Week 34 Review: Betty Bites Back

From Goodreads:
FEMINIST FICTION TO FRIGHTEN THE PATRIARCHY! 

Behind every successful man is a strong woman... but in these stories, she might be about to plant a knife in his spine. The characters in this anthology are fed up - tired of being held back, held down, held accountable - by the misogyny of the system. They're ready to resist by biting back in their own individual ways, be it through magic, murder, technology, teeth, pitfalls and even... potlucks. Join sixteen writers as they explore feminism in fantasy, science-fiction, fractured fairy-tales, historical settings, and the all-too-familiar chauvinist contemporary world. 

Introduction by the Editors 

The news in the past few years has been full of women - nasty women, angry women, persistent women, women in pink knitted hats. There's been pushback, but there’s also been overwhelming support. With this anthology we wanted to add our own encouragement. This collection of sixteen tales comes from writers who picked up their pens to add their words to the resistance. 

You're helping, too. By buying this book - and reading it - you're allowing our words to find a space inside your head, to plant a seed, and to offer a different perspective. We hope you enjoy these tales, but more importantly, we hope they make you think about the position of women in the world, how our everyday lives are different from a man's - and in many ways, even different from each other's experiences. 

We all have our own tale. A cat-call. An unwanted touch. A joke at the water cooler... and those are just the micro-aggressions. Other stories make the news. But we're making our own headlines now, with marches, demonstrations and - in our own small way - this book. 

Thank you for joining us as we bite back. 

- Mindy McGinnis, Demitria Lunetta, and Kate Karyus Quinn 

My Review:
Yeah, wow, this book was a really awesome read! The whole concept behind this collection is fighting back against the patriarchy, which is pretty awesome. The patriarchy sometimes makes me boil at the unfairness. So taking it on in stories, I just had to read it!

I enjoyed all of these stories. There was one where the ending, I didn't like so much, it was pretty well written, but the story itself...it was good but I didn't like the direction that it went. Because oh, there are going to be consequences for this and it's not fair!

The first story is about 3 pages long. And there's 2 I believe that are more poetry. So there's a few variations so I never knew what to expect, how many more pages were left for each story. It had me racing and devouring this book!

I don't have a clear stand out favourite. This collection was pretty great, but it was about even, there weren't any over the top wow's for me. And that's OK, because like I said, these stories were all at a pretty high level, all together. That's kinda better too, rather than have a stand out, and a bunch of just OK stories. Yep.

Loved this collection, it was an amazing read!

Authors: Liz Coley, Shannon Green, Elaine Griffin, Lindsey Klingele, Kamerhe Lane, Jenna Lehne, Demitria Lunetta, Emilee Martell, Tracie Martin, Cori McCarthy, Kyrie McCauley, Mindy McGinnis, Kate Karyus Quinn, Melody Simpson, Amanda Sun
Read: August 17th, 2019
Source: NetGalley
Reason Why: Loved the collection idea and it's a SAC 2019 Book!
Published: September 16th 2019

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #207, May 25th

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week...and anything in between! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well...you never know where that next "must read" book will come from!

What happened in the past week:

Weekly Memes:
It's Monday! What Are You Reading #206
Teaser Tuesday #214
WWW Wednesday #214
WOW #211
Will the Time Come #207
Third Sentence Thursday #197
Random Reads #182
First Lines Friday #201
The Reward Challenge Update #192
Follow Friday #184
How Well I Stuck to It #36
Wrote that Review Update #41

Week 21 Reviews:
Kissing in America
Killer Instinct
Killer Within
The Memory Key
Beautiful Redemption
Making Pretty

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge:
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Write on Review-a-Thon:
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Update 126 and Wrap Up!!!

Random:
Netgalley & Edelweiss 2015 Reading Challenge Sign Up
Watching Survivor...
S.E. Green Author Page
I Did It! I Finally Did It! Last Milestone, Got It! Yeah!

OK, so I got 152 posts in 7 days, and yeah, I'm really glad that I got all of the reviews done! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read Paperweight, The Night We Said Yes, Things We Know By Heart, Ask Again Later, Better Then Perfect, Magonia, The Memory Key, SeaMonster, Oceanborn, Between Us and the Moon, 15 Days Without a Head, Ghost House, Between the Notes, 99 Days, We Were Liars, No Parking at the End, Love and Other Theories, Rain, Such a Secret Place, Cold Sacrifice, Bone Gap, Rites of Passage, Geek Girl, Model Misfit, Snow Like Ashes, and Hellhole.

Raids splatter across the news--Arcaian soldiers are stealing magic left and right, using it against the people they steal it from.

When sixteen-year-old Ambry Csille's brother gets taken in one of these raids, her utter fear and panic should be enough to invoke tears in any normal world. But for Ambry, tears are a thing of the past.

Because of a spell, people can no longer feel emotion; not enough to cry, and definitely not enough to defend themselves against the tyrannical soldiers stealing her people’s magic. A rare vial of enchanted tears chooses Ambry to reverse the spell, and soon she finds herself the target not only of the Arcaians, but of battle-scarred Talon Haraway, who wants the tears for his own reasons.

All Ambry wants is to rescue her brother, but when her tears get stolen, Ambry determines to work with Talon to get them back. Any day the Arcaians could drink her tears. Any day they’ll succeed at draining her people's magic completely, and all hope will be gone—not only for her brother, but for her world.

S.E. Green Author Page

.The Story: I saw Killer Instinct around, and yeah, it looked really fantastic! And then I was lucky enough to get Killer Within from Edelweiss, and yeah, reading them, they were just so fantastic, and I loved reading them so much! And I can't wait to read more books by S.E. Green!

Website

Series: Killer Instinct, The Specialists.

Killer Instinct: Killer Instinct and her site, my review, Killer Within and her site, my review.

The Specialists: Model Spy and her site, my review, Down to the Wire and her site, my review, The Winning Element and her site, my review, Native Language and her site, my review, Fight to the Finish and her site, my review.

Stand Alone's: Vanished and her site, my review.

Anthologies: Betty Bites Back and my review.

Week 21 Reviews: Killer Instinct, Killer Within

From Goodreads:
She's not evil, but she has certain... urges.

Lane is a typical teenager. Loving family. Good grades. Afterschool job at the local animal hospital. Martial arts enthusiast. But her secret obsession is studying serial killers. She understands them, knows what makes them tick.

Why?

Because she might be one herself.

Lane channels her dark impulses by hunting criminals—delivering justice when the law fails. The vigilantism stops shy of murder. But with each visceral rush the line of self-control blurs.
And then a young preschool teacher goes missing. Only to return... in parts.

When Lane excitedly gets involved in the hunt for "the Decapitator," the vicious serial murderer that has come to her hometown, she gets dangerously caught up in a web of lies about her birth dad and her own dark past. And once the Decapitator contacts Lane directly, Lane knows she is no longer invisible or safe. Now she needs to use her unique talents to find the true killer's identity before she—or someone she loves—becomes the next victim...

From Goodreads:
In the heart-pounding sequel, teen vigilante Lane must face the secrets and unexpected consequences that arise in the wake of her first kill. 

It's been three months since the sadistic Decapitator's demise, and Lane feels both closer to and more alienated than ever from her united, grieving family. Haunted by conflicting memories, she resumes the role of Masked Savior vigilante—but her heart just isn't in it. For Lane now knows the rush of deeper thrills. Darker thrills. And a growing part of her wants to revisit its seductive power.

To Lane's chagrin, the Masked Savior inspires its own fan site, where groupies gather online to praise, document, and debate each delivered act of justice. But then one of Lane's secret admirers becomes a cunning copycat, assaulting the defenseless with escalating violence. And Lane suspects someone is spying on her, edging closer to making contact-someone who knows her secrets. 


Will Lane be able to stop the copycat and keep her identity protected? Or will she give in to the thrills that tempt her? Because as her life continues to unravel, the revelations shake Lane to her core. 

My Review:
Oh, oh, oh, man, reading these books felt good! I haven't been reading as much as I've wanted, I've started a few books, and then just haven't really gotten into them, but then I started reading Killer Instinct, and boy, the pages just flew by! And then Killer Within even topped that!

Lane was a really great character to read about! I could identify with her-I don't feel my emotions, though I know most of the time when I have them. So I think she has it slightly easier, because she does feel more then me! It was pretty easy to identify with her Dexter-esque need, because sometimes, the law isn't enough.

The romance, well, there's the brothers, and how she attracted to the older, but closer in age to the younger, and all that complicated mess. Especially after everything that happened during these books, those were some hard things!

I particularly enjoyed the mystery in these books! Who the killer was in Instinct, and who was the copy cat in Within, were both important people to her in the end, in different ways. The first, just because of who she was, and the second, what she did. Because that was pretty darn bad! Plus j_d_l, and the mystery of who that was, was really great to read, too!

Favourite lines from Killer Within: "I'm sorry. Was that a laugh I just heard?" Yeah, they're rare, but that's some nice teasing!

So fantastic, really great books, and with the way it ended, there could be more books in this series, and that'd be so freaking great!

Author: S.E. Green
Series: Killer Instinct #1, 2
Read: May 19th, 19th, 2015
Source: Tuebl,  Edelweiss
Reason Why: I saw Killer Instinct, and I wanted to read it! And then I got Killer Within, and I just had to read them both! And they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2015 Books and Killer Within is a WoW Book!
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Published: May 6th 2014, May 9th 2015

Killer Instinct:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Killer Within:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

WWW Wednesday #214, May 20th

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you'll read next?

Thanks to MizB of Should Be Writing now A Daily Rhythm for starting this meme!

I'm reading The Memory Key, and it's really awesome! So enjoyable!

I read Killer Within, and it was such a fantastic book! I enjoyed it so much!

I'm going to be reading Beautiful Redemption, and I can't wait to reread it! It's so great!

What about you guys? Happy reading!

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge Update 5

Ok, so I read Killer Within, and yeah, now to read The Memory Key!!!!

My Reading Journey:

Get Dirty by Gretchen McNeil

Started On: May 6th

Finished On: May 6th, 7:54 PM

Pages Read: 268

Feral by Holly Schindler

Started On: May 7th

Finished On: May 7th, 11:19 PM

Pages Read: 280

The Immortal Heights by Sherry Thomas

Started On: May 10th

Finished On: May  10th, 5:50 PM

Pages Read: 282

Kissing in America by Margo

Started On: May 19th

Finished On: May 19th, 12:02 PM

Pages Read: 276

Killer Within by S.E. Green

Started On: May 19th

Finished On: May 19th, 11:49 PM

Pages Read: 306

The Memory Key by Liana Liu

Started On: May 20th

Currently On: Page 10 of 239

Making Pretty by Corey Ann Haydu

Started On: May

Pages Read: 274

Books Read: 5

Goal: 25 Books

Pages Read: 1312

Reading Next: Dust to Dust, This Heart of Mine, The Improbably Theory of Ana & Zak, The Perfectionists, Vanished, Extraordinary Means, Twisted Fate, Endangered, City Love, Even in Paradise, The Secrets of Attraction, The Cost of All Things, No Place to Fall, Relic, Crashland, Playlist for the Dead, Maid of Wonder, Solitaire, The Distance Between Lost and Found, Emmy & Oliver, Dead Over Heels, Messenger of Fear, Heat of the Moment, Falling Into Place, Captive, Everything That Makes You, Little Peach, Emancipated, Night of a Thousand Stars, Moonset, The Boyfriend App, The Pretty App, Anything to Have You, Finding Paris, How to Win at High School, Second Star, Invincible, Divided, Crystal Fire, Take Me On.

Waiting on Wednesday #155, April 23rd

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

The One by Kiera Cass
Expected Publication: May 6th, 2014
From Goodreads:
The time has come for one winner to be crowned.

When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown--or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose--and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.

After the End by Amy Plum
Expected Publication: May 6th, 2014
From Goodreads:
She’s searching for answers to her past. They’re hunting her to save their future.

World War III has left the world ravaged by nuclear radiation. A lucky few escaped to the Alaskan wilderness. They've survived for the last thirty years by living off the land, being one with nature, and hiding from whoever else might still be out there.

At least, this is what Juneau has been told her entire life.

When Juneau returns from a hunting trip to discover that everyone in her clan has vanished, she sets off to find them. Leaving the boundaries of their land for the very first time, she learns something horrifying: There never was a war. Cities were never destroyed. The world is intact. Everything was a lie.

Now Juneau is adrift in a modern-day world she never knew existed. But while she's trying to find a way to rescue her friends and family, someone else is looking for her. Someone who knows the extraordinary truth about the secrets of her past.

The Warrior by Victoria Scott
Expected Publication: May 6th, 2014
From Goodreads:
War between heaven and hell is coming, but Dante Walker makes it look damn good.

Dante’s girlfriend, Charlie, is fated to save the world. And Aspen, the girl who feels like a sister, is an ordained soldier. In order to help both fulfill their destiny and win the war, Dante must complete liberator training at the Hive, rescue Aspen from hell, and uncover a message hidden on an ancient scroll.

Dante is built for battle, but even he can’t handle the nightmares where spiders crawl from Aspen’s eyes, or the look on Charlie’s face that foretells of devastation. To make matters worse, the enemy seizes every opportunity to break inside the Hive and cripple the liberators. But the day of reckoning is fast approaching, and to stand victorious, Dante will have to embrace something inside himself he never has before—faith.  

Chantress Alchemy by Amy Butler Greenfield
Expected Publication:
From Goodreads:
Since defeating Lord Scargrave with her music, Lucy, the last Chantress, has lived by the sea, mastering the intricacies of Wild Magic. But now her quiet life is about to end: the wheat crop has failed, the people are rebelling, and Lucy is called urgently back to King Henry IX’s court. There she finds the Inner Council planning to save England by making gold through alchemy. But the golden crucible — the critical element in the alchemical process — has been stolen, its guards murdered. Lucy is charged with finding the traitor behind the attack. 

Meanwhile, enemies old and new are gathering. Scargrave's brutal Chantress-hunter has become King Henry's closest advisor. Lucy’s beloved Nat has fallen out of favor and is shunned by his colleagues; their romance means trouble for both of them. Worst of all, something goes wrong with Lucy’s magic. The palace is a labyrinth, and there’s a monster at its heart — a monster who may have the power to defeat Lucy once and for all. 

Killer Instinct by S.E. Green
Expected Publication: May 6th, 2014
From Goodreads: 
She’s not evil, but she has certain... urges.

Lane is a typical teenager. Loving family. Good grades. Afterschool job at the local animal hospital. Martial arts enthusiast. But her secret obsession is studying serial killers. She understands them, knows what makes them tick.

Why?

Because she might be one herself.

Lane channels her dark impulses by hunting criminals—delivering justice when the law fails. The vigilantism stops shy of murder. But with each visceral rush the line of self-control blurs.
And then a young preschool teacher goes missing. Only to return... in parts.

When Lane excitedly gets involved in the hunt for “the Decapitator,” the vicious serial murderer that has come to her hometown, she gets dangerously caught up in a web of lies about her birth dad and her own dark past. And once the Decapitator contacts Lane directly, Lane knows she is no longer invisible or safe. Now she needs to use her unique talents to find the true killer’s identity before she—or someone she loves—becomes the next victim...

Savage Drift by Emmy Laybourne
Expected Publication: May 6th, 2014
From Goodreads:
The stunningly fierce conclusion to Emmy Laybourne's Monument 14 trilogy.

The survivors of the Monument 14 have finally made it to the safety of a Canadian refugee camp. Dean and Alex are cautiously starting to hope that a happy ending might be possible.

But for Josie, separated from the group and trapped in a brutal prison camp for exposed Type Os, things have gone from bad to worse. Traumatized by her experiences, she has given up all hope of rescue or safety.

Meanwhile, scared by the government's unusual interest in her pregnancy, Astrid (with her two protectors, Dean and Jake in tow) joins Niko on his desperate quest to be reunited with his lost love Josie.

Oh, another 6 great books! And all of them, well, yeah, I'm waiting on them, pretty impatiently, but there is always another book to read in the meantime! What about you guys? Happy reading!