Tag Archives: Adult Fantasy

July 2025 Reading Round-Up

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Hello everyone!  I can’t believe July is over, and that we’re already in August.  Overall, it was a really good month for reading.  I read quite a few ARC’s last month, and overall, I really liked most of the books I read last month.  Keep reading to find to see what I read last month!

  • Trail Rides And Starry Eyes by Katrina Emmel.  This YA Contemporary comes out in December, but it issuper cute!  I loved the romance, the settings and the characters.  It’s set on a ranch, and we have horses, cowboys and cowgirls, and actors trying to learn how to do it all.  And we have a really cute romance as well.  It’s perfect for fans of Erin Hahn.
  • We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark.  I loved this Adult Romantasy.  It has ancient Rome vibes, but with vampires in charge. It was hard to get into at first, but once I got a few chapters in, I was hooked.  And there were a few twists that surprised me, so I am very excited about the next book in this series.  The love triangle is an interesting one, that’s for sure.
  • The House Of Quiet by Kiersten White.  Kiersten White is an auto-buy author for me, and I’m glad I got to read an ARC of her return to YA with this gothic horror.  This book comes out in September, and it’s a little bit different than a lot of her other books.  I loved it, and the house is very claustrophobic and unsettling.  I also loved the mystery and the characters.  I’m very curious about the character names, because there is a definite theme with them.  But I liked the names, and they definitely fit with what was going on.
  • First Love Language by Stefany Valentine.  I liked this YA Contemporary.  The romance was really cute, and I loved Catie a lot.  Her family has hit a rough patch, and I liked seeing her find friends, fall in love and learn about her family history.  I’m a little sad, because Catie and her family started out in San Diego, but had to move to Utah, and a book set in my hometown would have been really cool to read about.  Catie learns a lot about herself and her family, and I’m glad things are working out for her.  And I hope she gets some closure with the family of her biological mother.
  • Blades Of Furry by Emily Erdos and Daya Muniz.  I liked this YA graphic novel.  This one I read for book club, and it was really cute!  What’s not to love about animals battle skating?  It’s ice-skating meets martial arts, and I love the combination of the two.  I’m kind of surprised there wasn’t a Tonya Harding reference in this volume, but maybe we’ll see it in another volume.  The art fit with the story, and I loved the colors, which is really pastel and soft at times, while dark and ominous at other times.
  • Of Rime And Ruin by Liesl West.  I already talked about Of Rime And Ruin here, so there’s not much to add.  Other than the fact that I loved this book, and think it’s a great book if you love mermaids and Beauty And The Beast!

  • Vows Of Murder by Lynn Cahoon.  This was a fun cozy mystery, and I’ve really enjoyed this series.  This book is no exception, and I’m glad Jill and Greg got married in this book!  Of course, things don’t go smoothly, but that’s how things go in these cozy mystery small towns.  They seem great, but there are a lot of dead bodies that turn up.  Add in a cult, and there’s a lot of interesting things going on.  Plus, Jill owns a bookstore, and it is cool when bookstores and libraries show up in books.  I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.
  • The Truth According To Ember by Danica Nava.  I loved this Adult Romance so much!  Ember was amazing, and I really felt for her.  She’s been through a lot, between all of the stuff with her brother and trying to find a job.  She definitely made some questionable decisions, but I also understand why she did what she did.  Her workplace was terrible, and while I hated what she had to deal, I am glad she got out of there.  I really want the best for Ember, and I want things to work out for her.
  • Rebelwing by Andrea Tang.  This YA sci-fi/dystopia was a re-read for me, but I’ve had the sequel on my table for literal weeks, and I’ve renewed it 4 times, so I figured a re-read was long overdue.  I liked it, and I thought the book was interesting.  There are robotic wyverns and dragons, and of course, it’s set in the ruins of what I’m assuming is the U.S.  Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve read a dystopia set in a country outside the U.S., so I’m open to recommendations if you have any.  I’m curious to see what will happen in the sequel, especially with how the book ended.  I’m glad I picked up again, and if you’re up for dystopia, this one is a good one to check out.
  • How To Be A Better Adult by Jacque Aye.  I loved this Adult Fantasy so much.  Actually, I’m not sure if fantasy is the best fit.  I mean, there are fantasy elements, and it’s more magical realism than fantasy, but I’m not really sure which genre fits best.  I really liked Hope, and I could relate to her so much.  We’re all trying to navigate adulthood, and sometimes, anxiety and depression go along with that.  Everything she dealt with at work were things that a lot of people deal with at some point, and I think the same goes for family expectations.  Having a magical handbook certainly helps, and we all need a little magic in our lives.
  • Yours For The Season by Kate Cochrane.  This adult romance was really cute!  It’s perfect for Christmas, because that’s when the book takes place.  Was it weird reading a Christmas book in the middle of summer?  Absolutely, but I loved this book, and Christmas is July has absolutely a thing, so why not?  I really felt for JT, and I hated her parents for a good portion of the book.  It’s interesting to see a book where you have one athlete in a family of artists, because I feel like it’s usually the other way around.  I hated they weren’t there for her because they couldn’t handle what people were saying, but it seems like they started to work things out.  And I love her and Ali together.  I felt for Ali too, with her divorce and everything with her mom.  I wasn’t a big fan of her mom either, and the parents weren’t great.  I understand why they acted the way they did, but they also caused a lot of hurt and pain in the process.  That aside, it’s a super cute romance with fun winter activities and hot chocolate.
  • The Wedding Witch by Erin Sterling.  This Adult Contemporary Romance is so cute!  It’s been quite a while since I’ve read the first two books in the series, but it’s okay, because each book focuses on a different couple.  I really liked this one, and I loved the time travel aspect to it.  I was a little surprised by why they went back in time, but it was nice to see how it got resolved in the future.  It has fall and Christmas vibes, so it’s a good book read anywhere from October to December.  But it can be enjoyed any time of year.  Plus, you have ghosts, haunted houses, and magical artifacts, and those were things I really liked about the book.  I like Bowen and Tamsyn together, and while things between them moved really fast, I didn’t mind it.

That wraps up what I read last month, and I hope the books I read this month are just as good!  Happy  reading, and I’ll see you around!

March 2025 Reading Round-Up

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I can’t believe how fast the year is going, and that we’re in April already!  This took a little longer to write than I expected, but I got there eventually.  So let’s get started!

  • Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros.  I really liked Onyx Storm, and I totally should have read Fourth Wing and Iron Flame first because I was super fuzzy on what happened.  But that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this book, and it’s going to be a long wait for the next book, especially with how this book ended!  It’s a pretty solid addition to the series.
  • Guilt And Ginataan by Mia Manansala.  I really liked this adult cozy mystery, and this series is one of my favorites, as far as mysteries go.  I loved the food and drinks, and while I’d love to visit this town, I’d also be really cautious about the town, knowing how many terrible things happen there.  But that’s the whole point of mysteries, right?  I love the small town vibe, but the murders could be a deal breaker.
  • Lore Of The Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana.  I loved this adult romance/fantasy!  It’s a slightly different take on faeries, but something about it made me think of a fairy tale.  I got Beauty and the Beast vibes, but I think it’s because of the magical library.  It’s definitely one of my favorites from March, because I can’t stop thinking about that library.  And I just want to know what happens next.  At any rate, if you love fairies and magic, this is worth checking out!
  • Fit For The Throne: The Trial Of Ten by S. McPherson.  I really liked this adult fantasy.  It’s another interesting take on magic, faeries and shifters.  It’s a very interesting take on reality tv, and I actually agree that it’s the Selection meets the Hunger Games.  I really felt for Variella, who has no idea of her own history, especially since she kind of has to figure it out herself.  She has no idea who to trust, and she’s hearing a lot of things, from a lot of people.  I don’t blame her for making the choices she does, and she really is doing the best she can with the knowledge she has.
  • Gilded by Marissa Meyer, narrated by Rebecca Soler.  It took me months to finally finish this book!  Mostly because I’d listen for 20-30 minutes at a time when I didn’t know what else to listen to.  If you loved Cinder (also by Meyer), and you haven’t read this one, I highly recommend this one.  It’s also great if you love fairy tales, because it’s a cool take on Rumplestiltskin.  That’s a story you don’t see retold very often, and it’s a nice change from the usual fairy tale re-tellings out there.
  • Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor.  This adult African-futurism was a great read!  I mean, you can’t wrong with any of her books, but this is one of my favorites from her.  You have two different stories with this book: you have Zelu, who wrote this massive bestselling novel, and you get excerpts of that novel.  I love the idea of a novel within in a novel, and you see what the success of that novel does to Zelu.

  • Catch And Keep by Erin Hahn.  This adult contemporary romance was one of my favorites from March!  It’s so cute, and sweet and it’s friends-to-lovers, which, in my opinion, made this book even better.  I love Maren and Joe together, and Maren fits in with his family so well.  I love her books, and I’ve been a fan since I read her first book.  I definitely recommend Erin Hahn, and she has a lot of really good couples.
  • This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki, with Jillian Tamaki as the illustrator.  This YA contemporary graphic novel was a fast read.  It wasn’t my favorite book I read last month, but Tamaki did a great job with complicated family relationships and complicated friendships.  There’s a lot of secrets and there’s a lot of growing up in this one, and while I didn’t love it, I still think it’s worth checking out.
  • There’s No Way I’d Die First by Lisa Springer.  I loved this YA horror!  It’s another one of my favorites from last month, and I loved seeing the mystery unravel.  I loved the quotes from different horror movies at the beginning of each chapter, and the list of Top 10 Essential Black Horror Movies at the end of the book was awesome.  I haven’t seen any of the movies on the list, and I’m going to have to check them out.  I’ve never read And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, but I know the basics of the story, and there’s something about Springer’s book that made me think of an Agatha Christie book I’ve never read.  I don’t know if Springer took any inspiration from Christie, because it could have been a coincidence, but either way, I wanted to know what was going to happen.

That’s all for this month, and I’ll be back in a month or so with my April reads!

See you next time!

Audio Book Review: Alpha by Rachel Vincent, Narrated by Jennifer Van Dyck

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Book: Alpha by Rachel Vincent, Narrated by Jennifer Van Dyck

Published October 2010 by Harlequin Books S.A.|Length: 12 hours, 37 minutes

Where I Got It: I own the audio book

Series: Shifters #6

Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy

The unscrupulous new Council chair has charged Jace, Marc and me with trespassing, kidnapping, murder and treason. Yeah, we’ve been busy. But now it’s time to take justice into our own hands. We must avenge my brother’s death and carve out the rot at the heart of the Council.

It’s not going to be easy, and loss seems unavoidable, but I have promised to protect my Pride, no matter what. With a target on my back and Marc at my side, I’m heading for a final showdown that can, that will change everything forever. A showdown I’m not sure I’m ready for.

But life never waits until you’re ready.

I really liked this one!  I’m sad to see this series end, but I’m also glad that I got to see how everything ended.

Faith has been through a lot in this series!  She’s lost some people, and unfortunately, this book had a loss I wasn’t expecting or was remotely prepared for.

She had a lot to deal with after everything that happened with her dad, and she really had to fight for her pride.  She did it, of course, though there were a lot of obstacles along the way.  I wasn’t surprised, and I hope things get at least a little better for her.  She needs things to go her way, in addition to having support from her friends and family.  She needs things to be normal.  Well, as normal as they’re going to get, which isn’t very normal, considering we’re talking about Faith.  But it seems like things will (hopefully) settle down enough for her.

The war wasn’t what I thought it would be.  There was action, of course, and I’m not completely sure what I was expecting, but I think it was something different than what we got.  At least things with certain council members got taken care of, and I think things are headed in a good direction.  A lot of changes are in store, but I think it’ll be good changes.  At least, I hope they’re good.  Things can’t keep going the way they are.

We finally got the Mark-Jace-Faith love triangle resolved, and I wasn’t surprised by who she ended up with.  I’m not enthused with it, though I’m not sure who I’d want for Faith.  It took her a while to figure out what she wanted, and it wasn’t an easy decision to make.  That, with everything else…I don’t know how she managed to take care of everything but she did.

Honestly, I would have been disappointed if the love triangle hadn’t been resolved.  Even though I didn’t love Faith and Mark, or Faith and Jace, I’m still glad we know where that stands.  Honestly, they both deserve better, but it’s not like we’re going to get a third, random choice thrown in.  It was always going to be one of them.

I’ve really liked Jennifer Van Dyck’s narration.  She did a great job giving Faith a voice, and she was a really good choice for this series.  I’m really glad I went with the audio, and it’s because of her!

4 stars.  This was a pretty good end to the series, and it was a great book (and series) to listen to!

Audio Book Review: Shift by Rachel Vincent, Narrated by Jennifer Van Dyck

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Book: Shift by Rachel Vincent, Narrated by Jennifer Van Dyck

Published March 2010 by Harlequin Books|Run Time: 11 hours, 3 minutes

Where I Got It: I own the audio book

Series: Shifters #5

Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy

Being the first female werecat enforcer isn’t easy. Scars accumulate, but I’m stronger in so many ways.

As for my personal life? It’s complicated. Choices worth making always are. Ever since my brother’s death and my father’s impeachment, it’s all I can do to prevent more blood from spilling. Now our Pride is under attack by a flight of vicious thunderbirds. And making peace with our new enemies may be the only way to get the best of our old foe.

With the body count rising and treachery everywhere, my instincts tell me to look before I leap. But sometimes a leap of faith is the only real option…

It’s about time I continued this series!  I really enjoyed Shift, and I’m looking forward to reading the next book.

I was surprised by how easy it was for me to slip back in Faythe’s world.  It’s been a while since I’ve read the books before this one, so I was a little worried I’d have a hard time getting back into this series.  And that I wouldn’t remember much of anything from the events of the previous books.  But that wasn’t a problem at all!  We got the basics throughout the book, as it came up, and I was glad to see what was going on with Faythe.

There’s a new threat, in the form of thunderbirds, and I was glad to learn more about other shifters in her world.  I mean, there was no way that only werecats existed, and I knew there had to be other shapeshifters out there.  The series isn’t really about that, of course, though I’m glad we were introduced new enemies.  There’s always something that’s gone wrong in Faythe’s world, and they never seem to get a break or time to breathe.  It’s been one crisis after another, and there’s more to come.

It looks like they’re headed for all-out war, and it’s not going to be pretty.  I really hope we don’t lose anyone else, but I feel like that’s a strong possibility.  There’s no way they make it out unscathed in that.

But back to this book.  The thunderbirds are an interesting group, and while it’s not surprising they like wide, open spaces, I was still slightly surprised that they don’t like the woods, even in human form.  Staying out of the forest is generally a good idea, because there’s a lot of really terrible stuff that can happen there.  But it makes sense that werecats and thunderbirds don’t really cross paths.

I’m glad Faythe was able to get the evidence she needed to make sure her pride stayed safe from the thunderbirds.  Their punishment was a little scary, but to each their own.  I wouldn’t want to cross them or get on their bad side, that’s for sure.

Though she’s no longer fighting the thunderbirds, she has some things she needs to deal with in her personal life.  Mainly, things got really weird with Jace and Mark, and even though I know things will work out, it’s not going to be easy.  It complicates things, not just for them, but for the pride as well, and there’s no way that Jace and Mark can work together as long as Faythe is around.  Honestly, I’m not sure they could work together even if she weren’t around, but it made things a lot more complicated, that’s for sure.

As usual, Jennifer Van Dyck did a great job at narrating, and I particularly liked how she gave voice to the thunderbirds.  They had a completely different voice than Faythe and the other characters, and it was super easy to tell the difference between the thunderbirds and everyone else.  Honestly, their voice really fit them, and there is something birdlike about their voice.

4 stars.  I really enjoyed this book, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Faythe and her family.  I really hope they get the happy ending they deserve.

Audio Book Review: Stray by Rachel Vincent, Narrated by Jennifer Van Dyck

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Book: Stray by Rachel Vincent, Narrated by Jennifer Van Dyck

Published May 2007 by Harlequin Books S.A.|Run Time: 13 hours, 49 minutes

Where I Got It: I own the audio book

Series: Shifters #1

Genre: Adult

There are only eight breeding female werecats left…

And I’m one of them

I look like an all-American grad student. But I am a werecat, a shape-shifter, and I live in two worlds.

Despite reservations from my family and my Pride, I escaped the pressure to continue my species and carved out a normal life for myself. Until the night a Stray attacked.

I’d been warned about Strays — werecats without a Pride, constantly on the lookout for someone like me: attractive, female, and fertile. I fought him off, but then learned two of my fellow tabbies had disappeared.

This brush with danger was all my Pride needed to summon me back…for my own protection. Yeah, right. But I’m no meek kitty. I’ll take on whatever — and whoever — I have to in order to find my friends. Watch out, Strays — ’cause I got claws, and I’m not afraid to use them…

I really liked Stray!  I’ve read a few of Vincent’s series and I’m glad I picked this one up.

I liked Faith, and thought she was a great character.  She is very independent, and doing her own thing is important.  She wants more than what is expected of her, but I also felt like she started to understand the power her own mom had.  Faith is definitely smart and she’s a fighter.  While she can take care of herself, I also liked seeing how protective she was of her cousin.  I’m curious to see how much she changes over the course of the series.

Faith lives in an interesting world.  I like it, though.  I mean, there is definitely a structure there, though I think there’s a lot we don’t know about the rest of the world.  I have the feeling we’ll see a lot of Faith’s Pride, but will also see some of the other ones.  That’s what I’m hoping, because I think there’s a lot to work with.

The one thing that I was reminded of was her Menagerie series, which I still need to finish.  I have no idea why I kept thinking of that series.  Well, it is set in a carnival, and you see mermaids, minotaurs and other mythological creatures.  The two series are two very different worlds and in no way connected to each other, but it makes me wonder how the two would come together.  It makes me wonder what other creatures/cryptids exist in Faith’s world.

Anyway, Faith ends up in a spot of trouble.  Which is a vast understatement, but things work themselves out in the end.  I knew they would, but there are definitely some obstacles along the way.  It makes me want to know more about the strays that are pretty important to this story.  I feel like there’s more to them than what we’re getting, and I feel like this is not the last we’ve heard of them.

I am wondering a few things, though.  For starters, what is going on with Andrew?  I get why he came up at the beginning of the book, and then we didn’t hear from him for most of the book.  Until the end, when we find out he just randomly left school, and vanished without a trace.  I honestly can’t remember if they even broke up or if they were still together.  A lot happens, and it was either mentioned and I wasn’t paying attention, or it was never mentioned and happened off-the-page.

I am glad I went with the audio book.  I liked Jennifer Van Dyck as the narrator, and her voice sounded really familiar.  That was pretty odd because this is the first book of hers that I’ve listened to.  But her voice reminds me a little of Gabra Zackman, who is pretty awesome.  Maybe that’s why I was reminded of Menagerie- I listened to that series, which is narrated by Zackman.  I’m definitely going to continue series on audio.

4 stars.  I really liked Stray, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Faith.

Book Review: Club Dead by Charlaine Harris

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Book: Club Dead by Charlaine Harris

Published September 2006 by Penguin|292 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the e-book from the library

Series: Sookie Stackhouse #3

Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy

Sookie’s boyfriend has been very distant-in another state, distant. Now she’s off to Mississippi to mingle with the underworld at Club Dead-a little haunt where the vampire elite go to chill out. But when she finally finds Bill–caught in an act of betrayal–she’s not sure whether to save him…or sharpen some stakes.

I liked Club Dead!  It’s been a pretty entertaining series to read so far, ad even though I’m not in love with the series, I’m still having fun reading it.

Sookie is still having a lot of adventures, and trouble definitely seems to find her.  This time, Bill disappears and ends up with someone he used to be involved with.  Things don’t end well for them, and things also get really interesting with Eric too.  I feel like it’s being set up for her to end up with Eric at some point, but I tend to be wrong about things like this sometimes, so my guess could be completely wrong.  But I really feel like things are headed in that direction, even if it ends up not being a relationship.  We’ll see what happens for Sookie romantically because there’s always the chance she’ll get back together with Bill.

We meet some werewolves in this book!  In a world with shapeshifters and vampires and people with special powers like Sookie, it stands to reason we’d meet some werewolves along the way.  It makes me wonder who else we’ll meet in this series.

We also learn a little more about how the vampires are structured.  It’s cool, though, because I feel like we’re getting deeper into this world.  We’re definitely learning things as Sookie does, which works well.  We’re right there with her as she finds herself in this really interesting situations.  I think that’s why the series is fun and entertaining for me.  And this kind of book is right up my alley.  I’m really looking forward to seeing where things go from here.

Even though I liked Club Dead, I also feel like I’ve said everything I wanted to say, so I think I’m going to cut this one short!

3 stars.  Club Dead is fun and an enjoyable read.  Sookie is great, as always, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Book Review: Living Dead In Dallas by Charlaine Harris

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Book: Living Dead In Dallas by Charlaine Harris

Published March 2002 by Penguin USA|196 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the e-book from the library

Series: Sookie Stackhouse #2

Genre: Adult Fantasy/Urban Fantasy

Cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse is having a streak of bad luck. First her co-worker is killed, and no one seems to care. Then she comes face to-face with a beastly creature that gives her a painful and poisonous lashing. Enter the vampires, who graciously suck the poison from her veins (like they didn’t enjoy it).

The point is: they saved her life. So when one of the bloodsuckers asks for a favour, she obliges – and soon Sookie’s in Dallas, using her telepathic skills to search for a missing vampire. She’s supposed to interview certain humans involved, but she makes one condition: the vampires must promise to behave and let the humans go unharmed. But that’s easier said than done, and all it takes is one delicious blonde and one small mistake for things to turn deadly….

The Sookie Stackhouse stories are delightful Southern Gothic supernatural mysteries, starring Sookie, the telepathic cocktail waitress, and a cast of increasingly colourful characters, including vampires, werewolves, and things that really do go bump in the night.

I liked Living Dead In Dallas!  I needed something light and fluffy and this book was a good choice for that.

Sookie finds herself in some interesting situations in this book, and some of it is traveling to Dallas.  I wonder if she’ll have to do more work for Eric, and if something will ever happen with them.  I know she’s with Bill, but I can’t help but feel like there’s the possibility she’ll be with Eric at some point.  Maybe I’m reading a lot into it but I get the impression he’s really interested in her.  Whether it’s romantic or not, I just want to know where things stand with them.

We really see Sookie use her abilities in this one, and I am kind of curious to see if it’s something she can hone or develop more, and if there are different ways to get what she needs.  Assuming she’s asked to get information from people in future books.  It seems like there are ways to turn it off, or at least mute it, so it’s not overwhelming or horrible.

As Sookie spends more time in the supernatural world, we see different groups and creatures.  The world she lives in is opening up to both her and to us, and I have no doubt that it will continue to open up.  She lives in an interesting world, and the South is the perfect setting for all of the weird happenings.  It makes a perfect backdrop for the vampires and shapeshifters we see.

Like the first book, this is one that I don’t have a lot to say about.  It’s an enjoyable read, and good for this time of year, when I don’t want to read anything heavy.  It’s a fun, quick read.

3 stars.  I liked Living Dead In Dallas, and I can’t wait to see what adventures Sookie has.

Audio Book Review: Spectacle by Rachel Vincent, Narrated by Gabra Zackman

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Book: Spectacle by Rachel Vincent, Narrated by Gabra Zackman

Published May 2017 by Record Books|Length: 9 hours, 25 minutes

Where I Got It: I own the audio book

Series: Menagerie #2

Genre: Adult Fantasy/Urban Fantasy

In this riveting sequel to New York Times bestselling author Rachel Vincent’s acclaimed novel Menagerie, Delilah Marlow will discover that there is no crueler cage than the confines of the human mind…

When their coup of Metzger’s Menagerie is discovered, Delilah and her fellow cryptids find their newly won freedom brutally stripped away as they are sold into The Savage Spectacle, a private collection of “exotic wildlife.” Specializing in ruthless cryptid cage matches, safari-style creature hunts and living party favors, the Spectacle’s owner, Willem Vandekamp, caters to the forbidden fetishes of the wealthy and powerful. At the Spectacle, any wish can be granted—for the right price. 

But Vandekamp’s closely guarded client list isn’t the only secret being kept at the Spectacle. Beneath the beauty and brutality of life in the collection lie much darker truths, and no one is more determined than Delilah to strip the masks from the human monsters and drag all dark things into the light.

This is another book I’ve really enjoyed!  I really liked the first one, and I’m glad I switched to the audio book, because Gabra Zackman is one of my favorite narrators, and she was a great choice for this book.

I liked seeing the aftermath of what happened in the first book at Metzger’s, and what happened once they were taken to the Savage Spectacle.  What they had to endure there was horrible- more so than what we saw in the first book, and I hated seeing them go through that.  In particular, I hated what Genevieve, Gallagher and Delilah had to go through, but I think that’s because Genevieve’s story really stood out, and we get chapters from Delilah and Gallagher’s perspective.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the different perspectives we see in the book.  I really liked in Menagerie, and I did like it in this book, but not as much as I did previously.  I think part of it is that I didn’t find the other perspectives as interesting.  And I think part of it is that it didn’t translate well to audio.  At least for me, but there were points were I was paying attention but also had my attention elsewhere, so maybe I just wasn’t paying as much attention as I should have been.

Like Menagerie, we get snippets of headlines and other stories about cryptids and the Reaping.  I’m curious to see how what’s going on now will come together with everything that happened before.  It’s more creepy and horrifying and it really opens up this world that Delilah is now living in.

Life at the Spectacle is pretty contained, much like life at Metzger’s was, but somehow, this book opened up more of this world.  I think it’s because of everything Vandekamp was trying to do, with the collar, and the clients that frequent the Spectacle.  When you have a lot of wealthy and powerful clients, it’s going to change things, and I’m curious to see the fallout from what happened there.

With being able to control them at the press of a button, and trying to break them to learn what their triggers are…it’s a brutal world they’re now living in, and it’s a lot more threatening, especially where reproduction is concerned.  There’s no consent for the cryptids (as far as humans are concerned), and that’s something to keep in mind if you pick up this book.

What’s interesting is that while Menagerie would make a great stand-alone, there’s still a lot of story that could be told in this world.  Spectacle is a great addition to the series and adds to the world we get introduced to in Menagerie.  I can’t begin to imagine what we’re going to see in the next (and last) book, but I’m hoping it’ll add more to the world while wrapping things up.

4 stars.  The brutality and cruelty was a little hard to handle, especially on audio, and the multiple narrators didn’t work as well as I thought they would.  Gabra Zackman did a great job narrating the book as well.

Book Review: Imprudence by Gail Carriger

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Book: Imprudence by Gail Carriger

Published July 2016 by Orbit|355 pages

Where I Got It: I own the hardcover

Series: The Custard Protocol #2

Genre: Adult Fantasy/Steampunk

From New York Times bestselling author Gail Carriger comes the delightful sequel to Prudence.

Rue and the crew of the Spotted Custard return from India with revelations that shake the foundations of England’s scientific community. Queen Victoria is not amused, the vampires are tetchy, and something is wrong with the local werewolf pack. To top it all off, Rue’s best friend Primrose keeps getting engaged to the most unacceptable military types. 

Rue has family problems as well. Her vampire father is angry, her werewolf father is crazy, and her obstreperous mother is both. Worst of all, Rue’s beginning to suspect what they really are… is frightened.

The second book in the Custard Protocol series, in which Prudence travels to Egypt for Queen, ghosts…and the perfect pot of tea!

I liked this one!  Not as much as the first one, or her other series in general, but I still liked it.

It was a fun book and I liked seeing everything that happened after the events of the first book and what happened in India.  We learn a lot more about what’s going on with Prudence, and we see some of the characters I’ve come to know and love in this book.  Some I had forgotten about, and there were a few times where I wished I had read the entire Parasol Protectorate series, because I had some trouble remembering who some of the characters were.

I think one reason why I only liked it was Prudence herself.  I loved Prudence as a kid in the Parasol Protectorate series, but I don’t know that I love Prudence as an adult.  There’s a lot that happens in this book, and a lot she learns in this one about her family and becoming an adult that she should have taken the time to realize before.  It really felt like she didn’t care until it was too late, and hopefully it will be a learning experience for her.

I’m having a hard time liking Prudence, but I do love Carriger, this world and the characters, so I’m going to happily continue to read this series, because I do like it.  And I really am hoping Prudence will grow on me.  She hasn’t yet, and I do feel like she’s pretty selfish and spoiled and bratty, but maybe now that she knows what she knows, she’ll grow as a character.

I did like seeing everything going on with the local werewolf pack.  It made sense, especially once we learned everything going on, and I’m glad it seemed to work out okay.  At least for now, and hopefully, it will stay that way.

The relationship Alexia and Prudence have is really interesting.  I’ve always loved Alexia, and she and Prudence don’t always see eye-to-eye on things.  It’s weird seeing her through her daughters eyes, and this Alexia is very different than the one I remembered from the Parasol Protectorate.  I hope we see her again- and I’m sure we will- and that she’s the Alexia I remember from before.  I doubt it, since this book is set long after that series, and we’re not getting the story from her perspective.

I guess I’m having a hard time with their relationship, for some reason.  Maybe I need to re-read the Parasol Protectorate, or maybe this series isn’t for me.  Maybe I just read it at the wrong time, which is possible, because I haven’t been in a huge reading mood lately.  At any rate, I only liked this one, and I wish I liked it more, because I have really enjoyed the other books set in this world.

3 stars.  I liked it, but I really wish I liked it more.  It’s still fun and enjoyable, especially if you’ve liked her other series.

Audio Book Review: Dawn Study by Maria V Snyder, Narrated by Gabra Zackman

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Book: Dawn Study by Maria V Snyder, Narrated by Gabra Zackman

Published January 2017 by Harlequin Enterprises, LTD

Where I Got It: I own the audio book

Series: Soulfinders #3, Study #6

Genre: Adult Fantasy

New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder brings her Poison Study series to its exhilarating conclusion.

Despite the odds, Yelena and Valek have forged an irrevocable bond and a family that transcends borders. Now, when their two homelands stand on the brink of war, they must fight with magic and cunning to thwart an Ixian plot to invade Sitia.

Yelena seeks to break the hold of the insidious Theobroma that destroys a person’s resistance to magical persuasion. But the Cartel is determined to keep influential citizens and Sitian diplomats in thrall and Yelena at bay. With every bounty hunter after her, Yelena is forced to make a dangerous deal.

With might and magic, Valek peels back the layers of betrayal surrounding the Commander. At its rotten core lies a powerful magician and his latest discovery. The fate of all rests upon two unlikely weapons. One may turn the tide. The other could spell the end of everything.

I still can’t believe it took me so long to actually get to this book!  I’m glad I did, but it’s bittersweet.  I mean, I’ve enjoyed this series since the very beginning, and I was excited to see it end, but at the same time, I’m sad it’s over.  I really like all of the characters, and I really like the world, but I’m also excited to see what Snyder will write next.

So, at this point in the series, I never felt like they were in any danger.  Things were really bad, of course, with the cartel taking over Sitia and controlling everything.  And the whole possibly being invaded by Ixia thing.  But I didn’t get the sense they were in horrible danger, like I did in the first 3 books.

I’ve really liked Valek in books 4-6.  He’s very protective of Yelena (but not controlling), and he’s different than the Valek we saw in the first half of the series.  Granted, it’s been a while since I’ve read those books, but he is different than I remember.  Clearly, he wants a more calm life with Yelena.  Well, as calm as things can be when these two are involved in pretty much anything.

I loved following all of the characters, and it was great to see characters like Leif, Ari and Janco, but it was also great to spend time with characters like Reema, Fisk and Teegan.  It was good to have some chapters from Valek’s POV, but I think that’s part of why I didn’t feel a sense of danger, you knew what was going in Sitia and Ixia, and it took away from it a little bit.  At the same time, though, it was nice to get more backstory on one of my favorite characters.

I missed seeing Yelena use her magic, and I missed her conversations with Kiki most of all, but I also liked seeing her learn how to live/survive without it.  Also…I know this is the last book in the series, but part of me wants a spin-off or sequel focusing on her child.  I really do wonder what her abilities are, and it would be cool to see how the child of Yelena and Valek turned out.  One can only hope it’ll happen someday, but even if it doesn’t, at least we know how things turn out.  Things did end up on a good note, and I’m pretty happy with how things were resolved.

I also love Gabra Zackman as the narrator.  She’s been an amazing narrator this entire series, and I can’t imagine the series being narrated by anyone else.  I specifically got Snyder’s Touch Of Power series on audio because it’s narrated by Zackman, even though I already have the e-books.  Zackman really brought Yelena and Valek to life, and I’m glad she was the sole narrator, because I can’t imagine anyone else narrating Valek’s chapters.

4 stars.  I didn’t love it, but I still really enjoyed it, and it’s a great ending to the series.