A Guide for Murdered Children by Sarah Sparrow

A Guide for Murdered Children

Title: A Guide for Murdered Children

Author: Sarah Sparrow

Publisher: Penguin Group Blue Rider Press & Plume, Blue Rider Press

Date of publication: March 20th, 2018

Genre: General Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

Number of pages: 400

POV: 3rd person

Where you can find A Guide for Murdered Children: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

We all say there is no justice in this world. But what if there really was? What if the souls of murdered children were able to return briefly to this world, inhabit adult bodies and wreak ultimate revenge on the monsters who had killed them, stolen their lives?

Such is the unfathomable mystery confronting ex-NYPD detective Willow Wylde, fresh out of rehab and finally able to find a job running a Cold Case squad in suburban Detroit. When the two rookie cops assigned to him take an obsessive interest in a decades-old disappearance of a brother and sister, Willow begins to suspect something out of the ordinary is afoot. And when he uncovers a series of church basement AA-type meetings made up of the slain innocents, a new way of looking at life, death, murder, and missed opportunities is revealed to him.

Mystical, harrowing and ultimately tremendously moving, A Guide for Murdered Children is a genre-busting, mind-bending twist on the fine line between the ordinary and the extraordinary.

Trigger Warning: Child murder, rape

Continue reading “A Guide for Murdered Children by Sarah Sparrow” →

Melkorka (The Kaelandur Series: Book 1) by Joshua Robertson

Melkorka (The Kaelandur Series, #1)

4 Stars

Publisher: Crimson Edge Press

Date of publication: January 2017

Genre: Fantasy

Series: The Kaelandur Series

Melkorka – Book 1

Where you can find Melkorka: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

Kaelandur was forged by the Highborn to slay one of their own, Nedezhda Mager. As their slave, Branimir Baran never thought to question his cruel masters until he is forced to take part in the execution. His actions begin a chain of events that will lead him to confront demons, cannibals, and himself as he is forced to question his own morality and the true meaning of good and evil.

My review:

I am not a stranger to reviewing books from Joshua Robertson. I have reviewed two short stories by and was very impressed. So, when he approached me to review Melkorka, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. I am glad I did because Melkorka exceeded my expectations.

Melkorka’s plot was very simple. It follows the Kas slave, Branimir, as he is forced on a frantic journey to protect the Ash Tree. The journey is filled with peril from outside elements and the people he is traveling with. Can Branimir survive long enough to save the Ash Tree? Or will his journey be for nothing?

Branimir held my sympathy because he was the innocent one in everything. Kinhar forced him to be part of the execution. He also forced to go with them on their mad dash from Melkorka after the battle that decimated the city. He was treated horribly by everyone in the party except Dorofej. It was nice to see him come into his own by the end of the book. To shed the slave mentality that had been bred into him.

There was a blurred line between good and evil in Melkorka and I enjoyed it. Some of the “good” guys were not “good” guys, per se. The author did a great job of casting the good guys into that gray area on more than one occasion.

The usage of magic was different from what I have read in other books. The caster aged with every spell that they cast until they die. But, some of the casters also were able to reverse the aging that the magic caused. Kinhar did. He went from elderly man to a young one during one of the battles that they had during the book.

There is a lot of violence in Melkorka. Being familiar with the author, I was not surprised at the graphic violence. I couldn’t see this book being written any other way. It needed to get bloody. What I also liked is that the author didn’t spare anyone from being killed. I was surprised at some of the characters that were killed off. There was one that did disturb me but only because the travelers were fed the body and told after the fact. I gagged at that.

I did have one complaint (don’t I always). There were several references of Kras and Highborn having one eye. The other eye was gouged out in a ritual. Falmagon did kind of explain it. That was something that stayed in the back of my head the entire book. I wish that more was explained about it. Considering that this is a series, I am willing to bet that more will be explained in the upcoming books.

The end of Melkorka was action-packed and bloody. I was not expecting what happened to happen. But it makes sense. I am excited to see where this series goes.

Pros of Melkorka:

A) Rich world building

B) 3D characters

C) Great storyline

Cons of Melkorka:

A) Not enough explanation about the eyes being gouged out in both Kras and Highborn

B) The treatment of Branimir and Dorofej for a majority of the book

C) Falmagon. I didn’t trust him as far as I could throw him the entire book

I would give Melkorka a rating of Adult. While there is no sex or swearing in the book, there is graphic violence. I would not recommend for anyone under the age of 21 to read this book.

There are trigger warnings that go with Melkorka. If you are triggered by graphic violence, then I would suggest not to read this book.

I would recommend Melkorka to family and friends. But I would include a warning about the graphic violence in the book. This is a book that I would reread. It is also a series that I am very interested in continuing to read.

I would like to thank Crimson Edge Press and Joshua Robertson for allowing me to read/review Melkorka. 

All opinions stated in this review of Melkorka are mine.

**I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it**

When Blood Falls by Joshua Robertson

When Blood Falls

4 Stars

Publisher: Crimson Edge

Date of publication: January 2nd, 2017

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Thrice Nine Legends

Where you can find When Blood Falls: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

Defending against the demons of the Deep has long given Tyr Og’s brethren purpose. When Tyr’s mother is robbed from him during childhood, he loses his will to live. Now, filled with rage and regret, Tyr hungers for a worthy death to bring an end to the futility of his life. In a short tale of blood and self-loathing, Tyr seeks the most honorable path to finally join his mother in the afterlife.

My review:

When Blood Falls is a chilling short story that is set in the Thrice Nine Legends world.  A short story, 29 pages, this book gives you more of an insight into the Thrice Nine Legends and The Melkorka series.

This is a violent and bloody story. While the violence and blood didn’t bother me, it might bother more sensitive people. So, a heads up on that. The violence didn’t bother me. I have reviewed other Joshua Robertson books before and I know what to expect from them. This book fits right in the world that he is creating. A violent, unpredictable world that is being overrun with demons.

I did feel bad for Tyr during this book. He suffered one loss after another. First his mother, then his sister. I can’t get much into the book other than that. Like I said above, it is a short story and  I would be giving away the entire book if I went into it.

I did have one small complaint. I do have a feeling that my complaint will be answered in the other books. My complaint is that the blood cascade was never fully explained. Like I said, it is probably explained in the other books.

I am not going to do a Pros/Cons list because the story is too short for one. I also feel that me doing that would be giving away spoilers to the book.

I would give this book a rating of Adult. While no sex or language, there is graphic violence. I would recommend no one under the age of 21 read When Blood Falls.

There are trigger warnings in the books. If you are triggered by graphic violence, I would not read When Blood Falls.

I would recommend When Blood Falls to family and friends but I would include a warning about the violence. This is a book that I would reread.

I would like to thank Crimson Edge Press and Joshua Robertson for allowing me to read and review When Blood Falls.

All opinions stated in this review of When Blood Falls are mine.

**I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it**

Illera’s Darkliete: A Fantasy by Gail Gernat

Illera's Darkliete: A Fantasy

4 Stars

Publisher: Andrea James Publishing

Date of publication: December 28th, 2017

Genre: Fantasy, Romance

Series:

Lera Sorrow – review here

Where you can find Illera’s Darkliete: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

When the messengers from Frain arrive to secure the hand of Princess Illera to their selfish air to the throne, Torul, she hides. Forced by circumstances, and her father, Illera and her three companions journey to the cold, dark north. Fighting against her fate, Illera plunges the quartet into danger. But when she accedes to the demands of cruel destiny they must fight against a ravening evil that knows no restraint. Using her mixed blood heritage, can this innocent child learn and mature fast enough to control the forces ripping her world apart? Can she negotiate the political intrigues and defeat the hordes of Shul, the pirates of Carnuvon and the hatreds of Frain?

My review:

As I said in my review of Lera’s Sorrow, I wasn’t looking for another book to review. But something about the blurbs of these books called to me. I am very glad that I decided to read and review these books because they were fantastic.

Illeria’s Darkliete’s plot was great. It follows Illeria as she is forced into a marriage with the son of a kingdom that is threatening to invade. Illeria fights with everything she has against the marriage. Her guards, Lark and Raven, are won over to her side after she saves them. Forced on the run, Illeria makes allies from the most unlikely people. Will she have what it takes to defeat the King of Frain? Or will her world rip apart?

I like Illeria but not in the beginning. I thought she was acting like a brat when her father announced that he was sending her to Frain to wed Torul. I mean, come on, she hid in the walls of the castle to avoid meeting the ambassador. But as the story went on (and taking in the prequel with the King of Frain), I could understand why she acted the way she did. Made sense. She also rose to the occasion once she arrived back in Madean. I also thought that she did a great job of mastering her magic during her adventures.

Speaking of her magic, I loved reading about her powers. The author did a great job of increasing what she could do a little at a time. It made for a more pleasurable read for me. Illeria got to master a bit of her magic at a time before either her magic strengthened or a new aspect showed up.

I thought that the pseudo love triangle hinted at in the book wasn’t needed. But, saying that, I did not know who Illeria was going to choose. It was a big mystery until she actually did it. And yes, I was very surprised by it. I did get a giggle when certain people in the book kept referring to Illeria and her supposed pseudo-love triangle.

I did like Raven and Lark. I thought that their backstories were sad. I also thought that they were stubborn and headstrong in parts of the books. Lark always seemed to be the one getting kidnapped and used as bait to lure Illeria out. Raven seemed to take risks that were a little unnecessary. But, like I said, I did like them.

The bad guys in this book were bad. I had chills reading about Torul and the King of Frain. Out of all the bad guys in the book, they were the baddest of the bad. I can’t even describe them. You need to read the book to find out.

There was a twist towards the end of the book that made me go “Whaaaaattt“. I was not expecting this twist. It came out of nowhere. Talk about being blindsided.

The end of the book was what I expected. I liked that Illeria made her choice of who she was going to be with. I also liked that she took total control of her kingdom. What I liked, even more, was seeing Illeria and her family in the future. Makes me wonder what book 3 will be like!!!

Pros of Illeria’s Darkliete:

A) The world building was out of this world (pun not intended)

B) Relatable and likable characters

C) The ending

Cons of Illeria’s Darkliete:

A) The pseudo love triangle

B) The King of Frain

C) The whole journey through the swamp

I would rate Illeria’s Darkliete as a book suitable for Older Teens. There is violence, some of it graphic. There is no language. There is a scene where Illeria kisses someone (can’t say, big plot reveal) but nothing sexual. I would feel comfortable with anyone over the age of 16 reading this book.

There are triggers in this book. They would be the talk of rape, talk about past domestic violence. So, if those trigger you, don’t read this book.

I would recommend Illeria’s Darkliete to family and friends. I would include a warning of the triggers. This is a book that I would reread.

I would like to thank Andrea James Publishing and Gail Gernat for allowing me to read and review Illeria’s Darkliete.

All opinions expressed in this review of Illeria’s Darkliete are mine.

**I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it**

Lera’s Sorrow by Gail Gernat

Lera's Sorrow4 Stars

Publisher: Andrea James Publishing

Date of publication: November 28th, 2017

Genre: Fantasy, Romance

Where you can find Lera’s Sorrow: Amazon

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

Lera and her cousin have completed their long childhood and their training as healers. Sent to their grandparents back in Madean, they must negotiate the strange new world, attain their werwinstans. Fate intervenes in the shape of handsome young Ian, very human and very poisonous to the elven. Trying out her independence for the first time in her life, what will Lera decide? Where will she discover her loyalty to lay, with love or with duty?

My review:

When I was approached to review Lera’s Sorrow and Illeria’s Darkliete, I was a bit hesitant to accept.  I was running behind on my reviews and didn’t think I would have time to read another two books. But, once I read the blurb of both books, I made the decision to read them. I am glad I did because these books were wonderful.

Lera’s Sorrow is the prequel to Illeria’s Darkliete. In this book, Illeria’s mother, Lera, is introduced. Lera is an Elven healer who has finished her training. She is sent to her grandparents in Madean to learn about the human world. Lera meets Ian, a human prince. That meeting throws everything that Lera has worked for into chaos. There is also an unexpected result of her actions. It is those consequences that force her to make a decision that shouldn’t have to be made.

This book was a very quick read at 60 pages. But the author did a wonderful job for packing in a whole bunch of information into those 60 pages. She also did a wonderful job of building up a world that would be continued in the next book.

I did like Lera but I didn’t like how the elven community treated her after what happened with Ian. She didn’t have control over it!! Considering that the Elves were having trouble conceiving, I would have thought that they would be happy about half-elves. Anyway, I thought Lera dealt very well with what happened. I also felt that she dealt very well with the mother in law from Hell. I don’t know if I could have been as…nice….as she was. Thinking about it more, nope. Definitely not as nice.

The romance between Ian and Lera was sweet. I did think that Ian could have stuck up for Lera more. But then again, he did stick up for her when it mattered.

The end of the book was sad. Not going to get into it but it broke my heart to read it.

Pros of Lera’s Sorrow:

A) The author laid a great foundation for the next book

B) Great character building

C) Lera’s sweetness

Cons of Lera’s Sorrow:

A) The Elves and their unwillingness to deal with humans. Understandable but still

B) Ian’s mother. I wanted to punt her off the castle wall. Couldn’t stand her

C) The end of the book.

I would give Lera’s Sorrow a rating of Older Teen. There is mild violence. There are sexual situations but they were very vague. There is no language. I would feel safe recommending this book to anyone over the age of 16.

There are no triggers in this book. None, zilch, zero.

I would recommend Lera’s Sorrow to family and friends. This is also a book that I would reread.

I would like to thank Gail Gernat and Andrea James Publishing for allowing me to read and review Lera’s Sorrow.

All opinions stated in this review of Lera’s Sorrow are mine

**I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it**

The Mosaic by Chris Keaton and Rick Taubold

The Mosaic

4 Stars

Publisher: 13Thirty Books

Date of publication: October 23rd, 2016

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Where you can find The Mosaic: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

Secrets. It all started while looking for secret passages. Chloe Tozier’s impulsive twin, Zoe, insisted that all old mansions had them. Grandma denied the existence of any here. Except for the boarded-up service elevator that she conveniently forgot to mention before the girls discovered it, the elevator that didn’t seem to go anywhere. They had been living in this private museum with their grandparents since the death of their parents during an archaeology trip to Egypt. 

Mysteries. Why have a museum in a tiny town in the middle of Kansas when what’s on display is nothing unusual? Sometimes packages arrived wrapped in plain brown paper that the girls never saw again. Grandpa disappeared overnight and they haven’t heard from him since. And before going to Egypt their parents had mentioned something about a mysterious mosaic. Maybe Zoe was right about family secrets. Maybe it was time to dig further. 

My Review:

When the author approached me to read The Mosaic, I was on the fence with it after reading the blurb. But, something called me to review the book. I am glad that I did because The Mosaic was what I needed to break the boredom of reading YA. This book was a joy to read.

The Mosaic’s plotline is pretty basic. Twin girls find hidden rooms in the basement of their museum/house. In those hidden rooms are pieces of a mosaic. The mosaic is more than what it seems to be. The girls come to find out that their grandmother is more than what she seems. They also come to find out that they are more than what they seem. When an ancient evil threatens to revive a war from before history, the girls have to prove themselves. Can they do it or will this ancient evil win?

I liked Zoe and Chloe. I will admit that Zoe drove me a little crazy at times in the book. Mainly because she reminded me of my 12-year-old daughter who is also impulsive. But I liked her heart. She had a big one and she did not fold under pressure. Chloe took a little more time for me to warm up to. Mainly because she was the exact opposite of Zoe. Where Zoe was impulsive, Chloe was almost too cautious. Like Zoe, Chloe also had a huge heart. I feel that they would be very relatable characters for any young teenagers.

I couldn’t figure out if Severin was one of the good guys at first. I figured that he was one of those characters who were gray. I was kind of right.

The girls’ grandmother did confuse me. I wasn’t expecting her revelation. I also wasn’t expecting what happened to her at the end of the book. I was a little upset about that.

I loved the fantasy aspect of The Mosaic. I loved seeing all my favorite mythical/fantasy creatures. I also loved seeing the author’s creative way of writing some of them into the book. Mr. and Mrs. Tok were my favorite.

I do wish that more time was spent on the girls’ powers. I did feel that part of the book was a little rushed. But in the grand scheme of things, it is a small complaint. I also wish that more time was spent on the mythical creatures. I thought that the author did a great job in giving them a different spin and was a little disappointed that more background was given. I also wish that the battle scenes were a little more drawn out or limited to one person. I felt that having 3 different major battles, as well as the smaller ones, were distracting.

The end of the book was interesting. I will not get into it except to say I was not expecting what went down. The twist at the end was very well done. I also liked how the author left it open for a second book (if there was to be one).

Pros of The Mosaic:

A) Relatable characters

B) A different take on fantasy/mythological creatures

C) Strong storyline

Cons of The Mosaic:

A) Not enough time spent on the girls’ powers

B) Not enough time spent on the mythological/fantasy creatures

C) Battles scenes could have been more drawn out and having 3 different battles along with the smaller ones were distracting

I would give The Mosaic a rating of Tween. This is a book that I would feel comfortable letting anyone of the age of 10 read. There is mild violence. Other than that, the book is clean. No swearing or sex.

There are no trigger warnings in The Mosaic.

I would recommend The Mosaic to family and friends. I would reread this book.

I would like to thank Chris Keaton for allowing me to read and review The Mosaic.

All opinions stated in this review of The Mosaic are mine.

**I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it**

Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney

Sometimes I Lie

4 Stars

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Date of publication: March 13th, 2018

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Where you can find Sometimes I Lie: Amazon | Barnes, and Noble

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

My name is Amber Reynolds. There are three things you should know about me: 
1. I’m in a coma. 
2. My husband doesn’t love me anymore. 
3. Sometimes I lie. 

Amber wakes up in a hospital. She can’t move. She can’t speak. She can’t open her eyes. She can hear everyone around her, but they have no idea. Amber doesn’t remember what happened, but she has a suspicion her husband had something to do with it. Alternating between her paralyzed present, the week before her accident, and a series of childhood diaries from twenty years ago, this brilliant psychological thriller asks: Is something really a lie if you believe it’s the truth?

Trigger Warning: Sexual abuse of a coma patient

Continue reading “Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney” →

Thirsty (Eastside Brewery: Book 1) by Mia Hopkins

Thirsty (Eastside Brewery)

5 Stars

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group, Loveswept

Date of publication: March 13th, 2018

Genre: Romance, Women’s Fiction

Series: Eastside Brewery

Thirsty – Book 1

Where you can find Thirsty: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

My name is Salvador Rosas. Back in the barrio, my past is written on the walls: ESHB. Short for East Side Hollenbeck, my father’s gang—my gang. Hell, it’s a family tradition, one that sent both my brothers away. They used to call me “Ghost” because I haunted people’s dreams. Now I’ve got nothing going for me except a hipster gringo mentoring me in a new career. An ex-con making craft beer? No mames.

Still, people in this neighborhood look out for one another. That’s how I became Vanessa Velasco’s unwelcome tenant. Chiquita pero picosa. She’s little, but with curves so sweet they’re dangerous. I remember Vanessa from the old days, the straight-A student with big plans. Plans that were derailed by another kid stupid enough to think he was bulletproof. Now Vanessa knows better than to believe in empty promises. There’s a fire in her . . . and if I touch her, I might get burned.

I’m trying everything I can to go straight. But when East Side Hollenbeck comes calling, I might have to risk it all to find out if there’s a future for Vanessa and me. Because she’s the only one who can quench my thirst for something real.

Trigger Warning: self-harm, anxiety, gang violence

Continue reading “Thirsty (Eastside Brewery: Book 1) by Mia Hopkins” →

The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian

The Flight Attendant

3 Stars 

Publisher: Doubleday Books, Doubleday

Date of publication: March 13th, 2018

Genre: General Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Number of pages: 368

POV: 3rd person

Where you can find The Flight Attendant: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Guest Room, a powerful story about the ways an entire life can change in one night: a flight attendant wakes up in the wrong hotel, in the wrong bed, with a dead man—and no idea what happened.

Cassandra Bowden is no stranger to hungover mornings. She’s a binge drinker, her job with the airline making it easy to find adventure; and the occasional blackouts seem to be inevitable. She lives with them, and the accompanying self-loathing. When she awakes in a Dubai hotel room, she tries to piece the previous night back together, already counting the minutes until she has to catch her crew shuttle to the airport. She quietly slides out of bed, careful not to aggravate her already pounding head, and looks at the man with whom she spent the night. She sees his dark hair. His utter stillness. And the blood, a slick, still, wet pool on the crisp white sheets. Afraid to call the police—she’s a single woman alone in a hotel room far from home—Cassie begins to lie. She lies as she joins the other flight attendants and pilots in the van. She lies on the way to Paris as she works the first-class cabin. She lies to the FBI agents in New York who meet her at the gate. Soon it’s too late to come clean or face the truth about what really happened back in Dubai. Could she have killed him? If not, who did? 

Set amid the captivating world of those whose lives unfold at forty thousand feet, those who spend their nights in far-flung cities, rolling suitcases trailing their every step, The Flight Attendant unveils a spellbinding story of memory, regret, and murder far from home.

Trigger Warning: Self-harming behavior, excessive drinking, talk of verbal abuse, talk of uncontested sex while drunk

Continue reading “The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian” →

The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth

The Family Next Door

4 Stars

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Date of publication: March 13th, 2018

Genre: Women’s Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Number of pages: 352

POV: 3rd person

Where you can find The Family Next Door: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

A gripping domestic page-turner full of shocking reveals, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Amanda Prowse, and Kerry Fisher.

The small suburb of Pleasant Court lives up to its name. It’s the kind of place where everyone knows their neighbours, and children play in the street.

Isabelle Heatherington doesn’t fit into this picture of family paradise. Husbandless and childless, she soon catches the attention of three Pleasant Court mothers.

But Ange, Fran, and Essie have their own secrets to hide. Like the reason behind Ange’s compulsion to control every aspect of her life. Or why Fran won’t let her sweet, gentle husband near her new baby. Or why, three years ago, Essie took her daughter to the park – and returned home without her.

As their obsession with their new neighbour grows, the secrets of these three women begin to spread – and they’ll soon find out that when you look at something too closely, you see things you never wanted to see.

Trigger Warning: Post Partum Depression, Kidnapping

Continue reading “The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth” →