly didn’t mind it because I just loved them so much. Even without the supernatural bringing them together these two are obviously soulmates and destined for one another.

The story has a few predictable moments which is the only reason why I didn’t give it 5 stars, but there’s a sense of creepiness and menace which pervades throughout and that, coupled with the sweet romance, kept me glued to the pages.

Summoner is a perfect book for teens and adults who enjoy supernatural fiction, especially this time of year. It’s a book I honestly didn’t expect to love as much as I did, and it’s one that I highly recommend! 

Haunting the Deep (How to Hang a Witch #2), by Ariana Mather ~ 5.0 Stars

02 Monday Oct 2017

Posted by By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

Historical Fiction, Magic, Supernatural, The Titanic, YA Fiction

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

Release Date: October 3rd, 2017

368 Pages

Synopsis: Samantha Mather knew her family’s connection to the infamous Salem Witch Trials might pose obstacles to an active social life. But having survived one curse, she never thought she’d find herself at the center of a new one.

This time, Sam is having recurring dreams about the Titanic…where she’s been walking the deck with first- class passengers, like her aunt and uncle. Meanwhile, in Sam’s waking life, strange missives from the Titanic have been finding their way to her, along with haunting visions of people who went down with the ship.

Ultimately, Sam and the Descendants, along with some help from heartthrob Elijah, must unravel who is behind the spell that is drawing her even further into the dream ship…and closer to sharing the same grim fate as its ghostly passengers.

We always think that history is fact and literature is fiction. But the truth is, they are all stories. And the people who tell them influence our understanding in various ways.

Haunting the Deep is the sequel to How to Hang a Witch, and while you could read this without having read the first book, I don’t recommend it as it references previous events. If you have read How to Hang a Witch, this is even better!

Before starting my review, I just want to tell you a little about the author, because her intriguing family history gives her a unique platform which to write her books. Ariana Mather is the 12th generation of Mathers in America. Her family has been part of some of our history’s most memorable times—the Salem Witchcraft Trials, the Revolutionary War, and the Titanic. While the first book was based upon her research of the Salem Witchcraft Trials and ancestor Cotton Mather, Haunting the Deep is inspired by a discovery she made a couple of years ago while going through some old letters in her grandmother’s desk. She happened upon a manila envelope with TTITANIC written across it. Hoping there were more than newspaper clippings inside, she was shocked to discover a letter from 1912 that began, “Aunty Myra and Uncle Harry are both home safe and fairly sound considering all they have been through…” Incredibly this was a letter to her great-great-great grandmother detailing how her relatives survived the sinking of the Titanic, and with their dog as well! I wanted to relay this to you, because not only is the story inspired by this, but Ariana includes her ancestors and the letter in the story. This gives it a uniquely personal feel that I honestly don’t think anyone else could have brought to it. 

I absolutely loved every single thing about where Ariana Mather took her story and characters. This new mystery begins six months after the earlier events. Sam is reunited with her dad and still living in Salem, MA, but she’s having difficulty dealing with the trauma her stepmother Vivian, inflicted upon her, and is avoiding the Descendants because they remind her of what happened. She also hasn’t heard from Elijah and is broken-hearted over his absence. This is where I take a small break from my tradition of not including spoilers. You see, Elijah is a ghost, and if I didn’t tell you that, I fear some parts of my review wouldn’t make sense. That’s the only spoiler though, I promise.

Sam isn’t your ordinary high-schooler. A descendant of Cotton Mather she has ability to interact both verbally and physically with the deceased. Her gift is even more fully developed in this story, as she’s accepted what she can do. Now, it’s more about her learning how to control her gift and use it, as well as her interest in magic, and to decide what she wants to do with them. Helping and supporting her are her previous “enemies”, the Descendants: Alice, Mary, and Susannah. It turns out that the girls have a lot more in common and I absolutely loved watching their friendship evolve.

There is a love triangle *rolling eyes*, and you all know by now how I usually despise these, but surprisingly, this one didn’t really annoy me. First, I love Elijah and Jax. Because Elijah is from the 1600s and has suffered through more than one tragedy, there’s an air of solemnity about him. Sam and her vibrant personality is a good match for him. He curbs (at times) her tendency to run headlong into danger, and she brings him out of his shell and makes him smile. Despite the logistical problems of a romance between a spirit and someone who’s alive, theirs is a sweet romance and the ending of this book leaves me hopeful that somehow there will be a future for them.

Jax is the opposite of Elijah in some respects, although they both love and want to protect Sam. He’s funny and on the surface seems to not take life seriously, but he has hidden depths and more is revealed here about what his life was like in Salem before Sam entered the picture. I think the reason why this love triangle didn’t bother me is because while Jax definitely harbors romantic feelings toward Sam, she’s in love with Elijah and clearly sees Jax as her best friend. There’s no dithering, or going back and forth between both boys. She’s also honest with Jax which leads to another difficult chain of events, but I’m not going to expand upon that as I promised no more spoilers. 

There’s two other characters who not only play a big part in the story, but also in Sam’s development: her dad and Jax’s mom, Mae. While her dad was in a coma for the entirety of the first story, they’ve now been living happily together in their lovely house for six months. While it was already obvious how much Sam adored her father, here you see it beautifully reciprocated. They’re not just father and daughter, they’re also friends, and although that relationship is strained in the latter half of the book, it’s because they’re keeping secrets while trying to protect each other, which never works out.

Mae is a wonderfully sweet woman who has taken Sam under her wing. She’s a perfect mother figure to Sam when she needs it the most. I’m hoping, given their childhood friendship, that Sam’s dad and Mae develop a romance of their own in the next book. Meanwhile, I have to warn you that reading about Mae and the incredible desserts she makes is going to have you drooling by the end of the book!

And now for the plot. To be honest, I was a little nervous when I read the premise for this sequel. I loved the first story with its connections to the Salem Witchcraft Trials, and I wasn’t sure how adding the Titanic was going to work. Well, I needn’t have worried because not only do you still have the very real setting of Salem and its continued ties to witchcraft, but Mather somehow meshes in seamlessly, the history of the Titanic. She’s meticulously researched the history of the ship and its passengers, both the wealthy and those in steerage. Several historical characters and some wonderful details are introduced including the famous Mrs. Margaret Brown aka “The Unsinkable Molly Brown”. Although I’ve read a few books on the sinking of the Titanic, both fiction and non-fiction, I didn’t know that Mrs. Brown was known as “Maggie” to her friends, and that it was only the Broadway musical and movie that renamed her “Molly”. Mather also includes the societal norms of the period in regards to the way immigrants and women were treated.

The descriptive details really bring this book to life. Whether its the lovely historical family home Sam and her father live in, or the scrumptious food her father and Mae cook up, or the extravagance of the Titanic, I felt as though I were part of the story. That Mather was able to include all these without taking away from her characters, and that she accomplished this in less than 400 pages is amazing!

And finally, building upon the supernatural and magic already introduced, there’s more with warlocks and love spells and…Tut, tut! No spoilers!

With both How to Hang a Witch, and Haunting the Deep, Ariana Mather has proven herself to be an amazing historian and storyteller.  I highly, HIGHLY recommend these for YAs and adults who love magic, mystery, and history. Both books with their factual ties to past events would make great book group selections for teens. As for me, I’m completely addicted to this series and I cannot wait for the next installment!

 

 

Burntown, by Jennifer McMahon ~ 4.0 Stars

14 Thursday Sep 2017

Posted by By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 23 Comments

Tags

Adult Fiction, Coming of Age Stories, Fantasy, Mystery, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Suspense

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

Release Date: Available Now

336 Pages

Synopsis: Eva grew up watching her father, Miles, invent strange and wonderful things in the small workshop behind their house on the river that runs through their old mill town. But the most important invention of all was the one Miles claimed came from the mind of Thomas Edison himself–a machine that allowed one to speak with loved ones long passed. Smuggled out of Edison’s laboratory, the blueprints were passed down to Miles, and he’s been using them to protect Eva, her mother Lily, and her brother, Errol, ever since.

Then, one night when a storm is raging and the river is threatening to flood, the machine whirrs to life on it’s own. Danger, it says. You’re in terrible danger. The next thing Eva knows is waking up on the side of the river and seeing her mother’s grim face. Eva’s father and brother are dead, their house has been washed away and an evil man is searching for them both. They need to hide.

Eva changes her name to Necco–a candy she always loved–and tries to put everything in the past behind her as she adapts to her new life off the grid. But when her boyfriend is murdered and her mother disappears, she know the past is starting to catch up to her.

What really happened the night of the flood? As Necco searches for the truth, her journey unites her with two women who are on desperate quests of their own. And as the trio follows the clues to solving the mystery of Necco’s past, they discover that sometimes it’s the smallest towns that hide the strangest secrets.

Burntown is a genre-defying novel that’s an interesting mix of coming-of-age, supernatural, fantasy, science fiction, mystery and suspense. I’ve read previous books by Jennifer McMahon’s and one thing I’ve learned is to expect the unexpected, and this latest book is no different.

In addition to the quirky characters, there are mysterious murders, a flood, an obese former circus performer, a machine that may let you communicate with the dead, and a sinister figure wearing a chicken mask. Yes. You read that last bit correctly! While it seems as though all these separate elements are just too dissimilar to work together, somehow the author weaves everything together in an entertaining way.  

The story might be a bit strange, but it’s oddly enjoyable. The only reason why I’m marking this down is because after being captivated throughout the entire book, I found the ending to be a bit anticlimactic. Overall though, Jennifer McMahon has once again proven what an imaginative writer she is. Burntown is a vividly written tale with endearing and memorable characters, and a unique and suspenseful plot.

 

 

 

 

The Dreadful Tale Of Prosper Redding (The Dreadful Tale Of Prosper Redding #1) by Alexandra Bracken ~ 4.0 Stars

06 Sunday Aug 2017

Posted by By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 23 Comments

Tags

Family Relationships, Friendship, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Supernatural, Tween Fiction

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

Release Date: September 5th, 2017

272 Pages

Synopsis: Prosper is the only unexceptional Redding in his old and storied family history–that is, until he discovers the demon living inside him. Turns out Prosper’s great-great-great-great-great-something grandfather made–then broke–a contract with a malefactor, a demon who exchanges fortune for eternal servitude. And, weirdly enough, four-thousand-year-old Alastor isn’t exactly the forgiving type. 

The fiend has reawakened with one purpose–to destroy the family whose success he ensured and who then betrayed him. With only days to break the curse and banish Alastor back to the demon realm, Prosper is playing unwilling host to the fiend, who delights in tormenting him with nasty insults and constant attempts to trick him into a contract. Yeah, Prosper will take his future without a side of eternal servitude, thanks. 

Little does Prosper know, the malefactor’s control over his body grows stronger with each passing night, and there’s a lot Alastor isn’t telling his dim-witted (but admittedly strong-willed) human host.

I’m a huge fan of Alexandra Bracken’s YA books, so when I saw The Dreadful Tale Of Prosper Redding on NetGalley, I was both excited and curious about her first book for tweens. I’ve always thought that writing for 9-12 year-olds must be especially challenging, as they’ve moved past most juvenile fiction, yet they’re not quite ready for the more mature themes you find in YA fiction. It’s a tricky balance, and with this book I think Bracken has hit just the right spot.

From the very first page, I was completely charmed by 12-year-old Prosper. Being the “black-sheep” of the Redding family, he’s learned to cope with their disappointment in him, as well as bullying by his classmates, with a dry, self-deprecating humor. At the same time, I was angered by the treatment he received. Sure, he may not be the strongest student, but he’s gifted artistically, and he’s sweet and incredibly loyal. Even his twin sister, Prudence, who he adores, doesn’t really respect him. The relationship between Prosper and Alastor, a centuries-old demon prince, is both humorous and touching at times. As the story unfolds, there’s something more developing underneath Alastor’s snarkiness and disdain for humans and the boy he calls “maggot”. I can’t wait to see where this goes in the sequel.

The secondary characters are wonderfully fleshed out and help bring to life the underlying themes of friendship and family. There’s the relationship between Prosper and Prue, which is made difficult by her being unconditionally loved by their family and the rest of their small town. There’s also the relationship between Alastor and his sister Pyre, who he loves and does everything he can to protect. We also see the contentious feelings between Prosper’s rescuers Uncle Barnabus, and his daughter Nell. These themes are repeatedly brought up throughout the story in a realistic fashion that I think tweens will completely relate to. 

There’s plenty of supernatural elements, with demons, witches, faeries, and hob-goblins, to appeal to fans, and a lot of humor to balance the more serious elements. The main setting of Salem, MA during Halloween is absolutely perfect, and experiencing it through Prosper’s and Alastor’s view was so much fun. The one issue I have concerns the ending. I thought Bracken did an amazing job building everything up, but then when the finale came, it was so rushed and had so many last minute twists, I was left shaking my head and wondering what the heck happened. It was a bit crazy and messy, and stood out too much from the rest of the story.

Overall though, I was charmed by The Dreadful Tale Of Prosper Redding. It’s a whimsical, fun, and creepy tale that I highly recommend to tweens who love horror and the supernatural. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Breaking (Burning), by Danielle Rollins ~ 3.0 Stars

09 Sunday Jul 2017

Posted by By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 35 Comments

Tags

Dysfunctional Relationships, Horror, Mystery, Suicide, Supernatural, Suspense, YA Fiction

31450940

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA Childrens for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: Available Now

352 Pages

Synopsis: Charlotte has always been content in the shadow of her two best friends at the prestigious Underhill Preparatory Institute. Ariel is daring and mysterious. Devon is beautiful and brilliant. Without Charlotte never lived up to the standards of the school–or her demanding mother–her two best friends became the family she never had. When Ariel and Devon suddenly commit suicide within a month of each other, Charlotte refuses to accept it as coincidence. But as the clues point to a dangerous secret at Underhill Prep, Charlotte is suddenly in over her head. There’s a reason the students of Underhill are so exceptional, and the people responsible are willing to kill to protect the truth…

Breaking is the “companion book” to Burning, which means that technically you could read this as a standalone, but I personally think you’ll get more out of it if you read the books in order. 

Breaking has more mystery to it than the previous book, as it opens with the main character, Charlotte, dealing with her two best friend’s suicides only a month apart. She discovers that one of them has left a clue behind, and she determinedly sets out to find out what really happened. None of the characters are very likable. There are flashbacks to when Ari and Devon were still alive, and they both gave off that stereotypical “mean girl” vibe, with Charlotte being the follower. But, there’s a twist near the end of the book which gives a creative twist to this trope which is why I changed my mind about the 2 star rating I was considering giving this. I had mixed feelings about Charlotte. She came across as self-pitying and insecure throughout much of the book, but the more you find out about the relationship she has with her mother, the more understandable this is. And, as the story progressed, she did get stronger. There’s a big build-up to the romance that develops between Charlotte and Jack, but for me, there wasn’t enough chemistry between them.

The plot itself is interesting and kept me guessing for the majority of the story. It’s the last 100 or so pages though, where things get truly exciting and the events from Burning are tied into what’s been happening here. 

Overall, I though Breaking was an okay sequel that could have used more character development. The ending leaves no doubt that there’ll be a third book, and I’m interested in how things will turn out. Because of the darker themes and some brutally graphic scenes, I’d recommend this for older teens who are looking for contemporary fiction with a hint of the supernatural.

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