Hunter's Prayer

Today’s post is on Hunter's Prayer by Lilith Saintcrow. It is  329 pages long and is published by Orbit Books. The cover is purple with Jill in the center. It is the second in Saintcrow’s Jill Kismet series. The intended reader is someone who has read the first volume likes gritty urban fantasy, and tough female leads. There is foul language, sex and sexuality, and lots of violence in this novel. The story is told from first person close of Jill. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Another night on the Nightside...An ancient evil looms over Santa Luz. Prostitutes are showing up dead and eviscerated. And Jill Kismet just might be able to get her revenge against an old enemy.

There's just one problem. Someone wants Jill dead--again. And if they have to open up Hell itself to kill her, they will.

"Sometimes, even when you're Jill Kismet, you don't have a prayer..."

Review- A wonderful second volume in a fast paced series. This a fast ride of a novel with Jill starting hunting and ending in a bad emotional place. We are still getting to know her and what has happened to her in the past. We see more of her life before she was a hunter and how it affects her. There is some great world building in this volume with more about the different power players around Jill. Jill and Saul’s relationship is more concrete but it is not the focus of the story. Killing the bad guys is the focus and there are so many to choose from. If you like fast, action based urban fantasy then you need to read this series.

I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this novel with my own money.

 

Something’s Wrong with Us, vol. 01

Today’s post is on Something’s Wrong with Us, vol. 01 by Natsumi Ando. It is 176 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover is red with the two main characters on it looking at each other intensely. The intended reader is someone who likes josei manga, mystery plots, and thrillers. There is very mild foul language, no sex, and mild violence. The story is told from third person close of the main character Nao. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Married to the Enemy

Nao has followed in her mother's footsteps to become a traditional Japanese sweets maker. Even at 21, her skills are unparalleled, landing her a spot at a world-class confectionary company. However, when she meets the young, handsome heir to the company, she recognizes Tsubaki: her first friend, and the same boy who framed her mother for murder over a decade ago. As the only witness to the crime, Nao seizes her chance to get close to him, but instead of finding answers, she falls deeper for Tsubaki's allure... 

Review- This is an intense thriller manga about a murder, an innocent woman who died to protect the real killer and her daughter’s hunt for truth and revenge. Nao’s mother was a traditional Japanese sweets maker and worked for one of the biggest houses who make these sweets. When the son of the current head is murdered, Nao’s mother is blamed for the crime then she dies under mysterious conditions herself, leaving Nao alone in the world. Nao wants revenge but she doesn’t know how to start when Tsubaki proposes to her. He does this for many reasons but Nao sees her chance to get to the truth and maybe get revenge too. It is very intense with Nao lying about who she really is and Tsubaki who has some plans of his own that are unknown. I cannot want to see what is going to happen next and discover who is responsible for the murders. 

I give this volume a Four out of the Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

The Epic Crush of Genie Lo

Today’s post is on The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee. It is 310 pages long and is published by Amulet books. The cover is purple with Chinese dragons and stylized mountains between them. The intended reader is someone who likes YA, myth re-imagines, and strong female characters. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this novel. The story is told from third person close of the main character Genie. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Genie Lo is one among droves of Ivy-hopeful overachievers in her sleepy Bay Area suburb. When she’s not crushing it at volleyball, Genie is typically working on how to crack the elusive Harvard entry code. But when her hometown comes under siege from hellspawn straight out of Chinese folklore, her priorities are dramatically rearranged. Enter Quentin Sun, a mysterious new kid who becomes Genie’s guide to battling demons. While Genie knows Quentin only as an attractive transfer student with an oddly formal command of the English language, in another reality he is Sun Wukong, the mythological Monkey King incarnate- right down to the furry tail and penchant for peaches.
Suddenly, acing the SATs is the least of Genie’s worries. The fates of her friends, family, and the entire Bay Area all depend on her summoning an inner power that Quentin assures her is strong enough to level the very gates of Heaven. But every second Genie spends tapping into the secret of her true nature is a second in which the lives of her loved ones hang in the balance. 

Review- This is a wonderful novel and I loved every minute of it. Genie is fantastic; she is smart, driven, she was kick butt if she needs to, and she is worried about her SAT. I love this girl. I am a huge fan of the Monkey King and I have read just about every story about him and have seen most of the media about him. Yee did a great job with this novel. It is not a re-telling of Journey to the West but more the continuing adventures of the Monkey King. The action is great, the Chinese mythology is great, the writing is great, everything about this novel is great. I cannot wait to get my hands on the second novel.

I give this novel a Five of out Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this novel from my local library.

 

A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: Murder in Ancient Rome

Today’s nonfiction review is on A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: Murder in Ancient Rome by Emma Southon. The cover is pink with a classic bust in the center and three knives in the head. The intended reader is someone who is interested in Roman history being told with a witty sense of humor. There is mild foul language, discussion of sex and rape, and violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Head.

From the dust jacket- In Ancient Rome, all the best stories have one thing in common—murder. Romulus killed Remus to found the city, Caesar was assassinated to save the Republic. Caligula was butchered in the theater, Claudius was poisoned at dinner, and Galba was beheaded in the Forum. In one 50-year period, 26 emperors were murdered.

But what did killing mean in a city where gladiators fought to the death to sate a crowd? In A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Emma Southon examines a trove of real-life homicides from Roman history to explore Roman culture, including how perpetrator, victim, and the act itself were regarded by ordinary people. Inside Ancient Rome's darkly fascinating history, we see how the Romans viewed life, death, and what it means to be human.

Review- A fantastic book about ancient Rome, the history of murder, and murder in history. Southon is very knowledgeable in her field but even better she is an excellent writer. She knows how to make the history she is telling interesting and funny. Southon is funny! I loved reading this book, not just because it was well researched and about a subject I am very interested in but because Southon made it fun to read. Now that said, she does take her subjects seriously but the humor helped the discussion of some very distasteful acts of murder and other related crimes. Everything about murder in ancient Rome was discussed from murdering slaves to murdering an emperor, nothing to small for Southon to bring the reader. I enjoyed every minute of this book and I can’t wait to read whatever she writes next.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

Yona of the Dawn, vol. 14

    

Today’s post is on Yona of the Dawn, vol. 14 by Mizuho Kusanagi. The cover has the four dragons on it and Yona on the back. It is 186 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. As it is the fourteenth volume in the series you need to have read the first thirteen. There is no foul language, no sex and no violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the different characters moving as the story does. There Be Spoilers Ahead

From the back of the book- Yona’s travels take her to the Water Tribe territory, which is said to be the most beautiful area in the Kingdom of Kohka. But despite this region’s reputation, a drug known as “nadai” has spread throughout the land. When one of Yona’s friends becomes affected by nadai, how far will Yona go to help him?

Review- Yona and co. are continuing to see what is going on in the rest of Kohka and the water tribe has a real problem on its hands. In fact within hours Jaeha gets himself poisoned by the drugs that are destroying the town and the tribe itself. But the daughter of the head of the tribe is trying to stop the drugs and save her people. Together Yona and Lili are willing to work together to stop the drugs but Yona is attacked at the end of the volume by the villain of the week and is injured. But this is good to show how much Yona has grown from where she started to now she is fighting and winning in a sword battle. I love othis series so much and I can’t wait to see what happens in this next volume. 

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

Home Before Dark

Today’s post is on Home Before Dark by Riley Sager. It is 384 pages long and is published by Dutton. The cover is dark green with a chandelier under the title. The intended reader is someone who likes mystery horror stories. There is mild foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this novel. The story is told from first person close of Maggie and her father, Ewan. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- What was it like? Living in that house.
Maggie Holt is used to such questions. Twenty-five years ago, she and her parents, Ewan and Jess, moved into Baneberry Hall, a rambling Victorian estate in the Vermont woods. They spent three weeks there before fleeing in the dead of night, an ordeal Ewan later recounted in a nonfiction book called House of Horrors. His tale of ghostly happenings and encounters with malevolent spirits became a worldwide phenomenon, rivaling The Amityville Horror in popularity—and skepticism.
Today, Maggie is a restorer of old homes and too young to remember any of the events mentioned in her father’s book. But she also doesn’t believe a word of it. Ghosts, after all, don’t exist. When Maggie inherits Baneberry Hall after her father’s death, she returns to renovate the place to prepare it for sale. But her homecoming is anything but warm. People from the past, chronicled in House of Horrors, lurk in the shadows. And locals aren’t thrilled that their small town has been made infamous thanks to Maggie’s father. Even more unnerving is Baneberry Hall itself—a place filled with relics from another era that hint at a history of dark deeds. As Maggie experiences strange occurrences straight out of her father’s book, she starts to believe that what he wrote was more fact than fiction.

Review- A gripping story of mystery and horror that had me turning pages as I tried to figure out the story. Sager has done a wonderful job with this story, the characters, and the setting. I only have one problem with the story and it’s at the end Maggie’s parents are stupid but other than that this was one tight story. With the story being told in two parts one from the book Maggie’s father wrote’ House of Horrors’ and then from Maggie’s perspective in the present day as she tries to understand her father and what really happened to them when they lived in the house. It is more than just a haunted house story but a complicated family narrative with a horrorish background. I highly recommend this novel. 

I give this novel a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this novel from my local library.

 

Skip Beat!, Vol. 19

Today’s post is on Skip Beat!, Vol. 19 by Yoshiki Nakamura. It is 200 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has Kyoko on it looking confident and awesome. As it is the 19th in the series you need to have read the first 18 volumes to understand the story. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this series and volume. The story is told from third person close of Kyoko and Ren. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Koo and Lory can't stop meddling in Kyoko's and Ren's lives. Because while Koo is impressed with Kyoko's talent, he knows that she will never be a great actress unless she can overcome her fatal weakness. And Lory knows that Ren's acting is likewise affected by his refusal to face his past. Can the two old-timers give their young protégés a much-needed kick in the pants, or will their plans blow up in their faces?! 

Review- Kyoko and Koo are bonding over acting and Koo challenges Kyoko to think about why she does not want to take more bullying roles. She does that then her and Koo talk about how she can grow more. The real reason that Koo came to Japan is to get Ren to make a message for his mother, who hasn’t seen him in five years and is getting desperate to have anything from Ren. That’s most of this volume and that is good as we get character growth and development with both Kyoko and Ren. They are both facing challenges and they are going to overcome them and I can’t want to see it happen. I love this series so much it’s knot even funny.

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money. 

Infinite

Today’s post is on Infinite by Jodi Meadows. It is 418 pages long and is published by Katherine Tegen Books. The cover has Ana on it with feathers around her eyes. As it is the third volume in the Newsoul Trilogy you need to have read the first two in order to understand the story. There is no foul language, implied sex, and mild violence in this novel. The story is told first person close of Ana. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book-DESTRUCTION

The Year of Souls begins with an earthquake—an alarming rumble from deep within the earth—and it’s only the first of greater dangers to come. The Range caldera is preparing to erupt. Ana knows that as Soul Night approaches, everything near Heart will be at risk.
FLIGHT

Ana’s exile is frightening, but it may also be fortuitous, especially if she can convince her friends to flee Heart and Range with her. They’ll go north, seeking answers and allies to stop Janan’s ascension. And with any luck, the newsouls will be safe from harm’s reach.
CHOICE

The oldsouls might have forgotten the choice they made to give themselves limitless lifetimes, but Ana knows the true cost of reincarnation. What she doesn’t know is whether she’ll have the chance to finish this one sweet life with Sam, especially if she returns to Heart to stop Janan once and for all.

Review- A wonderful, intense conclusion to a very fun trilogy. We pick up right from the end of the second volume and we never slow down from there. Ana has so much to do to stop the bad guy and she has no time to do it in. She has to find a way to stop Janan, protect the Newsouls, herself, and maybe save the rest of the world too. Big job but Ana is up for it. Lots of action, some sweet moments between her and Sam, and some answers about what happened 5,000 ago. But thing one is not answered: that is why did Ana’s father researched the poison in the first place and what was he going to do with it other than use it on Janan. But overall, this is a good final volume and I would recommend this series if you are looking for a YA fantasy novel. I had a good time reading this series. 

I give this novel a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this novel with my own money.

Till Murder Do Us Part

Today's Nonfiction post is on Till Murder Do Us Part by James Patterson. It is 336 pages long and is published by  Grand Central Publishing. The cover is a picture underwater with a body flowing above the title. The intended reader is someone who likes true crime. There is mild foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book-
Til Murder Do Us Part: Kathi Spiars can't believe she's found such a good man to marry as Stephen Marcum. Twelve years later, she starts to suspect that he isn't who he says he is. As she digs into his past, she doesn't realize that learning the truth will lead to a lifetime of fear and hiding. (with Andrew Bourelle)

Ramp Up to Murder : Brandi McClain, a young beautiful teenager, moves to California from Arizona, to model and live with her new boyfriend, a professional skateboarder. But her perfect life is about to turn on its head. In San Diego, investigators hunt for a missing girl. It’s a case that seems to be plagued by dead ends. But once the truth emerges, it’s more haunting than they could have imagined. (with Max DiLallo) 

Review- Another good true crime read from Patterson. The two stories in this book are more close to home any the others from Patterson. They deal with domestic violence and Patterson was able to interview the survivors and get what happened from them directly. At times this volume was scary as the people in it were very scary themselves. But Patterson doesn't overwhelm the reader with the horror of a lover turning dangerous, he just tells the story and moves on.  If you have read the other true crime books by Patterson then I would recommend this one too or if you are just looking for a quick true crime read then you should like this.

I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

Backstage Prince, Vol. 2

Today’s post is on Backstage Prince, Vol. 2 by Kanoko Sakurakouji. It is 192 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has the main characters in it. As it is the second volume in the series you need to have read the first volume to understand the story. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this series. The story is told from the third person close of Akari. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- There's trouble brewing behind the kabuki curtain. Ryusei's dad doesn't want anything--or anyone!--distracting his son from his chosen profession. It's no secret that he disapproves of Ryusei's romance with Akari. Now he's determined to sabotage their relationship anyway he can!

Review- A very cute wrap up of a cute series. Akari and Ryusei are trying to make their relationship work with the normal shojo drama issues like disapproving parents and other people trying to steal them from each other. But  of course we know that everything is going to work out. Neither Akari or Ryusei really change much over the course of the volume but that’s fine. What matters is that they will do anything to make their relationship work. If you are looking for a short, sweet series you need you try this one, it is was sweet, with likeable characters, and good art. I would recommend this series. 

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.