Mini Reviews: Fantastic Hope and Where the Lost Wander

Fantastic Hope
Edited by Laurell K. Hamilton and William McCaskey
Release: April 7, 2020
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A collection of sixteen sci-fi and fantasy stories edited by #1 New York Times bestselling author Laurell K. Hamilton and author William McCaskey.

A child’s wish for her father comes true. The end of the world has never been so much fun. Conquering personal demons becomes all too real. It’s not always about winning; sometimes it’s about showing up for the fight. It’s about loving your life’s work, and jobs that make you question everything.

In this anthology, seventeen authors have woven together brand-new stories that speak to the darkness and despair that life brings while reminding us that good deeds, humor, love, sacrifice, dedication, and following our joy can ignite a light that burns so bright the darkness cannot last.

Laurell K. Hamilton and William McCaskey are joined by Kevin J. Anderson, Griffin Barber, Patricia Briggs, Larry Correia, Kacey Ezell, Monalisa Foster, Robert E. Hampson, John G. Hartness, Jonathan Maberry, L. E. Modesitt, Jr., Jessica Schlenker, Sharon Shinn, M. C. Sumner, Patrick M. Tracy, and Michael Z. Williamson in this collection.

Review:
I quite enjoyed this anthology and its variety in the kinds of stories it contained. It was also an opportunity to read work from a lot of authors I've never read before. In fact, Laurell K. Hamilton, Patricia Briggs, and Jonathan Maberry were the only authors in this collection I've read before.

I'll be honest the whole reason I picked it up was because of the Patricia Briggs story, Asil and the Not-Date. It also ended up being my favorite story of the whole collection. I love reading about Asil and his not-dates! And just like the others, this one was so good and had a surprise twist at the end! I enjoy Asil's not-dates almost as much as he does.

My other favorites in this collection were Last Contact by M.C. Sumner, Not in This Lifetime by Sharon Shinn, Mr. Positive, the Eternal Optimist by Larry Correia, Bonds of Love and Duty by Monalisa Foster, and Working Conditions by Patrick M. Tracy. I loved all of these so much! They were all so different from each other!

The only story I didn't like was Fallen by L.E. Modesitt Jr. It was confusing and time jumpy and it didn't hold my attention at all. I was a little bit meh about the Anita Blake story but I'm not a fan of the series. The rest of the stories in the collection were fun and I enjoyed them a lot!

Overall, I'd recommend picking this anthology up based on the variety of the stories alone but there's also quite a bit of quality in this collection.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

   

  4 / 5 Stars

Where the Lost Wander

Amy Harmon

Release: April 28, 2020

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In this epic and haunting love story set on the Oregon Trail, a family and their unlikely protector find their way through peril, uncertainty, and loss.
The Overland Trail, 1853: Naomi May never expected to be widowed at twenty. Eager to leave her grief behind, she sets off with her family for a life out West. On the trail, she forms an instant connection with John Lowry, a half-Pawnee man straddling two worlds and a stranger in both.

But life in a wagon train is fraught with hardship, fear, and death. Even as John and Naomi are drawn to each other, the trials of the journey and their disparate pasts work to keep them apart. John’s heritage gains them safe passage through hostile territory only to come between them as they seek to build a life together.

When a horrific tragedy strikes, decimating Naomi’s family and separating her from John, the promises they made are all they have left. Ripped apart, they can’t turn back, they can’t go on, and they can’t let go. Both will have to make terrible sacrifices to find each other, save each other, and eventually…make peace with who they are.

Review:

I was so excited to get this book for review! I love a good Oregon Trail historical fiction! Even better if it has romance! I hadn't read an Amy Harmon book before but I've heard nothing but excellent things about her work.

For full transparency, I put this book aside around the 54% mark. I don't often write reviews like this but it is very much a "It's not you. It's me." situation when it comes to this book and my reading experience with it was very much not the book's fault. I've loved what I read of this book. My problem is that I tried to read it while under a stay-at-home order for Covid-19 and I couldn't enjoy the reading experience like I would have under different conditions. 

The research that went into this book was phenomenal and I felt like I was there because of the quality and excellence of Harmon's writing. The pacing of this book was just too slow moving for me and the challenges the characters faced were just too traumatic, heavy, and heartbreaking for my mindset during a global pandemic.

I bought myself the ebook of this book and I'm planning on picking it up again when I can handle the sadness and trauma in the story. So far the story rates a solid 3.5 stars but I'm sure that I'll rate it higher once I finish the book.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

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3.5 / 5 Stars

Review: Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco

Hunting Prince Dracula is one of my most anticipated books of 2017 and it's finally here! I loved it and I haven't stopped pushing it on people since it came out on Tuesday. Tomorrow, we're really excited to be taking part in the Blog Tour so make sure to stop by for it. I have a fabulous post prepared for it that I'm so excited to share! Scroll down to read my review!

Hunting Prince Dracula
(Stalking Jack the Ripper #2)
Kerri Maniscalco
Release: September 19, 2017
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In this hotly anticipated sequel to the haunting #1 bestseller Stalking Jack the Ripper, bizarre murders are discovered in the castle of Prince Vlad the Impaler, otherwise known as Dracula. Could it be a copycat killer...or has the depraved prince been brought back to life?

Following the grief and horror of her discovery of Jack the Ripper's true identity, Audrey Rose Wadsworth has no choice but to flee London and its memories. Together with the arrogant yet charming Thomas Cresswell, she journeys to the dark heart of Romania, home to one of Europe's best schools of forensic medicine...and to another notorious killer, Vlad the Impaler, whose thirst for blood became legend.

But her life's dream is soon tainted by blood-soaked discoveries in the halls of the school's forbidding castle, and Audrey Rose is compelled to investigate the strangely familiar murders. What she finds brings all her terrifying fears to life once again.

Review:
Hunting Prince Dracula continues a short time after the end of Stalking Jack the Ripper with Audrey Rose Wadsworth and Thomas Cresswell making their way to the best forensic medicine school in Europe. I loved everything about this book! The mystery, the gothic horrorness of the location, the adventure, the characters, Audrey Rose and Thomas working together, the banter, and of course, flirty Thomas. Let's be honest. We all needed more flirty Thomas in our lives. It was just so perfect! The wait for book three is going to drive me crazy!

I sat down and inhaled most of this book in one day around work and my other responsibilities. The plot starts off with a bang and just keeps going! I had so much fun reading it! I loved how Kerri Maniscalco weaved together the pieces of true history and gothic horror elements to make such a compelling mystery! Also, the banter between Audrey Rose and Thomas is even better in this book than the first! Their relationship is absolutely fantastic in every possible way. I'm even more on board with the CressWorth ship after I read this than I was before and that's saying something.

This book is full of suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat to find out what's going to happen next. I know I said it earlier, but the mystery was seriously very well done. I kept making guesses and I kept being proved wrong. Let's just say there were a lot of surprises when the reveals happened. Thinking about it now, I probably should have picked up on a few things but I’m actually glad that I wasn’t even thinking in that direction because all the reveals were AMAZING! I totally flipped my lid at one reveal in particular! If you've read it, you know which one it is. OMG! I had to reread it like five times till it sunk in.

Kerri Maniscalco’s writing is so detailed and atmospheric that I found myself easily imagining the castles and forests of Romania even though I don't know much about the time period or the place. What I loved the most is that the light tone from the delicious banter brought a much needed levity to a horror story that broke up some of the more serious moments and made it easier to stay on top of what was happening. To quote the book, “I am wholly bewitched” with this series. It is perfect! And I just need more Audrey Rose and Thomas adventures in my hands now!

The author mentioned that she seeded clues to what the next book is going to be about in this one but I still have no clue. It doesn't matter. I'll still be counting down the days cannot wait for the third book when I can read more of Audrey Rose and Thomas's adventures! I seriously can't wait to see what mysteries they'll encounter next!

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

    

  5 / 5 Stars!



My reviews of other books in this series:
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

Really Short Reviews: Speak Easy, Speak Love and Release

I know September is a huge month for YA release but does it seem like there has there been even more than normal this year? Or maybe it seems like that to just me because I'm interested in way more YA books this year than in past ones. I have read a ton of ARCs for this month and while I enjoyed these books a lot I just don't have a lot to say about them. So it's time for another episode of Really Short Reviews!

Speak Easy, Speak Love
McKelle George
Release: September 19, 2017
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Six teenagers’ lives intertwine during one thrilling summer full of romantic misunderstandings and dangerous deals in this sparkling retelling of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.

After she gets kicked out of boarding school, seventeen-year-old Beatrice goes to her uncle’s estate on Long Island. But Hey Nonny Nonny is more than just a rundown old mansion. Beatrice’s cousin, Hero, runs a struggling speakeasy out of the basement—one that might not survive the summer. Along with Prince, a poor young man determined to prove his worth; his brother John, a dark and dangerous agent of the local mob; Benedick, a handsome trust-fund kid trying to become a writer; and Maggie, a beautiful and talented singer; Beatrice and Hero throw all their efforts into planning a massive party to save the speakeasy. Despite all their worries, the summer is beautiful, love is in the air, and Beatrice and Benedick are caught up in a romantic battle of wits that their friends might be quietly orchestrating in the background.

Hilariously clever and utterly charming, McKelle George’s debut novel is full of intrigue and 1920s charm. For fans of Jenny Han, Stephanie Perkins, and Anna Godbersen.

Review:
This book was everything I wanted it to be! I will admit that while I'm familiar with the plot of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, I've never read it all the way through. And I don't think that took anything away from my enjoyment of this book. It's a fast-paced romp that's full of delightfully witty banter and amazing characters.

What I loved most was the different relationships and the found family aspect in this book. The relationships are complex and wonderfully endearing! I loved that the focus wasn't on just the romantic relationships but on the platonic friendships as well. The way these characters interact and care for each other is heartwarming on so many levels. I honestly can't pick a favorite out of them because I love them all!

I also loved the 1920s prohibition era setting! It's what really made the book awesome! You can tell George did her research and every small detail made me wish speakeasies were still a thing. This is one of my favorite books that I've read this year and certainly one of my favorite YA historical reads of all time. I cannot wait to see what this debut author has in store for us next.

ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss

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  4.5 / 5 Stars

Release
Patrick Ness
Release: September 19, 2017
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Adam Thorn doesn’t know it yet, but today will change his life.

Between his religious family, a deeply unpleasant ultimatum from his boss, and his own unrequited love for his sort-of ex, Enzo, it seems as though Adam’s life is falling apart.  At least he has two people to keep him sane: his new boyfriend (he does love Linus, doesn’t he?) and his best friend, Angela.

But all day long, old memories and new heartaches come crashing together, throwing Adam’s life into chaos. The bindings of his world are coming untied one by one; yet in spite of everything he has to let go, he may also find freedom in the release.

Review:
I'm still torn about what to rate this book. I liked it and the ending was fantastic! But the lead up to that ending was weird. This book is really two stories in one. At first, it seemed to me like the stories weren't really connected at all and the change from one story to the other was jarring. And that disconnect between the two continued almost to the end. I will say that in the ending the two stories were merged in a wonderful way and I really appreciate how it ended. 

I really wish the two stories would have been more interconnected throughout the book but then again I'm not sure the ending would have been so perfect if they were. The thing I adored the most in this book though was the openness that Adam and Angela had in their friendship. There was no holding back at all even on the topics people don't like to talk about. Sometimes YA books hold back when it comes to talking about sex but this book was like a breath of fresh air. Their friendship was awesome!

Overall, I'd recommend this book to people with the disclaimer that it's a little weird.

ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss

  

  3 / 5 Stars

Review: The Girl with the Red Ballon by Katherine Locke

The Girl with the Red Balloon.
(The Balloonmakers #1)
Katherine Locke
Release: September 1, 2017
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When sixteen-year-old Ellie Baum accidentally time-travels via red balloon to 1988 East Berlin, she’s caught up in a conspiracy of history and magic. She meets members of an underground guild in East Berlin who use balloons and magic to help people escape over the Wall—but even to the balloon makers, Ellie’s time travel is a mystery. When it becomes clear that someone is using dark magic to change history, Ellie must risk everything—including her only way home—to stop the process.

Review:
Do you ever read one of those really popular books that everyone is gushing about only to read it and not like it? This was one of those books for me which makes me sad because I had only heard really good things about it. I'm definitely one of the black sheep for this one because it's had almost all glowing reviews so far.

I don't how much I want to say about this because I don't want to taint anyone's reading experience with my apathetic feelings on it. I will say that I liked Ellie well enough but she was kind of a flat character for me. I really struggled to connect with her. I didn't see any of the traits some of my blogging friends did. Kai and Mitzi were both intriguing but they also felt pretty meh.

What can I say about the plot? Honestly. It felt repetitive and I was just bored. I thought the time traveling aspect was an incredibly fun part of the story though. I think that and the scattering of a few sweet moments throughout the book is what kept me reading until the end.

Overall, I liked the idea of this book. The subject matter, the concept, the ideas behind it were fascinating. But there was just something about it that didn't work for me. I'm sad that I didn't like it as much as I wanted to but I can see a lot of my friends loving it.

ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss.

 

  2 / 5 Stars