The Magician King by Lev Grossman A Fantasy, 2011 by William Heinemann, 548 Pages What I Didn’t Like: Pacing is strange. Some parts really drag while others seem to zoom by, making the entire journey almost feel like limping. There are a lot of characters to keep track of in this world. A few who... Continue Reading →
Spin a Black Yarn by Josh Malerman A Horror Anthology, 2023 by Del Ray, 400 Pages What I Didn’t Like: Some stories have no chapter breaks and very few spots to stop and put it down but they’re also too long to read in one sitting. This can be frustrating to some readers. As is... Continue Reading →
The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda A Mystery/Thriller, 2023 by Marysue Rucci Books, 339 Pages What I Didn’t Like: There’s a lot of characters. I have almost never considered taking out a notebook to track characters … and I considered it seriously for this book. Unreliable narrator. Personally, I don’t have a problem with this.... Continue Reading →
Escape by James Patterson A Mystery/Thriller, 2022 by Little Brown, 448 Pages What I Didn’t Like: Harney is not my favorite character. He’s crass, not nearly as funny as he thinks he is, and a little chauvinistic. Again, I could do without the comedy routines (I said this after book 2). Suspend your disbelief of... Continue Reading →
Good Morning and happy JULY. I’ll spare you the whining about the temperatures here in the desert of Phoenix and the typical shocked statement about how I can’t believe what month it is. If you’re a regular follower of the blog you already know June was supposed to be a busy month … I had... Continue Reading →
King of Fools by Amanda Foody YA Fantasy, 2019 by Inkyard Press, 602 Pages What I Didn’t Like: Very detailed and multi layered plan makes this a little tricky to follow in the beginning. But it comes together nicely. This one would be better if you’ve read the first book. With some sequels it doesn’t... Continue Reading →
Like Father Like Son by James Patterson MG Mystery/Thriller, 2021 by jimmy patterson books, 304 Pages What I Didn’t Like: I think I said this about book 1, but the voice is so strange. It doesn’t feel authentic for a kid of this age, it feels forced. As it was in book 1, I’m shocked... Continue Reading →
Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter A Mystery/Thriller, 2001 by HarperTorch, 418 Pages What I Didn’t Like: Plumbers don’t have emergencies? <laughs in plumber’s daughter> Some old school “boys will be boys” behavior that irritates (although it is called out by a character who also hates it). Dark and disturbing. I read a lot of mystery/thrillers and... Continue Reading →
Clara Poole and the Long Way Round by Taylor Tyng MG Contemporary, 2023 by Pixel + Ink, 384 Pages What I Didn’t Like: Children can’t enter into contracts. Of course, this illustrates WHY in a decent way. Suspend your disbelief on that one and you’ll be fine. Sometimes a lack of dialogue tags makes it... Continue Reading →
Weekend by Christopher Pike YA Mystery/Thriller, 1986 by Scholastic Press, 240 Pages What I Didn’t Like: Over the top dramatization of teens behaving badly. Funny how this used to be the norm and yet now it feels so fake. Obsession with sex. Again, it feels over the top. Strangely, I’ve noticed this a lot on... Continue Reading →
