(2/5 rating) – Author Gail Marie

Book Review – The Gilded Wolves (The Gilded Wolves 1) by Roshani Chokshi

I feel like this was another instance of walking into reading a book based on high expectations. This book won an award and I had this recommended to me by many other readers. At least for me, I was disappointed with most of this book. I didn’t love her characters and their dialogue had me questioning where the historical aspects were meant to be since they didn’t seem to match. Her writing style didn’t draw me in or build any suspense throughout the plot. The pace was awkward since it didn’t seem to always line up with the plot. This was an all-right road but I’m glad I checked this out with kindle unlimited before purchasing it. (2/5 rating)
Checked out with kindle unlimited, August 2023.

Book Review – Starless by Jacqueline Carey

This was my first stand alone, young adult book by Jacqueline Carey. Khai, is raised as a warrior within the desert and chosen to be the sworn protector of princess Zariya. Khai and Zariya embark upon a journey that spans countries and oceans to stop an ancient evil, Miasmu. I know my tastes as a reader have changed much since I purchased this book in 2020 and this book is a case of,’ it’s me, not you’. Carey created a vivid world of potential with absorbing characters. I loved the concept of this book, and the gender fluidity of the characters. I was intrigued by the story of gods and prophecies, but the pace felt slow until the end. I struggled to stay engaged in the story. I know I’m too old for this genre, but you might enjoy this novel. (2/5 rating)

Book Review – Bone Music (Burning Girl 1) by Christopher Rice

Checked out with kindle unlimited, June 2023. This was billed as a thriller, but I think that set me up for failure with this story. As my first book by Christopher Rice, I was excited to delve into a world of serial killers but that’s not what we got. The pace was snail slow, but I kept plodding along hoping that the ending would make up for it. It didn’t. I felt for the female MC, Charolette, since she had a traumatic past, but I didn’t really connect with her as a person. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters except for Marty. There was an attempt at a small romantic arc between Charolette and our male MC, Luke, but it felt more like an afterthought than part of the plot. I was also disappointed that Charolette’s super strength came from a drug manufactured by a drug company. Many of these aspects could have been handled a lot better but fell flat. I won’t be reading book 2. (2/5 rating)

GoodReads

Book Review – The Stalking Dead (Gang of Ghouls 1) by Eva Chase

Checked out with kindle unlimited, February 2023. This was my second book by Eva Chase, and the first book in an intriguing ghost series. Lily is a new college student after being held in mental ward for 7 years. She can’t remember what she did in her youth to get landed there. The arrival of ghosts from her past (pun intended) have her questioning her hard won sanity. The premise of this sounded good, but the execution of that idea left a lot to be desired for me. The plot and atmosphere were all right but not what I was expecting for a ghost story. Some of the bullying situations were a bit too extreme to be believable and the MC’s reactions were a frustrating mess. I did enjoy some of our antiheroes and their ability to scheme, even as ghosts. I struggled to rate this book since this was an obvious (it’s me, not you) situation. I’m glad other people could enjoy it; this just wasn’t for me. (2/5 rating)

Book Review – Run & Hide (Myths & Monsters 1) by Beatrix Hollow

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t pick this out for its cover. Ava is the daughter of a famous ghost hunting family but terrified of taking over the family business. She sets out on a cross country photography trip with her childhood friend, Caspian, to escape her family’s grasp. Only to find the family business catch up with them all too soon. I’m grateful I checked this out with Kindle membership first since I had several issues with this story. I liked the first half, but the second half careened into a mess. Ava frustrated me at several turns, including her inconsistencies between Caspian and Mothman interactions. For someone from a paranormal family, I’m not sure I feel like her running from Caspian was a real response, among others: she ran way a lot. Ava ruined a lot of this for me, with dumb decision after dumb decision. I enjoyed the horror aspects of the story, and I did like Caspian as a water shapeshifter character. The Mothman was as inconsistent as Ava, at least with the portion of the plot he was in. I felt like this had potential, but this just wasn’t for me. (2/5 rating)

Book Review – Sunshine and Bullets (The Bullets 1) by Coralee June

Checked out with my kindle unlimited membership in January 2023. I wanted to love this book, but I could not get into any of the characters. I understand that our MC has an abusive past, as does the other romantic interests in her life, but I was a bit disappointed that she let Gavriel walk all over her. To me, it didn’t appear that she had changed as a character much, even though she calls herself strong. I would have believed it if she had told him off or tried to solve her own problems at all. Sorry this one just wasn’t for me. (2/5 rating)

Book Review – Darkfever (Fever 1) by Karen Marie Moning

As my first by Moning, I was excited for this series, since I’ve heard so many good things about the Fever series for years. I struggled to rate this book since I hated both main characters. I felt like the plot was slow and the chapter endings made me want to rip some parts out. I eloped in Scotland and spent two weeks crisscrossing the country. After that, I feel like her world building was the strongest part of the story. The Fae magic system was also well constructed. If I didn’t already have more of this series purchased, it’s possible I would have DNF’d this. I am also wondering if this should have come with a young adult tag. (2/5 rating)

Book Review – The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

As a tale of jilted ghosts and witches set in the unfortunate town of Sparrow, I was excited to read my first by Shea Ernshaw. Penny Talbot has lived in Sparrow her entire life, even though every summer boys are drowned by 3 sisters killed for witchcraft two centuries ago. Bo is an outsider looking for work but unfortunately stumbles into Sparrow the night before the killing is scheduled to start. I thought Ernshaw created a wonderful atmosphere of the sea and the life of living on an island. I liked the first half of this story, but the second half just fell flat for me. I also struggled to connect with Penny or Bo as characters. I enjoyed the secondary characters more. I also struggled with aspects of the plot, particularly regarding Penny. I just didn’t enjoy this one. (2/5 rating)

Book Review – A Touch of Brimstone (Magic of the Damned 1) by McKenzie Hunter

Checked out with Kindle Unlimited in February 2022. This is my first book by McKenzie Hunter. This story follows an unsuspecting human who is used to release the deadliest monsters within underworld’s dungeons. The prince of the underworld forces her to work with him to undo the damage and return the prisoners. They must also track down the real dark caster behind the spell that has thrown the underworld into chaos. There were aspects of this that I liked like the urban fantasy atmosphere Hunter created, the monsters of the underworld, and the way we find out about the magic systems. Unfortunately, there were many aspects of this that just didn’t work for me. Luna was the human of this story and she fell flat for me. Dominic was our prince of hell, but he also missed the mark with his dialogue in many scenes. The plot was slow and the romance even slower. I feel like this needed more work. (2/5 rating)

Book Review – The Risen Shard (The Chain Breaker 1) by D.K. Holmberg

This was my first book by D.K. Holmberg, and I checked this out with my Kindle Unlimited trained membership. Our male MC, Gavin, is a young assassin who travels with a friend to the city of Yoran for a work contract. One fateful job leads them through a wild chase that pits Gavin against his past and a magic he’s hidden from most. Gavin was intriguing but I didn’t connect with his quest or the characters. The ending didn’t provide any answers to questions from the story. This has a solid base and a good premise, but I think it could use some work. (2/5 rating)