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Among Us

Dyson Bridge, #2

by

V.G. Harrison

 

A daring escape and a desperate race to return to space and save the planet.

 

When an explosion aboard Bridgeway Space Station sends it and her crew into a parallel dimension, Dr. Meridia Vail and the surviving crew members are rescued by the combined space-venturing nations of this new Earth. However, the nations' cooperation is short-lived as the space station and crew soon become hotly contested prizes, and the space station's orbit begins to decay, threatening everyone below. Split up and sent to the nations they represented in their own dimension and suffering the unexpected effects of this planet's gravity, Dr. Vail desperately escapes her hosts in order to find help to reunite her fellow crew members, return to the space station, and avert the looming disaster.

Among Us is the second book in author V.G. Harrison's exciting Dyson Bridge science fiction series and follows Dr. Meridia Vail's daring escape from the secured federal mental institution where she and others from her crew have been languishing and her desperate efforts to find the help they need to return to Bridgeway Station. When the nations of Earth had cooperated to retrieve the station's crew safely, the rescuers had caused the acceleration of the station's orbital decay. Without her and her crew to stop it, the massive structure would soon enter the planet's atmosphere and eventually plummet to the Earth, causing unimaginable damage, perhaps even a black hole that would suck everything and everyone in the vicinity into oblivion. 

Readers are reintroduced to Dr. Meridia Vail during this latest installment, which serves to advance the storyline begun in book one by an additional day or two. As not a lot of backstory is reviewed, readers new to the series should pick up the previous book before continuing with this one. 

While Dr. Vail scrambles to find anyone in academia or NASA to help her, she worries and shows a lot of compassion for those who answer her call, and rightfully so, as Homeland Security dogs anyone she encounters. The government has been lying to everyone about her continued sojourn in this dimension, telling everyone, including NASA, that she and her crew had perished. Unfortunately, their cover-up may prove true as the epileptic-type symptoms they are exhibiting worsen. All is not grim, though. I loved Dr. Vail's scene with the school children touring the model of the space station at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, and how these small purveyors of social media helped arm-twist the powers that be into admitting the truth and coming to the negotiating table. 

I recommend AMONG US to science fiction fans, especially those who have read the previous book in the series.

For this and other book reviews, visit BOYS' MOM READS!

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Grave Words

Deadly Deadlines Mystery, #2

by

Gerri Lewis

 

A delightful mix of mystery and lively banter from the former reporter turned obituary writer.

 

Grave Words is the second book in author Gerri Lewis’s fresh and fun new cozy Deadly Deadlines Mystery series, and it is a delightful mix of mystery, lively banter, and astute observations from the former reporter turned obituary writer main character. Winter Snow has developed a niche market business based on her ability to write warm and engaging obituaries that accurately memorialize her subjects, and is slowly starting to gain attention and achieve some success. But when the third in a string of suspicious fires also claims the life of Wandering Chester, a local character, she and everyone else have questions. However, the police, including Winter’s love interest, Detective Kip Michaels, refuse to release any information about the dead man, and rumors start to fly. When Scoop, the local reporter and Winter’s best friend, refuses to reveal the name of his source, someone who knows a little too much about the facts of the fires, he becomes a person of interest, and Winter steps in to clear his name without breaking his bonds of confidentiality. 

Winter Snow is an endearing character, loyal to her friends and family, yet she walks a delicate line between following her curiosity and maintaining a harmonious relationship with her new beau. Still, she crosses that line when Scoop becomes a suspect in the arson cases. I enjoyed her clever and lively banter with everyone, and the dialogue really sparkles throughout. 

The story explores the reporters’ dilemma of keeping an informant’s name confidential versus identifying a potentially critical witness with information that could break a case wide open. Of course, leading the official investigation is Winter’s tight-lipped, significant other, Kip, who is adamant she stays out of his business. She begins to question whether a relationship with someone who keeps disappointing her is even right for her. You’ll have to read the book to discover if she answers that question or not. 

I recommend GRAVE WORDS to readers of cozy mysteries. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

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Above the Clouds

by

Tim Vee

 

An excellent tale of life in a post-apocalyptic world.

 

Above the Clouds by Tim Vee is a captivating tale of life in a future, post-apocalyptic world of crumbling ruins and a simple, desperate, day-to-day existence. Three sisters, Zell, Squirt, and Dara, are part of the Clan, an organized community of survivors of some civilization-ending event, who live in a world of darkness, damp, and scrabbling insects in underground tunnels left from BEFORE. Their way of life is brutal and primitive, yet each member of the Clan works to pull their own weight to sustain the community. The sisters do their part by hunting for meat on the surface above, and one by one, they unexpectedly come to find their future outside the Clan, leaving the others behind to grieve. 

This story was so addictive that I didn’t want to put it down, and I absolutely wasn’t ready for it to end when it did. The plot’s tension starts high and continues to build as the sisters encounter heart-pounding challenges to their way of life. Each girl is unique but shares a drive to do their job as a hunter the best they can, and their persistence serves them well when they end up outside of the Clan’s protected tunnels. 

The author’s descriptions of the settings and action are cinematic in quality, and I could easily see this story serving as the launching point for a film or television series. I got vibes of Jean M. Auel’s world in CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR and that of the city dwellers in Suzanne Collins’s THE HUNGER GAMES but used in a completely different manner. As there are questions left available to further exploration, I would love to see this story continued in additional books. 

With its compelling plot and engaging characters, I recommend ABOVE THE CLOUDS to fans of post-apocalyptic fiction.

 

For this and other reviews, visit Guatemala Paula Loves to Read!

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Gonzales The Street Cat

by

Kitty Mae Gruchelska

 

Gonzales’s first adventure in which he adopts his hoomans!

 

Gonzales, The Street Cat by Kitty Mae Gruchelska, is the first book in a planned series for middle-grade readers, featuring the adventures of a feisty young male feline found living on the streets in Yasmin, named Gonzales by his humans. Gonzales and his fellow street cats spend their days napping in hidden nooks and crannies and their nights searching for enough scraps of food to stay alive. However, when a new couple moves onto their street and leaves food and water dishes outside their front door for the strays, Gonzales begins to consider adopting them as his own family to ensure food and shelter security. The decision is not an easy one for the young cat; he has been disappointed by humans before, and he must consider trading the life he knows for the unknown. 

The story unfolds through the eyes of Gonzales, a fun white and orange alley cat, with an attitude you can easily accept coming from a cat. His inner dialogue is priceless, and the banter among the close-knit cat gang of Street 122 is brilliant. 

While Gonzales is privy to his humans’ discussion of their plans and his future, much goes over his head, so he’s in for a surprise when they decide to move and take him with them. Of course, that decision leads to moments of pure chaos for Kitty and Jack, and confusion, fear, and discomfort for Gonzales, but eventually results in a happy ending and a lot of entertainment for readers. 

I recommend GONZALES THE STREET CAT for middle-grade readers who like stories prominently featuring cats. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy through RABT Book Tours and PR.

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You’re a F***ing Skeleton, Jimmy!

Totally Random Stories about Apocalypses, #1

by

Devon Van De Zandt

 

This clever mix of magic and mechanisms makes this end-of-the-world action adventure a real winner.

 

You’re a F***ing Skeleton, Jimmy! is the first book in author Devon Van De Zandt’s new series, Totally Random Stories about Apocalypses, and is a clever mix of magic and mechanisms in a post-apocalyptic action adventure. With its serious murderbot-gone-rogue protagonist and his whimsical and magically reanimated skeletal sidekick named Jimmy, preventing the end of time has never been so delightful or satisfying. 

Jimmy, the bouncy, eternally optimistic character of the title, is irresistibly engaging, always pointing out the bright side of any situation, but ready to step up to help defend his companions or offer himself as a distraction to allow his fellows to escape or further their mission to stop the greedy Marc Obvious and his necromancer and infernal army from draining all the power from another dimension and causing the implosion of the universe they know. Jimmy sings, hums, and repurposes his phalanges as way markers, all the while providing witty banter and a running commentary on any and all topics that pop into his, literally, empty skull. But underlying his lightweighted personality is bottomless kindness and compassion for others. 

As Jimmy aimlessly wanders the devastated desert-life landscape, he meets and teams up with the murderbot, Unit Johnny Circuit, an older model mechanical warrior deemed obsolete and a thorn in the side of the AI overlord, CHAD (Command & Hierarchy Administrative Director), that controls the last surviving city, Gigacity One (and the target of Marc Obvious and his cult’s schemes to take over the world.) Johnny is a world-weary spirit who has experienced so much that he has developed emotions and sensibilities beyond his original design and purpose. The story unfolds from his clear-eyed, highly capable, and snarky perspective. His narrative and observations are clever and often laugh-out-loud hilarious. 

The novel is short and concise, yet it packs a lot of action into its compact length. Regrettably, very little backstory is provided to explain how this world came to its current situation or even how a walking, talking bag of bones, dressed in khakis and a blue button-down, exists (and without much comment from onlookers). I accepted it and moved on. He was fun, charming, and one of the good guys, but I still have questions. I loved that Jimmy and Johnny are later joined by the wonderfully deadly, half-human cyborg hybrid Sergeant Chen Marina, a former soldier in the service of the Obvious Cult. The story is punctuated with exciting scenes of pursuit and combat, and although the action unfolds quickly, it is so well choreographed by the author that all are easy to follow and visualize in an almost cinematic fashion. I can’t wait for more! 

I recommend YOU’RE A F***ING SKELETON, JIMMY! to readers of post-apocalyptic and dystopian fiction or military action-adventure. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

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The Adventures of Hairy Spinner: A Friendship Discovery

by

Heidi Scarano

 

Charming story about an unlikely, unexpected, and unusual friendship between two young creatures!

 

The Adventures of Hairy Spinner: A Friendship Discovery is a delightful children’s picture book written by Heidi Scarano and illustrated by Joylin Kulp, which features the unlikely, unexpected, and unusual pairing of Hairy Spinner, a bored young spider, and Blitz, a young bat just learning to fly. They meet when Blitz, out on an early evening flight, crashes into Hairy’s spider web. Since cleaning up his web is the last thing Hairy wants to do, he jumps at the chance to ride on Blitz’s shoulder as she darts through their forest canopy home. But when the two forget how to get back to where Hairy’s mother and siblings are, things get a little scary. 

Throughout the story, the two young friends learn about each other, their differences and similarities, and generally have an exciting time as Blitz perfects her flying skills. When things don’t go as planned, they support and comfort each other, helping each other to overcome their fears and not feel so alone. There is a lovely surprise leading to the happy ending that all readers will enjoy. 

I enjoyed the artwork that helps to tell Hairy and Blitz’s story, starting with the intriguing cover. While Hairy is clearly identifiable, there’s only a glimpse of another creature in the picture, hinting at what may be found when you open the book. This small mystery makes for a fun jumping-off place for introducing the story to young readers and listeners. 

With its fun plot, colorful illustrations, plentiful stopping points to ask questions of a listening audience, and two unusual creatures as the main characters, THE ADVENTURES OF HAIRY SPINNER would make an excellent selection for reading aloud at home, in the classroom, or during after-school enrichment programs. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy through RABT Book Tours and PR.

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On the Horns of Death

Ancient Crete Mystery, #2

by

Eleanor Kuhns

 

Intriguing historical mystery uniquely set in ancient Crete.

 

On the Horns of Death is the second book in Eleanor Kuhns’s unique historical series, the Ancient Crete Mysteries, and features a precocious and talented young female bull dancer as the main character and amateur sleuth. With its engaging protagonist and uncommon setting, this intriguing mystery completely immersed me in the life of this early civilization. 

Martis, the main character, is the 16-year-old daughter of a weaver priestess who trains and performs as a member of the troop of bull dancers during celebrations and religious ceremonies in Knossos. She’s a curious and precocious young woman and, like most at that age, is somewhat undecided on what path she wants her future to take. For now, though, she lives for the excitement and adrenaline rush of leaping over the horns of a charging bull in front of large crowds of people. Her quick wit and sharp eye for details give her insights others overlook but also get her into trouble, especially when on the trail of a murderer. Besides her unusual choice of entertainment, she’s a relatable and likable heroine. 

The plot starts with Martis’s discovery of the dead body of a new bull dancer. The assumed cause of death is from the bull in whose pen the victim was found. Right away, Martis notices oddities regarding the victim’s wounds and realizes there’s a murderer responsible for Duzi’s death. Unfortunately, the suspects include the other bull dancers, who are all Martis’s trusted friends and fellow performers, or several close friends of her older sister, Opis, who died the previous year, creating a difficult and sensitive dilemma for Martis in her investigation. She is assisted in her inquiries by the ghost of another deceased family member, Arge, her sister, who was murdered at her own marriage ceremony. 

The ancient setting on the island of Crete offers its own attractive and unique aspects to the story. Other than through this series, I am only vaguely familiar with this culture and time period and have thoroughly enjoyed the immersive nature of the author’s storytelling. I remember motifs from ancient pottery when reading descriptions of activities, clothing, and even hairstyles. 

With its endearing main character, unusual setting, and entertaining plot containing plenty of surprises, I recommend ON THE HORNS OF DEATH to traditional, historical, and cozy mystery readers. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

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In the Shadow of the Bull

Ancient Crete Mystery, #1

by

Eleanor Kuhns

 

A vivid, immersive murder mystery featuring a fresh, young amateur sleuth in ancient Crete.

 

In the Shadow of the Bull is the debut novel of author Eleanor Kuhns's new series, the Ancient Crete Mysteries, and with its vivid descriptions and engaging, headstrong main character, it is sure to please readers of the historical mystery genre. I was hooked on this story and by this precocious young sleuth from the very first page, and this book is one of my favorites so far this year. 

I absolutely fell in love with Martis, the young daughter of Nephele, a handmaid to the high priestess, Potnio, and the slave, Bais, her partner. She's a young, immature 15-year-old on the verge of womanhood, who is still more interested in childish endeavors than growing up. But this all changes with the death of her much-loved sister, Arge. Martis's guilt over her well-meaning plea to the goddess to circumvent Arge's marriage is wrenching, and the anguished request from her sister's still-Earthbound spirit to find her killer compels her to bring a murderer to justice. 

Kuhns's wonderful and easy-to-read writing makes the ancient setting on the island of Crete fairly leap off the page. Her well-described images - sights, sounds, and smells - were so evocative I felt as if I were with Martis every step of the way. Her amateur investigation follows a sensible path, and she must set aside her own prejudices to uncover the truth. Despite being a young woman rather than a child, Martis reminded me somewhat of Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce in attitude and spirit. I can hardly wait for her next adventure!

With its unique setting, distant time period, and likable main character, I recommend IN THE SHADOW OF THE BULL to readers who enjoy historical mysteries with a touch of paranormal elements, especially those with an interest in ancient Crete.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

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The Tear Collector

by

R.M. Romero

 

Intriguing middle-grade climate fiction, post-apocalyptic tale.

 

The Tear Collector by R.M. Romero is an intriguing post-apocalyptic tale for middle-grade readers, featuring an island community formed after a second great flood. Besides a mysterious story with young protagonists living on an isolated island where sadness can transform one into a monster, it is a cautionary tale about taking care of our world before it is too late. All is not lost, though; the story provides hope for the future by the tale’s end. 

Siblings Malka and Ezra were swept away during the civilization-ending flood, ending up with other survivors on an island formed by the rising water level. They are “adopted” by a medical doctor in the new community who has dedicated his life to finding a cure for a terrible new malady called “The Sorrows” that afflicts bereft, morose islanders and turns them into monstrous, animalistic creatures. Dr. Jonas Hollman is convinced that the answer to the horrifying illness lies in the tears of the people, and it becomes Malka’s job to collect samples. She follows through with determination because her beloved younger brother, Ezra, has started sprouting feathers. But when a small plane flown by a girl her own age, claiming to come from the mainland, crashes on the beach, everything changes. 

Malka and Ezra were close even before the flood. She saved his life when the water came, and continues in her role as his champion when other islanders shun him when the proof he’s got “The Sorrows” comes to light. Malka is quite aggressive in her dealings with others, sometimes getting in people’s faces so quickly that she borders on unlikable. She takes nothing from nobody, except Ezra. They have developed a found family with Jonas and some of the other residents of their hotel home, complete with all the quirks that come with one formed from blood ties. However, their relationship with Jonas takes an unfortunate (and all too tragically realistic) turn as the story progresses. 

The author does an amazing job creating her post-flood world, with the survival of random bits and pieces of life from before and the odd mix of buildings that literally weathered the storm. I really liked the pink hotel, where Jonas, Malka, Ezra, and others made their home as Jack’s efforts to normalize its current state continued. 

The horrifying effects of “The Sorrows” absolutely gripped me, not only because of the body horror but also the uncertain internal impact on the minds of those poor afflicted individuals. Jules Gray and his henchmen, Mikos and Lukus, are dastardly, evil villains. 

Due to the colorless, dreary, and always-raining setting, Olivia Diaz, the young pilot, stands out as a shockingly bright spot in the narrative from the very first. Still, it is a toss-up as to who I would name my favorite character among the three children. 

I recommend THE TEAR COLLECTOR to readers of middle-grade fantasy and horror. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy through Toppling Stacks Tours.

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The Society for Soulless Girls

by

Laura Steven

 

Hooked by the premise and mesmerized by the author's storytelling.

 

The Society for Soulless Girls, by veteran author Laura Steven, had me spellbound from page one, with two strong female, young adult protagonists, a setting that fairly oozed Gothic ambiance and heart-poundingly horrific paranormal elements. I was hooked by the premise and compelled to keep turning pages by the author's mesmerizing storytelling. 

The story unfolds from the alternating viewpoints of two first-year students and roommates at the newly reopened Carvell Academy. At first glance, Lottie and Alice couldn't be any less alike or incompatible, but their similarities begin to show as the story progresses. Both question their personal value and their right to even be at the prestigious school, and both lack confidence in their abilities and future success while outwardly displaying strong façades. There is a great deal of misunderstanding between the two because their feelings of not being good enough have made them defensive. At eighteen, they have well-established ways of dealing with what they perceive as danger/hurt/embarrassment; one strikes out in quick anger while the other maintains an unshakably sunny demeanor. They suffer strange and eerie happenings alone for much of the book until they eventually reveal what is going on to each other. 

The mysterious incidents at the school are not limited to just the two roommates, though. There is suicide, and another first-year student is experiencing her own living hell with barely contained feelings of rage. This student is somewhat isolated from others because she is living in a single-occupant dorm room. Are these girls targeted for being on the edges of the student body community and easier to access by whoever or whatever affects them, or are they more susceptible because they lack emotional support? 

The plot surges ahead as Alice and Hafsah's episodes occur more frequently. While suspecting the involvement of the faculty, or at least their undisclosed knowledge of what was going on, I kept wanting the girls to approach the dean with their problems. The male professors all gave off weird vibes, and I would never have said anything to any one of them. As for vibes, though, one of my favorite characters has to be the librarian Kate Feathering, with her distinctive look, attitude, and overall vibe. The author crafted natural, authentic dialogue with humor and occasional literary quotes. As the girls are students of English literature or philosophy, many intriguing books are mentioned that readers may want to note and add to their TBR piles. 

The story addresses the very real issue and history of women's suppression startlingly and uniquely. A long-dead nun suppressed in life, but with the power to reach out from the grave, brings home the story with unparalleled clarity and transferability to modern circumstances. The realization was eye-opening, to put it mildly. 

To top off a mesmerizing storyline, the author has created a darkly atmospheric setting at the Carvell Academy. The ancient buildings of a former convent with a tragic history serve as the perfect backdrop for the creepy and malevolent tale. However, some excursions from campus highlight the sights of Northumbria and may pique the interest of readers who enjoy traveling. 

With its unique plot, characters, and setting, I recommend THE SOCIETY FOR SOULLESS GIRLS to young adult fiction, mystery, or horror readers. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.