Category: Book Reviews

Always Human Review

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In the near future, people use technology to give the illusion of all kinds of body modifications—but some people have “Egan’s Syndrome,” a highly sensitive immune system that rejects these “mods” and are unable to use them. Those who are affected maintain a “natural” appearance, reliant on cosmetics and hair dye at most to help them play with their looks. Sunati is attracted to Austen the first time she sees her and is drawn to what she assumes is Austen’s bravery and confidence to live life unmodded. When Sunati learns the truth, she’s still attracted to Austen and asks her on a date. Gradually, their relationship unfolds as they deal with friends, family, and the emotional conflicts that come with every romance. Together, they will learn and grow in a story that reminds us no matter how technology evolves, we will remain . . . always human.

The Appeal Review

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Dear Reader – enclosed are all the documents you need to solve a case. It starts with the arrival of two mysterious newcomers to the small town of Lockwood, and ends with a tragic death. Someone has already been convicted of this brutal murder and is currently in prison, but we suspect they are innocent. What’s more, we believe far darker secrets have yet to be revealed. Throughout the Fairway Players’ staging of All My Sons and the charity appeal for little Poppy Reswick’s life-saving medical treatment, the murderer hid in plain sight. Yet we believe they gave themselves away. In writing. The evidence is all here, between the lines, waiting to be discovered. Will you accept the challenge? Can you uncover the truth?

July Wrap Up 2021

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To be honest, I didn’t think I would do as well as I did this month since 2 weeks of the month was dedicated to one book but I am super happy with how this month went! So many 5 stars!

  • I read 8 books this month.
  • I DNFed 1 book this month, that’s 3 so far for the year.
  • Genre: 3 fantasy, 2 murder mystery, 1 romance, 1 horror and 1 sci-fi.
  • Gender of authors: 3 women and 5 men.
  • Race of authors: 5 white, 2 asian and 1 latinx.
  • Race of illustrators: 2 white and 1 asian.
  • Age range: 7 adult and 1 YA
  • Format: 5 paperback, 1 ebook, 1 hardcover and 1 webcomic

The Shadow Rising – Robert Jordan (4 stars)

Another great installment in the series and with the tv show a matter of months away I am happy to have got through this chunky book. 1000+ pages! I really enjoyed the varying plot lines, I love where the series is going and I look forward to more. I did have to deduct 1 star because, while the plot is amazing, the pacing is SUPER slow!

Saga Vol. 1 – Brian K. Vaughn and (4 stars)

I had heard so much about this series so I finally caved in and got the first volume. Like with most first volumes it was mainly there to set up the main plot points and character motivations. The art was really good, the story is super interesting and I am invested in the characters. Looking forward to volume 2.

Labyrinth: Coronation Vol. 1 – Simon Spurrier (2 stars)

I picked this up due to being massive Labyrinth fan but sadly this comic, which is meant to be a prequel about how the Goblin King became the Goblin King, had so many misses for me. It was too rushed, I wasn’t as invested in the characters or really the plot. I also didn’t love the art style.

The Inugami Curse – Seishi Yokomizo (3 stars)

I was super excited to read this as I loved the first novel by this author. While I still really enjoyed it and would recommend it, it wasn’t as good as the first one for me. I think my rating would have been higher had I not figured out some of the key elements very early on. But it still was an enjoyable novel.

Miss Abbott and the Doctor – Maripaz Villar (5 stars)

This was a super cute romance set in a vague victorian town that follows two completely opposite individuals as they fall in love. The romance is great, the side characters are great, this comic has so much wit and heart and I wish I could physically own it!

The Devil and the Dark Water – Stuart Turton (5 stars)

Another amazing book this month. I am loving this author at the moment! I really loved all the characters, the atmosphere and the mystery. There were times I thought I figured it all out but boy was I wrong! This definitely up there in my Top 10!

Forest of a Thousand Lanterns – Julic C. Dao (DNF)

Sadly, this didn’t work out. It had a lot of potential and I really like the premise but sadly I found the main character to be a bit boring and the writing itself didn’t grab me. I wanted to skim most of it but I just decided to put it down.

Mexican Gothic – Silvia Moreno-Garcia (5 stars)

WOW! This book flew under my radar last week but I picked it up and was INVESTED! I don’t really read much horror but I felt there was a really strong mystery element to this story which I love. This was so far removed from what I normally read and I am so glad that I gave it a go. Great atmosphere, amazing writing, brilliant characters and a super exciting but gruesome plot!

Mexican Gothic Review

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After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find—her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region. Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemí’s dreams with visions of blood and doom. Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness. 

The Devil and the Dark Water Review

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It’s 1634 and Samuel Pipps, the world’s greatest detective, is being transported to Amsterdam to be executed for a crime he may, or may not, have committed. Traveling with him is his loyal bodyguard, Arent Hayes, who is determined to prove his friend innocent. But no sooner are they out to sea than devilry begins to blight the voyage. A twice-dead leper stalks the decks. Strange symbols appear on the sails. Livestock is slaughtered. And then three passengers are marked for death, including Samuel. Could a demon be responsible for their misfortunes? With Pipps imprisoned, only Arent can solve a mystery that connects every passenger onboard. A mystery that stretches back into their past and now threatens to sink the ship, killing everybody

The Shadow Rising Review

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The seals of Shayol Ghul are weak now, and the Dark One reaches out. The Shadow is rising to cover humankind. In Tar Valon, Min sees portents of hideous doom. Will the White Tower itself be broken? In the Two Rivers, the Whitecloaks ride in pursuit of a man with golden eyes, and in pursuit of the Dragon Reborn. In Cantorin, among the Sea Folk, High Lady Suroth plans the return of the Seanchan armies to the mainland. In the Stone of Tear, the Lord Dragon considers his next move. It will be something no one expects, not the Black Ajah, not Tairen nobles, not Aes Sedai, not Egwene or Elayne or Nynaeve. Against the Shadow rising stands the Dragon Reborn…

Labyrinth: Coronation Vol. 1 Review

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Long before Sarah ventured to save her baby brother from the clutches of the Goblin King, another young woman sought to save her child from an unknown fate within the Labyrinth. Set in 18th-century Venice, Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: Coronation is a striking look into the mysteries of the Labyrinth itself, uncovering the fate of a small boy named Jareth who would one day be King.

June 2021 Wrap Up

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So, I had a pretty positive month this month considering how much I struggled in May. I read some really good books this month and started my first 1000+ page book. I won’t be finished until next month but it is quite a feat! I also have found a new author I am excited to read more from and continued reading some trusty authors I know and love.

  • I read 5 books this month.
  • Genre: 4 fantasy and 1 contemporary.
  • Gender of authors: 3 women and 2 men.
  • Race of authors: 1 white, 3 asian and 1 middle eastern.
  • Age range: 3 adult and 2 YA.
  • Format: All paperback.

Alloy of Law – Brandon Sanderson (4.5 stars)

It felt so great to jump back into the world of Mistborn. This book is set 300 years after the events of The Hero of Ages and the world has evolved and changed. I really enjoyed meeting the new characters, seeing how the magic system has adapted, how the world has changed and where this series will take us next. It was super enjoyable and I sped through this book.

We Hunt the Flame – Hafsah Faizal (5 stars)

This was a book that the entirety of Book Twitter was raving about. After I saw all the positive tweets about it I had to pick it up and this book was worth the hype for me. It was actually better than I expected. I cannot wait to read the sequel and more of Faizal’s books in general.

Fullmetal Alchemist Vol. 13-15 – Hiromu Arakwa (5 stars)

Another instalment in a series I cannot praise enough. I enjoyed reading this instalment a lot as we get more backstory to certain major events in the books past and we get to learn bit more about the world as a whole. We also meet some very interesting characters as well. OOooo, the series is getting more and more intense and I love it.

Attack on Titan Vol. 1 – Hajime Isayama (3 stars)

So, I picked this up because I wanted to see how the first volume was compared to the first episode of the show. I will be honest, I was not blown away by this volume. The art style wasn’t my favourite and things felt quite rushed but I have faith that the series is going to get better with each volume I pick up.

Ouran High School Host Club Vol. 1 – Bisco Hatori (2.5 stars)

Another case of having seen the show and wanted to compare the original source material to the adaptation. This one also didn’t work out for some of the same reasons. Not a fan of the art style, things felt rushed and I just wasn’t enamoured by it.