Review: Cemetery Boys by Aidan Thomas

 Title: Cemetery Boys

Author:Aiden Thomas

Narrator: Avi Roque

Audio Length: 13hr 47min

Rating: 4.5/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can't get rid of him.

When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his true gender,

Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his

cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out

to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free.

Thoughts:

August and September were books filled with family and learning to accept yourself

even when others refuse to accept you. Yadriel is a fighter and he deserves so

much in the world. My heart hurt when his own father used his deadname. The

narrator added so much emotion in each character than Aiden`s writing really

pushed through.

Maritza is the friend we all need. She is supportive but doesn't let Yads get

away with any bullshit. She calls him out when needed but is the first to

jump in to support him.

When the ghost of Julian bargained for Yadriel`s help, what was expected

was the growing romance between them.

There are amazing twists in this beautiful diverse debut novel. Aiden has so

much potential and I can't wait to see what they write next.

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: The Circus Rose

 Title: The Circus Rose

Author: Betsy Cornwell

Narrator: Nicol Zanzarella

Audio Length: 5hr 21min

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Twins Rosie and Ivory have grown up at their ringmaster mother’s knee, and after years on the road, they’re returning to Port End, the closest place to home they know. Yet something has changed in the bustling city: fundamentalist flyers paper the walls and preachers fill the squares, warning of shadows falling over the land.

Thoughts:

I pre-ordered this on impulse and finally got around to reading it. This was a fast listen and I really enjoyed a retelling of Snow White and Rose Red. There is magic but the rawness comes from that of a circus family dealing with abuse from a church like entity. I really enjoyed the take on magical folke being non gendered. It gave a realness feeling to the book which Betsy does in her other novel Mechanica.

There are some strange bits in the book and I`m sure its not without its issues but I overall enjoyed the pacing and plot.

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: When You Were Everything

Title: When You Were Everything

Author: Ashley Woodfolk

Narrator: Imani Parks

Audio Length: 10hr 17min

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

You can't rewrite the past, but you can always choose to start again.

It’s been twenty-seven days since Cleo and Layla’s friendship imploded.

Nearly a month since Cleo realized they’ll never be besties again.

Thoughts:

Friendship is messy and this novel shows all the sides of the story. Losing friends

is different than outgrowing them but when you`re in the moment it's hard to tell the

difference.

Looking back at my high school years it seemed filled with real friends but now

I know I was seeing it from a different view. When you grow apart as friends it

doesn't have to be abrupt sometimes the most painful losses happen over time.

Ending a friendship over hateful thoughts and words is not healthy and it shows

how big of a person you are by speaking up and admitting when you`ve done

something hurtful. Cleo and Layla show readers what not to do and how to grow.

Overall a great contemporary read that teaches a life lesson even as adults we

can learn from.

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: You Should See Me in a Crown

Title: You Should See Me in a Crown

Author: Leah Johnson

Narrator: Alaska Jackson

Audio Length: 7hr 18min

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Liz Lighty has always believed she's too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small,

rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. But it's okay -- Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever

Thoughts:

Prim in a rich conservative white town seems complicated enough to maneuver. Add in our musically

talented main character Liz who is lower class and Black, that just adds to the complications. 

I`m not much of a contemporary reader but the discussion of LGBTQ+ struggles in a small town

community was eye-opening. I appreciated the rawness of Liz.

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: Song of Blood & Stone

Title: Song of Blood and Stone

Author: L. Penelope

Narrator: Allyson Johnson

Audio Length: 9hr 33min

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Orphaned and alone, Jasminda lives in a land where cold whispers of invasion and

war linger on the wind. Jasminda herself is an outcast in her homeland of Elsira,

where her gift of Earthsong is feared. When ruthless soldiers seek refuge in her

isolated cabin, they bring with them a captive - an injured spy who threatens to

steal her heart.

Thoughts:

I can`t believe I have never heard of this series until it was recommended during

#Blackoutbestsellerslist  I`m so glad I picked this up and devoured the audio.

I plan on getting the rest of the series so I can follow Jasminda`s story.

The mantle was such a great idea and added a plot device that thickens not

draws away the main story. Jasmina and her growth of Earthsong was an incredible read.

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: Forest of Souls

Title: Forest of Souls

Author: Lori M. Lee

Narrator: Cindy Kay

Audio Length: 10hr 43min

Rating: 3.5/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Sirscha Ashwyn comes from nothing, but she's intent on becoming something.

After years of training to become the queen's next royal spy, her plans are derailed

when shamans attack and kill her best friend, Saengo. 

And then Sirscha, somehow, restores Saengo to life.

Thoughts:

Awesome idea of a soul guide and the novel has high energy. However Sirscha went

from no knowledge to knowing her powers with no training. This is a perfect example of

tell don't show. I wish we learned more of the powers through the story. The plot is great

but the characters are flat. The growth wasn't shown on the page. 

Overall the story had potential but the characters really drew the reader away from

the page.

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: Aurora Burning

Title: Aurora Burning

Author: Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

Narrator: Kim Mai Guest, Johnathan McClain, Lincoln Hoppe,

Donnabella Mortel, Jonathan Todd Ross, Erin Spencer, Steve West

Audio Length: 15hr 16min

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Spoilers Ahead this is Book Two

First, the bad news: An ancient evil - you know, your standard

consume-all-life-in-the-galaxy deal - is about to be unleashed. The good news?

Squad 312 is standing by to save the day. They've just got to take care of a few

small distractions first.

Like the clan of gremps who'd like to rearrange their favorite

faces.

And the cadre of illegit GIA agents with creepy flowers where their eyes used to be,

who'll stop at nothing to get their hands on Auri.

 

Thoughts:

Squad 312 is coming in hot and the excitement starts right where Aurora Rising ended.

With the cliffhanger we are left with. It's a good thing there is a third book. The audio is

addictive and hard to pause. Aurora will always be a powerhouse that keeps the squad

moving but each crew member has their assets.

The crew has been through one hell of a ride and it is truly hard to think everyone will

make it out the other end alive and safe. This is one I will have to relisten to so I can

catch all the things I missed the first time around. There is action...oh so much action

and a huge twist I sort of maybe saw coming.

Highly recommend these lovely sci-fi books.

 

TTFN,
Ashley

Review: Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

Adrienne Young

Page Count: 352

Audio Length: 8hr 40min

Narrator: Khristine Hvam

Published On: 4/24/18

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Raised to be a warrior, seventeen-year-old Eelyn fights alongside her Aska clansmen 

in an ancient rivalry against the Riki clan. Her life is brutal but simple: fight and survive. 

Until the day she sees the impossible on the battlefield—her brother, fighting with the 

enemy—the brother she watched die five years ago.

Viking Norse culture and strong family bonds can be found throughout the entire

novel . Eelyn is fierce and loyal so when it comes to becoming a slave for another

tribe of people she is torn. Fiske is kind enough to her since he is now considered

her brother`s blood brother. Eelyn spends her days following tasks while watching

children run around. It's hard for her not to imagine these children becoming warriors,

the same warriors her people would fight after winter. The same warriors she would

be killing if it meant her survival.

If you enjoy shows like The 100 and Vikings this book is for you. For those that

like stand-alones with potential for companions then again this is perfect. There will

be a companion novel sometime in 2019 and let me tell you knowing more about

anything in this book would be a bonus. Sky in the Deep on its own is a fascinating

tale and I love how each person gets to grown in a natural setting not a forced one

chapter motive.

Since listening to the audiobook I have now bought a hardcover and thrown it

at both girls to read or listen to. Mackenzie being the super talented person gave

making a custom funko pop a shot. Eelyn was her first one and after 2 days of

painting she finished. If you head to our IG you can see a slideshow of her.

TTFN

Ashley

Review: Lifelike by Jay Kristoff

Lifelike

Author: Jay Kristoff

Narrator: Erin Spencer

Published On: 5/29/18

Page Count: 402

Audio Length: 12hr 27min

Rating: 4.5/5

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

On a floating junkyard beneath a radiation sky, a deadly secret lies buried in 

the scrap.

Eve isn’t looking for secrets—she’s too busy looking over her shoulder. The robot gladiator 

she’s just spent six months building has been reduced to a smoking wreck, 

and the only thing keeping her Grandpa from the grave was the fistful of credits 

she just lost to the bookies.

First things first I want a Crickets Funko Pop. I`d also like to note I listened to

the audio version so apologies if I incorrectly spell names.

Jay writes characters that have an emotional connection to almost instantly.

Lemon Fresh, Eve and Cricket are a bunch of misfits now on a mission to

rescue Eve's grandfather back from a bunch of AI creeps.

Ezekiel is one of the original Life Like or AI that should have been destroyed.

Lemon and Eve find him lifeless while on a scavenging job. Once alive or

reawoken he claims to know Eve but calls her by a different name. This is when

the attack happens and Eve`s grandfather is taken away. Ezekiel offers to help

locate the grandfather as a way to keep trying to get Eve to understand he knows her.

Overall the audiobook is intriguing and well paced. I look forward to Book twos

(Deviate) release in May of 2019. The girl have since listened to this one and a friend

of mine has read the physical book at my urging.

TTFN,

Ashley