Review: Out of the Dawn

Out of the Dawn by P.C. Cast
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The green mist may have killed the men who breathed it in, but it also gave powers to some of the women.  Everyone’s abilities are different.  Some can heal, others grow plants, and some have great physical strength.  Mercury and a small group of survivors begin to create a small community where they can start over.  Their group may want to live well with the earth, but other survivors have harsher plans.  What threat will this group face next?  Will the world survive this next stage of human existence?

Out of the Dawn is the second book in the Into the Mist series.  The events of this book transpire soon after book one and even though it had been some time since I read the first volume, I easily remembered the key events as new plot points were uncovered.  Goodreads does not have the third book listed (yet), but the ending of this novel is not the end of the series.  Major events are wrapped up but there are many things still to be settled.

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Review: The Bone Hacker

The Bone Hacker by Kathy Reichs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Tempe has been called into another case.  This one involves a person struck by lightning.  She does her due diligence in her investigation and suddenly finds herself looking into a much larger case that goes back many years.  The victims don’t seem to have anything in common … except where their bodies were found.  Were these random victims?  Were they connected to the local gang violence?  What will others do to keep Tempe from the truth?

The Bone Hacker is the twenty-second book in the Temperance Brennan series.  With so many homicide and medical examiner thrillers available now (not counting the other 21 books in this series), it can be hard to find something new and refreshing.  The Bone Hacker does this by traveling to a different part of the world with some unusual shenanigans along the way.  Overall this is not a great read, but for a summer escape, I was pleasantly surprised.

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Review: Reaper Games

Reaper Games by Christina Bauer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cissy is about to get married, finally!  Zeke has been asking for her hand regularly and Cissy has decided it is time.  Unfortunately, Lady Reaper is planning to use Ciccy’s wedding to steal her soul and take control of every ghost.  Myla uncovers the plan and won’t let anyone take her bestie’s soul or ruin her wedding.  Lincoln discovers that Regina Reaper’s husband, Grim, is also working to enslave souls.  He enlists the help of his best friend, Walker, but Lincoln can’t tell who is helping whom. 

Reaper Games is the eleventh book in the Angelbound Origins series.  I love this series and all of the companion series, but I will have to say the stories about Myla and Lincoln are my favorite.  Bauer does NOT spend a lot of time in this book recapping previous events and that made this short book that much better because it was all new.  The action is intense and the storyline is seamless as long as you pay attention to who each chapter is about.  The introduction tells us there are more books to come … and I can’t wait.

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Review: One of Us Is Back

One of Us Is Back by Karen M. McManus
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The teens of Bayview have survived a lot, but when a billboard displays “Time for a new game, Bayview,” everyone hopes it is a bad joke.  When a member of the Bayview Crew disappears, everyone wonders if a new game has started … and what are the rules.  It seems as if everyone is a target and then the game turns deadly.  What secrets will be uncovered?  Who is behind this version of the game?

One of Us Is Back is the third book in the One of Us Is Lying series.  There are enough hints in the first few chapters to nudge our memories about the first two stories and readers learn new information about this cast of characters.  McManus has taken a town that has survived too much and thrown it into additional turmoil.  I will have to say that this mystery wasn’t as exciting as the first two, but I kept guessing throughout about where it was going to go next.  The big reveal is far from the end, so the finale is anticlimactic.    

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Review: After Death

After Death by Melissa de la Cruz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Schuyler has already defeated Lucifer, in a different timeline, and now she finds herself faced with the same challenge, but without her closest friends.  When a new girl enrolls in her school, Schuyler thinks she has a new enemy, but it doesn’t take long for Eoife to inform Schuyler that she is a Palladin and monster hunter.  Now that Schuyler has new allies, she must make a plan to not only take down Lucifer but rescue Jack and get Max’s powers back.  Can she do it all?  Can she do any of it?

After Death is the ninth book in the Blue Bloods series and the second book in this alternate timeline.  De la Cruz does take the time to mention key events from the previous books to jog readers’ memories and then quickly jumps into the newest adventure.  This was a very fast-paced read and I kept wondering if it would wrap up or require another book.  I will admit that the primary story does come to an end, but there is room to continue this saga.  After Death is a fun read for fans of the series … but don’t start with this book. 

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Review: You Won't Believe Me

You Won't Believe Me by Cyn Balog
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Willow wakes up tied to a bed and doesn’t remember how she got there.  Twice a day, an old lady comes in and feeds her, but doesn’t say anything.  Willow hears a sound outside the room … is there a cat?  Another captive?  Everything changes when the old lady dies and Willow needs to make a plan or die too.  She gets her restraints off, but there was someone else in the house.  Who is Elijah?  Will he help her escape or will he keep her hostage too?

You Won’t Believe Me is a thriller that didn’t keep my attention.  This was a very short read, so those looking for a quick escape will find this fits the bill, but things that happened seemed a little too far-fetched and even though the story has a firm ending, it wasn’t satisfying.  A good summer read, but don’t rush it to the top of your TBR pile.

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Review: Ruling Destiny

Ruling Destiny by Alyson Noel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Natasha is still unraveling the secrets within Gray Wolf Academy.  She isn’t sure who she can trust.  She knows that Arthur is rich and his rule is law, Killian is hard to read, and Braxton has her heart.  Natasha is learning to be a better liar herself, she has to since she travels back in time to steal treasures to bring back to her present.  She also has a gift that the other trippers don’t … she can see through time.  Is there anyone she can trust?  What is in store for her during this next adventure?

Ruling Destiny is the second book in the Stolen Beauty series.  This fantasy adventure takes place shortly after the conclusion of the first book and Noel jumps right into a new story.  Natasha must question everything she knows and everything she is learning along the way.  What historical figures will she see as she goes to Renaissance Italy and Regency England?  Goodreads doesn’t have a third book listed (yet), but once you finish this book, it is evident that Noel is planning more adventures for this heroine.  

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