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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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Women like her have teeth: Reviewing They Drown Our Daughters by Katrina Monroe

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. Normally, I keep these posts casual and impersonal. Lately, though, I have been struggling a bit mentally. There’s been plenty of inner and outer turmoil circling around. I feel like I am in a state of limbo currently. I’ll be fine, but the future just feels a little too uncertain for my liking. I wish I had more confidence at this moment, but I don’t. I’m treading a fine line between realism and idealism. From what I understand, though, there is no one right way to live. There are many ways that we humans can be resilient in the face of uncertainty. I don’t intend to back down, and I fully intend to keep sharing my favorite books with all of you. This is my incredibly long-winded way to say that I care about you and that you matter in this world. Thank you for listening to my vague rambles and thank you for all of your continued support. Let’s get to what you came here for and that is my review of They Drown Our Daughters.

Content Warning: Grief and Mourning, Violence, Harm Towards Children, Some Sexual Content, Some Harsh Language, Disturbing Imagery, Self-Harm

After separating from her wife, Meredith has no choice but to take her daughter Alice back to her hometown of Cape Disappointment. The locals say that the cape is haunted, and Meredith has never truly believed in the rumors. When she returns home, Meredith finds her mother struggling with the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Her mother begins to claim that the ghost stories and curses are real. Meredith assumes it is her mother’s mind slipping from her. After strange things begin to happen that put their lives in danger, Meredith must confront the past and break the curse that has plagued the women in her family for nearly one hundred years.

They Drown Our Daughters is part supernatural thriller, part introspective novel about identity and motherhood. This haunting novel provides plenty of chills while examining the struggles surrounding mothers who don’t receive any support. I liked Monroe’s approach to such a heavy topic. It is a genuinely heart-breaking book that can be difficult to read because it confronts so many realistic problems like divorce, postpartum depression, and aging. That is why I appreciated this novel. The paranormal elements don’t cheapen Monroe’s overall message. The two elements balance each other out and harmonize in a way. Katrina Monroe’s novel is absolutely worth the read if you are looking for a meaningful horror novel.

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She didn’t run from her dark past. She moved in.: Reviewing Theme Music by T. Marie Vandelly

Hi everyone! I’m back with some more books for spooky season. My spooky season books might bleed into November because I have not had a ton of free time on my hands lately. I also am very excited to announce that I have, not one, but two indie author reviews coming up. These will all be good ways to wrap up the end of the year. But that is the future and, in the present, we are going to talk about Theme Music by T. Marie Vandelly.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Strong Language, Substance Abuse

In 1992, Bill Wheeler killed his wife and three sons then himself, leaving only his infant daughter Dixie alive. Twenty-five years later, Dixie wants to know more about her family. The opportunity arises when she buys her childhood home where the grisly murders took place. She isn’t in the house for very long when she begins to see the ghosts of her family. Dixie begins to experience blackouts and other things that make her question her sanity. She decides the only way to save herself is by revisiting the murders. As Dixie begins to investigate her family’s deaths, she discovers something that will haunt her forever.

I don’t know if there is such a thing as “messy girl horror” but Theme Music definitely could be described as that. In fact, it reminded me quite a bit of Dark Places by Gillian Flynn. I appreciate horror novels where the victims aren’t necessarily perfect, because it feels a bit more realistic and relatable. T. Marie Vandelly is not afraid to share the gory details all throughout the book. It is as gratuitous as it needs to be but it is still pretty gory. If you have a weak stomach then this book is not for you. If you do like the bloodier horror novels, then you will certainly like Theme Music. It is a great mixture of a murder mystery and supernatural horror with just a dash of slasher. Dixie Wheeler is a great “final girl” and I liked her narrative voice. For a bloody good time, you should definitely check out Theme Music.

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When a traumatic memory is unable to die, it learns how to become alive: Reviewing The Dawn Chorus (Book 2 of the Capherayna Chronicles) by Karen Menezes

Hi everyone! I’m back again and I am revisiting an indie author who I have reviewed previously. You are welcome to check out my review for the first book in this series, Safe Passage. I want to give a huge shout out to Karen for asking me to review her books. I will be linking all of her social media information below so you can show her your love and support. I absolutely love when authors reach out to me to review their books. If you are an aspiring author, then reach out to me! My contact info is listed on my blog. In the meantime, let’s talk about The Dawn Chorus.

Content Warning: Discussions of War, Explicit Sexual Content, Some Mild Language

Years ago, a terrible tragedy happened in the borderlands of Capherayna. Years later, its memory still haunts the Lightbender. He wanders the world, comforting the sick and dying, desperate to forget the ghosts of his past. He finally returns to Capherayna and makes peace with settled life. In the ancient city of Dorsfield, he rents a loft from a conspiracy theorist whose niece is rather gorgeous. She introduces him to a powerful man who knows too much about a terrible secret.

Where Safe Passage was more focused on the war itself, Dawn Chorus is a look at the aftermath of war on a personal scale and a public scale. The narrative here is a bit more of an intimate character study with slice of life moments that are peppered with details that almost feel too private for the reader. It made it all the more interesting, though. I liked Menezes took the time to develop all of the characters and make them feel like real people. All of the details add up into an interesting picture of different people dealing with the world around them. We also get an interesting range of characters, from a king to a nomad. The book cover quite a bit as it continues to explore the impact of war. Overall, Dawn Chorus was an interesting sequel and I am excited to see where the series goes.

Once again, thank you to Karen! You’re the best

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

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In the end, you either fight or lie down to be trampled: Reviewing Velvet was the Night by Silvia Moreno – Garcia

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. This is the sixth book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia that I have reviewed. You are more than welcome to check out my past reviews of her books. Needless to say, she is one of my favorite authors now. Let’s just dive into this review of Velvet was the Night.

Content Warning: Strong Language, Violence, Sexual Content

The 1970s is a time of great political unrest for Mexico. Maite is a lonely young woman who lives vicariously through the romance novels she reads. Elvis, a thug with a love for music and words, is sent by his boss to investigate a missing girl named Leonora. Leonora just so happens to be Maite’s neighbor and left her with an odd message that implies she is in danger. Maite and Elvis both set out to find what happened and find themselves in entangled in political espionage. Their lives are on the line as they navigate the dangerous world of political espionage.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia proves time and time again to be a strong writer who does a great job creating interesting characters and intriguing plots. Velvet was the Night is the first non-fantasy book I have read by her and I liked the Neo-noir feel of the novel. The characters are unique but have relatable qualities. There is plenty of tension and mystery throughout the novel. It moves at a pretty fast pace too. With all of that being said, it was not necessarily my favorite novel by Moreno-Garcia. I liked it better than The Beautiful Ones but less than Silver Nitrate. My favorite Moreno-Garcia novel as it stands is Gods of Jade and Shadow. If you aren’t big into fantasy but love thrillers, then I will still recommend Velvet was the Night.

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We suffer, heal, and proceed: Reviewing Death in Her Hands by Ottessa Moshfegh

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well! This is the third book by Ottessa Moshfegh I have reviewed. If you want, you can check my reviews for her other books, Lapvona and My Year of Rest and Relaxation. Needless to say, I am a bit of a fan now. I promise I have more “weird girl literature” to read by the end of the year. I’m planning on getting into my horror books so I will be prepared for spooky season. I think that’s enough rambling for now. Let’s talk about Death in Her Hands.

Content Warning: Grief and Mourning, Harm Towards Animals, Discussions of Death

Since her husband’s death, Vesta Ghul has spent her days hiking with her beloved dog. One day, she finds a note in the woods. It reads: “Her name was Magda. Nobody will ever know who killed her. It wasn’t me. Here is her dead body.” There is no dead body, though. Vesta becomes obsessed with this note, imagining who Magda might be and who could have killed her. Her morbid fantasies begin to bleed into her everyday life, and Vesta can no longer tell what is read or what she made up. During her search for the truth, Vesta must face the issues she has been hiding from since her husband’s death.

While this novel wasn’t as bizarre or gross as her other books, Ottessa Moshfegh still brings introspection and dark humor in Death in Her Hands. This book is written in a “stream of consciousness” style, which might not be for everyone. It does, however, benefit the reader as we get a better insight into Vesta’s situation as an elderly widow in an isolated town. I found myself drawn into Vesta’s imagination because, as someone with a vivid imagination that gets out of hand, I understood where she was coming from. It is a complicated and unreliable narrative, which I always enjoy. I like how Mosghfegh creates unreliable narrators because it adds a level of realism to the novel. Overall, Death in Her Hands was an interesting book and I am going to give it a soft recommendation.