Review: Moonrise

Moonrise by Sarah Crossan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It has been ten years since Joe has seen his brother. Ed didn’t plan to be gone that long, but when he is convicted of killing a police officer, his life came to a sudden stop. Now Ed is on death row and his execution date is quickly approaching. Joe decides he will relocate to Texas to help support his brother during this trying time, even if it means he has to deal with people treating him badly because of his brother. Ed still says he is innocent, but will that be enough in the end?

Moonrise is a novel-in-verse that takes a very hard topic and brings it to readers in an easy to experience platform. There are many questions that readers will need to ponder, yet they will leave with no straight answer. Readers who have enjoyed Crossan’s other works will not be disappointed in this story, but be aware that this is not a feel-good story and readers won’t finish it feeling happy.


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Review: Fatal Throne

Fatal Throne by Candace Fleming
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Most readers who enjoy historical fiction will dabble at some point in the Tudor legacy. There are too many intriguing stories that surround these people, especially King Henry VIII and his six wives. Candace Fleming along with six other authors contribute to the stories of these royals. Fatal Throne is a young adult attempt at portraying these stories and would be a good introduction to these fateful tales. Readers will learn about Anne Boleyn and the other wives, while also getting some insights into what Henry himself may have been feeling. I will tell readers that this book portrays everyone in a positive light. If readers have never read about these women, they may feel that they were all wronged by Henry. The truth of the matter is we can never really know what happened. Fatal Throne will be enjoyed by most historical fiction fans.

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Review: Surface Tension

Surface Tension by Mike Mullin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jake wakes up in the hospital and doesn’t remember how he got there. He remembers going on a bike ride to train for a race and then the hospital. Apparently, he must have witnessed something because soon after waking up a girl comes to his hospital room and tries to kill him. When that doesn’t work, two more men attempt to take him out of the equation. No one believes Jake that someone is trying to kill him, except his girlfriend. Will Jake survive these professional killers? Will Jake remember what he saw?

Surface Tension is an action filled story about domestic terrorism and how it could happen in your home town. Mullin has taken a topic that we usually relate to big cities and foreign countries and spins it into small town USA. This is a stand-alone novel that isn’t very long, so readers will be able to enjoy the complete story without needing to devote a lot of reading time (or waiting time between novels). Surface Tension will please readers of all genders and is appropriate for even the youngest young adult reader.


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Review: Infinity's Illusion

Infinity's Illusion by Richard Farr
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Daniel and his sister Morag have survived their meeting with the Architects, but their life is nowhere near to settled down. They have recently been attacked by an unknown group and must use their ancient mathematics to discover a way out. Will the Anabasis truly unleash what the Babel myth predicted? Will the human race survive what the Architects put in place?

Infinity’s Illusion is the final book in The Babel Trilogy. Readers truly must read the first two books in order to fully understand this mathematically and linguistically complex tale. I am satisfied with how the story concluded and am also glad that Farr did not take the story further. This trilogy was the right length to unravel many myths and legends, while still taking the reader on a literary adventure. Infinity’s Illusion is a good ending to the trilogy, yet the series will appeal to a limited sci-fi group of readers.


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Review: In Her Skin

In Her Skin by Kim Savage
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Jo Chastain has been taught from an early age to con the people around her. She has been on her own since her mother died and is about to run the biggest con of her life. She is going to impersonate a missing girl with the hopes of taking advantage of the rich family. What Jo discovers is that everyone has secrets and it is possible that Vivi wasn’t taken, but was murdered. Is Jo safe in this home or is she destined to go missing?

In Her Skin is a quick mystery with some teen drama thrown in. Savage has created a storyline that builds smoothly, but then stalls out toward the end. Overall the characters are enjoyable and the book finishes easily, yet the ending was not very satisfying. This would make a good read if you are looking for a quick diversion from some of the longer young adult novels or never ending series.


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