Tag: reading

The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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Mike Brink is one of the rare people who, after suffering a brain injury, develops Acquired Savant Syndrome. Basically, he’s a bit of a genius. Especially when it comes to solving and creating puzzles.

When Mike Brink meets Jess Price, a convicted murderer, he finds the strangest and most difficult puzzle yet.

This book is a bit mind-boggling, with religious and scientific additions to the plot. Plus, I will never forget these creepy dolls!!! I really enjoyed this one and had a lot of fun just looking at these puzzles.

Out June 13, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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This is a magical tale of curse breaking and finding love, all while set in the Regency era.

I did not love this. But that doesn’t mean I think the book is bad. The story is great, the characters are interesting, and I adored the Sapphic love story. But, something about how the story was related made everything feel less real. I honestly got a bit bored with the narrator’s, a fairy onlooker, constant thoughts about everything and everyone, and I feel like that took me out of the story.

I love this author. This is another incredible work. However, this one just wasn’t for me.

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

Always isn’t Forever by J.C. Cervantes 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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I knew this would be heartbreaking, but while reading and sobbing, I also found a beautiful hopefulness in this story that I will not forget.

Ruby and Hart. They have their whole lives ahead of them, and they are lucky enough to have found each other and their impossible love so early in life. When Hart drowns while saving another, an angel takes pity and saves his soul for a new body. Hart winds up waking as Jameson. Jameson is everything Hart is not. A party boy who seems to not care about anything except football. Can Hart work his way back to Ruby in Jameson’s body, with Jameson’s history?

This book was heartbreaking and uplifting all at once. It is a story of loss and sadness,but also, real true love. Get the tissues ready now!!

Out June 6, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

Venom and Vow by Anna-Marie Mclemore and Elliott Mclemore 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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I absolutely loved this. The representation is so beautifully done. These authors wove together a fascinating tale that, above all else, speaks on love.

I thought the storyline started slow, but as the two main characters became more familiar with each other, I began to fall in love with this book.

A transgender prince finds himself up against a bigender assassin. Their land has been cursed, including stealing away many adults in charge of their respective kingdoms. However, as these two enemies begin to fall for each other, it becomes clear that action must be taken now to break this curse.

I didn’t start out loving everything in this story bc it started slow, and I had a difficult time grasping the full picture of the plot, but this turned out to be really remarkable, in my opinion!

Out May 16, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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An incredibly intriguing and explosive take on a dystopian future and America’s prison system.

While this book gives no definitive answer to the multitude of issues in current day prisons across America, this still left me feeling like my eyes are more open to the very real problems at hand.

This story seems to jump all over the place, featuring quite a few different characters and viewpoints, but mostly, this story follows Loretta Thurwar. Thurwar is the reigning champion of a cruel TV show that pits prisoners in fights to the death. The prize for winning, which is beyond difficult, is freedom.

This is a startling but necessary social commentary on many things besides just the prison system. And, without a doubt, this has rattled me. This is a thought-provoking and insightful look into humanity, and I am really glad I read this.

Out May 2, 2023

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!!

This was stunning and absolutely breathtaking. Literally and figuratively breathtaking!!!

This prequel to Priory of the Orange Tree is full of beautiful descriptions and content that compliments the first book so well.

The themes running through this novel are very similar to Priory. Mainly ideas on religion and also, women’s roles in history, the strength of women.

I just finished this and I know I’m going to have more to say while this story truly sinks in now.

Out February, 28 2033!

The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

This is an incredibly beautiful story of finding peace in the very far away future.

This story has three parts, all of which take place several hundred years from each other on a planet named Sask-E. It took me through one of the beginning stages for this world, and throughout the book, I could see the changes happening over a long period of time.

Terraformers is about just that, terraforming. This showed detailed processes to an incredibly eco-friendly world. It also showed the politics that take place surrounding the company owning this world, and then, creation of government for these people.

I thought this book was incredibly interesting and insightful about our world today and many of our challenges. However, it was a bit slow going for me. But, the whole picture this author presents is daring and beautiful, which left me feeling fulfilled as a reader.

Out January 31, 2023!

Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!!!

This is the perfect romcom. Two characters working with themselves, through their own emotions, and Voila! True love! This has the angst, the humor, the romance and spice I needed for romcom bliss.

Georgie moves back home after being retired from her job as a Personal assistant in California with her screenwriter boss, she decides to take a long vacation. She is at once overwhelmed and underwhelmed by going back to small town life. At least, until she meets Levi Fanning.

One of my favorite parts of this story was Levi’s dog, Hank. Hank is a constant source of comic relief and loveable cuteness that cannot be ignored.. So, yeah. A perfect romcom with a cut doggie. I cannot ask for more!

Out January 24, 2023!

Unseelie by Ivelisse Housman 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this Arc!!

This is the perfect ya fantasy read for me. I especially appreciated the author’s note in the beginning about how they are autistic and how the creation of this story was a way to express a different side to autism that is not as seen in media portrayals.

Seelie and her sister are out in the city preparing a heist that will hopefully bring them some needed fortune. However, they become involved with two other characters and this night turns into a much longer adventure than planned. And, yes, with romance, action and lots of magic!

I loved the way the author wrote these characters and their interactions. The story ran smoothly for me and I really enjoyed every second.

Out January 3, 2023!

Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey 🌟 ARC Review 🌟

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Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this Arc!!

This book was so good, the ending so so good, I wanted to just scream. Unfortunately, I can’t because I share this space with other people who would be very angry if I screamed over a book… instead of, you know, actually being in danger. Whatever. But, this book. This is an incredible new look on horror.

Vera was called home by her mother. A home she hasn’t been to in years because she was not welcome there. But, as her mother dies inside that house, Vera at last approaches her home and her past. Horror has often included grisly deaths, monsters under the bed and haunted houses, but never like this. If you are a fan of horror then I cannot recommend this enough.

TW: violence, gore, unsettling imagery

Out July 19, 2022