Tag Archives: Science Fiction
The Lighthouse Witches, By C.J. Cooke ~ 5.0 Stars
Adult Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Scotland, Supernatural Fiction, Suspense
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Two sisters go missing on a remote Scottish island. Twenty years later, one is found–but she's still the same age as when she disappeared. The secrets of witches have reached across the centuries in this chilling Gothic thriller from the author of the acclaimed The Nesting.
When single mother Liv is commissioned to paint a mural in a 100-year-old lighthouse on a remote Scottish island, it's an opportunity to start over with her three daughters–Luna, Sapphire, and Clover. When two of her daughters go missing, she's frantic. She learns that the cave beneath the lighthouse was once a prison for women accused of witchcraft. The locals warn her about wildlings, supernatural beings who mimic human children, created by witches for revenge. Liv is told wildlings are dangerous and must be killed.
Twenty-two years later, Luna has been searching for her missing sisters and mother. When she receives a call about her youngest sister, Clover, she's initially ecstatic. Clover is the sister she remembers–except she's still seven years old, the age she was when she vanished. Luna is worried Clover is a wildling. Luna has few memories of her time on the island, but she'll have to return to find the truth of what happened to her family. But she doesn't realize just how much the truth will change her. (Goodreads)
The Lighthouse Witches is the first book I've read by C.J. Cooke, but it certainly won't be the last! Gaelic and Nordic mythology and other elements that I'm not going to name for fear of spoilers, are splendidly woven with Scottish history and witch hunts, and it had me utterly enthralled from the very beginning and wouldn't let go.
There are three timelines involved: 1662 from a grimoire which provides key historical details that directly tie into the other timelines; 1998 which is from Liv's POV and shows the events that unfold after she and her three daughters arrive on Lòn Haven; and 2021 which is Luna's, the middle daughter's POV, as she struggles with the trauma of what happened twenty-two years ago, as well as the new, frightening occurrences that are bringing the past to life. The characters are so realistically portrayed that I half expected them to walk off the page. They're flawed, yet still sympathetic, and even when one of them commits a certain horrific act, (yes I'm being deliberately vague), I could understand the desperation behind what was done.
Cooke's writing is evocative, haunting, and beautifully detailed which helps bring the eerie Scottish isle of Lòn Haven alive. As for the plot, well, let me say to say that the word twisty doesn't even begin to describe the different directions it takes. The final twist caught me completely by surprise but explained everything so perfectly I thought it was brilliant! The ending is bittersweet and poignant, yet brings everything and everyone full circle.
Honestly, I really can't sing the praises of The Lighthouse Witches loudly enough. It's one of the best books I've read this year, and as it's been a banner year for fantastic reads, that's really saying something. I recommend this for anyone who's looking for some truly wonderful storytelling that will temporarily sweep them away.
Forgotten In Death (In Death #53), By J.D. Robb ~ 4.5 Stars
Adult Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Spousal Abuse, Suspense
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: September 7th, 2021
Synopsis: In the latest novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, homicide detective Eve Dallas sifts through the wreckage of the past to find a killer.
The body was left in a dumpster like so much trash, the victim a woman of no fixed address, known for offering paper flowers in return for spare change—and for keeping the cops informed of any infractions she witnessed on the street. But the notebook where she scribbled her intel on litterers and other such offenders is nowhere to be found.
Then Eve is summoned away to a nearby building site to view more remains—in this case decades old, adorned with gold jewelry and fine clothing—unearthed by recent construction work. She isn't happy when she realizes that the scene of the crime belongs to her husband, Roarke—not that it should surprise her, since the Irish billionaire owns a good chunk of New York. Now Eve must enter a complex world of real estate development, family history, shady deals, and shocking secrets to find justice for two women whose lives were thrown away… (Goodreads)
It's hard to believe that J.D. Robb's long-running In Death series is now up to #53, but with Forgetful in Death, here we are. In this outing there are two main mysteries to be solved: one involving a homeless woman known by many for her sweet nature and penchant for giving out origami figures, and the other which focuses on the uncovered skeletons of a pregnant woman and her infant.
As is often the case with this series, the identities of the villains are fairly easy to guess, but that's not really important. What is, is the journey getting there and what it reveals about not only the victims and their killers, but Lieutenant Eve Dallas herself. Throughout this series Dallas has stood for the homicide victims whose cases cross her desk, no matter who they were or what their background. She leaves no stone unturned in her quest to bring the people responsible for their deaths to justice, and in doing so, allows them to rest in peace and brings closure to their loved ones. That continues to be the case here, and the way this story unfolds makes the title especially apt.
As usual, Dallas is backed by members of her Scooby gang, although this time around it's really just the ever-dishy Roarke and her stalwart partner Delia Peabody, who play integral parts in the investigations. I never tire of the interplay and dialogue between Dallas and the people she cares about, and as I expected there are some lighter moments to break up the darkness. The ending comes with justice being delivered to some truly abhorrent individuals who never should see the light of day again, and I took great pleasure in seeing them get their just desserts.
I'm happy to say that Forgotten in Death is another winning entry in this series, and I have no doubt it will please Robb's legions of fans. I've said this before about the In Death series, but it bears repeating. Every time I pick up a book it's like greeting old friends and family. Dallas, Roarke, Peabody, and the rest, are all characters I wish I knew in real life, but alas, I'll have to console myself with reading of their adventures twice a year.
Holdout, By Jeffrey Kluger ~ 3.5 Stars
Adult Fiction, Climate, Deforestation, Ethnic Cleansing, Politics, Science Fiction, Suspense
Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: August 3rd, 2021
Synopsis: When evil forces are going unchecked on Earth, a principled astronaut makes a spilt-second decision to try to seek justice in the only place she knows how—the International Space Station.
Walli Beckwith is a model astronaut. She graduated at the top of her class from the Naval Academy, had a successful career flying fighter jets, and has spent more than three hundred days in space. So when she refuses to leave her post aboard the International Space Station following an accident that forces her fellow astronauts to evacuate, her American and Russian colleagues are mystified. For Walli, the matter at hand feels all too clear and terrifying for her to be worried about ruining her career. She is stuck in a race against time to save a part of the world that seems to have been forgotten, and also the life of the person she loves the most. She will go to any length necessary, using the only tool she has, to accomplish what she knows is right. (Goodreads)
Holdout is the first book I've read by author/journalist Jeffrey Kluger, and while it's well meaning (though not very plausible for more than one reason), it's also obvious he's written extensively about space. Without going too much into spoilers, I thought this was going to be set mostly in space, but the story mainly seesaws between the International Space Station which Walli has taken over, Brazil and the deforestation of the Amazon, and Washington D.C. Personally speaking I could have done without the political theater which I thought was somewhat overwrought. The way the politicians here are portrayed, veer from the stereotypical greedy, corrupt, and power hungry, to last minute embraces of consciences that just wasn't believable. The more entertaining passages of the book are when the focus is on Walli and her niece Sonia who's part of a medical relief agency working with indigenous tribes in the Amazon. Lots of drama here as well, but highly entertaining with more than one twist. The ending was a little too pat for me, but as I liked the characters, overall I was happy with the way things resolved for them. Holdout is a bit bumpy and rough at time, but for the most part it kept my attention and I found it an easy read.
The Seven Visitations of Sydney Burgess, By Andy Marino ~ 3.0 Stars
06 Tuesday Jul 2021
Adult Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction, Substance Abuse, Suspense
Thanks to NetGalley and Redhook for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: September 28th, 2021
Synopsis: From a thrilling new voice in horror, Andy Marino, comes a haunting tale of a woman whose life begins to unravel after a home invasion. She's told she killed the intruder. But she can't remember, and no one believes her…
Sydney's spent years burying her past and building a better life for herself and her eleven-year old son. A respectable marketing job, a house with reclaimed and sustainable furniture, and a boyfriend who loves her son and accepts her, flaws and all. But when she opens her front door, and a masked intruder knocks her briefly unconscious, everything begins to unravel.
She wakes in the hospital and tells a harrowing story of escape. Of dashing out a broken window. Of running into her neighbors' yard and calling the police. What the cops tell her is that she can no longer trust her memories. Because they say that not only is the intruder lying dead in her guest room, but he's been murdered in a way that seems intimately personal.
When she returns home, Sydney can't shake the deep darkness that hides in every corner. There's an unnatural whisper in her ear, urging her back to old addictions. And as her memories slowly return, she begins to fear that her new life was never built on solid ground-and that the secrets buried beneath will change everything. (Goodreads)
The Seven Visitations of Sydney Burgess is a very different type of horror story which has left me torn over how I feel about it. I liked Sydney because she's the poster child of an unreliable character and she kept me guessing through most of the book. A former drug addict, she's turned her life around and seemingly has a wonderful life now with her loving, supportive boyfriend and her sweet eleven-year-old son Danny. But then she walks in on a home intruder and her life quickly begins to spiral out of control, and as this happened I increasingly felt as though I had fallen down a rabbit hole. There are several nonlinear time jumps that I found jarring and confusing, and I wound up more than once, having to go back a page and reread the section I just finished. The storyline also took a strange turn to science fiction which I personally didn't care for, and I hated the ending although some readers may like the unexpectedness of it. The reason why this is getting 3.0 stars from me is because I really did like Sydney and her determination to forge a better life for herself and Danny, and I appreciated the uniqueness of story, but these weren't enough to completely save the book for me. Overall, The Seven Visitations of Sydney Burgess had some bright spots, but didn't quite live up to its potential.
A Spindle Splintered, By Alix E. Harrow ~ 5.0 Stars
Adult Fiction, Adventure, Diversity, Fairytale Retellings, Fantasy, Humor, LGBTQ, Science Fiction
Thanks to NetGalley and Tordotcom for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: USA Today bestselling author Alix E. Harrow's A Spindle Splintered brings her patented charm to a new version of a classic story.
"A vivid, subversive and feminist reimagining of Sleeping Beauty, where implacable destiny is no match for courage, sisterhood, stubbornness and a good working knowledge of fairy tales." ―Katherine Arden
It's Zinnia Gray's twenty-first birthday, which is extra-special because it's the last birthday she'll ever have. When she was young, an industrial accident left Zinnia with a rare condition. Not much is known about her illness, just that no one has lived past twenty-one.
Her best friend Charm is intent on making Zinnia's last birthday special with a full sleeping beauty experience, complete with a tower and a spinning wheel. But when Zinnia pricks her finger, something strange and unexpected happens, and she finds herself falling through worlds, with another sleeping beauty, just as desperate to escape her fate. (Goodreads)
A Spindle Splintered may only be 128 pages, but it packs a heck of a lot of content in that brief span. When I read this was Sleeping Beauty meets Into the Spider-Verse I was initially skeptical, but I knew if anyone could pull this off it would be Alix Harrow. I don't want to gush, but this just ticked all my boxes.
✨Strong, smart, and relatable female characters
✨Snarky humor
✨Witty dialogue
✨A unique and imaginative plot
✨A fairytale retelling that improves upon the original
✨Loads of diversity
✨A picture perfect ending.
Best of all it gives Sleeping Beauty a long overdue feminist slant that highlights the struggles that women everywhere have to contend with. It's all about courage, sisterhood, and sassiness, so please take my advice and preorder this immediately or put in a request to purchase at your library. I do want to warn you it mentions rape. It's something that happened in the past to one of the characters, and it's not graphic, but I wanted to let you know.
In a year where I've been blessed with some truly stupendous reads, this novella will definitely be one of my top ten favorites. I highly recommend A Spindle Splintered to readers who love fairytale retellings and even those who don't. I guarantee you'll fall in love with both the plot and its characters, and you'll easily finish it in one sitting and then be disappointed that it's over.
The Book of Accidents, By Chuck Wendig ~ 5.0 Stars
Adult Fiction, Child Abuse, Childhood Trauma, Horror, Science Fiction, Serial Killers, Social Issues, Supernatural Fiction
Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: July 20th, 2021
Synopsis: A family returns to their hometown—and to the dark past that haunts them still—in this masterpiece of literary horror by the New York Times bestselling author of Wanderers
Long ago, Nathan lived in a house in the country with his abusive father—and has never told his family what happened there.
Long ago, Maddie was a little girl making dolls in her bedroom when she saw something she shouldn't have—and is trying to remember that lost trauma by making haunting sculptures.
Long ago, something sinister, something hungry, walked in the tunnels and the mountains and the coal mines of their hometown in rural Pennsylvania.
Now, Nate and Maddie Graves are married, and they have moved back to their hometown with their son, Oliver.
And now what happened long ago is happening again . . . and it is happening to Oliver. He meets a strange boy who becomes his best friend, a boy with secrets of his own and a taste for dark magic.
This dark magic puts them at the heart of a battle of good versus evil and a fight for the soul of the family—and perhaps for all of the world. But the Graves family has a secret weapon in this battle: their love for one another. (Goodreads)
I'm thrilled to say my 2021 winning streak of scoring outstanding horror books continues with Chuck Wendig's The Book of Accidents. There are a lot of reviewers comparing this to classic Stephen King, and they're not wrong. The Book of Accidents shares many elements from vintage King books; strong, complex characters each hiding secrets and battling inner demons, a creative and genre-defying storyline, heart-pounding action, and thought-provoking social commentary. But make no mistake, it stands entirely on its own merits.
The majority of the story revolves around Nate, Maddie, and their teenage son Oliver, whose empathetic nature is far more advanced than his loving parents realize. Maddie is a strong, bad-ass sculptor, whose colorful language is startling yet funny at the same time. She has a fierce love and devotion for her son and husband and will do anything to protect them. And Nate, well, he's a survivor of an abusive father, and he's still dealing with the after effects from his traumatic childhood. They all form a tight family unit which is what they need to fight the unknown evil that's facing them.
The story itself is gripping with shocking twists that I didn't see coming. It's over 500 pages, yet it's so tightly written that my full attention was completely engaged from the moment I started reading. Horror, science fiction, and the supernatural are all skillfully blended with social issues like child abuse and toxic masculinity.
In the end, The Book of Accidents is a magnificent tour de force about the power of love and the triumph of good over evil. In a year that's giving horror fans several magnificent reads, I guarantee this will be on the top of many readers' favorites lists. If you enjoy these genres I highly recommend you either preorder this now, or put in a request to your library!
The 22 Murders of Madison May, By Max Barry ~ 4.0 Stars
18 Tuesday May 2021
Adult Fiction, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Thriller
Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: From the critically acclaimed author of Jennifer Government and Lexicon, comes mind-bending, speculative, psychological suspense, about a serial killer pursuing his victim through time and space, and the woman who is determined to stop him, even if it upends her own reality.
I love you. In every world.
Young real estate agent Madison May is shocked when a client at an open house says these words to her. The man, a stranger, seems to know far too much about her and professes his love—shortly before he murders her.
Felicity Staples hates reporting on murders. As a journalist for a midsize New York City paper, she know she must take on the assignment to research Madison May's shocking murder, but the crime seems random and the suspect is in the wind. That is, until Felicity spots the killer on the subway right before he vanishes.
Soon Felicity senses her entire universe has shifted. No one remembers Madison May, or Felicity's encounter with the mysterious man. And her cat is missing. Felicity realizes that in her pursuit of Madison's killer, she followed him into a different dimension—one where everything about her existence is slightly altered. At first she is determined to return to the reality she knows, but when Madison May—in this world, a struggling actress—is murdered again, Felicity decides she must find the killer—and learns she is not the only one hunting him.
Traveling through different realities, Felicity uncovers the opportunity—and danger—of living more than one life. (Goodreads)
After reading the synopsis for The 22 Deaths of Madison May, the idea of a serial killer pursuing different versions of his victim through the multiverse immediately made me sit up and take notice. For the most part I'm happy to say that it lived up to my expectations. The pace was extremely fast except for a few chapters in the middle which seemed unnecessarily repetitive. Except for Felicity and Madison, the other characters weren't all that well developed which wound up being my primary issue. I would have especially liked to know more about Clayton, the deranged, fiercely determined serial killer. He comes across as your stereotypical stalker who becomes obsessed with a pretty young woman. I was expecting a little more I guess given the complexity of the plot. The ending wrapped everything up pretty satisfactorily and the fate of Clayton is a wonderful example of someone getting their just desserts. Overall, The 22 Murders of Madison May, snagged my attention and I easily finished it in less than two days. The idea of the multiverse with different versions of us that are similar yet different fascinates me, and Max Barry's take on it is quite entertaining. It's also made me want to go back and read Max Barry's previous books. I unhesitatingly recommend this to readers who enjoy speculative fiction and exciting mystery/thrillers.
Flash Fire (The Extraordinaries #2), By TJ Klune ~ 5.0 Stars
Coming-of age, Humor, LGBTQ, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Social Issues, Suspense, YA Fiction
Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Teen for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Flash Fire is the explosive sequel to The Extraordinaries, by USA Today bestselling author TJ Klune!
Nick landed himself the superhero boyfriend of his dreams, but with new heroes arriving in Nova City, it's up to Nick and his friends to determine who is virtuous and who is villainous. Which is a lot to handle for a guy who just wants to finish his self-insert bakery AU fanfic.
One thing I need to address before starting my review for Flash Fire is the controversy regarding the decided pro-police slant in the previous book, which many readers understandably took issue with. The most glaring example of this was Nick's father, Aaron, who's a police detective. He also punches a witness who was provoking him. You would expect him to be fired, but instead, he's demoted, and by the end of the book he's not only promoted, but it's to a higher position. To be fair, The Extraordinaries was written before the murder of George Floyd, however there had already been numerous instances of well-publicized police misconduct and brutality. After many readers expressed their dismay, Klune addressed this in a letter: https://www.tjklunebooks.com/new-blog/2020/7/29/a-message-about-the-extraordinaries
As you can see, it's a thoughtful message from an author who obviously cares about his fans. I'll be honest and say I personally didn't have a huge issue Aaron, because there were extenuating circumstances concerning the altercation in question, but I can understand why others did. The important thing is that Klune not only personally addressed this, but also portrays the police in this sequel, much more realistically, and not just through Nick's sixteen-year-old hero-worshipping eyes. Just like in real life, there are good cops, and ones who abuse the power that comes with their badge.
As for the rest of the book, it's filled with the laugh-out-loud humor, embarrassing yet somehow endearing sexual conversations between Nick and Aaron, and witty dialogue that was found in the previous book. Due to the backdrop of the police, as well as Nick's discovery of a long hidden family secret regarding himself and his deceased mother, the story also takes a more serious tone. Nick continues to struggle with his ADHD and panic attacks, but with the support of his father, friends, and boyfriend Seth, shows a lot of character growth in this sequel. There are some new Extraordinaries in Nova City, which adds a new layer of excitement and mystery, and Klune skillfully juggles these with a very realistic exploration of four diverse gay teens coming-of-age, in today's world.The ending is a whopper of a cliffhanger, and has me eagerly awaiting the conclusion to this trilogy.
With Flash Fire, once again Klune has crafted a thoroughly enjoyable tale filled with humor, heartbreak, witty dialogue, and memorable characters. I can't recommend it or its predecessor highly enough for older teens and adults who are looking for an science fiction read.
Questland, By Carrie Vaughn ~ 3.5 Stars
Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Humor, Mystery, School Shootings, Science Fiction, Suspense
Thanks to NetGalley and John Joseph Adams/Mariner Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: July 22nd, 2021
Synopsis: YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A MAZE FULL OF TWISTY PASSAGES…
Literature professor Dr. Addie Cox is living a happy, if sheltered life, in her ivory tower when Harris Lang, the famously eccentric billionaire tech genius, offers her an unusual job. He wants her to guide a military strike team sent to infiltrate his island retreat off the northwest coast of the United States. Addie is puzzled by her role on the mission until she understands what Lang has built: Insula Mirabilis, an isolated resort where tourists will pay big bucks for a high-tech-powered, fantasy-world experience, complete with dragons, unicorns, and yes, magic.
Unfortunately, one of the island's employees has gone rogue and activated an invisible force shield that has cut off all outside communications. A Coast Guard cutter attempting to pass through the shield has been destroyed. Suspicion falls on Dominic Brand, the project's head designer—and Addie Cox's ex-boyfriend. Lang has tasked Addie and the mercenary team with taking back control of the island at any cost.
But Addie is wrestling with demons of her own—and not the fantastical kind. Now she must navigate the deadly traps of Insula Mirabilis as well as her own past trauma. And no d20, however lucky, can help Addie make this saving throw. (Goodreads)
Questland is one of those books that's a little off-the-wall, and imperfect, but is an entertaining escape from the real world. I'm not into Literary Role Playing Games or LitRPGs as they're known, but I do LOVE fantasy, especially Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia, and Harry Potter, and Carrie Vaughn includes plenty of references to those. Plus, this has dragons AND unicorns in it! Need I say more?
There are a couple of things that prevent this from being a perfect read. In my opinion, the majority of characters are not well written and come across as stereotypical and in some cases, not very believable. The only two to deviate from this one-dimensional mold are a secondary character named Rucker who I disliked in the beginning, before he sneakily changed my mind, and the protagonist of the story, literature professor, Dr. Addie Cox, who fifteen years previously survived a school shooting, but helplessly watched two of her friends die. I absolutely loved her, both for her strength and vulnerability, and also for her humorous reactions to what she sees on the island. Throughout much of the book, she gets herself into situations where she has to be saved, but given that she's suffering from PTSD, I was willing to cut her some slack. And during the second half of the book, she starts gaining more confidence in herself which was nice to watch. The story itself with its magic-mimicking technology is fascinating, and I found myself wistfully wishing to be able to go visit Insula Mirabilis. Thanks to the fast pace that leads to an ending which wraps everything up nice and neatly, I finished this in one sitting.
I'll be honest and say that I don't think Questland is one of Vaughn's best books, but it's fun nonetheless and I'm happy I read it. I think my fellow fantasy geeks would enjoy this as well. As for me, now I really, REALLY want a dragon!
The Album of Dr. Moreau, By Daryl Gregory ~ 4.5 Stars
Adult Fiction, Humor, Mystery, Science Fiction, Suspense
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Daryl Gregory's The Album of Dr. Moreau combines the science fiction premise of the famous novel by H.G. Wells, with the panache of a classic murder mystery and the spectacle of a beloved boy band.
It's 2001, and the WyldBoyz band are the world's hottest boy band, and definitely the world's only genetically engineered human-animal hybrid vocal group. When their producer, Dr. M, is found murdered in his hotel room, the "boyz" become the prime suspects. Was it Bobby the ocelot ("the cute one"), Matt the megabat ("the funny one"), Tim the Pangolin ("the shy one"), Devin the bonobo ("the romantic one"), or Tusk the elephant ("the smart one")?
Las Vegas detective Luce Delgado has only twenty-fours to solve a case that goes all the way back to the secret science barge where the WildBoyz journey first began—a place they used to call home.
The Album of Dr. Moreau gives the typical locked-room mystery, an absolutely wild and zany spin that could only come from the mind of Daryl Gregory. There are dark moments which you'd expect from a story that's based on the H.G. Wells classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, but there are surprising moments of levity and sweetness as well. The characters as you can probably guess from the synopsis are quite unique, although they share some personality traits with certain members of well known boy bands. I actually grew more attached to them than I expected given this is a 170 page novella. The big reveal wasn't a huge surprise, but that didn't matter because it was so much fun getting there. This is the third book I've read by Daryl Gregory, and I've concluded that he's an author who isn't afraid to take risks and go places where many wouldn't even imagine. The Album of Dr. Moreau may be a little out there, but it's a wonderful little respite from the real world that I highly recommend!