Review: With a Little Luck

With a Little Luck by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jude has done a good job of surviving high school without any major issues.  He has great friends, a job, and a relaxing hobby.  He isn’t unhappy with his life, but when he finds a twenty-sided dice that appears to be giving him great luck … his life begins to change.  He wins tickets to a concert and decides to ask out his long-time crush; she accepts!  One of his drawings is accepted in a fanzine and he helps a friend become a finalist in a competition.  Everything is wonderful until he loses the dice. His luck quickly vanishes and he is now faced with a life in upheaval.  Can Jude make his own luck?

With a Little Luck is the second book in the Fortuna Beach duology.  Although this is technically a sequel, readers do not need to have read the first book to enjoy it.  There are spoilers for the first book in this one, though, so don’t read it first if you plan to go back to the original.  Meyer has created a cast of characters I loved to spend time with and I hope she creates other “companion” novels with them.  A fun escape for all underdog romance fans.

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Review: Kindling

Kindling by Traci Chee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The war is finally over but the kindlings that were used as weapons are left without a purpose.  There is still violence everywhere and when a village is threatened, a group of kindlings believe it is time to fight again.  Being raised to be a weapon has changed them in many ways … what suffering will they need to overcome to be successful?  How many will come out of this quest alive?

Kindling is a stand-alone Fantasy novel that is full of action and adventure.  The characters push through various obstacles and learn from each other along the way.  This is a book of moderate length, yet it felt like a short, fast read.  There are a few unnecessary “sexual” scenes, but nothing too racy.  Chee takes issues that are relevant even now and puts a wonderful fantasy spin on them.  A strong read for all fantasy fans.

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Review: The Women

The Women by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Frances has finally become a nurse and is feeling underwhelmed with the menial tasks she is asked to do.  Her father has always spoken highly of the men in the family who have served in the military and when she learns that the Vietnam War needs nurses … she signs up.  All she has under her belt is her schooling, but war is a fast teacher and she becomes a very competent trauma nurse.  War might be hard, but Frances quickly learns that coming home has its own problems.  Those who are protesting the war are also protesting the veterans.  When she asks for help for her nightmares, first she is told that only men were in Vietnam … then she is told that she didn’t see combat and didn’t need services.

The Women is a historical fiction story that had me shaking my head at some of the actions of the supportive characters.  I don’t know if that is because we are 50+ years after these events or if it is because I am a female who served in the military during the 1990s.  This book is great to read by yourself, but I also think this would make an excellent book club book so readers have a platform to discuss the varied issues.  I don’t give many books 5 stars … but this one is definitely a 2024 5-star book!

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Review: Pangu's Shadow

Pangu's Shadow by Karen Bao
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ver and Aryl have overcome many obstacles to become apprentices in a great biology lab.  They know they have a long way to go, but everything changes when an explosion happens, and their boss is found dead.  The authorities believe there was foul play involved and one or both girls are behind it.  They are bailed out by Cal’s wife and have less than a week to figure out what exactly happened.  Was it an accident?  Was it suicide?  Or was it murder?

Pangu’s Shadow is a stand-alone sci-fi mystery that wasn’t very long, which made the events appear that much more intense.  I was swept into the story immediately and thoroughly enjoyed the science-fiction aspects and the mystery that needed to be solved.  I have never read anything by Bao before, but I will be looking for more books by this talented author.  A great escape whether you like science fiction or mysteries.

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Review: The Getaway List

The Getaway List by Emma Lord
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Riley is now a high school graduate with no real plans.  She got rejection letters from every college she applied to … even her safety schools.  Although she did get in trouble a few times in high school, she has strived to be a good kid for her mom.  In her first real act of rebellion, Riley decides to pack her bag and go to New York City for the weekend.  Her best friend, Tom, lives there and they haven’t seen each other in ages.  They also created The Getaway List while they lived apart and she thinks this is a good time to knock some of those adventures out of the way.  Riley quickly learns she needs more than a weekend … she is staying for the summer!

The Getaway List is a stand-alone romance that had me fully invested after only a few chapters and I kept returning to the book and thinking about it while doing other things.  This was a very clean romance that was primarily Riley and Tom not admitting they were attracted to each other.  Lord made New York City seem like a place where everyone should spend a summer.  I’m not condoning everyone going to NYC against their parent's wishes, but this escape read will have many readers wondering if they should.

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Review: The Trials of Ildarwood: Cinders in the Snow

The Trials of Ildarwood: Cinders in the Snow by S.C. Selvyn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Dasia and Tannus truly want to get away.    They have heard that Ildarwood can be their escape, but they also know that few children survive the Trials.  Some soul-stealing hunters want to stop them from overcoming, but they must face their pasts to discover their true powers.  What secrets will they discover during their Trial? 

 The Trials of Ildarwood: Cinders in the Snow is a stand-alone story set in the world created by Selvyn.  I haven’t read any other stories set in this world, yet I was able to enjoy this story fully.  My main complaint is that the ending was rather abrupt.  This fantasy adventure was a wild ride throughout, yet as the end approached it felt forced.  This will not be a satisfying read for everyone, but for those also on an inner quest of self-discovery, it may be a mirror into their thoughts.

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Review: The Wall

The Wall by Brian Penn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In the not-so-distant future, the United States is in the middle of another civil war.  Technology has now made it possible to give people a second life and there is a wall that separates the rich from the poor.  Asher is a smuggler who wants to find a way out.  His chance has come; he must pretend to be a Zion soldier and beat an undefeated gladiator.  Will Asher become united with his love?  What lies will be uncovered?

The Wall is listed as a stand-alone dystopian novel in Goodreads, but the author’s note at the end tells readers it will be a trilogy.  This short book is action-packed and full of twists and turns.  I can’t say it is on par with some of the other great dystopian novels released recently, but for a freshman novel, it was good.  A firm choice if you just want a quick escape read.

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