science fiction – Author Gail Marie

Book Review – Androne by Dwain Worrell

I enjoyed this post-apocalyptic, military fiction, science fiction fantasy, story from debut novelist, Dwain Worrell. He created a compelling mix of suspense and intriguing characters. The concept was well executed and even though the plot was repetitive in some instances, this novel kept me reading until the end. It took me a while to warm up to the MC, but the ending solidified his character. Even with the ending feeling a bit disjointed, I felt like we didn’t need both the prologue and the epilogue. I’m bummed I have to wait until April 2024 for book two. (4/5 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 – Wings of the Walker (The Walker 1) by Coralee June

This was my first by Coralee June. Ashleigh is our female MC and raised as a Walker slave in the governor’s household. Ashleigh falls impossibly in love with her holder, Josiah Stonewell. He is also the son of the powerful man in the house and their love for each other could never be realized. After Ashleigh finds out that Josiah is to be wed, she finds her heartbroken self traded to a foreign land with Cyler Black and his other realm leaders. Ashleigh finds freedom in an unexpected place. June created a convincing dystopia atmosphere with all the intrigue and betrayal between provinces and one evil emperor. Ashleigh was my favorite character and I enjoyed getting to watch her find herself after she lost her slave cuff. Her surrounding characters were beautifully flawed but encouraging as they began to care for each other. This book sets up the rest of the series well and that cliffhanger will force me to keep reading this series. (3/5 rating)

Book Review – The Dawnhounds (Haven Realm Chronicles 1) by Sascha Stronach

This was my first book by Sascha Stronach, and I received this copy for free for an honest review. This story follows Yat Jyn-Hok as she performs her duties of a local policeman. She has been demoted to the night shift for the knowledge that she is gay. After she is murdered by members of her own police force, her body is resurrected, and she must wade through the tangents of old ancient magic and new betrayals. This was a cerebral read with high tech magic machines, intricate magic system, and a twisted plot of corruption that not everyone will enjoy. It was fun to learn the world’s layered history and politics through Yat’s eyes. I liked her supporting characters and the pirate angle of the story. If you decide to give this a try, just be warned that it will require more mental effort than usual on your part. (3/5 rating)

Book Review – The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling

This was my first book by Caitlin Starling and September was the perfect time to remove it from my TBR. Our female MC, Gyre Price, is an amateur climber who lies about her abilities to obtain a climbing contract that could help her escape her planet. When she arrives, it’s to determine that all the help she assumed she’d have is boiled down to one person, Em. Em keeps an eye on her from the surface, but little things about her story don’t add up as they descend. I have climbing experience and Starling did excellent research into all the needed pieces to accurately describe the caving experience. She also enveloped us in a complex world of cave details like flooding and poisonous vegetation. I liked the interplay between Em and Gyre as they accomplish Em’s goal. The ending was a surprise, but I felt like the story could have been a bit shorter with the same result, though that is just my opinion. (3/5 rating)

Book Review – Rosette (The Infinit Universe 1) Daniel M. Ross

This was my first book by Daniel M. Ross, and I received this copy for free for an honest review. This story was a science fiction and time travel book that began within the city of Babylon in the year 2171. Xavier is our main character set within the city to recover his wife while protecting his daughter from the enemies that have taken root. This was presented in a script reading format that I didn’t particularly enjoy. The main plot line felt very repetitive after nearly 350 pages. This format made it difficult for me to connect with the characters of this world. I’m sorry but this novel just wasn’t for me. (2/5 rating)

Book Review – Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King and Owen King

This book was a collaboration between father and son. It follows the story of our world after the women population is put to sleep within fibrous shells after they fall asleep. Once enshrouded, they cannot be removed, or they become rabid shadows of themselves and attack any men present. The remaining men begin to turn on each other as they fight for resources. A woman by the name of Evie is the only woman that has not succumbed to this plague.

This book had an excellent plot that was well executed throughout its 700 pages. I also thought it was a well-crafted story around the aspects of the female identity within society. I know this wasn’t a typical King story for many of the longtime fans out there, so they likely won’t enjoy the story or the point it is trying to make. They only issue I encountered was how slowly the story developed. (3.5/5 rating)