Category: Book Review

June 2023 Wrap Up

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In June I read four books and watched two movies. My reading is starting to pick up again but some months are just better than others and that’s okay.

Books:

The first book I finished in June was Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas which is the fourth book in the Throne of Glass series. Though I haven’t read a Throne of Glass book in a while they are very easy to get back into and I love how fast paced they can be. I won’t give a full summary to avoid spoilers and due to the fact these books are so popular but I did enjoy how this one dealt with some plot points that the series started with while also paving the way for where the series is going.

The next book was It’s Jeff #1 by Kelly Thompson which is the collection of the Marvel Infinity comics about Jeff the Land Shark. There is very little to no text in these comics as they are short stories/panels of Jeff being cute and interacting with other Marvel characters. Though I don’t have much to say about it, it was very cute.

The Marionettes by Katie Wismer is the start of a New Adult urban fantasy series focusing on vampires and witches. Valerie is going to the academy to join the Marionettes, the group of witches that serve the vampires. During her final trials she get pair with the local Vampire Prince, Reid and many secrets start to come out. I loved Valerie and her friends but I did find her relationship with her current boy friend Connor and what ends up happening to him a little predictable. I would have liked to have seen a little more world building as it becomes clear that everyone knows that vampires and other creatures exist but I don’t know if this is how the world always been. Overall I greatly enjoyed this book and the ending has me wanting to continue.

The last book I read this month was Breach of Peace by Daniel B. Greene which is his first novella. In this dark world an imperial family has been murdered and the police know as Officers of God are called to investigate. When Inspector Khild starts finding evidence of a larger conspiracy she become involved in something that may destroy everything she knows. Well written for a first novella and I was pulled into this world. As this is a novella I would have liked a little more world building to better understand what Khild is truly up against but I enjoyed it overall. However, I was not expecting how brutal the ending was going to be and I need to see where the story goes next.

Movies:

I also watched two movies this month the first being Titanic 2. I had heard bout this movie existing but I figured that it would be a pretty bad Titanic movie distributed by The Asylum. This movie follows a fictional replica of the Titanic sailing on the 100th year anniversary but global warming and the forces of nature cause history to repeat itself. As this movie came out in 2010 it was rideing the wave of Titanic media leading up to the 100th year anniversary but its not good and copies some of the same story beets as the James Cameron movie.

The only other movie I watched in June was Resident Evil: Welcome to Racoon City. Which is the newest live action Resident Evil movie that claims to be more accurate to the video games. I wasn’t expecting this to be good but I find the other Resident Evil movies to be guilty pleasure action movies that are mildly fun so that’s all I wanted out of this. However, this movie is not only fairly boring (I ended up doing laundry while watching it) but it also takes the names of characters from the games and completely changes them so it is in no way accurate to the games. If you are a fan of any other Resident Evil property be that the games or other movies my recommendation is not to watch this.

May 2023 Wrap Up

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May was a bit of a hectic month so I only read two books, both which were early copies from Netgalley. I did also finish playing Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Reunion.

Books:

The first book I finished was Mister Magic by Kiersten White, which I also have a full review posted for. Mister Magic is a horror book were 30 years after an accident on the children’s TV show Mister Magic the cast is coming back together. However, Val doesn’t remember the show or what happened but weird things are going on and to save those she cares about she must remember. A little confusing at times but overall a very good horror. I you want to know my full thoughts please read the full review.

The only other book I read this month was The Exorcist Legacy: 50 Years of Fear by Nat Segaloff which is a nonfiction book about the creation of the Exorcist movie and the sequels that came after it. While I enjoyed this deep dive into the history of the Exorcist with a title like Exorcist Legacy I was expecting more discussion on the impact the Exorcist has had on the horror genre as a whole. I feel like this book is best for super fans of the movie but over might enjoy it as well.

Video Games:

The only game I finished was Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Reunion which I also have a full review posted for. This game is the remastered edition of the 2007 PSP game Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII with updated graphics, voice acting, and controls. This is a prequal to the original Final Fantasy VII focusing on Zack Fair and the events leading up to the Nibelheim incident. I loved this game and anyone who has an interest in the Final Fantasy VII Remake Project I fell should play this.

Book Review: Mister Magic by Kiersten White

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Mister Magic is the newest horror novel from Kiersten White, 30 years after an accident on the children’s show Mister Magic the cast is coming back together however there is no record of the show ever existing though some people remember it.

Val has no memory of her time on the show and is using this reunion to find out what happened and why she forgot about it. The vibe that I got about what Mister Magic as a show was Barney mixed with the friend group of Are you afraid of the dark with a sprinkling of analog horror elements such as Candle Cove. As a reader you are on the journey with Val as she struggles with learning what really happened and the cult that is involved. As we get to the ending it gets more confusing with what seems to be a rip in reality that a god/demon resides in that the cult uses to create the show and the children help control how the show manifests. The cult wants to use the show to impart specific ideals and values to the viewer but they need to use their own children as essentially sacrifices to get it done. Val figures out that the only way to stop more people from getting hurt is to take over Mister Magic both the character and the show.

Overall I enjoyed this book but at times it felt like I was never going to understand what was happening. After reading the authors note that explained that Kiersten White was raised Mormon you can see that this book specifically is her way of working through her experience/trauma with the church through fiction.

April 2023 Wrap Up

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In April I read three books which is less than I read in most months but I was very busy throughout the month so I was expecting it to be a slower reading month.

Books:

The first book I read was A Dance with the Fae Prince by Elisa Kova which is a fantasy romance inspired by the tale of Psyche and Eros with hints of Cinderella. Katria is married off to Lord Fenwood but is not allowed to see him. However, the power to save both herself and the Fae World is in her hands and she might just fall in love as well. An enjoyable read but very slow to start. If you enjoy other books by Elisa Kova you probably like this one.

Next I reread Every Heart A Doorway by Seanan McGuire which is the first book in the Wayward Children series. We are introduced to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children where all the students have gone to portal worlds and have ended up back “home.” Nancy is the newest student but when others end up dead they must find out who is responsible. I love Seanan McGuire’s works and reread this book because I plan to reread and catch up with this series in the next several months.

The final book I read this month was The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo which is a collection of short stories/fairy tales that would have been told in the Grishaverse world. Beautifully written and illustrated and one can see how these tales are supposed to be from a different world but have similarities with fairytales many of us have grown up with and how they inspired these new tales. Personally, I would read these even without them being connected to the Grishaverse.

March 2023 Wrap Up

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In March I read four book and finished playing Octopath Traveler.

Books:

The first book I finished was Side Jobs by Jim Butcher. This is a collection of short stories set in the Dresden Files world that mostly happen between the main events of the books, including several stories not told from Harry’s perspective. I liked the focus of other characters and expanding on some things that have happened throughout the series but I didn’t love all the stories. The most important story to the Dresden Files series overall is the last one which is an novella told Murphy’s point of view in the imitate aftermath of the ending of Changes. I’m looking forward to see where the series goes next.

Next I finished Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir which I also have a full review already posted. This is the third book in the Locked Tomb series which is a hard series to discuss. We follow Nona as she lives her life but she might be someone else and she has no memories. Personally I feel like this book was a lot of set up for events that will take place in the final book. If you enjoyed Gideon the Ninth and Harrow the Ninth I would recommend reading this but know that none of these books have similar reading experiences.

The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw is a short horror novella that is very loosely inspired by the original little mermaid tale. We follow a Mermaid who’s daughters devoured the kingdom and a Plague Doctor who stumble upon a village of children and their “Saints”. These “Saints” both kill and bring these children back to life and the Doctor wants to destroy them because he know what is really going on. Beautifully written while also being gruesome.

The last book I finished in Mach was The Magic of MinaLima: Celebrating the Graphic Design Studio Behind the Harry Potter & Fantastic Beasts Films. This is a coffee table book that looks at the team behind the graphic design of the Harry Potter films. Great for Harry Potter fans, especially of the movies, and those interested in the behind the scenes of graphic design for movies.

Games:

The only video game that I finished this month was Octopath Traveler which I also have a full review posted. This is a role playing game following eight different heroes as they travel to find their own path, get revenge, and help save people. If the games sounds interesting I would recommend trying it out as I didn’t think I would love this game as much as I did.

Book Review: Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (Locked Tomb #3)

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Nona the Ninth is the third book in the Locked Tomb series and follows shortly after the events of Harrow the Ninth. We are following Nona, who might be someone else but has no memories of her past, living with Pyrrha, Camilla, and Palamedes and just trying to live her life. The planet that they are on is controlled by the Blood of Eden who have surrounded the Last Cohort facility and are waiting for the Emperor to come. However, Nona’s memories are slowly coming back which will change everything.

I read this book in March and I’m writing this review in June mostly because I find this book hard to talk about and explain. I liked the book but also felt that there was a lot of setup without much payoff. What I loved most about the other books is Gideon and Harrow and their relationship and interactions which isn’t in this book. My favorite aspect with Nona the Ninth is getting the back story of “god”/the emperor and finding out that he really was just a guy who doesn’t deserve his power or position. I did enjoy the ending with the hints of where the story is going.

Ultimately, while I liked this book it felt to me like I will understand and appreciate it more when we have the full series and I can understand where this book fits in the larger story.

February 2023 Wrap Up

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In February I read three books and to short stories and also watch Glass Onion.

Books:

Women of Myth: From Deer Woman and Mami Wata to Amaterasu and Athena, Your Guide to the Amazing and Diverse Women from World Mythology by Jenny Williamson and Genn McMenemy is a nonfiction book about different women from myth and folklore through multiple cultures. I received advanced copy from the publisher through Netgalley. I loved seeing myths that I’ve never learned about before and all the art work depicting these women.

Abhorsen by Garth Nix is the third book in the Abhorsen trilogy and follows Lirael and Sam as they try to save Sam’s friend Nick and stop the necromancer Hedge from awakening the destroyer. I also have a full review posted for this book. This book is very action/plot heavy and I think I would have enjoyed this series more if the second and third books had been combined. While I like the series overall to me I feel like the first book Sabriel works better as a stand alone then a series.

As Yet Unsent by Tamsyn Muir is a short story in the Locked Tomb series that follows the events of Harrow the Ninth. The shot story is Judith’s report on the Blood of Eden and their activities. I read to to be ready to read Nona the Ninth but I feel like I will need to either reread it and read an explanation of it to really understand this story.

A Dowry of Blood by S.T Gibson is a reimaging/retelling of Dracula through the perspective of one of the brides. I read this initially when it was self published and wanted to see if anything has changed which it hasn’t but I still enjoyed it and I have a full review published. The one thing that I’m still a little disappointed in is the fact that there is nothing but a quick mention of the events that happened in Dracula as I would have loved to read that from the brides perspectives.

An Encore of Roses by S.T. Gibson is a short story from Alexi’s point of view years after the ending of A Dowry of Blood. This story gives us a glimpse into the lives of Alexi, Constanta, and Magdalena and how they are still in love though living separate lives all these years later.

Movies:

I only movie I watched this month was Glass Onion which I loved but don’t feel like I have much to say. However, if you liked Knives Out or murder mysteries you should give it a try.

Book Review: Abhorsen (Abhorsen #3) by Garth Nix

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Abhorsen by Garth Nix is the final book in the Abhorsen/The Old Kingdom trilogy though there have been more books added to the series since this ones publication. This book follows Lirael and Sam as they try to save Sam’s friend Nick and stop the necromancer Hedge from awakening the Destroyer. As the Destroyer is the enemy of all life and must be stop which only an Abhorsen can do however, there has been no word from the current Abhosren Sabriel and King Touchstone.

In comparison to the second book which focuses more on set up this one is very action and plot heavy and ultimately feel like if the second and third books had been combined I would have enjoyed the full story more. This series is a reread for me though I haven’t read the series in many years because of that while I liked the series overall I feel like Sabriel works better as a stand a lone book. However, If you liked Sabriel I do think you should try the other books in the series.

January 2023 Wrap Up

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In January I read seven books/short stories, including multiple non fiction books. I also watched Gudetama: An Eggcellent Adventure which I enjoyed but don’t have really anything to say about it. Also as a heads up I’m in the process of changing the blog name from reviewsbyallies to NightOwlReviews so if you see that, that’s what’s happening.

Books:

The Legacy of the Crystal: An Unofficial Guide to Final Fantasy by Darryl James is a non fiction book about the history of the Final Fantasy franchise that I helped kickstart. As a fan of the Final Fantasy franchise I loved this book and reading about the history of the franchise.

Changes by Jim Butcher is the twelfth book in the Dresden Files series. We find out that Susan Rodriguez had a child with Harry and never informed him that they had a child. She has been kidnapped by Arianna Ortega, Duchess of the Red Court to hurt Harry and those connected to him. This one was not one of my favorite in the series but the ending definitely will change things in the coming books. I also have a full review for this book.

The Nazi Titanic: The Incredible Untold Story of a Doomed Ship in World War II by Robert P. Watson is a nonfiction book about the history of the German ocean liner that was used in a German propaganda movie filmed in World War II about the sinking of the Titanic. I had heard mention of the Nazi Titanic movie that portrayed Bruce Ismay and others on the ship as “evil and money hungry Jews that let people die on the Titanic” and wanted to know the reason behind using the Titanic in this very unhistorical way. The history of the ocean liner is more interesting and tragic than the movie that it was in but I also will not watch the movie if it is still out there. The ship was used as floating barracks and troop transport. In the final days of the war the ship was packed with concentration camp prisoners and was mistakenly bombed by the British Royal Air Force and most of the prisoners were killed. I feel like this book uses the fact that this ship portrayed the Titanic as the main selling point even though that is not the main focus of the book.

The Titanic Disaster Omens, Mysteries, and Misfortunes of the Doomed Liner by James W. Bancroft is a nonfiction book about all the omens and mysteries reportedly connected to the Titanic and how people “knew” something was going to happen. I liked this book overall but felt like the author sensationalized/made things sound true when there is now evidence that the information was false or exaggerated. I received an early review copy from the publisher through Netgalley.

Spare by Prince Harry is Prince Harry’s memoir about his life starting shortly before Princess Diana’s death through his military career, his romance and marriage to Meghan and finally their decision to leave royal life. This is really an account of someone with a dysfunctional family who has been traumatized and is working through that trauma. While readers will never know 100% what is true, I do feel like the media the royal life is more toxic then we like to believe. I feel like this memoir gives Harry’s perspective of events that other have other perspectives on but at the same time I feel like this is his truth.

A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova is a fantasy romance without too much spice inspired by Hades/Persephone and Beauty and the Beast. For years the elf’s have taken a woman to be their human queen but the next chosen one is missing. When it comes out that Luella is meant to the next human queen she goes with the elf king to save both of their worlds and maybe fall in love. I enjoyed this and is good for fans of other Romanic fantasies.

The Mysterious Study of Doctor Sex by Tamsyn Muir is a short story set in the Locked Tomb series. It follows Palamedes Sextus and Camilla Hect at age 13 when the academics of the Sixth are about to open the study of Donald Sex. I liked seeing more of this world and some events with other character even though I often don’t understand everything in this series.

Book Review: Changes (Dresden Files #12) by Jim Butcher

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Changes is the twelfth book in the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher and true to the title this is the book where many things change and the book ends in a cliffhanger. In this one we find out that Susan Rodriguez, Harry’s one time lover, who earlier in the series was turned into a partial vampire had a daughter with Harry and never told him before now. She has been kidnaped by Arianna Ortega, Duchess of the Red Court, in a bid to harm Harry and he will do what ever it takes to save his daughter.

Changes is where plot elements and information that both Harry and the reader have gained though out the series is brought together and we see how far Harry is willing to go for those he cares about. It is also clear with that ending that the series will be different in some ways going forward.

Personally, while I liked see how many things are coming back I overall didn’t enjoy this book. That is mostly because I was never a fan of Susan and her relationship with Harry. However, with how it ended I definitely will be continuing with the series.