BLOG TOUR: The Suspects by Katharine Johnson

I am really excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for The Suspects by Katherine Johnson. As soon as I read the synopsis, I was hooked. I was sent a free electronic copy for honest review. Thank you so much to Katharine Johnson and Rachel's Random Resources for letting me be a part of this fun tour.

Title: The Suspects

Author: Katharine Johnson

Published by: Crooked Cat Books

Released: March 25, 2019 (It might be later for US Release, Maybe May 10, 2019)

Source: Review Copy through Author and Rachel's Random Resources

Goodreads  Amazon UK  Amazon US

Synopsis: Shallow Grave meets The Secret History in this quirky psychological thriller.

When you're bound together by secrets and lies who do you trust?
Bristol, 1988.
Five young graduates on the threshold of their careers buy a house together in order to get a foot on the property ladder before prices spiral out of their reach. But it soon becomes the house share from hell.
After their New Year's Eve party, they discover a body - and it's clear they'll be the first suspects. As each of them has a good reason from their past not to trust the police, they come up with a solution - one which forces them into a life of secrets and lies.

But can they trust each other? (Synopsis from Goodreads)

My Thoughts: As soon as I read the synopsis, I knew I had to give this a read. Once I started The Suspects, I just couldn't stop reading it. I really enjoyed the mystery of the whole thing. It was a thrilling book.

I really enjoyed Katharine Johnson's writing in this. It pulled me in and didn't let me go.

I liked that it included a large cast of characters. I liked meeting everybody and then shaking my head for the decisions that they made. If I was a character in the story, I would have probably done things differently, but then the story wouldn't have been as fun. Some of these characters were just Young and Dumb in deciding how to deal with their current situation.

There were some great twists and shocks in The Suspects. I enjoyed it a lot. It kept me on the edge of my seat, turning the pages. It was thrilling to the very end. Very entertaining. If thrillers and mysteries are your thing, I'd definitely recommend giving it a read.

Meet the Author
Katharine Johnson

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 Katharine Johnson was born in Bristol and now lives in Berkshire. She’s worked as a journalist on lots of magazines and has written a history book about Windsor. When not writing you’ll usually find her with a book in one hand and a coffee in the other, restoring a house in Italy, walking her spaniel or playing netball (although not usually at the same time.)


Thank you for stopping by my Blog Tour stop for The Suspects by Katharine Johnson. If thrillers, mysteries, and murder are your thing, I'd definitely recommend picking it up. Thanks so much to Katharine Johnson and Rachel's Random Resources for letting me be a part of such a fun tour. Be sure to check out the giveaway below!

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COVER REVEAL: Making Up by Helena Hunting

I'm super excited to be sharing the Cover Reveal for Making Up by Helena Hunting!! Go ahead and feast your eyes on it! I'm gonna warn you, it's a lot of chest.

A new standalone, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy by New York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting.

Cosy Felton is great at her job—she knows just how to handle the awkwardness that comes with working at an adult toy store. So when the hottest guy she’s ever seen walks into the shop looking completely overwhelmed, she’s more than happy to turn on the charm and help him purchase all of the items on his list.

Griffin Mills is using his business trip in Las Vegas as a chance to escape the broken pieces of his life in New York City. The last thing he wants is to be put in charge of buying gag gifts for his friend’s bachelor party. Despite being totally out of his element, and mortified by the whole experience, Griffin is pleasantly surprised when he finds himself attracted to the sales girl that helped him.

As skeptical as Cosy may be of Griffin’s motivations, there’s something about him that intrigues her. But sometimes what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas and when real life gets in the way, all bets are off. Filled with hilariously awkward situations and enough sexual chemistry to power Sin City, Making Up is the next standalone in the Shacking Up world.

Goodreads

Meet the Author

Helena Hunting

Website  Twitter  Facebook

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of PUCKED, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She's writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Helena Hunting for including me on this fun Cover Reveal!

Review: The Sister by Louise Jensen

Title: The Sister

Author: Louise Jensen

Published by: Bookouture

Released: 2016

Source: Review Copy from Publisher through Netgalley / Physical Copy Borrowed From Library

Synopsis: ‘I did something terrible, Grace. I hope you can forgive me…’

Grace hasn't been the same since the death of her best friend Charlie. She is haunted by Charlie's last words, and in a bid for answers, opens an old memory box of Charlie's. It soon becomes clear there was a lot she didn't know about her best friend. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this debut thriller. So many things happened in it. So many secrets were revealed, twists were handed out like candy, plus shocks galore. It was a really fun read and I liked it.

I really enjoyed the writing style. It was very easy to get into the story and I kind of sped through it.

Grace has to be one of the most cursed characters I've met. Allll the bad things seemed to happen to her. Family tragedy, threatening letters, twisted ankles. There was a point where I would just think, Really!? another twisted ankle??

Another thing I noticed about Grace is that she seemed to vomit all the time. It was excessive vomit. I guess it was just how she dealt with stress and shock, but it became a little repetitive.

The Sister had almost every kind of twist and turn you could imagine. In a way, it was almost sort of comical, but I was enjoying the story, so I let it slide and tended to forgive it.

I do think Dan (Grace's teenage crush/current boyfriend) got an unfair ending in a way. I wanted a happy ending for those two.

I enjoyed The Sister! I'll definitely be on the lookout for more by Louise Jensen.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5

Alllll the Twists & Turns. Literally All of Them.

Reading Right Now! (203)

What I'm Reading Right Now! is...

 

First I've got The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman. This is the first book in a series. I'm enjoying it, but at the same time, I feel it's too smart for me. The world-building is just kind of going right over my head. It's about these Librarians who go to different worlds, parallel universes, and steal rare books for their organization's collections. I feel like I'm on that verge that I really could enjoy it, but only if things just made more sense. I need the simplest, dumb-it-down version when it comes to world building, or I'm just not gonna understand it. They've got words like chaos leaning blah blah blah, and I'm just like hmmm?? I do like it, but I'm wishing the approach to world building had been different.

Then I've got Rat Queens, Volume 2 and Rat Queens, Volume 3 by Kurtis J Wiebe and I'm enjoying it. I do think I'm in for a rude awakening because the art style is going to change and I know I'm not going to be a fan of it. I don't do well with change. Apparently, the original artist was arrested, so the author got a new artist whose style doesn't even try to match the original style. Probably because the new artist wants their art style to shine blah blah blah. This is all conjecture because I haven't reached the point of art change yet. Probably being mean about that, but I like the original art style, a lot! That's probably what made me enjoy the first volume so much. So we'll see.

I am also struggling with wanting to buy BOOKS!!! I want to make a Bookoutlet order because they are having their sale. I know I don't need more books, but I still want them. I also want to make an Amazon order (for books). I want to preorder something and then get some other books I've been eyeing. I know I shouldn't spend the money. I don't have the room. People are going to judge me for buying yet more BOOKS! The people I mean are my family. I'm just struggling, and I'm not a strong person to resist the urge to buy books.

So rambling over. That's what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you reading?

BLOG TOUR: Lucid (#1) by Kristy Fairlamb

I'm really excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Lucid (#1) by Kristy Fairlamb. I received a free copy of Lucid for honest review. As soon as I read the synopsis, I knew I had to experience this read. Thank you so much to Kristy Fairlamb, the publisher, and Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours for letting me be a part of this fun tour.

Title: Lucid (Lucid #1)

Author: Kristy Fairlamb

Published by: Lakewater Press 

Released: April 23, 2019

Source: free review copy/arc from publisher

Goodreads  BAM  Chapters  IndieBound  Amazon  Book Depository

Synopsis: A terrifying power. A horrifying curse. 

Lucy Piper lives a lonely existence on the precipice between life and death. She possesses the horrifying ability to resurrect real-life tragic events in her nightmares, reliving over and over, as if she were there, the last few moments before the victim takes their final breath. Car accidents, drownings, plane crashes – Lucy has seen it all. No one understands what it’s like living death by night and fearing sleep by day.
When Tyler Sims and his family move to town to escape past traumas, Lucy is drawn to him. The two of them are linked through their dreams, and with Tyler’s trust and friendship, hope for a brighter future returns to Lucy’s world. But Tyler's presence awakens something else in Lucy, and with this new knowledge, she will be forced to make impossible decisions. Decisions that will change history, and the future.

Chilling, haunting and compelling, this novel is the first in a two-part series for fans of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and The Hidden Memory of Objects that will leave you breathless for days. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

My Thoughts: Woweee Wow. What a ride. I didn't know what to expect when going into this book. The synopsis almost makes it seem like a standard paranormal/special abilities kind of tale. Lucy has a rather unfortunate skill of getting to experience dreams of real life tragedies. She's essentially trapped, replaying moments of death, destruction, and tragedy. She's afraid to go to sleep, and I don't blame her in the least. I don't think anyone in their right mind would want a power like that. The part of the synopsis that really sold me on the book was where it was compared to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin. That made me think there would be more to this book than one saw at first glance, and boy was that ever the case.

I really enjoyed this. It was twisty and dangerous. I had to keep reading just so I could see what was going to happen. I liked Lucy as a character. I was intrigued by Tyler Sims. I wanted to find out just what his connection was to Lucy. Lucid did a great job of hooking me.

It did end leaving some very big questions unanswered, and I just wish I'd have gotten a little more closure. I guess I'll just have to wait for the second book.

Meet The Author

Kristy Fairlamb

Website  Twitter  Facebook  Instagram  Goodreads

Kristy Fairlamb is an Australian author of the Young Adult Lucid series coming out in 2019.

She spends her days drinking coffee and torturing her characters with loads of tension – both love related and the nail biting kind.

Long before her days of writing began she spent half her childhood in a make believe world; daydreaming about growing up, falling in love, and travelling the world.

She’s worked as a nanny in country England, a junior matron in a boy’s boarding school south of London, a governess in East Timor, and made coffees and cleared tables in the New South Wales snow fields.

She lives with her husband, teenage daughter, and two sons in the beautiful Adelaide Hills where they’re lucky enough to get occasional visits from the local koalas.

She’s terrible at gardening, likes her bookshelves sorted by colour, and recently checked off a lifelong dream of jumping from a plane.

When she’s not writing or daydreaming about her stories you’ll find her reading, cooking for her family, or doing anything to avoid the housework.

Thank you for stopping by my Blog Tour Stop for Lucid (#1) by Kristy Fairlamb. Be sure to check out the giveaway!! Thanks again to the publisher, Kristy Fairlamb, and Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours for letting me be a part of this fun tour.

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Fresh Releases: April 23, 2018

Fresh, Fresh Releases. Fresh, Fresh.

The Tiger At Midnight (#1) by Swati Teerdhala looks good, very good. The cover just reminds me of Aladdin for some reason. I think it's the sand. 

And that's it for my Fresh Fresh Releases for this week. I know there's more, but that's the only one my laziness could find.

Review: Skitter (The Hatching #2) by Ezekiel Boone

Title: Skitter (The Hatching #2)

Author: Ezekiel Boone

Published by: Emily Bestler Books/ATRIA

Released: May 2017

Source: Library

Synopsis: Tens of millions of people around the world are dead. Half of China is a nuclear wasteland. Mysterious flesh-eating spiders are marching through Los Angeles, Oslo, Delhi, Rio de Janeiro, and countless other cities. According to scientist Melanie Guyer, however, the spider situation seems to be looking up. Yet in Japan, a giant, truck-sized, glowing egg sack gives a shocking preview of what is to come, even as survivors in Los Angeles panic and break the quarantine zone. Out in the desert, survivalists Gordo and Shotgun are trying to invent a spider super weapon, but it’s not clear if it’s too late, because President Stephanie Pilgrim has been forced to enact the plan of last resort: The Spanish Protocol. America, you are on your own. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

My Thoughts: Good. I liked this. Skitter did have a very second book feel to it. Not a lot plot wise actually happened. The spiders were very, very quiet. They were hiding out and plotting more EVIIIILLLL. Reading it was like being in the eye of a hurricane. Crazy stuff had happened in The Hatching, and Skitter gave that sense of false calm. The spiders might have disappeared, but we know that they are gearing up for the final attack.

In Skitter, we're still jumping between person to person, place to place. This can make it a very fast-paced, easy read, but it also introduces characters that play super minimal parts to the story. Sometimes it switches to a new person's perspective, and it becomes pretty obvious that they are just there to die in some gross, spider causing way. It can sometimes be too many people to keep track of, too many people to remember.

I enjoyed Skitter a lot. I'm excited to see how it all ends. What's the spiders end-game? And also, I just want to give applause for the cover design. I love it!!!

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.7/5

The Spiders Are Plotting.

Reading Right Now! (202)

What I'm Reading Right Now! is...
I just finished The Sister by Louise Jensen, so I've got some ideas about what I want to read next.

  

The Umbrella Academy, Volume 1 by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba. I've been watching The Umbrella Academy on Netflix and I do enjoy it, so I wanted to check out the source material. I flipped through it a little and I'm liking the art style. Plus I was a big fan of My Chemical Romance back in the day, Black Parade anyone? So, I mean, how could I not give this a read. 

Warcross (#1) by Marie Lu. Video games, Hackers, Danger!! I'm in.

Rosemary and Rue (October Daye #1) by Seanan McGuire. I've wanted to start this series for a while, so maybe it's finally time. I like Seanan McGuire, I like Urban Fantasy, and I like series with a good amount of books in them.

That's what I'm Reading Right Now! Or at least my reading plans. What are you reading?

Fresh Releases: April 16, 2019

Fresh, Fresh Releases!

 

No Country For Old Gnomes (#2) by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne, looks good!! Still need to read the first one. The Raven's Tale by Cat Winters. I always like her stuff. I actually got this one for review from Netgalley and I haven't read it yet because I'm a baaaad book blogger.

That's all I've got for Fresh Fresh Releases today because I am lazy. 

Review: Love & Luck by Jenna Evans Welch

Synopsis: Addie is visiting Ireland for her aunt’s over-the-top destination wedding, and hoping she can stop thinking about the one horrible thing she did that left her miserable and heartbroken—and threatens her future. But her brother, Ian, isn’t about to let her forget, and his constant needling leads to arguments and even a fistfight between the two once inseparable siblings. Miserable, Addie can’t wait to visit her friend in Italy and leave her brother—and her problems—behind.

So when Addie discovers an unusual guidebook, Ireland for the Heartbroken, hidden in the dusty shelves of the hotel library, she’s able to finally escape her anxious mind and Ian’s criticism.
And then their travel plans change. Suddenly Addie finds herself on a whirlwind tour of the Emerald Isle, trapped in the world’s smallest vehicle with Ian and his admittedly cute, Irish-accented friend Rowan. As the trio journeys over breathtaking green hills, past countless castles, and through a number of fairy-tale forests, Addie hopes her guidebook will heal not only her broken heart, but also her shattered relationship with her brother.

That is if they don’t get completely lost along the way. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

My Thoughts: Cute! Fun! Some parts of Love & Luck made me laugh out loud. Jenna Evans Welch has a fan, and it's me!

I appreciated the sibling relationship aspect portrayed in Love & Luck. It really displayed how family will always be there for you, even when you fight. It also showed that no one can drive you to that special level of crazy the way a sibling can. I loved the beginning where Addie and Ian had a fight so epic, that they both tumbled down an Irish hill in the middle of their aunt's wedding. I could see the tumble in my mind, it was awesome.

I loved the road trip through Ireland. I've never been to Ireland (but according to my Ancestry DNA test, I have ancestors who came from there!! Or maybe they came from Scotland, but still). I was picturing all the sights and all the green. It seemed so beautiful and one day I would like to go for a visit.

I also appreciated that there was no push, no rush toward a romance. Whatever is going to happen between Addie and Rowan will have a believable time to develop and feel real.

I also enjoyed the little Heartbreak Guidebook and the journey that it took Addie on.

I was also pleased that I got to see a little bit of Lina from Love & Gelato in this, but I wish she would have had a little more page time.

I thought this was great! It was cute, funny, heartfelt. It was another great book from Jenna Evans Welch. I can't wait to read what she comes out with next.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5

Cute!

Reading Right Now! (201)

What I'm Reading Right Now! is...
Okay, I've got some plans this week. I've got some stuff I want to finally finish and I think I should be able to do it.

 

I'm making it my mission to finally finish the rest of Goblin: A Novel in Six Novellas by Josh Malerman. I've got one more of the novellas to read and the epilogue, and then I am finished!! I'm enjoying it. It's not as scary as I thought it was going to be. I'm glad I got to read it from my library, because there was no way I was going to get to read it otherwise. I have noticed a bunch of typos spread throughout the book though, which is kind of weird. Maybe because it's a small press publisher? Next I'm going to speed through Saga: Volume 9 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples. I'm kind of falling off the hype train for this series. I still like it, but I don't think it's the greatest comic series I've ever read. It's such a drawn out series. I like the art and colors, but I don't like how inappropriate it is ALL THE DANG TIME!!! It's definitely not safe to read at work, in front of family members, children, aged people, Jehovah's Witnesses. I'm only comfortable reading it when I'm allllll alone. It's not necessary to have all that nakedness in it, in my opinion. I feel like they put it in there just for shock value, and that's lost it's charm for me. And while I'm on my ranty rant rant, It amuses me that the authors have taken an indefinite hiatus from writing this. I know it ends on a crazy moment cliffhanger (because I might have peeked). And then you don't even know when they'll write the next installment!! My feelings for this series are so all over the place really.

So that's what I would like to finish. And then I would like to start.

The Sister by Louise Jensen. It looks like a fun thriller and I'm here for it.

And that's what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you reading?

Fresh Releases: April 9, 2019

Time for some Fresh, Fresh Releases. They're Fresh!! 
Actually this post is a couple of days late, which should surprise no one.

  

 

Saving Meghan by D.J. Palmer which I was lucky enough to win in a Goodreads FirstReads Giveaway!! It's a thriller, and I love a good thriller. Through the White Wood by Jessica Leake. I got her first book in a Unicorn Crate, still need to read it, but I'm definitely adding her newest book to my TBR. The Red Scrolls of Magic (#1) by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu. I'm going to tell you a terrible and shameful secret, I haven't read any of Cassandra Clare's books!! I own almost all of them, but I just haven't gotten around to reading them. I want to read them in publication order, because I hear that's how it's supposed to be done. One day, hopefully soon, I'll hunker down and start City of Bones. Meet Cute by Helena Hunting looks cute and I want to read it. Descendant of the Crane by Joan He. I've been seeing this one all over Twitter and I want to read it. 

And those are all the Fresh Fresh Releases I've got for this week. Anything catch your eye?   

BLOG TOUR: Smoke and Key by Kelsey Sutton

I'm really excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Smoke and Key by Kelsey Sutton. As soon as I saw that gorgeous cover, I knew I had to read the book. I was sent an early review copy for honest review. Thanks so much to Entangled Teen, Kelsey Sutton, and YA Bound Book Tours for including me on this fun tour.

Title: Smoke and Key

Author: Kelsey Sutton

Published by: Entangled Teen

Released: April 2, 2019

Source: Review copy from Publisher and Netgalley

Goodreads  Amazon  Purchase Links

Synopsis: A sound awakens her. There's darkness all around. And then she's falling...

She has no idea who or where she is. Or why she's dead. The only clue to her identity hangs around her neck: a single rusted key. This is how she and the others receive their names—from whatever belongings they had when they fell out of their graves. Under is a place of dirt and secrets, and Key is determined to discover the truth of her past in order to escape it.

She needs help, but who can she trust? Ribbon seems content in Under, uninterested in finding answers. Doll’s silence hints at deep sorrow, which could be why she doesn't utter a word. There's Smoke, the boy with a fierceness that rivals even the living. And Journal, who stays apart from everyone else. Key's instincts tell her there is something remarkable about each of them, even if she can't remember why.

My Thoughts: Smoke and Key has kind of left me speechless. This book is a journey, it's a ride, and it's not what I expected at all. The world is dark and strange, mysterious and creepy, but really, really interesting. I can't really categorize Smoke and Key easily, it's different and I really enjoyed it.

There's a lot of mystery in this book and it was really fun to discover it, and unpack. Key lives in the world of the dead, she doesn't really know anything about herself when she wakes up. She's in a strange world with dead people, decaying people, and the only clue she has is this Key. Then the murders start and Key starts to remember.

The world in this was really interesting, strange, and I was just here for it. It's dark and dangerous.

I really enjoyed untangling the mystery. The plot was really fun to follow. There was a tiny smidgen of romance, but that's not what the story was focused on. Smoke and Key was different, it was fun, and I really enjoyed it. If you're looking for a book that's a little different and dark, I'd definitely recommend it. 

Meet the Author Kelsey Sutton: Kelsey Sutton is a young adult and middle grade author. She lives in Minnesota, where she received a dual bachelor's degree in English and Creative Writing from Bemidji State University. She will soon have a master's degree from Hamline University. Her work has received an Independent Publisher Book Award, an IndieFab Award, and was selected as a Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of 2013. When not writing, Kelsey can be found watching too much Netflix, ordering a mocha at the nearest coffee shop, or browsing a bookstore. You can visit her online at www.kelseysuttonbooks.com, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter or Instagram.

Website  Goodreads  Twitter  Facebook

Thanks for stopping by my Blog Tour Stop for Smoke and Key by Kelsey Sutton. Thanks again to Entangled Teen, Kelsey Sutton, and YA Bound Book Tours for letting me be a part of this fun tour. Be sure to enter the giveaway below!

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Review: Empress of a Thousand Skies (#1) by Rhoda Belleza

Title: Empress of a Thousand Skies (#1)

Author: Rhoda Belleza

Published by: Razorbill

Released: February 2017

Source: Library

Synopsis: Crown Princess Rhiannon Ta'an wants vengeance.

The only surviving heir to an ancient Kalusian dynasty, Rheehas spent her life training to destroy the people who killed her family. Now, on the eve of her coronation, the time has finally come for Rhee to claim her throne - and her revenge.

Alyosha is a Wraetan who has risen above his war refugee origins to find fame as the dashing star of a DroneVision show. Despite his popularity, Aly struggles with anti-Wraetan prejudices and the pressure of being perfect in the public eye.

Their paths collide with one brutal act of violence: Rhee is attacked, barely escaping with her life. Aly is blamed for her presumed murder.

The princess and her accused killer are forced to go into hiding - even as a war between planets is waged in Rhee's name. But soon, Rhee and Aly discover that the assassination attempt is just one part of a sinister plot. Bound together by an evil that only they can stop, the two fugitives must join forces to save the galaxy. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

My Thoughts: I really, really liked this! It was a fun space romp and I'm here for it. I've become a really big fan of space books, space shows, and other science fiction goodness, and Empress of a Thousand Skies offered me just the space book I was hoping for. I just had a lot of fun reading it, and that is all that really matters when it comes to books that I enjoy and recommend.

There are two character perspectives we go between in this story, Alyosha and Rhiannon. Rhee is the last in the line of the Royal family of Ta'an. The rest of her family was lost in a spaceship explosion. She's just about to turn 16 and go through the coronation to become Empress, and then somebody tries to kill her. Rhee could be a little rash, she didn't always think things through, but she was all right.

My favorite of the two characters was probably Alysoha. He's a Wraetan refugee who became a reality star on Drone Vision with his crewmate Vin. They are soldiers in the army, patrolling the galaxy, and then everything goes to crap. Aly's story was the one I enjoyed reading the most. I liked him.

One thing that I really enjoyed about this set-up was that these two characters never really, truly meet. I thought that was kind of clever, because whenever you read a book with a guy and girl perspective, you just assume that they will meet and fall in love, but that didn't happen with Empress of a Thousand Skies, and it was refreshing.

This book had a lot of action. It was really fun. There were some parts that really made me sad, others made me glad, and some shocks too. I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. Sure, there were some predictable twists and non-surprising surprises, but I enjoyed every bit of it. I really liked some of the secondary characters. Vin and Aly had this friendship that I really loved. The robot Pavel was the best! Dahlen is a very interesting character too and I can't wait to see more from him.

While reading this, I got a little bit of a vibe of Firefly. I don't use that lightly because I love Firefly, and I wouldn't put that out there if I didn't really feel it. The plot isn't anything like Firefly, but while I was reading some scenes, I just got that Firefly vibe. The sass, the sarcasm, the camaraderie, that's what reminded me of Firefly, and it just made reading this book that much more enjoyable. It also reminded me a little bit of the Universe of Star Wars because of all the different planets and alien species.

I thought Empress of a Thousand Skies was great! That pretty cover didn't lie to me, it contained a great story. I can't wait to see what happens and where it goes next. I'd definitely recommend it.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4.2/5

SPACE!! I Love It!

Reading Right Now! (200)

What I'm Reading Right Now! is...
I've actually been reading a little slowly this week, getting distracted, so the books you see this week are pretty much the same books from last week.

 

I am so, so close to being finished with Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza and I'm really liking it. To me, it has a Firefly-esque vibe. I'm not saying the story is the same, but it has that sarcasm and sass that Firefly has and that I love. I'm also hoping to finish Goblin: A Novel in Six Novellas by Josh Malerman, which I'm also enjoying.

Once I finish those two, I would like to start these next. For a Muse of Fire (#1) by Heidi Heilig. I've heard good things about this and the cover just looks pretty. I'd also like to read The Sister by Louise Jensen. I love a good psychological thriller. This one came onto my radar by accident really. My mom requested this from the library and I'm not sure how it got on her list. She doesn't really read books like The Sister. She took a look at it after she got it and decided that she didn't want to read it, had no idea why she requested it, and that I could read it instead. So let's see if I get thrilled by this one.  

 

That's what I'm Reading Right Now! and what my reading plans are for the week. I might change my mind and read something else before the week is done because I'm fickle like that. Are you reading anything exciting for this weekend?

Review: A Walk Through Hell, Volume 1 by Garth Ennis, Goran Sudzuka, Mike Marts

Title: A Walk Through Hell, Volume 1

Written by: Garth Ennis

Art by: Goran Sudzuka

Editor: Mike Marts

Published by: Aftershock Comics

Released: December 11, 2018

Source: Netgalley e-arc from Publisher

Synopsis: So these two FBI agents walk into a warehouse…

Special Agents Shaw and McGregor handle the routine cases nowadays, which is just the way Shaw likes it. She’s pushing 40, a borderline burnout, the ghastly memories of her last investigation still clinging like shadows. McGregor is younger, more dedicated, hanging onto some measure of idealism whatever the world might throw at him.

When two fellow agents go missing inside a Long Beach warehouse, Shaw and McGregor are sent to investigate. But what they find waiting is far from routine, as the local police have already discovered to their cost. Before the night is out, our heroes will encounter terror beyond their most appalling nightmares―in a place where the night may never end at all.

A new kind of horror story for modern America, written by Garth Ennis (‘Preacher’, ‘The Boys’, ‘Crossed’) and drawn by Goran Sudžuka (‘Y: The Last Man’, ‘Hellblazer’) (Synopsis from Goodreads)

My Thoughts: Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for letting me read an early copy of this book.

A Walk Through Hell was just weird, and not in a good way. It was just an odd read. I was interested in the synopsis and the cover drew me in. It had potential, I just don't know if it ever reached it.

So, I'll start with the good. I liked the art and the colors. It also had a slight X-Files vibe to it, mainly because the two main characters were FBI Agents, they were investigating something weird and maybe not of this world, and the female agent favored Agent Scully, a lot. I think the X-Files vibe was very intentional. There were some very shocking scenes that added to that whole horror vibe.

Now the Meh, and that was pretty much the whole story inside. It was very confusing. It jumped back and forth in time. It was very weird. It wasn't even a gradual journey to the weirdness, it just got sprung on the reader. I feel like things needed to be explained more, especially this case that was so central to the FBI Agents. I didn't really understand why Agents were sent to that warehouse in the first place.

And now the Bad, at least from my perspective, the book went political. I hate when authors push in their political beliefs in books. It's just very obvious to me and I don't enjoy it. The world is already overly-saturated with political discourse and people disagreeing, so I don't want to see it so blatantly in the books I read. At least try to hide it from me or disguise it, make up some fictional political system that mirrors our own or something. That might be an unpopular opinion, but I don't want it and I don't enjoy it. It was one of the main characters who was constantly bringing up politics, like someone would bring up the weather. It didn't really do anything for the story and I didn't enjoy reading it.

A Walk Through Hell, Volume 1 was just one big MEH for me. I don't know if I'd pick up the next Volume. I'm really grateful that I was able to read and review an early copy.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3/5

Just kinda weird