Book Review

#Fantasy Worth Reading: For Santa’s Sake, Harlow #BookReview #cozymystery #BookLover

 

Looking for a fantastic mystery to put yourself in the holiday mood? I highly recommend this one!

Fantasy worth reading For Santa's Sake Harlow

This story was a true pleasure to read. It was filled with cozy, Hallmark moments with lots of feels, and I rooted for the main character to shed some of her crusty personality. Oh, and there’s murder!

The story centers around Harlow, a successful journalist at the Local Rag. One of the columnists is missing (Crystal who writes the psychic advice column) and winds up dead! Not only that, she haunts Harlow, nagging her to find her killer.

Crystal (the dead one) and Harlow are polar opposites, which results in a lot of fun and poignant moments.

I didn’t guess the killer, but I’m sometimes bad at these things. It doesn’t matter, the twists the investigation takes are fun. There’s lots of Christmas in the story, too.

I’m always willing to take whatever ride this author takes me on. I’ve enjoyed all of Gwen Gardner’s ghostly tales, and this is no exception. Keep writing, Gwen!

Here’s the blurb:

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Speculative Fiction Worth Reading: The Paleontologist #BookReview #suspense #thriller #booklovers #bookrecommendations

The Paleontologist by Luke Dumas called to me like a siren… Dinosaurs. Can… not… re… sist.

great speculative fiction novels

The novel boasts a fun and engaging plot with dinosaurs running amok in a museum—yes, you read that right. This is just one of the intriguing mysteries in this fast-paced story. The other revolves around Simon, whose sister mysteriously disappeared inside the same museum when they were children. Simon has never gotten over her disappearance and feels a compelling urge to find her, eventually taking a job at the museum that holds so much tragedy for him.

The novel kept me guessing, especially regarding the nature of the dinosaurs, which is a significant part of the mystery. And I’m perfectly fine with mystery and weirdness, both of which are abundant in this story.

If you enjoy suspense, monsters, mysteries, and paleontology, this book is for you. I had a blast reading it. While it didn’t make me scream or gasp like Relic did, it was suspenseful enough to keep me thoroughly entertained. The Paleontologist ranks among the best of the dinosaur novels in my opinion—and I’ve read a lot of dino-centric fiction.

 

 

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Science Fiction Worth Reading: The Only Harmless Great Thing #BookReview #Bookrecommendations #booklovers #scifi #sciencefiction

Here’s another great sci-fi story centered around elephants!

great science fiction novels

The Only Harmless Great Thing by Brooke Bolander is a mesmerizing long short story that skillfully weaves together the tragic historical events of Topsy the elephant’s execution and the Radium Girls, with a captivating future sci-fi twist. The narrative unfolds through four distinct points of view: a future scientist negotiating with the elephants, Topsy the elephant, a dying Radium Girl, and the Mother of Mothers (elephants).

Bolander’s ability to blend history with speculative fiction is nothing short of remarkable. I was thoroughly engrossed in the way these seemingly disparate elements were intertwined to create a powerful and cohesive story. The inclusion of sci-fi elements with elephants was an unexpected delight, especially after enjoying similar themes in The Tusks of Extinction.

The story’s unique perspectives and poignant themes left a lasting impression on me. The interplay of historical and futuristic narratives highlights the enduring impact of human actions and the deep, often tragic connections between species. Loved, loved, loved this story.

 

 

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Speculative Fiction Worth Reading: Shark Heart #BookReview #bookrecommendations #BookLovers

Do you love a weird story as much as I do? This one is for you…

great speculative fiction

Shark Heart: A Love Story by Emily Habek is a quirky and strange tale that captivated me with its unique premise and unconventional style. Written almost like a play script, the novel fittingly aligns with the protagonist Lewis’s dream of becoming a playwright.

The story revolves around Lewis and Wren as they navigate their first and last year of marriage, marked by the extraordinary transformation of Lewis into a shark. This bizarre and intriguing aspect of the narrative drew me in immediately, as I appreciate stories that embrace the weird and unusual.

At its core, Shark Heart is a poignant exploration of love, grief, and the aftermath of profound loss. The transformation of humans into animals serves as a metaphor for the lifecycle of relationships and the ways we cope with life’s most unbearable changes. Having undergone cancer treatment last year, I found the themes of transformation and adaptation especially resonant. The novel beautifully captures how life can become unrecognizable, yet we find ways to endure and make sense of it.

A good book allows us to find personal meaning within its pages, and Shark Heart does just that. Whether you interpret Lewis’s transformation as a metaphor for any crisis or significant change, this novel offers a deeply relatable and thought-provoking experience. Loved it!

 

 

 

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Speculative Fiction Worth Reading: We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackston #darkfantasy #fantasy #booktwitter #bookrecommendations

The perfect fall read…

great speculative fiction

We Have Always Lived in the Castle is the epitome of gothic literature, narrated by an unreliable protagonist who immerses the reader into a world of eerie charm and unsettling mystery. The story unfolds through the eyes of Merricat Blackwood, a character who exists within the confines of her delusions and rituals. This perspective casts a shadow of doubt over the events of the narrative, compelling readers to question the reality of what transpired on that fateful night when Merricat’s family perished, leaving only her agoraphobic sister, Constance, and their Uncle Julian.

Shirley Jackson masterfully weaves a tale that is both haunting and darkly whimsical. The novel’s gothic atmosphere is counterbalanced by moments of unexpected lightness and wit, making the macabre elements more palatable. The tension between darkness and light in the story creates a compelling and unsettling experience, drawing the reader deeper into the twisted dynamics of the Blackwood family.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a gripping and thought-provoking read, perfect for those who appreciate the complexities of gothic fiction and the intricacies of a well-crafted unreliable narrator.

Have you read this gothic classic?

 

 

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#Fantasy Worth Reading: Guardian of Monster #BookReview #fantasybooks #booklover

 

A fun world to get lost in!

fantasy worth reading Guardian of Monsters

The story takes place in Savannah where the supernatural world and the mundane world coexist. The overlay of the supernatural gave the novel a very gothic feel. Which I like.

The use of magic was interesting, too. The main character, Celestine, is a shifter who can shift into a wolf and also a witch who wields earth magic. She’s an artist who creates prophetic pieces of art. When the man she considers her uncle is murdered, this ability becomes a curse as wella s providing valuable clues to stop the killer.

There’s found family and romance in the story as the main character begins to realize her full potential. Oh, and then, of course, there’s a monster. I like monsters.

I recommend not missing this one!

Here’s the blurb:

Supernaturally on the case! Celestine LeBlanc and Luna Finley are the Sleuths of Shadow Salon.

Celestine, witch and wolf shifter has a talent for prophetic drawings. She’s shocked when she draws her landlord Ray with his eyes gouged out and a strange winged-mermaid leaning over him. Later she finds an eyeless Ray dead on the sidewalk. All she wanted to do was open a gallery, but first she must apprehend his killer. In a posthumous note, Ray wrote he wasn’t just a leather-smith but a supernatural pirate mage. Years back, his Jekyll crew trapped the evil Demon Three Eyes clan. Ray feared they’d escaped, were stalking him, and would soon wreak havoc on Savannah.

Oryn, a fellow student in Celestine’s continuing ed art class, is a fae and a thorn in her side, when he asks nosy questions about the case. Yet, she’s drawn to him when he’s her masseur at the spa she frequents, and he’s clever at brainstorming leads regarding Ray’s case. He insists his air magic could come in handy.

When pirates in Ray’s old crew are murdered, their body parts stolen, Celestine puts more horrifying clues together. She’ll need everyone on board, includingLuna, a mermaid asking to show her sea-glass sculptures at Celestine’s new gallery—and the very same mermaid in Celestine’s tragic drawing of Ray. Otherwise, the lethal monstrosity Demon Three Eyes is unleashing on Savannah will destroy the city and everyone in it.

 

 

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