Review: Neon Gods (Dark Olympus #1) by Katee Robert

 

Title: Neon Gods (Dark Olympus #1)

Author: Katee Robert

Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Released: June 1, 2021

Source: Electronic Review Copy through Netgalley from Publisher

Goodreads      Amazon

 

Synopsis: He was supposed to be a myth. But from the moment I crossed the River Styx and fell under his dark spell... he was, quite simply, mine. 

Society darling Persephone Dimitriou plans to flee the ultra-modern city of Olympus and start over far from the backstabbing politics of the Thirteen Houses. But all that’s ripped away when her mother ambushes her with an engagement to Zeus, the dangerous power behind their glittering city’s dark facade.

With no options left, Persephone flees to the forbidden undercity and makes a devil’s bargain with a man she once believed a myth... a man who awakens her to a world she never knew existed.

Hades has spent his life in the shadows, and he has no intention of stepping into the light. But when he finds that Persephone can offer a little slice of the revenge he’s spent years craving, it’s all the excuse he needs to help her—for a price. Yet every breathless night spent tangled together has given Hades a taste for Persephone, and he’ll go to war with Olympus itself to keep her close… 

A modern retelling of Hades and Persephone that’s as sinful as it is sweet. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher through Netgalley. Thanks so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca for giving me the chance to review an early copy.

Oooh boy, this was HOT, HOT, HOT! Very addictive. I was hooked. I really liked this modern take on the Greek gods. Persephone and Hades really had that spark!

I was a tad confused in the beginning in how the Greek gods worked, but the more I read, the more I got it. It was an interesting angle to the world.

The black door. The BLACK DOOR! Wow. Once Hades enters that room, he really does become King of the Underworld. I'm blushing. It's not a book that I want someone peeking over my shoulder while reading. Adult Content Ahead.

I'm definitely interested in reading the next book. Neon Gods takes a new spin on the Greek gods, and I enjoyed it. I do think it could have explained Olympus a little more, like how it kept itself separate from the outside world, but it's a really minor issue.

If you're not afraid of some jaw dropping romance, get it.

 

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5

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BLOG TOUR: 13 Days to Die by Matt Miksa

 I am excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for 13 Days to Die by Matt Miksa. I received a free copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Crooked Lane Books and Matt Miksa for letting me be a part of this action packed tour!

Title: 13 Days to Die

Author: Matt Miksa

 Published by: Crooked Lane Books

Released: March 9, 2021

Source: Electronic Review Copy from Publisher via Netgalley

Goodreads      Amazon

 

Synopsis: In a far-flung Tibetan village, prayer flags flap against whitewashed houses and a majestic monastery stretches to heaven. It's Shangri-La--the earthly paradise--until a stranger staggers out of the rainforest and collapses into a bloody, lifeless mass. He's the first victim of a crippling epidemic, but he's no ordinary man.

Olen Grave, an American intelligence officer, heads directly into the hot zone to investigate. Posing as a journalist, he joins the Chinese research team, led by a headstrong female virus hunter, Dr. Zhou Weilin. Together, the unlikely allies discover that Patient Zero was a spy who may have intentionally started the outbreak. But why? Who did he work for?

As Olen and Jo rush to uncover the shocking truth behind the epidemic, they unravel a twisted conspiracy that reaches from Beijing's great halls to Washington's corridors of power. With the superpowers now at the brink of war, the fate of the world will rest on the duo's shoulders. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

My Thoughts: This was an exciting and pulse pounding book. It really hit the ground running. It had a little bit of everything going on. I was never bored. I really appreciated how the author was a former FBI analyst. It brought some bits of knowledge that made the book feel more real.

Now, this book does deal with an epidemic, so after the year we've had, it has a sense of familiarity. Some people might want to stay far, far away from books dealing with deadly outbreaks of disease because it just feels too fresh. I am always a sucker for disaster books, so it didn't bother me. It was interesting reading it though after being stuck in a pandemic for so long.

This book had a lot going on in it. It was a fun read. I liked the characters, I liked the writing style, and 13 Days to Die took me on one crazy ride. I think Miksa did a great job and I'm interested to see what he writes next.

Matt Miksa is a former FBI intelligence analyst who helped prevent foreign spies from stealing America's secrets. Today, he writes espionage thrillers that blend history, politics, and science. Matt holds a graduate degree in China Studies from Columbia University and has spent time living in Beijing. He currently resides in Chicago with his wife and two young daughters.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for 13 Days to Die by Matt Miksa. Thanks so much to Crooked Lane Books and Matt Miksa for letting me be a part of the tour. If this book sounds like something you'd want to read, I'd definitely recommend giving it a go.

BLOG TOUR: Shutter by Melissa Larsen

 I am really excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Shutter by Melissa Larsen. I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Berkley Books and Melissa Larsen for letting me be a part of this tour! As soon as I saw this cover, I knew I wanted to read the book.

Title: Shutter

Author: Melissa Larsen

Published by: Berkley Books

Released: June 15, 2021

Source: Electronic Review Copy from Publisher through Netgalley

Goodreads      Amazon

 

Synopsis: A young woman agrees to star in a filmmaker's latest project, but soon realizes the movie is not what she expected in this chilling debut novel. 

In the wake of her father's death, Betty Roux doesn't allow herself to mourn. Instead, she pushes away her mother, breaks up with her boyfriend, and leaves everything behind to move to New York City. She doesn't know what she wants, except to run.

When she's offered the chance to play the leading role in mysterious indie filmmaker Anthony Marino's new project, she jumps at the opportunity. For a month Betty will live in a cabin on a private island off the coast of Maine, with a five-person cast and crew. Her mother warns against it, but Betty is too drawn to the charismatic Anthony to say no.

Anthony gives her a new identity--Lola--and Betty tells herself that this is exactly what she's been looking for. The chance to reinvent herself. That is, until they begin filming and she meets Sammy, the island's caretaker, and Betty realizes just how little she knows about the movie and its director. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: I was so intrigued by this cover and synopsis that I knew I had to read it. I just really liked the set up and idea for this novel. I wanted a little bit of a summer scare and this had some of that.

Oh Betty, Betty Roux. Our main character makes many bad decisions in this book. I know she's dealing with grief, but I just really wanted her to use her head. I'm not saying it's a bad idea to follow your dreams, but I just wanted her to think. Moving to New York City, pushing away her family and friends, it just seemed like she was taking such a drastic step. There were also so many red flags when it came to her starring role opportunity. If it sounds sketchy, that's probably because it is sketchy. I tend to get annoyed with characters who put themselves in dumb situations.

I did expect more of a scare from this story. Things were weird, and I was always interested to see where it was going to go, but I just expected a little more from it. Give me something super creepy and dangerous.

I liked the writing. I thought the story moved along pretty well. I'd be interested to see what Melissa Larsen writes next.

I really loved the idea for this story, I just wanted it to be a little more of a scare. I just wanted more from it.

Melissa Larsen has an M.F.A. from Columbia University and a B.A. from NYU's Gallatin School of Individualized Study. She has interned and worked extensively in publishing. She lives in San Francisco, and Shutter is her first novel.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Shutter by Melissa Larsen. Thanks so much to Berkley Books and Melissa Larsen for letting me be a part of the tour. If this one sounds good to you, I'd definitely say give it a read.

BLOG TOUR: The Temple House Vanishing by Rachel Donohue

 I am excited to be a part of the Blog Tour today for The Temple House Vanishing by Rachel Donohue. I received a free copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Algonquin Books and Rachel Donohue for letting me be a part of the tour!

Title: The Temple House Vanishing

Author: Rachel Donohue

Published by: Algonquin Books

Released: July 6, 2021

Source: Review Copy from Publisher

Goodreads     Amazon

 

Synopsis: An Irish Bestseller
Finalist for the Irish Book Awards’ Newcomer of the Year 

Perched high atop a seaside cliff in Ireland, a lonely Victorian mansion is home to Temple House School. And at Temple House, nothing is ever as it seems.

Louisa is the new, brilliant scholarship student. Finding most of the other students at the all-girls Catholic boarding school as icy and unfamiliar as the drafty mansion, she forms a fierce bond with the intense and compelling Victoria, an outlier and student provocateur.

Their close bond is soon unsettled by the young, charismatic art teacher, Mr. Lavelle—igniting tension and obsession in the cloistered world of the school. Then one day, Louisa and Mr. Lavelle disappear.

There is no trace of either one. It’s the unsolved mystery that captivates the whole country. Year after year, the media revisit it, and the conspiracy theories persist. Now, on the twenty-fifth anniversary, a journalist—a woman who grew up on the same street as Louisa—delves into the past to write a series of articles and uncover the truth. She finds stories of jealousy and revenge, power and class. But will she find Louisa and Mr. Lavelle, too?

Because remember—at Temple House, nothing is ever as it seems.

Told through alternating points of view, Rachel Donohue’s debut novel skillfully, gradually, lets the reader into the hearts and minds of both Louisa and the determined reporter. This page-turner is perfect for fans of Elisabeth Thomas’s Catherine House or Kate Elizabeth Russell’s My Dark Vanessa. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: I was drawn to this the moment I laid eyes on it. I really liked the feel of the cover, and the synopsis really intrigued me. This book had a mystery that I just wanted to dive into and discover. Not only did it have a mystery, but it had that more compelling kind of mystery of a case that has long since gone cold. An old mystery is an even bigger draw then a new one to me, because it just makes you wonder why no one has been able to solve it. This book was jam packed with secrets and intrigue, I enjoyed every minute of uncovering the truth.

I was definitely captured by this book. I liked the pacing of how everything unwound. It's a perfect page turner. It just has this feel to it that won't let you put it down.

I really liked the setting of this Temple House. It had all the perfect tones of what makes gothic novels so compelling. There were also so many secrets when it came to these characters. There was so much to discover and unravel.

I am very impressed by Rachel Donohue. This being her first novel, I can't wait to see what she comes out with next. I'd definitely recommend picking this one up and giving it a read. I hope it captures you like it captured me.

Rachel Donohue lives in Dublin, Ireland, where she works in communication and media relations. In 2017 she won the Hennessy New Irish Writer of the Year Award for her short fiction. The Temple House Vanishing is her first novel.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for The Temple House Vanishing by Rachel Donohue. Thanks so much to Algonquin Books and Rachel Donohue for letting me be a part of the tour. I think you should check this one out.

BLOG TOUR: Lady Sunshine by Amy Mason Doan

 After a relaxing three day weekend, I'm excited to be back, and part of the Blog Tour for Lady Sunshine by Amy Mason Doan. I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Graydon House and Amy Mason Doan for giving me the chance to read an early copy and having me as part of the Blog Tour.

Title: Lady Sunshine

Author: Amy Mason Doan

Published by: Graydon House

Released: June 29, 2021

Source: Electronic Review Copy from Publisher via Netgalley

Goodreads     Amazon

 

Synopsis: ONE ICONIC FAMILY. ONE SUMMER OF SECRETS. THE DAZZLING SPIRIT OF 1970S CALIFORNIA. 

For Jackie Pierce, everything changed the summer of 1979, when she spent three months of infinite freedom at her bohemian uncle’s sprawling estate on the California coast. As musicians, artists, and free spirits gathered at The Sandcastle for the season in pursuit of inspiration and communal living, Jackie and her cousin Willa fell into a fast friendship, testing their limits along the rocky beach and in the wild woods... until the summer abruptly ended in tragedy, and Willa silently slipped away into the night.

Twenty years later, Jackie unexpectedly inherits The Sandcastle and returns to the iconic estate for a short visit to ready it for sale. But she reluctantly extends her stay when she learns that, before her death, her estranged aunt had promised an up-and-coming producer he could record a tribute album to her late uncle at the property’s studio. As her musical guests bring the place to life again with their sun-drenched beach days and late-night bonfires, Jackie begins to notice startling parallels to that summer long ago. And when a piece of the past resurfaces and sparks new questions about Willa’s disappearance, Jackie must discover if the dark secret she’s kept ever since is even the truth at all. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: This book really captured my attention and held it the whole way through. It was a book that really took me on a journey and transported me a different place and time. I was initially drawn to the cover because it gives this great, summer kind of vibe. The story inside was surprising, interesting, and I couldn't look away. Amy Mason Doan did a great job crafting this one, and I can't wait to read more of their books.

This did have a great summer feel to it, a feel of celebration in a lot of its pages. Jackie comes to such a free and open place. It is on the California Coast. She's surrounded by musicians, free spirits, and artists. There's this vibe to the community that just seems very fun and very free. Of course things change as the book goes on, that sun gets covered by shadow.

I really liked the two different timelines and how it does stay a book set in the past the whole way through. The author picked interesting years to set the work in. Some of those years don't feel like they should be as long ago as they were.

This story had me intrigued the whole way through. I think it did a great job of teasing and revealing. It kept me reading. I'm definitely going to check out more from Amy Mason Doan. I'd add this one to your TBR pronto.

AMY MASON DOAN is the author of The Summer List and Summer Hours. She earned a BA in English from UC Berkeley and an MA in journalism from Stanford University, and has written for The Oregonian, San Francisco Chronicle, and Forbes, among other publications. She grew up in Danville, California, and now lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and daughter.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Lady Sunshine by Amy Mason Doan. Thanks to Graydon House and Amy Mason Doan for letting me be a part of this fun tour. If you're looking for some summer feels and a blast to the past, I'd definitely say give this one a read.

Reading Right Now! (302)

 We have come to the end of another week, Woo-Hoo! And it's a holiday weekend!! Double Woo-Hoo! I am ready for it. 

Maybe this is just me though, but once July 4th comes and goes, it just feels like the rest of summer goes by so fast. It's like your summer in on the race to the finish. The beginning of this summer went by really fast too. Those are just my thoughts.

So, what I'm Reading Right Now! is...

All Your Twisted Secrets by Diana Urban -- This is a YA thriller that is about six high school students who are told they won a scholarship, and are invited to a celebratory dinner. It turns out to all be a ruse, they are locked in a room with no escape, with a syringe full of poison, a bomb, and a note. They are told to pick one person to die, or they all die.

I was drawn to the premise. It sounded exciting. 

I would say, this book does read very high school to me. That's not a criticism, I am just old, and certain teenage behaviors now annoy me (lol). Haven't you ever been in a public place and a bunch of teenagers come in, and they are so loud and doing stupid stuff. Sorry teenagers, but it's the truth. I was one of those annoying teenagers at one time. It would probably be a bad idea if I went back in time and made a younger version of me. Still love reading YA though. It's not one of those super dark and gritty feeling YA's. I think if I was younger, I would be more into this, probably. It's just a very teenage story. The story is interesting and I'm curious to what they did to get locked in that room. It kind of reminds me a little bit of I Know What You Did Last Summer. It's also very quick. I'm thinking I'll be finished with this sooner rather then later. I just need to stop distracting myself and read.

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

BLOG TOUR: The Coward by Stephen Aryan

 I have a vast amount of excitement because I get to be a part of the Blog Tour for The Coward by Stephen Aryan. This is the first book in the Quest for Heroes series. I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Angry Robot and Stephen Aryan for letting me be a part of this epic tour!

Title: The Coward (Quest for Heroes #1)

Author: Stephen Aryan

Published by: Angry Robot

Released: June 8, 2021

Source: Electronic Review Copy through Netgalley from Publisher

Goodreads     Amazon

 

Synopsis: Who will take up the mantle and slay the evil in the Frozen North, saving all from death and destruction? Not Kell Kressia, he's done his part... 

Kell Kressia is a legend, a celebrity, a hero. Aged just seventeen he set out on an epic quest with a band of grizzled fighters to slay the Ice Lich and save the world, but only he returned victorious. The Lich was dead, the ice receded and the Five Kingdoms were safe.

Ten years have passed Kell lives a quiet farmer's life, while stories about his heroism are told in every tavern across the length and breadth of the land. But now a new terror has arisen in the north. Beyond the frozen circle, north of the Frostrunner clans, something has taken up residence in the Lich's abandoned castle. And the ice is beginning to creep south once more.

For the second time, Kell is called upon to take up his famous sword, Slayer, and battle the forces of darkness. But he has a terrible secret that nobody knows. He's not a hero - he was just lucky. Everyone puts their faith in Kell the Legend, but he's a coward who has no intention of risking his life for anyone... (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: *chef's kiss* Oh what a good time I had reading this one. It was fun. I loved the adventure of it all. I also found it really easy to get into. There are times with fantasy books where everything is just too complicated, worlds that you really have to study to understand, but I didn't find that with The Coward. It's main focus was on telling a good story, which I appreciated.

I really liked the characters in this story. It was a band of rogues and misfits that have to work together. That ticks so many of my boxes. We spend the most time with Kell, as the story is told from his point of view. I liked following him.

I love a quest, and this one had a big quest. 

I really enjoyed the journey that The Coward took me on. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Stephen Aryan was born in 1977 and was raised and educated in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear. After graduating from Loughborough University he started working in marketing, and for some reason he hasn't stopped. A keen podcaster, lapsed gamer and wannabe forest ranger, when not extolling the virtues of Babylon 5, he can be found drinking real ale and reading comics. He lives in the West Midlands with his partner and two cats.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for The Coward by Stephen Aryan. Thank you to Angry Robot and Stephen Aryan for letting me be a part of this fun tour! If fantasy is your jam, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a read.