A quick little roundup of several smaller reviews I’ve written so far in Fall 2023. Depending on how many more I do, I may add on to the end, or make a part 1/part 2 deal, we’ll see. Beware of spoilers!
Title: The Witchfinder’s Serpent
Author: Rande Goodwin
Series: The Witches of Windsor #1
Thank you to Rande Goodwin, Greenleaf Audiobooks, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was an okay tale. The premise is similar to Hocus Pocus, though the execution is far less campy. Some teenagers go somewhere they’re not supposed to go, mess with stuff they’re not supposed to mess with, accidentally release a bad witch who was magically imprisoned centuries ago, then scramble to defeat the bad witch before they can regain full strength, playing keepaway with a magical object that would empower the bad guy. The teenagers receive help from a human/animal creature that appears to defy death. Aunt Celia is a notable difference, though.
Anyway, it was entertaining enough. I’m not sure I needed the trots back in time to Alice’s POV, but I understand the purpose they served. Overall a pleasant way to pass the time, but I don’t need more of it.
Title: The Untitled Books
Author: C. J. Archer
Series: Glass Library #3
Muahahahahaha Audible jumped the gun by over a week!!! Muahahahahaha!!! Made my freakin MONTH. I’ve never clicked Buy so fast.
Excellent as always! A little disappointed that Sylvia’s magic isn’t more rare/special; hopefully Archer has a cool and creative use for it down the line.
Title: The Grave Robber
Author: Darynda Jones
Series: Charley Davidson #13.8
THANK YOU to Darynda Jones and 1001 Dark Nights Press for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Also thanks to Tanaka Kangara for being the messenger.
I liked this interim novella more than the last couple, simply because The Grave Robber is a solid story. The abbreviated length may make it feel a bit rushed, and my five-year-old niece could predict whodunit, but the mystery was intriguing, the characters were endearing, and the humor wasn’t too heavy-handed. My only complaint could be spoilery, so I’ll keep it to myself. Overall a good time.
Title: Every Duke Has His Day
Author: Suzanne Enoch
Series: n/a
Thank you to Suzanne Enoch, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to an e-audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This comedy of errors was great! Bit of a silly premise, but entertaining. The hero could have easily come across as an ass rather than endearing, but Enoch kept him on the good side of that line. I enjoyed watching him slowly realize he was attracted to Elizabeth.
My favorite part, though, was probably the B-storyline romance between Sally and . . . I forgot his name. Apologies, it’s been a couple weeks since I listened to it. But I loved that guy’s arc. Both men’s arcs.
I’ll be keeping an eye out for more Enoch books.
Title: Murder at Midnight
Author: Katharine Schellman
Series: Lily Adler Mystery #4
Thank you to Katharine Schellman, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to an e-audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoy this series! This was a great addition. My only complaint was that it felt like it went on a bit longer than it needed to; I started to zone out in the 70-90% range. I think I missed about an hour because I wasn’t paying attention while it played, listening without hearing, and I didn’t feel like I missed anything.
Otherwise I like Lily and Jack and Ophelia and Ben! I didn’t care for the love triangle in the last couple books, and I’m not sure how necessary Amelia’s POV was, but it was a good time, and I look forward to the next installment!
Title: A Study in Drowning
Author: Ava Reid
Series: n/a
Thanks to Ava Reid, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I read this the first time about a month ago. It was a bit of a slog, and my grandmother had just died so my focus was off and it felt like a lot of it went over my head. I gave it a few weeks to breathe, then tried it again. I’m about halfway through, and I won’t be finishing it. My focus wasn’t off the first time; this just isn’t my kind of book.
It has a literary feel, with theme layered upon theme layered upon metaphor layered upon more themes. It began with exposition that did nothing to pull me in. When she got to the place and met Preston, and there was more dialogue and intrigue, it grabbed more of my attention and I followed along better. Still, there are aspects of this story that just baffle me.
First, why is it set in a fictional world and time? There’s no good reason it needs to be; the plot doesn’t span the globe, it revolves around a book and its author. It could have taken place anywhere. It’s clearly meant to emulate, at least in my mind, Scotland and England in the 18th/19th centuries. So why couldn’t it have been so?
Second, what the fuck is a drowning? I assumed it was just a flood, and at first it seems so, but at times it’s spoken of as if it’s a metaphor (such as in the title) and now I’m just not entirely sure. Was it a weather event unique to this world, or did have fantastical undercurrents? I’m having a hard time caring.
Third, for a girl who was unwillingly obsessed with the faerie king and all things faerie, Effy failed to realize that, hmm, strange, every mirror in the weird house was unable to reflect one’s visage. That the mirrors in the car were turned away and useless to the driver. That her host seemed to have a dual personality. To be clear, she notices these things, and even thinks them odd, but that’s it. I wanted to shake her. Reid was not subtle in her foreshadowing.
If the tone hadn’t been so literary, if it had just been an engaging mystery, I might have liked it more. As it is, no thanks.
Title: The Hunting Moon
Author: Susan Dennard
Series: Luminaries #2
Thank you to Susan Dennard, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I was interested in this title and luckily I was able to borrow a copy of The Luminaries (book 1) from the library pretty quickly so I could get caught up on the story, which I recommend doing before diving into Hunting Moon. I wasn’t blown away by the story, but I liked it enough that I wanted to see what happens next.
Imagine the Dark Forest from Harry Potter. Now imagine a society of people who take it upon themselves to keep the creatures inside in check. That’s the basic premise.
That said, I listened to both Luminaries and Hunting Moon twice, and I still don’t completely understand the world, which makes my understanding of the plot a bit tenuous. I don’t understand the rules of the magic or how the Nightmares are created. So the mist is sentient? How? The Dianas and their motivation absolutely baffle me, but by the end of my second listen to HM I think I had a better grasp on them. I still have no idea why the people are named after the days of the week, other than it coordinates with their designated day to serve in the forest. It also makes no sense to me why the innocent family of a traitor would be punished, though I’m sure there’s real-world precedence.
I wasn’t too fond of Winnie to begin with, but she grew on me. I’m not sure she’s meant to be a hunter, or a luminary, or whatever they’re called. She seems to be more lucky than talented, more heart than skill (speaking of Harry Potter…), though I can’t deny she knows her shit. Then again, she’s an underdog, so she’s not supposed to be too competent.
I have similar feelings about Jay—not super fond of him to begin with, but the more time I spent with him and came to understand him, the fonder I became. Although if he’s trying to keep his condition a secret, he should try harder! He openly refers to himself as a Nightmare, as cursed. He exhibits self-destructive, any-day-could-be-my-last behavior. Frankly I’m shocked no one had guessed about him. That’s another thing I don’t understand, though—so is he able to turn at will? Does his human mind remain when he turns? The characters didn’t even seem to know how it works.
I adore Mom and Darien and the twins; they’re a hoot. I’m still not sure what the heck is going on with Emma Snootypants, but that’ll probably be resolved in the next book.
Weird note—I have never read an author who uses so much onomatopoeia. I didn’t really care for it. Found it rather distracting.
Overall, despite my lack of clarity on parts of the story, I’m enjoying this series, and I’ll be looking out for book 3 next year!
Title: Treasures of the Lochs
Author: Hunter H. White
Series: n/a
Much thanks to Hunter White, Greenleaf Audiobooks, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudiobook in exchange for an honest review.
DNF 41%. When the characters began hearing the voice of god and having visions of dead loved ones, I was out. No disrespect to the dead, the grieving, or anyone’s beliefs, but that’s not the kind of story I want to read. The blurb undersold that aspect or I wouldn’t have requested it.
As for the plot so far…meh. Not the worst thing I’ve read, but I was struggling to get into it. I was hoping for historical lore and mystery, for Nessie and treasure, and what I got was a bunch of legal crap and evil Russians. (Why Russians? What the heck would they have to do with Scottish lore? I guess I’ll never know.) Rather more like an international espionage thriller than the quaint treasure hunt I had in mind.
Not sure why this is tagged as historical fiction, it’s not. The setting is contemporary.
Title: The Last Close Call
Author: Laura Griffin
Series: n/a
Thank you to Laura Griffin, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this romantic suspense! I found both Rowan and Jack likeable. Well, as much as I CAN like a guy who runs 12 miles and mountain bikes (exercise, barf). She was endearing and he was honest, both aware of their flaws. Their romance was expected, but Brian and Evie’s was a sweet little surprise.
I was also surprised to find Joy so sympathic. I wish we could have witnessed the conversation between her and Michael after he found out about everything. I like to imagine he was supportive.
What really fascinated me was the use of forensic genealogy. I didn’t know there was such a thing. My mind starts to race with possibilities—then I realize the pool of DNA samples is probably limited. Bummer.
Overall this was a great novel, and I look forward to what’s next for Griffin.
Title: The Ghost Illusion
Author: Kat Martin
Series: n/a
Thank you to Kat Martin, Kensington, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was…odd. It starts out like one of those romances with ex-military peeps building a team for their private investigation business or something. Then it’s like one of those paranormal investigation shows on Discovery. Then I think there’s something about sex trafficking of minors and virginity auctions? That’s pretty much where the book lost me. I wanted to DNF around 58% because all I could think what the heck is going on? But I pushed through and gave it a second chance, tuning back in when they figured out what happened to the children and resolved that. That was great—tragic, but great.
I wonder if someone else had narrated it if I’d have been more engaged with the story. Morgan Hallett wasn’t the worst narrator I’ve ever listened to, but she certainly wasn’t great. She was very bland. She sounded professional and had clear enunciation, but man, was she boring. She hardly gave any inflection or emotion, and her delivery robbed the characters of any chrisma they might have had. The romance lacked heat and any humor fell flat. Truly a shame.
Overall the execution was odd but the ghost story was decent. I’d recommend reading a print copy.
Title: Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord
Author: Celeste Connally
Series: Lady Petra Inquires #1
Thanks to Celeste Connally, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to list to a free audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this novel! It’s definitely a slow burn with perhaps more exposition than necessary, and Petra and Duncan’s relationship could have been built up more over another book or two before consummation (I feel like that was a significant point in their lives, much less their relationship, and it was blown off with a couple suggestive lines; also, after Petra’s drama of refusing to move on from her one true love and declaring to society she’ll remain single forevermore, she discarded that stance pretty quickly once she and Duncan had reconciled). Otherwise this was a great historical mystery, and I look forward to the next installment.
Title: The Curse of Penryth Hall
Author: Jess Armstrong
Series: ?
Thank you to Jess Armstrong, St. Martin’s Press, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for allowing me to read free ebook and audiobook ARCs in exchange for an honest review.
I liked this book but I didn’t love it. The beginning didn’t really grab me, and I was worried I’d be slugging through a book I didn’t like. But that wasn’t the case. I slowly got more into it until I was intrigued by the mystery and attached to the characters.
I found Ruby likeable and sympathetic, if not endearing; I have a hard time being okay with how unabashedly sexually active she was for a sixteen/seventeen-year-old. But she had a spine and a brain, so I respected her after a fashion.
I didn’t really like Tamryn, but I didn’t dislike her either. I loved Mrs. Penryth and Mr. Owen. Ruan grew on me but by the end I still didn’t feel like I knew much about him. And at no point did I understand his “ability”; clarification would have been appreciated. On that point, I’d have appreciated clarification on Ruby’s “otherness” as well, and what the heck it was supposed to mean that they were both born the same day under a full moon.
The end suggests a sequel, which I’m interested in, especially if it provides answers. Otherwise, while I enjoyed Penryth Hall and it’s a solid debut novel, I wasn’t blown away by it.
Snap! I also loved Every Duke Has His Day and The Last Close Call.