Showing posts with label Audiobook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Audiobook. Show all posts

May 14, 2025

REVIEW The Dragon's Apprentice by James Riley

The Dragon's Apprentice by James Riley
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: April 1, 2025
Format: Audiobook (Borrowed from Library) + eBook (Personal Library, Bookshop.org)
Publisher: Labyrinth Road 

The Dragon's Apprentice by James Riley was a really fun new middle grade fantasy read. Audiobook narrator Alana Kerr Collins did an excellent job with her performance bringing both Scorch and Ciara's perspectives to life. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy humorous reads filled with magic, dragons, and slightly cliche but equally despicable villains.

Ciara is a very relatable protagonist who is willing to do anything to save her mother. When she stumbles upon the journal of the 'lost apprentice' (which also happens to be somewhat sentient), it changes her life and that of her village forever. Enter Scorch, the grumpy and stern Great Dragon. He agrees to help Ciara save her mother as long as she helps him find his lost siblings and determine what happened to his last apprentice. Shenanigans ensue, as they work towards both of their goals. I loved the heart of the book as well as the worldbuilding (one specific power of the dragons was quite cool). There is a major cliffhanger, where the author sets up the events of the next book but it left me excited. If you like dragons, magical mentor-mentee relationships, and/or magic in general, this book is for you.




October 8, 2024

REVIEW Team Chu and the Wild Ghost Chase (Team Chu #3) by Julie C. Dao

Team Chu and the Wild Ghost Chase
(Team Chu #3) by Julie C. Dao

Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: September 10, 2024
Format: Audiobook (Personal Library, Libro.fm)
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (FSG)

Julie C. Dao has created another fun middle grade adventure book with her latest installment in the Team Chu series, Team Chu and the Wild Ghost Chase. Tuba the Cat’s influencer status (courtesy of siblings Marta and Iggy Morales) has landed him a coveted invitation to the Spooky World Pet Gala, so they invite all their friends to join them for the weekend. Once there, they get involved in another mystery and have to find out what happened to the legendary “Weeping Lady” before it’s too late. 


The author does a great job in bringing in problems the average middle schooler would face to these books. Sadie is struggling in school, but doesn’t want to tell her parents because of how proud they were that she tested into the higher classes. Her older brother Clip is desperate for recognition for his talents on the soccer field, but that causes a lot of conflict with his lifelong best friend (and fellow co-captain) Derek. Their other friends do their best to help with each situation, but can’t really get in the middle. Overall, I think the author did a great job making the problems feel authentic and relatable, especially for the intended audience of these books. 


The other highlight of this book for me was worldbuilding. Ms. Dao did such a great job creating the amusement park that is Spooky World. Even for a scaredy cat like me (who won’t go anywhere near places like Universal Halloween Horror Nights), I could definitely see myself wanting to visit Spooky World. There’s something for everyone at this place - she designed cool new rides, museums, spooky treats and even haunted houses. The way she wove in the legend of the Weeping Lady was great, and I really enjoyed the way the mystery unfolded at the end of the book. 


Narrators Angela Tran, Richard Nguyen, and Andrew Joseph Perez did an excellent job with bringing the kid’s perspectives to life. While this is the current projected end of the series, I would really love to see more books set in this world. I recommend the Team Chu series to those who would enjoy middle grade adventure books filled with friendship, mystery, and just a touch of the fantastical/supernatural. 




August 20, 2024

REVIEW When Among Crows by Veronica Roth

When Among Crows by Veronica Roth
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Release Date: May 14, 2024
Format: Hardcover (Giveaway, Under the Covers Book Blog) + Audiobook (Library)
Publisher: Tor Books (Macmillan Audio)

“That kind of sacrifice creates a debt, and there’s nothing magic likes better than the great hollow of a debt.”

Veronica Roth’s When Among Crows was an interesting and unique foray into fantasy and Slavic mythology. If you can go into this book without reading the synopsis, I highly recommend it as there are some spoilers present for such a short book. 

The characters were interesting, but it took a while for me to be invested in their journey. Dymitr, Ala, and Niko don’t fit into the molds thrust upon them. Dymitir has been trained to hunt monsters his entire life, but needs their help to complete his quest. Ala is a Zmora (a creature who eats fear) and is compelled to join Dymitr’s quest based on a drive to end her curse. The final member of their trio, Niko is a bit of a mystery and I was surprised by his point of view chapters but he rounded out the group well. At first, their trip is one of necessity but it ends up turning into an emotional found-family situation.  

The worldbuilding was the most unique facet of the book, and what captivated my attention. The setting was a blend of modern and a medieval knight’s quest. I really liked seeing the community of paranormal creatures that blends within the underground of Chicago. The magic system was also really cool. Baba Jaga is such a legendary figure, and it was cool to have her be the central figure of the quest. My only complaint about the characters and the worldbuilding was that I wanted more; there was so much opportunity for more character development, and to go deeper into the worldbuilding and the culture. However, for a novella length story it did its job well and I was overall satisfied.  

I would recommend When Among Crows to fantasy readers who are looking for something short, on the darker side, and filled with references to folklore and mythology. Narrators Helen Laser, James Fouhey, and Tim Campbell did an excellent job bringing the story to life (and definitely helped with the pronunciation of words I was unfamiliar with).  Thank you to Francesca at Under the Covers Book Blog for my giveaway copy of the book! I appreciate the opportunity to read and review the book immensely. 


August 13, 2024

REVIEW City Spies: Mission Manhattan (City Spies #5) by James Ponti

City Spies: Mission Manhattan (City Spies #5) by James Ponti
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: February 6, 2024
Format: Audiobook (Personal Library)
Publisher: Aladdin 





After the ending of the last book, I was super excited to get to read the newest book in James Ponti’s City Spies series, Mission Manhattan. It’s another fast-paced, action-packed book where the diverse group of young spies has another major world mission to complete. Audiobook narrator Lisa Flanagan once again knocked it out of the park with her performance - I have no clue how she does so many voices, but it’s a great listen (and always clear who’s talking). 

Unlike some of the other books in the series, the target of interest in this book is a young climate activist (akin to a Greta Thunberg-type figure). The team succeeds in their initial mission to protect her but realizes there is a much larger and more devious plan going on. This adds a layer of social justice to the book, instead of a stereotypical spy movie plot (like nuclear weapons, or terrorist groups). They travel to multiple locations in Europe and the United States, and it was fun to get to explore New York City through Brooklyn’s eyes (it’s been a little over a year since her induction to the team). 

The characters are always a highlight of the City Spies books, and this book is no exception. Rio is the star of this book, and it was so exciting to see him get his time to shine. As the youngest of the group, he’s struggled to get as many leadership opportunities and step out of his sibling’s shadows. However, he really stepped up to the plate and I appreciated that his talents (charm and sleight of hand) played so heavily into the story. 

Mission Manhattan is a perfect book for readers young and old who enjoy page-turning spy stories. There’s once again a major cliffhanger at the ending of this book, and I can’t wait to see how things play out (especially with the continual Clementine and Umbra sub-plot). I’m really sad that I now have to wait for the next book in the series, but I’m sure it will be well worth it.

June 4, 2024

REVIEW City Spies: City of the Dead (City Spies #4) by James Ponti

City Spies: City of the Dead (City Spies #4) 
by James Ponti
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: February 7, 2023
Format: Audiobook (Borrowed from Library) + ARC (Courtesy of Publisher and Rockstar Book Tours)
Publisher: Aladdin 



James Ponti delivered another amazing addition to the City Spies series with one of his latest releases, City of the Dead. It’s an inventive and fun take on the spy genre, with a rag-tag group of child spies taking up yet another mission to save the world. This was a great read (and listen), as narrator Lisa Flanagan once again did a great job with her performance in the audiobook. I always appreciate the ability to tell which character is narrating (without having to look at the print version). 

Since the first book’s addition of Brooklyn to the team, the team hasn’t really changed all that much. Each of them have their own special talents, and Kat’s ability to perform math and see patterns where others don’t take center stage in this book. I really appreciated the opportunity to see Kat own her uniqueness, and find a way to make her talents help the team (even when under the pressure of chaos and overstimulation). The team has a good routine going on, however, when a new surprise addition to the team joins the FARM in this book it disrupts all their plans and their current dynamic. It’s really going to change the interactions of the group/family going forward, and I’m curious to see how that plays out in the next book. Especially with the cliffhanger the author leaves readers on prior to going into the usual dossiers included at the end of the book (this time written by teammates).  

While it’s not an overly complex mystery, I was very engaged by the mission that the City Spies get sent on in this book. There’s a very large cast of characters, but they all had a purpose in the story (and I hope to see some of them making a cameo in future installments). As you might guess from the title and the cover, this book takes the kids on a mission to Egypt. I loved getting to learn bits and pieces about the culture there, as well as how many of their artifacts sadly ended up the property of other museums around the world. It was also a reminder that despite the way various travel companies stage their pictures, the pyramids are actually in the middle of urban sprawl in the modern day.

City of the Dead was an excellent read and I look forward to checking out more of the books in the series (though I’m sad I only have one more book before I have to wait for the next release). In the past, I’ve compared the series to a kid-friendly Mission Impossible meets James Bond, but I think it's equally suitable for more mature readers as well. If you or a young reader in your life enjoys mysteries and thrillers with spies, this book is worth a listen. 

May 8, 2024

REVIEW Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier

Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: April 9, 2024
Format: Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)
Publisher: Clarion Books 

Makiia Lucier’s newest young adult fantasy novel, Dragonfruit, is one of the most unique books I’ve read in a long time. Inspired by Pacific Islander folktales and mythology, the author weaves together an engaging storyline and well developed characters to make an entertaining read. 

Hanalei of Tamarind has spent most of her life away from her homeland, after her father made a decision to steal a priceless treasure from the crown in the name of saving her life (and died shortly after). She originally had no intentions to ever return home (feeling she would not be welcomed), but fate had other plans when it offered a chance to make things right and all but dropped her into the arms of her childhood best friend, Prince Samahtitamahenele (or ‘Sam’). When they reunite, Hanalei reveals the chance to save the Princess (Sam’s mother) and right the wrong that happened so many years ago in the form of a pregnant dragon bearing ‘dragonfruit’. However, they are not the only ones looking for it, and using dragonfruit may come with more of a cost then they realize…

The worldbuilding in this book is awesome. I really liked getting to visit the different islands, and learn about the sea dragons and the pantheon that rules over the Nomi Nomi sea. I also really loved the bits of magic included; for example, many of the noble residents of Tamarind have magical companions that can reside in the form of tattoos, or come off of their skin to help serve a purpose (i.e. carry messages, defend others). The characters were a highlight too. I loved getting to see Sam and Hanalei’s growth over the course of the book. I also loved the scenes with Sam’s grandmother, the Queen. She struck me as a very fair and balanced ruler who considers the whole of a situation rather than ruling on emotion; she is also not afraid to get down and dirty if it means saving her people, and she’s totally a badass grandma in my opinion. While those characters are the main players in the story, there are a lot of other characters in the cast. I appreciate how easy the author made it to remember everyone, and how every character served a purpose (and wasn’t thrown in ‘just because’). 

Overall, I’m really impressed by this book. The narrator Mapuana Makia did a great job bringing the story to life with her performance in the audiobook. It seems like it was designed to be standalone, but I would love to see more in this world and get to explore Hanalei and Sam’s budding romance a bit more. If you love books with dragons and diverse mythology, this would be a great choice. 


May 1, 2024

REVIEW Dark Memory (Dark #33) by Christine Feehan

Dark Memory (Dark Series #33) by Christine Feehan
Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: October 3, 2023
Format: eBook + Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)
Publisher: Berkley 

Dark Memory is the latest installment in Christine Feehan’s Dark series, and I’m really loving the series arc featuring the tarot card users and the ancients of the monastery. I was happy to dive into Petru and Safia’s very unique love story, as this is another action packed book filled with suspense, romance, and great worldbuilding.  

Similar to all of the other books in the series and specifically the other books featuring ancients of the monastery, Petru has been searching for his lifemate for thousands of years. Unlike the other male leads, however, Petru actually found an incarnation of his life mate long ago. When faced with an impossible choice (that I don’t want to spoil) he found himself unable to save her and forced to wait until she was born into a new body to find her again. Once he does find her in Safia, he’s surprised to see that she’s a fierce warrior and protector of her people. I really appreciated seeing how he embraced all of her wholeheartedly and was so determined to give her what he could (i.e. a marriage in the ways of her people, more time with her family) since he could not afford to wait to claim her once they met. The more modern partnerships where each life mate balances each other have been my favorite parts of the recent Dark series books, and I hope that trend continues in the future. 

With the last couple of books in the series (starting with Dark Tarot), Ms. Feehan has been building a major storyline with ‘the Beast’, the four gateways and those who guard them. Compared to some of the other storylines (i.e. the mages, the lycans) I have been really engaged with devouring every detail about what’s going on with Justice. There’s another major detail revealed about the importance of tarot cards in this book, so I’m excited to see the eventual climax where Justice makes his play to escape. I really hope it happens soon, and that we get to see cameos from all of the gatekeepers and keepers of the tarot card decks when it does. 

Overall, another great book from Christine Feehan. Jim Frangione did a great job bringing Safia and Petru’s perspectives to life with his performance in the audiobook. I look forward to the next installment featuring the final gate guardian and tarot card user, and getting to see Benedek (and hopefully Nicu’s) lifemate. Any adult readers who are fans of the paranormal romance genre and love great worldbuilding and the fated mate trope would likely enjoy this series. For the best reading experience, I would recommend reading the books of the Dark series in order. However, each book is written such that it largely stands on its own (you do miss some minor context details) and you could start wherever you’d like if one book appeals to you more than others. 


March 18, 2024

REVIEW Realm of Wonders (The Queen's Council #3) by Alexandra Monir

Realm of Wonders (The Queen's Council #3) by Alexandra Monir
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: October 10, 2023
Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited) + Audiobook (Library)
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Alexandra Monir’s latest release, Realm of Wonders, the third book in the Queen’s Council series was a super fun read! As a lifelong Disney fan, it seemed like the action picks up right after the events of the original movie. Jasmine and Aladdin have just defeated Jafar and saved Agrabah; now comes the hard part for Jasmine of actually becoming the Sultana she was always meant to be. Disney princess fans who love reading female empowering stories inspired by the original movies and full of adventure will definitely enjoy this book. 

As a Disney fan and a fan of mythology, I absolutely loved reading this. Jasmine has grown up since she first made an appearance in the original movie, and she’s ready to lead her people into the future with Aladdin at her side following the tragic death of her father the Sultan. However, her claim to the throne is called into question and she’s forced to choose what matters most to her in an effort to prove herself worthy of the throne and the title. In addition to referencing places and people from the original movie, there are also some references to folktales, magic and supernatural creatures. The author even threw in some of the political dynamics that would have historically been a factor if Agrabah were a real place. I loved getting to see Jasmine mature - this story does a great job of honoring the original movie while expanding the universe at the same time. 

The idea of the Queen’s Council is super cool, and is what connects all the different books in the series. Each of the princesses are coming into their own power and rule, and the Queen’s council ends up being a guiding force along the way. When this “force” does make its presence known, it was super cool to see how the author wove in a reference to another famous middle-eastern story. While the original movies are fairly tame (G rated for the animated movie, and PG for the live action), this book definitely lives in the young adult category as there are some elements I don’t think would be appropriate for younger readers. For example, fighting, war, death and sexism play a big part in the story. There’s also less whimsical elements in this book compared to the movie, as Genie is mentioned but does not appear and Magic Carpet only appears briefly. 

Overall, this was a really entertaining book. For those who are into audiobooks, the author did an amazing job narrating (I didn’t actually realize that it was the author immediately). While there are some references to the previous books in the series (for Belle and Mulan respectively), the book is written such that you don’t have to read them in order. I look forward to going back and reading Belle and Mulan’s books as well as the upcoming book A Sword in Slumber by Sara Raasch which focuses on Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty). 

About the Author

Alexandra Monir, Iranian-American author and recording artist, has published seven popular young adult novels to date, beginning with her internationally-bestselling debut, Timeless (a Barnes & Noble Bestseller and an Amazon.com “Best Book of the Month”). She published the hit sci-fi novel The Final Six with HarperCollins in 2018, with Sony Pictures optioning the film rights in a major pre-empt deal. A sequel, The Life Belowfollowed in 2020 and the series has been published in numerous countries and languages.

Alexandra was recently selected to write the first-ever YA novel about DC Comics superhero Black Canary, joining global bestsellers Leigh Bardugo, Marie Lu, Sarah J. Maas and Matt de la Peña as the fifth author writing for the New York Times-bestselling DC Icons series, published by Penguin Random House. Black Canary: Breaking Silence was released on December 29th, 2020 to rave reviews from critics and comic book fans alike. Alexandra was also selected by Disney to write a historical fantasy YA novel about Princess Jasmine, which will publish in Fall 2022 with Disney-Hyperion.

Alexandra is additionally a screenwriter, recording artist and composer, with both screenplay and musical adaptations of her own work in development. Her musical roots run deep, as she is the granddaughter of the late Monir Vakili, Iran’s foremost opera singer. She frequently travels around the country speaking to readers and writers of all ages at book festivals and literary conferences, fan conventions and schools. She is a member of the Iranian American Women Foundation, an organization near to her heart. Alexandra currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband, toddler son, and one fluffy Shih Tzu, where she is at work on her next novel.

Alexandra Monir Author Photo Credit: Kerem Hanci



January 17, 2024

The Revenge of Magic (The Revenge of Magic #1) by James Riley

The Revenge of Magic (The Revenge of Magic #1) 
by James Riley
Rating: 3 Stars
Release Date: March 5, 2019
Format: Audiobook (Personal Library, Libro.fm sale)
Publisher: Aladdin

The Revenge of Magic by James Riley is an audiobook that I picked up through a Libro.fm sale, and it is an interesting (though not particularly memorable) read. With elements of both Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game and Dhonielle Clayton’s The Marvellers, I think it is a book that appeals equally to young readers who enjoy science fiction and fantasy. 


The premise and the worldbuilding of the book were what sold me on the story, and convinced me to keep reading. I really connected to the idea that magic has been returned to the world, but only children born on or after a certain date are able to wield it. While Fort does end up going to a school to learn to wield his powers, it was interesting because the teachers are very limited in what they can actually instruct their pupils on (given that they cannot perform any of the magic themselves). For example, the healing instructor usually gives classes on anatomy and gives suggestions on how to use different spells to their best effect (but cannot do more than critique their actual work). 


The lack of a “memorable” quality (and the reason I could not give the book a full five star rating) comes from the actual plot of the book. While it was enjoyable reading the book, I could not tell you much about the minute details of the plot after putting the book down. Sure, there are bits about children being the only ones who can do magic and save the world and the ‘discovery day’ but I don’t recall much about Fort’s day to day interactions with the other students or why he was such a unique case. 


Overall, it was an enjoyable read. I don’t think I was the target audience, but given that I’m many years older than the expected age range that’s ok. While I would definitely pick up subsequent installments to the series, they would be more filler books rather than something I would go out of my way to pick up. Narrator Kirby Heyborne did an excellent job with the project and bringing Fort’s perspective to life with his performance in the audiobook narration of the book. 


About the Author

James Riley is the New York Times bestselling author of the HALF UPON A TIME series, the STORY THIEVES series, the REVENGE OF MAGIC series, and the new ONCE UPON ANOTHER TIME series. Contrary to what previous biographies have stated, he is a) real and b) not the character Nobody from his STORY THIEVES books. Where would people even get that idea? (Spoiler: From him. He totally made it sound like he really was Nobody. He thought it’d be funny. We’re sorry.) 

He was born in Connecticut, where he lived for only a short time before moving to … well, quite a few states. He currently lives in Northern Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C., because that’s where his cats are. He has three of them. Other people think that’s a bit much. 

James is currently working on the final book of the ONCE UPON ANOTHER TIME series, so he might be a little busy. But feel free to e-mail him with questions at jamesrileythatwriterguy@gmail.com, or ask him anything on his blog.


November 21, 2023

REVIEW The Isles of the Gods (The Isles of the Gods #1) by Amie Kaufman

The Isles of the Gods (The Isles of the Gods #1) 
by Amie Kaufman
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: May 2, 2023
Format: Audiobook (Personal Library)
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

The Isles of the Gods is by no means my first Amie Kaufman read, but I think it's my favorite so far. A high seas adventure complete with a full cast audiobook narration and epic worldbuilding, it was a treat to be introduced to this world and get to immerse myself in the story. If you enjoy books like Set Fire to the Gods by Sara Raasch and Kristen Simmons or Adrienne Young’s Fable series, I think you’ll enjoy this book.

When the book first starts, it does take a bit to get used to all of the point of view characters in this book (there’s five, by my recollection). However, after the first couple of chapters I found all of them to be compelling and to have unique voices. Selly was unsurprisingly my favorite. Each character goes through a lot in this book (physically, mentally and emotionally), and none of them are by any means perfect. Given the setting of an impending war, it was interesting to see how each side takes into account the innocent lives caught (or soon to be caught) in the crossfire. There’s also a bit of romance in the story for those who might be interested (though that is by no means the main focus of the plot). 

The worldbuilding was my favorite part of the story. There is a large pantheon of gods within the book (as the title might suggest), though two specifically take center stage. I enjoyed learning about how each culture’s history was shaped around their respective god. The setting itself was another interesting element - magic and electricity exist side by side, crime bosses are a run of the mill occurrence in bigger ports, and they have automobiles and trains (but not high powered ships to get rid of the need for traditional sailing and speed up sea travel). There are parts of the magic system that are still a bit confusing, but I’m hoping the author fleshes that out in future installments to the series. 

Overall, this was an excellent page turning read. The tension and the pacing of the book were well balanced. Sadly, the cliffhanger was painful (and unexpected), so I’m super excited for the sequel to come out (currently set in July 2024). 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amie Kaufman
Amie Kaufman is a New York Times and internationally bestselling author of young adult fiction. Her multi-award winning work is slated for publication in over 30 countries, and is in development for film and TV. Raised in Australia and occasionally Ireland, Amie has degrees in history, literature, law and conflict resolution. She lives in Melbourne with her husband and daughter, their rescue dog, and an extremely large personal library. She is the host of the podcasts Amie Kaufman on Writing, and Pub Dates.



September 25, 2023

REVIEW The Brimstone Deception (SPI Files #3) by Lisa Shearin

The Brimstone Deception (SPI Files #3) by Lisa Shearin
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: January 26, 2016
Format: Audiobook (Audible)
Publisher: Ace 

The SPI Files series by Lisa Shearin have historically been some of my favorite urban fantasy books, and my most recent re-read of the third book, The Brimstone Deception, was just as good as I remember. Makenna Fraser’s adventures are always a good time, and this time instead of facing creatures from myth and legend her adversaries are coming straight from hell itself. 

Picking up about a day after the events of The Dragon Conspiracy, Makenna and the rest of the agents at SPI have just saved the world from the threat of the infamous Dragon Eggs. There’s no rest for the heroes though, as they go straight into another case with a new street drug that's been dropping people left and right. Instead of a good time like some of the more earthly drugs offer, this one has the unique side effect of allowing people to see past the glamours of the supernatural (and promptly wiping their memory later). 

For those who have read Ms. Shearin’s other books, you’ll be pleased to know that this book confirms that her SPI Files books and her Raine Benares books exist in the same universe. In terms of worldbuilding, these two series are top notch. Ms. Shearin includes multiple different beings and happenings inspired by myth and legend in this book and others - I think the pixie messengers in particular were my favorite. Fingers crossed for an eventual crossover with the two in the future (I would love to see Makenna and Raine interact, even if it was just for a short story’s worth of time).  

The SPI Files books continue to be one of my favorite urban fantasy series of all time, and The Brimstone Deception was yet another entertaining and amazing book from Ms. Shearin. For audiobook lovers out there, Johanna Parker once again did an excellent job bringing Makenna’s perspective and shenanigans to life with her performance in the audiobook narration. I’m excited to get to my re-read of the next book in the series, The Ghoul Vendetta, and get to revisit more of Makenna and Ian’s adventures as soon as possible. 


September 10, 2023

REVIEW A Longer Fall (Gunnie Rose #2) by Charlaine Harris

A Longer Fall (Gunnie Rose #2) 
by Charlaine Harris
Rating: 4 Stars
Reelase Date: January 14, 2020
Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited) + Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)
Publisher: Saga Press

In the second installment of Charlaine Harris’ Gunnie Rose series, A Longer Fall, readers once again return to a world where the United States we know are no more, having split into multiple different smaller territories. If you enjoy genre-bending novels with a bit of a Western flair, this would be a great choice for your next read. 

Lizbeth Rose is a “Gunnie”, a sharpshooter gifted with firearms and a boon to any crew she’s on. After the events of the last book left her all alone with a dead crew, the new crew she’s on has been given the job of guarding a piece of cargo as it makes its way across the continent. Things don’t go to plan though, as her crew is (unsurprisingly) ambushed and the cargo is taken. Once an old friend shows up, Lizbeth realizes that things are much more complicated then she anticipated and they must retrieve the cargo or die trying. 

Lizbeth and Eli are a unique pairing. While they are not a traditional ‘couple’, they fit together well and make a great team. On paper, their chosen professions would never have them even meet let alone interact for an extended period of time. However, fate has them partnered together and they make the most of their time (both professionally and in a personal, intimate way). The two characters definitely carry the book; while the side characters helped to move the action along, I couldn’t really recall any memorable details about any one in particular. 

The setting is still a bit jarring, but I can appreciate the unique take with the alternate history the author has crafted in this book. You’d think that the dystopian thriller western vibes that Ms. Harris has going on in this book would read as somewhat discordant, but I think it blended together well. 

Audiobook narrator Eva Kaminsky once again did an excellent job bringing Lizbeth’s perspective to life with her performance. This book leaves a clear starting point for the next book, and I’m excited to see what’s next for Gunnie Rose and Prince Eli in The Russian Cage. Additionally, I’m also excited to get to see Felicia get her time in the spotlight starting with the fourth book in the series, Serpent in Heaven

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Racism, Slavery, Domestic Violence, Lynching, Gun Violence

About the Book
In this second thrilling installment of the Gunnie Rose series, Lizbeth Rose is hired onto a new crew for a seemingly easy protection job, transporting a crate into Dixie, just about the last part of the former United States of America she wants to visit. But what seemed like a straight-forward job turns into a massacre as the crate is stolen. Up against a wall in Dixie, where social norms have stepped back into the last century, Lizbeth has to go undercover with an old friend to retrieve the crate as what’s inside can spark a rebellion, if she can get it back in time.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse mysteries and Midnight, Texas trilogy) is at her best here, building the world of this alternate history of the United States, where magic is an acknowledged but despised power.

About the Author

Charlaine Harris has been a published novelist for over thirty-five years. A native of the Mississippi Delta, she grew up in the middle of a cotton field. Charlaine lives in Texas now, and all of her children and grandchildren are within easy driving distance.

Though her early output consisted largely of ghost stories, by the time she hit college (Rhodes, in Memphis) Charlaine was writing poetry and plays. After holding down some low-level jobs, her husband Hal gave her the opportunity to stay home and write. The resulting two stand-alones were published by Houghton Mifflin. After a child-producing sabbatical, Charlaine latched on to the trend of series, and soon had her own traditional mystery books about a Georgia librarian, Aurora Teagarden. Her first Teagarden, Real Murders, garnered an Agatha nomination.

Soon Charlaine was looking for another challenge, and the result was the much darker Lily Bard series. The books, set in Shakespeare, Arkansas, feature a heroine who has survived a terrible attack and is learning to live with its consequences.

When Charlaine began to realize that neither of those series was ever going to set the literary world on fire, she regrouped and decided to write the book she’d always wanted to write. Not a traditional mystery, nor yet pure science fiction or romance, Dead Until Dark broke genre boundaries to appeal to a wide audience of people who simply enjoy a good adventure. Each subsequent book about Sookie Stackhouse, telepathic Louisiana barmaid and friend to vampires, werewolves, and various other odd creatures, was very successful in many languages.

The Harper Connelly books were written concurrently with the Sookie novels.

Following the end of Sookie's recorded adventures, Charlaine wrote the "Midnight, Texas" books, which have become a television series, also. The Aurora Teagarden books have been adapted by Hallmark Movie & Mystery.

Charlaine is a member of many professional organizations, an Episcopalian, and currently the lucky houseparent to two rescue dogs. She lives on a cliff overlooking the Brazos River.

August 2, 2023

REVIEW An Easy Death (Gunnie Rose #1) by Charlaine Harris

An Easy Death (Gunnie Rose #1) by Charlaine Harris
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: October 2, 2018
Format: Audiobook (Borrowed from Library) + eBook (Kindle Unlimited)
Publisher: Gallery/Saga Press 

My first exposure to Charlaine Harris’ books was her Sookie Stackhouse series, and I’ve since checked out her Midnight Texas and Aurora Teagarden books as well. It was exciting to read the first book in her newest series, Gunnie Rose. An Easy Death did not disappoint. 

The story takes place in a world that’s an alternate history Western movie meets thriller and dystopian novel, with the former United States of America fractured into pieces. The map included in the book was helpful in keeping track of where certain parts of the action were taking place, and which other countries took over the ruins of the United States. For example, the Holy Russian Empire rules over the continent's West Coast (where California and Oregon used to be). Britain has taken over the Northeast, Mexico has territory in the South, and the former Southern states have fractured into their own separate groups of territories. Readers also get a mixed sense of what time period the book is set in - in some ways, they are stuck in the past with Winchesters and Colts being the weapons of choice for those without magic. However, there are also more present and futuristic touches like refrigerators, cars, and other tools utilizing electricity. Despite the setting being a bit haphazard and hard to keep track of at times, I found myself remaining invested in the story. 

In addition to the physical worldbuilding, the characters were another highlight of the book. It was interesting to see various character groups, like the Grigoris from the Holy Russian Empire and the Gunnies who are so common in the South (but relatively unheard of in other places). I enjoyed getting to learn more about the magic system that occupies this world, and I hope to get to learn more about it in future books of the series. Eva Kaminsky did an excellent job bringing the action to life and voicing Gunnie Rose’s perspective throughout the book. Like many of Charlaine Harris’ other heroines, Gunnie is a strong Southern girl at heart, and I think this is one of those cases where the narrator’s performance took the book from good to great. 

Overall, An Easy Death was another excellent book, and Charlaine Harris continues to knock it out of the park with every book she writes. I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy adult novels that mix genres. While the majority of the content would be suitable for young readers, some of the events in the book (see the trigger warnings below), I’m hesitant to recommend it to a wider/younger audience. All in all, I’m excited to continue reading about Gunnie Rose’s adventures in the next book in the series, A Longer Fall, as soon as possible. 

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Rape and attempted rape, gun violence, kidnapping, loss of autonomy (mind control)

About the Book
In the southwestern country now known as Texoma, this is a world where magic is acknowledged but mistrusted. Battered by a run across the border to Mexico, gunslinger Lizbeth Rose takes a job offer from a pair of Russian wizards.

She may be young, but Gunnie Rose has acquired a fearsome reputation and the wizards are at a desperate crossroads, even if they won't admit it. They're searching frantically to locate the only man whose blood they believe can save their tsar's life.

A powerful enemy sends enemies who want their mission to faillThe trio are set upon by a powerful force does not want them to succeed in their mission. Lizbeth Rose is a gunnie who has never failed a client, but her oath will test all of her skills and resolve to get them all out alive.

About the Author

Charlaine Harris has been a published novelist for over thirty-five years. A native of the Mississippi Delta, she grew up in the middle of a cotton field. Charlaine lives in Texas now, and all of her children and grandchildren are within easy driving distance.

Though her early output consisted largely of ghost stories, by the time she hit college (Rhodes, in Memphis) Charlaine was writing poetry and plays. After holding down some low-level jobs, her husband Hal gave her the opportunity to stay home and write. The resulting two stand-alones were published by Houghton Mifflin. After a child-producing sabbatical, Charlaine latched on to the trend of series, and soon had her own traditional mystery books about a Georgia librarian, Aurora Teagarden. Her first Teagarden, Real Murders, garnered an Agatha nomination.

Soon Charlaine was looking for another challenge, and the result was the much darker Lily Bard series. The books, set in Shakespeare, Arkansas, feature a heroine who has survived a terrible attack and is learning to live with its consequences.

When Charlaine began to realize that neither of those series was ever going to set the literary world on fire, she regrouped and decided to write the book she’d always wanted to write. Not a traditional mystery, nor yet pure science fiction or romance, Dead Until Dark broke genre boundaries to appeal to a wide audience of people who simply enjoy a good adventure. Each subsequent book about Sookie Stackhouse, telepathic Louisiana barmaid and friend to vampires, werewolves, and various other odd creatures, was very successful in many languages.

The Harper Connelly books were written concurrently with the Sookie novels.

Following the end of Sookie's recorded adventures, Charlaine wrote the "Midnight, Texas" books, which have become a television series, also. The Aurora Teagarden books have been adapted by Hallmark Movie & Mystery.

Charlaine is a member of many professional organizations, an Episcopalian, and currently the lucky houseparent to two rescue dogs. She lives on a cliff overlooking the Brazos River.

July 28, 2023

REVIEW Queen Takes Rose (Wicked Villains #6) by Katee Robert

Queen Takes Rose (Wicked Villains #6) 
by Katee Robert
Rating: 3 Stars
Release Date: November 10, 2020
Format: Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)
Publisher: Trinkets and Tales LLC (Self Published by Author) 

I’ve been on a recent streak of reading all of Katee Robert’s books, and Queen Takes Rose is the final installment of the Wicked Villains series. Aurora has appeared in all of the previous books, and now it’s finally time for her to take center stage. Once again, it was quite intriguing to see how the author took the skeleton of the original fairytale and twisted it to fit the series. However, for some reason, the female dominant characters that the author writes don’t seem to click for me as much as others. 

Aurora has definitely grown since the first time she was introduced to the series. I was intrigued by the dynamic between her and Malone and some of the references you can recognize from the original fairytale. Like many of her other series, this one has a connection to another set of books - specifically, Malone is connected to the Sabine Valley series (which at this point, I’m going to have to pick up and read out of sheer curiosity). In addition to Malone and Aurora, Katee Robert continues their trend of LGBTQ+ positive characters with a non-binary former Amazon serving as Malone’s head of security. 

Despite liking Malone and Aurora as individual characters, I wasn’t super invested in their relationship. I flipped through their ‘scenes’ together instead of devouring every word. I kind of missed the types of scenes that Aurora participated in with the previous installments of the series (i.e. the Scene with Isabelle, Gaeton, and Beast in book 4). I also thought it was weird that Malone wanted Aurora submissive 24/7 instead of only when they were scening together (like the other dominants in the series such as Jafar or Hook do), but that might just be a lack of exposure to such characters more than anything else.  

Overall, Queen Takes Rose was definitely another entertaining book. It just wasn’t my favorite out of the series or something I’d see the need to reread in the future. Narrators Lacy Laurel and Jenny Nordbak did an excellent job bringing the story to life with their performance in the audiobook narration. The Wicked Villains series would be a great choice for mature readers who aren’t put off by taboo dark romance stories that reimagine classic fairytales. 


CONTENT WARNINGS (Courtesy of Author’s Website): Parental Death (mother, comatose for long period of time and heroine makes choice to end life support), assault, explicit sex


About the Book
Once upon a time I made a deal with the devil. It turns out I like playing in the dark. Over the years, I’ve become someone I’m proud of, someone dangerous.

I’ll never be as dangerous as Malone, though. She’s one of the most feared leaders in Carver City, and her reputation is more than earned. Years ago, we had a single night together and she’s ignored me ever since.

Imagine my surprise to discover she’s scheduled me for the final two weeks of my contract. Maybe I should be afraid. Everyone else fears Malone. Instead, all I feel is anticipation. It’s time to balance the scales, once and for all.

The villains aren’t the only ones in Carver City a person should be wary of crossing.

Sometimes the prettiest flower hides the deadliest poison…

About the Author


Katee Robert is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Entertainment Weekly calls her writing “unspeakably hot.” Her books have sold over a million copies. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, children, a cat who thinks he’s a dog, and two Great Danes who think they’re lap dogs.

 

Katee is represented by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency.


Katee Robert Author Website

Connect with the Author on Instagram

Connect with the Author on Twitter