A Bookworm's Book Reviews

House – Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti

Title: House

Authors: Ted Dekker, Frank Peretti

Genre: Thriller

Plot: Jack and Stephanie are on their way to couple’s therapy when a road block makes them find a new way. The officer gives them another route. On the new route, their tires get shredded. They walk to a small B&B nearby. There’s already another couple there, Leslie and Randy , but no hosts. A host shows up, but something’s off. No one can place their finger on it, but something’s not right. Their host sends them all into a panic when she raves about a man who shouldn’t be there. Then a tin can falls down the fireplace. There are three rules to survive the night. One of them must die so the others can survive. The two couples slowly go mad in the basement trying to decide on their moral dilemma. Who will survive the night? Or will their captors destroy them all?

Rating: 4.0 – a twisted tale of a moral dilemma

Opinion: This was a dark tale about morality. I was kind of scared to read how fast everything descended into madness. The idea of the house being alive as well added another layer of craziness. I was creeped out but wanted to know who would make it out alive. This was one of the few times I was glad I didn’t relate to the characters. Lots of the choices they made, made me fear for my own sanity. There were lots of twists and turns that kept me reading until the end. This is a book you need to be in a ‘I wanna be creeped out’ kind of mindset. So if you’re ready for a dark and creepy book, then I’d recommend this book.

Spirit of the Wood – Kristen Britain

This is a side novella to the Green Rider series.

Title: Spirit of the Wood

Author: Kristen Britain

Genre: Fantasy, Novella

Plot: Lieutenant Mapstone and a new Green Rider recruit Tavin Bankside are traveling back to Sacor City. They’re ambushed by remnants of brigands. The lieutenant is badly wounded and Tavin’s instructed to find the nearest way station. Despite the other brigands changing the pair, Tavin finds the way station. He mends the lieutenant as best as he can. A forest ranger offers and hand and tells Tavin to find the hermit before it’s too late. Despite everything, Tavin finds the hermit but is it too late? Can the hermit help Tavin as well? Or will everyone meet a fateful end at the hands of the brigands?

Rating: 4.0 – a good backstory for Laren Mapstone

Opinion: This was an interesting read. It was entertaining. I liked learning more about someone else besides Karigan in the Green Rider series. It’s interesting to learn to learn how a Green Rider can learn to control their powers. Though I was hoping to learn a little more about Laren Mapstone, I did enjoy the book. It’s a good reminder that the little things can matter and change the future.

Remember Me – Mario Escobar

Title: Remember Me

Author: Mario Escobar

Genre: Historical Fiction

Plot: Marco Alcalde is a young boy when the Spanish Civil War reaches his home town of Madrid. In desperation, his parents send Marco and his sister to Morelia, Mexico. The Mexican government promises to protect them and the other kids going there. But they’re treated harshly if they act out. When the war is over, Marco learns that the facsets have won and his parents are in jail. Marco is determiners to have everyone home together again. But at what cost? There are many who will kidnap girls and put them in convents. Others will sell the boys to labor camps. Will Marco and his family be able to reunite! Or they remain separate forever?

Rating: 3.5 – a sad story of family and hope

Opinion: This was a sad book. I wanted the characters to be together but it just never worked out. I did like the fact that Marco never gave up. Even with the odds stacked against him, Marco kept going. I didn’t love how sad it was. There wasn’t much hope in the book. I’m okay with a sad book but give me some hope woven throughout. There also didn’t seem like too much change in the characters. I mean they grew up and understood that their lives were hard, but seemed to focused on keeping their families together. While I enjoyed this book, I needed more hope woven throughout. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a different kind of historical fiction.

What Happens Next – Christina Suzann Nelson

Title: What Happens Next

Author: Christina Suzann Nelson

Genre: Mystery

Plot: Faith Fardon is a recently divorced podcaster. Her ex-husband is getting married during the summer in Hawaii. He begs her to let their two daughters come with him all summer. Faith reluctantly lets them go after an old friend asks her to help find what happened to a middle friend, Heather, who disappeared one night in 1987. Faith travels to Deep Valley, Oregon to find out. She usually uses her podcast to tell about stories of triumph after great lost. This time, she’s using her podcast to help find Heather. Faith and Heather were the best of friends when Faith was visiting Deep Valley for her dad’s job. Heather and Faith also became close friends with Nathan Nobbles. When Faith returns to Deep Valley, she learns that Nathan is a detective. He offers to help her with finding Heather in whatever way he can. The more Faith learns, the more questions she has. No one seems to have straight answers for her, either. Will Faith ever find out what happened to her best friend? Or will she only find dead ends?

Rating: 4.0 – a different style of mystery

Opinion: I wasn’t sure I’d like this book. To be fair, I didn’t really read the description first. I read it cause it’s a book club book. I liked how the main character wasn’t a detective but knew how to get stuff done. She really care and supported her friends and family. She encouraged them and joined them on their journey while still being herself. In return, her friends supported and helped her. I liked that while sad, was a different style of ending. It gave a very satisfying feeling to the end. It was a very well written story. It kept my interest the whole time and there weren’t slumps in the book. Overall, I really enjoyed the book. This is a great book for anyone who loves mysteries.

Winterlight – Kristen Britain

This book 7 of the Green Rider series.

Title: Winterlight

Author: Kristen Britain

Genre: Fantasy

Plot: Karigan is reeling from the battle with the Second Empire. She’s experienced torture and is now second guessing herself. She takes her own way back to Sacor Ciry. On the road, she sees the effects of a new force, the Darrow Raiders. Karigan rushes back to deliver the news. But she’s captured by the Raiders along with a couple other Green Riders. The Darrow Raiders want Colonel Mapstone. Karigan manages to escape and find a way to help her fellow captives. But Colonel Mapstone gets captured because of accidentally using a magical item. Everyone tries to help get the colonel back, but to no avail. King Zachery has a secret plan to get her back. Tensions are mounting with the Darrow Raiders and the remnants of the Second Empire until it leads to war. Karigan and her fellow Green Riders try their best to find ways to stop the Darrow Raiders before they get to Sacor City. But can they stop the advancing army? Or will they take the city?

Rating: 4.0 – a good continuation of the series

Opinion: This was a great addition to the Green Rider series. Though a few parts felt drawn out. I wish the main character didn’t get as many titles of nobility. I don’t love some of the relationships of two of the characters, but that’s since the series started. More of the characters were complaining in this book. Those things felt pretty minor for the story. It was a well written story. It’s got well written magic and rules for the world. This felt more steady with the plot than some of the other books in the series. If you don’t mind longer books, then I recommend this book for any fantasy lovers.

The Kingdom of Sweets – Erika Johansen

Title: The Kingdom of Sweets

Author: Erika Johansen

Genre: Fantasy

Plot: Natasha and Clara are twins born on Christmas Eve. Their godfather, Drosselmeyer, gives Clara the ‘light blessing’ and Natasha the ‘dark blessing.’ Clara grows up beautiful and the center of attention. Natasha grows up plain and a wallflower. Natasha grows jealous of Clara. One night, on Christmas Eve, Clara gets taken to the Land of Sweets and Natasha follows. The Sugar Plum Fairy finds Natasha and offers her a deal. She takes the deal and becomes Clara. Now she can live her dream. But is it really everything Natasha ever wanted? Will Natasha live up to her end of the bargain? Or are there more strings attached to her bargain?

Rating: 3.3 – a decent, dark retelling of a classic tale

Opinion: This was a different book than what I was expecting. There wasn’t a ton of plot development in the book. It felt like there was too much side stories and background information that didn’t really apply to the story. It felt a little too petty for my liking. There was a decent amount of character development, but it was limited to the main character. It was a decent book, but not one of my favorites. It’s an easy read if you don’t mind a darker read. It’s a decent tale about the consequences of revenge and jealousy. I’d recommend this book for anyone who needs a quick read.

West with Giraffes – Lynda Rutledge

Title: West with Giraffe

Author: Lynda Rutledge

Genre: Historical Fiction

Plot: Woody Nickel is an almost 18 year old in the 1938 dust bowl survivor. He’s hitched his way to NYC in time for the infamous hurricane of that year. Then Woody learns of the giraffes that survived the storm. He meets them and loves them. The giraffes are heading to the San Diego zoo soon. Woody is determined to go with them to California. He follows them on hot-wired vehicles until the giraffe’s driver suddenly quits. Woody takes his chance and becomes the driver. The Old Man in charge of the giraffes begrudgingly takes Woody on. He keeps telling Woody he’ll drop him off at the next big city. But the two grow fond of each other. They continue west through wild and wacky adventures. Can they overcome all the odds to get the giraffes safely to San Diego? Or will the troubles of 1938 USA get to them?

Rating: 4.0 – a different side of Great Depression

Opinion: This was an interesting book. I enjoyed learning about the history of the late 30’s. I feel like books tend to focus on the start of the 20’s or WW2 and not much time in between. It was nice to learn more about those who traveled the roads and what it was really like. I’ve heard about the Hoovervilles and Sundown Towns, but it was nice to learn more about those, too. This was a nice coming of age story and I liked how it showed a different style of that trope. There was good character development and had a steady pacing throughout the book. Overall, I enjoyed this book. I highly recommend this book for any historical fiction lovers.

The Fury – Alex Michaelides

Title: The Fury

Author: Alex Michaelides

Genre: Thriller

Plot: Elliot is a lowly playwright and friends with the famous actress Lana Ferrer. Lana’s invited him and a couple other people to her private Greek island. The locals call the island cursed. Lana doesn’t believe in them. Until she ends up dead. The night follows Elliot as he tries to figure out who killed his closest friend. But everyone has a reason and no one has an alibi. Then Elliot explores the other’s backgrounds. Then his own. Nothing is it what it seems. Will everyone survive the island? Or will the curse get to them?

Rating: 3.5 – a different style of murder mystery

Opinion: This was an interesting book. It was my first book with an unreliable narrator. I wasn’t sure about it at first. I enjoyed it more after the story picked up. The ending kinda left me with an ‘oh for Pete’s sake’ and ‘another twist? Really?’ feeling. It wasn’t the most thrilling of thrillers. It felt like the book spent half the time on character development and the other half on a tamer thriller. It felt a story of petty revenge with characters trying to backstab each other. The thriller would start to pick up, then it’s more character backstory. I really wanted to like it but it wasn’t the best thriller I’ve read. It was a pretty good book. I recommend this book if you like the unreliable narrator in thrillers.

Secrets of the Nile 1 – Isabel Ibañez

Book 2 is now available and is called Where the Library Hides.

Title: Book 1 – What the River Knows

Author: Isabel Ibañez

Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction

Plot: Inez Olivera is the only child of Argentinian Egyptologists during three British occupation of Egypt. Her parents spend half the year finding artifacts with her Uncle Ricardo. She misses them desperately when they’re gone. Inez spends her time learning more about ancient Egypt while they’re gone. She’s devastated when she receives a letter they’ve died under mysterious circumstances. Inez makes a rash decision to go to Egypt to find out what happened. As soon as she arrives, Inez learns that no one wants her there and wants to send her home. Her uncle’s assistant, Whitford Hayes, is ordered to keep an eye on her after she finds a way to sneak onto her uncle’s travel boat. She promises to be useful and lead them to what they’re searching for. But then, someone makes an unexpected appearance and asks for Inez’s help. Who can Inez trust? Will she find the answers she’s looking for? Or will the shadowy forces at work catch up to her?

Rating: 4.0 – a different side of history

Opinion: This was an interesting book. I thought it was going to be a little cheesy at first. But it was a really interesting book. I enjoyed learning about the British occupation of Egypt and what happened with all of the archeologists in the country. I enjoyed the touch of fantasy in the book. It wasn’t strong, but it really helped the characters and was well written. The author did a good job with throwing suspicion around between different characters. She did a good job with making one of the characters rub me the wrong way and a little extra suspicious of them. I was still thrown for a loop with some of the character’s actions. The ending was great. It ended on a cliffhanger with a great build up. I’m excited to see where the second book goes. I highly recommend this book to all historical fiction lovers.

Shadows of the Dark Realm – Tyler Edwards

Thank you Tyler Edwards for an early(ish) copy of this book. You can find out more about Tyler and his books here.

Title: Shadows of the Dark Realm

Author: Tyler Edwards

Genre: Fantasy

Plot: The dragon stone that kept Parisia safe has been stolen by a dragon. Now the whole world is in danger. The king orders groups of seekers to search for the stone. Dante, the king’s mage, Vale, a disgraced knight, Celeste, the king’s niece, Caelen, a rouge archer, and Azaela, an unusual witch, are sent as the most likely to succeed. None of them remotely likes the other. Each has their own secret. Along the way, they find new allies how have even bigger secrets. There are also people and creatures hunting them and killing other groups. There are also those seeking the stone for their own gain. Can the group overcome their differences to retrieve the stone? Will everyone make it alive? Or will betrayal get them all in trouble?

Rating: 4.0 – a interesting fantasy quest

Opinion: This was interesting book. I liked the classic fairy tale quest. The story kind of felt like a D&D campaign to me. Maybe because I did a campaign before I read the book, but the story felt similar to that. I enjoyed the world building. One or two parts felt like I should’ve known more about part of the world’s history beforehand. I think it was the point of this character, but one of them doesn’t learn anything on the journey. The ending felt a little rushed to me. It kind of felt like there was going to be a sequel, but everything got wrapped up at the end. The book had an open ending, so there’s still the possibility of sequels and spinoffs with the characters separate adventures. Overall, I really enjoyed the book. I recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy adventures.