Book Review: Deep Dive by Ron Walters
Posted on January 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.
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Angry Robot (January 11, 2022)
Length: 400 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Deep Dive by Ron Walters is truly the perfect book for the video game lover, but fans of thrillers and stories with deep family themes should also thoroughly enjoy this one.
Our story follows Peter Banuk, a developer for a small gaming company called Omega Studios that is struggling to stay afloat after their last game ended up being a commercial failure. Now Peter is working on a new project, a VR game that he desperately needs to succeed. As a result, work has been dominating his life, to the point where he has been neglecting family obligations, much to the disappointment of his wife Alana and young daughters Evie and Cassie.
The novel opens on Evie’s birthday which should have been Peter’s day off, but when he is suddenly called into the office by his business partner and best friend Bradley with a invitation to check out a ground-breaking new VR technology that could help his game, what choice did he have? After a promise to his daughter that he will be back in time to celebrate her big day, Peter goes to meet with Bradley and discovers that that new tech to be tested involves a highly advanced, top-secret virtual reality headset that his friend had developed. Code named Deep Dive, the headset is the first of its kind, offering full VR immersion. Unable to resist testing out the technology for himself, Peter plugs in…
…And wakes up in his truck in the middle of the night with no recollection of the entire day. All he knows is that he has missed Evie’s birthday and that there will be hell to pay with Alana. But when he arrives home, he is greeted by an unfamiliar place. His daughters are not in their beds. In fact, Evie and Cassie’s rooms don’t exist at all. There’s no evidence in his house that any kids have ever lived there. When he wakes Alana in a panic, she merely confirms his nightmare, looking at him like he’s crazy, telling him that they don’t have children. On the other hand though, his career has taken off, after the runaway success of his last game, the one Peter remembers being a flop. Overwhelmed with grief, terror, and confusion, Peter knows this world can’t be his, and that he needs to find a way out fast—for the longer he stays, the harder it will be to tell what is real or not.
Many similarities have been drawn between Deep Dive and Blake Crouch’s Dark Matter, and for good reason. The two books explore a few common themes, and both stories unfold at a breakneck pace. Ron Walters brings a unique hook, however, with his knowledge of video games and his clear enthusiasm for the subject. Granted, you don’t have to be an avid gamer to enjoy Deep Dive, but those who can catch all the references and Easter Eggs from everything like The Last of Us to God of War and what I imagine are some of the author’s favorite games will definitely gain a deeper appreciation for the story.
But what elevated Deep Dive to another level for me was the human element. To put it another way, I came for the gaming angle, but stayed for Peter’s journey to find his way back to his family. I knew as soon as I read the synopsis that I would love the deeper conflict at the heart of this book, because I cannot even imagine waking up one day to essentially find out that everything you thought you knew was but a dream, and to be told that the children you have watched be born, held in your arms, and watched grow up have never actually existed at all. Honestly, I feel gutted just thinking about it, and it is this premise that the novel holds at its core, never losing sight of the fact that seeing his little girls’ faces again is what keeps Peter going. The author does a phenomenal job of conveying his protagonist’s guilt, desperation and love, which made it all the easier to relate to him and root for him.
For all the sullen themes present in Deep Dive though, the story remained positively thrilling. Walters always manages to balance Peter’s complex emotions with his drive to constantly move forward and find answers, which adds up to an action-packed adventure full of mystery and entertainment. If anything, at times I felt the plot was actually moving too fast. That said, even though Deep Dive was not perfect because we do run into a few pacing issues, on the whole I felt it was an excellent debut and a solid four-star book. I’ll be eagerly awaiting his next novel.
YA Weekend Audio: Evershore by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson
Posted on January 30, 2022 8 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Evershore by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Series: Book 3 of Skyward Flight Novellas
Publisher: Listen Library (December 28, 2021)
Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins
Author Information: Brandon Sanderson | Janci Patterson
Narrator: Suzy Jackson
Everything I had felt was lacking in Cytonic, like the heart-pounding scenes of ship-to-ship combat or the easy conversations and camaraderie between the pilot characters, etc. managed to all find their way into Evershore, apparently. While in the main series, Spensa is working to free herself from the extradimensional limbo known as the Nowhere, her friends back at Detritus have been having a hell of a time with their own problems in this third and final volume of the Skyward novella spinoff trilogy.
This time, we follow Jorgen as he attempts to pick up the pieces following the disaster and chaos resulting from Superiority treachery. With no time to grieve everyone that he has lost, he is thrust reluctantly into a position to lead his team on another mission to intercept a strange signal from the planet Evershore, where they also hope to rescue two of their own.
Upon their arrival, the squad make contact with the world’s diminutive inhabitants, a race of small foxlike creatures called the Kitsen. Outside of the collective, the Kitsen nonetheless understand the threat of the Superiority and what it would mean for them if the enemy continues its relentless conquest across the galaxy. Still, would that be enough for the Kitsen to agree to an alliance? Within their ranks, there are factions that want to work with Jorgen and his team, while others are not so convinced of the humans’ trustworthiness.
For Jorgen fans, Evershore will be a treat. After the events of the previous novella ReDawn, that we would be getting an in depth look into the life of the DDF pilot known as “Jerkface” seemed like a foregone conclusion. His POV and development is needed now more than ever, as the series reaches its climax and end, requiring a strong lead character to bring it all together. Jorgen has always been a powerful presence in the main series, even if he isn’t the most interesting, but I have to say he impressed the hell out of me in Evershore. It took a long journey to get here, one full of struggle and strife, but I think the character has finally come into his own, and I am grateful that these novellas got to let us see that.
We also had a very action-oriented story. I don’t typically expect much out of novellas that take place outside of a main series, as in my experience a lot of them end up being throwaway side stories that are entirely optional—and unfortunately, most of the time that is also reflected in the effort put in. These novellas, however, are a rare exception. After finishing ReDawn, I decided to change my verdict about these books from a “maybe” to a “must-read” if you’re invested in the Skyward series. You’ll still be fine reading the main novels without them, but there is so much taking place in these novellas, it would be a shame not to learn more about what’s happening in the background or what Spensa’s friends might be up to while she’s off gallivanting in the Nowhere—especially since we’re seeing so much action here. These books also go into a lot more detail about Cytonics and their powers, which is another reason to pick them up if you want the full picture.
I also think Janci Patterson found a good rhythm with Evershore. It’s still apparent to me that she was responsible for much of the writing for these books, with Brandon Sanderson taking on more of a background role, but she’s done a superb job nailing the most important elements, such as the vividness of the world-building and the imaginative prose required to bring some of these new worlds and aliens to life. The character of Jorgen was also well handled, the internal conflict within him explored without getting too contrived or angsty. Patterson seemed to take well to writing about him, and we got the usual fantastic banter between him and his fellow squad mates as they rallied around him to help achieve their goals.
All in all, I have to say this was a great trilogy of novellas, and Evershore was probably the best of the three books, both in the way the story arc culminated and also in the depth of the emotions and conflicts where were at the heart of it.
Audiobook Comments: I do love Suzy Jackson’s narration and she’s excellent as Spensa in the main series, though I probably would have used another narrator here, as each of these novellas follow a different character and someone else for Jorgen might have felt more immersive. On the other hand, I can also understand why they would have wanted to keep the reader consistent, and a voice talent like Suzy Jackson is an asset to all the Skyward books.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Sunreach
Review of ReDawn
Bookshelf Roundup: 01/29/22: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on January 29, 2022 11 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.
Thanks to everyone who asked after me following last week’s update. Things are still a bit uncertain as I’ve been dealing with some health issues, but I’ve definitely been getting the care I need and things are being sorted out. It’s still a stressful time, but I’ve been finding comfort in my books and writing lately so the reviews should still keep flowing, albeit at a slower rate.
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!
First, my thanks to Tor Books for a review copy of Rise of the Mages by Scott Drakeford, which sort of snuck up on me out of nowhere but it sounds really good. It’s got that modern fantasy feel with a cool magic system and yet a bit of that old school quest vibe at the same time. I’m really looking forward to read it.
And a huge thanks to the amazing folks at Del Rey for sending me an ARC of In A Garden Burning Gold by Rory Power. The author has already made a name for herself with her YA horror which I’ve enjoyed, which makes me even more excited to check out her first adult fantasy novel inspired by her own Greek roots.
Also courtesy of Subterranean Press, I received an ARC of The Jade Setter of Janloon by Fonda Lee, a standalone novella set in her world of The Green Bone Saga.
Just one audiobook in the digital haul this week. With thanks to Listening Library for an ALC of League of Liars by Astrid Scholte.
Reviews
Battle of the Linguist Mages by Scotto Moore (2 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!
Book Review: Battle of the Linguist Mages by Scotto Moore
Posted on January 27, 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.
Battle of the Linguist Mages by Scotto Moore
Mogsy’s Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Tor.com (January 11, 2022)
Length: 448 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Strange and weird does not even begin to describe this one. I really enjoyed Scotto Moore’s last offering, the novella Your Favorite Band Cannot Save You, and thus looked forward to Battle of the Linguist Mages with great excitement. But it appears shorter form may be the author’s forte.
Describing the premise is also going to tough, because I felt the story was only mostly coherent for the first half. The book follows Isobel, who is the self-proclaimed Queen of Sparkle Dungeon, a virtual reality game. She’s great at player her character, a magic user that uses her voice to cast spells, making her the ideal candidate for Sparkle Dungeon’s development team to test a new game.
But during her time testing, Isobel discovers that the agency is actually researching real magic—using “power morphemes” or complex syllables spoken in a certain way that will compel others who hear them to do whatever the caster wants. All this is made possible by extra-terrestrial punctuation marks, and yes, here’s where the story kind of fell apart for me.
With her new powers, though, Isobel rebels against her handlers as she learns more about their dastardly plans. Joined by her predecessor Maddy, they take their fight to the Governor of California herself, a linguist mage planning to use her abilities to turn the country into her own personal empire.
Where do I even begin with this? I suppose the first half of the book was pretty solid. As you could imagine, I was quite intrigued with the gaming angle, and Isobel, being an avid gamer, seemed like my kind of people. A little obsessed with Sparkle Dungeon, to be sure, but I admired her enthusiasm, her confidence, and strong voice.
The ideas in this novel were also interesting and unique. I don’t think anyone could disagree there. A magic system based on vocalization is something I can’t say I’ve come across before, and I enjoyed the way Moore conceptualized it. And then there are the more eccentric elements of the story, and while Battle of the Linguist Mages started to lose me here, there’s no denying it’s all pretty wild.
But unfortunately, that’s really all I can say was positive about my experience with the book. I do think as the ideas got more and more out there, the author started to lose his handle on the plot and the main character’s direction. As the story descended into more madness and surreal territory, my connection to it also started unraveling, and it became difficult to really feel for Isobel or any of the people around her. Gradually they became caricatures, as silly and nonsensical as everything else happening around them.
It’s a humorous novel at its heart, I suppose, but quite honestly, I felt its cleverness and wit had run its course somewhere in the first one hundred pages. I had just enough patience to finish the book, but I’d be lying if I said it was a pleasure or that I wasn’t struggling close to the end.
Overall, if you like your speculative fiction full of crazy and wild ideas, you might have fun with Battle of the Linguist Mages, but personally I would recommend picking up Scotto Moore’s Your Favorite Band Cannot Save You where you can still get your mind blown while having a much more enjoyable and entertaining time. I just think this one went on far longer than it needed to, and the more it went on, the more things fell apart, and ultimately, the story became something that really wasn’t my cup of tea at all.
Waiting on Wednesday 01/26/22
Posted on January 26, 2022 15 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 Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (July 19, 2022 by Del Rey)
Looking forward to the next book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia! I’ll read anything by her.
“From the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic and Velvet Was the Night comes a dreamy reimagining of The Island of Doctor Moreau set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century Mexico.
Carlota Moreau: a young woman, growing up in a distant and luxuriant estate, safe from the conflict and strife of the Yucatán peninsula. The only daughter of either a genius, or a madman.
Montgomery Laughton: a melancholic overseer with a tragic past and a propensity for alcohol. An outcast who assists Dr. Moreau with his scientific experiments, which are financed by the Lizaldes, owners of magnificent haciendas and plentiful coffers.
The hybrids: the fruits of the Doctor’s labor, destined to blindly obey their creator and remain in the shadows. A motley group of part human, part animal monstrosities.
All of them living in a perfectly balanced and static world, which is jolted by the abrupt arrival of Eduardo Lizalde, the charming and careless son of Doctor Moreau’s patron, who will unwittingly begin a dangerous chain reaction.
For Moreau keeps secrets, Carlota has questions, and in the sweltering heat of the jungle, passions may ignite.”
Bookshelf Roundup: 01/22/22: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on January 22, 2022 26 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.
Small update this week. I haven’t been reading a lot but also falling way behind on a ton of reviews because of general lack of time and just some stuff going on in real life right now, so apologies if I’m not as responsive when it comes to replying to comments or visiting blogs. There might also be fewer posts on the blog until life smooths out again when hopefully I’ll be able to get back on a more regular schedule.
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!
Towards the end of the year last year, Angry Robot was so kind as to thank their reviewers with any book of their choosing from their vast catalogue, and I just knew I had to pick up The Phlebotomist by Chris Panatier. I’ve definitely regretted not being able to read this one, especially after all the glowing reviews, so the choice was super easy!
With thanks also to DAW Books for a review copy of The Amber Crown by Jacey Bedford. I love that it’s a standalone epic fantasy, and I’ve always wanted to read more by Jacey Bedford!
And courtesy of Random House Audio and their YA imprint Listening Library, I also received listening copies of The Violence by Delilah S. Dawson and Castles in Their Bones, respectively.
With thanks also to Macmillan Audio for ALCs of Mickey7 by Edward Ashton, Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead by Elle Cosimano, Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long, and Waking Romeo by Kathryn Barker that all came in this week! Can’t wait to listen to them all.
Reviews
The Maid by Nita Prose (4.5 of 5 stars)
Far From the Light of Heaven by Tade Thompson (2 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!
Audiobook Review: The Maid by Nita Prose
Posted on January 20, 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): 4.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Mystery
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Random House Audio (January 4, 2022)
Length: 9 hrs and 37 mins
Author Information: Website
The Maid is a very different kind of mystery from the kind I usually read, which are more inclined towards suspense or thriller. This one though, has more of a cozy feel. Starring an amateur but unconventional lady sleuth, this is a story about how she stumbles upon a whole different world beneath the glitzy surface of the 5-star hotel at which she works after finding a guest dead in his bed.
Growing up, Molly Gray always knew she was different. The kids at school never let her forget it, tormenting her because of the way she acts and speaks. She has trouble communicating with others, struggling to read social cues and always seeming to say these wrong things. No one really understand her, save her beloved grandmother who raised her and taught her to navigate the world by simplifying her life and ordering it into manageable parts.
And for Molly, few things are more appealing to her than order, which is why she is so good at her job as a maid. She might not be able to read a room, but she certainly knows how to clean one from top to bottom, leaving it in a state of perfection for the wealthy guests of the Regency Grand who all appreciate her thoroughness and attention to detail. It’s something Molly takes great pride in and she loves everything about the work, from the crisp uniform she gets to wear every day to the endless reams of rules and regulations she and the other hotel employees must follow. And unfortunately, ever since her grandmother died, the work is also all Molly has left.
One day though, Molly’s highly organized life is turned upside down as she enters the suite of one of the hotel’s most distinguished regulars, the infamous and powerful mogul Charles Black, and finds his lifeless body cold and unresponsive. Unable to process the situation like the average person, Molly suddenly finds herself in the vulnerable position to be framed as the main suspect unless she can somehow uncover the clues that would reveal what really happened to Mr. Black.
If you’re feeling down or feeling stressed, The Maid is such a great book to settle back with. At the end of the day, this is a feel-good story, even though you may experience many moments of indignation on Molly’s behalf as she faces cruel teasing and manipulation from some of her co-workers. Our protagonist possesses a heart of gold along with a naivete and almost childlike demeanor that together makes her much too trusting, often leading to scenes where the reader would be forced to watch helplessly as Molly is being exploited or led down the wrong path.
Still, it’s a testament to the author’s talent that Molly comes across so genuine and convincing. Her behaviors, mannerisms, figures of speech etc. make her different, but never once does her narration feel contrived. The setting of a luxury hotel is also the perfect fit for this tale, adding to its charm. You have everything from the lazy head maid who steals tips, the kindly old doorman with a soft spot for Molly, the handsome young bartender who mixes drinks and breaks hearts. True, the cast list is pretty clichéd, but to me that plays well into the Clue-inspired story and setting.
Like I said though, when all is said and done, this is a feel-good story. That’s not to say there isn’t much suspense or plenty of good twists, because we have plenty of that here too. Still, it’s very unlike the mysteries I typically go for, but you can also be sure I don’t regret picking it up. It’s only January, but I have a feeling this year will end with The Maid being one of my most memorable books.
Waiting on Wednesday 01/19/22
Posted on January 19, 2022 6 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
Black Mouth by Ronald Malfi (July 19, 2022 by Titan Books)
I read Ronald Malfi for the first time last year with Come With Me, which might actually be my favorite book of 2021! I recently found out about Black Mouth, and I know I need to check it out.
“Perfect for fans of Stephen King’s IT, a group of friends return to their hometown to confront a nightmare they first stumbled on as teenagers in this mesmerizing odyssey of terror.
For nearly two decades, Jamie Warren has been running from darkness. He’s haunted by a traumatic childhood and the guilt at having disappeared from his disabled brother’s life. But then a series of unusual events reunites him with his estranged brother and their childhood friends, and none of them can deny the sense of fate that has seemingly drawn them back together.
Nor can they deny the memories of that summer, so long ago – the strange magic taught to them by an even stranger man, and the terrible act that has followed them all into adulthood. In the light of new danger, they must confront their past by facing their futures, and hunting down a man who may very well be a monster.”
Book Review: Far from the Light of Heaven by Tade Thompson
Posted on January 17, 2022 11 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Far from the Light of Heaven by Tade Thompson
Mogsy’s Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Orbit (October 26, 2021)
Length: 384 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
I’ve read Tade Thompson before, more specifically his Rosewater series which I found to be quite good, and I maintain if you’re looking for one-of-a-kind sci-fi, his stuff is not to be missed.
That being said though, I did not enjoy Far from the Light of Heaven as much, despite appreciating its ideas. When I first learned of its premise of a locked room mystery set in space, a blend of my favorite genres, it sounded perfect for me. The story begins on the Ragtime, a starship carrying a thousand passengers in suspended animation to colony Bloodroot. Everything is being taken care of by the ship’s A.I., known to be the most reliable system there is, leaving not much for human first mate Michelle “Shell” Campion to do, though she could hardly complain. After all, the job is simple, and she’s also living her dream of traveling through space.
But once Ragtime arrives in the orbit of Bloodroot, Shell wakes up to a shock. The ship’s A.I. has been knocked out, and not all the sleeping passengers on board have made it through alive. On planet, Rasheed Fin is the investigator who receives Shell’s distress call concerning “multiple fatalities” and arrives on the Ragtime to try and figure out what went wrong.
One wouldn’t think such a straightforward plot could turn into something convoluted and meandering, but unfortunately that’s how things eventually played out. I don’t want to belabor the point, since I have much respect for Thompson’s writing, but I feel he might have been overambitious this time around. His first mistake was not keeping things simple, which would have made for tighter, far more entertaining storytelling. What I wanted was a locked room mystery, but what I got was that and a whole lot more—and not exactly in the good way.
Without spoiling the mystery, I’ll also say there was a lot in here that went absolutely nowhere. I was left with the feeling that Far from the Light of Heaven might have worked better as a novella, pared down to its main points without all the extras. By the end, it was difficult to even stay focused because we’d drifted so far off the point, and when the ending came around and not everything was resolved, that was the final straw.
Suffice it to say, I can’t really recommend this novel, though I definitely won’t let this stop me from picking up future works by Tade Thompson. His imagination is still unparalleled, but my opinion is that this is simply not the best example of what he’s capable of, especially if you enjoy more concise storytelling and closure.
Bookshelf Roundup: 01/15/22: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on January 15, 2022 13 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!
A big thank you to Tordotcom this week for a couple of sweet finished copies. I’ve already given Battle of the Linguist Mages by Scotto Moore a read and it was an odd one! I’m still not sure how I really feel about it, but a review should be up soon once I get my thoughts in order. A review copy of Servant Mage by Kate Elliott also arrived, and this is one I’m hoping to knock out real quick before the month is out. I’m not generally leaping to read novellas, but I’m definitely interested in this one because of the author and because dragons.
With thanks also to the kind folks at Tachyon for a surprise ARC of Crazy in Poughkeepsie by Daniel Pinkwater. Not sure this one would be for me, since its audience is clearly children (description says middle-grade but a flip through makes me think closer to upper elementary). Now that my daughters who are in Grades 1 and 4 are reading more though, I’m grateful for receiving these kinds of books when I’m building their library. And finally my thanks to Subterranean Press for an ARC of The Dark Ride: The Best Short Fiction of John Kessel. I can find no link for this book yet, not even on the Subterranean site, but it’s pretty self-explanatory! All the author’s best short stories from the period of 1981 to 2021 are here, including award winners.
In the digital haul, my thanks to Simon & Schuster for a whole slew of fascinating thrillers. As soon as I read the description to When You Are Mine by Michael Robotham, I knew I had to read it! From the publisher I also received Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner, a debut suspense that has been making waves recently, and then there’s The Appeal by Janice Hallett, a murder mystery involving a theater troupe full of backstabbing and mind games–and it’s an epistolary novel!
And for my sci-fi and fantasy audio fix this week, with thanks to HarperAudio for ALCs of Light Years From Home by Mike Chen and The Broken Tower by Kelly Braffet, the sequel to The Unwilling.
Reviews
A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham (4.5 of 5 stars)
Such A Pretty Smile by Kristi DeMeester (3.5 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!
The BiblioSanctum 