Saturday, March 28, 2020

Review: Honor Lost by Ann Aguirre and Rachel Caine

Title: Honor Lost
Author: Ann Aguirre and Rachel Caine
Narrator: Adenrele Ojo and Adam Lazarre-White
Audio Length: 12hr 14min
Rating: 4.5/5

!!!!SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):
Reeling from a series of battles, Zara and her wounded band of allies are going to
need a strategy before they face Lifekiller again. Zara’s street smarts may not be
enough when their enemy could be anywhere

Thoughts:
Leviathans will always be a keyword insta-buy for me, they truly are my
kryptonite. The team grows both together as one as well as adding new
members to the crew. Lifekiller is leaving a trail of death and it seems it
has it out for Zara. The phage may be the ones causing the death but thanks
to one saved onboard Nadim that view might be changing. CX has played
an even larger part in this novel and I found I liked her even more than the other
two books. 

I`m sad to have this trilogy end but boy does it wrap-up nicely. There are some
questions that are left that can leave more room for a novella maybe. I`m proud
of Zara, Nadim, Bea and crew, there were some tears shed for the lives lost. 

TTFN,

Ashley

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Review: The Seep by Chana Porter

Title: The Seep
Author: Chana Porter
Narrator: Shakina Nayfack
Audio Length: 3hr 4min
Rating:4/5
Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):
Trina Goldberg-Oneka is a fifty-year-old trans woman whose life is irreversibly
altered in the wake of a gentle—but nonetheless world-changing—invasion by
an alien entity called The Seep. Through The Seep, everything is connected.

Thoughts:
This was an impulse buy, I thought the cover looked cool and the audio was short.
This was a bizarre novel but don`t let that sway you. I`m sure if i listened
again I would find something else to fixate on but for now I want to talk
about loss. 
Loss is experienced in a few ways both the loss of love, life and a person`s “norm.”
Loss is something that you should never have to “just get over.” There is an
alien race that is consumed and offers a new sense of togetherness for humans.
I can see there being more on this type of alien and bond. 
If you`re looking for a fast audiobook that keeps you thinking what would
happen if you could be bonded with every human on earth this is the book for you.

TTFN,

Ashley 

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Review: Between Burning Worlds

Title: Between Burning Worlds
Author: Jessica Brody & Joanna Rendell
Page Count: 688
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):
The planet Laterre is in turmoil. A new militant revolutionary group has emerged calling
themselves “The Red Scar” and claiming responsibility for a spate of recent bombings.
The infamous rebels known as the Vangarde believe that in order to bring about a peaceful
revolution, their charismatic leader, Citizen Rousseau must be freed from prison right away.
Otherwise the bloodshed will only escalate.

Thoughts:
Thank you Netgalley for a review copy, this in no way influences my opinion of this novel.
( I already preordered the audiobook and physical of it prior to being approved)

Tons of information dumping in the start which happened in Sky Without Stars. After that info the
story picks up where it left off. Well paced and full of drama, leaves you satisfied yet wanting more.
There better be a book three.

I enjoyed the internal thoughts each character had and it truly kept the story flowing. There is so
much more drama and the stakes are higher than before. Marcellus is still infuriating in his
weakness and I found myself disappointed in him and his choices. 

TTFN,

Ashley

Saturday, March 21, 2020

Review: Ember Queen by Laura Sebastian

Title: Ember Queen
Author: Laura Sebastian
Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld
Audio Length: 13hr 19min
Rating: 2.5/5

!!!!!!!SPOILERS AHEAD !!!!!!
Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):
Princess Theodosia was a prisoner in her own country for a decade.
Renamed the Ash Princess, she endured relentless abuse and ridicule from the
Kaiser and his court. But though she wore a crown of ashes, there is fire in
Theo’s blood. As the rightful heir to the Astrean crown, it runs in her veins.
And if she learned nothing else from her mother, she learned that a
Queen never cowers.

Thoughts:
I was invested enough to finish this trilogy but barely. So if you`ve enjoyed the
first two novels then this one might be just for you to wrap-up the series. 
I`m just not invested in any one character enough to care who lived and who died.
The final battle was the only thing I truly enjoyed. A lot of travel, some tiny
battles and Theo being emotional. 
I wish I enjoyed this because the world seemed like such a great opportunity
to explore. 

TTFN,

Ashley

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Review: Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore

Title: Dark and Deepest Red
Author: Anna-Marie McLemore
Page Count: 320
Rating: 3.5/5
Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):
Summer, 1518. A strange sickness sweeps through Strasbourg: women
dance in the streets, some until they fall down dead. 
Five centuries later, a pair of red shoes seal to Rosella Oliva’s feet, making
her dance uncontrollably. They draw her toward a boy who knows the dancing
fever’s history better than anyone: 
Emil, whose family was blamed for the fever five hundred years ago. 

Thoughts:
I never knew there was a real dancing plague that the fairy tale was based on.
I enjoyed the transitions between both time periods. There is LGBTQ+ represented
and it is easy to follow along. There is also cultural diversity that adds this extra layer
to the fantasy. 
I wasn't dying to pick this back up after I read the initial hundred pages but I am
glad I saw it through. Although the diversion of time periods was well written it
made it hard to grow attached to just one character. I`m hoping to find more
retellings or historical events that have been written as young adult novels.

TTFN,

Ashley

Saturday, March 14, 2020

Review: Castle in the Clouds

Title: A Castle in the Clouds
Author: Kerstin Gier Translated by: Romy Fursland
Narrator: Marisa Calin
Audio Length: 9hr 52min
Rating: 2.5/5
Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):
Way up in the Swiss mountains, there's an old grand hotel steeped in tradition
and faded splendor. Once a year, when the famous New Year's Eve Ball takes place
and guests from all over the world arrive, excitement returns to the vast hallways.

Thoughts:
I adored the narrator and will be looking for more books read by her. I think I was
expecting more than what this turned out to be. Maybe it was the pacing of the story
or something was lost in translation. It took nearly seven hours for true action to
happen and a jewelry heist to begin. The first seven hours was filled with
babysitting, hotel work and some love triangle thing forming.

I did really enjoy the setting and ironically the birds that played a very small
part in the plot. Maybe I will find a hotel adventure story that truly captures my
attention but his one was not it.

TTFN,

Ashley

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Review: Blood Countess by Lana Popvic

Title: Blood Countess
Author: Lana Popvic
Narrator: Jennifer Mudge
Audio Length: 9hr 26min
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):
In 16th century Hungary, Anna Darvulia has just begun working as a
scullery maid for the young and glamorous Countess Elizabeth Báthory.
When Elizabeth takes a liking to Anna, she’s vaulted to the dream role of
chambermaid, a far cry from the filthy servants’ quarters below.

Thoughts:
A Historical novel about Elizabeth Bathery the countess known for bathing in
the blood of her chambermaids and any pretty girl she could get her hands on.
I think I was expecting a bit more but I did enjoy this one. It took a little while
to pick up and bring out the evil and blood. The epilogue was probably my favorite part.

Anna is a little too gullible towards anything Countess Elizabeth does or says.
There is torture, sex and a whole lot of murder. I would say this is for older
YA fans or just fans of historical retellings. 

TTFN,

Ashley

Saturday, March 7, 2020

Review: Never Never by Brianna R. Shrum

Title: Never Never
Author: Brianna R. Shrum
Page Count: 368pgs
Rating: 2.5/5
Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):
James Hook is a child who only wants to grow up.
When he meets Peter Pan, a boy who loves to pretend and is intent on never
becoming a man, James decides he could try being a child - at least briefly.

Thoughts:
A Hook vs Pan retelling with a twist that had so much potential but got really
uncomfortable. Age works differently in Neverland and this is where things became
weird for me. Overall this was just a meh book for me, the writing felt very childish
but the subject matter of death and violence was pretty detailed. Then there is the
topic of Hook and Tiger Lily`s relationship...I don't think I will ever be able to watch
the scene of Smee kidnapping Tiger Lily for Hook the same way again. 

There are plenty of pirate books out there as well as some Peter Pan retellings
and I think I will stick to those. 

TTFN,

Ashley

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Review: Second Hand Curses

Title: Second Hand Curses
Author: Drew Hayes
Narrator: Tavia Gilbert, Scott Aiello, Marc Vietor
Audio Length: 9hr
Rating: 4.5/5
Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):
When your fairy godmother threatens to enslave you with a curse - when a malevolent piper
solves your rat problem but steals your children - when you seek revenge on the prince who
turned you into a frog - who can you turn to in your hour of need? 

Thoughts:
An adult fairytale adventure that is hilariously adult appropriate. A group traveling together to
undo or fix fairytale curses and deals. Each tale takes up a chapter and runs into each other until
we learn about the three main characters. This was such a fast read and I hope there can be
more Audible originals like this. 
Marie, Frank and Jack are a form of twisted fairytales themselves. Each has a story that
somehow attracts the Blue Fairy. The Blue Fairy is the primary focus in the overall novel
but each chapter deals with a different fairytale. I really enjoyed how the trio known as The
Bastard Champions solves each job in a quick yet fun way.

Let's talk narrators. These three did an amazing job for each voice. Audiobooks have been my
primary source of reading for the last two years and I can get a little picky. I think the
Audible original dramas have really good pacing and quality audio. 

TTFN,

Ashley