Review: All Better Now

All Better Now by Neal Shusterman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A new pandemic is sweeping the globe and this one has different long-term effects on any survivors … they have a feeling of utter contentment.  These survivors no longer feel greed, stress, or even a drive to be the best.  Is there a problem with always being happy?  Some would say, “Yes!”  While people are working hard to create a vaccine that would stop the virus, others are working on a way to spread it faster.  Who will win out?  Are humans about to become extinct?

All Better Now is a stand-alone science fiction story that hits very close to home after our recent COVID-19 pandemic.  The science is a little past our current science, but not so far advanced that it isn’t plausible soon.  Shusterman created characters on both sides of the issue that are easy to relate to and no matter which side you are rooting for … the ending is satisfying.  All Better Now is a fun read for sci-fi fans.  

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Review: A Dragon of Black Glass

A Dragon of Black Glass by James Rollins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Nyx and her friends are on a new mission.  They have heard there is an old weapon that will help them on their quest, but there are others who want to see her group fail.  Under the dessert glass are things that can help and things that can kill.  Around the world is another power that may save or destroy the world.  Can Nyx trust any of the people she comes across?  What secrets about herself will she discover?

A Dragon of Black Glass is the third book in the Moonfall series.  It has been two years since I finished the second book in the series and I felt there wasn’t enough at the beginning of this book to pull me back into the story.  Overall the story dragged and I questioned why I decided to continue the series.  Some will like this book, but only those who thoroughly enjoyed the first two volumes.

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Review: Under the Same Stars

Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sophie lives in 1940s Germany and truly believes in the Bridegroom’s Oak.  She has been writing to a mysterious suitor and hopes he will be her true love.  With the war escalating around her, this oak may be what the resistance needs.  Jenny has recently moved to West Germany in the 1980s.  She strikes out against her parents when she befriends a punk-rock girl and an old lady in her building.  Miles and Chloe are in 2020 NYC during the COVID outbreak.  After Chloe gets a package from her grandmother, she begins to investigate two teens who went missing near the Bridegroom’s Oak eighty years ago.  How are all these teens connected?

Under the Same Stars is a stand-alone historical fiction story that does a lot of bouncing around yet it eventually all comes together.  Readers will need to make sure they pay attention to the beginning of each chapter to know who and when the story is about.  Bray did a wonderful job of connecting these lives across decades and writing a story that will stand the test of time.  Under the Same Stars is a good read for all historical fiction fans.

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Review: The Alchemist of Aleppo

The Alchemist of Aleppo by Marie K. Savage
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Michael and Kat are both pulled towards a century’s old goblet in the Victoria & Albert Museum.  When they arrive at the goblet at the same time, they quickly realize that they also have a connection to each other.  They each have their own strengths with Michael being an art historian and Kat being a geneticist, so they work together to learn about the history of the goblet and their own past lives.  Why are they called together?  Who else is enthralled by an ancient piece of art?

 The Alchemist of Aleppo is a stand-alone novel that is a blend of magic with a historical fiction tale.  The story spends much of its time in the present with many trips back into other centuries.  The overarching story was entertaining, but it was missing the spark that is needed to make it a well-rounded hit.  The Alchemist of Aleppo will be a good read for those who like this subgenre.

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Review: Pray Naturally: Finding Your Spiritual Confidence as a Woman Loved by God

Pray Naturally: Finding Your Spiritual Confidence as a Woman Loved by God by Rachel Britton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you are looking for a simple devotional guide that also pushes you to think deeply, then Pray Naturally is the book for you.  These 120 days cover fourteen women from the Bible including Eve, Hagar, and Esther.  Each woman starts with some background information and each day ends with two or three questions.  Verses are quoted throughout and additional readings are suggested.  This would not be a good fit for a Bible Study but would be great for a small group of women or a solo study.

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Review: The Wilde Trials

The Wilde Trials by Mackenzie Reed
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Wilde Trials are about to commence and Chloe wants to participate.  She doesn’t want to win for the bragging rights … she wants to win for the $600,000!  Everyone knows that the competition is hard, but this year seems to be elevated to a new level.  When Chloe is blackmailed during the competition, she is forced to partner with other contestants to uncover the answer to another mystery.  Who will win this competition?  What happened to Hayes’s brother?

The Wilde Trials is a stand-alone mystery that had the potential to be amazing, yet didn’t satisfy my urge to be thrilled.  Reed created a plausible story and great characters, but individual scenes seemed forced.  This could be because there have been a lot of books released in this specific niche genre recently and by comparison, it wasn’t up to par.  The Wilde Trials is a fun read if you need a good escape.  

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Review: After Life

After Life by Gayle Forman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Amber is riding her bike home like she normally does … except she died seven years ago!  Everyone has moved on, but Amber is the same.  She doesn’t understand what is going on and neither does anyone else.  At first, Amber tries to reconnect with family and friends, but she quickly learns that her death affected everyone in some way, and it is hard to move past her being back.  Why was Amber and her family given this second chance?

After Life is a stand-alone novel that is one-part mystery and one-part supernatural story.  I was fully invested in this story from the start because I wanted to know what happened.  Forman didn’t disappoint with the wonderful ending and great explanation.  After Life is a short read, so go ahead and start it now.

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