Hello everybody – hope you are all keeping safe. I am lucky enough to be exclusively working from home and as I do so, I am trying to create a mental health routine of comfort reading, writing, going for…
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5 Rated Books
Title: Oona Out of Order Author: Margarita Montimore Genre: Fiction (Speculative Fiction) Publisher: Flatiron BooksPublication date: February 25 2020Hardcover: 352 pages A remarkably inventive novel that explores what it means to live a life fully in the moment, even…
5 Rated Books 7 Rated Books Book Reviews
Two Books: Jelly by Clare Rees and The Black Coats by Colleen Oakes
These books could not have been more different from one another but you know I like some variety in my book diet. First up, Jelly by Clare Rees has the most ridiculous premise imaginable and I loved it for…
I’ve been busy this summer, reading thrillers – most of them, I am happy to report, fantastic! I’ve listened to the audiobook of Something in the Water, written and narrated by Catherine Steadman and right off the bat, I…
5 Rated Books 7 Rated Books 8 Rated Books Book Reviews
YA Round-up: The Best Lies, The Kingdom and Girls with Sharp Sticks.
TW: abuse, rape. Debut YA thriller The Best Lies by Sarah Lyu is a portrayal of a toxic friendship, abuse cycles and the frayed, complex in-betweens. It opens with the death of Remy’s beloved boyfriend Jack. Remy is a…
Title: The Dead Queens Club Author: Hannah Capin Genre: Contemporary YA Publisher: Inkyard PressPublication date: January 29 2019Hardcover:464 pages What do a future ambassador, an overly ambitious Francophile, a hospital-volunteering Girl Scout, the new girl from Cleveland, the junior cheer captain,…
5 Rated Books 7 Rated Books Book Reviews
Mini-Reviews: THE DREAMERS by Karen Thompson Walker & THE FAMILIARS by Stacey Halls
I’ve been reading quite a lot now that my commute is five hours long. Daily. I read two books recently, a mixed bag – one, a literary fiction that left me cold, the other a historical fiction that was…
I love high-concept books and The Last by Hanna Jameson promised to be just that: a post-apocalyptic book AND a murder mystery with an unreliable narrator all rolled into one. Sadly, it was nowhere near as good as I…
We are over at Kirkus today for our regular column! It’s Thea’s turn this time, with a review of Unbury Carol by Josh Malerman. Unbury Carol is a western with a killer premise–about a woman who has died multiple…
We are over at Kirkus today for our regular column! It’s Thea’s turn this time, with a review of Torn by Rowenna Miller. A story about a kingdom on the precipice of revolution, and the seamstress-magic weaver caught in…
5 Rated Books 6 Rated Books Book Reviews Book to Movie
Old School Wednesdays Presents: A WRINKLE IN TIME by Madeline L’Engle
Old School Wednesdays is a regular Book Smuggler feature. We came up with the idea towards the end of 2012, when both Ana and Thea were feeling exhausted from the never-ending inundation of New and Shiny (and often over-hyped)…
Old School Wednesdays is a weekly Book Smuggler feature. We came up with the idea towards the end of 2012, when both Ana and Thea were feeling exhausted from the never-ending inundation of New and Shiny (and often over-hyped)…
5 Rated Books Book Reviews Joint Review
Book Review: The Fortress at the End of Time by Joe M. McDermott
Title: The Fortress at the End of Time Author: Joe M. McDermott Genre: Science Fiction Publisher: Tor.com Publication Date: January 17 2017 Hardcover: 305 Pages In The Fortress at the End of Time, humanity has expanded across the galaxy…
Title: Caraval Author: Stephanie Garber Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance Publisher: Flatiron Books Publication Date: January 31, 2017 Hardcover: 416 Pages Whatever you’ve heard about Caraval, it doesn’t compare to the reality. It’s more than just a game or…
Title: A Torch Against the Night Author: Sabaa Tahir Genre: Historical, Fantasy, Young Adult Publisher: Razorbill Publication Date: August 30, 2016 Hardcover: 452 Pages Elias and Laia are running for their lives. After the events of the Fourth Trial,…
A fun if disappointing Fantasy novel with four female protagonists. Title: Daughters of Ruin Written by K.D. Castner Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books Publication Date: April 5 2016 Hardcover: 320 pages Rhea, Cadis, Suki, and…
5 Rated Books 7 Rated Books Book Reviews Joint Review
Old School Wednesdays Joint Review: The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson 4)
Old School Wednesdays is a weekly Book Smuggler feature. We came up with the idea towards the end of 2012, when both Ana and Thea were feeling exhausted from the never-ending inundation of New and Shiny (and often over-hyped)…
While atmospheric and loaded with potential, Nightfall falls short of the mark in terms of scares or general plot cohesion. In plain words, Nightfall is readable, but ultimately a forgettable disappointment of a novel. Title: Nightfall Author: Jake Halpern…
5 Rated Books 6 Rated Books Book Reviews Joint Review Old School Wednesdays Read Diversely
Old School Wednesdays Readalong: A Bride’s Story, Vol. 1 by Kaoru Mori
Old School Wednesdays is a weekly Book Smuggler feature. We came up with the idea towards the end of 2012, when both Ana and Thea were feeling exhausted from the never-ending inundation of New and Shiny (and often over-hyped)…
5 Rated Books Book Reviews Old School Wednesdays
Old School Wednesdays: Silver on the Tree (The Dark is Rising Sequence #5) by Susan Cooper
Ana has been reading The Dark Is Rising Sequence for the past few months. Today, she takes on the final book in the series, Silver on the Tree. Old School Wednesdays is a weekly Book Smugglers feature. We came…
5 Rated Books 7 Rated Books 8 Rated Books Book Reviews Read Diversely
Middle Grade Review Bonanza: Monstrous by MarcyKate Connolly, Beastkeeper by Cat Hellisen, and Arsenic For Tea by Robin Stevens
The Middle Grade Review Bonanza is a feature with 2-3 mini-reviews for short MG books we really wanted to read. It’s a new Regular Thing (and we’d love to hear your thoughts and recommendations for future entries). The city…
In the Land of Contrived Plots, a young woman rises from the gutter to find out she is different after she meets a stranger who conveniently turns out to the crown prince. Title: Red Queen Author: Victoria Aveyard Genre:…
Dracula meets Ghostbusters in this thrilling if somewhat frustrating YA horror. Title: Shutter Author: Courtney Alameda Genre: Horror, Young Adult Publisher: Feiwel & Friends Publication Date: February 3 2015 Paperback: 384 Pages Horror has a new name: introducing Courtney…
5 Rated Books 6 Rated Books Book Reviews Old School Wednesdays
Old School Wednesdays Readalong: Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold
Old School Wednesdays is a weekly Book Smuggler feature. We came up with the idea towards the end of 2012, when both Ana and Thea were feeling exhausted from the never-ending inundation of New and Shiny (and often over-hyped)…
Title: Stitching Snow Author: R.C. Lewis Genre: Fairy Tale Retellings, Science Fiction, Young Adult Publisher: Disney-Hyperion Publication Date: October 2014 Hardcover: 338 pages Princess Snow is missing. Her home planet is filled with violence and corruption at the hands…