ARC Review Roundup

 My computer has decided not to connect to the internet, so please excuse any and all typos as I type these on my phone.

I received an ARC of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

A Tale of Two Princes by Eric Geron

This is a charming “what if” story of royal twins separated at birth. Neither knows the other exists, and one has no idea they are even royal, until a chance encounter one day. Now both their lives, and the lives of their families, have been completely turned upside down, and the fate of the monarchy might just hang in the balance.

The characters are endearing, the romances are worth rooting for, and the plot is just whimsical enough (Canadian monarchy, anyone?). There is some homophobia on the part of some side characters, so just be aware of that, but the book as a whole is a celebration of LGBTQA+ self-love and love.

The Drift by C.J. Tudor

I don’t typically go for dystopia books, but this one grabbed me right from the start. At first, you don’t know what has hit the world, only that it is something truly terrible. As readers, we follow three groups of people in three perilous situations, trying to survive. The book is very mysterious as well, which kept me constantly turning pages. Even if you don’t normally go for dystopia reads, give this one a try.

The Pledge by Cale Dietrich

A queer slasher story, this is one scary read. Sam has survived one murder spree, and is now hoping college will give him a chance at a new and normal life-and maybe even some romance. But when his frat brothers start dying around him, Sam realizes evil has found him again. 

The author does not hold back with the scares, that’s for sure. The book does get gory at times too. Sam and the characters surrounding him are definitely ones I was rooting for, as was the romance. The reveal was really good as well.

ARC Review: Don’t Fear the Reaper

 I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

Please excuse any typos, my computer is no longer working and all reviews are being done on my phone for now. 

This book picks up a few years after the previous one in the trilogy (My Heart is a Chainsaw) ended. Our main character is back with us, just as a serial killer’s caravan breaks down near town. 

Strange and gripping, this is a book that doesn’t always make sense (at least to me) but always keeps you reading. Stephen Graham Jones weighs in so much, takes on culture and wealth, shared history, the impact of trauma, femininity and what this truly means, all while scaring the pants off you. It’s a bit like a fever dream, very uncanny, a really unique and creative take on the slasher genre. 

ARC Review: The Things We Do to Our Friends

 

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

Wow, is this a haunting and disturbing read, in all the best possible ways.

Clare moves to Edinburgh (loved the setting!) in an attempt to shake loose her past and reinvent herself. While taking classes there, she meets Tabitha and her group of friends, and is drawn into their world. When Tabitha proposes a plan she has been developing, Clare realizes she is already in too deep to say no, and what has become codependence is quickly turning dangerous.

I definitely recommend this read. 

ARC Review: Blaze Me a Sun

 

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinon of the book or my review itself.

This is a story about crime and its repercussions.

When the prime minister of Sweden is assassinated the same night a serial killer calls in their first murder, it sets off a chain of fear and investigation that lingers through decades. Different characters are affected in different ways, but everyone is affected somehow, sometimes in ways it takes them years to understand.

This book could be really slow moving for me at times, even with the powerful punch of the assassination and murder happening on the same night. But nonetheless there was something compelling about this story that made it so I couldn't put the book down. Whether it was following the characters along on their own personal journeys, or having to know the solution to the mystery, or a combination of both, I'm not sure, but I wasn't able to stop reading (despite having considered it once). And I have to say the big final twist was a really shocking one, and brought everything together in a really satisfying and emotionally hard hitting way.

ARC Review: The Blackhouse

 

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

The Blackhouse is a story tied to the past, and questioning the future. When she was five years old, Maggie claimed that a man she had never met was murdered at a place she had never been to. Now, as an adult, Maggie revisits that island to discover the truth about the mystery man, and the truth about herself. But with the truth may come events and knowledge Maggie will wish she'd never experienced.

This was a bit of a slow moving book, but this mimicked the slowness of life on the island, so it worked. Maggie is a complex character I was immediately drawn to, and she is surrounded by a unique and crucial cast of characters (sometimes it felt there were too many characters and I got a little confused with who was who). The mystery is compelling and unusual, and the reveals are powerful and shocking. I would recommend this book. 

ARC Reviews: The Villa, and The House in the Pines

 I received ARCS of these books from the publishers in exchange for honest reviews. This did not affect my opinion of the books or my reviews themselves.

Emily and Chess are writers, and best friends, who head off to Italy to stay at what Emily describes as a "murder house". What is now considered the lap of luxury was once a fancy villa where a musician was killed, a woman was inspired to write a famous horror novel, and another woman penned a bestselling album. As both Emily and Chess work to find their own writerly inspirations, Emily begins to suspect that there might be more to the story of the murder house than anyone knows.

This book has so much going for it-a murder house, a horror novel, and a mysterious past laid out from flashbacks. Hawkins also, as she has before, expertly explores the roles and regulations surrounding women, and what happens when a woman tries to subvert the space she has been allotted. I have really enjoyed everything Hawkins has previously written, and this book was no exception.

This marks the second time Maya has watched a woman mysteriously die in front of Frank. The first time was her best friend. Both times Frank didn't touch the women, but somehow Maya knows Frank is responsible. Desperate to figure out what happened, Maya goes back to her hometown to face her past head on.

The premise of this book is a great one, so mysterious and full of so much intrigue. I was pulled in right away. The only thing is that I did guess one of the big twists pretty early on, which took away a bit from my enjoyment of the book. However, there was another big twist I didn't see coming at all, which was very well laid out and revealed.

This isn't a favorite of mine in this genre, but I still enjoyed it.

ARC Reviews: Cozy Mystery Roundup

 I received ARCs of these books from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

I love a mystery set in a bookstore, and this was no exception. The Christie sisters are running their family's historic bookshop, The Book Chalet, when a stranger wanders in acting, well, strangely. Later, this same stranger is found dead on the gondola, and the town is blocked in by a rockslide, meaning all the suspects must stay in place.

This was a fun read. I love the Agatha Christie references, and the workings of the bookstore itself. The Christie sisters are fun, engaging main characters, surrounded by a good supporting cast. The ending was really shocking, and I was really impressed the author went there as opposed to where I think some cozy mysteries might have played it out. I'm excited for the rest of this series.

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. In this entry, Jules and her team at her bakeshop are catering a weekend retreat for a big business, along the Rogue River. But the business' boss is extremely demanding, and the in-fighting among the business team starts almost immediately. When someone is murdered, Jules must help the police determine which among the many suspects most wanted the victim dead.

I love this series for the characters and their relationships. Jules is such a strong female protagonist, and she is surrounded by unique and loveable characters. The setting of Ashland is almost a character in itself, and really comes alive. I always look forward to what Alexander writes next.

Featuring another group of sisters, this time the Juniper sisters, this book is set in a record store/coffee shop, and is the first in the series. When someone is murdered during their opening night party, the Juniper sisters, especially Juni, set out to discover who among the townspeople could possibly have committed this crime.

The Juniper sisters are all strong women with unique personalities, and like many other successful cozy mysteries, they are surrounded by a strong supporting cast. Juni has a past romance and a possibly future romance to sweetly juggle, and the setting of the record store is a fun one. The ending was a real surprise as well. I would like to read the next book in the series when it comes out.