How to Hang a Witch

Today’s post is on How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather. It is 350 pages long and is published by Ember. The cover is blue with a young girl looking at the reader through a window with the title written on it. There is mild foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this novel. The intended reader is someone who likes young adult horror. The story is told from third person close of the main character Samantha. There Be Spoilers Ahead

From the back of the book- Being the new girl is tough. Being the new girl in Salem could be deadly.

Samantha Mather has just moved to Salem, Massachusetts- the site of the infamous Witch Trials. It will be tough for anyone to start over in the middle of high school, but when your great-great-great (and add a few more greats to that) grandfather was the one putting the accused witches on trial, your family reputation has a way of proceeding you. So Sam isn't entirely surprised when she's targeted by a group of girls known as The Descendants. You can probably guess who their ancestors were, right? yep, the witches.

As if dealing with a checkered family past wasn't enough, Sam finds herself confronted by a handsome but seriously stubborn ghost, and she's discovered she is at the center of a centuries-old curse. Stopping the cycle of evil will mean working with the Descendants and proving her own innocence. But does anyone actually care if Sam is innocent? Or Salem's deadly history destined to repeat itself ?

Review- A good YA horror romance novel with a pretty interesting world. As the blurb said Samantha Mather is the descendant of Cotton Mather who is in real history the one who actually did start the Salem witch trials. Samantha is forced to move to Salem because her father's medical bills will be less expensive to live there; she does come in contact with the descendants of the witches who still live in Salem. The plot does not have as many twists as I was expecting.  The good people of Salem turn against Samantha very quickly against all evidence that she is innocent but the reveal of the ultimate villain was excellently done and quite surprising. If you're looking for a nice YA horror novel with a little side of paranormal romance you should give this one a try.

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

Eliot Ness and the Mad Butcher: Hunting America's Deadliest Unidentified Serial Killer at the Dawn of Modern Criminology

Today’s Nonfiction post is on Eliot Ness and the Mad Butcher: Hunting America's Deadliest Unidentified Serial Killer at the Dawn of Modern Criminology by Max Allan Collins and  A. Brad Schwartz. It is 558 pages long and is published by William Morrow. The cover is red with pictures of Ness and the city. There is some mild foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead. 

From the dust jacket- In 1935, the nation’s most legendary crime-fighter—the man who had just taken down the greatest gangster in American history—arrived in Cleveland on the eve of hosting the World's Fair. It was to be his coronation, as well as the city's. Instead, terror descended, as headless bodies started washing up on shores of Lake Erie. 

Eliot Ness's greatest case had begun. 

Now, the acclaimed writing team behind Scarface and the Untouchable uncovers this lost crime epic, delivering a gripping and unforgettable nonfiction account based on their groundbreaking research.

During Prohibition, Ness had risen to fame for leading the “Untouchables” unit, which had helped put Al Capone behind bars. Soon after, he was hired as Cleveland's public safety director, in charge of the police and fire departments. Cleveland, then a rising industrial hub nearing the height of its powers, was preparing for a star-turn itself: in 1936, it would host the "Great Lakes Exhibition," a world's fair which would be visited by seven million people. Late in the summer of 1935, however, pieces of a woman’s body began to show up on the Lake Erie shore—first her ribs, then part of her backbone, and then, on September 5, the lower half of her torso. The body soon count grew to five, then ten, then more, all dismembered in gruesome ways.

As Ness zeroed in on a suspect—a doctor tied to a prominent political family—powerful forces thwarted his quest for justice. In this battle between a flawed hero and a twisted monster—by turns horror story, political drama, and detective thriller—Collins and Schwartz find an American tragedy, classic in structure, epic in scope.

Review- An interesting look into Ness’s life after being an Untouchable. Eliot Ness had more than just getting Capone to his credit. Cleveland invited Ness to help clean up the city and help raise the city’s reputation. Ness does that by cleaning out the dirty cops and creating some laws for traffic that we would consider normal now but was innovated at the time. But Ness is not a homicide detective and so he did not have the right mindset or tools to handle a case like the Butcher. He does his best but it should have been left to homicide guys not a man who specializes in getting racketeers. Still is an interesting book about an interesting man. 

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.

The Ancient Magus' Bride, Vol. 6

Today’s post is on The Ancient Magus' Bride, Vol. 6 by Kore Yamazaki. It is 180 pages long and is published by Seven Seas. The cover is a picture of Chise, Elias and Ruth. As it is the sixth volume in the series you need to have read the first five to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes urban fantasy, fairy tales, and traditional lore. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this series. The story told from third person close of Chise. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- The Path Not Chosen
Chise is gradually learning to understand both human nature and the whims of the fae, as well as how to balance them and walk her own path. Suddenly, she receives a mysterious letter from bustling London. What could an alchemist's apprentice want from her...?

Review- Most of the volume is Chise and Alice both trying to be more kind to those in their lives. Either has much experience doing that but they are both trying to be grateful for the better lives they now lead. As the go around London looking for Christmas gifts, they talk some about their lives and how much things have changed. The next story is about Chise helping a girl get her brother back when he is taken by a fae. Some relationship growth happens and Chise is learning more about magic and what she can do. A solid volume that promises to bring back a dangerous villain at the end. This continues to be a great series that I really enjoy. 

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.

Wild, Wild Rake

Today’s post is on Wild, Wild Rake by Janna MacGregor. It is 350 and is published by St. Martin’s. The cover is purple with the main couple wrapped in an embrace. The intended reader is someone who likes historical romances. There in very mild foul language, sex and sexuality, and mild violence in this novel. The story is told from third person close of the two main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Her first marriage was an epic failure.

Lady Avalon Warwyck never did love her husband. Arrogant, selfish, and cruel, it’s a blessing when she’s widowed and left to raise her son all by herself. Finally, Avalon can live freely and do the work she loves: helping fallen women become businesswomen. She’s lived these past ten years with no desire to remarry―that is, until Mr. Devan Farris comes to town.

Can he convince her to take another chance at happily ever after?

Devan Farris―charming vicar, reputed rake, and the brother of Avalon’s son’s guardian―is reluctantly sent to town to keep tabs on Avalon and her son. Devan wishes he didn’t have to meddle in her affairs; he’s not one to trod on a woman’s independent nature and keen sense of convictions. But she’ll have nothing to do with vicar with a wild reputation―even though he’s never given his heart and body to another. If only he could find a way to show Avalon who he really is on the inside―a good, true soul looking for its other half. But how can he prove that he wants to love and care for her. . .until death do they part?

Review- Charming historical romance with two independent and engaging  main leads. Avalon's first marriage was absolutely terrible, she was terribly mistreated by her husband, and now devotes her life to women who have been forced into prostitution and now are trying to work their way back into respectable society. Devan is a man who is looking for his other half but because of his family he has been on guard for fortune hunters or the like. So he has carefully crafted a reputation as a rake to turn away those who would only look at him as a potential for a title or money. The two start out on rocky ground as Avalon was married to one of his friends and Devan did not understand why they were married until later and their relationship. But as the characters learn to see past their own personal prejudice and to really get to know each other they fall in love. It was a very sweet love story about two characters that deserve to be happy and they are willing to grow and change to embrace a better future than what they have now. If you enjoy the historical romance novels, I would give this one a try, I had a really good time reading it.

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

An Incurable Case of Love, Vol. 1

Today’s post is on An Incurable Case of Love, Vol. 1 by Maki Enjōji. It is 192 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has the two main characters on it. The intended reader is someone who is likes josei manga and funny manga. There is very mild language, no sex, and no violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the main character, Nanase on it. There Be Spoilers Ahead. 

From the back of the book- Nurse Nanase has striven to once again meet the prince of her dreams, so how is it he’s become such an aggravating doctor?!
After witnessing a handsome and charming young doctor saving a stranger’s life five years ago, Nanase Sakura trained to become a nurse. But when she meets the doctor again and they start working together, she finds Kairi Tendo to be nothing like the man she imagined him to be! 

Review- A good first volume of a new series. When Nanase was a high school senior when she helped save a woman who had a heart attack. She was impressed by the doctor who helped her and she decided to go into medicine to meet him again. Of course when she meets him again, he is not the ideal prince Nanase made him up to be. Instead he is a very harsh doctor that demands only the best from his nurses. Over the course of the volume we get to know both of these characters and I like both of them. I would like Nanase to move on from Tendo but I don’t think that is going to happen. But I like Nanase and I wants to see her succeed in nursing. I’m interested in where the story will go from here.

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

 

The Dead House

Today's post is on The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich. It is 400 pages long and is published by Little, Brown, and Company. The cover is amber with a girl with half her face in dark and an old. Broken house under it. The intended reader is someone who likes horror and young adult literature. There in mild foul language, implied sex, and violence in this book. The story is told from different characters both in third and first person perspectives. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Three students: dead.

Carly Johnson: vanished without a trace.

Two decades have passed since an inferno swept through Elmbridge High, claiming the lives of three teenagers and causing one student, Carly Johnson, to disappear. The main suspect: Kaitlyn, "the girl of nowhere."

Kaitlyn's diary, discovered in the ruins of Elmbridge High, reveals the thoughts of a disturbed mind. Its charred pages tell a sinister version of events that took place that tragic night, and the girl of nowhere is caught in the center of it all. But many claim Kaitlyn doesn't exist, and in a way, she doesn't - because she is the alter ego of Carly Johnson.

Carly gets the day. Kaitlyn has the night. It's during the night that a mystery surrounding the Dead House unravels and a dark, twisted magic ruins the lives of each student that dares touch it.

Debut author Dawn Kurtagich masterfully weaves together a thrilling and terrifying story using psychiatric reports, witness testimonials, video footage, and the discovered diary - and as the mystery grows, the horrifying truth about what happened that night unfolds.

Review- This is an engaging horror story from Kurtagich and in this story she tackles some interesting topics.  The main bulk of the story is two sisters who share one body. Carly is the day sister and Kaitlin is the night sister.  It has been this way for as long as they can both remember and until their parents died was never a real problem. But after their parents died people began to think that Carly was suffering from dissociative identity disorder and refused to believe either her or Kaitlin when they said they have always existed. This follows the months and days up to the disappearance of both girls and the murders of the people around them. You have a lot going on in this novel. You have discussion of mental illness, pre-christian religions and those who follow them, and good old demonic possession. You can tell that this is Kurtagich’s  first novel but she handles it with great care and she does extremely well. If you have read any of her other works I do recommend going back and reading her earlier stuff, it is just as good as stuff that she will produce  later. 

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

Otome Mania!! Vol. 2

Today’s post is on Otome Mania!! Vol. 2 by Yurino Tsukigase. It is 194 pages long and is published by Seven Seas. The cover has three of the male characters on it. As it is the second volume in the duology you need to have read the first volume to understand the story. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the main character Yuzumi. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Yuzumi is a new planner for the game developer Trick Star. Her first app game was a minor hit! But her project is full of problems. Will Yuzumi ever conquer the otome game world? Find out in the final volume!

Review- A very cute wrap up to a cute story. Yuzumi and co make her game a success and she gets the attention of the big group that she loves and of course drama happens. But what is important in this volume is seeing Yuzumi start to believe in herself and her visions for her games. She was very fun, I liked seeing her work there her problems and come out more determined than before to make her mark on the otome industry. I wish this series was longer because I liked all the characters and it is very fun setting. If you are looking for a very cute but short series then you should give this one a try.

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.

 

The Caretakers

 

Today’s review is on The Caretakers by Eliza Maxwell. It is 307 pages long and is published by Lake Union Publishing. The cover is a picture of a woman in a long coat in front of an old house that is falling apart. The intended reader is someone who likes mystery stories. There is some mild foul language, no sex, and some violence in this book. The story is told from third person close of the main characters, Tessa and Kitty.  There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Filmmaker Tessa Shepherd helped free a man she believed was wrongly imprisoned for murder. When he kills again, Tessa’s life is upended.
She’s reeling with guilt, her reputation destroyed. Worse, Tessa’s mother has unexpectedly passed away, and her sister, Margot, turns on her after tensions from their past escalate. Hounded by a bullying press, Tessa needs an escape. That’s when she learns of a strange inheritance bequeathed by her mother: a derelict and isolated estate known as Fallbrook. It seems like the perfect refuge.
A crumbling monument to a gruesome history, the mansion has been abandoned by all but two elderly sisters retained as caretakers. They are also guardians of all its mysteries. As the house starts revealing its dark secrets, Tessa must face her fears and right the wrongs of her past to save herself and her relationship with Margot. But nothing and no one at Fallbrook are what they seem.

Review- This was an interesting mystery but not at all what I was expecting from the blurb on the back. There are two main characters in this story Tessa and Kitty and the chapters switch from one to the other as the story progresses. There are two stories going on in this novel: Tessa’s story of dealing with being accused of releasing a murderer and the story of what happened in the past surrounding the death of their mother's birth family. The mystery is engaging but very unexpected. It is very straightforward, with the story itself, not with who the real killers are in both the past and the present. I quite like the narrative style, the characters were interesting and believably complicated, and the family relations were as difficult to manage as they would be in reality but easy for the reader to follow. If you like fairly straightforward mysteries without too much violence or gore I highly recommend The Caretakers. 

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

Wake Up, Sleeping Beauty, Vol. 4

Today’s post is on Wake Up, Sleeping Beauty, Vol. 4 by Megumi Morino. It is 192 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover has Shizu, Tetsu, and Chihiro on it. As it is the fourth in the series you need to have read the first three volumes to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes supernatural manga and manga with intense plots. There is no foul language no sex, and no violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the main character, Tetsu. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- THE MOVING FORWARD
Shizu's grand scheme to get Tetsu to play soccer one last time was a big success, and has become a catalyst for change for everyone involved. One of the biggest changes comes from Chihiro, who works up the courage to tell Tetsu his biggest secret. Will this revelation tear the friends apart?

Review- Tetsu makes some peace with his past and the choices that he made. Tetsu and Chihiro have a heart-to-heart about their friendship and come back together. Shizu is getting more and more free and less afraid of the world around her but her father comes back in this volume and he wants to send her away. Now her mother has to make some choices. The plot is getting more and more intense as Shizu tries to take control of her future and not be in the power of those who don’t love her and will not care for her. Tetsu of course is trying to help her and he may get himself into some trouble to free Shizu. I am pulling for them both in this dangerous place they have found themselves. Only two more volumes to finish this series and I am anxious for these characters. 

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