This was a genuinely terrifying book. Right off the bat, readers are introduced to a couple, Eli and Selene, whose relationship is obviously in turmoiThis was a genuinely terrifying book. Right off the bat, readers are introduced to a couple, Eli and Selene, whose relationship is obviously in turmoil. Getting away to “reset” and save their relationship, the trip takes a dark turn when she takes her own life. The rest of the book follows Eli navigating his grief, becoming embroiled in a cult that Selene’s death may or may not have been a part of or the catalyst of, and meeting others who have experienced the same loss. The prose was descriptive and overarching, creating a tense atmosphere throughout that kept the reader engaged. The short sentences were snappy and served to create more tension throughout. I found it interesting to have the paranormal influence mixed in with virtual reality/AI science fiction (or rather, probably feasible in this day and age). It created a story that was within reach in our world, and showed the dangers of using VR to deal with grief (or ignore it entirely).
I really enjoyed this book. If you’re looking for a short, horror read, this one is for you! There were twists that I didn’t see coming and made the payoff in the end feel warranted. ...more
When I say the sequel topped her debut (Echo's End), I mean it in the way her prose is so lyrical and haunting that there were goosebumps the entire tWhen I say the sequel topped her debut (Echo's End), I mean it in the way her prose is so lyrical and haunting that there were goosebumps the entire time. She has such a gift for writing that I found myself just re-reading sentences to fully appreciate the scene she had painted.
Now to the characters. Caden, Theron, Jira and Nova take center stage as they navigate what remains of the world as they know it. One fights to find his brother, putting aside his own fear and guilt in order to find him at any cost. One fights against the fate thrust upon him, then accepts what he has been giving—and what he can make. One desires to see the world remade, not in their image, but with hope and community. And the last hoped to carry on their family’s legacy, before finding purpose in a new life, with a new name.
I used “haunted” in the first paragraph intentionally, because thats exactly how I felt. The themes of hope, of love, of loyalty and agency are woven deeply into this story. There’s a character that connects with each of us I think.
But I’ll leave you with my favorite quote, and then urge you to pick this duology up and support an indie artist who deserves way more credit than she has:
“She thought of how silence had once been safety. And how now, it was just another kind of death.” ...more
Another thriller that kept me hooked until the end! When a gender reveal goes wrong and someone ends up dead, the ATF is called in where the past collAnother thriller that kept me hooked until the end! When a gender reveal goes wrong and someone ends up dead, the ATF is called in where the past collides with the present in unravelling a rich couple’s secrets. This multi-POV book had a really fantastic twist at the end that I in no way so coming—it was so much better than I was expecting out of the character. The main character, Madeline doesn’t know who to trust, the strange woman she took pity on and offered her a place to stay, her husband who she’s sure has a wandering eye, or her estranged step-sister who she hasn’t seen since their huge falling out months ago. Alternatively, the ATF agent has his own past to contend with, nearly losing his life in this very town as well as his sister, whose case remains unsolved. But will this case break it all wide open and provide details from almost 30 years ago?
The characters were compelling, the setting was eerie, the unsolved murders weighed heavy on the town and its occupants. I would definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a good mystery!
Thank you @netgalley for this ARC! I absolutely loved it!...more
This was such a fun, quick read. I was hooked by the pitch that it was a horror psychological novella set in a western backdrop and it came through! TThis was such a fun, quick read. I was hooked by the pitch that it was a horror psychological novella set in a western backdrop and it came through! The FMC, Bea, is escaping her father’s cruelty and making her way west. When she lands a job as a caretaker in the home of a small town’s physician, she’s drawn into a trap she can’t get out of, and must confront the shadows of herself she hasn’t been willing to admit.
This was a really interesting look into the ambiguity of morality and the lens in which both men and women see the world. There’s deep feminist themes that run through it, and a raw take on how far people push themselves to survive or become someone they don’t recognize. This was a great read, and one that tickled that part of my brain that craves something haunting. It made me think of William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” in the beginning which I LOVED. I think the only thing that would’ve made this a five star read was to explain less and let the reader draw their own conclusions. There was a lot that was explicitly explained at the very end that took me out of the story. But ultimately, the setting was described to create a truly haunting atmosphere, the horror kept me tense the entire time, and the underlying themes kept me thinking about it long after I finished.
Thank you @netgalley and @bookedwiththeemilys for this ARC! ...more
“Everything I had worked for, all my years of study, had been to purchase for myself this one privilege: to see and experience more truths than those “Everything I had worked for, all my years of study, had been to purchase for myself this one privilege: to see and experience more truths than those given to me by my father, and to use those truths to construct my own mind. I had come to believe that the ability to evaluate many ideas, many histories, many points of view, was at the heart of what it means to self-create.”
It’s been a while since I’ve read a memoir, and I’m so happy my book club picked this as our next read. I felt all the anger I did while reading the Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls, but this one was founded different kinds of entrapment that kept her tied to her family long after she could’ve chosen her own peace and safety. Tara Westover was born into a survivalist mormon family in rural Idaho where her father was very outspoken about his conspiracies against any authority. Her and her six siblings worked in their father’s scrap yard in shockingly unsafe conditions and received all her healthcare from her mother who worked as midwife and naturalist. Having received no formal education, she taught herself how to study, got into BYU, then receive a PhD from Cambridge and a fellowship at Harvard, seeing the world through a lens untold from her father. It fact, it was at BYU where she first learned anything of the Civil Rights movement, WWII, etc. Until then, she had no idea the history that had shaped the world.
This was a difficult book to read, but even harder to put down. She was bold in looking beyond the abuse of her family and rising above it, still wanting to make amends even when her safety was in jeopardy. Her love and loyalty to them was unparalleled and felt in every page, even in journals where she tried to rewrite certain events to make it appear that she had misremembered, but she knew she had not. The portrait of both physical and emotional abuse from her own family was raw and heartbreaking, making it even more of a feat for her forgiveness of them and eventually choosing her own peace.
Tara and the few of her siblings who were able to tear themselves away from the abuse made inspirational lives for themselves away from the mountain they grew up on. They chose education, not only in the formal sense, but in the way to see the world differently than only the way they had been taught, and to form their own conclusions.
This will stick with me for some time. If you’ve been thinking about reading this, think on it no more and pick it up!...more
This was such a refreshing fantasy read with world building that absolutely blew me away with how immersive and vast it was, and presented in such a wThis was such a refreshing fantasy read with world building that absolutely blew me away with how immersive and vast it was, and presented in such a way that never felt info-dumpy. The protagonist, Raelyn is a headstrong, morally driven woman with a kind heart that rivals the her true purpose that connects her to the will of the gods. On the otherhand, the antagonist, Saraht is less of a villain and more of a righteous vigilante, also harboring the same terrible purpose as Raelyn but with different plans for it.
The plot twisted with action around every corner and the threads of friendship are forged and tested throughout the trials the protagonists go through. Even the romance subplot was sweet without distracting from the plot, only adding to it in ways I didn’t expect. Lastly, I loved that each woman in this story was strong in their own way, all refusing to be victims.
This book is out August 5th, so RUN to add this one to your Goodreads and pre-order your copy today! A huge thank you to @bookedwiththeemilys @goldenscalespublishing for my #gifted ARC. It’s a tragic day when I’m already yearning for the sequel and the first one hasn’t even released yet. Well done @hidden.gems.books, this was an absolutely fantastic read!! ...more
3.5 ⭐️ This ARC was such a fun read that deviated from every other fantasy book out there. There is so much potential for this book and series, and I’3.5 ⭐️ This ARC was such a fun read that deviated from every other fantasy book out there. There is so much potential for this book and series, and I’m definitely interested in reading the next one! There was great worldbuilding that felt vast, there was action that saw each character react differently in their own way, and there was mystery that kept the reader turning the page. That being said, I would’ve loved to see more character development. I found myself more invested in the side characters, and annoyed with the FMC. Their motivations seemed a little forced, or perhaps not explained enough. There was also a lot of imagery that was repeated throughout that was over the top and took me out of the story several times. Plot wise, there is sooo much of premise that I loved, it was original and eloquent, but the pacing was slow and didn’t pick up until past the midway point. Regardless, this was still a great read, and I’d definitely finish this series, if only to get past the cliff hangar—I have no idea where the story will go from here on, whereas some of the mysteries throughout this one felt very obvious. So, if you love romantasies, then I think you’ll enjoy this one! The MMC was honorable and loyal, the tension between them was palpable, and theres a larger mystery at play that will pull you through to the end! ...more
I started this book over a year ago and only just now finished it. I frankly have no idea why it took me so long, I can only assume I was just anxiousI started this book over a year ago and only just now finished it. I frankly have no idea why it took me so long, I can only assume I was just anxious for the outcome and all the pieces to fall where they may. The previous books I flew through back to back, so I wonder if it was just a similar case to holding your hand over your eyes during a movie. Anyway— what a story. What an ending. Nonstop chills throughout the last twenty or so chapters. There were a few times I teared up even. This was such a beautiful story of hope, love, sacrifice, living through grief, and pushing for the light even when the darkness is overwhelming. Everything came so full circle, every character so well fleshed out. There’s a reason this series is popular, and I’m happy I finally finished it. Throughout the entire series, there’s a character in there for every type of person to see themselves in. I’ll hold them close to my heart and fear it will take some time to get over this story being over. ...more
I was so excited to read this book for Claudia and counted down the days until release. The only reason I even found her on threads was beca⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was so excited to read this book for Claudia and counted down the days until release. The only reason I even found her on threads was because she posted a picture of this absolutely gorgeous cover and if you know me, you know I love any premise inspired by Dune! Readers, she did NOT disappoint. This debut felt so transformative with a story that felt large and immersive at its core. The writing style was so vastly different than what’s out there right now, a true testament to what makes indie authors so fantastic. The diction was haunting and omnipresent, creating an atmosphere of ancient intrigue. I loved it, and had to force myself to slow down so I didn’t devour it in hours. The readers follow the protagonist, Caden, as he loses everything and meets Jira, a healer with a pure heart. Together, they begin to uncover the fate Caden has in the very fabric of magic and reality, all while driven by his desire to find his brother. The setting, descriptions and environment are so well described, I could have been right there beside Caden the whole time.
This book feels larger than life, and I cannot wait to read the sequel to it!! If you’re looking for your next scifi-fantasy read, I cannot recommend this one enough! ...more
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