Tag: book 2

Dream Runner (Dream Runners: Book 2) by Ann Hunter

Publisher: Rebel House Ink

Date of publication: February 1st, 2022

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia, Romance

Series: Dream Runners

Dream Shatter—Book 1 (review here)

Dream Runner—Book 2

Dream Watcher—Book 3

Dream Giver—Book 4

Dream Rising—Book 5

Dream Legacy—Book 6

Purchase Links: Kindle

Goodreads Synopsis:

Logan Kent is abandoning everything he knows.

Logan’s parents have failed to recruit him into the folds of The Circle– a secret society puppeteering the government and forming a utopia by stealing the dreams of its citizens.
Unrest has broken out between The Capitol and the rebel faction, Anyone. Now Logan is running away with Reina, a medicine thief from Anyone, to escape the oppression of The Circle and find refuge with those still clinging to their free will.
Danger awaits between the quiet outlying Heartlands and an arid expanse where few dare cross. Will they reach the last major rebel outpost in the country before The Circle starts hunting them down?

Fans of The Matrix, Inception, and The Giver have been dreaming of this series for a long time coming.

First Line:

I didn’t want to let go…but I did.

Dream Runner by Ann Hunter

Logan wants nothing to do with his parents or The Circle. With Reina, the medicine thief from Anyone, they decide to run away from The Capitol and the oppression that The Circle creates. They are running towards Base Nain, which some think is a myth. But the voice in his head and Reina’s belief says otherwise. To get to Base Nain, Logan and Reina must travel across an arid expanse filled with danger, human and otherwise. Will Logan and Reina find Base Nain? Or will they be hunted down by The Circle?

If you haven’t read Dream Shatter, I suggest leaving this review, picking up Dream Shatter, reading it, and coming back here. Why? There will be some spoilers, and I don’t want to ruin Dream Shatter for anyone. Don’t worry; this review will be here when you get back.

Now that I said that, back to the review.

Dream Runner is book 2 in the Dream Runners series. This book is not stand-alone. You need to read book one before you pick this one up. Essential details and events will be discussed in Dream Runner that will confuse you if you don’t read Dream Shatter first.

I rarely do this, but I will put up a trigger warning here (it is also a spoiler, so skip it if you don’t want to read it). The warning is attempted rape and violence. A senior officer of the Duners almost rapes Reina before Logan can get to her. There is also a lot of violence in this book. If any of these triggers you, I suggest not reading this book.

The main storyline for Dream Runner centers around Reina, Logan, and their quest to find Base Nain. It is a fast-moving storyline that has zero lag. It was also well written, with characters I am starting to care about and others I wonder about.

The storyline with Reina, Logan, and their quest to find Base Nain was fascinating. The author added layers to a world I am already fascinated with because of what happened in The Capitol. Reina and Logan never got time to grieve (Reina for her brother and people, Logan for his best friend). Instead, they struck out and evaded capture several times during the book, each more harrowing than the other. I did get a sick feeling in my stomach when the Duners (think Mad Max but more tech-savvy) caught Logan and Reina. I got even more disgusted when I realized what the group leader had planned for her. By the time they arrived at Base Nain, they were battered, emotionally and physically.

I adored Logan in this book. He went from being somewhat useless in book 1 (he was!!) to becoming Reina’s hero in Dream Runner. When Reina was injured, Logan became her backbone. When the Duners captured them, Logan fought with everything he had. He ended up saving Reina from being raped. When The Capitol found them in the dust storm, Logan was the one to lead her through the dust storm and carry her into Base Nain.

I wanted to hug Reina. She had witnessed her brother being killed by The Capitol, her underground village (with the people in it) being destroyed by acid, her arm dislocated when Logan rescued her from the sand, and a Duner nearly raped her. It was a wonder that she wasn’t screaming when they entered Base Nain. It showed how strong she was and how determined she was to get to the base.

The romance angle was adorable and wasn’t mentioned until Logan and Reina arrived at George’s farm. Then, I saw more and more of Logan falling in love with Reina. Of course, I couldn’t see if Reina had feelings for him back until almost the end of the book.

The end of Dream Runner ended on another cliffhanger. She dropped the doozy of all twists right before the author finished the book. I was not expecting what was revealed, and neither was Logan. I had to read those last words twice before they sunk in. It made me very excited to read book 3.

I would recommend Dream Runner to anyone over 16. There is language and violence. There are no sexual situations. There are trigger warnings (the attempted rape is off-page).

Many thanks to Ann Hunter for allowing me to read and review Dream Runner. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Dream Runner, then you will enjoy these:

Other books by Ann Hunter

Death by a Thousand Sips (Witches’s Brew Mysteries: Book 2) by Gretchen Rue

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Date of publication: September 5th, 2023

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Paranormal, Contemporary, Cats, Tea, Witches

Series: Witches Brew Mystery

Steeped to Death—Book 1

Death by a Thousand Sips—Book 2

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

Phoebe Winchester is back on the case in Raven Creek when a body is discovered at an estate sale in Gretchen Rue’s second book in the Witches’ Brew mystery series, perfect for fans of Laura Childs and Cleo Coyle.

Ever since she moved to Raven Creek, Washington, Phoebe Winchester knew she would have to grow accustomed to having a lot on her plate. She’s beginning to make the Victorian manor she inherited from her dear and adventurous Aunt Eudora feel more like home, successfully running the bookstore and tea shop, The Earl’s Study, and learning to harness her recently discovered magical powers. But when she discovers a dead body at an estate sale—even Phoebe wonders if this is simply too much.

Rumors of Phoebe’s involvement force her to take action; she needs to find the killer and clear her own name, once again. She enlists Rich Lofting, the handsome private detective and her childhood friend, in her investigation, all while she sorts out her unresolved feelings for him. Is there something more sinister lurking in the shadows of this small tight-knit town? And does Phoebe really want to find out?

With a dash of magic, a pinch of sleuthing skills, and a spoonful of friendly assistance, Phoebe needs to uncover the killer to keep Raven Creek safe once again. But if she doesn’t—will she find herself in even more hot water?

First Line:

“Dead people have the best books.” I looked down at the newspaper that had been placed in front of me, then up at the woman who put it there.

Death by a Thousand Sips by Gretchen Rue

A half year since Phoebe moved to the scenic town of Raven’s Creek to take over running her late aunt’s bookstore and tea shop. Phoebe always looks for new stock and attends an estate sale in a neighboring town. That’s where she finds the body of the person in charge of the sale and auction. Phoebe must clear her name with rumors of her involvement going around town. But, the deeper she digs, the more stranger this case gets. Enlisting the help of her PI friend, Rich, Phoebe hopes to find answers. But will the answers solve the mystery, or will they deepen it?

I am a sucker for cozy mysteries that feature animals, mainly cats, on the cover. I either shelve them as “Want to Read” on Goodreads or buy them outright. So, it wasn’t even a thought when I saw Death by a Thousand Sips on Crooked Lane Books NetGalley page as a Read Now. I am glad I downloaded this book because it was a great read.

Death by a Thousand Sips is the second book in the Witches’ Brew Mystery series. I was on the fence with this book. This book can easily be read as a stand-alone book. But there are enough references to book one that I recommend reading first. So, I leave it up to the reader to make their choice.

Death by a Thousand Sips’ plotline alternates between medium and fast-paced. I liked that the author did that. The plotline slowed down during the major parts of the book (mainly at the end and several critical points during the book) but was fast during the rest of the book.

The plotline of Death by a Thousand Sips centers around Phoebe, the murder of Madeline Morrow, and Phoebe’s investigation into it. This well-written storyline kept me on my toes while reading the book. I liked seeing how Phoebe’s investigation uncovered clues to who was behind Madeline’s killing. But I also loved seeing how her investigation uncovered a bigger mystery, and I also liked seeing how it affected her personal life. It made for a great read.

Several minor storylines centered around Phoebe, Bob the cat, the shop, and Phoebe’s magic. While some of these storylines made no sense to me at the beginning of the book, and I wondered where they were going, I was happy with how they were either absorbed into the main storyline or remained open-ended. The one storyline I am very interested in (and I can’t wait to see what it will be like in book three) is the addition of the cat cafe to the tea/book store.

I liked Phoebe and had an almost instant connection with her. She was a devoted cat mom to Bob (which I can relate to), and she was slowly learning about her magical powers. I also want to add that she was stubborn. Oh man, she was stubborn. She refused to let go of Madeline’s murder. I do think that she got more leads than the police, to be honest.

The mystery angle of Death by a Thousand Sips was well written. The author had so many plot twists and turns that I was sometimes turned around while reading. There were layers to the mystery angle. I figured out one layer of the mystery (who was behind Madeline’s murder), but I wasn’t prepared for what the other layers revealed. The motive was a big twist, which wasn’t what I thought.

The magic angle was barely there. I understand Phoebe is learning about her powers, but I would have loved to see more of her using them. There was a lot of talk about her aunt’s magic powers and how she infused her tea mixtures. There was one scene where Phoebe used her magic power (stopping time) and another where she successfully used a recipe from her aunt and infused it with magical powers.

There was a slight romance angle, but it confused me. The author is setting Phoebe up for a love triangle (between Rich and Leo). But, later in the book, Phoebe seems enamored with Rich. So, it’s all up in the air.

The end of Death by a Thousand Sips was interesting. I loved how the author solved Madeline’s murder and what Phoebe’s investigation stirred up. There was also an exciting twist to the cat cafe, which surprised me. Overall, I can’t wait to read book three.

I recommend Death by a Thousand Sips to anyone over 16. There is mild violence, mild language, and no sexual situations.

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books, NetGalley, and Gretchen Rue for allowing me to read and review Death by a Thousand Sips. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoyed reading this review of Death by a Thousand Sips, then you will enjoy reading these books:

Other books by Gretchen Rue:

Dark Corners (Rachel Krall: Book 2) by Megan Goldin

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Date of Publication: August 8th, 2023

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Crime, Adult, Contemporary, Adult Fiction

Series: Rachel Krall

The Night Swim—Book 1

Dark Corners—Book 2

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

Terence Bailey is about to be released from prison for breaking and entering, though investigators have long suspected him in the murders of six women. As his freedom approaches, Bailey gets a surprise visit from Maddison Logan, a hot, young influencer with a huge social media following. Hours later, Maddison disappears, and police suspect she’s been kidnapped—or worse. Is Maddison’s disappearance connected to her visit to Bailey? Why was she visiting him in the first place?

When they hit a wall in the investigation, the FBI reluctantly asks for Rachel’s help in finding the missing influencer. Maddison seems only to exist on social media; she has no family, no friends, and other than in her posts, most people have never seen her. Who is she, really? Using a fake Instagram account, Rachel Krall goes undercover to BuzzCon, a popular influencer conference, where she discovers a world of fierce rivalry that may have turned lethal.

When police find the body of a woman with a tattoo of a snake eating its tail, the FBI must consider a chilling possibility: Bailey has an accomplice on the outside and a dangerous obsession with influencers, including Rachel Krell herself. Suddenly a target of a monster hiding in plain sight, Rachel is forced to confront the very real dangers that lurk in the dark corners of the internet.

Rachel Krall, the true crime podcaster star of Megan Goldin’s acclaimed Night Swim returns to search for a popular social media influencer who disappeared after visiting a suspected serial killer.

First Line:

Have you ever had a day when absolutely everything goes haywire and nothing goes as planned?

Dark Corners by Megan Goldin

Rachel is summoned to Florida by the FBI. Meeting in a correctional facility outside Daytona Beach, she is told that her name came up when a well-known influencer visited an inmate. Shortly after, the influencer disappears, and the police and FBI believe the inmate is somehow responsible. Rachel is soon undercover at Buzzcon, an influencer conference, and learns how cutthroat influencers can be. With their suspect released within 72 hours and the body count increasing, Rachel and the FBI must join forces to track down a killer’s possible accomplice. Will Rachel be able to crack the case? Or will she end up a victim?

I am a big fan of Megan Goldin and try to read any of her books that come out. She is one of the few authors that are on my auto-approve list. No matter what book, I will get it and fan girl over it (no shame here!)

Dark Corners main storyline centered around Rachel, the FBI investigation into Maddison’s disappearance, and Terry’s supposed involvement. It was a well-written, twisty plotline that had me guessing and double-guessing everything. And when I mean everything, I mean everything.

A few secondary storylines help flesh out the book’s storyline. The main secondary storylines are Buzzcon, the bodies being found (past and present), and the rideshare driver. Each secondary story is vital to the main storyline, so if you start wondering why the author chose to include it, stop wondering and keep reading. Trust me, everything is brought together and explained at the end of the book.

I liked Rachel. She was just as sharp and on top of things as in the first book. I didn’t agree with her going undercover, not with everything pointing at her being on the killer’s radar. But, I did like the look into the influencers’ lives. What I liked the most about Rachel was that she was human and didn’t catch on to things. That made the end of the book believable to me.

The mystery angle of Dark Corners was well written, and I did believe what the author initially wanted me to think for a while. There was a twist to the mystery angle that took me by surprise.

There was a brief romance angle in Dark Corners that I was a little meh about. I could have done without it. It added no context to the book besides setting up the scene where Rachel was rescued.

The author did have the killer have a fascinating medical disorder. Until this book, I had never heard about it. I did some research after I finished the book.

The end of Dark Corners was interesting. I liked how the author wrapped up the storylines and explained everything. I did wonder if there is going to be a book 3. I hope there is!!

I would recommend Dark Corners to anyone over 21. There is violence, language, and sexual situations.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Megan Goldin for allowing me to read and review Dark Corners. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoyed reading this review of Dark Corners, then you will enjoy reading these books:

Other books by Megan Goldin:

The Celine Bower Story: Chronicle Two (The Celine Bower Story Series: Book 2)by Carly Brown

Publisher: Mosaic Press

Date of publication: August 31, 2022

Genre: Dark Fantasy, Superhero Science Fiction, Crime Thriller

Series: The Celine Bower Story

The Celine Bower Story: Chronicle One—review here

The Celine Bower Story: Chronicle Two

Purchase Links: Amazon (paperback only) | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

Mosaic Press published The Celine Bower Chronicle One in 2020 which established Carly Brown as an original voice in this genre. She was awarded the Winner Readers’ Choice Niagara Falls Review , 2020, The reviews were unanimous in their overwhelming critical praise. The highly anticipated Chronicle 2 is schedule to be published in 2022.

“I couldn’t put this book down! It kept me on the edge of my seat…Can’t wait for Part 2.” —Kara Foster

“I devoured this book! If you love a badass female protagonist overcoming all odds, this book is for you! From start to finish, this book keeps you riveted on Celine, her palatable need to over come her trauma, and on what will happen next. Can’t wait to see more from this author.” —Nicolle McKinnon

First Line:

The wake was shorter than he anticipated, and darker. There were even fewer people there than he thought as he walked in the assigned room.

The Celine Bower Story: Chronicle Two by Carly Brown

Celine left her hometown thinking that the police knew that she was the vigilante that maimed the four men who were her rapists. Telling no one where she is going, Celine arrives in the South Pacific and starts healing. Meanwhile, back home, a serial killer targets young college and high school students. With the body count rising, the police detectives (who know what Celine did) have no choice but to reach out and ask for help. But the question is, will Celine accept their request? And if she does, can she track down and take out the serial killer?

I was excited when the author contacted me and asked if I wanted to read/review The Celine Bower Story: Chronicle 2. With the way the first book ended, I had a few questions about everything. Plus, I wanted to see if Celine could heal from her rape. I also was curious about where she went. So, I said yes, and I am glad that I did. This book answered all my questions and tied up a couple of storylines from book 1.

The Celine Bower Story: Chronicle Two was a fast-paced book. It took me a little under a day to read. The book’s pacing fits the storyline, and there was little to no lag.

The Celine Bower Story: Chronicle Two had two main and multiple secondary storylines. Each of the storylines was well-written and well-fleshed out. The author did swap between the serial killer and Celine’s storyline often. But I didn’t have an issue telling them apart. I also liked the sense of completion with a couple of secondary storylines. I won’t say what storylines, but I did cheer for two of them. Talk about getting what they deserve.

The storyline following Celine and her healing was well written. She needed that time to come to terms with what happened to her. But there was a change in her character that I didn’t like. She had an edge and so much rage, which was understandable. The author also did something interesting with Celine’s storyline; she chose to highlight the sex trade in the South Pacific. Along with Celine, I was angry about those young girls sold to brothels, and I was sickened that men would go there for that reason.

The storyline following the serial killer was interesting and a little sad. I will not say much about this storyline except that his mother’s death drove him over the edge.

The end of Celine Bower was interesting. I liked how the author wrapped up the serial killer storyline. It was believable. I also liked how Celine seemed to be getting her life back on track. That scene in the coffee shop made me wonder what would happen in the future. I am still determining if there will be a book 3, but I hope the author does write one!!

I recommend The Celine Bower Story: Chronicle Two to anyone over 21. There is violence, language, and a nongraphic sexual situation.

Many thanks to Carly Brown for allowing me to read and review The Celine Bower Story: Chronicle Two. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoyed this review of The Celine Bower Story: Chronicle Two, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Carly Brown:

Jam Run (The Eddie Barrow Series) by Russell Brooks

Publisher:

Date of publication: March 31st, 2023

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Series: The Eddie Barrow Series

Chill Run—Book 1

Jam Run—Book 2

Purchase Links: Kindle

Goodreads Synopsis:

What if crying out for help made you a target?

Within hours of arriving in Montego Bay, Eddie Barrow and his friend Corey Stephenson witness a gruesome murder outside a bar. When the victim’s sister reaches out for help, they learn of machinations to conceal foreign corporate corruption and a series of horrific sex crimes. However, Barrow and Stephenson’s commitment to solving the case is put to the test once they find themselves in the crosshairs of a ruthless criminal network—one that extends beyond the shores of Jamaica.

First Line:

Eddie Barrow thrust a Jamacian five hundred dollar bill across the counter to the bartender before the other patron could utter a syllable.

Jam Run by Russell Brooks

Eddie and his best friend, Corey, are in Jamacia for Eddie’s book signing. After some urging from Corey, Eddie decides to go to a local bar to unwind after his flight. There, he notices a beautiful girl dancing and then being harassed. Going outside, Eddie catches the tail end of an assault and is assaulted himself. It is while being questioned by the local police that Eddie learns that the beautiful girl is a man and that his murder will not be looked into because the victim is gay. Approached by the victim’s sister, Eddie and Corey decide to investigate the murder. That investigation leads them to a world of horrific sex crimes, a corporate CEO determined to cover up his crimes, and a super secret league of assassins helping them. Will Eddie and Corey solve the murder? Or will they become pawns in the scheme to cover everything up?

When I initially agreed to review this book, I did it because of curiosity. I had read a few reviews before accepting the author’s request, and what I read intrigued me. I am glad that I read Jam Run because this book was fantastic!!

Jam Run is a fast-paced mystery that does take some time to get going. The first few chapters of Jam Run were slow. But it was necessary because the author took his time building up Dwayne’s backstory. After that was built up, the momentum sped up until this book was popping along. The speed at which the book went was necessary for the plotline. Everything that happened to Eddie and Corey happened within a week (give or take a couple of days) of them being in Jamaica. If this book had gone any slower, it would have ruined the story.

I also loved Jam Run’s location. It is set entirely on the island of Jamaica. Instead of showing me the usual resorts and resort-like areas, the author took me on a tour of the towns and parishes that make up the island. I enjoyed it. I want to add that Eddie and Corey spent most of their time in Jamacia, running from Stepmother, Hansel, and Gretel. So, the author did not give a lot of detail about the towns. I didn’t mind because this book was vivid enough. I also want to add that the author does have the Jamaican natives speak in Jamaican Patois. It can be a little tricky to understand (reading-wise), but the author had Eddie or Corey repeat what the speaker was saying in either thought or out loud.

Jam Run is the second book in The Eddie Barrow series. You can read this book as a stand-alone. There are mentions of the previous book sprinkled throughout Jam Run, but that storyline is kept to comments. I recommend reading book 1 (as I always do).

The author weaved two main storylines through Jam Run. There is also a secondary storyline that is intertwined with Dwayne’s murder. That isn’t introduced until halfway through the book.

The first storyline, which was the main one, centered around Dwayne’s murder and Eddie’s investigation into Dwayne’s death. It was a well-written storyline that took somewhat of an unbelievable turn in places. But those twists and turns in the storyline kept me glued to the book.

The second storyline involved Corey and what became his investigation into a group home for special needs adults and children. While the subject matter of both storylines was difficult to stomach, this was the more difficult one for me. What Corey uncovers is directly linked to Eddie’s investigation (even though it didn’t initially seem so).

The secondary storyline that was intertwined with Dwayne’s murder was interesting. I liked how Eddie solved that storyline and outed the person involved. I got a little giggle out of it.

I mentioned that Jam Run has some difficult-to-read aspects of both storylines, which I will explain. The first is the hate crimes against LGBTQ people through the book. Reading from the slurs thrown at them (and their allies) to the violence against them was appalling. As a parent of an LGBTQ person, I was sick to my stomach at how his parents treated Dwayne. And the funeral scene just broke me. I didn’t know that Jamacia had such a stance against the LGBTQ community, and it saddened me to read. Let’s not forget the people in power. The police were as homophobic as the citizens, and the scenes between the police and Eddie made me sick.

The other difficult aspect revolved around the church, conversion camps, a group home for children with special needs, and one of the most horrific sex crimes I have read about to date. I will not get into what happened, but I found it hard to read as a mother. I was physically sick when I realized an innocent man was sent to jail for someone else’s crimes. The whole reveal scene in the hospital was sickening.

The characters in Jam Run were larger than life and memorable. Even the secondary characters left an impression on me, which rarely happens.

I liked Eddie. He might be physically unimposing, but he could use his quick wits and mind to outmaneuver his enemies. He repeatedly showed that while running from Stepmother, Gretel, and Hansel. He also made it a point to tell people he knew things because he READS.

I loved Corey. His relationship with Eddie was one of the best ones I have read to date in a book. He always had Eddie’s back. He was also the brawn to Eddie’s brains. It was refreshing to read a male character that wasn’t afraid to be in touch with his feelings (Eddie wasn’t either, just saying). He is the best friend that everyone wants.

I am going to mention the three bad guys that were featured in Jam Run. The lesser bad guys (including the Reverand, who got his just deserts at the end of the book) were lesser. These three were pure evil, and they had unlimited everything. I loved the nicknames that Eddie gave them at first: Stepmother, Gretel, and Hansel. The author provided little background, except they were tying up loose ends for a corporate CEO. Even the organization they were from was mysterious. But they were evil and didn’t hesitate to kill anyone in their way. I enjoyed their interactions with Eddie (and the Shaft comparison was right on). But I did have questions. And Hansel’s actions at the end of the book made me have even more questions.

The thriller angle of Jam Run was amazingly written. The author kept me on edge with everything that was going on in the book. I felt that I couldn’t take a breath during certain scenes.

The mystery angle of Jam Run was just as well written as the thriller angle. The author kept throwing up red herrings and multiple diversions to the storylines. Then, two massive twists in the storylines had me internally screaming (I couldn’t yell because it was night and everyone was sleeping).

The end of Jam Run had me nervous for Eddie. The author ended the plotlines in Jamaica in a way that made me very happy. But the plotline with the assassins didn’t end. What was said at the meeting made me wonder if they will appear in book 3.

I recommend Jam Run to anyone over 21. There is violence, there is language, and there are sexual situations.

Many thanks to Russell Brooks for allowing me to read and review Jam Run. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoyed this review of Jam Run, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Russell Brooks:

Body Count (Paige Hanson: Book 2) by S.M. Thomas

Publisher: AR Hurne Publishing

Date of publication: April 7th, 2023

Genre: Suspense, Thriller

Trigger Warnings: Mental Abuse, Verbal Abuse, Kidnapping, Death, Grief

Series: Paige Hanson

The Diseased—Book 1 (review here)

Body Count—Book 2

Purchase Links: Kindle

Amazon synopsis:

Widowed sounded better than divorced.
Or at least it did the first time.

Despite having survived the trials and tribulations of The Diseased – Paige finds herself in a situation that seems even more impossible.

The President is dying.

Those four words set Paige’s life on a course she could never have predicted.

The President is dying, only Paige can save him.

Those eight words are the only ones keeping her friends Georgia and Violet alive.

The President is dying, only Paige can save him. She won’t.

It is those ten words that keep Paige motivated, that keep her sane.

First Line:

The President is sick. Those four words are the tiny gap between life and death for me.

Body Count by S.M. Thomas

Starting shortly after the events of The Diseased, Body Count follows Paige, Georgia, and Violet as they try to keep one step ahead of Paul, the President’s advisor. The President is dying, and Paige knows how to cure him. But she won’t tell. The lives of her son, Georgia, and Violet depend on her silence. Paige is also starting to remember the night of the car accident that killed her husband and caused her amnesia. What she remembers could be the thing that breaks her. What happened that night? Who can’t she trust? Will she be able to save her son and friends?

I don’t even know where to begin with Body Count. I was super excited when I got the heads-up email from the author and immediately downloaded it. I devoured this book. It took me over 3 hours to read. I read it in the car pick-up line (the best place for uninterrupted reading), at dinner, and in bed.

Body Count is the 2nd book in the Paige Hanson series. This book is not standalone. You need to read book 1 to understand what is happening in book 2. If you do read book two first, you will be confused.

Body Count is a fast-paced book that is set on the planet of Earth 2. Most of the book takes place in apartments where Paige, Georgia, and Violet are held captive or in the lab where Paige has done much of her work. This environment, along with the intense pressure that Paige is under for more than 90% of the book, is perfect for the book.

I liked Paige. There were times when I wanted to take her and hug her. Her mental state was shaky during the first half of the book. Not that I blamed her for feeling the way that she did. She thought she couldn’t trust anyone, including her best friend, Violet. She also was dealing with her memory coming back. It wasn’t like a waterfall, and everything came back at once. Nope, it was disjointed and confusing. There were things she remembered that didn’t make sense. But still, she was one of the strongest people in the book.

The secondary characters of Violet, Georgia, Ryle, and Paul were well-written. I liked that the author made it a point to make me not trust Violet, Georgia, or Ryle. Paul, on the other hand, was despicable. He was a faithful sycophant. Like Paige’s, my trust in Violet, Georgia, and Ryle wasn’t strong. I kept wondering what ulterior motives they had.

The main storyline was fantastic. As I said, Paige’s mental health was shaky for the book’s first half. It was understandable with everything that she had been through. She didn’t trust anyone and told her friends half-truths about things. It was understandable. But the book’s second half is where everything starts to pick up. Paige’s memory started returning, and she planned to get her, her friends, and her son out. There are a few big twists in the storyline that I did not see coming. It was sad when her memory returned, and she understood what her husband was trying to say. The author also didn’t hesitate to kill off the main characters. I was shocked at who was killed off. I didn’t see it coming and felt blindsided.

The end of Body Count annoyed me. Mainly because it ended with a To Be Continued. While I am glad that there will be another book, and I hope that Paige gets her revenge, I also wanted a resolution now (stamping my foot like Veruca Salt). I guess I’ll have to wait….sigh.

I would recommend Body Count to anyone over 21. There is language and violence but no sexual situations. Also, see my list of trigger warnings at the beginning of the post.

Many thanks to S.M. Thomas for allowing me to read and review Body Count. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

Other books by S.M. Thomas:

A Paroxysm of Fear (Doyle & Braham: Book 2) by Chad Miller

Publisher: Hear Our Voice

Date of publication: February 3rd, 2023

Genre: Horror

Trigger Warning: Violence (Graphic), Gore (Graphic), Homophobia (mentioned)

Series: Doyle & Braham

The Prisoner of Fear—Book 1 (review here)

A Paroxysm of Fear—Book 2

Purchase Links: Kindle | B&N | AbeBooks

Goodreads Synopsis:

Fear and mystery follow me like an unwanted shadow. As the case of my missing friend, Dr. Charles Thorton, has horrifically concluded, a new mystery emerges! My miserable colleague, Thomas Braham and I discovered that Cordelia had been transformed into an abominable monster, and now we are now off on a discovery to find the root of her evil. We are whisked off on many twists and turns as our adventures lead us to lunatic asylums and underground surgical arenas. Our new apprentice, Scarlett, also joins our endeavors as I pray she only acts as our silent observer and resists sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong.

And still, our anonymous prisoner remains. They sit there waiting to be rescued and survive the torment and torture that awaits them. I’m confident they will be discovered, but I worry that the empty cell will be quickly filled by another poor soul.

I say with the greatest of confidence that Thomas, Scarlett, and I will uncover the truth. My fear and anxiety still remain. Sometimes it’s better to let things lie peacefully in ignorance. What sordid and cruel vermin will slither to the surface once we start turning up stones and digging holes? But my curiosity and need for discovery tamps down any trepidation I may have, and besides, I owe it to Dr. Thorton. Pray for us.

To life and light,

John Doyle

First Line:

June 4th – It was a silent night on the train, but I found myself unable to sleep, which was a predicament that my dear friend John didn’t suffer.

A Paroxysm of Fear by Chad Miller

Thomas Braham and John Doyle, along with Thomas’s niece Scarlett, have solved the case of Doyle’s missing friend, Dr. Charles Thornton. But the end of that case has opened up another question: How and why did Cordelia become a cannibalistic monster? Determined to find the answer, Braham and Doyle follow the clues. These clues lead them to illegal surgical rooms to lunatic asylums. Meanwhile, Scarlett is still in town, digging up clues there. It is Doyle and Baraham’s hope that she does so quietly and not draw attention to herself.

Meanwhile, our anonymous prisoner from the first book is slowly transforming into something horrendous. Will Braham and Doyle find any answers? Will Scarlett be able to keep under the radar? And what will happen to the prisoner?

A Paroxysm of Fear is the second book in the Braham and Doyle series. Readers cannot read this book as a standalone. You need to read book 1 to understand what is happening in book 2. You will be lost if you only read book 2.

Like the first book, A Paroxysm of Fear is written mainly through diary entries and letters. In 98% of books, this wouldn’t work, but in this case, it does. I felt slightly uneasy and nervous for the main characters when the diary entries and letters ended. It was because I didn’t know what would happen to the characters in the time between entries/letters. My imagination was going into overdrive. And people, that is what makes this such a good horror book.

The main plotline of A Paroxysm of Fear centers is Braham and Doyle’s investigation of what happened to Cordelia and where it occurred. They (and I) wanted to know what happened to her and why she turned into this horrendous thing. Their journey took them throughout Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania. As for the people they met, I didn’t trust any of them, and I have them all lumped into my “It could be him” category. As for Scarlett, she did a great job digging up information about Cordelia’s victims. I do think she was onto something towards the end of the book.

The other main storyline was about the anonymous prisoner. It was genius that the author chose to blank out who the captors were. I also loved seeing this person go from right-minded to insane. Of course, I did figure out who it was. But I couldn’t figure out who the captor was. His (and it was a he) motives were clear; he was looking for an elixir for some cure. Then there was a plot twist I didn’t see coming. Another anonymous prisoner is taken, and I can’t figure out who it is!!! Two people went missing towards the end of the book, which could be either of them.

Horror is the primary genre in A Paroxysm of Fear, and the author nailed it. As mentioned above, I was often left uneasy and nervous during the book. Compounded with the fact that Braham and Doyle didn’t know what they were digging into, it kept me off balance. The other genre that the book fits into is mystery, and it was written perfectly. I cannot figure out anything in this book, and I love it!!!

There are trigger warnings in A Paroxysm of Fear. They are violence, gore, and homophobia. The violence and gore are graphic. Homophobia is mentioned, but there is no great detail about it.

The end of A Paroxysm of Fear was interesting. Nothing was wrapped up. Instead, a whole new sense of urgency is instilled. I can only say that people go missing, and another anonymous prisoner is in the cell. Add on that the book ended on a cliffhanger, and oh my!!!

I would recommend A Paroxsym of Fear to anyone over 21. There is violence, but there is no language or sexual situations.

Many thanks to Chad Miller for allowing me to read and review A Paroxsym of Fear. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

Not Your Ex’s Hexes (Supernatural Singles: Book 2) by April Asher

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin

Date of publication: February 7th, 2023

Genre: Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, Witches, Paranormal Romance, Contemporary Romance, Magic, Adult, Contemporary, Fiction

Series: Supernatural Singles

Not the Witch You Wed—Book 1

Not Your Ex’s Hexes—Book 2

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

In April Asher’s next Supernatural Singles novel, Not Your Ex’s Hexes, a one-night-stand between a willful witch and a broody half-demon conjures an adventure that wouldn’t be complete without several magical mishaps.

For her entire life, Rose Maxwell trained to become the next Prima on the Supernatural Council. Now that she’s stepped down, it’s time for this witch to focus on herself. And not think about her impulsive one-night stand with Damian Adams, a half-Demon Veterinarian who she can’t get out of her head. Neither of them is looking for a relationship. But when Rose is sentenced to community service at Damian’s animal sanctuary it becomes impossible for them to ignore their sparking attraction. A friends-with-benefits, no feelings, no strings arrangement works perfectly for them both.

After a sequence of dead-end jobs, it’s not until Rose tangos with two snarly demons that she thinks she’s finally found her path. However, this puts Damian back on the periphery of a world he thought he left behind. He doesn’t approve of Rose becoming a Hunter, but if there’s one thing he’s learned about the stubborn witch, it was telling her not to do something was one sure-fire way to make sure she did.

Working—and sleeping—together awakens feelings Damian never knew he had…and shouldn’t have. Because thanks to his ex’s hex, if he falls in love, he’ll lose his heart and humanity.

First Line:

Each close encounter chipped away at Rose Maxwell’s luck like a pickax through melted butter.

Not Your Ex’s Hexes by April Asher

After all the heavy reading I have been doing, I needed a book that acted like a palate cleanser. A palate cleanser, you ask? You know, something light that doesn’t take a ton of concentration to read. And Not Your Ex’s Hexes was the book I needed to read. It was a cute romance that had me alternately laughing and wiping tears from my eyes.

Not Your Ex’s Hexes is the second book in the Supernatural Singles series. This book can be read as a standalone, but after reading it, I recommend reading book one first. There were references to events in book one that had me confused. But saying that, the author did include a glossary at the end of the book that helped me immensely with some of the terms used.

The plot for Not Your Ex’s Hexes was cute and kept my attention. Rose Maxwell doesn’t know what to do with her life. She is floundering after stepping down as the Prima of the Supernatural Council in New York City. After an animal rescue goes haywire, Rose is sentenced to community service at half-demon Damian Adam’s veterinary practice and animal sanctuary. Rose, who had a one-night stand with Damian months before, realizes that her attraction to him isn’t going away. So she proposes a solution—keep their sexual relationship as a friends-with-benefits, no strings attached deal, and Damian agrees. Damian cannot fall in love or he will die per a hex that his teenage girlfriend put on him. When a new job puts Rose in the crosshairs of the strongest and meanest demons out there, Damian realizes how he feels about Rose and what the consequences are. Can Damian break his hex? What kind of job would put Rose in danger? And will they admit their feelings for each other?

Not Your Ex’s Hexes is a medium-paced book in New York City and Long Island. I liked seeing a more magical view of New York City.

The characters in Not Your Ex’s Hexes were terrific. I loved the depth the author gave Rose, and I could sympathize with her floundering. I even liked grumpy Damian at the beginning of the book. The secondary characters did complement the main ones, even if I was mystified by who some of them were.

  • Rose—I loved her view on life, and I connected with her on a deeper level than some of the other characters. Her comments and observations of other supernatural beings (including her family) made me laugh. She had a joy that came off the pages.
  • Damian— As I said in the previous paragraph, I liked him from the beginning. He had a rough start in life but rose above it. The only thing I didn’t like was his hex. He was hexed by a teenage witch who kept going on above grand gestures. It was explained towards the end of the book but still. It was a lot of drama for something that could have been explained immediately.

Not Your Ex’s Hexes fit perfectly into the romance and paranormal genre. The romance was your typical romance, but the author put her spin on it with the hex angle. With the paranormal genre, I liked that the author didn’t just stick to werewolves, vampires, and witches. There were also other paranormal beings floating around (one I think will be in the next book).

The storyline with Rose, Damian, and their love story was well written and made me laugh. I don’t remember laughing as much as I did with any other book. I liked that they had an unconventional start to their relationship and an unconventional relationship after that. Rose’s sunny outlook on life went well with Damian’s more grumpy persona (hence the sunshine and grump trope). The only thing that I did wish was that more was given about Damian’s demon and his demon bounty hunter background. I was fascinated by that.

The storyline with Rose, Damian, his ex, and his hex was as well written as Rose and Damian’s love story. I liked how the author kept who Damian’s ex was until almost the end of the book. I also liked the spin she put onto a hex that seemed cut and dry. Again, my only complaint was that it took almost twenty years to give an explanation. But, then again, I think Damian wouldn’t be the person he was if it was explained. I also loved his “grand gesture” toward Rose at the end of that storyline. Oh, and Rose was not friendly to Damian’s ex when she found out who it was. Her not being nice was cute and made me laugh.

The end of Not Your Ex’s Hexes was everything I thought it would be. I loved that it ended with a HEA (sorry about the spoilers). I also liked that it showed who the next couple would be. I can’t wait to read book three because of that.

I would recommend Not Your Ex’s Hexes to anyone over 21. There is language, violence, and sex.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, NetGalley, and April Asher for allowing me to read and review Not Your Ex’s Hexes. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoyed reading this review of Not Your Ex’s Hexes, then you will enjoy reading these books:

Murder up to Bat (A Front Page Mystery: Book 2) by Elizabeth McKenna

Publisher: Maureen Lippert

Date of Publication: August 23rd, 2022

Genre: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Series: A Front Page Mystery

The Great Jewel Robbery—Book 1

Murder up to Bat—Book 2

Purchase Links: Kindle | B&N | BetterWorldBooks

Goodreads Synopsis:

Mystery with a whiff of romance…After falling in love with the quiet lake life and a certain police detective, former Chicago Tribune reporter Emma Moore trades interviewing jocks for chasing champion cows at the county fair. As a small-town newspaper reporter, she covers local topics both big and small, but when her friend Luke is arrested for the murder of the head coach of his club softball team, she’ll need to hone her investigative skills to clear his name. Emma calls up best friend Grace for help, and together the women go up against cutthroat parents willing to kill for a chance to get their daughters onto a premier college sports team.

It’s the bottom of the ninth with bases loaded, and murder is up to bat. Can Emma and her friends bring the heat and win the game?

First Line:

The beauty queen’s solemn brown eyes showed indifference to the crowd around her.

Murder up to Bat by Elizabeth McKenna

I have stated this in past reviews, but I need to read more mystery. Now, I know you all are sitting there, looking at my January Wrap-Up and going, “Really? But this list says you do!” Trust me; I don’t. And this lack of reading diversity was why I chose to review Murder up to Bat. I am glad that I did because this book was terrific to read.

Murder Up to Bat is the second book in the A Front Page Mystery series. This book can be read as a stand-alone book. I was thankful for that since I wouldn’t say I like picking books up mid-series. I would suggest reading the previous book, though. That way, you can get a handle on the different characters and their relationships. But if you don’t, that’s fine. The author gives a brief rundown of everything at the beginning of the book.

Murder Up to Bat is a fast-paced book set in a small town in Wisconsin. I can count on my hand how many books I have read that have taken place there. There are mentions of Chicago, but they stay only at that mentions.

The storyline for Murder Up to Bat was interesting. Emma’s friend, Luke, was a once-promising baseball player whose career ended with an injury. He decided to open a gym and help fund a softball team. After confronting the temperamental head coach, Luke is discovered standing over his body the following day, holding a bloody softball bat. Not believing he was guilty, Emma puts her investigative journalism skills to work. What she finds stuns her. Softball is a highly competitive sport; some parents will do anything to get the attention of a college agent. But would they murder for it? Or is there something else going on?

This book attracted me because the mystery plotline centered around high school softball and how competitive it can be. It bordered on unbelievable at times. My oldest daughter (17) played four years of softball—3 years in our local rec league, and she started softball back at our middle school when she was in 6th grade. During those years, I couldn’t believe how the parents and the coaches would act toward the kids. So, it was believable when the mystery was centered around the dead coach. And the deeper I got into the book, the more I could see this happening in real life. The author’s note at the end also had me nodding my head in agreement.

I will say that no matter what sport, you have people who are jerks – even in horseback riding (my youngest is learning to jump hunter style). One woman told me Miss R should be further along than she is. My response was kind but to the point. Miss R had a very traumatic event when she first started learning. It continues to affect her learning and her confidence. If she has any questions about how Miss R is doing, speak to Mrs. L (the trainer) or Mrs. A (the barn owner), and they will answer her concerns. She did, threw a fit (because her daughter was riding with someone “lesser”…sigh), and was told not to come back. As I said, every sport has that one jerk ( or entitled parent).

The characters in Murder up to Bat were well-written. I did feel a certain disconnect with Emma during the first couple of chapters, but once the mystery of the dead coach started, that went away. Not reading book one contributed to my feeling that way.

  • Emma—As I said above, I did feel disconnected from Emma during the first couple of chapters. But I could see what a loyal friend she was. She and Grace were 100% certain that Luke did not kill the coach (even if the evidence said otherwise). I liked how protective she was of Luke. I also loved how she wasn’t afraid to go toe-toe with the detective in charge of the investigation. It was her determination and investigative skills that uncovered the murderer.

Murder Up to Bat fit perfectly into the cozy mystery genre. While I knew that Luke didn’t kill the coach, I was at a loss for who did. Then Emma started uncovering all these juicy details, and my suspect list grew. When the author revealed who did it, I was surprised. And the way it was revealed!!! Hoo-baby, it was good.

The storyline with Emma, her investigation, and the murder was terrific. While I was already familiar with how crazy softball parents are (see above), it was amusing to see the lengths some of these parents were willing to go to. The author took me on a ride with Emma’s investigation into the coach’s murder. There was a big twist in that storyline that I didn’t see coming. I loved it!!!

The end of Murder up to Bat was good. The author was able to wrap up the main storyline in a way that I loved. She also left it open for another story. I cannot wait to read another book in this series.

I would recommend Murder up to Bat to anyone over 16. It is a clean book with no sexual situations and very mild language. There is mild non-graphic violence.

I want to thank Maureen Lippert (publisher), NetGalley, and Elizabeth McKenna for allowing me to read and review Murder up to Bat. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoyed reading this review of Murder up to Bat, then you would enjoy reading these books:

Son of the Poison Rose (Kagen the Damned: Book 2) by Jonathan Maberry

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin

Date of publication: January 10th, 2023

Series: Kagen the Damned

Kagen the Damned—Book 1 (review here)

Son of the Poison Rose—Book 2

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Dark Fantasy

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | Alibris | Powells | IndieBound | Indigo | BetterWorldBooks

Goodreads Synopsis:

Son of the Poison Rose marks the second installment of New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Maberry’s epic, swashbuckling Kagen the Damned series.

The Silver Empire is in ruins. War is in the wind. Kagen and his allies are on the run from the Witch-king. Wild magic is running rampant everywhere. Spies and secret cabals plot from the shadows of golden thrones.

Kagen Vale is the most wanted man in the world, with a death sentence on his head and a reward for him—dead or alive—that would tempt a saint.

The Witch-king has new allies who bring a terrible weapon—a cursed disease that drives people into a murderous rage. If the disease is allowed to spread, the whole of the West will tear itself apart.

In order to build an army of resistance fighters and unearth magical weapons of his own, Kagen and his friends have to survive attacks and storms at sea, brave the haunted wastelands of the snowy north, fight their way across the deadly Cathedral Mountains, and rediscover a lost city filled with cannibal warriors, old ghosts, and monsters from other worlds. Along with his reckless adventurer brothers, Kagen races against time to save more than the old empire… if he fails the world will be drenched in a tsunami of bloodshed and horror.

Son of the Poison Rose weaves politics and espionage, sorcery and swordplay, treachery and heroism as the damned outcast Kagen fights against the forces of ultimate darkness.

First Line:

“Repel boarders!”

The cry rang through the ship, tearing Kagen from a dream of his family dining all together, the air filled with conversation and laughter and the smell of the Harvest feast.

Son of the Poison Rose by Jonathan Maberry

I love a complicated fantasy book that takes you down a road you didn’t think it would go. That was what I liked about Kagen the Damned and what I hoped that Son of the Poison Rose would do. This book not only delivered on that expectation but also exceeded what I expected.

Son of the Poison Rose takes place in a complicated but similar world to ours. It was a medium-paced book for about 85%, but it picked up steam towards the end. With how this book ended, any other pacing would have made it impossible to read and retain the information (fast) or made it so dull that people would DNF it after the first few chapters (slow).

Son of the Poison Rose starts shortly after the events in Kagen the Damned. Kagen is determined to discover what happened to his brother, Herepath, to make him turn into the Witch-King. He is not alone in his journey and is aided by his best friends, Tuke and Filia. Their journey takes them from the frozen north to the jungle to uncover secrets left undiscovered for millennia. This book also follows Ryssa as she tries to come to terms with the sacrifice of her lover, Miri, to the god Cthulhu; Mother Frey, as she sets in place a plan to take back the empire; the Witch-King and his cronies dealing with countries that oppose him, and the last two Seedlings, Desalyn and Alleyn, as they try to keep their identities in place and not become Garvan and Foscor, the Witch-King’s children. Enemies are made, countries are destroyed, and alliances are forged as people come together to battle the Witch-King forces. When the dust settles, who will be on top? Will Kagen find out what happened to his brother? Will Ryssa accept Miri’s death? Will Mother Frey get results from everything she’s been doing? Will the Witch-King triumph over his enemies? Will Desalyn/Foscor and Alleyn/Garvan keep their identities?

Son of the Poison Rose is the second book in the Kagen the Damned series. This book cannot be read as a stand-alone book. It will help if you read the first book to understand what is happening in this one.

The characters (primary and secondary) in Son of the Poison Rose were all wonderfully written. The author didn’t write these characters to be loved. These characters got under your skin and sat while you tried to figure out their next move. They were complex and had issues brought to life in the book. The author also didn’t hesitate to kill or maim primary and secondary characters.

  • Kagen—I wasn’t sure what I would get with him when I started reading Son of the Poison Rose. Finding out who the Witch-King was had badly shaken him at the end of Kagen the Damned. I mean, he had found out that his brother executed 2 of his siblings, their parents, and the entire royal line except for the twins. I would have been in shock too. But he didn’t dwell on it much. Instead, he decided to do something about it. He went north to recruit people to his cause. He discovered that magic had reawakened the world in terrifying ways. And he went to a kingdom avoided by other countries to try and find out how to defeat the Witch-King.
  • Ryssa—She didn’t get much page time in the book. But, man, it was intense when the author squeezed her in. She was evolving into something more than herself, something that even the Witch-King feared. I cannot wait to see what she will do in Book 3.
  • Mother Frey—Again, the author gave not much page time to her in the book. And, as with Ryssa, it was explosive when she was in the book. She reminded me of Varys in GoT (with her hands in everything). She manipulated events and people. Plus, she was a tough old bird, and I loved her!! Again, I can’t wait to see what she’ll bring in Book 3.
  • The Witch-King—He was vicious. His bringing in of the monks and turning people of various villages into undead, and allowing his enemies to find and be killed by them highlighted that to me. But I also got the feeling that he was losing power. There were scenes where he talked about killing Kagen, but after everyone left, he cried. That felt like his “real” personality was breaking through. I am curious to see what he will do after what happened in his tower. And I got some insight into why he targeted the Silver Empire.
  • Desalyn/Foscor and Alleyn/Garvan—All I have to say is those poor children. They witnessed so much (like their eldest sister’s rape and murder), and they were forced to do things no children should do. Like, beat each other with a rod when they touched. I did like how Lady Kestrel helped him in the end (she realized what was being done to them was awful). Again, I can’t wait to see where their characters will go in Book 3.

Before I get interrupted or forget, this is a long book. It has 704 pages. So you must read it in more than one sitting. It took me several days to read Son of the Poison Rose.

Son of the Poison Rose fits perfectly into the fantasy and horror genre. If I did have to get technical, this could be shelved as a dark fantasy. But since I’m not getting technical, fantasy, it will be.

I will only take the time to outline some of the main storylines in the book. It would make this book tediously long. I will briefly summarize what I thought of all the storylines. They were insanely good, and I couldn’t get enough of them. Even the little snippets of what was happening in the world once the magic was released were unique. My only complaint was that I thought the author drew the undead/pyramid scenes out toward the end of Kagen’s storyline. But it served its purpose, and I can’t wait to see what will happen in this world now!!

There are some major trigger warnings in Son of the Poison Rose. There are explicit scenes of child abuse, graphic violence, gore, self-mutilation, and sexual situations. If any of these triggers you, I recommend not reading this book.

The end of Son of the Poison Rose was a cliffhanger. Usually, I’m not too fond of cliffhangers. They annoy me, but they do their job. I am invested in these characters, and I need to read book 3 to see if there will be any resolution.

I recommend Son of the Poison Rose to anyone over 21. There is explicit violence, language, and sexual situations. Also, see my trigger warnings.

If you enjoyed reading Son of the Poison Rose, you will enjoy reading these books: