Review: The Stranger Inside

The Stranger Inside by Lisa Unger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Rain was 12 years old her two best friends were abducted and one died. She has never fully come to terms with the fact that she got away. Their abductor didn’t go to jail; he went for psychiatric treatment and was released years later. But someone issued real justice when he was killed in the same manner that he killed Tess. Rain is now a stay at home mom and tries her best to not think about the events from her childhood. When another murderer who was not convicted is found dead, Rain feels the need to write about her own experiences. Who is this vigilante? Why can’t Rain just let it stay in her past?

The Stranger Inside is a psychological thriller with some well-placed twists included. I love Unger’s books because she always keeps readers guessing where the story will go and this one is no different. This novel is told in multiple voices, one of which is a killer. Readers will know what everyone is thinking and feeling, yet they will still be amazed that Unger is able to throw in a few unexpected twists. The Stranger Inside should not be passed up by anyone who enjoys this genre.


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Review: Lost and Found

Lost and Found by Orson Scott Card
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ezekiel has been friendless for years because everyone thinks he is a thief. They believe this because he has a knack for finding lost items and they believe this can only be because he stole them in the first place. He is NOT a thief and he does not have a superpower … he has a micropower! Ezekiel feels it is a useless power, no matter what you call it, but when a police officer asks him to help find a lost girl, his first thoughts are no way. Not only because he doesn’t want to be accused of taking her, but because that isn’t how his power work. When his new friend, Beth, convinces them that it might work for that too, he decides to give it a try. Will Ezekiel be able to find this lost girl? What truths will he discover about himself as he helps the police with their investigations?

Lost and Found is a stand-alone novel about finding yourself and pushing your own limits. This is not like most of Card’s other books. Although there is a hint of supernatural powers with Ezekiel’s micropower, it is not a pure fantasy or science fiction story. The events that happen are truly plausible and readers will enjoy turning the pages as they try and uncover the truths that are being discovered along the way. Although it is a great stand-alone novel, I would not be disappointed if Card decided to make it into a series.


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Review: Exile from Eden: Or, After the Hole

Exile from Eden: Or, After the Hole by Andrew Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Arek is sixteen years old and has lived underground his entire life. The surface is infested with six-foot-tall creatures that look like praying mantises. Arek’s dads left on a mission and have not returned. He wants to find out what happened to them and is willing to risk the unknown to look for them. He sets out in an RV without any set plans. His best friend, Mel, hid in the van and wants to help him with his quest. Will Arek find his dads in this big empty world? Are there any more humans left on the surface?

Exile from Eden is the long-awaited sequel to Grasshopper Jungle. Those who read the original story will not be disappointed in this next generation of pubescent boys discovering and thinking about all the changes that happen. The greatest part of this version is Arek doesn’t have the world of knowledge our boys get with everyday life; he was the only boy in the hole and the women of the hole kept many things hidden. Smith did a wonderful job describing what life might have been like in this post-apocalyptic world. I recommend Exile from Eden to everyone who enjoyed Grasshopper Jungle, but please don’t pick it up if you don’t want to know what teenage boys are thinking.


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Review: The Lady Rogue

The Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Theodora would like nothing more than to travel with her father on his treasure hunting missions. Unfortunately, he has a habit of leaving her with companions and seeking adventure on his own or with his protégé, Huck. She is not the easiest person to get along with and her most recent companion has abandoned her in Istanbul. Soon after, Huck arrives and asks her to help him find her father. She now gets to go on a treasure-hunting adventure, but with her father’s safety at stake, it is not fun and games. Will Theodora and Huck be able to unravel the mystery her father was following?

The Lady Rogue is a stand-alone gothic adventure that feels like a modern mystery. These two young people are traveling through the Carpathian Mountains and dodging mysterious men and women who have nefarious dealings with the occult. There is a bit of romance between the two protagonists, but the gist of the story is an adventure set in the early 20th century. Bennett has taken lore about Vlad the Impaler and weaved it into a compelling read. I believe readers who enjoy historical fiction or adventures will enjoy this book, even if they don’t normally like the other genre.


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Review: Batman: Nightwalker

Batman: Nightwalker by Stuart Moore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bruce Wayne has just celebrated his 18th birthday and is about to inherit his parent’s fortune. He should be thinking about graduation and everything that follows, but after getting involved in a police matter, he is assigned community service at Arkham Asylum. It isn’t just a mental hospital; it is a prison for the most violent convicts. It is at Arkham Asylum that Bruce meets Madeleine Wallace. She is a ruthless killer and one of the Nightwalkers that have been going after the Gotham City elite. What is Madeleine trying to keep secret? Who can Bruce trust in this crazy adult world he is trying to navigate?

Batman: Nightwalker is a graphic novel adaptation of the novel by Marie Lu. Moore and Wildgoose have done a wonderful job pulling the essential components of the original novel and crafting a graphic novel that was hard to put down. Wildgoose’s illustrations gave the story hidden depths while still allowing the reader to enjoy the story without a lot of distractions. Whether you have read the original book or not, this graphic novel is a must-read for all Batman fans (or even just those who like a good superhero story).


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Review: The Hive

The Hive by Barry Lyga
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

After social media went out of control, the government helped develop the Hive. If someone does something inappropriate online, people voice their opinion and if condemned, the crowd has the option to come after them. Cassie has changed schools at the start of her senior year and her new friends have encouraged her to send out a joke about the president’s daughter. She doesn’t think anything about it until the Hive decides it wants vengeance against her. She is now running for her life and doesn’t really know who she can trust.

The Hive is a stand-alone science fiction novel that is too close to being real. The technology discussed within these pages is either available or nearly so and a society like this is all too possible. Lyga and Baden have teamed up to write a story that will make readers want to turn the pages continuously. I had my own ideas on how I thought it would end, but the story just sort of fizzled out. As a stand-alone book, I was disappointed. If these authors decide to make it into a series, then I will be happy. Overall I recommend The Hive to anyone who wants a science fiction or adventure story.


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Review: The Tenth Girl

The Tenth Girl by Sara Faring
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Mari just wants a place that she belongs. She has lied about her age and teaching experience and it has finally paid off. She has been hired as an English teacher at a finishing school with a rocky and possibly haunted past. She is ignoring all of the warnings because we wants to hide from the military that has taken over the government and she also doesn’t want to face her mother’s disappearance. She is willing to overlook a lot, but when she can’t get a satisfactory answer about a missing student, her secret investigation uncovers more than even her mind could have imagined.

The Tenth Girls is a stand-alone gothic thriller with an added twist. The story is told through two different timeline viewpoints and readers must discover the connections. Faring has definitely provided a different ending than I was originally expecting. Although I would have liked my ending too, the unexpected twist was refreshing. This book will be enjoyed by many readers and it definitely should be tried by all triller fans.




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