The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss [Review]

The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss
Format: ebook
Source: provided through NetGalley
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: March 18, 2026

Purchase Links: Hardcover | Kindle

Marissa Meyer
| Website | Amazon |

Tamara Moss
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

It’s all fun and games until someone ends up dead.

Six months ago, season four of The Escape Game ended in horror when contestant Alicia Angelos was found murdered on set.

Now season five is underway, and new contestants are ready to put their skills to the test solving the show's trickiest escape rooms. There's Adi, the cryptographer; Carter, the math whiz; Beck, the wannabe game master, and . . . Sierra Angelos, the girl who got away with her sister’s murder. Or so everyone believes.

But Sierra’s not just here to win. She’s here for justice.

When the contestants begin uncovering clues that hint at the identity of Alicia’s true killer, it becomes clear that the stakes aren’t high in this competition, they’re deadly. If these teens want to win—and survive—the game, they must solve the biggest mystery of all: who killed Alicia Angelos?

Thoughts on The Escape Game: The idea of a reality show where individuals who are whizzes at solving problems and escaping from complicated situations is good in theory. BUT (yes, that's a big but) when someone dies during the finale of the previous season and the person voted most likely to have done the deed is the victim's sister AND she's now been invited back to because THE DRAMA! Well, things get messy.

To say that this team hits a few bumps in the beginning might be understating things. Sierra is all sharp edges and towering anger. She knows what the others think of her, but she has her reasons for being back on the show. Reasons she doesn't want to share. Because, you know, she doesn't trust anyone. Beck, Adi, and Carter have their own reasons for joining the show and NONE of those reasons revolved around having a perpetually on edge teammate who might have gotten away with murder growl at them constantly.

They all have to deal with their own problems and insecurities, start trusting one another, AND come together as the crack team they know they can be if they hope to stay in the game long enough to figure out the truth about Sierra's sister's death. It takes time, effort, and one not-so-fun experience in a walk-in freezer before things start to gel.

That said, when you're looking for the truth behind a murder, you have to watch your back. And your front. And maybe take a few chances that put you in dangerous situations. You also have to be smart enough to decipher clues, read a room, and stay one step ahead of anyone who might be behind you. Bottom line: YESSSSSS. GOOD STUFF!

Fairy Queen by J.L. Bryan [Review]

Fairy Queen (Songs of Magic #7) by J.L Bryan
Format: ebook
Source: provided for review
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: December 13, 2023

Songs of Magic
1. Fairy Metal Thunder
2. Fairy Blues
3. Fairystruck
4. Fairyland
5. Fairyvision
6. Fairy Luck
7. Fairy Queen - Paperback | Kindle

J.L. Bryan
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Darkness has fallen over the enchanted, dreamlike realm of Faerie. There's figurative darkness as the ruthless Queen Mab makes war to enforce her rule over other magical Folk. There's also literal darkness as the Hauntlands grow rapidly, turning the once sunny and fun wild places into dim, spooky ruins inhabited only by a few ghost Folk and zombie cows.

Yep, things are looking dark as Aoide the Lutist, her bandmates, and the rest of the Folk face threats that could destroy their world and all who live there.

On Earth and in Faerie, the former members of the Rioting Zebras, the teen garage band that became global superstars with a little “borrowed” magic, each follow a different path. Jason, Erin, Mitch, and Dred confront personal mysteries and supernatural danger as they approach the end of the adventure they began long ago, when they first discovered magic, and it changed their lives forever.

Thoughts on Fairy Queen: It's been a while since I last dipped my toes n Faerie and spent time with Erin. Jason, and the crew (both human and otherwise), so it was a TRIP to head back in and get immersed in the balloon animals and tiny monsters and BAG BAD FAIRY QUEENS WHO ARE NOT VERY GOOD RULERS AT ALL DESPITE HOW OFTEN THEY SCREAM ABOUT HOW GREAT THEY ARE TO EVERYONE.

So. Yeah. Erin and Jason. Erin found out the truth about her heritage and faked her own death on Earth (technically she didn't fake it, but it got faked all the same) and is trying to find herself in Faerie. Except things are a little dark in faerie right now and it turns out Erin can't walk away when there's something she can do. It's actually pretty noble and all that and she steps into the role she needs to step into with good intentions, but she was very much manipulated into that position and NOT COOL, MAN. Not cool at all.

On the plus side, her cat is pretty awesome and philosophical and I dig that.

As for Jason, he's busy back on Earth trying to keep his family safe, failing in that, ending up in Faerie, meeting up with the original owners of the faerie instruments he stole, and...you know what? The guy had a lot going on. Throw in a power-hungry queen and a fae-crushing war and, well, THINGS HAPPEN.

A lot of punny word play, a not-so-fun war, rebel contingents, scheming elders, magic, mayhem, music, and a magnificently philosophical cat. Overall, it's a solid ending to a fun series.

Alone by Megan E. Freeman [Review]

Alone by Megan E. Freeman
Format: paperback
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: May 14, 2023

Purchase Links: Paperback | Kindle

Megan E. Freeman
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

When twelve-year-old Maddie hatches a scheme for a secret sleepover with her two best friends, she ends up waking up to a nightmare. She’s alone—left behind in a town that has been mysteriously evacuated and abandoned.

With no one to rely on, no power, and no working phone lines or internet access, Maddie slowly learns to survive on her own. Her only companions are a Rottweiler named George and all the books she can read. After a rough start, Maddie learns to trust her own ingenuity and invents clever ways to survive in a place that has been deserted and forgotten.

As months pass, she escapes natural disasters, looters, and wild animals. But Maddie’s most formidable enemy is the crushing loneliness she faces every day. Can Maddie’s stubborn will to survive carry her through the most frightening experience of her life?

Thoughts on Alone: I picked up this book because my niece (who's 9) had read it, really liked it, and wanted me to read it. Not a problem, boo. Mostly. To be blunt, I'm normally not a huge fan of books written in verse, but I adore my niece and liked that she wanted to share something she enjoyed with me so I was willing to give it a go.

GUESS WHAT? Verse worked HARD for this book. I can honestly say I don't think it would have had nearly the impact it had if it had been written in a more traditional format (and by that I mean with paragraphs and less stream of consciousness and whatnot). Maddie's experiences SANG (not literally) when read this way.

I'm also going to say I had maybe had a little anxiety about what I thought was coming. Always expecting the worst does a number on a person's nerves, I guess. But Maddie survived and made good choices for the most part (I get what she was doing when she left her name and address around town so people would know to look for her, but HOLY HANNAH IT STRESSED ME OUT TO THINK OF ALL THE THINGS THAT COULD HAVE GONE WRONG) and things worked out for the best.

Bottom line: My niece has good taste in books and I'm glad she asked me to read this one. *thumbs up*

Like Never and Always by Ann Aguirre [Review]

Like Never and Always by Ann Aguirre
Format: ebook
Source: provided through NetGalley
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: August 23, 2018

Purchase Links: Hardcover | Kindle

Ann Aguirre
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

On a hot summer night, a screech of brakes and shattering glass changes two lives forever.

Liv wakes in the hospital, confused when they call her Morgan. She assumes it’s a case of mistaken identity, yet when the bandages come off, it’s not her face in the mirror anymore. It’s her best friend Morgan’s.

Morgan always seemed to have the perfect life, yet Liv must navigate endlessly disturbing secrets of the criminal and murderous variety—and a romance that feels like a betrayal. Torn between the boy she loved as Liv and the boy she’s grown to love as Morgan, Liv still has to survive Morgan’s last request.

Thoughts on Like Never and Always: I...sort of don't know where to start with this review. This book was everything I thought it would be and nothing like I thought it would be. It took a few turns I wasn't expecting, but it ended up going down the perfect road and delivering a story I didn't know I wanted until I read it.

In other words, I'm a messy tangle of confusion. Just a mess. (so excuse any rambling, because my thoughts feel like they're all over the place.)

At it's heart, this is a book about secrets and lies and the lengths a person will go to to keep those secrets hidden. Frankly put, everyone has secrets. Liv is hiding her true identity from everyone because (a) who would believe her when she's living it and she hardly believes it herself and (b) as Morgan's secrets start coming out, she doesn't know who to trust. Honestly, as a scientist, Liv is surprisingly level headed about her predicament. She analyzes and draws conclusions and does what she has to do to keep everyone thinking she's handling things.

It isn't until she gets deeper and deeper into Morgan's mystery that her handle on things gets shaky.

(Okay, I'm going to be intentionally vague here so as not be all spoilery...) The romance. MAN, I didn't see that coming. It worked. Perfectly. But I wasn't expecting it. It was sad and sweet and surprising and I want to read this book all over again just to see it unfurl. (My fangirl heart is honestly swooning a bit. I loved it. Hard.)

Like I said, this book ended up being the book I didn't know I wanted to read until I read it. So say I came away from it totally satisfied would be an understatement.

Vanguard by Ann Aguirre [Review]

Vanguard (Razorland #4) by Ann Aguirre
Format: ebook
Source: provided through Netgalley
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: August 1, 2017

Razorland
0.5. Foundation
1. Enclave
1.5. Endurance
2. Outpost
3. Horde
4. Vanguard - Hardcover | Kindle

Ann Aguirre
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

The Razorland saga continues. Since the war ended, Tegan has dreamed of an epic journey, so when she has the opportunity to sign on as ship's doctor, she can't wait. It's past time to chart her course. Millie Faraday, the kindest girl in the free territories, also yearns to outrun her reputation, and warrior-poet James Morrow would follow Tegan to the ends of the earth.

Their company seems set, but fate brings one more to their number. Tegan will battle incredible odds while aiding Szarok, the Uroch vanguard, who has ventured forth to save his people. Szarok is strange and beautiful, like a flower that blooms only in the dark. She shouldn't allow him close, as such a relationship is both alien and forbidden. But through stormy seas and strange lands, she will become stronger than she ever knew.

Thoughts on Vanguard: Holy wow, this book rocked my socks off. I ADORED the slow relationship Tegan and Szarok built over the course of their journey. They go from tolerating one another to forming bonds of friendship to something more. It was lovely and sweet and perfect. Their every interaction made me want more for them. They're both guarded and prickly and watching them lower their walls around one another made a very happy reader.

Tegan and Szarok aren't the only two who grow, either. James is smitten with Tegan whereas she loves him, but as a friend. It takes a while and a lot of heartache before James can come to terms with that. Millie is the kindest, sunniest girl any of them have ever met and she steps in and picks up the slack when things take a bad turn for the group. They all grow into themselves in different ways on this journey and it's pretty fantastic.

Speaking of being smitten (we were speaking of being smitten in there somewhere, weren't we?), I am SO IN LOVE with the bits and pieces of the old world the group comes across at various points. I'm a sucker for the idea of a new world rising up from the ashes of the old and this was executed perfectly. The cities and technology might have died when things went bad, but there are still remnants to be found and that makes me weirdly giddy.

Bottom line: We're given a story of dangerous adventure, love, and finding yourself when things seem to be at their worst set against the backdrop of a world that's been devastated by loss and survival of the fittest. At it's core, this is a love story between two people who overcome some pretty big odds to find happiness and I absolutely LOVED it.

Summer by Sierra Dean [Review]

Summer (Dog Days #4) by Sierra Dean
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 4, 2017

Dog Days
1. Autumn
2. Winter
3. Spring
4. Summer - Kindle

Sierra Dean
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Cooper Reynolds has been missing for months.

The whole town of Poisonfoot, Texas believes he has run away, proving they were right not to trust him. They believe he left like his brother and father before him: another good-for-nothing Reynolds man leaving the small town in his dust. No one is looking for him.

No one but Lou Whittaker.

Lou knows Cooper was taken, she just doesn’t know where he is or how to get him back. With the help of budding witch, Max, and an unlikely ally in her former enemy Archer Wyatt, Lou is determined to find Cooper and bring him back in one piece.

But time is running out. Summer is upon them, and if they don’t find Cooper before his 18th birthday, they’ll be bringing home a wild animal instead of their beloved friend.

Thoughts on Summer: Good gravy, this was a satisfying ending to this series. SO SATISFYING. Cooper and Lou got their ending. The curse was dealt with. Danger and heartache and magic were all mashed up in a glorious mix. *le sigh*

But before we got to that point, Lou and Cooper's family had to deal with his disappearance. Meanwhile, Cooper was trapped in a terrible place with some terrible people. The Wyatts were being typically Wyatt-ish and that NEVER works out well for the good guys, does it?

Again, this was just such a satisfying ending. Everyone got what they needed/wanted and a few people got things they never thought they'd get. I am pleased.

Spring by Sierra Dean [Review]

Spring (Dog Days #3) by Sierra Dean
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 3, 2017

Dog Days
1. Autumn
2. Winter
3. Spring - Kindle
4. Summer

Sierra Dean
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Just when Cooper Reynolds and Lou Whittaker think they’ve weathered the worst of their trials, they come face to face with the most dangerous, clever villain they’ve ever experienced. One Wyatt brother was bad enough, but now that Archer has called on his brother Christopher for help keeping Lou and Cooper apart, the young couple is about to learn what real trouble looks like.

Christopher has come home determined to get Lou away from Cooper once and for all, and he isn’t afraid who he hurts or what bridges he burns to get the job done. With Cooper’s time running out and Lou struggling to control her growing powers, the last thing they need is more conflict. Too bad things are never as easy as they hope.

With a mysterious pair of FBI investigators in town and the clock ticking, Cooper and Lou need to learn to work together before they’re torn apart forever.

Thoughts on Spring: I am SERIOUSLY so glad I have the next book to read because Cooper is left in a sticky situation and things aren't looking too good for him. Especially given the deadline he's stuck under.

Good thing he has his girl Lou at his back. Sort of.

But that's next book. This book gave us some answers to the mystery of Cooper's curse. Sort of. I mean, the answers are there, they just have to figure out how things come together. And what it means for them. And how the Wyatt family is involved in what happened in the past.

Those Wyatts confuse me. Archer is maybe not half bad. Maybe. Christopher is more than half bad and then he goes and shows some compassion and now I'm all tangled up about them. Which isn't to say I like them, they just have a few more layers than I gave them credit for originally.

Anywho. More danger. More lies. A few answers. The next book is ready for me.

Winter by Sierra Dean [Review]

Winter (Dog Days #2) by Sierra Dean
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 2, 2017

Dog Days
1. Autumn
2. Winter - Kindle
3. Spring
4. Summer

Sierra Dean
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Eloise “Lou” Whittaker can’t shake the feeling she’s forgetting something.

After surviving the explosion of the Poisonfoot Library, she struggles to find her footing again, and she’s grateful Archer Wyatt is there to make sure she’s all right. But Archer seems to be around an awful lot and Lou has trouble controlling herself when she’s with him. She should be thrilled the most popular guy in school wants to be with her, but still, there’s that nagging feeling…

Cooper Reynolds knows he ought to let Lou go. He was putting her at risk by letting her in the first time, and now that she’s a blank slate he should just let her go on blissfully unaware of his curse. But she’s given him a taste of something dangerous… hope.

Can Cooper and an unlikely ally help Lou break free from the spell she’s under?

And can they do it before a new force threatens to destroy the whole town?

Thoughts on Winter: It's been a while since I read book 1 and I'm so so so glad I have the next books in the series queued up so I can find out how things turn out because...HOT DAMN, THINGS ARE HAPPENING. Thiiiiiiiings!

Like Lou's loss of memory about all things Cooper. As an aside, Archer is an awful person and he's going to have to do a whole lot of groveling to make things right after what he did and allowed to happen. As of right now, I'm not seeing much chance for redemption in him. Actually, I don't see much in his entire family. The Wyatts are bad and all the things they done just have to come back to bite them in the butt at some point.

But let's get back to Lou and Cooper. With Lou's memory on the fritz, they reset to how things had been when Lou first moved to town. Except Lou has the nagging feeling she's forgotten something important. You know, something like a cursed boy who's come to mean far more to her than she ever expected.

Things are heating up in Poisonfoot and Spring is coming on soon.

Divergent by Veronica Roth [Review]

Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth
Format: paperback
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: July 25, 2016

Divergent
0.1. The Transfer
0.2. The Initiate
0.3. The Son
0.4. The Traitor
1. Divergent - Paperback | Kindle
1.5. Free Four
2. Insurgent
3. Allegiant

Veronica Roth
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Thoughts on Divergent: I'm just going to warn y'all that this review is going to be all over the place. There's a couple of reasons for this. The main one is I did something I rarely do and watched the movie first. I can neither confirm nor deny that Theo James might have been the main reason for that. Look, sometimes things happen in my head and suddenly I'm all about watching Theo James in various roles. This has no bearing on anything except I WOULD WATCH HIM AGAIN IN A HEARTBEAT.

But this isn't about the movie. This is about the book. And I enjoyed the book. BUT... I do think watching the movie first made me look at the book differently. If I had booked first, it could have gone in another direction, but have you seen Theo James's jawline? It's a masterpiece. *le sigh* Four. I like that guy.

The point is that I liked the book. I did think it was written a little simplistically, but that could have been me going into it with high expectations. Tris's journey from a girl who knew she didn't fit in but didn't quite see how or why to a young woman who crossed into adulthood with a bang was fascinating. Her relationship with Four, her ability to make leaps of logic, her willingness to push on even when she didn't see a way out made her interesting to read about.

While Tris is interesting, Four is the one I'm dying to see more of. I want to get in his head and see what drove him to make some of the choices he made. Not necessarily the big moments, but the little ones. I like mysterious, brooding men and Four fits the bill.

Bottom line: I liked it. I know I'll read Four's short stories, but I'm a little hesitant on books 2 & 3 simply because of how the series ends. Well, maybe I'll read book 2 just so I can get more insight into Four and Tris. *squints at everyone* Fine. I'll probably read book 3, too. Eventually. But first, I think I'll go watch the movie again.

Atoning by Kelley Armstrong [Review]

Atoning (Darkness Rising #3.1) by Kelley Armstrong
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: May 5, 2016

Darkness Rising
1. The Gathering
2. The Calling
3. The Rising
3.1. Atoning - Kindle

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
Darkest Powers
1. The Summoning

Kelley Armstrong
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Chloe and Derek have adjusted to life in Badger Lake. It’s not perfect, but it’s safe and they’re learning the skills they’ll need when it comes time to make a decision about their futures. They’re comfortable and they’re settled . . . until a weekend camping trip with Maya and Daniel reunites them with someone they thought they’d left in the past. Someone Derek really hoped they’d left in the past, because as much as this former friend might want to atone for past mistakes, she’s nothing but trouble.

Thoughts on Atoning: Oh, man. This book reminded me exactly why I adore Chloe and Derek so darn much. Something about the two of them together makes me so happy. I could read snippets about them FOREVER and not get tired of the way they interact.

*makes happy, giddy noises for a few more minutes*

Right. So Derek and Chloe. Maya and Daniel are there, too. And they're pretty awesome when they all join forces. Especially since the Nast Cabal has been teaching these kids how to defend themselves and fight back. Which they do nicely.

There's some backstabbing (not between Derek and Chloe) and some twisty moments when they come face to face with a familiar face. And there's kissing. I like the kissing parts.

All in all, a solid jump back into a world I adore with characters I can't get enough of.

(PS. I'm on a Darkest Powers reread now. For reasons.)

Blood of My Blood by Barry Lyga [Review]

Blood of My Blood (Jasper Dent #3) by Barry Lyga
Format: hardcover
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: September 1, 2015

Jasper Dent
0.1. Lucky Day
0.5. Career Day
0.6. Neutral Mask
0.8. Blood Boy
1. I Hunt Killers
2. Game
3. Blood of My Blood - Hardcover | Paperback | Kindle

Barry Lyga
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Jazz Dent has never been closer to catching his father.
Jazz has been shot and left to die in New York. His girlfriend, Connie, is in the clutches of Jazz's monstrous father, Billy--the world's most notorious serial killer. And his best friend, Howie, is bleeding to death on the floor of Jazz's new home.

Somehow, these three must rise above the horrors and find a way to come together in pursuit of Billy.

But then Jazz crosses a line he's never crossed before, and soon the entire country is wondering: "Like father, like son? Who is the true monster?"

From New York City to the small town of Lobo's Nod, the chase is on, and this time, Jazz is the hunted, not the hunter--while Billy Dent lurks in the shadows.

And beyond Billy? Something much, much worse. Prepare to meet...the Crow King.

From acclaimed author Barry Lyga comes the shocking conclusion to the bestselling I Hunt Killer trilogy.

Thoughts on Blood of My Blood: This is one of those books where I don't even know where to start with the review. (and please don't point out the obvious and say I did know where to start and it was by saying I didn't know where to start. I mean, I did that for you. I GOT THIS!) This book is insanely good. It has blood (as one would probably expect from a book starring the son of a serial killer and with a title that references blood not once, but twice... or maybe you don't expect that. I don't know. I try not to judge.) and HORRIBLE THINGS that happen (again, expected considering what Billy did to his victims back in the day) and a young man walking a very thin edge between being the man he wants to be and the one he was trained to be.

GOOD GRAVY, JAZZ! That boy kills me. Not literally. He has choices and he makes the ones he feels he has to. All the while he's wondering if he's doing it because Dear Old Dad is goading him to the endgame HE wants or if Jazz doing it because someone has to end Billy's reign of terror.

Honestly, it's enough to drive a kid batty, isn't it? As if having Billy in his head isn't bad enough, now he's second guessing himself and trying to piece together the string of clues Billy's leaving him. BAD, BAD CLUES. The type with blood and viscera.

I adore Jazz. I like that time and time again he was faced with his own morality and had to decide if what he was doing was right or if he'd crossed the line. Separated from Connie and Howie (his touchstones to normalcy), he has to rely on himself and, yeah, he does some questionable things.

Dark and riveting, I highly HIGHLY recommend this entire series for those who don't mind blood and guts. Jazz is incredibly complex and his story killed me. Again, not literally.

Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger [Review]

Curtsies & Conspiracies (Finishing School #2) by Gail Carriger
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: June 14, 2015

Finishing School
1. Etiquette & Espionage
2. Curtsies & Conspiracies - Paperback | Kindle
3. Waistcoats & Weaponry
4. Manners & Mutiny

Gail Carriger
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Does one need four fully grown foxgloves for decorating a dinner table for six guests? Or is it six foxgloves to kill four fully grown guests?

Sophronia's first year at Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality has certainly been rousing! For one thing, finishing school is training her to be a spy--won't Mumsy be surprised? Furthermore, Sophronia got mixed up in an intrigue over a stolen device and had a cheese pie thrown at her in a most horrid display of poor manners.

Now, as she sneaks around the dirigible school, eavesdropping on the teachers' quarters and making clandestine climbs to the ship's boiler room, she learns that there may be more to a field trip to London than is apparent at first. A conspiracy is afoot--one with dire implications for both supernaturals and humans. Sophronia must rely on her training to discover who is behind the dangerous plot-and survive the London Season with a full dance card.

In this sequel to New York Times bestselling Etiquette & Espionage, class is back in session with more petticoats and poison, tea trays and treason. Gail's distinctive voice, signature humor, and lush steampunk setting are sure to be the height of fashion this season.

Thoughts on Curtsies & Conspiracies: The second half of Sophronia's first year (or maybe it's the middle part of her first year. All I know is a lot happens to the wily girl and I see plenty more on the horizon.) is just as deadly and dangerous as the first half. With the added bonus of boys. Boys from the boiler room and a duke's son and her best friend's brother and a vampire or two.

(Where are the werewolves? I ask. Their lack is a disgrace! WHERE ARE THE WEREWOLVES!?!?! I should probably point out that the lone werewolf NEARLY made up for the lack, but my inherent love of werewolves makes me demand MOAR!)

*ahem* So. Sophronia. She's ingenious and sneaky and she can ferret out the inner secrets of the teachers and students of the school faster than anyone else. Which is fortunate because there's a lot of
STUFF going on that needs to be taken care of. I'm torn about the love triangle because as much as I like Soap, I can't see anything coming of it due to the fact that the girls are conditioned to expect they'll have their husbands picked out for them. I mean, this is a THING at the school. A THING. Like, they might be told EXACTLY who to marry to advance the cause. Or whatever.

While I like Soap, I really liked Felix. Because, well, he amuses me.

Fast paced and appropriately ridiculous at times (OMG! The NAMES! LOL!), I'm completely looking forward to the next book. Because I sense more werewolves. And that's always a plus for me.

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger [Review]

Etiquette & Espionage (Finishing School #1) by Gail Carriger
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: June 2, 2015

Finishing School
1. Etiquette & Espionage - Paperback | Kindle
2. Curtsies & Conspiracies
3. Waistcoats & Weaponry
4. Manners & Mutiny

Gail Carriger
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Synopsis (Goodreads):

It's one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It's quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to Finishing School.

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is a great trial to her poor mother. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners--and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. So she enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But Sophronia soon realizes the school is not quite what her mother might have hoped. At Mademoiselle Geraldine's, young ladies learn to finish...everything. Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but they also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage--in the politest possible ways, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year's education.

Thoughts on Etiquette & Espionage: Honestly, the only lack I found in this book was that there could have been MOAR werewolves. The one we were treated to was nice enough, but I have a decided soft spot for those wild men and you can never have too many by my standards.

Nonetheless, I can overlook the sad werewolf showing. Because as with the Parasol Protectorate books, this one is borderline ridiculous with some of the names and circumstances Sophronia finds herself in, yet I couldn't put it down. Mrs Barnaclegoose alone gave me a giggle with her name. Sophronia's propensity for ending up on the wrong end of pies and various other foodstuffs made me cringe (in a good way). Her first year at the school is a little rocky, but Sophronia certainly proves she's ready for anything life has to throw at her.

Except, possibly, avoiding making a mess or getting embroiled in crazy schemes.

Some old (yet young) faces pop up to tie this series in nicely with PP and we get see how progressive the teachers are in showing their charges how to be a deadly lady.

I have to say, I'm looking forward to the next book.

The Wrong Girl by C.J. Archer [Review]

The Wrong Girl (1st Freak House Trilogy #1) by C.J. Archer
Format: ebook
Source: free Kindle download 8/31/14
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: October 10, 2014

1st Freak House Trilogy
1. The Wrong Girl - Paperback | Kindle
2. Playing With Fire
3. Heart Burn

C.J. Archer
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

It's customary for Gothic romance novels to include a mysterious girl locked in the attic. Hannah Smith just wishes she wasn't that girl. As a narcoleptic and the companion to an earl's daughter with a strange affliction of her own, Hannah knows she's lucky to have a roof over her head and food in her belly when so many orphans starve on the streets. Yet freedom is something Hannah longs for. She did not, however, want her freedom to arrive in the form of kidnapping.

Taken by handsome Jack Langley to a place known as Freak House, she finds herself under the same roof as a mad scientist, his niece, a mute servant and Jack, a fire starter with a mysterious past. They assure Hannah she is not a prisoner and that they want to help her. The problem is, they think she's the earl's daughter. What will they do when they discover they took the wrong girl?

Thoughts on The Wrong Girl: Ooh! I liked this one! It was a touch dark, a touch spooky, and there was a hint of romance that has ALL SORTS of roadblocks in the way. No, seriously. Literally burning to death in the depths of a passionate embrace seems like something they're going to have to actively work to avoid.

It gives a whole new meaning to "burning with passion", amirite?

Anyway. Hannah. She has some secrets. SHE doesn't even know these secrets. She's that good at keeping them. We aren't given the answers to her past in this book, but I am INTRIGUED by what's been dangled before us. I have no idea how she ended up where she ended up. I have no idea how she fits in with the master plan, but the girl has some crazy stuff going on.

Meanwhile, we have Jack (I like him), Sylvia (not so enamored of her), and the mysterious wheelchair-bound uncle with his mute servant (yeah, no idea how I feel about him/them). The residents of Freak House make things interesting, but it's really Hannah's secrets that kept me glued to the pages. (Well, that and the potential for scorching kisses. I try to never pass up an opportunity to ooh and ahh over scorching kisses.)

Enjoyable with enough mystery to keep you entertained (there's plenty more to figure out, too. Hannah and Jack look like they're going to have their work cut out for them in future books.) and the potential for those kisses.

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins [Review]

Isla and the Happily Ever After (Anna and the French Kiss #3) by Stephanie Perkins
Format: hardcover
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: November 1, 2014

Anna and the French Kiss
1. Anna and the French Kiss
2. Lola and the Boy Next Door
3. Isla and the Happily Ever After - Hardcover | Kindle

Stephanie Perkins
| Website | Twitter | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Love ignites in the City That Never Sleeps, but can it last?

Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on introspective cartoonist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer, romance might be closer than Isla imagined. But as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to confront the challenges every young couple must face, including family drama, uncertainty about their college futures, and the very real possibility of being apart.

Featuring cameos from fan-favorites Anna, Étienne, Lola, and Cricket, this sweet and sexy story of true love—set against the stunning backdrops of New York City, Paris, and Barcelona—is a swoonworthy conclusion to Stephanie Perkins’s beloved series.

Thoughts on Isla and the Happily Ever After: Oh, my poor heart. Everything about this book worked for me. From Isla's sweet, tongue-tying crush on Josh from the first moment she saw him to being able to see herself through his eyes. OH, MY HEART. I loved loved loved experiencing their romance. I loved seeing the other side of Josh. I loved how Isla saw him. I just... *clutches this book tight*

As with the other books in this series, we got to see the sweet, sometimes comical side of falling in love. Things don't always go smoothly when two people are learning one another and Stephanie Perkins captures that perfectly. Although Isla's face bashing bloody nose might not be something everyone does, those fluttery butterflies as you start to second guess yourself and your potential partner's responses to the little things felt so SO real.

And yes, the insecurities. OH, HOW THEY HURT. Watching both Isla and Josh come to the realization that they have so much to offer those around them was both painful and uplifting.

I adore this series. It's beautiful and sometimes awkward and I just want to go back and read all the books all over again. Plus, seeing former couples made my poor bruised heart go pitter patter. I love revisiting characters and seeing them through the eyes of others.

*draws glittery hearts all over the place*

Cold Shadows by J.L. Bryan [Review]

Cold Shadows (Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper #2) by J.L. Bryan
Format: ebook
Source: provided for review
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: November 22, 2014

Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper
1. Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper
2. Cold Shadows - Paperback | Kindle
3. The Crawling Darkness
4. Terminal
5. House of Whispers
6. Maze of Souls
7. Lullaby
8. The Keeper
9. The Tower
10. The Monster Museum
11. Fire Devil
12. The Necromancer's Library
13. The Trailwalker
14. Midnight Movie
15. The Lodge
16. Cabinet Jack
17. Fallen Wishes
18. Sunset House
19. The Funtime Show
20. Miracle Mountain
21. Mortuary Manor
22. Robber's Road
23. Evermore Plantation
24. The Toyman

J.L. Bryan
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Footsteps in the attic. Toys that play by themselves. A dark presence in an upstairs room.

Paranormal investigator Ellie Jordan faces a difficult new case. Her new clients are a family haunted by multiple ghosts and a poltergeist that wrecks their home at night. Their seven-year-old son’s invisible friends may not be imaginary at all, but the restless spirits of dead children.

To clear her clients’ house of the dangerous entities, Ellie must unravel the mysterious deaths of another family who lived in the old mansion more than a hundred and sixty years ago—and she must do it before the ghosts can carry out their malevolent designs on her clients and their children.

Thoughts on Cold Shadows: I have to say that I've enjoyed everything J.L. Bryan has written (hoists the fangirl flag with a rousing cheer) and I'm REALLY digging on this new series. Ghosts, mayhem, quirky characters with intriguing back stories, and DANGER, ELLIE JORDAN! DANGER!

One things I'm enjoying is how the past ties in with the present. Ellie has to piece together what happened long ago to figure out how it ties in with her current case. She's working off historical documents and a goodly dose of intuition (although she'd tell you she follows the facts, but I like the leaps she makes) to figure out who's who and why they're acting as they are. And, yes, she does follow the facts more than she intuits. She treats her ghost hunting as a science, even when she invites the resident psychic into her investigation. I just wonder if her run-in with a malevolent spirit when she was younger makes her more open to seeing connections that others might brush aside.

Speaking of the resident psychic, Ellie's love life is sort of a barren wasteland. While I'm not holding my breath that she's going to go for him (that might make things awkward down the line), I am hoping she finds someone who can understand what she does and why she does it.

It might be nice to have someone to lean on after getting thrown down a flight of stairs or two during a rough case.

Bottom line: I'm loving this series and can't wait to see what crazy ghostly shenanigans Ellie and her crew uncover next.

Accession by Terah Edun [Review]

Accession (Sareth Web #1) by Terah Edun
Format: ebook
Source: provided for review as part of the Heroes Urban Fantasy bundle
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: September 27, 2014

Sareth Web
1. Accession - Paperback | Kindle

Terah Edun
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Sixteen-year-old Katherine Thompson wasn’t trained to rule a coven. That was her sister – perfect, beautiful Rose. But when a mysterious plane crash kills off the heir presumptive of the Sandersville coven she has no choice. After stepping in to fill her sister’s shoes, Katherine realizes she didn’t have a clue – faery wars, depressed trolls and angry unicorns are just the beginning.

For centuries, her family has served the high Queens on both sides of the Atlantic but it is a well-known rule that mid-level witches stay away from high-level Queens. But when Katherine’s youngest cousin vanishes without a trace in the Atlanta court and no one wants to investigate, Katherine decides to step into the darkness on her own. She soon discovers that nothing, especially in the Atlanta High Queen’s court, is as it seems.

When she accidentally opens a rift in the search for her cousin, Richard LeCross, the Queen’s warlock, decides that Katherine is more trouble than she’s worth. He determines that this mortal, dangerously close to becoming a High Queen, needs to die. But killing Katherine is easier said than done. For a young woman who’s always believed in right versus wrong, she’s about to go head over heels into the dark side.

Thoughts on Accession: I can genuinely say I had no idea where half of Katherine's motivation came from in this book. While the world building seemed to be very in-depth, the way it was presented often left me scratching my head in confusion. Large chunks of narrative backstory were interjected during tense scenes which basically destroyed all the tension and left me skimming.

I also have a personal problem when a book (whether it's part of a larger arc or not) doesn't resolve anything by the end. As far as I could see, there was zero resolution to the overlying arc. While Katherine did figure out a few of the things thrown at her (how to act a little more like someone in charge, that a queen's life is full of hard decisions), it felt like we stopped mid-story as far as the main arc was concerned.

As far as Katherine herself, she never acted like someone who was grieving. Whether she was close to her sister or not, I had a hard time connecting with someone who didn't show much of any emotion when her entire life was thrown into disarray in a heartbeat. It was mentioned that she couldn't wait to escape Sandersville, yet when she becomes the heir she just sort of accepts that she's going to be stuck there now.

Uneven characterization and a virtual info dump of backstory at odd moments kept me from falling into this story and being able to suspend my disbelief. While I think the world building is solid, having all that information thrown about just made it tedious to wade through and disconnected me from any of the action taking place at the moment.

Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper by J.L. Bryan [Review]

Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper (Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper #1) by J.L. Bryan
Format: paperback
Source: provided for review
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: October 5, 2014

Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper
1. Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper - Paperback | Kindle
2. Cold Shadows
3. The Crawling Darkness
4. Terminal
5. House of Whispers
6. Maze of Souls
7. Lullaby
8. The Keeper
9. The Tower
10. The Monster Museum
11. Fire Devil
12. The Necromancer's Library
13. The Trailwalker
14. Midnight Movie
15. The Lodge
16. Cabinet Jack
17. Fallen Wishes
18. Sunset House
19. The Funtime Show
20. Miracle Mountain
21. Mortuary Manor
22. Robber's Road
23. Evermore Plantation
24. The Toyman

J.L. Bryan
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Ellie Jordan’s job is to catch and remove unwanted ghosts. Part detective, part paranormal exterminator, Ellie operates out of Savannah, Georgia, one of the oldest and most haunted cities in North America.

When a family contacts her to deal with a disturbing presence in the old mansion they’ve recently purchased, Ellie first believes it to be a typical, by-the-book specter, a residual haunting by a restless spirit. Instead, she finds herself confronting an evil older and more powerful than she’d ever expected, rooted in the house’s long and sordid history of luxury, sin, and murder. The dangerous entity seems particularly interested in her clients’ ten-year-old daughter.

Soon her own life is in danger, and Ellie must find a way to exorcise the darkness of the house before it can kill her, her clients, or their frightened young child.

Thoughts on Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper: Hee! This one was fun! Ghosties, ghoulies, smart women, and plenty of danger had me hooked from page one. Ellie knows her stuff and she knows when she needs to ask for help.

(Admittedly, that last part took a little nudging, but she did ask. Eventually.)

I should probably mention that I love ghost stories. These particular ghosts totally hit the spot. The story behind how the house became haunted worked for me. The story behind why Ellie became a ghost trapper worked for me. Heck, Ellie's friendship with Stacey worked for me. Not going to lie, I'm intrigued by Jacob and how (or if) he'll fit in with Ellie and Stacey down the line.

With nicely gruesome imagery, likeable characters, and some twisted backstory to give both the ghosts and Ellie depth, I'm digging what J.L. Bryan has created here. Given that Ellie's working in ghost-central, the possibilities look to be endless for potential stories. GOOD THING. I want to know more about Ellie and see what she gets into next!

Fairy Luck by J.L. Bryan [Review]

Fairy Luck (Songs of Magic #6) by J.L. Bryan
Format: ebook
Source: provided for review
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: July 20, 2014

Songs of Magic
1. Fairy Metal Thunder
2. Fairy Blues
3. Fairystruck
4. Fairyland
5. Fairyvision
6. Fairy Luck - Paperback | Kindle
7. Fairy Queen

J.L. Bryan
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

While the Zebras reel from the loss of Erin, Erin herself makes some troubling discoveries while connecting with her ancestors.

In Faerie, Aoide and her troupe seem to finally be enjoying their big break...but danger is on the way, and nothing is ever what it seems when you're dealing with leprechauns and the treacherous Queen Mab.

Thoughts on Fairy Luck: I've been consistently amazed at how J.L. Bryan can come up with such an utterly off-kilter world as I've worked my way through the series. This book cemented the fact the guy has a twisted brain. As it turns out, I like twisty things. Huh. I think I just implied I like J.L. Bryan's brain. This is true. It's very fun to squeeze. Strange things fall out and I get to play with them. But not in a creepy way. (because squeezing someone's brain is TOTALLY not creepy, amirite?!?!)

Right. So. The Zebras. Tragedy struck at the end of book 5 and we get to see the aftermath of it here. With Erin gone, Jason falls apart. He has no interest in the band and he's ready for his life to go back to normal. Except, how normal can things be when you were once a world famous rock star? Mitch is his usual abrasive self and Dred has found a way to keep doing what she loves. Meanwhile, Erin is learning some very interesting things about herself and her family. I spent a good chunk of this book upset with the way she didn't seem to care about how her disappearance would affect her family or friends, but there are forces at play here and I'm curious how it'll all play out.

Back in Faerie, Mad Queen Mab's plot is unfolding and things look bleak. Methinks a certain leprechaun bit off more than he could chew when he took up with the mad queen. If I'm reading the signs right, it doesn't look like things are going according to his plans. Unless he's just that crafty. And, honestly, he might be.

Entertaining, fast paced, and so odd it'll leave you smiling, this series is gearing up toward a big finish. Events have been set in motion and answers will (more than likely) be coming. Until then, we have to content ourselves with giant puppies, a nutty queen, and one oversized cat. Good times.

Goldilocks by Patria L. Dunn [Review]

Goldilocks by Patria L. Dunn
Format: ebook
Source: provided for review
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: March 1, 2014

Patria L. Dunn
| Website | Twitter | Amazon | Kindle |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Hannah Adler had wished for more attention from her father, but not at the cost of leaving everything she loved behind. The mountains of Hinsdale, Colorado was not where she’d imagined spending her senior year, but with her father accepting the inspector position at the Golden Wonder gold mine, she had no choice but to make the best of it. It’s not as if the friends she didn’t have would miss her. Life had been lonely since losing her mother almost five years ago, and now was her chance to start letting her heart heal once and for all.

Jake Bear had his nickname for a reason, but it wasn’t one that Hannah would have ever suspected. There was a secret buried in those sable colored eyes, and with something lurking in the woods behind her new home, Hannah was almost sure he knew more than he let on.

He only wanted to protect her, but from what…?

Thoughts on Goldilocks: If I were to say that I wouldn't mind another story set in this world, that wouldn't seem weird, right? I mean, it wouldn't even have to be a story-story. Just Jake and Hannah ambling around the woods. Talking. Maybe kissing. There could be some nudity. A fight a two with something creepy and evil. Or not. They could just talk. Read the newspaper. Hang out and tell knock-knock jokes. I'm not picky.

Because I liked these two. I liked the world that was created and the mythology that was laid out. I liked the craziness and ... I think I'd like more, please. The kissing and other stuff is totally optional. Mostly.

So. This isn't your usual Goldilocks retelling. It has some intriguing twists. And a romance. I like romance. I liked the Jake/Hannah interactions from the start. Poor Hannah having to put up with Jake's monosyllabic grunts when they first meet. Poor Jake and his longing for Hannah that hits out of the blue.

And, oh, all the secrets that come spilling out as Hannah gets drawn more and more into Jake's world.

Yeah, I liked this one. A lot.