Showing posts with label audiobook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label audiobook. Show all posts

9 Aug 2023

Review: SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY by Kelly Quindlen

09 August 6 Comments

SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY

Author: Kelly Quindlen
Series: N/A
Source: Audible Plus
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Publication Date: April 20, 2021

Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:

Representation: lesbian main characters, Indian-American main character, Black side character

Summary:
A familiar is a life-long companion. Choose wisely.

It's hard being the youngest in a family of witches known for their power. It's even harder when that magical power has all but passed you by.

Still, I was doing okay for myself. I like to think I was proving to the rest of my family that magic wasn't a requirement to living.

Then Aunt Opal was accused of murder. Wouldn't you know it would happen right when everyone else in the family but me was out of town.

Now it's up to me to prove her innocence, and a little magic could go a long way in helping me do that. My aunt's been after me to get a familiar for quite a while now. They are known for helping a witch channel her power and even strengthen it.

So, want to or not, allergies or not, I did it. I went to an animal shelter and found my familiar. A cute little black kitty. The allergy medicine companies were going to love me.

But for some reason, this little guy didn't make me sneeze. Kind of weird, actually. Not that I was complaining.

I just really wish I'd known more about him before I did the binding spell…
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters
Content Warning: Alcohol use (underage), Bullying, Harry Potter references, Homophobia, Microaggression

A super cute and charming lesbian sport romance! I thought the characters were well crafted and great with their inner conflicts. It was a cute ending, believable conflict, and had everything you'd want in a teen romance novel.

I picked up the audiobook, flew through it and really freaking liked it. I went into it thinking it was a romcom but what I got was much deeper. Yes, there is a hate to love romance, but there's also the exploration of grief, specifically grieving a relation, ESPECIALLY when you know that relationship wasn't good for you, grieving not only the relationship but also the parts of yourself you lost in it. Becoming someone you don't like, lashing out, because you're hurting and you don't know how else to be.

Another thing that I appreciated is the depiction of falling for someone while still healing from someone else and I LOVED the way the situation was handled. It surprised me in more ways than one.

But beside all of that, the friendships were lovely, the romance very cute, and the book was a good balance of funny and emotional.

I highly recommend this!

Have you read this book? Are you going to pick this up?

15 May 2023

Review: BURN OUR BODIES DOWN by Rory Power

15 May 0 Comments

BURN OUR BODIES DOWN

Author: Rory Power
Series: N/A
Source: Audible Plus
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: July 7, 2020

Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:

Representation: N/A

Summary:
From the author of the New York Times bestseller Wilder Girls comes a new twisty thriller about a girl whose past has always been a mystery—until she decides to return to her mother’s hometown . . . where history has a tendency to repeat itself.

Ever since Margot was born, it’s been just her and her mother. No answers to Margot’s questions about what came before. No history to hold on to. No relative to speak of. Just the two of them, stuck in their run-down apartment, struggling to get along.

But that’s not enough for Margot. She wants family. She wants a past. And she just found the key she needs to get it: A photograph, pointing her to a town called Phalene. Pointing her home. Only, when Margot gets there, it’s not what she bargained for.

Margot’s mother left for a reason. But was it to hide her past? Or was it to protect Margot from what’s still there?

The only thing Margot knows for sure is there’s poison in their family tree, and their roots are dug so deeply into Phalene that now that she’s there, she might never escape.
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters
Content Warning:  Fire, Emotional abuse by a parent, including gaslighting. Familial and generational abuse, Nonconsensual pregnancy – note, no sexual assault or rape, Body horror, some gore, blood (lighter, relative to Wilder Girls), Death. On page character death. Child/infant death (takes place off page but implied violence – pages 301 and 308 in the print ARC), Off-page gun violence, Emesis (mention of vomiting).

This was a creepy read! I've been getting into a lot of ecological horror and dystopian fiction recently, so this fit in really nicely for that niche. I thought there was a lot of interesting power dynamics and things discussed in this novel, especially around single motherhood and socio-economics impacting lifestyles.

The writing itself is very good. There are no hiccups, no floundering about, and it flows smoothly. Rory Power gets to the point that she wants to make without beating around the bush. I really wanted to enjoy this story, however, and sometimes we want something so strongly that it slips away. I think it was mainly the pacing since a lot of the action was held off until the end.

While jumping around in the story and learning things slowly is an important factor in this book, and others like it, the novel took so long getting to the meat of the plot that I got slightly bored along the way. I didn't really connect with any characters except our lead because we didn't know their motivations and you're always so skeptical of everyone in these types of novels. 

Was the true horror and mystery of it all worth it when it finally arrived? Yes, it absolutely was. There is something sickening, twisted and disturbing about the history behind the horror of Margot's family. And for that, this book is well worth the read. That something so seemingly small would make me feel as uncomfortable as it did, speaks well for the way that the author unfolds it into the rest of the writing. But it arrived quite late, and developed far too fast for me to properly enjoy.

Burn Our Bodies Down has a Stephen King-esque vibe that hit me more than once, and I've noticed that other readers have felt the same. It's this nagging little thing at the back of your head that you notice here and there and can't let go of. I appreciated it, even if the whole of it fell a little more off the mark than I'd hoped.

There's merit to this novel, I just wish that more of those daunting details which pop up near the end and made me uneasy—while making everything charged and fraught with terrible possibility—had been delivered a little more starkly from the start.

Have you read this book? Are you going to pick this up?

26 Apr 2023

Review: CONCRETE ROSE by Angie Thomas

26 April 2 Comments

CONCRETE ROSE

Author: Angie Thomas
Series: The Hate U Give #0
Source: Indigo
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: January 12, 2021

Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:

Representation: Black main characters

Summary:
International phenomenon Angie Thomas revisits Garden Heights seventeen years before the events of The Hate U Give in this searing and poignant exploration of Black boyhood and manhood.

If there’s one thing seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter knows, it’s that a real man takes care of his family. As the son of a former gang legend, Mav does that the only way he knows how: dealing for the King Lords. With this money he can help his mom, who works two jobs while his dad’s in prison.

Life’s not perfect, but with a fly girlfriend and a cousin who always has his back, Mav’s got everything under control.

Until, that is, Maverick finds out he’s a father.

Suddenly he has a baby, Seven, who depends on him for everything. But it’s not so easy to sling dope, finish school, and raise a child. So when he’s offered the chance to go straight, he takes it. In a world where he’s expected to amount to nothing, maybe Mav can prove he’s different.

When King Lord blood runs through your veins, though, you can't just walk away. Loyalty, revenge, and responsibility threaten to tear Mav apart, especially after the brutal murder of a loved one. He’ll have to figure out for himself what it really means to be a man.
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters
Content Warning:  Racism, Coming out themes, Bimisia, Child neglect & parental abandonment, Recreational drug use, Substance addiction mentioned, Postnatal depression discussed, Teen pregnancy (theme), Abortion discussed, Grief & loss depiction, Death of a cousin, Death of a sister to sickle cell mentioned, Incarceration, Murder & attempted murder, Gun violence, Gang violence, Police brutality & violence mentioned.

CONCRETE ROSE is a prequel to the acclaimed debut novel THE HATE U GIVE. The book follows the story of 17-year-old Maverick Carter, the father of Starr from THUG, and his struggles growing up in a tough neighborhood while balancing his responsibilities as a son, father, and gang member.

The book has received critical acclaim for its raw portrayal of black male experiences, tackling issues such as toxic masculinity, poverty, and systemic racism. Critics have praised Thomas's writing for its authenticity and honesty, and the book has been hailed as an essential read for young adults.

I haven't read The Hate U Give, but I have seen the movie. I had SOME idea what was happening at the end of this book, but it still is a gut punch. Mav is such a relatable character, and Thomas writes him in such a way that you connect to him immediately.

Concrete Rose is a story of what it means to grow in the face of adversity and struggle, but never letting that break you. I loved this story, Thomas's writing, and the realistic look into what it means to be Black in America.

Thomas writes a realistic and authentic voice in Maverick and I loved seeing his journey from the beginning to the end. I thought it was a great story of mentorship and learning to take responsibility for your actions. Mr. Wyatt was definitely a scene stealer whenever he was around!

Overall, CONCRETE ROSE is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that sheds light on important issues affecting marginalized communities. If you're looking for a well-written, impactful read, this book comes highly recommended.

Have you read this book? Are you going to pick this up?

3 Apr 2023

Review: THE BUTCHER AND THE WREN by Alaina Urquhart

03 April 1 Comments

THE BUTCHER AND THE WREN

Author: Alaina Urquhart
Series: The Butcher and the Wren #1
Source: Audio from Audible
Publisher: Zando
Publication Date: September 13, 2022

Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:

Representation: N/A

Summary:
From the co-host of chart-topping true crime podcast Morbid, a thrilling debut novel told from the dueling perspectives of a notorious serial killer and the medical examiner following where his trail of victims leads

Something dark is lurking in the Louisiana bayou: a methodical killer with a penchant for medical experimentation is hard at work completing his most harrowing crime yet, taunting the authorities who desperately try to catch up.

But forensic pathologist Dr. Wren Muller is the best there is. Armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of historical crimes, and years of experience working in the Medical Examiner's office, she's never encountered a case she couldn't solve. Until now. Case after case is piling up on Wren's examination table, and soon she is sucked into an all-consuming cat-and-mouse chase with a brutal murderer getting more brazen by the day.

An addictive read with straight-from-the-morgue details only an autopsy technician could provide, The Butcher and the Wren promises to ensnare all who enter.
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD
Content Warning: kidnapping, stalking, torture, murder, death, PTSD

This was a quick read but one that really packed a punch! I highly enjoyed reading it and thought that the twists were unique and interesting.

The book really kept you guessing even though it gave you some of the information along the way. I thought it ended a little sloppily, but there was definitely room to have a sequel to this or a spin-off to view more of this world.

For going from a podcast to a novel, I think Urquhart did a great job of incorporating elements of true crime into fiction. I liked seeing how the characters were developed and am looking forward to seeing more of the characters in the future!

This might be one of the only "detective" series that I end up following. I definitely recommend this one!

Have you read this series? Are you going to pick this up?

29 Mar 2023

Review: TO KILL A KINGDOM by Alexandra Christo

29 March 0 Comments

TO KILL A KINGDOM

Author: Alexandra Christo
Series: N/A
Source: Audio from Audible
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication Date: March 6, 2018

Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:

Representation: N/A

Summary:
Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.

The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD
Content Warning: Abuse (including parental), Death (graphic), Gun violence, Sexual assault (nonconsensual kiss), Violence

Even though it took me a month and a half to read (yay seasonal depression!), I REALLY enjoyed this book! An interesting take on "The Little Mermaid," I thought it was creative, well-written, and kept me on the edge of my seat near the end!

I loved the elements of the original story that we could use as a through line but Christo does such a good job at making this her own story. I loved all the characters and their perspectives were so interesting! I thought it was such a great take on a story we've heard before - and are going to see in live action soon.

This book does touch on some hard and sensitive topics but does so in a way that makes them relatable to the reader. Sure, I might not be a siren, but I know what it's like to want to win a parent's approval. It was really universal in the way it was done.

Highly recommend!

Have you read this series? Are you going to pick this up?

27 Mar 2023

Review: YOU'VE REACHED SAM by Dustin Thao

27 March 0 Comments

YOU'VE REACHED SAM

Author: Dustin Thao
Series: N/A
Source: Audio from Audible
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Publication Date: November 9, 2021

Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:

Representation: Vietnamese American main character and love interest 

Summary:
Seventeen-year-old Julie has her future all planned out—move out of her small town with her boyfriend Sam, attend college in the city, spend a summer in Japan. But then Sam dies. And everything changes.

Heartbroken, Julie skips his funeral, throws out his things, and tries everything to forget him and the tragic way he died. But a message Sam left behind in her yearbook forces back memories. Desperate to hear his voice one more time, Julie calls Sam’s cellphone just to listen to his voicemail.

And Sam picks up the phone.

In a miraculous turn of events, Julie’s been given a second chance at goodbye. The connection is temporary. But hearing Sam’s voice makes her fall for him all over again, and with each call it becomes harder to let him go. However, keeping her otherworldly calls with Sam a secret isn’t easy, especially when Julie witnesses the suffering Sam’s family is going through. Unable to stand by the sidelines and watch their shared loved ones in pain, Julie is torn between spilling the truth about her calls with Sam and risking their connection and losing him forever.
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD
Content Warning: Racism; Grief & loss depiction (theme); Death of a boyfriend; Car accident

A really great novel that I thought dealt with death and grief in a realistic way. But because of the comparisons and hype, I just couldn't quite get there for the emotional aspects. I really liked the story and thought that if this had just been about learning to let go, this would have been a hundred times better.

But the "supernatural" portion of it, combined with not really getting to know Sam and only seeing him through the phone and some flashbacks, made me not enjoy it nearly as much as I would have liked. Sam didn't seem like a great person in the ways we got to see him and it just made me feel like Julie shouldn't have called him as much, tbh.

On top of that, I saw it compared to Your Name and it was NOT as emotional as that AT ALL. I thought that it was actually a bit emotionally stunted because of the way grief was depicted and a bit of a supernatural cop-out in my opinion.

I do recommend it, though!

Have you read this series? Are you going to pick this up?

24 Mar 2023

Science Fiction and Fantasy Fridays: THE GIRL AND THE STARS by Mark Lawrence

24 March 1 Comments

Science Fiction and Fantasy Fridays introduces readers who are unfamiliar with the Adult SF/F genre to books, authors, and discussions all about the vast expanse of the world of Adult SF/F!

THE GIRL AND THE STARS

Author: Mark Lawrence
Series: Book of Ice #1
Source: eARC via Publisher
Publisher: Ace
Publication Date: April 21, 2020

Summary:
In the ice, east of the Black Rock, there is a hole into which broken children are thrown.

On Abeth the vastness of the ice holds no room for individuals. Survival together is barely possible. No one survives alone.

To resist the cold, to endure the months of night when even the air itself begins to freeze, requires a special breed. Variation is dangerous, difference is fatal. And Yaz is not the same.

Yaz is torn from the only life she’s ever known, away from her family, from the boy she thought she would spend her days with, and has to carve out a new path for herself in a world whose existence she never suspected. A world full of difference and mystery and danger.

Yaz learns that Abeth is older and stranger than she had ever imagined. She learns that her weaknesses are another kind of strength. And she learns to challenge the cruel arithmetic of survival that has always governed her people.

Only when it’s darkest you can see the stars.

Purchase:
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and chose to review it. This in no way impacts my opinion.

Content WarningsAbleism, Gore, Death of Loved Ones

Set in the same world as the Book of the Ancestor trilogy (that starts with Red Sister and ends with Holy Sister), I was on board with this book from the first page.

I thought that there were a lot of good discussions around disability, ability, and the ways in which we work in the world around us and how we have to adapt. There was a lot of really great characters, a lot of intrigue, and my favourite type of magical systems. I am excited to see how this series relates and ties back to the Book of the Ancestor!

While this is separate and apart from that, I think you will enjoy this more if you've already been introduced to that world. I highly recommend this one!

Have you read this book? What was your favourite part?

20 Jan 2023

Science Fiction and Fantasy Fridays: A DANCE WITH THE FAE PRINCE by Elise Kova

20 January 0 Comments

Science Fiction and Fantasy Fridays introduces readers who are unfamiliar with the Adult SF/F genre to books, authors, and discussions all about the vast expanse of the world of Adult SF/F!

A DANCE WITH THE FAE PRINCE

Author: Elise Kova
Series: Married to Magic #2
Source: Audiobook via Audible
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Publication Date: August 19, 2021

Summary:
She knew her hand in marriage would be sold. She had no idea a fae prince was the buyer.

Katria swore she'd never fall in love. She's seen what "love" means through the cruelty of her family. So when she's married off to the mysterious Lord Fenwood for a handsome price, all Katria wants is a better life than the one she's leaving. Feelings are off the table.

But her new husband makes not falling in love difficult.

As their attraction begins to grow, so too do the oddities within her new life: strange rules, screams in the night, and attacks by fae that Katria never thought were real. When she witnesses a ritual not meant for human eyes, Katria finds herself spirited away to the land of Midscape.

Surviving the fae wilds as a human is hard enough. Katria must survive as a human who accidently pilfered the magic of ancient kings - magic a bloodthirsty king is ready to kill her for in order to keep his stolen throne - and her new husband is the rightful heir in hiding.

The power to save the fae is in her hands. But who will save her from a love she vowed never to feel?

A Dance with the Fae Prince is a complete, stand-alone novel, inspired by the tales of Psyche and Eros, as well as Cinderella, with a "happily ever after" ending. It's perfect for fantasy romance fans looking for just the right amount of steam and their next slow-burn and swoon-worthy couple.

Purchase:
Content WarningsAbuse (physical and emotional, past), Animal death (on page), Arranged marriage, Attempted murder, Child abuse, Death, Death of parents (past), Emesis, Gaslighting, Physical assault, Self harm (ritual purposes), Torture, War Themes

I have a feeling that all these Married to Magic books are going to be mid. There are a lot of really good parts to them and I like slow burn romance novels, but the retelling and the magic is never nuanced enough for me to fully enjoy them.

I enjoyed the slow burn in the romance, but unfortunately, I feel like the building up to their romance fell short as I couldn't feel a strong connection between the two. 

I am glad there is always a happy ending to them, but the in between is always rife with abuse. And while the romances are never classified that way, sometimes they end up being borderline abusive. Katria doesn't even know her husband's name for a good portion of this novel. He doesn't explain a lot about the world and magic to her, which ends up putting her in harms way a few times.

I just wish there was a bit more "magic" and more emphasis on how the marriage works rather than "arranged marriage, girl can do magic, the end" throughout these. Maybe that will change with the next two, but this was mostly meh for me.

If you enjoy Elise's books, especially when they focus more on the romance portion, then this is for you!

Have you read this book? What was your favourite part?