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Fun Is Guaranteed!: Reviewing FantasticLand by Mike Bockoven

Hi everyone! I’m back yet again with yet another review! I know, I know; hold the applause and surprise. I’m glad, though, that you are all still enjoying these and engaging with my posts. Thank you all to my new followers and my long-time followers! I appreciate every single one of you and am happy to keep you entertained. Now, let me entertain you with my review of FantasticLand.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery, Discussions of Sexual Assault

In September 2017, FantasticLand, a beloved theme park, was struck by the enormous power of Hurricane Sadie. The hurricane laid waste to the Florida coast and left about 200 employees stranded in the park for five weeks. During that time, chaos reigned and once-civil theme park workers turned to murder. When they were rescued, the media circus that followed left a gruesome imprint on America’s imagination. Now, nearly ten years later, reporter Adam Jakes is determined to find out what really happened by asking the survivors. What he finds out is more horrifying than anything than he had imagined.

FantasticLand spends most of its narrative dancing between semi-believable and pretty unbelievable. The overall setup is interesting and I like how the novel is told through different testimonials. Each character’s voice is unique and there were a lot of interesting connections made throughout the novel. Where it sort of lost me was close to the end where the book has some weirdly convenient plot points, like the park having a stockpile of guns or a real working cannon. There were some other unnecessarily gruesome points that kind of took away from the initial premise of people stuck in a theme park trying to survive. That alone would have been interesting, but the book veered too much into “creepypasta” territory for me and took me out of the interesting parts that dealt with survival and bonding. With all of that being said, I am not going to not recommend FantasticLand. It had enough thrills to keep me entertained. I will say that this book is the most ideal for any fans of survival horror.

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So I should compose my own history, should I? Or it will be lost forever: Reviewing The Children of Jocasta by Natalie Haynes

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I have some exciting life changes coming up soon. I also have a never-ending TBR pile to finish so that is my fault. Before I begin this review, I encourage you to read my other reviews of Natalie Haynes’ books. She has quickly become one of my favorites in the Greek myth – retelling genre. With that being said, let’s talk about The Children of Jocasta.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Self-Harm and Suicide, Disturbing Imagery, Death of a Child/Stillbirth

When Jocasta was fifteen, her parents forced her to marry the king of Thebes. She spent years praying that she might outlive her largely absent husband. When a handsome young man named Oedipus appears at her palace with news of her husband’s death, Jocasta is relieved. She, however, realizes she has a much greater challenge to face. Fifteen years later, Jocasta’s youngest daughter Ismene is nearly killed in the palace. She thought that she had finally found peace after her parents’ deaths, but now she must deal with a conspiracy against her family. Despite decades apart, mother and daughter must face the inevitable tragic fall of the house of Oedipus.

Natalie Haynes continues to impress me with her clever re-telling of myths that most people know by heart at this point. While she doesn’t entirely dismiss the classic tragedy of Oedipus, she puts a twist on it that has more logic but is nonetheless a sad story of a family torn apart by rumors. Haynes does not just take on Oedipus’ story, but Antigone’s as well. These two stories told from different perspectives provide a unique and engaging experience. While the novel embraces the classic tropes that surround Greek tragedies, it offers just a bit of hope that most of the stories sorely lack. Natalie Haynes has delivered yet another compelling narrative and I cannot recommend her novels enough to anyone interested in Greek mythology.

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Don’t look back. Don’t ever look back: Reviewing Near the Bone by Christina Henry

Hi everyone! I am back much sooner than I thought I would be. I have a couple of shorter books that I want to finish before I tackle my longer ones. I also wanted to read this book while it was still cold out. It has been snowing like crazy where I live. If it’s the same for you then I hope you are staying warm. If you want, you can check out my reviews for the other Christina Henry books I have read. Now, let’s talk about Near the Bone.

Content Warning: Domestic Violence, Sexual Assualt, Infant Loss/Miscarriages, Animal Death, Gore, Discussions and Depictions of Grooming

Mattie lives an isolated life with her abusive husband, William. She lives in fear of the violence he inflicts upon her and does her best to avoid angering him. Their isolated lives are disrupted by the presence of a strange creature that is on the hunt. William sets out to kill this creature, but he is not the only one looking for this mysterious monster. A group of strangers claiming to be cryptozoologists appear on the mountaintop. Mattie realizes that she might have a chance to escape. To do that, she will need to face two monsters.

Near the Bone was a solid horror novel with plenty of intrigue and gore. This book made my stomach churn for more than one reason. Between the scenes depicting abuse and gory monster kills, there are plenty of scares in this book. With that being said, it is a little on the predictable side but that didn’t detract from the overall impact of the novel. I am always down for a story where the main character finds their inner strength and breaks free from unfortunate circumstances. Near the Bone delivers plenty of chills and thrills. If you like horror in an isolated setting or a monster-centric horror novel, then this is the book for you.

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We accomplish great things by reaching toward who we could become: Reviewing Rhythm of War (Book 4 of the Stormlight Archives) by Brandon Sanderson

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well and staying warm during this winter snap. I don’t want to ramble on for too long because I am so excited to talk about this book. Go ahead and check out my review for the first three books in this series. I also started Sanderson’s Mistborn trilogy so I will be reviewing that soon. I just love fantasy books. With that being said, let’s talk about Rhythm of War.

Content Warning: Intense Battle Sequences, Discussions and Depictions of Depression, Character Death

The war of gods has started. Secrets will come to light and lives will be changed forever. Shallan Davar decides that she must finally face her past, but discovers a much more difficult task at hand. Kaladin Stormblessed struggles with the darkness in his mind as it eats away from him. Venli must decide where her loyalties lie. Navani Kholin finds herself on the brink of a discovery that could change the world forever, for gods and man alike. No one is ready for what the future holds.

Every single book in this series has been an absolute delight. I don’t like to be hyperbolic in my reviews so when I say something is wonderful, I say it with my whole chest. What I really appreciated about this particular entry in this series is its depiction of struggles with mental illness and feeling as though you are unworthy. It was as honest as it was heartfelt. I love how Sanderson allows the characters to be relatable, regardless of their powers. It makes the story feel more grounded. It is also a testament to Sanderson’s incredible attention to detail. I was genuinely touched at certain points in the book. On the flip side, the battle scenes were incredible and I am so excited to read the next book. Please read this series. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

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We look toward the unknown future…: Reviewing Star Wars: Lost Stars by Claudia Gray

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. It has been a bit since I reviewed a Star Wars book. This also isn’t the first Star Wars book I have reviewed by Claudia Gray. If you want, you can check out my review of Master and Apprentice. It is time once again to go to a galaxy far, far away and talk about Lost Stars.

Content Warning: Intense Battle Scenes, Some Violence, Some Descriptions of Injuries, Mild Sexual Content

It has been eight years since the Old Republic fell and the Galactic Empire rules in its place. Very few leaders are willing to speak against the tyrannical rule of Palpatine, and those who do pay the price. On a small planet, childhood friends Thane Kyrell and Ciena Ree dream of serving as pilots for the Imperial Army. Together, they train to reach their dreams. As time passes, they find themselves going down different paths. Thane sees the cruelty of the Empire and wants to fight back. Ciena is determined to hold the oaths that she swore to protect her fellow Imperial officers. With war on the horizon, Ciena and Thane must decide where their loyalties lie.

For Star Wars fans out there, this book is set during the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. If you’re interested in that, then stick around for the rest of this review. I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did, but I found Claudia Gray’s original characters to be compelling and I liked the perspective of this book. If I were to describe this book, it would be Romeo and Juliet but with cool space battles. I really wasn’t expecting to like a Star Wars book centered mostly on a romance but I was proven wrong. Even though the events of the book play out as they do in the movie, I was still on edge because I had no idea if any of these characters were going to live or not. Claudia Gray does an excellent job writing the intense space battle scenes, which were honestly one of the highlights of this book. Overall, this is definitely another win for Star Wars books so go ahead and check it out.

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Life was here, and life was now: Reviewing The Half Light (Book 3 of the Capherayna Chronicles) by Karen Menezes

Hi everyone! I’m back sooner than I expected! As you all know, I love reviewing indie authors. I am totally down to review your books. If you want to get some buzz going, feel free to reach out to me and I will happily review your book. I absolutely love it when that happens. Feel free to check my reviews of Karen’s other books. I will leave her information below so you can send her your support and love. In the meantime, let’s talk about The Half Light.

Content Warning: Discussions and Depictions of Genocide, Discussions and Depictions of Violence (Including Sexual Violence), Sexual Content

The ghetto of Crikwood is not for the fainthearted. The Lightbender is not fainthearted. The ghetto nourishes his soul with its vibrant culture and eternal chaos. He unwinds in its Gothic nightclubs and hangs out with pansexual stoners and war veterans. But settled life is killing his spirit. One morning, a highly depressed woman lands at his door. She is a soul without a body, a body without a soul. Together, they drudge up clues from a painful past that shapes their destinies in ways they have yet to comprehend.

The Half Light was easily the most intense and intriguing book in this series. I appreciated the shift in perspective as Menezes explored the individual impact of such atrocities. It was a very intimate novel at times. It explores human connection and the deep-seated need to care about each other, as well as to be cared for. It was as heartfelt as it was passionate at times. Menezes incorporates existential prose along with cheeky dialogue that helps balance the different elements of the novel. Overall, reading this series was such a great experience. Please send your support to Karen and I want to thank her for reaching out to me with this opportunity.

Website: https://karenmenezes.com/the-chronicles-of-capherayna.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karen.menezes/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/50832081.Karen_Menezes

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karen_menezes

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechroniclesofcapherayna

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Death is his Undoing: Reviewing The Cursed (Book 2 in the Coven of Bones Series) by Harper L. Woods

Hi everyone! I can’t believe it either! You get back-to-back reviews! Before you check out this review, you can check out my review for the first book in the series, The Coven. We’re also continuing with dark romance/dark fantasy books, so I hope you’re interested. I promise I have more books that are in my wheelhouse coming soon. They just happen to be pretty long books. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. For now, we’ll discuss The Cursed.

Content Warning: Explicit Sexual Content, Violence, Graphic Descriptions of Injuries, Strong Language

Willow Madizza was betrayed by the man she loved most, Alaric Gray. Despite what he did to her, she cannot deny the passion that they share. Unfortunately, to right the wrongs done against her family, she must destroy the man she loves the most. Willow still has a duty to her Coven after playing a part in the destruction of their leaders. Now, she must choose between the man she loves and the freedom she craves. Either way, she will change the fate of all witches forever.

Admittedly, the first book gave me some hope that I would enjoy the sequel. I was entertained, yes, but not in the way that I should have been. I understand that dark fantasy and/or dark romance is about the suspension of disbelief, but Harper L. Woods made it difficult for me with her questionable (even cringy) writing. Some of the sex scenes were particularly uncomfortable. I didn’t like the lack of spoken consent. Again, I understand that dark romance is its own game, but I just can’t bring myself to enjoy it when it feels like one of the characters is not there by choice. I also didn’t even like the relationship between Willow and Gray/Lucifer. I wanted her to destroy him or something, but she was so wishy-washy in her chapters. Gray/Lucifer was also just gross, in my opinion. I won’t completely rag on this book, though. I still liked the magic elements and world-building. I wish there had been more focus on that, as opposed to the dubious sex scenes. Overall, I am not going to necessarily recommend this series. I got the two books for free and I will only read the other books if I get them for free as well.

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I pretend I am a different kind of monster: Reviewing The Pallbearers Club by Paul Tremblay

Hey everyone! I hope you are doing well this holiday season! I think I can get out at least one or two more reviews before the end of the year. I’ve been a little busy, but I swear I’m not neglecting this blog. I’ve actually been doing a lot of my own writing in my spare time. Hopefully, something will come of it in the future. If it does then you all will know. Before you check out this review, you can check out my other reviews of Paul Tremblay’s books. In the meantime, let’s talk about The Pallbearers Club.

Content Warning: Disturbing Imagery, Strong Language, Grief and Mourning

Art Babara was a bit of a loser in high school. He had no friends, a scoliosis-riddled spine, and a love of hair metal. He decided to start an odd new extracurricular club to meet people just as weird as him. That was how the Pallbearers Club was created. The members consisted of Art, Eddie, and a strange girl named Mercy. Art and Mercy quickly bonded over Mercy’s love of photography and weird obsession with New England folklore. Weird things happened, though, whenever Mercy was around. Art tried his best to ignore these things, and eventually, they parted ways. Decades later, Art decides to try his hand at writing his memoir. Mysteriously, Mercy re-enters his life and decides to offer her own constructive criticism. The line between fiction and reality blurs as Art tries to figure out what really happened all of those years ago.

I have mixed feelings about this book. Admittedly, I liked Tremblay’s other two books more. The Pallbearers Club does offer a unique format as this book has two narrators, each offering a different perspective of this story. It made the book feel much more personal and interesting. With that being said, I also thought the book was very long-winded and rambling when it could have used more focus. I understand that that is what Tremblay was probably going for, but I found myself skimming for the supernatural/horror elements. Tremblay still delivers with interesting scares, so that motivated me to continue reading. Overall, The Pallbearers Club was interesting but not for me. I think that someone else could appreciate it a bit more than me. I have, however, definitely become a Paul Tremblay fan.

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Death is not your end: Reviewing The Coven by Harper L. Woods

Hey everyone! Wow, I was gone for far longer than I had intended. Life got in the way of me reading more. You all know how it is with the holidays. I was so tired that I could barely make myself read. In fact, I actually fully intended to finish this book in October. It’s no matter now. I am here, alive, and I have another book review for you. Thank you so much for reading my blog. I appreciate all of your support and will link the donation form below. Let me not make any further excuses and let’s talk about The Coven.

Content Warning: Violence, Explicit Sexual Content, Harsh Language, Graphic Descriptions of Bodily Harm, Abuse, Dubious Consent

Willow Madizza was raised to be a weapon by her father. Her duty is to her coven, but she is torn between her duty and protecting her younger brother. After her mother passes, she has no choice but to travel to the secret town of Crystal Hollow to attend Hollow’s Grove University, a prestigious school for young witches. Willow faces an entirely new problem: her attraction to the devilishly handsome Headmaster Alaric Grayson Thorne. Just as Willow finds herself settled into Hollow’s Grove, murders of students begin to happen. As Willow investigates, she realizes that there is a larger plot happening that could doom all witches and humans alike and only she can stop it.

As far as dark fantasy/dark romance goes, this is one of the better books I have read in this genre. The plot and worldbuilding were interesting enough to keep my attention. The steamy scenes were well-written, and I appreciate the tension between Willow and Gray. Where it fell flat for me is that it can be a little cheesy. Willow is very much “not like other girls,” which can be annoying to read at times. The book honestly felt like it was trying to be something akin to The Vampire Diaries, which is all fine and dandy until it snags itself on tropes that are common in the dark “romantasy” genre. Was it a bad book, though? No. In fact, I actually have the second book, and I fully intend to read it. What I’m saying is that this is my soft recommendation for The Coven.

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