Master Artificer, by Justin T. Call

 

Master Artificer, by Justin T. Call

Silent Gods - book #2

Blackstone Publishing - May 18, 2021 

Fantasy
E-book

817 Pages

* I received this digital ARC courtesy of Blackstone Publishing, via NetGalley, in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.

In Master Artificer we continue with the exciting and epic story that began with Master of Sorrows, the first book in the Silent Gods series. If you haven't read that book yet, what are you waiting for? You can learn more about that first book by reading my review HERE 

This second installment is a beast of a book - and I mean that in the very best way. It rings in at well over 800 pages, and each of those pages has something to offer the story. 

We pick up where we left off at the end of Master of Sorrows. Chaenbalu lies in ruins, as does much of the beliefs Annev held prior to those events. Annev, and his friends forge ahead, to the city of Luqura. Annev is seeking to learn more about his magic, how to control it, and a way to remove the prosthetic that has melded itself to his body. This story is anything but the classical clear-cut good versus evil. Annev discovers that choices are not always so black and white, and once one's options offer nothing but choices in the grey, it is easy to stumble onto a darker path before you know it. 

Call is a master in his own rights. The world building is on point, but the character building in this book is extraordinary.  Although Annev is considered the "main character" and it is his story that brings us to this book, from here we now see separate storylines emerge for several other characters whose rolls are not just "supporting actors", but are integral to the story. The result is a book that is rich, epic, and multi-faceted, as well as thoroughly captivating. 

If you are looking for a fantasy series that is light and bright and feel-good, this may not be the one for you; but if you are looking for an epic fantasy you can sink your teeth into, with dark threads and morally ambiguous characters, this series is sure to fit the bill. 

Happy Reading,

Christine

Honey Talk, by Declan Davey

 

Honey Talk, by Declan Davey

Indie/Small Press - 2019
Thriller - Psychological
E-book

289 Pages

* I received this digital review copy courtesy of the author's rep in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.

Lily knows she needs therapy, but therapy isn't cheap, and paying to tell her deepest darkest secrets to a complete stranger isn't too appealing to her either.  When Lily's friend Zayan is nearing the completion of his training to be a psychologist, Lily manipulates the situation by offering to "act" as a patient for him to practice on.  Lily is pleased with her resourcefulness - what could go wrong?  Lily creates a persona named Madison for their therapy sessions.  But while Madison isn't real, her problems are.  Stemming from childhood trauma, they are firmly rooted. Can Lily handle the therapy sessions?  Can Zayan?

This story was engaging and had a good plot.  The story is told in alternating timelines between Lily's struggles in the present and flashbacks to her traumatic past.  Her deterioration though subtle at first, gains momentum and carries the plot to the final exciting pages of the book. 

Honey Talk is a refreshing take on the the popular Thriller genre. A short, quick-paced book well worth the read.  

Note: Honey Talk is described as book one of  the Talk Series. As of this writing, the second book has not been released for sale. 

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: The Dilemma, by B. A. Paris

The Dilemma, by B. A. Paris

St. Martin's Press - June 30, 2020
General Fiction
E-book

305 pages

* I received this digital ARC courtesy of St. Martin's Press, via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.

A moving tale of love, loss, and the ties that bind. 

I loved Paris' first three thrilling novels, so when I saw that she had another book in the wings, I could not say yes fast enough!  This book is a departure from her early writing style though.  Rather than a nail biting thriller, this book is more a work of general or literary fiction. There is no real edge of your seat, bite your nails tension, or get you from out of nowhere twists - but her writing is still solid in this diversion from her previous work. 

Livia has dreamed for years of having the perfect party for her fortieth birthday, and her loving husband Adam has done what he can to give her the party of her dreams. The Marquee tent is set up, and all of Livia's most cherished friends and family will be there - all except their daughter Marnie who is living overseas that is. Livia doesn't know it yet, but Adam has arranged for Marnie to come home as a surprise! But as the final touches are being seen to for the party, Adam is burdened with a secret that may destroy Livia. As he struggles to keep his secret, she too is heavily burdened with the weight of a secret. As the evening progresses, and the weight of these secrets threatens to suffocate them both, neither knows that the other is also carrying a secret that can destroy their world as they know it. 

As I mentioned earlier, this is a new genre and style for Paris. I love her crazy twisted thrillers, and if that is what you are looking for, you should know that his book doesn't have that edge - but it does have heart.  I found it a little slow moving, but certainly not unbearably so. All in all, a worthy read, and a good first foray into something new for Paris.

Happy Reading,

Christine

Quick Review: The Red Lotus, by Chris Bohjalian

The Red Lotus, by Chris Bohjalian

Random House Audio

Audiobook

12 Hours, 1 Minute

Narrated by Rebecca Lowman

*Quick Reviews are slightly less formal reviews using the publishers summary

Publisher's Summary:

The first time Alexis saw Austin, it was a Saturday night. Not in a bar, but in the emergency room where Alexis sutured a bullet wound in Austin's arm. Six months later, on the brink of falling in love, they travel to Vietnam on a bike tour so that Austin can show her his passion for cycling and he can pay his respects to the place where his father and uncle fought in the war. But as Alexis sips white wine and waits at the hotel for him to return from his solo ride, two men emerge from the tall grass and Austin vanishes into thin air. The only clue he leaves behind is a bright yellow energy gel dropped on the road.

As Alexis grapples with this bewildering loss, and deals with the FBI, Austin's prickly family, and her colleagues at the hospital, Alexis uncovers a series of strange lies that force her to wonder: Where did Austin go? Why did he really bring her to Vietnam? And how much danger has he left her in?

Set amidst the adrenaline-fueled world of the emergency room, The Red Lotus is a global thriller about those who dedicate their lives to saving people, and those who peddle death to the highest bidder.

My thoughts:

I always enjoy Chris Bohjalian's books.  I can count on him to write solid, engaging, stories. The Red Lotus may be a slow burn thriller, but I never felt bored with it.

Bohjalian knows how to draw a reader into a story and keep their attention! It is clear from the beginning of The Red Lotus, that Bohjalian has taken the time to do a significant amount of research for this book, ensuring medical, technical, and cultural aspects have a realistic feel to them. This, paired with his good sense of literary timing, results in a highly engaging story with a complex, well timed, and interesting plot.  The characters development is strong with the lead characters being multi-faceted and interesting. 

On a side note: this book was released in the midst of the pandemic. Though  while writing it I doubt Bohjalian could have ever imagined that this book would be released into the world enduring our current state of affairs, and the coincidence of some of the subject matter in the book was quite striking to me as a reader. 

Narration was provided by Rebecca Lowman, who performed well with good cadence and tone, as well as range of characters and emotion, making listening to this story as an audiobook a pleasure. 

Engaging and well written, The Red Lotus is an enjoyable international thriller.

Happy Reading,

Christine

Quick Review:The Henna Artist, by Alka Joshi

The Henna Artist, by Alka Joshi

Harlequin Audio - 2020
General Fiction/Historical Fiction
Audiobook

10 Hours, 56 Minutes
Narrated by Sneha Mathan

*Quick Reviews are slightly less formal reviews using the publishers summary

This book, steeped in the culture of 1950's India, is my choice to fulfill item #20 - One World - Read a book written by, and that has a main character that is someone of a different color, culture, sexual orientation, or religion than you, on my 20 for 2020 Reading Challenge. You can see the full list HERE

Publisher's Summary:

Escaping from an abusive marriage, seventeen-year-old Lakshmi makes her way alone to the vibrant 1950s pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the most highly requested henna artist—and confidante—to the wealthy women of the upper class. But trusted with the secrets of the wealthy, she can never reveal her own…

Known for her original designs and sage advice, Lakshmi must tread carefully to avoid the jealous gossips who could ruin her reputation and her livelihood. As she pursues her dream of an independent life, she is startled one day when she is confronted by her husband, who has tracked her down these many years later with a high-spirited young girl in tow—a sister Lakshmi never knew she had. Suddenly the caution that she has carefully cultivated as protection is threatened. Still she perseveres, applying her talents and lifting up those that surround her as she does.

My thoughts:

Joshi is as much an artist as her character Lakshmi.  Her writing flows easily and the story was absolutely captivating. She easily sets the readers imagination to creating 1950's India in all its culturally rich and vibrant glory. Her characters are well defined and multi-faceted, with her protagonist Lakshmi being an especially striking character - smart, brave, incredibly compassionate, and a little ahead of her time. The reader easily becomes invested in Lakshmi's story and struggles

Narration for this audiobook was provided by Sneha Mathan, who not only performed well but was also well suited to the story. Listening to this wonderful tale being told by such a talented narrator made it easy to become immersed in Lakshmi's story.

Happy Reading,

Christine

Quick Review: And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer, by Fredrik Backman

And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer, by  Fredrik Backman

Simon & Schuster Audio - 2019
Literary Fiction
Audiobook

1 Hour, 9 Minutes
Narrated by David Morse

Publisher's Summary:

From the New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, and Britt-Marie Was Here comes an exquisitely moving portrait of an elderly man’s struggle to hold on to his most precious memories, and his family’s efforts to care for him even as they must find a way to let go.

With all the same charm of his bestselling full-length novels, here Fredrik Backman once again reveals his unrivaled understanding of human nature and deep compassion for people in difficult circumstances. This is a tiny gem with a message you’ll treasure for a lifetime.

My thoughts:

The book might be small, but the story is huge. Real, raw, and filled to the brim with heart and emotion. Nobody can get to heart of what it is to love and be human the way that Fredrik Backman can. His stories always run the reader through the gamut of emotions with a balance and complexity few authors can compete with. This short book was no exception.

David Morse did a very good job narrating this audiobook and was well suited to the story. 

And Every Morning The Way Home Gets Longer and Longer is a great, quick read that will hit you right in the feels, and make you thankful to have picked it up.

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: The Invited, by Jennifer McMahon

The Invited, by Jennifer McMahon

Random House Audio - 2019
Horror 
Audiobook
Narrated by Amanda Carlin, and Justine Eyre

11 Hours, 50 Minutes

A ghost story, this book fulfills item #14 - Books That Go Bump In The Night - Read a Horror or Ghost story, on my 20 for 2020 Reading Challenge. Click HERE for the full challenge

Can you build a haunted house?

When Helen and Nate decide to give up city life for a simpler country life, they spend some time shopping for their new country home. Not finding the right one, they strap on tool belts, grab their hammers, and build their own. They find a plot of land in rural Vermont with a motivated seller and set to work. Their vision is to blend simple historic design and appearance with modern efficiency.  

Helen, a former history teacher, becomes enamored with the local lore and learns the plot of land they bought once belonged to Hattie Breckenridge, a woman hung for witchcraft a hundred years earlier but long after the end of the famous witch hunts, after being blamed for a fire that killed several local children. Helen becomes obsessed with the story of Hattie and other local tragedies. 

While shopping for recycled building materials to aid in the historic look and feel of the house, Helen finds items attached to these events and buys them to incorporate into their home - the stunning hand-hewn main beam, a mantle, old bricks. There is a common thread running through each of the horrible tragedies - Hattie and her descendants. After a series strange events, it becomes clear to Nate and Helen that they are building a haunted house.

Most ghost stories require the reader to suspend reality to a certain degree, and that is to be expected, but the story should still have a realistic "feel" to it. On the whole, this story's concept was very good and I definitely enjoyed it, but it was in the close quarters of the "here and now-real world" part of the story where I felt that the fine line between suspending reality and keeping a realistic feel was really being tested, and kept it from being the really great story I thought it had the potential to be. For me,  it was easier to suspend reality for the otherworldly aspects of the story and they had a more realistic feel to them than the parts that were actually supposed to be more realistic. I had issues with two school teachers with limited construction experience building a house from the ground up by themselves, and also with with Olive's lack of school attendance and failure by every single adult to address it, but the basic plot was good enough to support the story for me, so overall I still see this as a good book.

Narration was provided by Amanda Carlin, and Justine Eyre who both performed well. Clear, with pleasant tones and cadence, and good character differentiation and range of emotion. 

The Invited by Jennifer McMahon is a ghost story with a unique and well thought out concept, but a story that may have fallen slightly shy of its potential. 

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: Master Of Sorrows, by Justin T. Call

Master Of Sorrows, by Justin T. Call

Blackstone Publishing - February 25, 2020
Series: Silent Gods - Book 1 
E-book
592 Pages

* I received this digital ARC courtesy of Blackstone Publishing, via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.

As the first book in an exciting new Fantasy series, Master of Sorrows is my choice to fulfill item #15 - New Beginnings - Start a new (to you) series or trilogy on my 20 for 2020 Reading Challenge.  You can see the whole challenge HERE. 


Before we go any further can we talk about this cover?! It is gorgeous! Okay, now I'm ready to move on to the heart of it - the story!

A rich and epic tale for young and old, Master Of Sorrows is one of the most exciting new fantasy series I have had the pleasure of reading in some time. 

The tiny village of Chaenbalu is hidden to others, nestled amidst the forests.  In this village is a young man is dreaming of a future he was never meant to have. Born with only one arm, the baby - Annev, was was meant to be executed because he was seen as the child of an evil one armed deity. Instead, he was secretly returned to the village and raised by the local priest and taught forbidden magic. Thanks to a magical prosthetic, he attends the local academy with the other boys his age, and trains as a fighter and warrior. Nobody in the village, save for the priest who raised him, knows about his deformity. 

When the dark forces hunting him start to close in, the opposing forces of his upbringing, training and destiny collide, and he is forced to make difficult decisions the results of which have enormous impact. Everything he ever thought he knew about anybody - including himself, is called into question.

The book does not open with a bang, but it did keep my interest as it laid a foundation worthy of all that was yet to come - and there was so much more to come in this book alone, let alone the remaining books planned for the series. Once the foundation was laid for this story, the rising action kept me white knuckling my Kindle the rest of the way. 

The story contained all the classic elements of an epic fantasy - Good vs. Evil, moral dilemma, internal struggle, a battle against all odds, loyalty, rivalry, and self discovery, but somehow Call has breathed new life into the standard tropes and formulas. 

This book felt fresh, new, and exciting. The magic system was original and well structured. While magic is usually revered in books, in this story while it is not an unknown element, it is not well received by the people of the village, with most magic considered sinister. The world building is on point, giving the reader a carefully crafted and consistent framework with which to view the events of the story. The characters were well developed and ranged from those I loved, to those I loved to hate, and some that were harder to define fell in-between. I loved that Call chose to write the story not without a love interest for the main character, but without clouding the story with an overbearing romance plot. 

The year is young, yet I feel safe in saying that this book will make my list of favorite books of 2020. I am looking forward to the next book in the series - Master Artificer (first draft complete) due to release in the UK in February 2021 according to Call's website, and North American markets some time (hopefully soon) after that.  

Happy Reading,

Christine

Woman On The Edge, by Samantha M. Bailey

Woman On The Edge, by Samantha M. Bailey

Simon & Schuster Audio - 2019
Thriller
Audiobook 
Narrated by Katherine Fenton

8 Hours, 25 Minutes

What drives a woman to do the unthinkable? To give her baby to a stranger and leap to her death?

Nicole Markham was a woman who had it all. Founder and CEO of a major athletic brand, she had a successful career, financial security and then a beautiful baby. One day, looking haggard and disheveled, she speaks to a stranger, calling them by name and asking them to take her baby before thrusting the child into the stranger's arms and jumping in front of a subway train. Morgan Kincaid is left stunned, speechless, and holding the woman's baby. 



With no corroborating witnesses she is soon the main suspect in the police investigation into Nicole's death.  When it becomes clear that that the police are not looking any further than Morgan, she is determined to clear her own name. Was Nicole being stalked and in danger, or was she just paranoid? After mysterious events and close calls, Morgan realizes she may now be the one in danger. And just how did Nicole Markham know her name?

There is no beating around the bush here, the story forcibly grabbed my attention in the first few paragraphs, and a steady level of suspense saw the story to its conclusion. 

Narration was performed by Kathrine Fenton who has a clear and pleasant voice with good tone and cadence, as well as a good range of character and emotion for the story. 

Woman On The Edge, by Samantha Bailey is a solid debut thriller and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: Someone We Know, by Shari Lapena

Someone We Know, by Shari Lapena

Penguin Audio - 2019
Fiction - Thriller
Audiobook
Narrated by Kirsten Potter

7 Hours, 50 Minutes

Someone We Know, by Shari Lapena has a strong story line, but what could have been a great book, fell short of its potential for me, still good - but not great. 

In a happy middle-class neighborhood, a teen is breaking into homes to hack computers, snoop and send prank e-mails. When anonymous letters surface from a mystery parent telling people that their homes and computers have been compromised, people in the neighborhood start to worry. When a missing woman turns up murdered, nerves fray, tensions, rise and everyone is both a suspect and suspicious. Everyone in this neighborhood seems to be up to something they don't want anyone else knowing about and desperate to keep their secrets, and one of them is even a murderer.  

The plot certainly had me intrigued, so many secrets, so many possibilities! My mind was constantly turning over the possibilities of who the murderer was. The husband? The moody teen with a criminal hobby? A scorned spouse or lover?So many possibilities swirling in my mind! 

Unfortunately, I didn't feel like it mattered to me who it was. I didn't really like any of the characters, but for that matter I didn't really hate any single character either. I am one of those readers that is happiest when I have a character that I love, or a character that I love to hate.  None of the characters in this story stood out to me in either a particularly good or bad way compared to the others. I never once thought to myself "I hope it's not 'x', he seems like a decent guy caught in bad circumstances"; Or,  "I just know it must be 'x', she is so nasty and devious!". In the end, while I was interested from a rational perspective as to who the killer was, I was not at all emotionally invested enough in any of the characters for it to really matter other than addressing my idle curiosity. 

Narration was performed by Kirsten Potter who read with a clear and pleasant voice, good cadence and tone, and provided an appropriate range of emotion and character. 

Someone We Know is a thriller that is strong on plot but fell short of its true potential. 

Review: The Antidote For Everything, by Kimmery Martin

The Antidote for Everything, by Kimmery Martin

Penguin Random House Canada - Available February 18, 2020
Literary Fiction
Print
352 Pages

* I received this ARC courtesy of Penguin Random House Canada. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.

A rich, complex, and timely story, The Antidote for Everything is not only a good story, but a good conversation starter.

Dr. Georgia Brown is a urologist working at a hospital in Charleston South Carolina. She has no relatives to speak of, and her love life has gone from bad to non-existent in the most spectacularly embarrassing way. Her best friend, Dr. Jonah Tsukada is a family medicine practitioner in the same hospital complex.  He has been estranged from his family since he came out to them and he and Georgia have become family to each other. 

An important part of Jonah's practice is the care and treatment of transgender individuals. When the hospital bans the treatment of transgender patients, terminates their care without discussion, and threatens to fire any doctor providing care to them, Jonah's refusal to quit on his patients puts him in the line of fire so to speak. With no law protecting the rights of these patients or Jonah, Georgina and Jonah come up with a plan to force the hospital to reverse their decision, but when the plan goes awry, they stand to lose far more than just their jobs.

Let's start by saying that the first line of this story is probably worth buying the book for! Seriously, I almost sprayed the pages of my book with tea as the unexpected laugh caught me off guard! 

Martin tells this story of persecution and discrimination with sensitivity, enough suspense to keep the story moving, and just a touch of humor - "a spoonful of sugar...", so to speak, because in spite of Martin's humor, this book touches on some serious and timely issues. While transgender discrimination is the main issue at the heart of this story, she also touches on other issues such sexual discrimination & harassment and drug & alcohol abuse/addiction. 

I found Georgia an especially likable character. I think the word that comes to my mind when thinking about her is "feisty".  Not one to just "go with the flow", she is determined, fiercely loyal, and not willing to stand by as people she cares about are bullied and mistreated. She is willing to fight clean or fight dirty to see justice prevail. Her relationship with Jonah is the definition of friendship.  

The Antidote For Everything is a timely piece of fiction infused with wit and warmth. 

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: Dear Edward, by Ann Napolitano

Dear Edward, by Ann Napolitano

Penguin Random House - 2020
Fiction - Literary (inspired by a real event)
Print
352 Pages

* I received this ARC courtesy of Penguin Random House Canada, in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.

I am using this title to fulfill item #2 - The frontlist - read a title less than 6 months old, on my 20 For 2020 Reading Challenge. You can see the challenge in its entirety HERE. It isn't too late to join the fun! 

Dear Andrew is a coming of age story, and more. It is at once hopeful and heartbreaking.  It is a profoundly moving story about finding one's way in life after having it torn from its foundation, about re-building when all seems lost, of processing our grief in our own time, and paying homage to lost loved ones while still living our own lives. 

The story follows a cast of characters, but focuses primarily on Edward "Eddie" Adler. As Edward boards a plane one fateful morning, he is aware that his life is going to change forever - after all, his family is moving from New York to Los Angeles. What no one on the plane can know, is that the plane will never reach its destination.  In a horrific turn of events, the plane crashes, and Edward - found still strapped to his seat, is the only survivor. 

His story captures the attention of the nation. Devastated and stunned by grief, Edward struggles to find his footing in his new world without his brother and parents. He has formed a bond with the young girl who lives next door to him in his new home with his Aunt and Uncle, but it isn't until an unexpected discovery that he is able to find peace, to find a way to honor the past while finding meaning in the present, and purpose and hope for his future. 

Napolitano's writing in Dear Edward shows an incredible amount of compassion.  Her ability to show The juxtaposition of the subjective and individual nature of grief versus the shared experience is incredibly well illustrated.  The characters in this novel are multi-faceted and even the minor characters in this story were well developed. The story is told in alternating time lines between the day of the crash, and the present. While this is a common method for writers, in this book works on multiple levels and is the perfect vehicle for this story. 

While primarily a work of fiction, this story was inspired by the real world events of May 12, 2010 in which a plane travelling from South Africa crashed before reaching its destination in Tripoli, killing all on board except a nine-year-old Dutch boy. 

Dear Andrew is a book that is a powerful and moving book that will take the reader through a range of emotions and reminds us that our connections may be deep or fleeting, but always contribute to who we have become or will become over time. 

NOTE: Library Journal has published a conversation with Ann Napolitano regarding the writing of this book which can be read HERE. 

Happy Reading,

Christine