Review: Angelfire

Angelfire by Christina Bauer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lincoln and Myla are recently married and are experiencing their quickly accelerating pregnancy when they discover that Lincoln has an older brother!  If it isn’t hard enough to come to terms with not being an only child, Lincoln also learns that Truman is evil and wants to take over Lincoln and Myla’s kingdom.  Will their shared angelic blood be enough to convince Truman to stand down?  Is this the final tragedy that will cause the after-realms to fall apart?

Angelfire is the fifth book in the Angelbound Lincoln series.  With that being said, this story takes place at the end of the events of Thrax.  It isn’t necessary to read these books in chronological order; I find it easier to just read them in publication order.  This book is told in alternating voices of Lincoln and Myla, but since it is only two voices, it isn’t hard to follow along.  I love these characters and am glad that Bauer has written another story in this world.  I can’t wait for more fantastical adventures with a touch of romance.

View all my reviews

Review: Wrath

Wrath by Marcus Sedgwick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Cassie has always been different, but during the pandemic shut down she admitted that she hears things.  She believes that it is the Earth calling out because of all the bad things being done to it.  Shortly after school lets out, Cassie disappears.  Fitz wants to help find her, but he isn’t sure what to do first.  He gives information to the police, but they don’t seem to act on his information.  Will Fitz find out the truth about Cassie’s disappearance?

Wrath is a very short stand-alone mystery that was almost too short.  This novel would be perfect for reluctant readers that don’t want to commit too much time and energy into a story, but if a bibliophile picks it up, they should be ready to just sit down for 90 minutes and get it finished.  The clues lead the characters around Scotland and the ending is complete, but not quite satisfying.  Wrath was a good quick escape read but isn’t a first choice to recommend for everyone.

View all my reviews

Review: Gallant

Gallant by V.E. Schwab
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Olivia doesn’t know much about her past.  She has her mother’s journal, but since it doesn’t make sense towards the end, it isn’t much help.  She has been at the Merilance School for girls for years and never thought she would be able to leave without a job or a husband … that is until a mysterious letter arrives and she is invited to Gallant, her mother’s home.  When she arrives at Gallant, no one knew she was coming; they didn’t even know she existed.  Who sent Olivia the letter?  What secrets is Gallant hiding and how does it tie into the ghouls that Olivia sees?

Gallant is a standalone supernatural novel that is a quick read with hidden depths.  There are family secrets, personal exploration, and hidden dimensions throughout the story.  Schwab has crafted an experience that grabbed me at the beginning and kept me turning the pages to the end.  I enjoyed the backstory as it was discovered by Olivia and was hoping for a satisfying ending, which was delivered.  Gallant was a great supernatural book without a lot of blood and guts.

View all my reviews

Review: Wakers

Wakers by Orson Scott Card
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Laz has just woken up and found himself in a cloning facility.  No one else is around, except a girl who is still in her cloning pod.  He has memories of his life but doesn’t know why he has been cloned or who woke him up.  Laz also can move into the consciousness of himself in a parallel world.  He has memories of doing it “before,” yet him being alone in an abandoned world cannot be fixed with any side-stepping.  Laz thinks that the girl in the other pod will be the answer to why they are left alone.

Wakers is a stand-alone science fiction novel that was unique without being confusing.  There were a lot of scientific theories embedded throughout the story, yet it wasn’t enough science to distract readers who didn’t fully understand them.  The post-apocalyptic story was far-fetched and completely possible at the same time.  Card created characters that were easy to relate to and I found myself wishing the book would read a little faster because I wanted to know how it was going to end.  A fun read that might be a good start for a new sci-fi reader. 

View all my reviews

Review: In the Serpent's Wake

In the Serpent's Wake by Rachel Hartman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tess has already survived an adventure, but it is not time for her to rest.  She is now on a ship with a world-changing mission, but some don’t want the mission to succeed.  The world is in turmoil and they believe that finding the World Serpent will put them on the path of peace, but what tragedies will they need to overcome to make it to their destination?

In the Serpent’s Wake is the second book in the Tess of the Road duology.  This novel picks up shortly after the last novel and Hartman has written a poem that tells readers of the main events of the first book.  This book was full of adventures with lots of side stories to keep the reader wondering where the main plot was going.  This was a very “inclusive” world and I found that at times the varied people and relationships were trying too hard.  Otherwise, it was a great second book to close out this duology.

View all my reviews

Review: Tess of the Road

Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tess is constantly getting in trouble.  Many of the situations she has gotten into have been hidden from those outside her family, but when she punches a relative in the nose at her sister’s wedding ... her actions can no longer be secret.  She knows her family wants her to go to a nunnery to live out her days, so she puts on her sturdy boots and runs away, pretending she is a boy.  Tess has no grand plans with what to do next, but she is intent on staying free.

Tess of the Road is the first book in a series with the same name.  This is a completely new series that is set in the world of Seraphina.  These new characters can be completely enjoyed even if readers have not explored the first series.  Tess has some strange adventures and readers will learn many things about Tess as she discovers how her past can help her future.  The second book in this series is about to be released and I will be reading it very soon.

View all my reviews

Review: The Righteous

The Righteous by Renée Ahdieh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Pippa has lost too many people, so when her best friend goes missing; she sets out to find out what happened.  Pippa is willing to go anywhere and do anything to see her friend safe.  But there is a world hidden from most humans and this dark and dangerous world may be more than Pippa was planning for.

The Righteous is the third book in The Beautiful series.  Ahdieh has expanded her fantasy world to include new characters and additional intrigue.  There are Fae, Vampires, and other normally unseen creatures dispersed throughout.  I so wanted to love this book, but it just didn’t keep my attention long enough.  I found myself re-reading passages because I didn’t remember what I just read.  The next book is supposed to be the finale and I hope it will bring back the joy I had after the second book.

View all my reviews