Review: Contagion by Erin Bowman

Title:Contagion

Author: Erin Bowman

Published On: July 24 ,2018

Page Count:432

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

After receiving an urgent SOS from a work detail on a distant planet, a skeleton

crew is dispatched to perform a standard search-and-rescue mission. But when t

he crew arrives, they find an abandoned site, littered with rotten food, discarded

weapons…and dead bodies.

I read a lot of Si-Fi this past year and I’ve really enjoyed them. Couldn’t have ended

my reading year off with a better book. The ending already has me wanting more of

these characters. Thea, a high school intern and who doesn’t think she should be going.

Nova, a military trained pilot who wasn’t accepted due to an eyesight problem. Dylan,

a badass commander who’s father pulled strings to get her this position. A renowned

scientist with a secret. Along with a Tech and Mechanic, set out on this rescue mission

with little intel on what they are getting themselves into. Everything they plan practically

goes south and it becomes a think on your feet situation.

Nova and Dylan realize they aren’t so different from each other, our scientists secret is

revealed, Thea discovers more about herself and the young man she finds herself with.

I really liked how both our lone survivor and young intern has similar backstories.

I look forward to what comes next.

Happy Reading,

Michaela

Review: Imprison the Sky by AC Gaughen

Title: Imprison the Sky

Author: A.C Gaughen

Published On:January 22, 2019

Page Count:416

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Stolen from her family as a child, Aspasia has clawed her way up the ranks of Cyrus's

black market empire to captain her own trading vessel--and she risks it all every time she

uses her powerful magic to free as many women, children, and Elementae from slavery as she can.

Oh boy. This was probably one of my fastest reads this past year. I really enjoy series that

have different settings throughout the books and A.C. has certainly done that with Imprison

the Sky, set in the water instead of the desert.  Aspasia, once again an amazing female character

trying to stop Cyrus, from using the powers of Elementae to better her own reputation. I loved

getting to have Kairos back, he is my all time favorite character so far. I like seeing the softer s

ides of characters, as well as them with the walls up so to speak. Looking forward to the next

adventure with these characters and the Elementae.

Happy Reading,

Michaela

Top Ten Tuesday: The Ten Most Recent Additions to My To-Read List

The Ten Most Recent Additions to My To-Read List

Invisible Ghosts by Robyn Schneider

Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine

Hero at the Fall by Alwyn Hamilton

Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton

The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir

~Michaela

Review: Spy with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke

Title: The Spy with the Red Balloon

Author: Katherine Locke

Published On: October 2, 2018

Page Count:362

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Siblings Ilse and Wolf hide a deep secret in their blood: with it, they can work magic.

And the government just found out.Blackmailed into service during World War II,

Ilse lends her magic to America’s newest weapon, the atom bomb, while Wolf goes

behind enemy lines to sabotage Germany’s nuclear program.

I’m a sucker for Germany- Berlin set storylines. I loved The Girl with Red Balloon

and I loved The Spy with the Red Balloon. Katherine has once again caused me fall

into her blood-magic filled world. I really liked getting two different points of view, one

at the heart of the war and one back home.  Ilse is probably my favorite because of her

will to make her ideas known to others around her. I found Wolf very adorable, he’s

quiet yet decisive. I look forward to more in this world and Katherine’s writing.

Happy Reading,

Michaela

Review: Two Dark Reigns by Kendare Blake

Title: Two Dark Reigns

Author: Kendare Blake

Published On:September 4th 2018

Page Count:464

Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Queen Katharine has waited her entire life to wear the crown. But now that she finally has

it, the murmurs of dissent grow louder by the day. There’s also the alarming issue of

whether or not her sisters are actually dead—or if they’re waiting in the wings to usurp

the throne.

Oh my, I seriously love this series and am not ready for when it ends. We get to

see Katharine without her guard up which I love! Arsinoe is still getting into trouble

and Mirabella is as clever as ever, Billy follows them both pretty much everywhere to

keep them safe on the mainland.

Seeing Jules explore more of her abilities is one of my favorite parts, and of course,

Camden.

I enjoyed more time spent on the mainland life and more of the daily happenings

behind the mist. With this being Book #3, it gives us so much more to the journey

of the queens, Jules the devoted friend and Billy the mainland boy with eyes only

for Arsinoe, yet leaves a tremendous amount still to be to told. That being said I

cannot wait for Book 4, and what it will bring to the table.

Happy Reading,

Michaela

Review:A Very Large Expanse of Sea

Title: A Very Large Expanse of Sea

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Publisher:Harper Teen

Pages:320

Synopsis:(from GoodReads):

It’s 2002, a year after 9/11. It’s an extremely turbulent time politically, but

especially so for someone like Shirin, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who’s tired of

being stereotyped.

Rating: 4/ 5

This was the first book I’ve read by Tahereh Mafi and it was very enjoyable. As I am

currently studying fire we talk about 9/11 constantly so this book, though not fire

related peaked my interest. In all honesty people these days suck and stereotyping

is something I see constantly and I loved how Tahereh took a part of her life and

made it into a book people can related to no matter their race, religion or what they

wear. I loved how firey Shirin is and Ocean I love that he doesn’t care what others

think about his relationship with Shirin <3  I look forward to the next time I read a

book written by Tahereh Mafi.

Review: Once a King

Title: Once A King

Author: Erin Summerill

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

Pages:464

Synopsis:(from GoodReads)

Aodren: A lonely, young king, searching for a way to dismantle his father’s dark legacy.

Lirra: A girl with the power to control the wind, torn between duty and following her dreams.

For twenty years, Channelers—women with a magical ability—have been persecuted in

Malam by those without magic. Now King Aodren wants to end the bloody divide and

unite his kingdom.

5/5

Being able to see a younger King Aodren in a different light is pretty intriguing. I really
liked seeing A odren struggling to move past the darkness caused in Malam by his father.
I loved Lirra, wanting to be more than just her father’s assistant in life  and not trusting
Aodren straight away because of the Purge many years ago. Seeing Leif again in the story
made me smile. I also wish I had secret tunnels to get to places!! The fake Sanguine caught
me off guard though and how our villianst character was basically in plain sight. I look
forward to seeing and reading whatever else may come in regards to King Aodren and
the Kingdom of Malam. Erin Summerill once again wrote a book I didn’t want to put down.

Michaela

Review: Light Years

Title: Light Years

Author: Kass Morgan

Publisher: Little  Brown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 384

Synopsis:(from GoodReads)

Reeling from the latest attack by a mysterious enemy, the Quatra Fleet Academy is

finally admitting students from every planet in the solar system after centuries of exclusivity.

Hotshot pilot Vesper, an ambitious Tridian citizen, dreams of becoming a captain--but when

she loses her spot to a brilliant, wisecracking boy from the wrong side of the asteroid belt,

it makes her question everything she thought she knew. Growing up on the toxic planet

Deva, Cormak will take any chance he can get to escape his dead-end life and join the

Academy--even if he has to steal someone's identity to do it. Arran was always considered

an outsider on icy Chetire, always dreaming of something more than a life working in

the mines. Now an incoming cadet, Arran is looking for a place to belong.

4/ 5 stars

I really liked this story! I’m starting to get more into Si-Fi type books and they’ve

been wonderful. I loved the different planets and lifestyles portrayed in Light Years.

I also loved the four character point of view too. Vesper and Cormak/ “Rex”  were my

favorite characters because of their banter. I liked Orelia’s change of heart too. Arran

was adorable, a little brainiac :) I also liked the backstories on our main characters

and they fit great together. Kass Morgan’s writing style was great to read, kept you

entertained and wanting to read more. I loved that the four main characters were

from different planets and that their differences actually made them a better team in

the end.

I hope there is a second book at least to continue this story.

Review: Escaping from Houdini

Title: Escaping from Houdini

Author:Kerri Maniscalco

Publisher: Jimmy Patterson Books

Pages:416

Synopsis:(from GoodReads)

Audrey Rose Wadsworth and her partner-in-crime-investigation, Thomas Cresswell,

are en route to New York to help solve another blood-soaked mystery. Embarking

on a week-long voyage across the Atlantic on the opulent RMS Etruria, they’re delighted

to discover a traveling troupe of circus performers, fortune tellers, and a certain

charismatic young escape artist entertaining the first-class passengers nightly.

5/5 Stars.  

Oh my goodness, this was one of my most wanted reads for 2018 and it did

not disappoint. Audrey Rose and Thomas are probably one of my favorite fictional couples

out there. I devoured this book! (like I did with Stalking Jack the Ripper and Hunting Prince

Dracula) I’m very fond of Audrey Rose as she is determined to make a name for herself in a

career that is looked down upon for a woman in her day in age. Cresswell keeps going back

and forth on my favorite character’s list. I also enjoyed that we’ve gotten to see more of

Cousin Liza in book 2 and 3. I DO NOT LIKE MEPHISTOPHELES. I know his character played

well into this storyline, but he got between Thomas and Audrey. Now Houdini on the other

hand, I found quite the perfect character for the role he played. The ending has

currently left me devastated in the status of #Cressworth. So I will definitely have to

compare my ARC to finished copy. I also love the historical events that Kerri has been

able to turn into page-turning reads.

I look forward to what tale happens in New York City during the fourth installment of

the Stalking Jack  the Ripper series! I’m also incredibly grateful to have gotten to meet Kerri

at BEA this year.

Review: The Bird and The Blade

Title: The Bird and the Blade

Author:Megan Bannen

Publisher: Blazer + Bray

Pages:336

Synopsis:(from GoodReads)

As a slave in the Kipchak Khanate, Jinghua has lost everything: her home,

her family, her freedom … until she finds herself an unlikely conspirator in the escape

of Prince Khalaf and his irascible father as they flee from their enemies across the vast

Mongol Empire. On the run, with adversaries on all sides and an endless journey ahead,

Jinghua hatches a scheme to use the Kipchaks’ exile to return home, a plan that becomes

increasingly fraught as her feelings for Khalaf evolve into a hopeless love.

3/ 5 stars

This was not one of my favorite reads so far this year. I felt it was quite similar

to books I’ve read before. Family of a girl with status falls on hard times, girl

becomes a slave to hide identity. Prince gives her an apple, she falls in love with

him over time. Down the road truth is told and she’s actually supposed to kill him.

She cannot bring herself to kill him, he actually loves her too, but she kills herself in

attempt to save him.

It was also very slow then faster paced then slow again, wasn’t a steady flow

of keeping me interested.

Review: Seafire

Title: Seafire

Author: Natalie C. Parker

Publisher: Razorbill

Pages:384

Synopsis:(from GoodReads)

After her family is killed by corrupt warlord Aric Athair and his bloodthirsty

army of Bullets, Caledonia Styx is left to chart her own course on the dangerous and

deadly seas. She captains her ship, the Mors Navis, with a crew of girls and women

just like her, whose lives have been turned upside down by Aric and his men.

The crew has one misson: stay alive, and take down Aric's armed and armored fleet.

5 out of 5 stars

I picked up this book at BEA and couldn't wait to actually read it. I mean

pirate chicks who hold their own on the open waters, I was immediately intrigued.

I loved this book and am so glad I only have to wait about a year for book 2. It is

going to be so worth it. Now I was really drawn to the fact that the main characters

were an all female crew in this story. As my sisters and I are often that, the three of

us don’t always get along or agree but stand by each other when it comes to getting

things done.  I really liked the relationships between all the girls on the Mors Navis

and that eventually they used that pesky Bullet to assist their crew. I loved that the

girl’s ship appeared to be like your traditional pirate ship with some more modern

upgrades so the could pull off the feats they do in the book. I truly enjoyed Parker’s

writing style as it leaves you guessing what is going to happen next and not want to

stop reading.

Review: Sadie

Title: Sadie

Author: Courtney Summers

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Pages: 320

Synopsis:(from GoodReads)

Sadie hasn't had an easy life. Growing up on her own, she's been raising her

sister Mattie in an isolated small town, trying her best to provide a normal life and

keep their heads above water. But when Mattie is found dead, Sadie's entire world

crumbles. After a somewhat botched police investigation, Sadie is determined to bring

her sister's killer to justice and hits the road following a few meager clues to find him.

3/ 5 stars

I thought this book was going to be little different than how it was. I like the the two

different point of views but I wasn’t lead to any super feels for the story. I like how

Summers went into a darker side of a teen girls life. It made me want to keep reading

but not keep reading like right now, I could put it down willingly to do other things.