Book Review: Dark Age by Pierce Brown

Dark Age by Pierce Brown is epic on every level, this is a novel of loss, sacrifice, redemption, heart break, political moves, and tyranny. This is book five of the Red Rising Saga. This book was so welcomed by me, because I thought that book four Iron Gold was the weakest in the series. This book follows the same format from Iron Gold, where it gives the same five character perspectives Darrow, Lyria, Ephraim, Virginia, and Lysander. This worked a lot better this time around it didn’t feel like all the characters were setting up something for the next novel, there’s a only one that didn’t feel complete, and was a set up story. This novel wrapped up all the stories from the cliff hanger of Iron Gold, and managed to go into new territory and create new problems as the stories moved forward. This book does a great job of showing two characters difference towards the same goal, as a reader they kept making good points and then screwing up there own ideas to beat one another, it was such good character work and plotting. The twist and turns are so good it reminded me of the midway turn in the original Red Rising and the end turn in Golden Son. There’s a lot of character’s too keep up with which was a little daunting since it had been over a year since reading Iron Gold, and two years since reading the original trilogy. This book brings back some characters that you might have forgot about in the original trilogy that you might have forgotten. One character I thought would have made it to Iron Gold but when they do appear it is well worth the wait and the shock value that they’re capable.

The Plot: Darrow has gone to fight a war in Mercury to free more colors from slavery, he had to sacrifice not finding his son Pax in the process. His Wife Virginia the Sovereign has kept the kidnapping under wraps to not alert anyone and for people who want her power to say she’s compromised. She with Servo, who’s daughter was also taken help track who took the kids. Virginia also is trying to gather support for her husband n the unsanctioned war on Mercury he started. Lryia is being tortured by a pregnant Victra, who is Servo’s wife, She does not know she was a pasty and was manipulated by Ephraim. Ephraim downed his ship on purpose with the two kidnapped kids, when he realized who’s hands they were going to and there intentions, but where he downed the ship there people who see a big opportunity to use the kids as a bargaining chip to gain power. Lysander convinced what’s left of the Raa family to make Darrow pay for his huge betrayal and lie in the book Morning Star. He meets with a members of his family to take Darrow down on Mercury. He’s finding out the people remember that he is rightful heir to sovereign.

What I Liked: This is edge of your seat story telling at it’s best. There’s so many twist and turns one person will have an advantage one moment then switch, then find out there was a puppet master in the shadows. The character’s arc in all stories evolve and come full circle. Secrets are revealed that were hinted at in past books making it really rewarding for having read the first 4 books in the series. Every character has an agenda and it’s constantly shaping but it all makes sense. The flow of this book is amazing it does let you catch your breath after a big reveal but not too long because another one is coming soon. The character’s big and side character’s all sound different and easy to separate from one another. A great ending not a cliffhanger like the last one but you know where most characters are headed, and it going to be bloody.

What I Disliked: This is a broken record comment, but with so many character’s if there was some synopsis for the character’s, it would be great, thank goodness for the internet, so I could look up the character’s to know their history in the series, the book usually gets there, and gives a background eventually. Lyria story is still the weakest story but is way better than in Iron Gold.

Recommendations: I totally recommend this series with a little warning about content, this is a brutal story where people are ripped apart, swearing, sex, rape is threatened, radiation rots the people form inside out, and urination on a vanquished foe is par for the course. This is book is rated Young Adult but could really be adult. That being said I’m an adult that loves Game of Thrones and stories where no one is safe and a brutal world. I rated this book 5 out of 5 stars. my ranking of the series from top to bottom is Red Rising, Dark Age, Golden Son, Morning Star, and Iron Gold.

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Wrap Up: August 2019 Book Reviews

Another month come and gone, this was a good month for challenging reads in Stephen King’s IT I challenged myself to read a 1376 page book and Black Leopard, Red Wolf was just Challenging in meaning and verse.  I read five books this month one 5 star and four 4 stars.  This month was very special for me by reaching over 500 followers this month, thank you, thank you.

Five Star Reviews:

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein: This book was wonderful from start to finish, it you saw the trailer for the movie it looks like a romantic comedy, there’s maybe 10% of that in the book, but the rest is about life, love, tragedy, and family all told through the eyes of Enzo the dog.

Four Star Reviews:

IT by Stephen King: This book is a behemoth at 1376 pages.  It did take me 15 days to read this epic story of childhood fears and coming of age. I read this in anticipation for It: Chapter Two coming out on September 6 2019. It was really rewarding, all the emotions this book takes you through.

The Passengers by John Marrs: I read The Passengers thanks to Netgalley and Berkley publishing letting me read the ARC before the American release on August 27th.  This is a book in the near future where fully functioning autonomous vehicles rule the road,  But when a hacktivist controls 8 cars telling them they’re going to die as their fate is judged on the car company’s board. A really great Science Fiction novel that feels like an episode of Black Mirror.

Say Cheese and Die by R. L. Stine: This is my retro review as I read book three in the Goosebumps book series, this story ranks 2nd place so far in the series.  Where a camera is either making bad things happen or predicting it when it takes a photo.

Black Leopard Red Wolf by Marlon James: A fantasy that uses African folk lore as the background. This was a challenging book with a really great story.  We follow Tracker as he joins a fellowship to bring a missing child back, but this is no ordinary child as is the creature who takes him. A brutal story with lots of twist and turns, this is the first book in a proposed three book trilogy.

Book Review: IT by Stephen King

It by Stephen King is an epic horror story about adolescent fears and growing up. This novel gave me so many different emotions, sometimes fear, sometimes laughs, sometimes pure joy and a lots of nostalgia. King manages to tap in to the preteen years so well, he remembers those jokes that only you and your friends found funny, the fears both the sights and smells of the dark and unknown, and he gets the awkward first love and feelings that you’re not equipped to handle at that age. I was a little shocked that the book is 85% percent about the kids and 15% about the adults, I thought it would have been a bit more balanced. The kids side is explored really well, but with the new movie It: Chapter 2 featuring the adults, they have a lot of room to play. I have had the book it for a while now but with seeing It Chapter One and loving it so much and with It Chapter Two coming out next week on September 6th of 2019. I was also fan of the Tim Curry, mini series version from the 90’s as well. but with the new movie was compelled to read It.

The Plot: Murder is afoot in the town of Derry, Maine in present day 1985 we see the start of a serial of murders and kids gone missing, the same thing happened 27 years ago with the murder of Georgie Denbrough and then a string of murders followed. Mike Hanlon a local librarian of Derry knows the towns history and was there 27 years ago and knows who or it is responsible. Mike Calls up six of his old friends Bill Denbrough, Stanley Urich, Ben Hanscom, Beverly Marsh, Richie Tozier, and Eddie Kasbrak who only vaguely remember what happened 27 years ago, but soon the nightmares comeback and it has a form Pennywise the dancing murderous clown. Soon they are flooded with all those childhood fears and begin flashing back to when they first all met and challenged IT. The memories are slow to flow back but will they remember in time to stop Pennywise.

What I Liked: The scope of IT, the novel takes place in a month in the past and you feel the time pass by and the days like no other. I liked how IT is a childhood fear you can not describe. The murder of Eddie Cochran was not in any movie, but man did this murder get to me, this was the chapter that truly scared me. There was way more humor than I was expecting Richie has all the best lines, I can not freaking wait to see what Bill Hader does playing the adult version, but the book version kept me chuckling. I love the town history, King is so good about town and family history, and you feel like you’re apart of it and know everyone in Derry. Henry Bowers is the bully from hell that through me back to all the bullies I’ve had through out the years, it was easily relatable to the losers gang and their strife. The feelings you get reading this book it plays with your emotions and fears. The rising action is one of the best in a Stephen King novel it flips back and forth from the 1950’s to the 1980’s each heading to it’s lair and the trouble they face getting there, it’s over 100 pages and they move supper quick. I liked the very end of the book I think King nailed the message of the novel really well.

What I Disliked: What King did to the Character’s of Tom and Audra, I think there roles should have been expanded especially Tom, he could have been so scary and a good foil for the gang. Audra we don’t get to know enough at the end I didn’t care what happened to her character. The town history was one of my likes but I could have done with out all the detail on what it has done in the past, I understood after Mike’s dad told his story, we didn’t need the gang and the union dispute to go into the same detail. The Climax is kind of crazy and not a good crazy, we never get why It prefers the pennywise character, but we get a crazy explanation for it, It Chapter One ignored it entirely and hopefully will in the next movie, but the miniseries kept to this ending which I feel cheapens IT.

Recommendations: This is one of King’s better works, for all a round emotion. It’s epic it like sharing a kinship with people that have finished this massive story. It did take me 15 days to read so make sure you do set some time away. My favorite Stephen King novels are The Long Walk, The Talisman, Wizards and Glass and The Stand. This is maybe just below the Stand for me, where I loved the epicness of it and the ride the reader goes on but didn’t love the climax. I rated IT by Stephen King a high 4 out of 5 stars.

Reading with My Eyes 500 Followers Post: Top Ten Auto-buy Authors and Book Bloggers Spotlight

Thank You, Thank you, all my followers, and anybody that checks out my post.  I’ve been running this blog for a year and two months, and could not be happier with the interaction I get on a daily basis, with people just excited about books as I am.  (The picture is my girlfriend’s dog Emmy Lou falling asleep next to Cuckoo’s Calling)

What is New on the Blog: Ive had success with my TBR page and making that realistic, so I will have more of the post in the months. My reading has gone up, so more reviews. I’m going to do a couple of book events and singings. I have some good ARC’s too read on Netgalley, I’m almost to the milestone 80% badge.

What Are My Top Ten Auto Buy Authors:

1. Stephen King: the master of horror, I’m currently reading It, right now, I’ve read 27 novels so far from the man I still have a lot more.
2. Joe Hill: Who just happens to be Stephen King’s son, I have read novel he has put out and most of his graphic novels. I’m eagerly anticipating Full Throttle his new one.
3. Riley Sager: I’ve read all three novels published so far, The Last Time I Lied was my favorite book of 2018  and can not wait for his next.  He’s the king of summer thrills.
4. Brandon Sanderson: This guy is the Stephen King of Fantasy, he writes very frequently usually publishing 2 or 3 novels a year, and each one are great, I love his Mistborn series, and and love what I’ve read so far in the Stormlight Archive.
5. Pierce Brown: The Red Rising series blew me away just how compelling and beautiful it is, Ive read all his novel’s except his newest Dark Age, which I currently have but need to finish a little novel called It first.
6. Angie Thomas: I’ve read both her novels The Hate U Give and On the Come Up both were amazing and talk about real issues of the day involving African American’s.  Try not to cry as a father explains to his family his children the rules of not getting shot at a police stop.
7. Martha Wells: Is one I have recently discovered but am so in love with her novella series the Murderot Diaries, which has an upcoming novel for the first time.
8. Robert R. McCammon: Is one of the most underrated writers, he’s a master of horror and historical fiction, he is the my number 2 most read author besides mr. Stephen King.  Funny enough I discovered McCammon because Stephen King praised him and his work in horror.
9. J.K. Rowling: Who doesn’t love Harry Potter, but beyond Harry Potter I love the C.B. Strike series, It has been fun watching her grow as a writer.
10. Scott Snyder: My only Auto-buy when it comes to Graphic Novels.  What ever he’s doing he makes it interesting and he manages to evolve the character wether it be Batman or Aquaman, I’m in Awe almost every time how he progresses these character’s that have been around for 70-80 years.  The Court of Owls storyline floored me and created a new set of Batman villains instantly.

Since this blog is about me reaching 500 followers, I wanted to tell you other bloggers that excite me and I think they deserve some more fans.

Book Blogger Spotlight:

1. Paul’s Picks paulspicksdotblog.wordpress.com : This guy will tell you all you need to know in the world of Advanced Readers Copies, he post a review almost everyday, and it never lacks in quality.
2. OwlBeSatReading owlbesatreading.wordpress.com : Really great post, once reached out to me because of a broken link was sending people to her site instead, really cool and real honest in her reviews.
3. hobbleit hobbleit.wordpress.com :Really great reviews, constantly reading things that I add to my TBR after her review.
4. Jonny Pongratz jonathanpongratz.wordpress.com : This guy has a real love for nostalgia is currently reading the Antimorphs series, then wants to start on The Goosebumps series
5. Sarah hamletsandhyperspace.wordpress.com : Another blogger that reads really interesting stuff and I’m constantly putting books she reads in my TBR.

Thanks every one I hope to do another post when I reach 1000 followers.

 

Book Review: The Passengers by John Marrs

The Passengers by John Marrs is a good Science Fiction book, that feels all too real and ask some pretty big questions. I love a good Science Fiction novel that look at the future and asks should we as a society be questioning this; and that is what John Marrs delivers with The Passengers, as he looks to the future and the dangers of self automated cars driven by A.I., it also looks at the growing power of social media and it’s influence in the future. This book reminded me of the Roger Corman film Death Race 2000 meets Stephen King’s The Long Walk all wrapped in an episode of Black Mirror. This could totally be an episode of Black Mirror for it’s take on society and social media alone. If you have read John Marrs book The One ( The One is being adapted into a 10 episode Netflix mini-series) it matches DNA so find your soul mate, you’ll get an added bonus, with that technology being is a small plot point in The Passengers which works really well on where technology is in the fictional near future. I really liked this book, but I was letdown by the ending, which veered off in a direction that didn’t seem to go with the beginning of the novel, it changed my sure to be 5 star review into a 4 star. I would like to thank Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for giving me the advanced copy for the American release in exchange for honest opinion. The Passengers by John Marrs has already released in the UK and is getting released on August 27 2019 in America.

The Plot: In the near future in Britain all cars have been fully automated making regular cars illegal. The cars now come with a seat that can swivel and media can be played on the windows, the car is operated by voice commands. The car death toll has gone down but they still happen, and have a jury decide who’s at fault for the deaths, Libby is a guest on that panel. Libby is a mental health doctor, that doesn’t trust the cars fully after watching a terrible accident a few years ago wipe out a family. Libby is the only civilian juror, the other jurors are medical professionals, government agent and clergy. So far since starting the panel no death has been the cars fault, the car are anti-hack proof, or so they thought. Today 8 people from different walks of life have had their vehicles taken over by a person on a automated voice calling himself the Hacker. The 8 passengers are all told they will die in 2 and a half hours as they reach their destination. The jury will decide who lives or who dies, Libby’s world is turned upside down when she knows one of the passengers, and the hacker knows about her as well. It’s a taut thriller ride that will put you in the passengers seat for the ride.

What I Liked: This novel does an excellent job with backstory picking and choosing when to reveal more about the characters at the right time. The twist and turns are through out this novel, keeping you the reader on your toes and not knowing who to trust. The humor comes in burst like the hashtag on Libby’s bad shoes as she’s deciding on someone’s fate, and others. Me being a Communication Major I loved the take of social media in the near future. I enjoyed the characters and their ups and downs. The technology of the cars was well thought out, and great twist involving that technology later. The hacker was a great puppet master type villain, until the ending , but until that point great character work. I do like that Brexit is now a thing marked in history as a milestone, that still affects Britain in the future.

What I Disliked: The ending is the only problem I had with this book, it’s not horrible, but it just didn’t fit at all, this novel is a smart tight thriller until the ending that is out of character and has a calculated character make a dumb mistakes and it took too long to get to the ending, once the rising action stops.

Recommendations: Despite me not enjoying the ending this is a worthwhile, often thought provoking novel, that looks at issues that could arise in our near future. I do recommend you check this one out. If you’re a fan of Netflix’s Black Mirror then you must check it out. If you like Science Fiction that challenges future technology, your sure to enjoy this one. I rated The Passengers by John Marrs 4 out of 5 stars.

Book Review: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein is a story about life and all it’s ups and downs told from the perspective of Enzo the family dog. It is at times heartbreaking, romantic, humorous, and thought provoking. This is a super easy read that I was able to read in a day or so, the chapters are short for the majority. This book will give you all the feels, and will remind you of every time you talked to a pet and swore they knew what you were saying. The theme of racing and how it relates to life really work in the story. I have had The Art of Racing in the Rain on my TBR for quiet some time, and really glad the film came out to inspire me to read it. The film opened this week 8-9-2019 it Stars Kevin Costner, Milo Ventimiglia, and Amanda Seyfried. A part of me wants to see it, but after reading this book and watching the trailer, it seems like to different things. The movie looks like a romantic comedy with a dog and the book is so much more than that. I did read a review and they do get to the heart of life and it’s many ups and downs in the film, so I might see it after my girlfriend reads it.

The Plot: Enzo the dog has plenty of views on human life, like when you die as a dog you come back as a human is what Mongolian’s believed and so does Enzo. We meet EnZo when he is old and reflecting on his life with Denny. He tells how he’s was purchased on a farm by Denny. Denny is an amateur Race Car Driver trying to make it to the professional level. Enzo becomes his best friend a tells him exactly how to race and in one of the best scene puts Enzo in the race car with him. They get along great until Denny falls for Eve. Enzo see’s as there alone time is turning into a group, They eventually warm up to each other as She and Denny have a baby Zoe. Denny’s racing career gets in the way of family as Denny has to make tough choices. Enzo is the rock of the family supporting each member in what they need, as life brings hurdle after hurdle.

What I Liked: The character of Enzo is amazing, I love his insights and his misunderstandings of human culture are really funny. The racing aspect in the book is used really well as a theme throughout. The At of Racing in the Rain is a philosophy about trust and reacting to every sensation by trusting your instincts. The Enzo in the race car was such a great moment, made me feel as if I was there. Enzo getting revenge on the twins was priceless. The Mongolian dog afterlife theory was interesting and used well in the story. The humor was throughout the novel and really helped with the flow of this book. The fever dream of the stuffed Zebra reminded me of the Pick dancing element in Dumbo, and I love every minute of it.

What I Disliked: Enzo is a spoiler he keeps bringing up future things and ruining the surprise of the outcome, of two major events. The dialogue of the character Luca sounded so fake. Mike rarely pops up it was hard remembering where he fit in the story, when he does pop up mainly at the end.

Recommendations: This is a really special story that tugs on your heart strings in just the right way, I loved this story and recommend it. This story gave me the same feeling I had as I read Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove combined with Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog at Night-Time. The tenderness and ups and downs of A Man Called Ove and the interesting narrator and the reveals in The Curious Incident of the Dog at Night-Time. The book did have a good amount of curse words so I would recommend it for adult or mature teenagers.  I rated this book 5 out of 5 stars it was one of the closest to a for but the charm and the feelings of it brought put it to that 5 level for me.

The Trailer to the Film, The Art Of Racing in the Rain

Book Review: Goosebumps: Say Cheese And Die by R.L. Stine

Say Cheese and Die by R.L. Stine is the 4th book in the original goosebumps series. It’s a story about the worst invention ever, a camera that seems to predict or make bad things happen, you be the judge. This one oozes 90’s more than Welcome to the Dead House, Stay out of the Basement, and Monster Blood, the first 3 Goosebumps books in the series. Oh the boredom before cell phones, it talks about how bored the four best friends are with nothing to do. It talks VHS videos, home phones, and cool new station wagon (I think station wagons are still pretty cool). This book doesn’t bring as much real life scenario as others it does kind of deal with homelessness, and everybody has a story, but it’s pretty vague. The story flows pretty well the ending is a little out there not too big of a twist. This like Monster Blood is the second book where Stine opens it up too a sequel at the finally.

The Plot: Greg, Shari, Bird, and Michael are four best friends that are super bored, they keep trying to come up with ideas, but nothing takes they decide to go explore an abandoned mansion. The mansion is not as abandoned as first thought, as a man they nicknamed Spidey has been living there. Greg ends up finding a secret compartment with an old camera there that is a self processing camera that allows the photo to develop in minutes after you take the photo. Greg being a photo junkie takes the camera out and takes a photo of Michael against the staircase banister. Moments after taking the photo the banister breaks and Michael falls with it. when greg looks at the photo it shows Michael falling, but he knows he took it before hand, Spidey comes back and they quickly leave Greg in his fear takes the camera with him as his friends flee. Greg takes more photos of his dad’s new car, but the photo shows it wrecked. Grep is sure the camera is haunted and always shows bad things, but when Shari insist he takes a photo of her, the photo looks regular except Shari is not in it, what can that mean. Greg and his friend must find the secrets of the camera before it is too late.

What I Liked: The story is really fun and is for the most part driven, the story really makes the reader cringe with every photo not knowing the exact details of the consequences, except knowing there will be some. The friendship of the group feels really real if it wasn’t for the 90’s troupes you would think it was modern day. The camera is just a great device, and used well through out the story. The original cover is amazing and one of my favorites of all the goosebumps series. I like how it leads you to a possible sequel at the end.

What I Disliked: The twist was lackluster a little bit when we find out more about the origin of the camera, there’s a lot lacking in that story if it was always intended for evil, or if it was cursed after the fact.

Recommendations: I totally recommend this one, it’s interesting and the story is great, if the twist was nailed this one would have taken number one spot away from Stay out of the Basement. If you are a fan of the TV series on Fox this was the episode that featured a young Ryan Gosling as Greg. If you want a good one for your kids that’s not as scary as the other’s with a good story then this is the one to get. the price is just 3.99 on Amazon kindle and you can’t beat that. I rated Say Cheese and Die 4 out of 5 stars. My rating so far from best to worst of the Goosebumps series is Stay out of the Basement, Say Cheese and Die, Welcome to Dead House, and Monster Blood.

A Promo for Say Cheese and Die featuring Ryan Gosling, all episodes are on Netflix for those who don’t know.

Book Review: Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James

Black Leopard and Red Wolf by Marlon James is an African fantasy novel, that explores a lot in it’s text like the topics of homosexuality, skin colorization, hegemony, disabled, incest, and feminism. Marlon James won the prestigious Man Booker Prize Award for his last novel A Brief History of Seven Killings, and this book is heavy on the metaphors and has gems of great dialogue through out. This novel took me two weeks because of the words used and the way that it is told. The story and fantasy elements are really strong. I loved the story for this book so much. The way it is written especially at first is very hard to get into I felt the same way when I tried reading William Faulkner’s Sound and Fury where you have to piece the story from the metaphor. It took be too about page 100 until I was comfortable to read without going back and rereading. I see this book being one read and discussed in college. I usually save trigger warnings for the end but this does have strong uses that could turn readers off so I will mention them here: graphic sex scenes, graphic language, graphic Violence, rape, incest, and sex with animals ( a couple character’s are shape shifters). This is my second African fantasy novel, my first being Children of Blood and Bone by Toni Adeyemi, which was very different but both were steeped in culture you can feel.

The Plot: e meet the tracker when he is a man imprisoned and telling stories of his past. His first story is how he went to the land of the dead and brought back a king that would rather be dead than married to the queen, and an enemy he brings back still haunts him to this day. The story then goes to when he was a child and finds out about his past and becomes the Tracker. He was always able to find things by sense of smell, and he find out he can see things towns a way. The first place his nose leads him to is his birth place, where he finds about all kinds of legend and meet Leopard a shapeshifter that can change form leopard to man. He protects children that were born deformed called mingi, with a witch Sangoma. The village is raided for fear of plaque and a dry season the witch place a protection on him that and steal weapon will not pierce his skin. The children for the most part survive, and the Tracker and Leopard become their protectors and eventually find them a home. Another tale that takes up most the book is years later where the Tracker is really known for finding people and children is tasked in a fellowship to find a boy. There’s a huge mystery about who this boy is he’s supposed to protect, this fellowship is not like the Fellowship of the ring these are mercenaries that some have a horrible past the tracker wants to kill one member and might not wait until he finds the boy to do it. Leopard is also apart of it but their trust is broken by something. The Tracker will have to find his own demons to find the boy.

What I Liked: The overall story has so many twist, turns, and betrayals. I have read my share of fantasy novels and the story is one of the better ones, you think you can predict where it’s going but you can not. the last 100 pages changes everything. The story arc of Tracker is interesting at the end of the novel he gets some redemption but character went into place I didn’t always like. Sadogo is my favorite character, a gentle half giant now, but once a brutal killer that sometimes still comes out, such a sad backstory, but a great character. The action is written really well. The settings are vidid and show all the different shade of Africa.

What I Disliked: The story was a little long, occasionally it would retell the story adding little extra in it’s retelling, that happened at least five times. I wanted better descriptions of characters, some James did a really good job but others I just couldn’t visualize. The finger in the butt joke was to frequent. I would have been ok with half the sex, I think it was really important when Tracker was finding himself when he was young, but after that I didn’t need all the graphic details.

Recommendations: I know people that will hate this the sex and swearing will turn them off, but the story really is good so if you can get past all the trigger warnings which are again: graphic sex scenes, graphic violence, graphic language, rape, incest, and sex with animals ( a couple character’s are shape shifters) then the book is really well told. This book is very LGTBQ friendly with its characters. I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars. This book is mark as book one of the Dark Star Trilogy I will read the second one for story alone, I might have to block out a time when I can easily consume it.

TBR: August/September 2019

Hello readers, I’m back with another TBR for August/September, My last one was in October of 2018, which was a little bit of a disaster, darn work got in the way.  But this month I’m pretty safe and wanted to give fellow readers and followers insight to what I’m looking to read.

Flight or Fright edited by Stephen King and Ben Vincent – is a excellent horror collection featuring new and old short stories all about flight and the horror that comes with it.

Black Leopard Red Wolf by Marlon James – is an African fantasy novel, that delves into African folk lore.  It is about a group of beings that are sent on a mission to track a missing boy that might or might not have powers of his own.  This is the first of a trilogy.  I’m half way through it, it is written really well and deals with a lot of issues mainly LGTBQ issues, but dips in to feminism, and family struggles.  The word are great and spoken like poetry with lots of hidden meaning so it is taking me a little time to get through it.

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein – I want to read this before the movie comes out next week, starring Kevin Costner, Milo Ventimiglia, and Amanda Seyfried.  This is a book told from a perspective of a dog as his owner is a race car driver and life happens.

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly – This book is about three separate women’s journeys through the events of World War II.  It’s fiction but based on real character’s, my girlfriend recommended it, and our taste are similar.

The Girl with All the Gifts and The Boy on the Bridge by M. R. Carey – I’ve heard only good things about this series that take place in the same world and involves kids with special powers.  Joss Whedon creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer says they are can’t miss.

Goosebumps The Curse of the Mummy by R.L. Stine my quest to read the goose bumps books in order continues, I will also read Say Cheese and Die but that is on my kindle.

IT by Stephen King – This has been on the list to read for quite some time, and I really want to read it before IT Chapter 2 comes out on September 6th. I loved the first one so much I find no better time than to read it.

Not Pictured

Dark Age by Pierce Brown – Which is book 5 in the Red Rising series I was a huge fan of the first three, the forth was good but, not as good as the others, I still look forward to this series and am 2 people behind checking it out at the library.

The Passengers by John Marrs – a netgalley read about a plot where driverless cars kidnap separate people all to play a sinister game, this book has already came out in England and has Garnered some incredible reviews, very much look forward to this one that releases on August 27th in America.

Say Cheese and Die By R. L. Stine the forth Goosebumps book in the original series, it is the adapted TV episode that featured a young Ryan Gosling in it.

 

 

Wrap Up: July 2019 Book Reviews

July is over, another great month of book reviews I read 7 book this month, it was a month of highs and lows that I found a a new favorite series in The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells and one of by most anticipated reads of the month Cari Mora by Thomas Harris was kind of a dud.  I had read A Divided Mind Arc for free thanks to netgalley in an exchange for an honest review. I hit personal highs in having setting a new record of 58 views in one day and and also having my highest month of views.  I think all the new followers that pushed me over 400 this month, and my followers that have grown with me. Thank you, I love this wordpress community of book reviewers so much.

Four Star Reviews:

All Systems Red by Martha Wells – This is the intro to the character Murderbot an A.I. that is self aware that job is to protect humans but is easily distracted my media and would rather do anything else, but darn it all he starts to care about the humans he is supposed to protect.  It add humor and a great insight to the questions of humanity and freedom.

Artificial Condition by Martha Wells – Rarely will I read a series this fast but I was still so interested in the story of Murderbot in his journey for humanity.  This time he journeys back to the place where he started calling himself Murderbot.  He wants to find out why he went on a murderous rampage was it a malfunction or did he willingly kill, and wipe his memory.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield – This novel has been on by TBR for at least 4 years, I found out I really liked gothic mysteries with reading Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier and We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson, and this did not disappoint. A biographer sets out to find out about a bestselling author that is haunted by demons and ghost of the past.

A Divided Mind by M. Billiter – This was a netgalley read for an honest review. A story about a teenager dealing with the struggles of being a high schooler, on a racing team, and dealing with schizophrenia.  This story is being marketed as a thriller which it is not, more of a how the family deals with this and how a teenager can come of age with this diagnosis.

Becoming the Dark Prince by Kerri Maniscalco – is a short story that adds to the series Stalking Jack the Ripper Series by telling tales from a Thomas Cresswell’s  perspective other than Audrey Rose.  This book is ranked as 3.5 and wets your appetite for Capturing the Devil coming in September.

Batman: The Widening Gyre by Kevin Smith – A real interesting take on Batman and what would happen if he fell in love, it still has action and humor, that only the creator of Jay and Silent Bob can bring. The graphic novel has a really interesting take on Batman’s trust issues.

Two Star Reviews:

Cari Mora by Thomas Harris the first time in thirty years that Harris has written a story without Hannibal Lector and it is meh.  I felt it was Thomas Harris trying to copy Elmore Leonard’s style with out the character development.  Cari Mora is about a heist of Pablo Escobar’s buried treasure of gold, under his old house in Miami.