Audiobook Review: Bad Dolls by Rachel Harrison
Posted on September 26, 2022 15 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror
Series: N/A
Publisher: Penguin Audio (September 6, 2022)
Length: 3 hrs and 56 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrators: Helen Laser, Suehyla El-Attar Young, Frankie Corzo, Phoebe Strole
Rachel Harrison continues to impress me, and the fact that I enjoyed Bad Dolls so much says a lot! Short fiction isn’t typically my format of choice, but after the great time I had with both the author’s novels The Return and Cackle, I thought it worthwhile to give her horror story collection a try when I was offered an early listening copy from Penguin Audio. And I’m so glad I did.
Reply Hazy, Try Again
This first story follows an indecisive young woman who impulsively buys a Magic 8 ball from a flea market. At first, our protagonist treats the whole thing like a joke, posing random advice-seeking questions to the toy just to see the replies she’ll get. Soon though, the ball appears to take on a mind of its own, one that impossibly seems to know more than it should.
As creepy as this all sounds, the story is actually quite light on horror and more focused on human drama, touching upon subjects like work, life, and relationships. The idea behind it is very unique though, and I liked that there was a strong paranormal or uncanny element.
Bachelorette
This was perhaps my favorite story of the collection. “If I’d been told in advance about the blood sacrifice, I would have made up an excuse not to attend the bachelorette party.” Best first line ever! Our main character Natalie is invited to the bachelorette party of her childhood best friend, Haley. The two women have always been close, but ever since Haley moved away for college and made new friends, Natalie has started worrying about them drifting apart. So when one of Haley’s sorority sisters rents a beautiful rustic cottage for the bachelorette weekend, Natalie makes a valiant effort to participate in all the activities and pretend she is enjoying herself for Haley’s sake, even though she feels like an outsider the entire time. Still, even best friends have their limits, and there are definitely lines that shouldn’t be crossed.
Many of Rachel Harrison’s stories are centered on female friendships, and this tale was no exception, looking at the evolution of relationships and how people’s lives change over time. Lots of complex feelings explored in this one too, especially the main character’s insecurities and personal fears. Plenty of humor was involved, and the relatability of Natalie’s voice also made this story very easy to get into, helped by the amazing performance of the audiobook narrator.
Goblin
A woman and her friend decide to try out a trendy new app that claims to be able to help them with their dieting goals, except our main character is someone who has recently recovered from an eating disorder. Supposedly, this app works by summoning an adorable little goblin-like mascot to give you encouragement anytime you need a bit of motivation or moral support. Our protagonist thinks there must be something seriously wrong with her app though, since her goblin turns out to be a nasty piece of work.
I struggled a bit with this one, trying to wrap my head around the basic concept. In the end, I liked it, but it’s also the perfect example of a short story that could have greatly benefited from being longer, just so the ideas and the world and the characters could have been more fleshed out.
Bad Dolls
In this story, a woman returns to her hometown following the death of her little sister to be closer to her family. After going through and tidying up the things in the room that she is renting, she finds a mysterious old porcelain doll which no one seems to know to whom it belonged or where it came from.
Out of the offerings in this collection, this tale had the closest feel to a traditional horror story. Dolls have always creeped me out, so this one definitely gave me chills. Like “Goblin”, I think “Bad Dolls” could have been longer, simply because there’s enough content here beyond the horror aspects to warrant a full-length novel, such as the depth of themes involved like family, grief, and sacrifice.
All told though, I highly recommend this collection, whether you’re an existing fan of Rachel Harrison or are completely new to her work. Normally, I wouldn’t suggest starting with an author’s short stories but I’m making an exception with this book because, short as they are, the tales within are a very good reflection of Harrison’s knack for storytelling and her fun twists on horror. Everything she writes is now a must-read for me.
Bookshelf Roundup 09/25/22: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on September 25, 2022 28 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.
This week has been…not so good. One of our dogs got sick suddenly, and it turned out to be more serious than we thought. Long story short, we had to make the difficult decision to put him down, which has left a sizeable hole in my heart and a void in our family. Although I’ve been crying a lot missing my best buddy, I also know it was the right decision, and he’s no longer suffering. Rest well, Strider, my sweet pup. Thank you for twelve amazing years.
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!
Earlier in the month, courtesy of the kind folks at Tordotcom, I received the following: an ARC of The Keeper’s Six by Kate Elliott, a tale of dragons and portals; an ARC of Feed Them Silence by Lee Mandelo, a dark sci-fi horror novella about a scientist who develops a neurological interface to literally see through a wolf’s eyes, though her obsession and depth of her research carries a high cost; and also, a finished copy of Leech by Hiron Ennes, a Gothic horror about a doctor who takes a new post in an an isolated chateau in the north and discovers many mysteries left behind by the institute’s previous physician.
With thanks to Orbit Books, I also received a beautiful ARC of Empire of Exiles by Erin M. Evans. This was one of my most anticipated releases this fall, so I’m really looking forward to reading it. From the publisher I also received a finished copy of Notorious Sorcerer by Davinia Evans, a fantasy debut featuring tons of action and adventure and what sounds to be like a pretty unique alchemy-based magic system.
And finally, big thanks to the Minotaur Books team for sending me a copy of Treasure State by C.J. Box. This was a surprise arrival, but I’m familiar with the author’s name even though I’ve never his books before. This one appears to be a later volume in an existing series called The Highway Quartet featuring Private Investigator Cassie Dewell, but fortunately it sounds like it can be read as a standalone.
Reviews
The House with the Golden Door by Elodie Harper (4.5 of 5 stars)
The Art of Prophecy by Wesley Chu (4 of 5 stars)
Roundup Highlights:
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!
Book Review: The Art of Prophecy by Wesley Chu
Posted on September 24, 2022 25 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Art of Prophecy by Wesley Chu
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of The War Arts Saga
Publisher: Del Rey (August 9, 2022)
Length: 544 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
I have been reading Wesley Chu’s work for a long time and if I’m not mistaken, I believe The Art of Prophecy might be his first foray into the epic fantasy genre. This first book of his new series The War Arts Saga is a lushly written story of intrigue, adventure and action set in a world that’s not only inspired by rich histories and theologies of Asian cultures but also the martial-chivalric traditions of the Wuxia genre. There’s no doubt this novel is much bigger, deeper, and very different in style and scope to the author’s previous works, but fans will be happy to know his writing is as witty and entertaining as ever.
It also might not surprise anyone to learn that one of the main themes of The Art of Prophecy is…well, prophecy. According to the book’s lore, many centuries ago it was foretold that a child will be born whose destiny is to defeat the Eternal Khan, the immortal god-king of the Katuia Hordes. When the story opens, this chosen one has been identified as Wen Jian, now a teenager studying at the palace under the tutelage of many masters who have been training him in martial arts since he was small boy. Somewhere along the way though, it appears that both the student and his teachers have become blinded by the pomp of prophecy, losing sight of their purpose. Thus, when the celebrated war master Ling Taishi arrives to evaluate Jian, rather than the great warrior everyone expected, she instead finds a pampered young man who has never been tried in a real battle.
Disgusted, Taishi decides to take the boy on as her apprentice, determined to transform him into the hero that the prophecy promised. Having been doted on and spoiled his entire life, Jian initially rebels against her harsh training, but then the two of them eventually reach a point of mutual respect—just in time to receive the news that the Eternal Khan has died. In a single moment, Jian’s entire world is turned upside down. For if the nemesis that he was fated to kill is already dead, then where does that leave him? Sensing that the boy will be in great danger now that the entire prophecy has crumbled around him, Taishi escapes the palace with Jian and takes him to a warrior arts school, where she plans to hide him until the danger has passed.
But as it turns out, Jian has more to fear than death at the hands of his own people. Out in the Grass Sea, Sali of the Katuia has taken on an important quest now that the khan and her dear friend whom she had pledged her life to is now gone. And then there’s the mysterious Qisami, a ruthless bounty hunter and assassin who has been tasked to kill Jian.
Hands down, what I loved most about The Art of Prophecy was the way it turned a well-known fantasy trope on its head. What happens when the chosen turns out not to be the chosen one after all? While the first part of the novel played out like your typical master and apprentice scenario with Taishi taking on the role of wise teacher and Jian the part of the reluctant student, the plot was turned on its head once it is revealed that the Eternal Khan is dead. From here on out, it was anyone’s guess what would happen. While I will admit to being a big fan of warrior-in-training stories so I didn’t actually mind the cliches in the first part that much, I also had a blast once the focus shifted to Jian’s exile and all the developments that followed.
Once Taishi left Jian at the school and they went their separate ways, that was also when I felt both characters were able come into their own. They became much more interesting as a result, after shaking off the expectations that came with their previous roles. It became a close contest at this point as to who was my favorite POV to follow, as Sali’s presence also grew more prominent as the story progressed. She was definitely one of the more memorable characters, caught between duty and her own personal mission to find her missing sister. Perhaps the only character I did not feel much sympathy for was Qisami. She seemed a little over-the-top, and had little depth beyond being the badass, merciless, psychotic assassin archetype. Hopefully the next book will give her more substance.
For the next installment, I’m also hoping for more world-building. What we got here was quite solid, but sometimes sparse in places. Knowing that this is an Asian-inspired world influenced especially by the traditions of wuxia made it somewhat easier to fill in any voids left in the setting, but I would love to see everything more fleshed out in the sequel—more depth in the history and cultures of the people and in the characters’ backstories.
But all in all, The Art of Prophecy was a great start, and clearly the next step in Wesley Chu’s journey as a writer. It’s a very ambitious project, one that I can see developing into an impressive tour de force. It was undeniably a winner in my eyes in terms of providing action and entertainment, two elements that are often rare or hard to maintain in an epic fantasy series, but which this novel had no problems delivering in high energy amounts. I hope the momentum will continue and I look forward to picking up the next book.
Waiting on Wednesday 09/21/2022
Posted on September 21, 2022 9 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
The Angel Maker by Alex North (February 28, 2023 by Celadon Books)
“From the New York Times bestselling author of The Whisper Man and The Shadows comes a dark, suspenseful new thriller about the mysteries of fate, the unbreakable bond of siblings, and a notorious serial killer who was said to know the future.
Growing up in a beautiful house in the English countryside, Katie Shaw lived a charmed life. At the cusp of graduation, she had big dreams, a devoted boyfriend, and a little brother she protected fiercely. Until the day a violent stranger changed the fate of her family forever.
Years later, still unable to live down the guilt surrounding what happened to her brother, Chris, and now with a child of her own to protect, Katie struggles to separate the real threats from the imagined. Then she gets the phone call: Chris has gone missing and needs his big sister once more.
Meanwhile, Detective Laurence Page is facing a particularly gruesome crime. A distinguished professor of fate and free will has been brutally murdered just hours after firing his staff. All the leads point back to two old cases: the gruesome attack on teenager Christopher Shaw, and the despicable crimes of a notorious serial killer who, legend had it, could see the future.”
Book Review: The House with the Golden Door by Elodie Harper
Posted on September 19, 2022 14 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The House with the Golden Door by Elodie Harper
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Historical Fiction
Series: Book 2 of The Wolf Den Trilogy
Publisher: Union Square Co. (September 6, 2022)
Length: 472 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
I thought The Wolf Den would be hard to top, but my goodness, Elodie Harper has done it again! Earlier this year I was completely floored by the eloquence and profundity of the first book in the series, which led to its sequel The House with the Golden Door becoming one of my most anticipated releases this fall. And what can I say, but it was as utterly riveting and amazing as I’d hoped.
Before I continue though, be aware that this review may contain possible spoilers for the first book if you are not yet caught up. The story picks up almost immediately following the events at the end The Wolf Den in which we saw Amara freed from her life of slavery working as a prostitute at one of Pompeii’s most notorious brothels. And yet, for all that she now dresses in silks, eats the finest foods, and lives in relative luxury, she is still not her own woman. Amara fears that it’s only a matter of time before Rufus, her lover and the patron who bought her, will lose interest and leave her with no possessions or protection. Almost every waking moment is thus spent trying to please him and keep him satisfied, and until she can earn her own living, Amara knows she can never be truly free of her painful, brutal past.
Of course, it also doesn’t help that she has landed herself deeply in debt with Felix, her former owner and proprietor of the Wolf Den, but Amara had been unable to leave her friends behind. After managing to rescue Victoria and Britannica, the three women work to save up the money to repay their old boss, Amara using her head for business and numbers to make clandestine deals. Our protagonist realizes that to be get ahead in this world, she must be ruthless and harden her heart. Yet, against her best judgment, Amara falls in love and becomes involved in a forbidden affair, putting her newfound status as a freedwoman in jeopardy.
Once more, Harper transports readers back to first century Pompeii, a few years before the eruption of Vesuvius. For the time being though, the visions of fire and ash are still far away, and Pompeiians are still living their busy lives blissfully unaware of the fate that will befall their vibrant, bustling city. In The Wolf Den, we saw what women like Amara had to do to survive—enslaved prostitutes who were at the mercy of their masters and clients, forced to live and work in appalling conditions. The House with the Golden Door, on the other hand, showed us another side of life in Pompeii as Amara was raised to her new station as courtesan to a powerful man. No more dank bathhouses or cramped rooms for our protagonist, as she now runs in social circles which include other rich denizens of Pompeii like politicians and wealthy merchants.
That said, I worried that we would lose the spirit of sisterhood that I loved so much in the first book, especially following the loss of Amara’s best friend and her freedom from the Wolf Den. Happily, some of that loss was reduced by the presence of Victoria and Britannica, both of whom played very important roles in the plot, adding much joy and even more heartbreak. Britannica especially became a new favorite, and I can’t wait to see what more she can bring to the series.
Then there was Amara herself. The House with the Golden Door focuses on a new chapter of her life, in which she must learn to navigate the world in her new role. She thought being with Rufus was what she wanted, but the saying “be careful what you wish for” comes to mind, as she realizes her patron isn’t the man she thought he was. Admittedly, a lot of the problems she faces in this book are of her own making, as it’s clear Amara knows her greatest weakness is her soft heart and yet is unable to make the hard decisions needed to protect herself and get ahead. At times I found myself frustrated with her, but also sympathetic. For all her impulsive choices and many missteps, you couldn’t help but understand why she made them. The author did a powerful and convincing job with Amara’s character development, making her extremely relatable.
I was also mesmerized and captivated by the plot. Amara might not be a slave anymore, but her troubles are far from over. The story never lets us forget the precarious situation she is in, and even without traditional action, I found this book very exciting and dramatic. There’s intrigue, romance, and threat of danger—everything I wanted and more. Understandably, I think most people are drawn to historical fiction about Pompeii because of the famous eruption of Vesuvius, but I’m here to say who needs all that when Elodie Harper gives us something so much better—a story portraying the lives of women like Amara who fight so hard for everything they hold dear in spite of the hardships and challenges they face every day.
In short, I can’t recommend this series enough. Both The Wolf Den and The House with the Golden Door are excellent books, not to be missed if you are a fan of historical fiction, and especially if you enjoy strong female leads and stories of strength and resilience. I can hardly wait for the final book of the trilogy.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of The Wolf Den (Book 1)
Bookshelf Roundup 09/18/22: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on September 18, 2022 17 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.
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!
Quite a few arrivals to feature from Orbit this week. A couple of these were actually delivered last month while I was away, but I only just got to finish going through all my mail. First, the ARCs: One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig and A Dowry of Blood by S. T. Gibson are both soon to be released and look to be perfect fall reading. I can’t wait to start them soon. I was also super excited by the arrival of an ARC of The Stars Undying by Emery Robin, a space opera debut inspired by Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, and that’s all I needed to hear to know I desperately want to read it. And finally I was also excited to receive a finished copy of Ruination by Anthony Reynolds, a League of Legends novel. I don’t actually play LoL, but I would never turn down the chance to read a video game tie-in.
With thanks to Tor Books, I also received a surprise ARC of Ocean’s Echo by Everina Maxwell late last month. I had mixed feelings about Winter’s Orbit, but since this is a standalone set in the same world, I’m feeling good about giving this one a try. And another surprise arrival with thanks to Minotaur Books, Picture in the Sand by Peter Blauner is a historical drama and suspense that spans several generations from 1950s Egypt to modern times in a post-9/11 world. I don’t know much more at this time, but I’m major side eyeing these big name blurbs plastered all over this ARC from Stephen King to James Patterson.
In the audiobook haul, with thanks to Penguin Audio, I was thrilled to receive an early listening copy of Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison – I am loving her books so much! And from the amazing folks at Macmillan Audio, I also received ALCs of The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler and The Witch in the Well by Camilla Bruce, plus earlier this month also saw the release of Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade by Nancy Springer and I am over the moon about there being another Enola Holmes book!
With thanks also to HarperAudio for a listening copy of Sand by Hugh Howey, which I hope to get to before the release of its follow-up Across the Sand next month. And finally, thank you to Brilliance Audio for The Final Equinox by Andrew Mayne, the second novel in the Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood series in which our protagonists star in a thrilling tale of possible first contact. The synopsis sounds totally bonkers and I’m all for some over-the-top madness from Andrew Mayne!
Reviews
Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson (3.5 of 5 stars)
Soul Taken by Patricia Briggs (3.5 of 5 stars)
The Couple at Number 9 by Claire Douglas (3 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!
YA Weekend: Bastille vs. The Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson
Posted on September 17, 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.
Bastille vs. The Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade
Series: Book 6 of Alcatraz
Publisher: Starscape (September 20, 2022)
Length: 272 pages
Author Information: Brandon Sanderson | Janci Patterson
It feels as though I have been waiting for Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians for a long time, and now that the Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians series has finally come to a close, I have lots and lots of feels! Most are positive, I’m happy to report, but there were also some disappointments. It probably comes as no surprise that there were plenty of changes with this book, from the switch to another POV character to the first time this series was co-authored. There were also some elements I loved, but other places where my feelings were more mixed.
But before I begin my review in earnest, please be aware that from here on out there may be references to the previous books in the series, so I do want to give a possible spoilers warning. The story picks up immediately after the events of The Dark Talent, following some devastating developments which include significant setbacks for our characters. Things are looking pretty grim—so terrible, in fact, that they have caused our titular protagonist to cave into his grief and give up completely.
Not to worry though, because his friend Bastille is here to save the day! A Knight of Crystallia pledged to protect the Smedry line, she’s not about to take the loss lying down, and taking over narrating duties is just the first step. Alcatraz might have lost everything including his will to fight, but Bastille is not about to fail in her task and lose him to the darkness. While the world is falling apart around them, Bastille is determined to save Alcatraz and all of the Free Kingdoms from total destruction, and she has a big sword and a literal literary license to do it (she has a card and everything)!
First, if you’ve read up to this point in the series, please do yourself a favor and pick this one up to find out how it all ends. It took six long years for this concluding volume to finally be out in the world, but trust me, it’s well worth the wait. And let’s be honest, how could anyone read the ending of the last book and not want to continue? Not going to lie, the way things turned out in The Dark Talent made me so depressed, but the only thing that gave me a glimmer of hope was the cryptic note slipped into the back of the book promising there will be more. And thank goodness for that! With Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians came the closure I was desperately seeking, along with some happy surprises made me feel a lot less salty over the ending of the last book.
If you enjoyed the style of storytelling and the unique brand of humor found in the previous books, then you’re going to enjoy this one too. Kudos also to illustrator Hayley Lazo for all the adorable and fun drawings, which really add a lot to the whole reading experience! As for the writing though, speaking as a longtime fan of Brandon Sanderson, I could tell this wasn’t mostly written by him and that the bulk it was probably Janci Patterson, but that’s okay—this series was Sanderson’s creation, and this book still had everything that made its characters and world so fun and unique. Plus, Bastille is now at the helm, and it only makes sense that she sounds different from Alcatraz.
Like I said though, the humor is still there, and Bastille is even snarkier than Alcatraz, I love it! Similar to the previous books, every chapter begins with a witty tangential throwaway segment filled with jokes and puns, so that even though we were in Bastille’s head this time, I still felt right at home. The story also moved along at a breakneck pace, guaranteed to keep even the most distracted middle grader interested with rapt attention. The plot also featured plenty of magical action and the kind of insanity I’ve come to expect from the series, and they must have pulled out all the stops for the finale because believe it or not, things got even crazier in this one (I mean, just look at the cover, which was an actual scene from the story).
But for all that I liked about this book, I felt something was missing. For a long-awaited concluding volume, it simply didn’t feel grand enough, with so much of the plot given to Bastille talking about how annoyed she was at Alcatraz, followed by a shift to them bickering a lot. So much of it was relationship drama, punctuated occasionally by some wild and wacky over-the-top action. Sure, it’s entirely possible that I might have hyped things up for myself in this case, given the long wait time between this book and the last, but compared to some of the previous volumes, I still felt that this had a lot less substance.
That being said, all the crucial elements were there, such as answers to important questions as well as a happy ending. I am such a fan of this series and the characters, that finally getting closure was a relief! I also feel that Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians would be an amazing read for kids 8-14 which is the suggested age range, but adults who are young at heart and don’t mind something a little silly and quirky once in a while would probably have a blast with it as well. This has been an incredible journey, that even with its minor flaws, I felt Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians was the conclusion the readers deserved, and I closed the cover on the final page of my favorite MG series of all time feeling content and satisfied.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Alcatraz vs. The Evil Librarians (Book 1)
Review of The Scrivener’s Bones (Book 2)
Review of The Knights of Crystallia (Book 3)
Review of The Shattered Lens (Book 4)
Review of The Dark Talent (Book 5)
Thursday Thriller Audio: The Couple at Number 9 by Claire Douglas
Posted on September 15, 2022 16 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Couple at Number 9 by Claire Douglas
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: HarperAudio (August 2, 2022)
Length: 12 hrs and 43 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Kenton Thomas
Imagine moving into a new house with the hope of turning it into your dream home, only to uncover the remains of two bodies on the property while the contractors were digging in your backyard. This has become the reality for Saffron Cuttler in The Couple at Number 9, our pregnant young protagonist who has just inherited the quaint cottage from her beloved grandma Rose, currently suffering from Alzheimer’s and living out her last days a nursing home.
Now Saffron and her boyfriend Tom are left reeling with the discovery as forensics determine that the bodies were buried at least thirty years ago, and detectives turn their investigation to Rose, the previous owner. At the time, there had also been a tenant renting at the cottage, a mysterious woman known only as Daphne. Currently there are no leads found on her, and the only witness who could tell the police anything about the victims is Saffron’s grandmother who can’t help because of her severe dementia. However, those closest to the old woman, namely Saffron and her mother Lorna, suspect that Rose actually does remember something, and the challenge now is getting her to reveal her secrets.
There is an intriguing mystery here, involving three generations of women who each hold in their possession a fragment of a bigger puzzle. It all begins with Saffron, whose life has been upended by the nightmare of the discovery as all of the nation’s media outlets descend upon her once quiet small town to cover the story. She and Tom have no choice but to try and keep their cool as the investigation continues, exhausting lead after lead. A new energy is soon injected into the novel in the form of Lorna, Saffron’s eccentric and larger-than-life mother who flies in from Spain to be her pregnant daughter’s emotional cheerleader. The two of them can’t be any more different, and yet there is also a clear bond there despite some difficult history and past hang-ups.
Then there’s Rose, the key to this whole enigma. The book employs multiple POVs and dual timelines in telling its story, alternating between modern times and the 1980s. We get to hear from all three women, though Rose’s chapters are probably the most interesting and—perhaps not surprisingly—the most revealing when it comes to clues that help unlock the mystery behind the buried bodies. In the present, Rose may be the shell of her old self, but in the past, she was a force to be reckoned with—a woman ahead of her time, strong-filled and independent.
Ironically, the least likeable character for me was probably Saffron, though it’s entirely possible that is because she was completely overshadowed by both Rose and Lorna, a formidable woman in her own right who took charge most of the time from her more helpless, passive daughter.
I also wasn’t completely sold by the plot, which felt rather standard for mystery novel, and I was not overly taken by any of the twists either, which I felt were too unrealistic. What I did like though, and what I thought was the book’s greatest strength, was how the story focused on the theme of family and was essentially a story of mothers and daughters sleuthing together and supporting each other. It was an entertaining read, more suspenseful than thrilling. A recommended pick if you like mysteries that explore relatable family issues and real-life struggles.
Audiobook Comments: This was a new narrator for me, and while usually I prefer multi-POV books to be read by multiple narrators, I think Kenton Thomas did a great job with all three main characters reading with a pleasant accent and a presence that held my full attention for the entire novel.
Waiting on Wednesday 09/14/2022
Posted on September 14, 2022 5 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
To Shape A Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose (May 9, 2023 by Del Rey)
“A young Indigenous woman enters a colonizer-run dragon academy—and quickly finds herself at odds with the “approved” way of doing things—in the first book of this brilliant new fantasy series.
The remote island of Masquapaug has not seen a dragon in many generations—until fifteen-year-old Anequs finds a dragon’s egg and bonds with its hatchling. Her people are delighted, for all remember the tales of the days when dragons lived among them and danced away the storms of autumn, enabling the people to thrive. To them, Anequs is revered as Nampeshiweisit—a person in a unique relationship with a dragon.
Unfortunately for Anequs, the Anglish conquerors of her land have different opinions. They have a very specific idea of how a dragon should be raised, and who should be doing the raising—and Anequs does not meet any of their requirements. Only with great reluctance do they allow Anequs to enroll in a proper Anglish dragon school on the mainland. If she cannot succeed there, her dragon will be killed.
For a girl with no formal schooling, a non-Anglish upbringing, and a very different understanding of the history of her land, challenges abound—both socially and academically. But Anequs is smart, determined, and resolved to learn what she needs to help her dragon, even if it means teaching herself. The one thing she refuses to do, however, is become the meek Anglish miss that everyone expects.
Anequs and her dragon may be coming of age, but they’re also coming to power, and that brings an important realization: the world needs changing—and they might just be the ones to do it.”
Audiobook Review: Soul Taken by Patricia Briggs
Posted on September 12, 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.
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Book 13 of Mercy Thompson
Publisher: Penguin Audio (August 23, 2022)
Length: 10 hrs and 33 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Lorelei King
In this thirteenth installment of the Mercy Thompson series, the vampire Wulfe has gone missing, sending the Columbia Basin Pack in the Tri-Cities into a tizzy. After all, having a vicious and possibly insane killer unaccounted for and on the loose can’t be a good thing. On top of that, he also has a dangerous fixation on Mercy, giving her and Adam good reason to try to track the vampire down before he can do any more damage, especially since the pack is currently under suspicion for causing his disappearance.
But during the investigation, our protagonist discovers that Wulfe isn’t the only one who has gone messing. Her good friend Stefan is also gone, and not long afterwards, their community is rocked by a string of disturbing deaths. Does Wulfe have anything to do with this, if he is still alive? Or are there other shadowy forces in play that are responsible?
There’s something to be said about settling in with the latest book of a long-running favorite series. The characters are like good friends by now—you know their habits and the relationship dynamics, to the point where you’re just as excited to catch up and hang out with them as you are at getting a new story. The ritual becomes so familiar that you might even be willing to let a few issues slide.
This is where I am with Soul Taken right now. There’s no way a new reader can jump on board with any of these later books because there are built upon years of history—and in this case, there are a dozen volumes that came before. This one started slow, weighed down by a lengthy intro precisely because there was so much backstory to cover. Pack dynamics have always been a huge part of this series, and not surprisingly we must spend an inordinate amount of time going through the ins-and-outs of them in every book. While it’s fascinating to watch the way these characters are constantly evolving, sometimes getting through can get a little tedious.
Once the mystery is established and gets going though, things move along at a good clip. I also loved how Mercy had plenty of opportunities to use her coyote form and magic. The intricate plot explores the lore and politics of all the paranormal communities including the fae, werewolves, and vampires, a balance that was well handled, building upon events from the previous books which has always been my favorite things about this series. Between the Mercy Thompson series and also the Alpha & Omega series, Patricia Briggs has created a living, breathing world that feels real and alive, and the events of Soul Taken has simply added another layer to this fascinating narrative, with hefty repercussions that will undoubtedly last for a long time.
Am I getting tired of the lengthy rehashing or the repetitive, rambling internal monologuing done by Mercy every time we start a new book? Okay, maybe a little. I do love these characters and getting to know them, but at the same time, let’s get real—at book 13, everyone still reading the series will have also read all the previous books and know what’s up. We can probably skip the formalities and head straight into the action.
Still, despite the slow takeoff, I did really enjoy Soul Taken. Ideally, I would love to see a better balance between character development and series arc progression, with more attention given to advancing the plot in each book. The last time the series achieve this was probably in Silence Fallen, and now we just need that same energy to come back because there are clearly still plenty of good stories in this world to tell, and I plan to be here for all of them.
Audiobook Comments: The earlier books in the Mercy Thompson series were some of the first audiobooks I ever listened to, and I owe much of my love for the format now to the narrator Lorelei King whose talented performances made it so easy to get into. After so many books she is still the voice of this series, and she is still brilliant.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Reread of River Marked (Book 6)
Review of Night Broken (Book 8)
Review of Fire Touched (Book 9)
Review of Silence Fallen (Book 10)
Review of Storm Cursed (Book 11)
Review of Smoke Bitten (Book 12)
Review of Shifting Shadows (Anthology)
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