Spooky Reads Day 30: The Anomaly by Michael Rutger

Title: The Anomaly
Author: Michael Rutger
Page Count: 352
Rating: A
Format Read: BOTM Hardcover  
Genre: Science Fiction Thriller
Keywords: YouTube, Aliens, Horror
Kid Appropriate: No

Synopsis from Goodreads:

If Indiana Jones lived in the X-Files era, he might bear at least a passing resemblance to Nolan Moore -- a rogue archaeologist hosting a documentary series derisively dismissed by the "real" experts, but beloved of conspiracy theorists.

Nolan sets out to retrace the steps of an explorer from 1909 who claimed to have discovered a mysterious cavern high up in the ancient rock of the Grand Canyon. And, for once, he may have actually found what he seeks. Then the trip takes a nasty turn, and the cave begins turning against them in mysterious ways.

Nolan's story becomes one of survival against seemingly impossible odds. The only way out is to answer a series of intriguing questions: What is this strange cave? How has it remained hidden for so long? And what secret does it conceal that made its last visitors attempt to seal it forever?

My Review:

This was my June pick for Book of the Month and I was so excited because YouTube + conspiracy theories + archaeology + my home state sounds perfect! But when I picked up the book the prologue was really weird so I kept putting off actually reading it. I shouldn't have because it was so much fun I ended up finishing it in 24 hours once I actually started!

Nolan (our mc) was both lovable and generic. By this I mean he had fewer crazy traits than most and could easily morph into someone you know. For me I kept picturing an older Shane Dawson. With this flexible identity it was easy to get into the story following him.

Ken was a stereotype, but in the fun way. Rutger could have made him sleazy but I'm glad he didn't. Pierre was basically a puppy. Molly shifted too much quickly in my opinion to ever feel truly connected to her. For the length of the novel her rapid shifts felt disjointed. And finally I liked our villains (no spoilers!). They were just weird enough that it worked well with the science fiction world created here.

The setting of the cave was by far my favorite aspect. It was expansive enough to be creepy and get the heart rate up but small enough you aren't confused the entire time.

This definitely is not a read after prestigious awards in literature but it's genuinely fun with its heavy doses of adventure and sarcasm mixed with a dash of science fiction to keep you wondering.

Spooky Reads Day 29: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Title: A Discovery of Witches
Author: Deborah Harkness
Page Count: 579
Rating: A+++++
Format Read: Hardcover
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Keywords: Oxford, Tomes, History
Kid Appropriate: No

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.

My Review:

This magical book is pure heaven to read and perfect for the fall season. Easily making it onto my favorite books of all time list, this hefty adult urban fantasy novel follows an independent historian as she embarks on an adventure after finding a mysterious book among her research materials.

This is a great pick for anyone not keen on reading yet another teenager falling in love story. Instead with this novel and the following books in the trilogy you meet a successful academic who has already made her life and dealt with sorrow now taking on new challenges and mysteries. I believe Diana is in her thirties during this first book and she is incredibly likeable. I remember frequently becoming so lost in the story that I would forget I was even reading.

I loved the fact that there aren't just a single 'creature' in this fantasy world either. The diversity created with witches, vampires, and daemons was refreshing.

Completely engrossing, I highly recommend this book for the fall season!

Spooky Reads Day 28: The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells

Title: The War of the Worlds
Author: H.G. Wells
Page Count: 192
Rating: A
Keywords: Aliens, Mars, War
Genre: Science Fiction
Narrator: Simon Vance
Duration: 5 hours and 43 minutes
Younger Readers: This is a horror tale but does not have any sexual content or language.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

With H.G. Wells’ other novels, The War of the Worlds was one of the first and greatest works of science fiction ever to be written. Even long before man had learned to fly, H.G. Wells wrote this story of the Martian attack on England. These unearthly creatures arrive in huge cylinders, from which they escape as soon as the metal is cool. The first falls near Woking and is regarded as a curiosity rather than a danger until the Martians climb out of it and kill many of the gaping crowd with a Heat-Ray. These unearthly creatures have heads four feet in diameter and colossal round bodies, and by manipulating two terrifying machines – the Handling Machine and the Fighting Machine – they are as versatile as humans and at the same time insuperable. They cause boundless destruction. The inhabitants of the Earth are powerless against them, and it looks as if the end of the World has come. But there is one factor which the Martians, in spite of their superior intelligence, have not reckoned on. It is this which brings about a miraculous conclusion to this famous work of the imagination.

My Review:

In an effort to read more classics this year I decided to give this audiobook a chance. IT IS NOTHING LIKE THE 2005 TOM CRUISE AND DAKOTA FANNING MOVIE. I absolutely could not stand that movie and was worried I would have similar feelings for this book. Luckily, my worries were proven ridiculous.

This was far more entertaining than I had ever expected. It is a fun recount of Martians attacking England, these insane mechanical creatures and their creeping red vines are straight out of a nightmare. Our main character's attempts to survive as he roams across England provide peril, exciting events, and peculiar characters that keep the reader wondering.

The language is older sounding, like many classic novels I have read for school, but not so much so that it was difficult to follow or felt unnatural. It reads a bit like Dr. John Watson's recounts of his and Sherlock Holmes' adventures. This was clearly a point in favor of this book. I look forward to reading more from H.G. Wells in the future.

Simon Vance is a great narrator. His voice is surprisingly calming and clear, carrying the reader along in this tale of invasion without distracting from the events unfolding. There is a dramatic and classic quality to his voice that increase the epic feeling. I have already downloaded another audiobook he has read. Hopefully it is just as wonderful.

If you are looking for a fun classic or enjoy science fiction this is a great read. Older grade school students would definitely enjoy this book, whether listening or reading it.

The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: The Darkest Star
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Page Count: 368
Rating: A+
Format Read: electronic ARC
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Keywords: Aliens, Romance, Murder
Kid Appropriate: Teen
Release Date: October 30, 2018

Synopsis from Goodreads:

When seventeen-year-old Evie Dasher is caught up in a raid at a notorious club known as one of the few places where humans and the surviving Luxen can mingle freely, she meets Luc, an unnaturally beautiful guy she initially assumes is a Luxen...but he is in fact something much more powerful. Her growing attraction for Luc will lead her deeper and deeper into a world she'd only heard about, a world where everything she thought she knew will be turned on its head...

#1 New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout returns to the universe of the Lux in this brand new series, featuring beloved characters both new and old.

My Review:

This book was everything I've come to expect from a Jennifer L. Armentrout book: steamy, hilarious, and packed full of action.

As soon as I saw that Armentrout was expanding the Lux world I knew I had to have this read, hoping it would have all the elements of romance, humor, friendship, and action that I had come to expect from Daemon and Kat's story. I wasn't disappointed one bit.

I will admit I have not yet finished the Lux series and was worried that this would affect my ability to read The Darkest Star without feeling confused. This ended up not being an issue at all. Armentrout catches the reader up on details without it feeling tedious and I never felt out of place.

I sped through the first 75% of this one, completely unable to put it down. The last 25% was a bit slower but I still was really satisfied with the overall pacing and outcome of this book. Enough elements of suspicion and unlikable characters were sprinkled throughout that I have no doubt I will need to keep reading the rest of this series as it is released.

The major "twist" was far from shocking and I saw it coming a mile off, but that did not bother me as much as I expected. Evie was just a really likable character that it was difficult to feel annoyed with. I enjoyed the way her actions and the conflict between Luxen and humans in this world could be used to compare to current political implications or simply as a teaching moment of what actions are right.

And Luc is easily a new favorite book boyfriend.

Click here for the YouTube review!

Spooky Reads Day 27: Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

Title: Strange Angels
Author: Lili St. Crow
Page Count: 293
Rating: A
Format Read: Paperback
Genre: YA
Keywords: Hunters, Zombies, Vampires
Kid Appropriate: Teens and older

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In Strange Angels, Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called “the touch.” (Comes in handy when you’re traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.) Then her dad turns up dead—but still walking—and Dru knows she’s next. Even worse, she’s got two guys hungry for her affections, and they’re not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever—or whoever— is hunting her?

My Review:

Honestly, teenage me was devastated when this series ended after five books. Not only is there a touch of angsty YA romance complete with a love triangle throughout the series but this is also a delightful mix of elements from Supernatural, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Vampire Academy.

Dru is a strong female lead with occasionally questionable morals as she interacts with the supernatural world in which she is a hunter and reminds me fairly heavily of a cocky teenage girl version of Dean from Supernatural. I remember just loving reading about her snark.

Action is always at high levels throughout and the fight sequences are fun to read. There is also a great deal of travel and adventure happening throughout the series. Do not worry about it becoming too dark though as there is also a good amount of humor.

For anyone that likes the school setting like we see in Nevernight, Vampire Academy or Harry Potter then this might be the series for you.

Spooky Reads Day 26: Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

Title: Hemlock
Author: Kathleen Peacock
Page Count: 404
Rating: A
Format Read: Kindle
Genre: YA
Keywords: Werewolves, murder, mystery
Kid Appropriate: Teens and older

Synopsis from Goodreads:

MACKENZIE AND AMY WERE BEST FRIENDS.

UNTIL AMY WAS BRUTALLY MURDERED.

Since then, Mac's life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac's hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy's killer:

A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome - also known as the werewolf virus - is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy's murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy's boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock's thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.

My Review:

I loved this werewolf story set in a dystopian future that is a good mix of paranormal YA and dystopian. This is definitely darker than yesterday's pick but is still a quick paced read that you'll fly through!

I enjoyed the mystery aspects that our main character encounters as well as this urban fantasy setting that plays with the concept of civil rights through the medium of werewolves and does it fairly well. This would be an easy book to have a discussion about.

Spooky Reads Day 25: Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne

Title: Moonlight
Author: Rachel Hawthorne
Page Count: 263
Rating: A
Format Read: Kindle
Genre: YA
Keywords: Werewolves, magic, love
Kid Appropriate: Teens and older

Synopsis from Goodreads:

I see him and I know what this turmoil inside of me means: He's the one. My forever.

Kayla is the nature lover, the all-American beauty who can't understand why she's so drawn to distant, brooding Lucas. Adopted as a young child, she has no way of knowing that she's inherited a terrifying-and thrilling-gene that will change her life forever.

Lucas is dangerous, gorgeous... and a werewolf. As leader of the Dark Guardians, shape-shifters who gather deep within the state park, he has sworn to protect his pack. But when Lucas finds his true soul mate, his love could put them all in harm's way.

As Lucas and Kayla struggle with their feelings for each other, a greater danger lurks: Humans have discovered the Dark Guardians and are planning their destruction. Kayla must choose between the life she knows and the love she feels certain is her destiny.

My Review:

This is another great pick for anyone with a hankering for the paranormal romances popular fifteen years ago! A great blend of the camping trip trope, instalove, and conspiracy theories. This is definitely a stress free read that you can fly through in an afternoon!

Spooky Reads Day 24: The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Title: The Dark Divine
Author: Bree Despain
Page Count: 372
Rating: A
Format Read: Kindle
Genre: YA
Keywords: Werewolves, magic, curse
Kid Appropriate: Teens and older

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.

My Review:

This is a great mix of werewolf horror, romance, and drama. I love this classic YA paranormal and it makes a great Halloween read for anyone looking for a monster book without it being too scary! Definitely check this one out if you haven't read it yet!

Spooky Reads Day 23: The Hollow Kingdom by Clare B Dunkle

Title: The Hollow Kingdom
Author: Clare B Dunkle
Page Count: 230
Rating: A
Format Read: Paperback
Genre: Fantasy (somewhere between Middle Grade and YA)
Keywords: Elves, Goblins, Magic
Kid Appropriate: Tweens and older

Synopsis from Goodreads:

"She had never screamed before, not when she overturned the rowboat and almost drowned, not even when Lightfoot bucked her off and she felt her leg break underneath her with an agonizing crunch. But now she screamed long and loud, with all her breath."

Hallow Hill has a strange and tragic history. For thousands of years, young women have been vanishing from the estate, never to be seen again. Now Kate and Emily have come to live at Hallow Hill. Brought up in a civilized age, they have no idea of the land's dreadful heritage-until, that is, Marak decides to tell them himself.

Intelligent, pleasant, and completely pitiless, Marak is a powerful magician who claims to be a king-and he has very specific plans for the two new girls who have trespassed into his kingdom.

The Hollow Kingdom is a 2004 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

My Review:

I adored this fantasy book full of magic and reminiscent of a classic, dark fairytale when I read it over ten years ago. Now as an adult I associate it with my time reading Outlander. The mix of a world removed from the human realm, ugly goblins, rare elves, and spooky magic make this a great pick for the Halloween season as well as fall and winter in general. Check this one out if you like classic fairytales, tough heroines, romance, and magic!

Spooky Reads Day 22: The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding by Alexandra Bracken

Title: The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Page Count: 362
Rating: B+
Format Read: Hardcover
Genre: Middle Grade 
Keywords: Misfits, Family, Demons
Kid Appropriate: Yes

Synopsis from Goodreads:

I would say it's a pleasure to meet thee, Prosperity Oceanus Redding, but truly, I only anticipate the delights of destroying thy happiness.

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 — and 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 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.

My Review:

This cute middle grade novel was great fun and perfect for the Halloween season! Demons (called fiends), witches, and family curses populate this novel following the stereotypical misfit boy with floppy dark hair. The setting of Redford and Salem, Massachusetts offer a great landscape for the supernatural elements of this book.

Prosper is a relatable misfit and this middle school environment was fairly realistic from what I can remember as a student. Kids will definitely like his antics while parents will like the message of loyalty to family and always doing what is right.

My favorite aspects of this novel was the goofiness reminiscent of Rick Riordan as well as the sidekick characters. Toad, a bat cat fiend, made me smile as did the hob. They add a fun element similar to animal companions, which is easily one of my favorite book tropes.

I will say that if this is being given to a child beware that some of the horror scenes would be a bit much for very young children or kids that are not fond of supernatural horror.

I enjoyed this one and highly recommend it!

Spooky Reads Day 21: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

Title: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Author: Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
Page Count: 321
Rating: B
Keywords: Zombies, Humor, Gore, Love, Reimagined
Genre: Young Adult, Reimagined Classic
Younger Readers: Innuendos are present throughout and some language. If you are capable of handling a joke about balls then you will likely be fine with this book. There are references to savage beating but not described in detail and one must remember that this is, in fact,  a book about zombies.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.”

So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton—and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she’s soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers—and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield. Can Elizabeth vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies transforms a masterpiece of world literature into something you’d actually want to read.

My Review:

I would like to begin by saying that Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen is one of my all time favorite books and I love the movies as well. So, yes. I am biased.

This was funnier than I had expected. The humor is not necessarily glaringly obvious. It is subtle and if you're not careful you could easily miss it. I was in no way prepared to hear Mr. Darcy utter a balls joke. I will admit that my startled laugh was nowhere near graceful. It was more like a snort. Humor that catches you off guard can be the best.

A strong point would be when the various characters can be wrong and accept that they were wrong. This is one of the reasons I love Pride & Prejudice. Elizabeth and Darcy are both proud people that it seems will never make it work. And yet they do. It is a gradual love story that defies odds. No instalove in sight. Pride & Prejudice was the original romantic comedy and has had readers coming back for over two hundred years.

This adaptation was fun. If you hate Jane Austen, then maybe stay away from this one. If you're looking for something really fast paced I would also wait. However, if you're a Jane Austen fan and want a humorous, endearing read then I would check this one out!


P.S. If you do read this, take note of Charlotte. How does no one notice what is going on with her?! How??????

Spooky Reads Day 20: A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

Title: A Study in Charlotte
Author: Brittany Cavallaro
Page Count: 321
Rating: B
Keywords: Boarding School, Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, Mystery, Drama
Genre: Young Adult
Younger Readers: This is a book about teenagers at a boarding school so there is a degree of sex, drugs, and language. One character is also raped before the beginning of the novel but this is addressed throughout. Young children may not be ready for this or require guidance.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The last thing Jamie Watson wants is a rugby scholarship to Sherringford, a Connecticut prep school just an hour away from his estranged father. But that’s not the only complication: Sherringford is also home to Charlotte Holmes, the famous detective’s great-great-great-granddaughter, who has inherited not only Sherlock’s genius but also his volatile temperament. From everything Jamie has heard about Charlotte, it seems safer to admire her from afar.

From the moment they meet, there’s a tense energy between them, and they seem more destined to be rivals than anything else. But when a Sherringford student dies under suspicious circumstances, ripped straight from the most terrifying of the Sherlock Holmes stories, Jamie can no longer afford to keep his distance. Jamie and Charlotte are being framed for murder, and only Charlotte can clear their names. But danger is mounting and nowhere is safe—and the only people they can trust are each other.

A Study in Charlotte is the first in a trilogy

My Review:

I love the original Sherlock stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the BBC Sherlock, and various other adaptations. So when I heard about this new adaptation I had to pick it up.

When my best friend asked me to describe this book only one thing came to mind: this is Gossip Girl meets Sherlock Holmes.

I did like this book. Seeing the descendants of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson reimagined as a teenage boy and girl was a fun spin. Usually I see the same characters modernized or as descendants but both female, best friends. Jamie and Charlotte retain the characteristics of their namesakes but also possess unique attributes of both the era in which they exist and their unique circumstances. I also loved their relationship. Obviously, Jaime has a crush on Charlotte instantly. This does not mean that they are just together though. They are friends first and things slowly begin to progress.

Do not expect characters that are bright and cheery just because this takes place in a boarding school. They are dark and twisty in the best way possible. They draw you into their world without any effort and you quickly devour their backstories. References to the original stories are present and the new mystery is not entirely obvious. Colorful characters are sprinkled throughout, supporting the story. I did not feel like anyone was overly annoying in the traditional bubbly high school sense.

There is one point that I felt like it's important to mention. Charlotte Holmes was raped shortly before the events that occur in the first chapter. Usually YA shies away from this topic unless it is a major factor in the plot. However, this is not the case for Charlotte. It is mentioned but not a main character trait. Jaime's reaction to it, the feelings of rage and helplessness, were something that I thought was important. He cares about Charlotte but does not get angry with her for what happened. There is no victim blaming. He understands that there is nothing he can do but that does not extinguish the desire to fix it. Charlotte's own reactions to what happened to her were interesting. She is angry but hides it. The most obvious reaction is how difficult of a time she has towards the end of the book with letting Jaime touch her. When he understood that it was going to be a very long time, if ever, that they were going to be able to be physical with her feeling comfortable I definitely felt a little emotional. Charlotte is more than an object to him. She is a person that he cares about exactly as she is. I wish this was more common in literature. I wish real people learned this more often than they do.

My biggest hang up was that I wanted more. I felt like the mystery and story were just barely scratching the surface of Sherringford. If the story had been a couple hundred pages longer I would not have been upset at all. There could have been more to the mystery, more world building, and more character development. Luckily for readers this will be a trilogy. I look forward to continuing on with Jaime and Charlotte.

On the upside, the mystery was not entirely predictable and the characters were enjoyable.

This book was good, verging on great. A promising start to a trilogy. If you love mystery, Sherlock, and a touch of drama then I would absolutely recommend this one.

Clarification for other Readers:

I have read several reviews where people were confused about how Dr. Watson and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle were both "real" people in this story. From what I understood, it was Dr. Watson that wrote the Sherlock stories (just as he does in every other adaptation) but Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is basically his literary agent in this adaptation. Therefore, they both exist and are both involved in the creation of the Sherlock stories in this fictional world.

Spooky Reads Day 19: Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

Title: Nevernight
Author: Jay Kristoff
Page Count: 427
Rating: A+
Keywords: Magic, Cats, Assassins, Love
Genre: Fantasy
Younger Readers: Not for young children. Sex, murder, and language all present

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The first in a new fantasy series from the New York Times bestselling author.

In a land where three suns almost never set, a fledgling killer joins a school of assassins, seeking vengeance against the powers who destroyed her family.

Daughter of an executed traitor, Mia Corvere is barely able to escaped her father's failed rebellion with her life. Alone and friendless, she hides in a city built from the bones of a dead god, hunted by the Senate and her father's former comrades. But her gift for speaking with the shadows leads her to the door of a retired killer, and a future she never imagined.

Now, Mia is apprenticed to the deadliest flock of assassins in the entire Republic--the Red Church. If she bests her fellow students in contests of steel, poison and the subtle arts, she'll be inducted among the Blades of the Lady of Blessed Murder, and one step closer to the vengeance she desires. But a killer is loose within the Church's halls, the bloody secrets of Mia's past return to haunt her, and a plot to bring down the entire congregation is unfolding in the shadows she so loves.

Will she even survive to initiation, let along her revenge?

My Review:

I will admit that the first time I tried reading through this I just could not get into the style. Fiction with footnotes seems a bit odd and dense for a fun read. However, this ended up being one of my all time favorite reads. The writing was equal parts gorgeous descriptors and snarky humor. Characters were delightfully unpredictable and deep without dragging down the experience. Even when I hated a character, I still loved them. No parts of this book feel useless.

The world building was phenomenal. It felt as if Kristoff gave readers a taste of the world, leaving the edges blurry. One, this is great for imagination. It was easy to fall into the world. Second, this leaves the series open for some massive developments. Which is why I immediately purchased book two in the series, Godsgrave.

If you are interested in fantasy, assassins, betrayal, and general sarcasm I highly recommend running out to pick up this book. If you've tried to read this in the past, maybe give it another go. It took me a year from purchasing this book to finish it. Why did I wait so long?!

Bonus, there are some great shadow/animal companions in this series.

Friday Reads: October 19, 2018

Happy Friday! Last week I was reading The Phoenix Empress and Lethal White. Unfortunately, I have decided to put both books down for the moment. Reading two large books (well over 500 pages each) that deal quite prominently with PTSD and the cause of that trauma is explored constantly can be a bit tough to keep up with emotionally. That being said, I picked out three new books with a bit more fun and adventure in place for this weekend!

Check them out below and happy reading!

Title: Meddling Kids
Author: Edgar Cantero
Page Count: 322
Progress: 35
Format Read: Paperback
Genre: Mystery
Keywords: Scooby Doo, Friends, Falsely Accused
Kid Appropriate: No

Synopsis from Goodreads:

1990. The teen detectives once known as the Blyton Summer Detective Club (of Blyton Hills, a small mining town in the Zoinx River Valley in Oregon) are all grown up and haven't seen each other since their fateful, final case in 1977. Andy, the tomboy, is twenty-five and on the run, wanted in at least two states. Kerri, one-time kid genius and budding biologist, is bartending in New York, working on a serious drinking problem. At least she's got Tim, an excitable Weimaraner descended from the original canine member of the team. Nate, the horror nerd, has spent the last thirteen years in and out of mental health institutions, and currently resides in an asylum in Arhkam, Massachusetts. The only friend he still sees is Peter, the handsome jock turned movie star. The problem is, Peter's been dead for years.

The time has come to uncover the source of their nightmares and return to where it all began in 1977. This time, it better not be a man in a mask. The real monsters are waiting.

Thoughts so far:

I love the similarities to the classic Scooby-Doo but I have some issues with a scene that happens early on between Andy and Kerri. Many readers would probably hesitate about the correctness of the situation observed.

I am hoping that this continues to be a good mystery with supernatural elements in it. This has far more darker elements in terms of horror than I was expecting but it isn't a bad thing by any means

Title: The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Page Count: 362
Progress: 51
Format Read: Hardcover
Genre: Middle Grade 
Keywords: Misfits, Family, Demons
Kid Appropriate: Yes

Synopsis from Goodreads:

I would say it's a pleasure to meet thee, Prosperity Oceanus Redding, but truly, I only anticipate the delights of destroying thy happiness.

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 — and 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 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.

Thoughts so far:

This was exactly what I was looking for. It is quirky, fun, fast paced, and has the great humor that I associated with the Middle Grade genre. This is a fun read and definitely great for the Halloween season for kiddos looking for a spooky read too. Especially for fans of Rick Riordan's writing style.

Title: Escaping from Houdini
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Page Count: 449
Progress: 53
Format Read: Barnes & Noble Exclusive Hardcover
Genre: YA Mystery
Keywords: Magic, Ship, Love
Kid Appropriate: Tweens and older

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In this third installment in the #1 bestselling Stalking Jack the Ripper series, a luxurious ocean liner becomes a floating prison of scandal, madness, and horror when passengers are murdered one by one…with nowhere to run from the killer. .

Audrey Rose Wadsworth and her partner-in-crime-investigation, Thomas Cresswell, are en route to New York to help solve another blood-soaked mystery. Embarking on a week-long voyage across the Atlantic on the opulent RMS Etruria, they’re delighted to discover a traveling troupe of circus performers, fortune tellers, and a certain charismatic young escape artist entertaining the first-class passengers nightly.

But then, privileged young women begin to go missing without explanation, and a series of brutal slayings shocks the entire ship. The strange and disturbing influence of the Moonlight Carnival pervades the decks as the murders grow ever more freakish, with nowhere to escape except the unforgiving sea. It’s up to Audrey Rose and Thomas to piece together the gruesome investigation as even more passengers die before reaching their destination. But with clues to the next victim pointing to someone she loves, can Audrey Rose unravel the mystery before the killer’s horrifying finale?

Thoughts so far:

Of course I am enjoying this delightful mix of YA angst and forensic science! It has one of my favorite YA couples as well as one of my favorite mystery tropes: a scene that cannot be escaped. One thing that surprised me is how far the romance is going in this book. I don't quite remember it being this advanced in the first two books, but I did listen to those on audiobook (highly recommend) and I could have missed it.  

Spooky Reads Day 18: 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King

Title: Salem's Lot
Author: Stephen King
Page Count: 653
Rating: A
Keywords: Small towns, Vampires, Terror
Genre: Horror
Younger Readers: No

Original Synopsis from Goodreads:

Thousands of miles away from the small township of 'Salem's Lot, two terrified people, a man and a boy, still share the secrets of those clapboard houses and tree-lined streets. They must return to 'Salem's Lot for a final confrontation with the unspeakable evil that lives on in the town.

Updated Synopsis:

'Salem's Lot is a small New England town with white clapboard houses, tree-lined streets, and solid church steeples. That summer in 'Salem's Lot was a summer of home-coming and return; spring burned out and the land lying dry, crackling underfoot. Late that summer, Ben Mears returned to 'Salem's Lot hoping to cast out his own devils... and found instead a new unspeakable horror.

A stranger had also come to the Lot, a stranger with a secret as old as evil, a secret that would wreak irreparable harm on those he touched and in turn on those they loved.

All would be changed forever—Susan, whose love for Ben could not protect her; Father Callahan, the bad priest who put his eroded faith to one last test; and Mark, a young boy who sees his fantasy world become reality and ironically proves the best equipped to handle the relentless nightmare of 'Salem's Lot.

My Review:

Today I bring you one of my all time favorite horror novels!

From the original synopsis and first couple of pages of this classic book of horror and what goes bump in the night you honestly would expect this one to be a dud. I reread the first ten pages at least four or five times before I could convince myself as a teenager to really dive into this story.

But, if you can make it through that you will be immersed in a pure horror tale that shows vampires as the classic monsters intended by Bram Stoker's Dracula. There are no sparkly vampires or handsome creatures wooing the town's young women. No. These are true blue monsters infesting Salem's Lot and putting terror into the hearts of readers.

While I have a soft spot for the gentler vampires in many modern tales, I absolutely adore this depiction of them as grotesque monsters and this easily makes my top three favorite Stephen King books.

If you're looking for a monster read this season, definitely pick this one up and check out the 1979 TV movie adapted from this book. It is definitely another seasonal favorite of mine!

Spooky Reads Day 17: My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland

Title: My Life as a White Trash Zombie
Author: Diana Rowland
Page Count: 320
Rating: A
Keywords: Zombies, Career, Fate
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Younger Readers: Some teens and older

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Angel Crawford is a loser.

Living with her alcoholic deadbeat dad in the swamps of southern Louisiana, she's a high school dropout with a pill habit and a criminal record who's been fired from more crap jobs than she can count. Now on probation for a felony, it seems that Angel will never pull herself out of the downward spiral her life has taken.

That is, until the day she wakes up in the ER after overdosing on painkillers. Angel remembers being in an horrible car crash, but she doesn't have a mark on her. To add to the weirdness, she receives an anonymous letter telling her there's a job waiting for her at the parish morgue—and that it's an offer she doesn't dare refuse.

Before she knows it she's dealing with a huge crush on a certain hunky deputy and a brand new addiction: an overpowering craving for brains. Plus, her morgue is filling up with the victims of a serial killer who decapitates his prey—just when she's hungriest!

Angel's going to have to grow up fast if she wants to keep this job and stay in one piece. Because if she doesn't, she's dead meat.

Literally.

My Review:

This book was just downright fun. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did an amazing job immersing you into the story through all the different accents of the characters. There's a little bit of something for everyone in this one. It clearly fits with the theme of October through the craving for brains but it is also hilarious and incorporates a good mystery in the nature of the Sookie Stackhouse series. Romance is present in crush form but it doesn't go much further than that in this book.

I recommend this for fan's of the show iZombie and anyone who enjoy's morbidly funny stories or forensic based books.

Spooky Reads Day 16: Silver in the Blood by Jessica Day George

Title: Silver in the Blood
Author: Jessica Day George
Page Count: 368
Rating: A
Keywords: Family, Magic, Inheritance
Genre: YA
Younger Readers: Tweens and older

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Society girls from New York City circa 1890, Dacia and Lou never desired to know more about their lineage, instead preferring to gossip about the mysterious Romanian family that they barely knew. But upon turning seventeen, the girls must return to their homeland to meet their relatives, find proper husbands, and—most terrifyingly—learn the deep family secrets of The Claw, The Wing, and The Smoke. The Florescus, after all, are shape-shifters, and it is time for Dacia and Lou to fulfill the prophecy that demands their acceptance of this fate... or fight against this cruel inheritance with all their might.

My Review:

This book was exactly what I was looking for to bring back the nostalgia of my days devouring supernatural young adult novels with historical fiction elements! At times it can be a little cheesy and make you roll your eyes but if you are looking for a fun family drama following two girls coming into their destinies as shape shifters then I highly recommend this one. It has good doses of supernatural elements, adventure, humor, the bonds of family, and dashes of romance.

Dacia and Lou are foils of one another that can draw in a wider range of younger readers. Dacia is flamboyant and flirtatious with her brightly colored gowns and outgoing personality. Lou is quieter and more serious in every way. Each provides something different for readers to connect with.

Bonus, there's a train travel scene!

Spooky Reads Day 15: The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler

Title: The Hypnotist
Author: Lars Kepler
Page Count: 503
Rating: A+
Keywords: Mystery, Amnesia, Cruelty
Genre: Psychological Thriller/Mystery
Younger Readers: Some teens and older

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Prepare for The Hypnotist to cast its spell

In the frigid clime of Tumba, Sweden, a gruesome triple homicide attracts the interest of Detective Inspector Joona Linna, who demands to investigate the murders. The killer is still at large, and there’s only one surviving witness—the boy whose family was killed before his eyes. Whoever committed the crimes wanted this boy to die: he’s suffered more than one hundred knife wounds and lapsed into a state of shock. Desperate for information, Linna sees only one option: hypnotism. He enlists Dr. Erik Maria Bark to mesmerize the boy, hoping to discover the killer through his eyes.

It’s the sort of work that Bark has sworn he would never do again—ethically dubious and psychically scarring. When he breaks his promise and hypnotizes the victim, a long and terrifying chain of events begins to unfurl.

An international sensation, The Hypnotist is set to appear in thirty-seven countries, and it has landed at the top of bestseller lists wherever it’s been published—in France, Holland, Germany, Spain, Italy, Denmark. Now it’s America’s turn. Combining the addictive power of the Stieg Larsson trilogy with the storytelling drive of The Silence of the Lambs, this adrenaline-drenched thriller is spellbinding from its very first page.

My Review:

Not many books can literally give me goosebumps and send me hugging my dog quite like Lars Kepler's Joona Linna series.

I have read the first four books in this series: The Hypnotist, The Nightmare, The Fire Witness, and The Sandman. Each one has freaked me out while irresistibly drawing me into finishing these 500+ page book within a day or two. These books are scary, twisted, addictive, and brilliant fun.

Each tale is equally captivating and unnerving as you follow our Finnish protagonist throughout the mysteries he encounters in Sweden, each book revealing more and more about him. By book four I was sobbing at the end and am now patiently (well not at all patiently) waiting for book five, The Stalker, to be available in the United States' Kindle store. Apparently it will not be available until February 2019. However, for all of you that have yet to discover this series you have plenty of time to catch up!

I cannot recommend this series enough! Check it out if you're looking for a spine tingling mystery series that'll keep you hooked.

Note: The cover above is the one that I originally read the series in. The American editions have since been re-released with new covers.

Spooky Reads Day 14: Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

Title: Stalking Jack the Ripper
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Page Count: 326
Rating: A
Keywords: London, Serial Killer, Gothic, Mystery
Genre: Young Adult
Narrators: Nicola Barber
Duration: 9 hours and 26 minutes
Younger Readers: This is a fictional representation of Jack the Ripper, the infamous serial killer who primarily targeted prostitutes. Language and sexual content are minimal however.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world. 

Why this is great for October:

As you'll see in my review from 2017 below and my most recent Friday Reads video, I absolutely adore this series! It is a delightful mix of forensic science, cute romance, creepy mystery with definite hints of malice that make your skin crawl, and great writing. If you haven't picked up this series yet, then do it! This is book one. Book two is Hunting Prince Dracula (which includes my all time favorite scenes of train travel and creepy forests) and book three is Escaping From Houdini. Plenty of material to dive into for the month.

My Original Review:

I loved this one! On a very long travel day from the US to Dublin, Ireland  I listened to this book and it actually made the three flights, cab rides, and random strangers falling asleep on me tolerable. As someone who travels often, finding a book that is just the right level of engaging and fun is crucial to not losing my mind. I have certainly made the mistake of packing overly dense non-fiction tomes for school (try explaining a forensic anthropology diagram of a murder scene to the person sitting next to you for three hours, never goes well), overly emotional romance novels that left me weeping, and the dreaded just plain boring book in my many years of flying all over. This one was perfect though. It was intriguing, funny, fast paced, and kept me in Audrey Rose's world.

Audrey Rose was enjoyable in that unlike most female YA characters that are involved with "nontraditional" interests or occupations, she did not entirely shun the girly things. She was well balanced. At times she would be examining a mutilated body and at others she would be experimenting with makeup or thinking about pretty dresses. This mix made her far easier to relate to.

There is some small degree of romance but it is never more than a flirtation built up from friendship. It is always obvious and up front but still a satisfying build up. If you hate the YA trend of insta love then you should have no worries with this read.

Without giving anything away, if you gravitate towards creepier themed books or loved the gothic books required in high school you should definitely give this read a try. Aspects of the resolution were easy to pick up for me but the actual ending was a total shock.

If you want something on the shorter side, fun, a bit gruesome, and completely satisfying, I definitely recommend picking up this book. I have absolutely become a fan and will be reading the rest of the series.

If you listen to the audiobook I did enjoy Nicola's narration. It took me about twenty minutes to get used to her reading style but soon after it became natural and no issues. Occasionally a word was pronounced in a way a smidgeon off from how I am used to hearing it pronounced. However, this distraction quickly fades as well. I listened at 1.5x speed on Audible.

Spooky Reads Day 13: The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason

Title: The Clockwork Scarab 
Author: Colleen Gleason
Page Count: 356
Rating: A
Keywords: Mystery, Vampires, Egyptian
Genre: YA 
Younger Readers: Some preteens and older

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Evaline Stoker and Mina Holmes never meant to get into the family business. But when you’re the sister of Bram and the niece of Sherlock, vampire hunting and mystery solving are in your blood. And when two society girls go missing, there’s no one more qualified to investigate.

Now fierce Evaline and logical Mina must resolve their rivalry, navigate the advances of not just one but three mysterious gentlemen, and solve murder with only one clue: a strange Egyptian scarab. The stakes are high. If Stoker and Holmes don’t unravel why the belles of London society are in such danger, they’ll become the next victims.

My Review:

Seriously, do I need to say anything? Read that description! Sherlock's niece and the sister of Bram Stoker?! Vampires and sleuthing?!

Okay, in all seriousness this is a really fun read with darker elements running through it that make this a soon to be favorite for any lover of mystery, Egyptian mythology, and a good old fashioned supernatural novel.

Evaline and Mina take some warming up to initially but once you get into the full swing of this novel (which does not take long at all) you really begin to grow attached to them and the adventure they embark on, creating a great duo to continue on in the series with.

If you are looking for a less scary read for this Halloween season and more of a supernaturally leaning mystery novel with all of the fun of the YA genre mixed with mythology and steam punk then I think you have found your next read.

And as a lover of the original Sir Arthur Conan Doyle tales and Bram Stoker's Gothic novel, I did enjoy this mix on their tales immensely.

Spooky Reads Day 12: The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman

Title: The Dark Days Club
Author: Alison Goodman
Page Count: 472
Rating: A
Keywords: Demons, Victorian England, Scandal
Genre: YA Horror
Younger Readers: Teens and older

Synopsis from Goodreads:

London, April 1812.

On the eve of eighteen-year-old Lady Helen Wrexhall’s presentation to the queen, one of her family’s housemaids disappears-and Helen is drawn into the shadows of Regency London. There, she meets Lord Carlston, one of the few who can stop the perpetrators: a cabal of demons infiltrating every level of society. Dare she ask for his help, when his reputation is almost as black as his lingering eyes? And will her intelligence and headstrong curiosity wind up leading them into a death trap?

My Review:

When I picked up the audiobook for this a few years ago, I already knew I loved Alison Goodman's Eon and Eona duology. That being said, this was such a departure from that Asian inspired YA fantasy series that I was not sure if she could write that and this Victorian English YA horror with the same skill.

I needn't have worried a bit. This book was an amazing and intoxicating tale of horror and adventure that builds continuously before leaving you feeling bereft at its conclusion and desperately craving the sequel. Give this one a go and for this spooky season and you won't regret it.

Friday Reads: October 12, 2018

Hello! This Friday Reads isn't too exciting as I only finished one book last week, Kat Wolfe Investigates. If you're in the market for a middle grade novel full of fun friendship, mischievous animals, and Russian spies I would definitely recommend it. You can see that review here.

Apart from that I was only able to read a little bit with my hectic schedule and some car trouble. Hopefully this weekend proves to run a bit smoother and I will be able to finish my 90th book of the year!

Check out the books I'll be reading (or head over to my YouTube channel to watch my update with a mini book haul!) and happy reading!

Title: The Phoenix Empress

Author: K. Arsenault Rivera
Page Count: 544
Progress: 30%
Format Read: e ARC
Genre: Fantasy
Keywords: Friendship, Loyalty, Demons
Kid Appropriate: Teens and older

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The Phoenix Empress, the sequel to K Arsenault Rivera's wildly buzzed about The Tiger's Daughter, an epic historical fantasy in the vein of Patrick Rothfuss and Naomi Novik.

Since she was a child, the divine empress O Shizuka has believed she was an untouchable god. When her uncle, ruler of the Hokkaran Empire, sends her on a suicide mission as a leader of the Imperial Army, the horrors of war cause her to question everything she knows.

Thousands of miles away, the exiled and cursed warrior Barsalyya Shefali undergoes trials the most superstitious would not believe in order to return to Hokkaran court and claim her rightful place next to O Shizuka.

As the distance between disgraced empress and blighted warrior narrows, a familiar demonic force grows closer to the heart of the empire. Will the two fallen warriors be able to protect their home?

Thoughts so far:

Finally, this book has been published so you can read it too! This is getting better! It is definitely a darker, grittier book that The Tiger's Daughter but it is still enjoyable. I could see where maybe younger readers would enjoy the first book and then have a hard time getting into this one as it deals with the complexities of adult relationships and can come across quite slow.

Title: Lethal White

Author: Robert Galbraith
Page Count: 647
Format Read: Hardcover
Progress: 178
Genre: Mystery
Keywords: Detective, PI, Murder
Kid Appropriate: Probably not

Synopsis from Goodreads:

“I seen a kid killed…He strangled it, up by the horse.”

When Billy, a troubled young man, comes to private eye Cormoran Strike’s office to ask for his help investigating a crime he thinks he witnessed as a child, Strike is left deeply unsettled. While Billy is obviously mentally distressed, and cannot remember many concrete details, there is something sincere about him and his story. But before Strike can question him further, Billy bolts from his office in a panic.

Trying to get to the bottom of Billy’s story, Strike and Robin Ellacott—once his assistant, now a partner in the agency—set off on a twisting trail that leads them through the backstreets of London, into a secretive inner sanctum within Parliament, and to a beautiful but sinister manor house deep in the countryside.

And during this labyrinthine investigation, Strike’s own life is far from straightforward: his newfound fame as a private eye means he can no longer operate behind the scenes as he once did. Plus, his relationship with his former assistant is more fraught than it ever has been—Robin is now invaluable to Strike in the business, but their personal relationship is much, much trickier than that.

Thoughts so far:

I have never hated a villain so much as I hate Robin's husband, Matthew. This character is vile in every possible way and it is gutting me that our amazing Robin is doing this to herself.

Aside from that, this is probably the slowest book in the series and I'm beginning to wonder how I keep picking unexpectedly slow books to read over and over. 

There is also quite a bit more political commentary in this one, and not just from the characters. It isn't awful but can be distracting at times. I am hoping that the mystery of what Billy saw becomes more prominent in the near future. 

Overall, good writing and a great pick for fall but there is room for improvement in the next 500 ish pages.

Spooky Reads Day 11: Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

Title: Her Fearful Symmetry
Author: Audrey Niffenegger
Page Count: 406
Rating: B
Keywords: Sisters, Deception, Haunting
Genre: Fiction
Younger Readers: No

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Six years after the phenomenal success of The Time Traveler's Wife, Audrey Niffenegger has returned with a spectacularly compelling and haunting second novel set in and around Highgate Cemetery in London.

When Elspeth Noblin dies of cancer, she leaves her London apartment to her twin nieces, Julia and Valentina. These two American girls never met their English aunt, only knew that their mother, too, was a twin, and Elspeth her sister. Julia and Valentina are semi-normal American teenagers--with seemingly little interest in college, finding jobs, or anything outside their cozy home in the suburbs of Chicago, and with an abnormally intense attachment to one another.

The girls move to Elspeth's flat, which borders Highgate Cemetery in London. They come to know the building's other residents. There is Martin, a brilliant and charming crossword puzzle setter suffering from crippling Obsessive Compulsive Disorder; Marjike, Martin's devoted but trapped wife; and Robert, Elspeth's elusive lover, a scholar of the cemetery. As the girls become embroiled in the fraying lives of their aunt's neighbors, they also discover that much is still alive in Highgate, including--perhaps--their aunt, who can't seem to leave her old apartment and life behind.

Niffenegger weaves a captivating story in Her Fearful Symmetry about love and identity, about secrets and sisterhood, and about the tenacity of life--even after death.

My Review:

From the same author that wrote The Time Traveler's Wife comes an eerie tale of twin sisters faced with an inheritance and haunting in the atmospheric setting of London. By no means a downright scary book, this Spooky Read is more for fans looking for a creepier read to make you think and question the morality of actions and depth of family ties. A perfect read for fall.

Spooky Reads Day 10: The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

Title: The School for Good and Evil
Author: Soman Chainani
Page Count: 544
Rating: A
Keywords: Friendship, Identity, Magic
Genre: Middle Grade
Younger Readers: Yes

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The first kidnappings happened two hundred years before. Some years it was two boys taken, some years two girls, sometimes one of each. But if at first the choices seemed random, soon the pattern became clear. One was always beautiful and good, the child every parent wanted as their own. The other was homely and odd, an outcast from birth. An opposing pair, plucked from youth and spirited away.

This year, best friends Sophie and Agatha are about to discover where all the lost children go: the fabled School for Good & Evil, where ordinary boys and girls are trained to be fairy tale heroes and villains. As the most beautiful girl in Gavaldon, Sophie has dreamed of being kidnapped into an enchanted world her whole life. With her pink dresses, glass slippers, and devotion to good deeds, she knows she’ll earn top marks at the School for Good and graduate a storybook princess. Meanwhile Agatha, with her shapeless black frocks, wicked pet cat, and dislike of nearly everyone, seems a natural fit for the School for Evil.

But when the two girls are swept into the Endless Woods, they find their fortunes reversed—Sophie’s dumped in the School for Evil to take Uglification, Death Curses, and Henchmen Training, while Agatha finds herself in the School For Good, thrust amongst handsome princes and fair maidens for classes in Princess Etiquette and Animal Communication.. But what if the mistake is actually the first clue to discovering who Sophie and Agatha really are…?

My Review:

This middle grade fantasy has something for kids and parents alike as the two girls struggle to figure out who they are and how they fit into their world. There is plenty of humor to amuse both audiences and a great amount of action to keep this longer tome chugging along quickly.

A great pick for the season with its epic fight scenes, fairytale nostalgia, and fun magic.

The Tiger's Daughter by K Arsenault Rivera

Title: The Tiger's Daughter

Author: K. Arsenault Rivera
Page Count: 526
Rating: A
Format Read: Paperback
Genre: Fantasy
Keywords: Friendship, Loyalty, Demons
Kid Appropriate: Teens and older

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Even gods can be slain...

The Hokkaran empire has conquered every land within their bold reach―but failed to notice a lurking darkness festering within the people. Now, their border walls begin to crumble, and villages fall to demons swarming out of the forests.

Away on the silver steppes, the remaining tribes of nomadic Qorin retreat and protect their own, having bartered a treaty with the empire, exchanging inheritance through the dynasties. It is up to two young warriors, raised together across borders since their prophesied birth, to save the world from the encroaching demons.

This is the story of an infamous Qorin warrior, Barsalayaa Shefali, a spoiled divine warrior empress, O-Shizuka, and a power that can reach through time and space to save a land from a truly insidious evil.

My Review:

I really loved this book. While like City of Lies it was a bit slower, there was a great deal of interest in the characters and their development from small children to grown women. Their relationship unfolds in a natural way (with the exception of a spoiler I will discuss below) and the format of Shefali writing a letter to Shizuka about their own story was entrancing. 

In one sitting I read well over 200 pages on one day and did it again the next. The writing style is definitely within the realm of an adult fantasy but it is done in a way that never feels heavy and allows for quick reading, so do not allow the larger page count to deter you.

And while this book reads a bit closer to historical fiction than fantasy at certain times, the inclusion of demons and a folklore of gods added just the right amount of magic to make me fall for this story head over heels. 

If you are looking for a solid fantasy series, I recommend beginning here. It is not too heavy for newer fantasy fans and is more focused on the central couple. The world building is more gentle in nature and grows with the maturity of the girls as they grow up and are able to comprehend more. 

Spoilers below...

I mentioned in my Friday Reads for this book that around page 214 a scene occurred that had me confused. Shizuka is sick and dying from a fever. She is extremely ill and they fear that she will not make it through the night. This was important because you can see the worry that Shefali has and it ages their relationship from the childhood friendship. WHY WAS THIS A GOOD TIME FOR THEIR FIRST SEX SCENE?! I am certainly not against smut in books. But the placement of this scene makes no sense to me and I wish it had occurred at a different time in which one person is not near death and incapable of doing what was described.

Another issue I had was the nature of their relationship. Shefali is constantly being used by Shizuka and thrown into unnecessary situations. I wish that there had been more respect and less childish greed there.

Spooky Reads Day 9: Monstress Volume 1 by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda

Title: Monstress
Author: Marjorie Liu
Illustrator: Sana Takeda
Page Count: 192
Rating: B
Keywords: Magic, Steampunk, Art Deco, Horror
Genre: Graphic Novel
Younger Readers: geared towards older readers, horror sequences, language, slight nudity

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Set in an alternate matriarchal 1900's Asia, in a richly imagined world of art deco inflected steampunk, Monstress tells the story of a teenage girl who is struggling to survive the trauma of war, and who shares a mysterious psychic link with a monster of tremendous power, a connection that will transform them both. Entertainment Weekly praised Monstress as "one of Image Comics' most imaginative and daring new series" and dubbed it the "Best New Original Series" in their year-end "Best Comics of 2015" list. Collects Monstress #1-6.

My Review:

My favorite part about my birthday each year is getting new books. This was one such addition to my library. I've been eyeing this beauty for the past few months, hemming and hawing about whether or not I should buy it. Graphic novels are not a normal part of my reading. Curiosity paid off.

Overall, I did enjoy this book far more than I expected. I tore through the 192 pages in a single evening. The mix of steampunk and art deco was absolutely gorgeous. There is plenty of art to keep your eyes satisfied in this one volume. Rich gold, shades of grey, rusty red, and dashes of dusky blue make up the main color scheme giving a clearly vintage feeling to the work.

The storyline is mysterious and intriguing, leaving many questions unanswered at the end of this volume. Maika, the main character, is not immediately likable. She is more of a conflicted character. Oftentimes rude of her own free will and dangerous at the hands of the monster that resides within her. Kippa and Ren are my two favorite characters thus far, the curious fox child and watchful cat. They add a lightness much needed to contrast Maika's unfailing seriousness.

The excerpts at the end of each chapter from Professor Tam Tam, the multi-tailed cat, were a fun break from the heavy darkness of the main story and provided clear insight into the lore of this world. While the world building within the actual comic is interesting on its own, it may become too convoluted without these mini breaks.

Overall, I recommend checking this volume out. It is beautiful, intriguing, and mysterious. It was a strong first volume and I can't wait to see where the story goes from here.