Week 26 Review: In Want of a Suspect

From Goodreads:

The first book in a thrilling mystery duology that follows Lizzie Bennet and Mr. Darcy from the acclaimed Jane Austen Murder Mystery series!

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that London’s first female solicitor in possession of the details of a deadly crime, must be in want of a suspect.

The tenacious Lizzie Bennet has earned her place at Longbourn, her father’s law firm. Her work keeps her busy, but luckily it gives her plenty of reasons to consult (and steal occasional kisses) with Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, a stern but secretly softhearted solicitor at Pemberley.

Lizzie is hired to investigate a deadly warehouse fire and to find the mysterious woman who was spotted at the scene moments before the flames took hold. But when the case leads to the sitting room of a woman Darcy once proposed marriage to, the delicate balance between personal and professional in their relationship is threatened.

Questions of the future are cast aside when the prime suspect is murdered and Lizzie’s own life is threatened. As the body count rises and their suspicions about what was really going on in the warehouse grow, the pressure is on for Lizzie and Darcy to uncover the truth.

Classic characters with an enthralling twist—Lizzie and Darcy, as introduced in the hit novel Pride and Premeditation, are back for more suspense, danger, and romance!

My Review:


Author: Tirzah Price 
Series: A Lizzie & Darcy Mystery #1
Read: June 26th, 2024  
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Love her writing and these characters, and it's a Historical Fiction 2024 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2024 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Harper Teen
Expected Publication: November 12th 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 26 Review: The Fate of Magic

From Goodreads:

The breathtaking sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller Night of the Witch culminates with a sweeping romance and an epic battle to determine the fate of magic…and the world.

Fritzi is a champion. After escaping the clutches of Dieter Kirch, the sadistic leader of the witch hunters, Fritzi and Otto have taken refuge among the witches of the Black Forest. Fritzi is finally ready to assume her place on the council as the coven's goddess-chosen champion. Plagued by distrust and self-doubt, Fritzi throws herself into her duty to serve the goddesses . . . until she uncovers a powerful secret that could mean the very undoing of magic itself.

Otto is a warrior. He swears himself to Fritzi as her bonded protector, certain the peaceful unity of a witch and hunter will heal the wounds he helped make. But as the horrifying plot that threatens the Black Forest's magic comes to light, Otto will have to face his both his past and what it means to bind himself to a magic he does not fully understand.

Shadows loom. Truths are revealed. And as dangers new and old arise, Fritzi and Otto must stand together against everything that threatens magic—even if the biggest threat might be the very bond they share.

My Review:


Authors: Sara Raasch and Beth Revis  
Series: Witch and Hunter #2 
Read: June 26th, 2024
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Love their writing and the first book, and it's an End of Series 2024 Book, Historical Fiction 2024 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2024 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire 
Expected Publication: October 1st 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 26 Review: The Unwedding

From Goodreads:

Ellery Wainwright is alone at the edge of the world.

She and her husband, Luke, were supposed to spend their twentieth wedding anniversary together at the luxurious Resort at Broken Point in Big Sur, California. Where better to celebrate a marriage, a family, and a life together than at one of the most stunning places on earth?

But now she's traveling solo.

To add insult to injury, there's a wedding at Broken Point scheduled during her stay. Ellery remembers how it felt to be on the cusp of everything new and wonderful, with a loved and certain future glimmering just ahead. Now, she isn't certain of anything except for her love for her kids and her growing realization that this place, though beautiful, is unsettling.

When Ellery discovers the body of the groom floating in the pool in the rain, she realizes that she is not the only one whose future is no longer guaranteed. Before the police can reach Broken Point, a mudslide takes out the road to the resort, leaving the guests trapped. When another guest dies, it's clear something horrible is brewing.

Everyone at Broken Point has a secret. And everyone has a shadow. Including Ellery.

My Review:
This was such a delight to read! I love her writing, and I was excited to see what her adult debut would be like. I had such a great time with this mystery, of a new divorcée going on a trip that they both were supposed to take, on their wedding anniversary, when a wedding that was supposed to take place falls through, and finding the body of the groom the next morning? Yeah, that was such an interesting set up!

Ellery is mourning the death of the life she thought she was going to live, with the divorce her husband wanted, and now that the first wedding anniversary since the divorce is upon her, well, this vacation that they were supposed to go on seemed like a good idea. But that was before the deaths, and before the mudslide, trapping them at the resort. 

For some reason, I kept thinking that Ellery's accident that she kept thinking about, was going to connect to the accident that killed Ben's parents. Not how it turned out, but that was just my thought of why it kept popping up, besides the trauma that it caused her. 

This cast of characters was pretty fantastic, I really enjoyed Nina and Ravi, they had an interesting dynamic and were so much fun to read about, watching as the 3 of them investigated what was going on. That it's a version of a locked room mystery, and all these pieces of information, from who was at the resort to details about the art and which one was stolen, I loved it! And that ending with that lightbulb moment, was brilliant! It was a thrilling end to the story!

Loved reading this book, and I can't wait to read more by Allie Condie! 

Author: Ally Condie 
Read: June 26th, 2024
Source: NetGalley
Reason Why: Love her writing, and it's a SAC 2024 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: June 4th 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 26 Review: A Complicated Love Story Set in Space

From Goodreads:

Black Mirror meets What If It's Us in this gripping, romantic, and wildly surprising novel about two boys lost in space trying to find their way home—while falling in love—from the critically acclaimed author of We Are the Ants.

When Noa closes his eyes on Earth and wakes up on a spaceship called Qriosity just as it's about to explode, he's pretty sure things can't get much weirder.

Boy is he wrong.

Trapped aboard Qriosity are also DJ and Jenny, neither of whom remember how they got onboard the ship. Together, the three face all the dangers of space, along with murder, aliens, a school dance, and one really, really bad day. But none of this can prepare Noa for the biggest challenge—falling in love. And as Noa's feelings for DJ deepen, he has to contend not just with the challenges of the present, but also with his memories of the past.

However, nothing is what it seems on Qriosity, and the truth will upend all of their lives forever.

Love is complicated enough without also trying to stay alive.

My Review:


Author: Shaun David Hutchinson
Read: June 25th, 2024
Source: Ebook.bike  
Reason Why: Sounded really good and I love his writing, and it's a SAC 2024 Book! 
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: January 19th 2021

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 26 Review: Voyage of the Damned

From Goodreads:

The TikTok sensation from the UK has come to North America! The special first edition hardcover will include a gorgeous, shimmering jacket with effects, beautifully illustrated endpapers and detailed-stained edges.

A mind-blowing murder mystery on a ship full of magical passengers. If Agatha Christie wrote fantasy, this would be it!

For a thousand years, Concordia has maintained peace between its provinces. To mark this incredible feat, the emperor's ship embarks upon a twelve-day voyage to the sacred Goddess's Mountain. Aboard are the twelve heirs of the provinces of Concordia, each graced with a unique and secret magical ability known as a Blessing.

All except one: Ganymedes Piscero—class clown, slacker and all-around disappointment.

When a beloved heir is murdered, everyone is a suspect. Stuck at sea and surrounded by powerful people and without a Blessing to protect him, Ganymedes's odds of survival are slim.

But as the bodies pile higher, Ganymedes must become the hero he was not born to be. Can he unmask the killer and their secret Blessing before this bloody crusade reaches the shores of Concordia?

Or will the empire as he knows it fall?

My Review:
This was such a fantastic read! It sounded really good, and the idea of a mystery in a fantasy world, I just had to read it! Ganymedes-Dee-is reluctant and doesn't want to be taken on this voyage, off to the start of the rest of his life of having to living a lie. And then the murders start happening, and he's a pretty good detective.

This world was so interesting to read, with the different provinces and animals, each one with a Blessed with a Blessing. The history of the world and the politics, with the cast-out Crabs, and the Goddess who gave them these blessings, it was such an interesting set up! And of course there were those who were considered higher than others, with Fish, Dee's province, at the bottom. That mentality, of Uppers and Lowers, oh, it was pretty infuriating, especially when those Lowers do things like food and protection.

Things start off pretty much right away with a shocking death, and oh, this was such an interesting mystery! I really enjoyed watching Dee and a few other of the heirs come together to investigate, as the situation became more and more urgent and dire! Their swarm, oh, that was so heartwarming, but also scary, given the secrets he was keeping.

The reveal, though, of what had happened? Yeah, that was so shocking, and it explained so much, of the things that didn't hadn't made sense-with that piece of information, they did. It was so rewarding, that ending! I loved that he found out who he wanted to be, and was happy with who he was. He had a journey of self-discovery as they were on this murder boatride, and I loved it! 

Loved reading this book, and I can't wait to read more by Frances White! 

Author: Frances White
Read: June 25th, 2024 
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Sounded really great, and it's a DAC Book, SAC 2024 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: MIRA
Expected Publication: August 20th 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 26 Review: Sunbringer

From Goodreads:

Return to the world of Godkiller in this thrilling sequel to the #1 internationally bestselling fantasy debut

When Middren falls to the gods, your kind will be the first to die.

Gods are forbidden in the kingdom of Middren—but now they are stirring, whispering of war. Godkiller Kissen sacrificed herself to vanquish the fire god Hseth, who murdered her family and endangered her friends. But gods cannot be destroyed so easily, and Hseth’s power threatens to reform with even greater strength and a thirst for vengeance. As tensions rise throughout the land, the kingdom needs its Godkiller more than ever.

Still reeling from the loss of Kissen, young noble Inara and her little god of white lies, Skedi, have set out to discover more about the true nature of their bond. As the divide between gods and humans widens, Inara and Skedi will uncover secrets that could determine the fate of the war to come.

Meanwhile, Elogast, no longer a loyal knight of King Arren, has been tasked with killing the man he once called friend. The king vowed to eradicate all gods throughout the land, but has now entered into an unholy pact with the most dangerous of them all. And where his heart once beat, a god now burns. . .

My Review:


Author: Hannah Kaner
Series: Fallen Gods #2
Read: June 25th, 2024 
Source: Bought 
Reason Why: Loved the first book, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2024 Book and Sophomore Challenge Book! 
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Published: March 12th 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 26 Review: A Ruse of Shadows

From Goodreads:

Charlotte Holmes is accustomed to solving crimes, not being accused of them, but she finds herself in a dreadfully precarious position as the bestselling Lady Sherlock series continues.

Charlotte's success on the RMS Provence has afforded her a certain measure of time and assurance. Taking advantage of that, she has been busy, plotting to prise the man her sister loves from Moriarty's iron grip.

Disruption, however, comes from an unexpected quarter. Lord Bancroft Ashburton, disgraced and imprisoned as a result of Charlotte's prior investigations, nevertheless manages to press Charlotte into service: Underwood, his most loyal henchman, is missing and Lord Bancroft wants Charlotte to find Underwood, dead or alive.

But then Lord Bancroft himself turns up dead and Charlotte, more than anyone else, meets the trifecta criteria of motive, means, and opportunity. Never mind rescuing anyone else, with the law breathing down her neck, can Charlotte save herself from prosecution for murder?

My Review:
I had a fantastic time reading this book! I really enjoy these characters and these mysteries, and this was another really crafted mystery, with a bunch of moving parts and pieces that don't seem to fit together until they do and I couldn't get enough! 

I'm pretty sure that this series has done it before, playing with the timeline. This one kept going back and forth, with Charlotte being investigated for Lord Bancroft's death, and the events leading up to it. I loved watching everything come together! 

Of course, the mystery was so fantastic! There were a few things running throughout the story, like a locked room mystery that was almost a cold case.  There was Bancroft's missing right hand. All these disparate story threads, and I loved watching as they pulled together! 

Oh, but watching the night of Bancroft's death, and everything that went down, I had to know what was going to happen next, just what had been plotted! I couldn't get enough and it was so thrilling to read to see it all play out!

This was a fantastic read and I can't wait for the next instalment! 

 
Author: Sherry Thomas 
Series: Lady Sherlock #8
Read: June 25th, 2024
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a Historical Fiction 2024 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2024 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Berkley
Published: June 25th 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 26 Review: Reign of the Fallen

From Goodreads:

Odessa is one of Karthia's master necromancers, catering to the kingdom's ruling Dead. Whenever a noble dies, it's Odessa's job to raise them by retrieving their souls from a dreamy and dangerous shadow world called the Deadlands. But there is a cost to being raised--the Dead must remain shrouded, or risk transforming into zombie-like monsters known as Shades. If even a hint of flesh is exposed, the grotesque transformation will begin.

A dramatic uptick in Shade attacks raises suspicions and fears among Odessa's necromancer community. Soon a crushing loss of one of their own reveals a disturbing conspiracy: someone is intentionally creating Shades by tearing shrouds from the Dead--and training them to attack. Odessa is faced with a terrifying question: What if her necromancer's magic is the weapon that brings Karthia to its knees?

My Review:
I had a really great time reading this book! This world of the different magics, and how Necromancers worked with the Dead and the Shades, it was so interesting to read! And oh, these characters, I cared for what they had going on in their lives! 

Odessa has been training most of her life to become a Master Necromancer. Alongside her is Evander, which was a bit of a red flag for me-most of the time, if there's an existing relationship at the start of the book, then something is going to go wrong. When the Shades become more prevalent and the situation gets more tense, well, it wasn't a surprise when he was killed. 

Watching Odessa deal with her grief as well as this mounting threat with the Shades was really interesting. She didn't want to worry her friends or cause them grief while this is going on, but they care for her. So I really enjoyed watching their tough love. 

That reveal of who was behind it all, that was really great! It was such a tense scene, with high emotions. Like, this dude was so entitled and he wanted more, and oh, I hated him for what he did. To see him thwarted, that was really satisfying to read and I'm happy with where we left these characters!

This was a fantastic read and I can't wait to read the sequel! 

Author: Sarah Glenn Marsh
Series: Reign of the Fallen #1
Read: June 25th, 2024
Source: Library
Reason Why: It sounded really god, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge Book and it's a Sophomore Challenge Book! 
Publisher: Listening Library
Published: January 23rd 2018

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 26 Review: Otherworldly

From Goodreads:

A skeptic and a supernatural being make a crossroads deal to achieve their own ends only to get more than they bargained for in this lively young adult romantic adventure from the New York Times bestselling author of Spell Bound and So This Is Ever After.

Seventeen-year-old Ellery is a non-believer in a region where people swear the supernatural is real. Sure, they've been stuck in a five-year winter, but there's got to be a scientific explanation. If goddesses were real, they wouldn’t abandon their charges like this, leaving farmers like Ellery's family to scrape by.

Knox is a familiar from the Other World, a magical assistant sent to help humans who have made crossroads bargains. But it's been years since he heard from his queen, and Knox is getting nervous about what he might find once he returns home. When the crossroads demons come to collect Knox, he panics and runs. A chance encounter down an alley finds Ellery coming to Knox's rescue, successfully fending off his would-be abductors.

Ellery can't quite believe what they've seen. And they definitely don't believe the nonsense this unnervingly attractive guy spews about his paranormal origins. But Knox needs to make a deal with a human who can tether him to this realm, and Ellery needs to figure out how to stop this winter to help their family. Once their bargain is struck, there's no backing out, and the growing connection between the two might just change everything.

My Review:
This was such an adorable read! I've really been enjoying F.T. Luken's writing, and I can't wait to read more of their books! I think I just have In Deeper Waters left of this run of queer stand alone books left to read, and I do want to!

This set up of a world that has these gods that are pretty tangible, to have bargains with, was an interesting world to get to know. That this lady makes a deal because she doesn't want to die-leading her to make a potion, where, upon the completion of it, she is promptly killed, yeah, things got going pretty quickly! 

I really enjoyed reading about Ellery and Knox, who end up making a bargain so Knox can stay longer to figure out what was causing the perpetual winter. Watching them fulfill Knox's bucket list made from watching tv was so lovely to read!

When all the pieces came together, about the cause of the freeze, yeah, that was so fantastic! The lengths that Ellery went for Knox, the bargains made, when Knox didn't remember because his memories are wiped when he goes back, yeah, loved that, and how it turned out!

This was a fantastic read and I need to read more by F.L. Lukens and catch up with their books! 

Author: F.T. Lukens 
Read: June 24th, 2024
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Love his writing and it sounded really great, and it's a SAC 2024 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published: April 2nd 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 26 Review: What the Woods Took

From Goodreads:

Yellowjackets meets Girl, Interrupted when a group of troubled teens in a wilderness therapy program find themselves stranded in a forest full of monsters eager to take their place.

Devin Green wakes in the middle of the night to find two men in her bedroom. No stranger to a fight, she calls to her foster parents for help, but it soon becomes clear this is a planned abduction—one everyone but Devin signed up for. She's shoved in a van and driven deep into the Idaho woods, where sh's dropped off with a cohort of equally confused teens. Finally, two camp counselors inform them that they've all been enrolled in an experimental therapy program. If the campers can learn to change their self-destructive ways—and survive a fifty-days hike through the wilderness—they'll come out the other side as better versions of themselves. Or so the counselors say.

Devin is immediately determined to escape. She's also determined to ignore Sheridan, the cruel-mouthed, lavender-haired bully who mocks every group exercise. But there's something strange about these woods—inhuman faces appearing between the trees, visions of people who shouldn't be there flashing in the leaves—and when the campers wake up to find both counselors missing, therapy becomes the least of their problems. Stranded and left to fend for themselves, the teens quickly realize they'll have to trust each other if they want to survive. But what lies in the woods may not be as dangerous as what the campers are hiding from each other—and if the monsters have their way, no one will leave the woods alive.

Atmospheric and sharp, What the Woods Took is a poignant story of transformation that explores the price of becoming someone—or something—new.

My Review:


Author: Courtney Gould 
Read: June 24th, 2024
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Love her writing, and it's a SAC 2024 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Expected Publication: December 10th 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 26 Review: Keep This to Yourself

From Goodreads:

It's been a year since the Catalog Killer terrorized the sleepy seaside town of Camera Cove, killing four people before disappearing without a trace. Like everyone else in town, eighteen-year-old Mac Bell is trying to put that horrible summer behind him―easier said than done since Mac's best friend Connor was the murderer's final victim. But when he finds a cryptic message from Connor, he's drawn back into the search for the killer―who might not have been a random drifter after all. Now nobody―friends, neighbors, or even the sexy stranger with his own connection to the case―is beyond suspicion. Sensing that someone is following his every move, Mac struggles to come to terms with his true feelings towards Connor while scrambling to uncover the truth.

My Review:


Author: Tom Ryan
Read: June 24th, 2024
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Sounded really great, and it's a SAC 2024 Book!
Publisher: AW Teen
Published: May 21st 2019

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 26 Review: A Bright Heart

From Goodreads:

What if you could avenge your own murder? A brilliant young woman gets a second chance at life in this debut YA tale of vengeance, court intrigue, and romance, inspired by classic Chinese tropes.

 

Mingshin outsmarted three princes to help the man she loved become king. But she doesn't see Ren's betrayal coming, not until she's lying in a pool of her own blood on the palace steps.

 

As she's dying, Mingshin makes a desperate plea to the gods to turn back time and give her a chance to make things right.

 

Mingshin wakes up two years earlier, her prayer granted, and swears two things: Ren will never become king, and she will never fall in love again.

 

But the timeline in this life has changed: a dignitary gifted with dark magic is threatening her kingdom's peace, and Ren's thirst for power runs deeper than Mingshin could have imagined. 

 

She finds herself allying with Jieh, another contender for the throne. Mingshin knows better than anyone not to give her heart to a prince. But in the viper's nest of the royal court, she and Jieh prove a phenomenal team. Can Mingshin avert the catastrophe of her past by once again learning to trust…and maybe even love? 

My Review:


Author: Kate Chenli 

Series: A Bright Heart #1
Read: June 24th, 2024
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a DAC Book and a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2024 Book!
Publisher: Union Square Books 
Published: October 17th 2023

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 26 Review: Cool for the Summer

From Goodreads:

Dahlia Adler's 'COOL FOR THE SUMMER' is a story of self-discovery and new love. It's about the things we want and the things we need. And it's about the people who will let us be who we are.

Lara's had eyes for exactly one person throughout her three years of high school: Chase Harding. He's tall, strong, sweet, a football star, and frankly, stupid hot. Oh, and he's talking to her now. On purpose and everything. Maybe...flirting, even? No, wait, he's definitely flirting, which is pretty much the sum of everything Lara's wanted out of life.

Except she's haunted by a memory. A memory of a confusing, romantic, strangely perfect summer spent with a girl named Jasmine. A memory that becomes a confusing, disorienting present when Jasmine herself walks through the front doors of the school to see Lara and Chase chatting it up in front of the lockers.

Lara has everything she ever wanted: a tight-knit group of friends, a job that borders on cool, and Chase, the boy of her literal dreams. But if she's finally got the guy, why can't she stop thinking about the girl?

My Review:
I had a really great time reading this book! The idea of finally being noticed by the guy you've had a crush on for ages-and the girl that you had something with this summer now being at your school-yeah, I had to know what was going to happen next!

Honestly, that would be such a crappy situation to be in, that she basically made obsessing over this guy her personality, and for him to notice her at the same time that her summer fling, basically, starts going to her school. That these two are different genders adds another layer to it all. 

The way that this story was told back and forth, between her present back at school, and this past summer, while she was having this thing with Jasmine. To see their growing relationship while also seeing it not exist, but those feelings still being there, complicating things, yeah, it was so good! 

I had a really fantastic time Lara deal with her conflicting feelings for these different people, and figuring out who and what she wanted most, and making some difficult decisions. The ending was a tad abrupt for my tastes, but I always want more of an outro! 

It was so great to read this book and I'd love to read more by Dahlia Adler! 

Author: Dahlia Adler 
Read: June 24th, 2024 
Source: Library
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a SAC 2024 Book! 
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Published: May 11th 2011

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars