#ScifiMonth Waiting on Wednesday 11/09/22

Posted on November 9, 2022 12 Comments

Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that first originated at Breaking the Spine but has since linked up with “Can’t Wait Wednesday” at Wishful Endings now that the original creator is unable to host it anymore. Either way, this fun feature is a chance to showcase the upcoming releases that we can’t wait to get our hands on!

Mogsy’s Pick

Fractal Noise by Christopher Paolini (May 16, 2023 by Tor Books)

“A new blockbuster science fiction adventure from world-wide phenomenon and #1 New York Times bestseller Christopher Paolini, set in the world of New York Times and USA Today bestseller To Sleep in a Sea of Stars.

July 25th, 2234: The crew of the Adamura discovers the Anomaly.

On the seemingly uninhabited planet Talos VII:a circular pit, 50 kilometers wide.

Its curve not of nature, but design.

Now, a small team must land and journey on foot across the surface to learn who built the hole and why.

But they all carry the burdens of lives carved out on disparate colonies in the cruel cold of space.

For some the mission is the dream of the lifetime, for others a risk not worth taking, and for one it is a desperate attempt to find meaning in an uncaring universe.

Each step they take toward the mysterious abyss is more punishing than the last.

And the ghosts of their past follow.”

* All SciFi Month artwork courtesy of Simon Fetscher.

#SciFiMonth Ocean’s Echo by Everina Maxwell

Posted on November 8, 2022 22 Comments

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

Ocean’s Echo by Everina Maxwell

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Science Fiction, Romance

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Tor Books (November 1, 2022)

Length: 464 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Do you have to read Everina Maxwell’s first novel, Winter’s Orbit, before coming to Ocean’s Echo? Nope! In fact, its standalone status was what attracted me most about this one. The truth is, my feelings were kind of mixed on Winter’s Orbit which I thought was middle-of-the-road novel, and I liked the idea of being able to come to this one with a fresh story following new characters.

At the center of Ocean’s Echo is Tennal Halkana, the rich, smarmy nephew of a powerful legislator who fancies himself to be a charming rogue flirting his way across the galaxy. But the reality is, his life is a mess. On the planet of Orshan, where this book takes place, past experimentation with neuroaugments have led to some people being born with special abilities: Architects are those who can influence your thoughts, and Readers are those who can read minds as well as navigate chaotic space. Tennal is one of the latter and as such is seen as a security threat, leading him to always be on the run—until one day, his aunt catches up to him and forcibly conscripts him into the military as punishment for using his powers illegally. There, it is also expected that he will be “synced” with an Architect, a process that creates a permanent mental bond so that the Reader can be controlled.

This is how Tennal eventually comes to be placed under the watchful eye of Lieutenant Surit Yeni, a strait-laced dutiful soldier who values regulation above all else. The son of a notorious traitor, Surit’s rigid adherence to rules may be his way of dealing with the taint of his past. Which is why when he discovers that he is to be synced with Tennal, who has not consented to having his mind merged, Surit balks at the illegality of it. Still, unlawful or not, an order is an order, which is why the two of them ultimately decide to hatch up a plan to fake their sync.

Fans of Winter’s Orbit will be happy to know Ocean’s Echo is also a queer romance and keeps to many of the similar tones and traditions of Maxwell’s debut. But to me, the difference is that the romance isn’t as central to the plot. There was far less brooding and pining in this one, for instance, leaving more time to enjoy the other aspects of the novel. Not surprisingly, I found myself way more invested in the story and the characters, and even the world-building held more appeal, never mind that Ocean’s Echo actually takes place in the same exact universe as Winter’s Orbit.

Naturally, Tennal and Surit end up together, but their relationships is slow-burn enough—and subtle enough—that it was almost like reading a very light military sci-fi novel. Admittedly, the concept of the Architect/Reader dynamic was a bit sparse, but still far more complex than I expected. The idea definitely made for an interesting take on the fake romance trope! But as I said, the plot is about so much more—from a political power struggle among the elite to an impending civil war about to break out amongst the disparate factions, there was always something going on to give the backdrop a life of its own.

One might also think the dreadful cliché of putting two characters who couldn’t be more different together is a recipe for disaster. However, in this case, Tennal and Surit did in fact have chemistry, which is more than I could have said of the pairing between Kiem and Jainan of Winter’s Orbit, another “opposites attract” romance which didn’t work quite so well. What made Ocean’s Echo different is that by focusing more attention on their individual backstories rather than the two of them together, Tennal and Surit both gradually came to their own. Only then was I able to care about their relationship.

Like Winter’s Orbit, Ocean’s Echo is also standalone, their stories self-contained and independent of each other so you can read the books in any order. In fact, I would probably recommend tackling Ocean’s Echo first, as I found this to be the better novel. Romance readers are going to love Everina Maxwell’s take on fun and familiar tropes, sci-fi fans will enjoy the modern space operatic feel, and both camps will relish the result created by the blending of all these elements.

#ScifiMonth Book Review: Living Memory by David Walton

Posted on November 7, 2022 19 Comments

I received a review copy from the author This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

Living Memory by David Walton

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Science Fiction

Series: Book 1

Publisher: Archaeopteryx Books (October 18, 2022)

Length: 243 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

I always have a lot of fun with David Walton’s books. From battling deadly parasitic fungal diseases in The Genius Plague to surviving self-driving vehicles run amok in Three Laws Lethal, they’re always filled with fast-paced plots full of cinematic action, high-octane thrills and mind-blowing scientific concepts. So when I was offered a copy of Living Memory to review, I jumped at the chance. I mean, you couldn’t have possibly expected me to say no, could you, especially with a dinosaur on the cover?

Our story begins in Thailand, where the selling of dinosaur fossils on the black market has become a lucrative business. For two smugglers though, their latest find proves fatal as something else was discovered among the bones of a newly discovered miniraptor. Meanwhile, power is about to change hands in the Thai government, and a group of American-sponsored paleontologists are working around the clock to extract as many specimens as possible to ship back to the United States before they are kicked out of the country. Led by Samira and with help from local Thai paleontologist Kit, the team had made an extraordinary find of what appears to be a mass grave filled with the bones of many individual miniraptors arranged in neat rows—too neat to be the result of random chance. Their discovery suggests this to be some sort of ceremonial burial ground, which shouldn’t be possible.

But before any of the fossils can be transported, the Thai government seizes the shipment, and Samira and all the other foreign paleontologists are taken into custody for questioning and deportation. Kit is approached by the Thai military with an opportunity to lead his own dig at the mass burial site to uncover its mysteries. Among the dinosaur skeletons there, a green liquid substance had been found which, when inhaled, can cause a wide range of hallucinatory effects like visions to strong compulsions. The incoming regime suspects that Thailand’s biggest organized crime network may be using this substance to spread terror and gain influence across the countryside and wants Kit to find out as much as he can about it so they can put an end to all the gang activities. Back in the United States, Samira is surprised and uneasy to learn that her research in Thailand had been funded by the CIA all this time. They have known for a while about the strange substance and are plotting an operation to return to the dig site, ensuring its secrets won’t fall into the wrong hands.

There’s a lot to take in here, and I haven’t even gone into a major aspect of the book (and arguably it’s biggest hook) yet, though I’ve hinted at it. While I will not spoil the surprise, I will say this as a warning: it’s way off the plausibility charts and as someone with a bit of background in evolutionary ecology and paleobiology, I found the premise too farfetched to fully embrace. That said, by shutting up that part of my brain, I was able to enjoy the story and I think it’s possible to do so as long as you’re willing to suspend your disbelief and not ask too many questions.

The good news is, those who are drawn to Living Memory because of dinosaurs will not be disappointed. Yes, you will definitely get your dinosaur fix—though maybe not in the way you’d expect. In spite of myself, I enjoyed the ideas exploring miniraptor society, but even more fascinating to me were the present-day shenanigans such as the struggle between global powers, the rivalry between different science teams, or the race to stop the criminal network from unraveling the fabric of Thai society. Like I said, it’s a lot, but Walton still finds time to develop the characters and give them interesting backstories to make you care for them and feel invested in their goals.

I did have a moment of disappointment near the end when I thought things wrapped a little too quickly and anticlimactically before being hit with a cliffhanger ending, but then was very quickly mollified when I discovered Living Memory is only the opening volume to a planned series so there will be more. With the amount of fun I had, there’s no way I won’t return. Here’s to another action-packed dino adventure in the sequel!

Bookshelf Roundup 11/06/22: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads

Posted on November 6, 2022 19 Comments

Bookshelf Roundup is a feature I do every weekend which fills the role of several blog memes, like Stacking the Shelves where I talk about the new books I’ve added to my library or received for review, as well as It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? where I summarize what I’ve finished reading in the last week and what I’m planning to read soon. Mostly it also serves as a recap post, so sometimes I’ll throw in stuff like reading challenge progress reports, book lists, and other random bookish thoughts or announcements.

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Received for Review

My thanks to the publishers and authors for the following review copies received, and be sure to click the links to their Goodreads pages for more details and full descriptions!

This week, big thanks to Tor Books for the following: Arch-Conspirator by Veronica Roth is a reimagining of Antigone, and I haven’t read the author since the Divergent days so I’m very excited to check this one out. And speaking of excited, I was practically jumping up and down when an ARC of A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher showed up earlier this month; a new book by her is always a cause for celebration. My thanks also to the publisher for a review copy of Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree, the paperback of which is releasing this month. In case you missed it, I reviewed the audiobook of this charming book earlier this summer. Rounding things up, I also received an ARC of The First Bright Thing by J.R. Dawson, and you know how much I just love stories about circuses!

From the kind folks at Tordotcom I also received an ARC of Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee, which is one of my most anticipated 2023 releases. Yes, I’m highly anticipating a novella! Thank you also to Minotaur Books for a review copy of Murder at Black Oaks by Philip Margolin. This was a surprise arrival so I didn’t know too much about it, but apparently it’s the sixth volume in the Robin Lockwood series. If anyone is familiar with it, please let me know what you think! And finally with thanks to Bloomsbury YA for an ARC of She Is A Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran. I only recently learned of this one, but it seems to be gaining a lot of buzz and I’m definitely intrigued by the paranormal horror premise.

It’s the beginning of the month, so I also received several audiobooks for review. With thanks to Random House Audio for a listening copy of A Sliver of Darkness by C.J. Tudor, her first short story collection. Also thanks to Macmillan Audio for The Villa by Rachel Hawkins and Simon & Schuster Audio for Flight Risk by Cherie Priest, the sequel to Grave Reservations which I’m really looking to, as well as The Cloisters by Katy Hays which follows a young scholar who uncovers a mystery in The Cloisters, the Met’s famed gothic museum. Last but not least, big thanks to Hachette Audio for a listening copy of The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton, a dystopian that sounds very much in keeping with the lyrical and longing tone of the author’s last novel, Good Morning, Midnight.

Reviews

Wrath by Sharon Moalem and Daniel Kraus (4 of 5 stars)
Ghostwritten by Ronald Malfi (4 of 5 stars)

What I’ve Been Reading

Have you heard of or read any of the books featured this week? What caught your eye? Any new discoveries? I hope you found something interesting for a future read!

#ScifiMonth Friday Face-Off: Red

Posted on November 4, 2022 12 Comments

Welcome to The Friday Face-Off, a weekly meme created by Books by Proxy! Each Friday, we will pit cover against cover while also taking the opportunity to showcase gorgeous artwork and feature some of our favorite book covers. If you want to join the fun, simply choose a book each Friday that fits that week’s predetermined theme, post and compare two or more different covers available for that book, then name your favorite. A list of future weeks’ themes are available at Lynn’s Book Blog.

This week’s theme is:

“Red skies at night”
~ a cover that is RED

The Loop by Jeremy Robert Johnson

Friday Face-Off is back for Sci-Fi Month and finding a red cover that fit the theme was actually more challenging than I thought! But this week, let’s just keep things simple with the sci-fi horror The Loop by Jeremy Robert Johnson, published by Saga Press. This is the hardcover edition versus the paperback:

Saga Press Hardcover (2020) vs. Paperback (2021)

Winner:

This is actually the first time I’ve seen the paperback edition, and I think it’s awesome! Definitely more interesting than the hardcover edition, which is bold but lacking in the detailed and complex imagery of the paperback version. The silhouettes of the characters really draw the eye, not to mention how the title font also calls to mind Stranger Things.

But what do you think? Which one is your favorite?

#ScifiMonth Book Review: Wrath by Sharon Moalem and Daniel Kraus

Posted on November 3, 2022 17 Comments

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

Wrath by Sharon Moalem and Daniel Kraus

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Union Square Co.

Length: 320 pages

Author Information: Sharon Moalem | Daniel Kraus

Told in a similar vein to books by Michael Crichton or technothrillers that feel like they can be made into summer blockbusters, Sharon Moalem and Daniel Kraus’ rat-infested collaboration Wrath is a contemplation of the ethics behind animal testing as well as the unquenchable thirst for science advancement—and what happens when everything goes wrong.

In the not-so-distant future, a popular biotech company is changing the way we own pets. After the successful introduction of its glow-in-the-dark goldfish, Edited Pets had promised to expand its ever-growing menagerie of genetically modified pets available to the public, but after a string of disastrous new launches, founder and CEO Noah is desperate for a win. His next big idea? Sammy. This genetically altered rat is engineered to be pocket-sized, extremely adorable, and gifted with the intelligence to be able to understand and interact with humans.

Noah has poured nearly all his company’s resources into developing Sammy, hoping to unveil the rat at an upcoming world pet expo. Unfortunately, his genetics team has recently run into a snag. None of his scientists have been able to solve the problem of Sammy’s rapidly growing brain and the failure of his tiny rodent skull to accommodate it. As a result, all early iterations of Sammy have been met with painful, premature deaths before they could be fully grown.

The Sammy project would appear to be over before it has even begun. That is, until Noah’s friend and lead scientist Sienna comes up with a brilliant plan to overcome their obstacles. It’s not a permanent solution by any means, but at least it will allow Sammy to debut at the pet expo. What no one expected, however, was just how intelligent their creation as become—intelligent enough, for example, to devise an escape plan from his confinement to the lab into the outside world, where his biological drive to breed will put the entire human race under threat of being overcome by a vengeful army of rats just like him.

First things first: you’re going to have a hard time getting through this novel if you have a fear of rats, but also if you’re disturbed by harsh depictions of animal experimentation and the resulting injuries and deaths. Noah and Sienna are both POV characters, but the story does not treat them kindly, the former being the archetypal smug tech CEO elitist whose only concern is his reputation and bottom line, the latter being so caught up in her own good intentions that she loses sight of the dangers of playing god. It’s almost enough to make you sympathize with Sammy, the rat. Believe it or not, he gets his own POV too, and even though he’s the one wreaking all the havoc, it’s hard to fault this poor abused little creature who was an innocent in all this until the dastardly humans decided to mess with his genes.

What I also liked about Wrath is how accessible it was. You don’t need to be a science geek to understand what Noah and his team at Edited Pets was trying to do, and the descriptions of the genetic modifications process were just detailed enough without being overly mired in the techno lingo. That said, the science behind the premise is going to feel a bit far-fetched, but that’s the reality with a book like this where there’s always an expectation that things will get a little over-the-top. Characterization isn’t exactly a priority either, as the plotline places more emphasis on keeping up the action and a snappy pace, much like a screenplay of a Hollywood blockbuster.

Still, if you’re willing to suspend your disbelief and go with the flow, enjoying Wrath shouldn’t be a problem. Just as long as you don’t have musophobia, or this sci-fi thriller is going to feel a lot more like horror.

#ScifiMonth Waiting on Wednesday 11/02/2022

Posted on November 2, 2022 14 Comments

Mogsy’s Pick

Rubicon by J.S. Dewes (March 28, 2023 by Tor Books)

“J. S. Dewes, author of The Last Watch and The Exiled Fleet, returns with a new science fiction space opera that melds elements of Scalzi’s Old Man’s War with Edge of Tomorrow.

Sergeant Adriene Valero wants to die.

She can’t.

After enduring a traumatic resurrection for the ninety-sixth time, Valero is reassigned to a special forces unit and outfitted with a cutting-edge virtual intelligence aid. They could turn the tide in the war against intelligent machines dedicated to the assimilation, or destruction, of humanity.

When her VI suddenly achieves sentience, Valero is drawn into the machinations of an enigmatic major who’s hell-bent on ending the war—by any means necessary.”

* All SciFi Month artwork courtesy of Simon Fetscher.

Get Ready for #SciFiMonth 2022!

Posted on November 1, 2022 21 Comments

It’s that time of the year again! November is upon us, which means so is Sci-Fi Month! Hosted by Lisa of Dear Geek Place and imyril of There’s Always Room For One More, the event enters its tenth year in 2022 and once more The BiblioSanctum will be participating.

Starting today, we’ll be joining other bloggers, authors, and readers in a month-long celebration of everything science fiction. But that doesn’t mean we’ll stop covering all our other favorite genres! You will most definitely continue to see our usual reviews, weekly memes and features, spotlights, and all that other fun stuff. The only difference is, some of our reviews and posts will branch off from the usual to encompass the various mediums of science fiction.

The organizers have also arranged for some pretty exciting features like giveaways, readalongs, and a whole lot of other fun activities. So if this is something you’re interested in taking part of, head on over to the Google form to sign up.

Also, the great thing about Sci-Fi Month is that it’s a casual, low-pressure event. It has no deadlines, no specific challenges or quotas to meet–just a month of fun to enjoy, discuss, and share everything science fiction. Sci-Fi Month is whatever you make it, and you are welcome to join anytime.

As for my plans, I’ll most likely be playing things by ear. Unlike the last couple of years though, I have made a reading list already, and have even gotten started on a few of these books! Here’s what I hope to be covering this month, a mix of new releases and catch-up titles from earlier this year:

I’ll also be doing my best to keep up my regular features like Waiting on Wednesdays and keep them sci-fi themed, and who knows, I may even get some time to tackle an event challenge or two! Just look for the posts tagged with “SciFi November” or containing the SciFi Month images and hashtags to see how I’m getting involved.

So what are you waiting for? Grab the #SciFiMonth banner (created by artist Simon Fetscher) and come explore the wonders of science fiction with us! Also be sure to follow the event on Twitter @SciFiMonth so you won’t miss a thing. In the meantime, feel free to let us know:

How long have you been a fan of science fiction?

Why do you like sci-fi and what is your favorite thing about it?

What are your favorite books/games/films/TV shows in the genre?

What are your plans for Sci-Fi Month?

Audiobook Review: Ghostwritten by Ronald Malfi

Posted on October 31, 2022 12 Comments

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

Ghostwritten by Ronald Malfi

Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Horror

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Tantor Audio (October 11, 2022)

Length: 12 hrs 58 min

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Narrator: Joe Hempel

Novellas and short stories are not my preferred format so I don’t often read them, but there are some authors for whom I will make an exception, and one of them is Ronald Malfi. Although I am still somewhat new to his work, his books Come With Me and Black Mouth have already rocketed up my list of favorite horror novels, and when I found out about Ghostwritten—anthology or not—I knew I had to read it.

This collection contains four separate self-contained stories, but they all take place in the same shared world and are united by the common theme of books, storytelling, and the written word!

The Skin of Her Teeth

This opening story was my second favorite of the collection. It begins with talent agent sitting down with her colleague to discuss one of her screenwriter clients who has gone MIA. Davis McElroy had been tapped to adapt a bestselling book for the big screen, but it seems he hasn’t been heard from in weeks. With deadlines looming, our agent decides to go check up on him and is shocked by what she finds. There’s a reason why no screenwriter has ever successfully adapted this particular novel and those who’ve attempted it have all met disturbing fates.

The tone of this one gradually gets darker and more ominous as it progresses, a horror story through and through. Still, as an avid reader and a booklover, I was tickled pink by the themes raised by this tale. We’ve all heard the saying, a good story sometimes takes on a life of its own. Or how about, an author pours his or her entire heart and soul into writing a book? The Skin of Her Teeth takes these idea to a whole new level.

The Dark Brothers’ Last Ride

This one was riveting but also downright weird, which might explain why I enjoyed it but didn’t love it. It follows two brothers, Danny and Tommy, who are part of a smuggling operation. For their latest job, they are instructed to deliver a book to a very particular buyer whose demands are strange but simple: don’t touch the book, and don’t talk to anyone about what they’re transporting. The brothers are also given a time-consuming and circuitous route to their destination, but they’re told it’s of the utmost importance not to stray from this specific path.

Needless to say, someone breaks the rules, leading to fatal results. This story started out strong but eventually devolved into a fever dream of bizarreness. Stylistically this story just wasn’t for me, but others may enjoy it more.

This Book Belongs to Olo

For me, this one ranked about the same as the previous story. At the heart of this tale is boy named Olo, who isn’t like the other neighborhood kids. The child of two writers, he lives in an imposing mansion where he often plays alone, talking to mannequins on the front lawn and running around in a creepy clown mask. He’s also great with papercrafts, creating a pop-up book that replicates the labyrinthine house in which he lives. Then one day, he makes his way down to the playground to invite all the local kids to his birthday party, because his storybook needs some new friends, you see…

This was one of the more harrowing tales in this collection but also on the stranger side, reading like a drug-induced hallucination or nightmare. It also dragged on a little too long without adding much to the plot. I did love the atmosphere though, as well as the inventive twist on the creepy old house concept. Plus, the characterization of Olo was amazing. This is one kid you won’t ever want to cross.

The Story

And speaking of inventive twists, this last novella treats us to a horrifying take on the classic Choose-Your-Own-Adventure tale. As the story opens, a journalist receives tragic news from an old colleague. One of their mutual friends whom they used to work with on a supernatural themed podcast has killed herself. Finding some the circumstances behind her death obscure and suspicious, our protagonist decides to do his own digging into the project she was working on before she died, uncovering an urban legend about a story on the darknet that is different for everyone who reads it. Very soon, he becomes drawn into his own story, and as fiction warps into reality and vice versa, the wrong choices he makes will have deadly consequences.

I was glad to see the anthology end on a strong note with a story that’s pure horror with some mystery thrown in. This one had a bit of everything—interesting premise, suspenseful plotline, deep character development. I felt for the protagonist, his complex feelings for his late friend, his determination to get to the bottom of her apparent suicide, and then the fearful desperation and paranoia as his reality began to unravel. The terror and dread of this shook me to my core.

Ronald Malfi fans, do yourselves a favor and pick up Ghostwritten, and don’t let the short fiction anthology format put you off. The tales in here are a good example of his talent for storytelling and why he has so quickly become one of my favorite horror writers.

Audiobook Comments: A bit of a missed opportunity here to use multiple narrators for the different stories to reflect the diverse personalities and backgrounds of their respective main characters, but in spite of that, Joe Hempel made it all work. He delivered a great performance, and I would highly recommend the audiobook edition.

Bookshelf Roundup 10/30/22: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads

Posted on October 30, 2022 19 Comments

Received for Review

My thanks to the publishers and authors for the following review copies received, and be sure to click the links to their Goodreads pages for more details and full descriptions!

Huge thanks to Minotaur Books for sending me finished copies of a couple of mystery thrillers. Blackwater Falls by Ausma Zehanat Khan is the first book of a new series starring Detective Inaya Rahman. I’ve read the author’s fantasy, and now I’m curious to check out her work in another genre. Desolation Canyon by P.J. Tracy is also part of a series, the second of the Detective Margaret Nolan sequence. I actually recently got an ARC of the third book, so I’m thinking I should start here first.

Earlier this month I was also super excited to receive an ARC of The Cradle of Ice by James Rollins, with thanks to Tor Books. It’s the second book of the Moonfall series, and it’s huge! I had a really good time with the first book so I’m really excited. And speaking of excitement, from the amazing team at Ace Books I received a review copy of Raven Unveiled by Grace Draven. The next book in her Fallen Empire world, this is one of my most highly anticipated books this year.

Also thanks to the kind folks at Penguin Workshop and Wunderkind PR for a review copy of Area 51 Interns: Zoned Out by James S. Murray and Carsen Smith. This is the second book of the middle grade series, which I hadn’t realized until I looked it up, but I believe it can be read as a standalone. At least my daughter hasn’t been complaining; she actually started the book earlier this week and seems to be enjoying it. And with thanks to Saga Press, I also received an ARC of Loki’s Ring by Stina Leicht, described as an intergalactic space adventure about a starship captain on a quest through space to rescue the robot she loves as a daughter.

Thank you also to Penguin Random House Audio for my listening copies this week, a nice trio of horror titles: Five Survive by Holly Jackson, All the Blood We Share by Camilla Bruce, and Sign Here by Claudia Lux.

Reviews

Little Eve by Catriona Ward (4 of 5 stars)
Lute by Jennifer Thorne (4 of 5 stars)
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson (3.5 of 5 stars)
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig (2.5 of 5 stars)

What I’ve Been Reading

Have you heard of or read any of the books featured this week? What caught your eye? Any new discoveries? I hope you found something interesting for a future read!