Tag: Book Review

January 2021 Wrap Up

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In January I read seven books including one comic and three manga. I also watched the Doctor Who New Years special and the LifeTime Mini Movie A Recipe in Seduction.

Books:

Beneath the Moon by Yoshi Yoshitani is a collection of retellings of different myths, legends, and stories from different culture that also come with beautiful illustrations. All of the art work was use for the Tarot of the Divine Deck. I loved the art and the stories but I wished some of them where a little longer.

Star Wars: Darth Vader Volume One is the fist volume in a comic book series following Darth Vader’s adventures working for the Empire and attempting to catch the Rebels while investigating the Emperor’s secrets following the events of A New Hope. I thought that I would like this comic series as I like most of the other Star Wars books that I’ve read. However, I like the premise of the story more then the story itself. Mostly I just found this boring.

Museum Mercenary: A Handbook for Independent Museum Professional by Rebecca Migdal is a nonfiction museum book focusing on how to be an independent professional/contractor in the museum field. I read museumology books to expand my know of the field and this would be a good resource for anyone in the field. This book contained plenty of useful information and made me realize that I don’t want to run my own business in this field.

Fullmetal Alchemist Fullmetal Edition Volumes 3 and 4 by Hiromu Arakawa. I’m collecting these editions and rereading the series at the same time. Volume 3 finishes off the Lab Five arc which ends in the death of one of my favorite characters but shows that there are bigger things at play then our main characters know. Volume 4 has the brothers going to see their teacher and confessing that they attempted to bring their mother back from the dead. Most of this volume is told in flashback but gives us more background on the Eric Brothers and why they did what they did.

Saiyuki Resurrected Edition volume one by Kazuya Minekura is the first volume of the collected editions of the Saiyuki manga. I’ve read all of the Saiyuki manga before but when I saw these editions I knew that I wanted them and decided to reread the series as I buy them. Saiyuki follows Sanzo, Goku, Gojyo, and Hakkai as they travel west to find out why the demons are attacking humans and to stop the resurrection of the demon king Gyumaoh. This story is based on the Chinese novel Journey to the West but as the author states “is the most ‘monkeyed’ around with” version. This first volume is mostly setting up the world and the characters through singular contained stories that only give hints to the larger plot and conflict the characters will encounter. I love this series and plan to continue rereading and collecting these editions.

Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff is the second book in the Nevernight Trilogy which follows Mia learning to become an assassin and getting revenge on those who destroyed her family. This only focused mainly on Mia learning how the Red Church was involved in the death of her father and becoming a gladiatorial combatant to kill one of the men responsible. Though this book took awhile for me to read I loved where the story went and the ending made me so glad that I don’t have to wait for the next book and plan to read it soon. I have a full review posted as well.

Movies/TV:

A Recipe for Seduction is a LifeTime Mini Movie that was sponsored by KFC where Mario Lopez stars as Colonel Sanders. This is only 16 minutes long but still contains all the drama of a LifeTime romance movie. Colonel Sanders is hired as the new chef to this rich family that is in debt and the daughter who doesn’t like her current boyfriend falls in love with the chef. I watched this because the idea and commercial was something that I never though would exist. Its not a bad movie though a little cheesy, the acting is good but the plot moves so fast that you end up going what did I watch. If it sounds interesting I would suggest watching just because its so short.

I also watched this month the Doctor Who New Years Special Revolution of the Daleks. The past several years I’ve not been the biggest fan of Doctor Who and while I think this special was better I still had some issues with it. I do love any time they bring back Captain Jack Harkness and I loved his interactions is all the companions specifically Yaz. I also loved how Ryan and Graham’s story and character arcs came full circle. However, my two biggest problems was the politics and the Dalek story itself. Personally, I use movies, TV, and books to not have to think about politics and what’s happening in the world so I’m just not a fan when its added in. Especially with characters that feel like many of the politicians in power or have been in power recently. However, my bigger problem was with the Dalek story. I get that not all characters in Doctor Who, especially side ones, would know what a Dalek is by name but how do people not recognize them when they been on Earth so many times not even counting times is Classic Who. Also I not a fan of the “they will help/be good for security story” when I personally have trouble that people would accept things that look like a Dalek doing that. Overall, not a bad episode but not great. I hope the new season will be better and I wonder where Doctor Who as there are rumors that Jodie Whittaker will be leaving and I hope they get new writers.

Book Review: Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff (The Nevernight Chronicles #2)

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Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff is the second book in the Nevernight Trilogy. We follow Mia Corvere in the months after the ending of the first book where she became a Blade of the Red Church though many don’t think she has earned her place. When Mia hears that the men who destroyed her family will be at the last gladiatorial games held in Godsgrave she hatches a plan to kill them even though the Red Church has told her that Consul Scaeva is off limits.

For the first 100 pages or so of the book there are flashbacks to four months ago where Mia is working for the Red Church assassinating those she is order to and ends up running into Ash who tried to kill her in the last book. When Ash tells her that the Red Church was involved in the death of Mia’s father, they plan with Mercurio to kill Julius Scaeva behind the Churches back. Most of the story focuses on Mia working her way into the gladiatorial arena and becoming a champion to get a chance to kill those she wants revenge on. However, she is put into situations that question the lengths she will go to and is that changing her.

Though this book took me three months to finish I ended up loving it. Tough I really like Jay Kristoff’s writing and style the flashbacks happen at the begging of most of the chapters for first part of the book caused me to never feel an urge to pick the book up when I had put it down. However, about half way through this changed and I didn’t want to put the book down. I loved Mia interactions with the other gladiatorial combatants and the new information we gained about her family with the fact that what Mia knows might not be completely right.

The ending was amazing and I’m so glad that I don’t have to wait to finish the series if I don’t want to.

December 2020 Wrap Up

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This month I read 5 books and watched 2 movies. Including a manga, an audio book, and two nonfiction books.

Books:

Final Fantasy VII Remake World Preview is an coffee table type book from Square Enix that focuses on the new Final Fantasy VII Remake. This book included a time line of events, screen shots from the game, character information, and an exclusive short story about Aerith’s past. I liked this book but it didn’t have much new information for fan of the series or the original game. The short story was well written but isn’t necessary to understand anything about the game. I would have like a few hints about where the next game would be headed but as a fan I was going to buy this good any ways regardless of what information was included.

Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand is a nonfiction book about Prince Harry and Meghan Markel. This book tells their story from before they met, through dating, marriage, and finally leave the royal institution. Its a very readable book and whether or not this is the real story or the true story I don’t know or care. I’ve never really followed the royal family but when Meghan joined I would occasionally read articles. I feel like this book gives one perspective on what happen and how you feel about that is up to you. The one thing I took away is that I don’t feel like the tabloids and press have been all that fair or kind to them.

How to Get a Museum Job by Steven Miller is a nonfiction book exactly about what the title says. This book is all about the different ways to get a museum job and getting your foot in the door. As someone who has had a museum job and is trying to get back into the field I felt like I knew most of this information but it would be a great resource for those entering the field. I personally liked the sections about interviewing and where the future of the profession is headed.

Sailor Moon Eternal Edition Vol. 2 by Naoko Takeuchi is the second volume in the Sailor Moon manga series. I’m rereading the series as I collect these editions and still love the series as a whole. This book continues the arc started in volume one but has more horror elements through out. If you are getting into Sailor Moon these are the editions that I would recommend.

The Boy Who Didn’t Come Home by Melissa Albert is a young adult short story in the world of the Hazel Wood that follows Ellery Finch after the gets into the Hazel Wood. This is set mainly during Alice’s time stuck in her story and tells us what Ellery was doing. I thought initially that this would be a story set between The Hazel Wood and The Night Country but its more events that happened to other characters at the end of The Hazel Wood. I didn’t love Ellery as the narrator but I really liked his interactions with the world and The Spinner. I listen to this as an audio book and its placed at the end of the Hazel Wood audio book for anyone looking for it.

Movies:

Man of Steel is the 2013 Superman movie that started the current DC Universe movies. This was a rewatch for me as I wanted to watch it again before seeing the rest of the movies that connect to it. Its an okay movie that I mainly found boring and though I like Henry Cavil as an actor I don’t like him as Superman. I do plan to watch the other DC movies but I don’t think that I’m going to love them.

The Croods: A New Age is the second Croods movie that follows a family of cavemen and their adventures surviving. I’ve never seen the first Croods movie and only watched this on because of an accident. I was helping my parents with Christmas dinner and my two year old nephew some how got the TV remote and ordered the movie before any of us realized what he had done. So as a family we ended up watching it. Its a very fun family friendly movie that made me want to see the first one.

Did Not Finish (DNF) #3

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I want to love every book I buy and read but that doesn’t always happen. I also don’t believe in forcing myself to finish things that I’m not enjoying so I routinely stop reading books and never finish them. These post are for me to talk about why I DNFed a book.

13260128Cleopatra Confesses by Carolyn Meyer is a young adult historical fiction novel about the life of Cleopatra. I originally read this back in Junior High and recently found a copy at a used book store and decided to reread it. Its much too young for me now and what little I read was very boring but I think someone who I the correct age would get more out of it.

48764258._SY475_Tsarina by Ellen Alpsten is a historical fiction novel about Catherine the Great from her life as a peasant to the Tsarina of Russia. Its well written and very detailed but I found it boring. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley but was only able to finish about 30 pages before I gave up. It would be a good read for those interested in this time period or these historical figures.

6124802Fairest of All by Serena Valentino is a young adult Snow White retelling that is from the perspective of the Evil Queen. Unlike some retellings this one is directly connected to the Disney movie version. I read this book initially when I was younger and really liked it. Earlier this year I received a free eBook version and decided to try to reread it. I like the concept of the story but I got about half way though and was very board. I feel like this book and series is good for younger readers but adults might not get much out of it.

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows is a fantasy historical young adult book about Lady Jane Grey. I knew that this was a comedic take on historical fiction but I didn’t know when starting the book that it would have so many fantastical elements. I’m a fan of historical fiction and I expected that when I pick this book up but I felt that what I read was more of a fantasy. If that’s what you want then this book would be great but I wanted something that read more historical so I don’t intend to finish this book.

Beach Read by Emily Henry is an adult romance book where a romance author and a literary fiction author who are both having trouble writing their next book end up living near each other and falling in love. I started this book as an audio book and I’m just not in the mood for an audio book right now. I like the premise but I wasn’t liking what I read of it. However, I do think that I will either come back to the audio at some point or try reading it as a physical book. So this is a not finishing for now but I can see myself reading it at some point.

November 2020 Wrap Up

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In November I read four books which is lower than some months for me but with the holidays and how this year has been any reading is good.

Books:

The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia is a young adult nonfiction book that tells the history of the Romanov family during World War I and the Russian Revolution. It adds information about peasant lives and historical accounts from those not connect to the crown which many accounts of the Romanov Family don’t include. If you like Russian history its a very fast and easy read but not its not written with the younger side of the YA audience in mind.

So You Want To Work in a Museum? by Tara Young is a nonfiction book about working in museums and how to get a job in the field. My degree is in Public History and I’ve had jobs in museums but due to the pandemic my job search has stalled out. So, I’ve started to read more museum focused books for continuing my education and hoping that I the new year that I can restart my job search. This book would be good for anyone interested in a museum job. I already knew most of this information but I can always use a refresh on certain topics.

The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher is a very creepy adult horror/fantasy novel. When Mouse agrees to clean out her grandmothers house she ends up finding her Step-grandfathers journal which is full of bizarre and creepy writing. However, when she ends up finding this place full of carved stones behind the house she realizes that the writings she found might be true. This is a very creepy and atmospheric book that kept me wanting to find out what would happen next. I loved the characters and the humor they bring to such an unsettling plot and I loved the ending.

The last book I read was From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back which is a series of Star Wars short stories set during The Empire Strikes Back but told from the perspective of background and side characters. Most of the stories I liked. However, I feel like there was too much focus on Hoth and Cloud City. There was also more focus on characters that show up in other Star Wars media that I’m not familiar with which in turn caused me to not know what was going on in some stories. Great for fans of Star Wars and those who like to see different takes on beloved stories and franchises. I received an advanced copy through NetGalley in exchange for a review.

October 2020 Wrap Up

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This month I read 7 books. I love October and Halloween but I don’t always read horror books during this time as I’m a mood reader. So what I want to read doesn’t always fit the time of year. I’ve also been watching some movies this month.

Books:

The Sweetest Kind of Poison by Katie Wismer is a poetry collection about relationships and letting go. I’m not a huge fan of poetry but I follow the author and wanted to read this collection when it went on sale. Its well written and got me emotional. I do plan to read other poetry collections form this author in the future.

Laughter at the Academy by Seanan McGuire is a collection of McGuire’s short fiction throughout her career. I love her work and this is no exception. Great for fans or for those wanting to get a taste of all the different worlds Seanan McGuire has created.

Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View is an anthology celebrating the 40th anniversary of Star Wars: A New Hope. This anthology contain 40 different stories by different authors retelling moments from the film but from the perspective of the background characters. I listened to the audio book which is wonderfully done with sound effects and really pulls you into the world of Star Wars. Most of the stories are good but there was too much focus on the Cantina scene. But I would recommend this to any fan of Star Wars.

Death Masks by Jim Butcher is the fifth book is the Dresden Files. This one follows Harry Dresden while he tries to find the stolen Shroud of Turin, fight demons, and win a duel against a vampire. Each book in this series get better and I plan to continue the series at this point. I have a full review for each book I’ve read of the series so far.

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse is the first book in a new adult fantasy series inspired by pre-Columbian Americas. We follow multiple characters as their paths cross in the city of Tova during the winter solstice. Weaving a tale of prophecies, politics, and forbidden magic these Roanhorse creates and intriguing world and I just want more. I have posted a full review of this book.

Romanov by Nadine Brandes is a young adult historical fantasy about the Romanov royal family near the end of their lives. Primarily, focuses on Anastasia and her brother as they end up escaping the murder of their family and how their lives could have been if magic existed. Well written and good for those fans of the Anastasia movie and the Romanov family history.

Walking Dead Book 8 by Robert Kirkman is a collection of the Walking Dead comic containing issues 85-96. I’ve been rereading the Walking Dead comics to catch up now that the series is over. However, I’m not enjoying them as much as I remember. I own through book 12 so I plan to read those but I haven’t decided it I will finish off the series.

Movies:

The Nun is a horror movie and one of the movies in the Conjuring universe. Set in 1952, after a nun in Romania commits’ suicide a Priest and a nun in training are sent to investigate. The story focuses on finding out information about the demon Valak, who masquerades as a nun, and first showed up in the Conjuring 2. I love horror movies and I like the Conjuring movies as well I just haven’t seen all of them yet. A good movie for this time of year.

The Meg is an action movie where a group of scientists go down to the Mariana Trench and encounter the Megalodon shark. When the shark escapes into open waters the scientist attempt to track it down and kill it. This is one of those popcorn movies that you don’t have to think about but its well acted and has much better production than the campy Syfy channel movies.

Book Review: Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse (Between Earth and Sky #1)

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Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse is an adult fantasy inspired by Pre-Columbian Americas and the different civilizations that existed during that time. Roanhorse weaves a tale of prophecies, politics, and magic to create a unique fantasy world that is wonderfully realized and set the backdrop for a set of characters that paths will all intertwine.

In the city of Tova, the winter solstice is a time for celebration but when it coincides with a solar eclipse what is expected is in jeopardy. Xiala, a ship captain and Teek (women who can control the sea), is tasked to bring Serapio, a blind young man, to Tvoa before the solstice to face his destiny. Narapa, the young Sun Priest, who many don’t think deserves her position as she came from the slums is also tied into what ever fate Serapio brings. While Okoa, a member of the worshipers of the Crow God, attempts to find out why his mother died and if it was murder.

I loved the premise of the story and liked most of the book. However, the story is told through the perspectives of our four main characters and I only was interested in two of the perspectives. I love Serapio’s story as we start with how he became blind and believes himself to be the avatar for the Crow God that will destroy the Sun Priest. Xiala is a badass sea captain who happens to have magical powers and I just want more of her story. I also enjoyed her growing relationship with Serapio and the tragedy that it seems to be.

I found Narapa’s sections to be boring and I found myself not wanting to read her chapter’s which in the end caused me to skim read them. I understand why her perspective is used and given the ending I excited to see where her story will go. Okoa had the fewest chapters and not well developed but I feel like he will grown in the next book.

Though the book starts out slow when the plot ramps up its a race to the end. And that ending took me by surprise and left me wanting so much more. I can’t wait for the next book to come out.

Book Review: Death Masks by Jim Butcher (Dresden Files #5)

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Death Masks is the fifth book in the Dresden Files an urban fantasy series following Harry Dresden a wizard working in Chicago who helps those that get involved in the supernatural. Death Masks sees Harry being contacted by a vampire of the Red Court for a duel to end the war between wizards and vampires while also being contacted by a priest to find the stolen Shroud of Turin.

At this point in my reviews of this series I feel like I have to talk about major plot points was which will include spoilers so if you don’t want spoilers just know that I like the Dresden Files books and each one is better than the last.

This story has multiple plots but all of them connect and have consequences for the future of the series I feel. At the beginning of the book Dresden is contacted by a vampire for a duel which could end the war at the same time the Shroud of Turin has been stolen and Harry agrees to find it. While all of this is going on the police have found a body missing its head and hands but contains some of the worst diseases know to man.

The Shroud is the main plot with the duel working as extra conflict for the story. The Knights of the Cross are attempting to find the Shroud while fighting different groups of daemons who also want it. But they also don’t want Dresden involved at all.

Harry ends up wining the duel but the vampires attempt to kill him anyways say they were just trying to make things work more in their favor. The main plot comes to a head when Harry realizes that the priest that contacted him to find the Shroud is really a demon that has taken on the priest form and the plan is to use the Shroud to spread multiple diseases across the would using modern transportation. They end up getting the Shroud back but the demons disappear. Though one shows up at the very end to hint that they will be back and are watching Harry.

Personally, I like the Dresden Files but I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with the series. I read these as audio book and James Marsters is an amazing narrator. However, I often find myself bored for about the first third to half of the book in the set of each books plot and then loving it when everything stars to come together. I do plan to continue with the series and I hope they will just get better from here.

September 2020 Wrap Up

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September was a fairly good reading month for me having read nine books. My physical To Be Read pile is pretty big and is always changing but I have started to work my way through the eBooks that I have as well.

Books:

Final Girls by Mira Grant is a horror novella about a therapy treatment where dreams are created and shared to deal with past trauma. When the technology get hijacked while a reported and the creator of the technology they must try to survive together. I love Mira Grant’s work and this was no exception. Though I do wish this was a longer novel what we are given is just the right amount and a great horror story.

The Last Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff is a short story set in the Lotus Wars series. This short story is a prequel to the rest of the series and gives some of the back story to the world that is introduced in the first novel. While I liked this story I would have enjoyed it more if I had read it around the same time as the other books in the series. There has just been too much time between each book for me to really connect to the series or story at the moment.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid is an adult historical fiction novel following the life of Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo and her relationships with her seven husbands. I really liked this book as Evelyn changed as a person and found her own way through the world. The twist near the end surprised me but I loved the characters and it speaks to the fact that you should live your life the way you want to as you never know what could happen.

The Hallow Places by T. Kingfisher is a horror novel about a young woman who finds a path to a world full of willow trees that might connect to other worlds from a hole in the wall of her grandfathers museum. However, there is something in the trees of this world that will find and hurt you it you think about them. Very creepy and unsettling but perfect for the Halloween season. I have a full review for this book as well.

Five Nights at Freddy’s Fazbear Frights vols. 3, 4, and 5 by Scott Cawthon are the next three volumes in the FNAF’s short story collections. Several years ago I got pulled into the lore of the video games and then the books so while they are not the best I still read them when new books come out. Each volume contains three short stories that connect different characters to the animatronics and other creations of Fazebear Entertainment. Great for those already interested in the series thought some stories are much more gruesome and confusing than others they are all creepy horror stories aimed at young adults.

Praying for Rain by Jay Kristoff is the last short story connected to the Louts Wars series that I needed to read. Very short story focusing on a Miho, a girl living in Kigen, and the boy she starts to fall in love with. However, when he finds out her secret her life is put in danger. This story adds a little more to the world and the people that are affected by the war. But once again if I had read this when I read the rest of the series I would have liked it more.

Labyrinth Coronation vol.1 is a graphic novel that tells the story about how Jareth become the Goblin King that we see in the movie. The story parallels Sarah’s journey in the movie with Jareth being wished away and his mother trying to get him back. Very good art and I plan to continue on with the series.

Book Review: The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher

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The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher is an adult horror novel that is inspired by the 1907 novella by Algernon Blackwood, The Willows. The story follows Kara a recently divorced young woman who is working and living in her uncles small town museum full of old taxidermy and other oddities. One day a hole is busted into a wall in the museum which opens a door way to a different world of islands surrounded by willows with bunkers on some of the islands. When Kara and her friend, Simon, venture into the world they find a place that connects many worlds but house creatures that hear your thoughts and the more that you think of them the stronger and more deadly they become.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and I absolutely loved it. The writing is very good and Kingfisher created a amazing horror atmosphere that made me feel physically anxious and fearful for the characters. It one of those books that I had to stop reading at points because of how creepy and unsettling everything was but at the same time I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened next.

Kara is one of those characters that is written in a way that makes her feel very relatable and someone you want to root for. Simon is mostly there for some add comic relief during some of the most tense situations but I loved this quirky character. There were a few moments that I felt like the characters had to do things that in reality no one would do just to move the story and plot along but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in horror and those who love creepy stories.