Defy the Stars

Review:

Audience: Young Adult

Noemi and Abel are enemies in an interstellar war, forced by chance to work together as they embark on a daring journey through the stars. Their efforts would end the fighting for good, but they're not without sacrifice. The stakes are even higher than either of them first realized, and the more time they spend together, the more they're forced to question everything they'd been taught was true.

- Amazon

Noemi is a soldier of Genesis. Abel is a mech prototype. Noemi is filled with hatred and prejudice for Earth and mechs. Abel is designed to be more than just a mech. They come from opposite worlds with opposite points of view. They will learn from each other and together become more than they ever were apart.

 

The is an epic story with rebels, space battles, prison breaks, and last-minute rescues. The themes include loyalty, love, environmental destruction, and what it means to be alive.

 

I was captivated by the story and the narration was excellent. I often listened late into the night because I couldn't put it down. 

 

Recommended to: Fans of The Lunar Chronicles and epic sci-fi adventure stories.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1786766/defy-the-stars

The Family

Review:

Individualism: the very evil that infected the world outside the Family.

- Chapter 7

 

He made up a disease so he could be the cure, our savior. So we would be completely dependent on him, and never leave him.

- Chapter 16

 

The Family is a cult with one man in charge - Adam. The people on the compound have no contact with the outside world. Adam tells the members of the Family that the people outside are infected and if they have contact with anyone, they will be infected as well. That is only one of the many lies Adam tells in order to control them. To an outsider, the lies are ridiculous and the rules & punishments are extreme. Twig is a teenager and has been living in the Family since she was a little girl and doesn't know any better... until she has an accident and must go to the hospital. There she meets a young man who changes her perspective and possibly her life.

 

This was a quick read and not terrible, but the resolution was a bit too quick and simple. It was an interesting look inside a cult and I was rooting for Twig even as I wondered how her mother could possibly think it was ok to bring her there in the first place. Overall, interesting but unrealistic and not enough substance.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1786383/the-family

You know me - I can't resist messing with you guys!

Reblogged from: Moonlight Madness

So . . . 

 

 

This year, you can read ONE book in the week leading up to bingo to get a head start on filling your card!

 

Ready.

 

Set. 

 

Read!

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1785926/you-know-me-i-can-t-resist-messing-with-you-guys

Suffer the Children

Review:

 

Most people didn't understand how strongly mothers felt toward their children from the moment they were born. That this screaming thing in your arms was your entire reason for being. That you would do anything to make it happy. That you would fight, kill, die.

- Chapter 11

 

This book is chilling, heart-breaking, gruesome, and I couldn't put it down. I don't want to give anything away, but what these parents are willing to do for their children is horrifying. The parents in this book are willing to go to extreme lengths to keep their children alive. DiLouie's writing is masterful and he makes the entire premise believable and so all the more terrifying. I highly recommend this book to horror fans everywhere.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1783939/suffer-the-children

The Jekyll Revelation

Review:

 

This is a historical horror/thriller story revolving around Robert Louis Stevenson, the story of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, and Jack the Ripper. It alternates between 1880's London and "present day" California. My favorite parts were in the 1880's where Stevenson creates the story of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde and deals with the consequences. The present day story revolves around Rafe, an environmental scientist who is working to save the coyotes and stumbles across a mysterious steamer trunk.

 

The part with Stevenson is intriuging and suspenseful and was hard to put down. But, the present day part with Rafe is a bit tedious and took a while to get going. I kept trying to figure out how it connected with the Stevenson story but was more interested in getting back to the 1880's. The narration is well done even though the accent irritated me a bit.

 

This is a brilliant premise for a story, but lacks a bit in the execution. Overall I enjoyed it and recommend it to fans of history and horror (as combining the two is a bit unusual).

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1782685/the-jekyll-revelation

People who don't live with cats don't know this: that if you know them well, their emotions are written large across their faces, if you only care to look.

Chapter 47

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1782099/post

The Killer Next Door

Review:

 

Sleep is a luxury whose price is security. Those who can shut the world out and leave it at will are usually blessed by a world that doesn't want to shut them up.

- Chapter 20

 

A group of boarders living in a run-down apartment house; they all have secrets, that's why they ended up there. But one of them has a darker and more dangerous secret - one of them is a killer.

 

This is a dark story filled with danger and suspense. The characters are well-developed and engaging. It was easy enough to figure out who was the killer, but the end was a bit unexpected. There is some pretty gruesome stuff in here - if you are squeamish, you might want to avoid it. However, if you liked Wicked Girls by Marwood, you will probably enjoy this one. 

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1782093/the-killer-next-door

Still WaterTh

Review:

 

Clare jolts upright, her hand at her mouth to stifle a scream.

- first sentence

 

Clare goes undercover at a home that provides shelter to women who are trying to escape domestic violence to help find a missing mother and her son. Clare escaped her own abusive husband in Still Mine (the first book by author Amy Stuart). I didn't read Still Mine, and I only picked up this book because I was stuck going to a water park with no physical book to read (I was afraid to get my iPad wet or not be able to see the screen in the sun). Anyway, I grabbed this book at Target because the cover was pretty and it wasn't too long.

 

The book was just meh. I didn't connect with any of the characters, including Clare. Everyone is hiding something, but Clare never seems to figure much out - people just end up confessing or revealing each other's secrets. When the final reveal came, I was unimpressed. Maybe I would have liked it better if I read the first book...

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1781809/still-waterth

Court of Wings and Ruin

Review:

 

 

I loved this book. It was a fantastic end to the series. I highly recommend it. The narrator is different for this book, but she did an amazing job. There is less sex in this one than in the previous book (which was sort of a relief - it was a bit much in the last one but it did make sense in the context of the story).

 

After 64 hours in the world of Prythian, I am ready for something new. But I'm thrilled to have met Feyre & Rhysand and the rest of their family. This series is a must-read for fans of Maas, and of fantasy.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1781482/court-of-wings-and-ruin

Reading progress update: I've listened 278 out of 927 minutes.

 

So... I've listened to over 4 hours and I'm still not really feeling this one. I've heard it's good but it takes a long time to get into it. Maybe half the book - that's another 4 hours before it gets good. I'm not sure if it's worth it. 

 

I just had a library hold become available. I'm going to listen to that one first.

 

Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1781459/reading-progress-update-i-ve-listened-278-out-of-927-minutes

Halloween Bingo 2018: New categories, new lists - FINAL LIST

Reblogged from: Moonlight Madness

UPDATE 7 August - FINAL with categories 21-31

 

Please note:  Recommendations to the lists will get added ASAP, but there might be lags here and there as unreasonable people demand I participate in real life.  

 

Also, if I start getting overwhelmed/confused by the number of comments on a list, and I've already added the books suggested, I may delete that comment thread.  I'll NEVER delete actual conversations, but if it's strictly a recommendation comment, deleting it might keep me from doing daft things, like adding the book multiple times.

 

Per Moonlight Madness' request, I've created new lists for the new categories (and where applicable, renamed old lists).  This is the final post of list links for all the 2018 categories.  

 

This post will be updated as the new categories are announced.

 

Creepy Carnivals

Southern Gothic  (short, needs suggestions!)

Doomesday

New Release (no list)

Genre: Suspense  This list was originally "Romantic Suspense" but as the category is ANY suspense book, I've renamed it. 

Baker Street Irregulars

Shifters  (I've broken out Vampires from the old Vampires vs. Werewolves, so there are now 2 lists)

Slashers 

Spellbound  (The original Witches list, renamed)

Modern Noir

 

Ghost Stories

13

A Grimm Tale

Relics and Curiosities

Deadlands  see also: Vampires

 

Modern Masters of Horror (Combined with Genre: Horror, but marked as 'Modern' in the notes.

Supernatural

Genre: Horror

Cryptozoologist  (see also: Shifters and Vampires)

Fear the Drowning Deep

 

Classic Horror

Romantic Suspense

Gothic

Country House Mystery 

Terror in a Small Town

 

Cozy Mystery

Darkest London

Amateur Sleuth

Terrifying Women

Murder Most Foul (Since this category is any mystery, I've put my own spin on this list)

Diverse Voices

 

Good luck to everyone!

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1781452/halloween-bingo-2018-new-categories-new-lists-final-list

Halloween Bingo 2018: New categories, new lists - UPDATED

Reblogged from: Murder by Death

UPDATE 5 August with categories 16-20

 

Please note:  Recommendations to the lists will get added ASAP, but there might be lags here and there as unreasonable people demand I participate in real life.  

 

Also, if I start getting overwhelmed/confused by the number of comments on a list, and I've already added the books suggested, I may delete that comment thread.  I'll NEVER delete actual conversations, but if it's strictly a recommendation comment, deleting it might keep me from doing daft things, like adding the book multiple times.

 

Per Moonlight Madness' request, I've created new lists for the new categories (and where applicable, renamed old lists).  

 

This post will be updated as the new categories are announced.

 

Creepy Carnivals

Southern Gothic  (short, needs suggestions!)

Doomesday

New Release (no list)

Genre: Suspense  This list was originally "Romantic Suspense" but as the category is ANY suspense book, I've renamed it. 

Baker Street Irregulars

Shifters  (I've broken out Vampires from the old Vampires vs. Werewolves, so there are now 2 lists)

Slashers 

Spellbound  (The original Witches list, renamed)

Modern Noir

 

Ghost Stories

13

A Grimm Tale

Relics and Curiosities

Deadlands  see also: Vampires

 

Modern Masters of Horror (Combined with Genre: Horror, but marked as 'Modern' in the notes.

Supernatural

Genre: Horror

Cryptozoologist  (see also: Shifters and Vampires)

Fear the Drowning Deep

 

Stay tuned for updates as Moonlight reveals more squares.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1781136/halloween-bingo-2018-new-categories-new-lists-updated