Huge thanks to Tantor Audio & Recordedbooks for the ALC through NetGalley!!
This definitely delivered what I wanted - a quick read, was fun & inte3.5â�
Huge thanks to Tantor Audio & Recordedbooks for the ALC through NetGalley!!
This definitely delivered what I wanted - a quick read, was fun & interesting throughout & had a dash of realistic sibling relationships!!
What can you expect - high school kids as MCs - ghost hunting duo - Goosebumps & The Conjuring vibes - sibling dynamics - infamous theatre with a murder case - a look into the rules of ghost hunting through the eye of their grandparents
13 year old twins, Gabby & Trent have inherited the gift/the sight that was possessed by their grandparents and can now see ghosts & other paranormal entities. While their mom didn't inherit the gift, she grew up watching their parents do the only thing that their family was well-known for - ghost hunting & she chooses the same path for her kids! And when they decide to take on the last incomplete haunt by their grandparents, the abandoned Majestic Theatre as their next big haunt, they fail to realise that they may have signed up for exorcising something more sinister than just a normal entity!!!!
Gabby is the rebellious twin & she wants nothing to do with ghost hunting but she's the bravest of the two & her mom wouldn't let her do anything else she wants! On the other hand, Trent is meek and is scared of ghosts but he feels like he can keep doing this if Gabby always stays by his side & this definitely creates a rift between the two as he always takes his mother's side.
And things definitely get crazy during their big haunt but it also makes them both understand how much they care for one another thereby leading to them talking out & clearing the air between them! And I also liked the growth of both of these characters by the end, and even the mom redeemed herself imo.
Even though this was a short read, it definitely had a lot of creepy moments & jump scares in it, and the person who voiced the entity deserves a huge applause cuz I kept hearing the voice even after I completed listening to it...more
I gotta admit that this one had a lot of potential because the plot was really interesting & unique but the execution fell flat.
To explain a bit, we fI gotta admit that this one had a lot of potential because the plot was really interesting & unique but the execution fell flat.
To explain a bit, we follow Tanith who works in the Storybook Kingdom theme park that is fashioned upon the fairy tales and is focused on giving the children the place of their dreams. But when a cast member is murdered according to the original Grimms' Fairy Tales, Tanith is forced to fight for her life and also find the culprit because if she fails, she could end up as the next victim, so she must run against the clock & capture the culprit red-handed.
Well, I think the plot sounds really fun & exciting esp for a thriller or horror fan like me cuz the book combines Agatha Christie vibes with the Slasher vibes perfectly in idea, but on paper it doesn't translate well as lots of dialogues are left incomplete & are incoherent which creates this loss of understanding to the readers.
Still, I'd say that the artwork is amazing & perfect for this plot as it embodies the grotesque aspects of a Slasher very well and the characters were also done to look unique in their own ways. In a way, it was nostalgic to see the OG Grimms' Fairy Tales in here cuz I'm someone who likes dark tales than the diluted & pure version of these days.
Overall, I'd recommend this if you're looking for a gory mystery comic with some nostalgic vibes in it. And huge thanks to Mad Cave Studios for sending me the ARC through NetGalley....more
I'm extremely grateful to Tantor Audio for sending me the ALC through NetGalley!!!
Okayy, it might sound like I'm overreacting but trust me when I say I'm extremely grateful to Tantor Audio for sending me the ALC through NetGalley!!!
Okayy, it might sound like I'm overreacting but trust me when I say that I haven't read a thriller this fast in ages!! I literally listened to the audiobook in two sittings & when I wasn't reading it the previous day, all I could think about was getting back to the Fairport Village and the lore in here to find out what was really happening!!!!
To back it up, we follow Eden Stafford who accompanies the film club student, Henry & the entire senior year of high school to spend the overnight in the creepiest resort in their small town, Fairport Village. Henry plans to capture the place as part of his documentary in which he wants to explain the lore and the deaths behind the place, and Eden acts as his filming assistant. It's said that anyone who sets foot in the resort is cursed & will face their death very soon. And when one of their students dies, everyone panics that they're cursed as well and Eden is dead set on finding out what's really happening & also to find a way to save themselves.
An absolute new favourite!! This was even more adventurous, informative and fun compared to the first book, and I think the characters have become a pAn absolute new favourite!! This was even more adventurous, informative and fun compared to the first book, and I think the characters have become a part of my life that I cannot help but cheer for them from the sidelines.
Huge thanks to Vaughan Woods Publishing for the audiobook through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.
What can you expect - Historical fantasy (Victorian Era) with suspense - Egypt as the setting - Egyptian history and theology - Quest to find the mythical artifact and stop the bad guys from getting it - Badass women with revolutionary ideas - Anti colonialism
Micro tropes - sister's best friend - forced proximity - one horse - touch her and you die - balcony scene (Romeo & Juliet vibes) - gentleman in distress (my fav!! - always love when it's the reverse & not the usual damsel in distress vibes)
In this second installment of the series, We follow Adam Bates & Eleanora Mallory try to stop the bad guys from attaining the mystical artifact from Egypt. They have the journey cut out for them, and have to go through even more troubles in this adventure. This was more high stakes and full of action, which made the journey memorable and exciting for me, and now I'm really eager to read the next book in the series.
First and foremost, the author deserves a huge applause for throwing light on the Egyptian pharaoh who deserved all recognition & fame but was outshined by their successors and remained less known to the world. To be honest, there isn't a person who doesn't know Tutankhamun but if you ask someone about the person mentioned here, very few would know about it. And it was such an eye-opener for me as well since the author presented the glorious achievements of this pharaoh who influenced the theological concepts of Egypt and also the greater world. I always love when books impart knowledge alongside being a fun experience.
I would also like to mention that the audiobook was truly an amazing experience for me as the narrator did various tone modulations and added uniqueness to the characters with such ease and precision, and I'd definitely recommend you do an immersive reading if possible or at least listen to the audiobook for a great adventure.
And now coming to the characters, Adam Bates, who still continues to steal my heart by being the absolute gentleman. He's the staunch supporter of Ellie, and an advocate for women's rights!! He's always there to stand up for her in front of others, and thinks two steps ahead when it comes to her protection. Even though it seems like he's overprotective, he's never restrictive towards what Ellie wants, and that's his absolute charm!!! He lets Ellie proceed with her dreams and goals, and not even at a single point does he try to influence her decision or make it for her (how can someone so perfect be fictional?!!...more
✨The reason you're my perfect fit is because you're imperfect. I happen to love your imperfections.�
I feel like this book is going to be my personalit✨The reason you're my perfect fit is because you're imperfect. I happen to love your imperfections.�
I feel like this book is going to be my personality for the next few months cuz I freaking loved it, and I'm gonna keep recommending it till you get sick of me & finally pick it up!!!
We follow Josephine Davis, the CEO of Revenant, a clothing company who's looking for a consultant to further expand her business. The last person she expects to take up that job is Will Grant, the brother of her ex-best friend, who also happens to be the reason why the friends had a fallout. Even though she knows it's a bad idea to be working close when they both have a history, Jo also knows that he's the best at his job and takes up his offer. Little did she know that he's going to be the one who riles her up and makes her give up all her rules just to be beside him!!
Josephine Davis takes the crown of being the craziest workaholic I've ever seen! She cannot stay without doing anything work related for even a moment, and also happens to be her worst critic. Because of her people pleasing and overthinking nature (so relatable), she's constantly getting anxious even for small things. But all this anxiety seems to stem from the thought of not letting her business go down the drain, and I can definitely understand why she feels that way. She started her business when she was going through a hard time and has worked her ass off to bring it to the current position, so the thought of losing it because of a small misstep terrifies her.
Even though Jo is heavily focused on her work, she doesn't forget to spend time with her friends. She's the sort of person who'd even die for their friends, and that made me admire her so much cuz we all know that such friends are hard to come by these days!!! And it was so heartwarming to see her make amends and reconnect with Zoe, the twin sister of Will Grant.
Will freaking Grant!!! - the man who has made me lose sleep, and the one who has officially taken up his spot among my top book boyfriends. It's so obvious from the start that he has fallen hard for Jo back then & hasn't moved on even now. But he tries to keep distance between them because Jo asked, and is such a man of manners!But what I liked most about him is his quietness!!!! Whenever Jo is going through a hard time or having an anxiety attack, he doesn't bombard her with questions rather he stays quietly by her side, offering her comfort and assuring her that everything will be fine. He's also the staunch supporter of Jo, he hypes her up during every step of the business and keeps reminding her of her worth.. it's so rare to find a guy who doesn't feel inferior to a girl boss, much less support her through every step!!!...more
Huge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for sending me this Arc in exchange for an honest review.
Such a beautiful and heart wrenching sHuge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for sending me this Arc in exchange for an honest review.
Such a beautiful and heart wrenching story!!
We follow Leonardo who has come to rural Spain to spend time with his grandparents. And when he stumbles upon a heart shaped bottle with a message inside it, he doesn't hesitate to pick it up to read. But as soon as he reads the note, he's transferred back in time to when his grandparents had just started to date. No one would believe he came from the future except Celestina, who was the person who wrote that note. You'd have to read to find out if Leo will return back to his time without losing his heart to Celest or if he changes a lot here that he ceases to exist at all.
The first half of the story was a lot slower as we were introduced to the characters and Leo was also taking his sweet time to accept the fact that he really is in the past. But once that got settled, the plot picked up pace and enjoyed it a lot. It was so good to see Leo's grandparents (Isabela and Alonso) fall in love cuz they were so adorable. And I loved seeing Leo find his soulmate in Celest too, but they definitely have a complicated relationship as there's a huge time gap between them!!!
I loved the way everything came together by the last few chapters, and was amazed at the author's ability to weave that beautiful timetravel story. Appreciated the exploration of parenthood in the novel too.
Highly recommend if you want an emotional yet beautiful love story, with wonderful supporting characters!!...more
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the Arc, in exchange for my honest opinion.
Sweet, adorable and heartwarming!!!
When I saw that this was by thThanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the Arc, in exchange for my honest opinion.
Sweet, adorable and heartwarming!!!
When I saw that this was by the same mangaka as Sweat and Soap, and was available to request on NetGalley, I immediately knew that I had to read it!! It's been a few years since I read Sweat and Soap, and it's one of my fav mangas of all time. And this didn't disappoint as well.
This one's set during the covid and we follow Nokoru, a software engineer who now has to get all his work done from his house, and it seems like a blessing to his introverted nature. He meets his neighbour, the extroverted Natsu, a graduate student in archaeology, and they slowly become more than acquaintances.
I loved this so much, and it's an added bonus that the story gets resolved within a single volume, but it did leave me wanting for more cuz it's that good...more
**spoiler alert** 4.5â� Fast paced and action packed YA fantasy!
Huge thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for the audiobook!
Set in small town Virginia, we **spoiler alert** 4.5â� Fast paced and action packed YA fantasy!
Huge thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for the audiobook!
Set in small town Virginia, we follow the twin sisters, Bianca and Leila who are so different from one another. Their dad is an Iranian, and their mom is an Argentinian, and the sisters have always found it difficult to belong in the white town. But Bianca embraces her culture and is proud of it, while Leila shuns her culture and adapts herself to be the cottagecore American girl. Even their dreams are completely opposite - Bianca wants to leave the town while Leila wants to have a normal family and become a mom.
When they turn 18, there's a sudden fire in their neighborhood farm that isn't due to any natural or electrical issues, but rather something supernatural. Their lives are deeply connected to this new problem as the djinn demand they pay their end of the bargain if they wanna save their town. What's this bargain that they haven't heard of? Will they end up saving their town or succumb to the wrath of the djinn? You have to read more to find that out!!
Absolutely loved every moment of this! The sisterly bond shines bright in the novel, as we see Bianca and Leila go from being distant and not talking much to one another for the past four years to joining hands in overthrowing the enemy and saving their town. It warmed my heart to witness them opening up to each other, and showing the sides they've always hid.
The characters are unique, and interesting, and the author has done a wonderful job of portraying their inner struggles and their transformation throughout the plot. The audiobook narrator brought out the uniqueness of both sisters perfectly, and I was able to tell whose pov it was, without even having to read the chapter title!!
Bianca is more edgy and rebellious, and is so relatable. She loves manga, Taylor Swift, pies, and adores her Iranian - Argentinian side. She's outgoing and full of energy, and she feels trapped in this small town. All she wants is to complete her high school and travel around the world. But she starts to learn more about her inner wants as she tackles the djinn problems. She realises how wrong she has always been, and moves forward to making her new goals come true.
On the other hand, Leila is a homebody, she's soft-spoken and loves crocheting and gardening. She wants nothing more to marry her boyfriend, and have a family of her own. She hates change, and tries to not associate herself with her ethnicity, but it all changes on the night of her 18th birthday. She's thrust into a new world which opens her eyes to the whole wide world that exists out of her small town. And it was interesting to see her come to terms with what she really wants, and also who she really wants to be with!! I liked the way the author explored Leila accepting her sexuality and embracing this new side of her.
The book is also rich in Persian mythology, as we encounter countless creatures being mentioned in it - djinns, mareed, giants, etc. And as someone who's a die-hard fan of the Daevabad trilogy, I ate that up!!! And it was so exciting to learn more about the Iranian cuisine, which left me hungry every time I read the book (the platter that their mom made for the Christmas Eve dinner still haunts my mind and makes my stomach grumble...more
**spoiler alert** 3.5â� Thanks to Snowy Wings Publishing for the Arc through NetGalley.
We follow Wehia, the 17 year old girl of a minor swordsmith hold**spoiler alert** 3.5â� Thanks to Snowy Wings Publishing for the Arc through NetGalley.
We follow Wehia, the 17 year old girl of a minor swordsmith holding who wishes to make a longsword of her own. So she moves to the city to apprentice under Hadana, her aunt who has major connections with the royal family and many aristocrats. The story focuses on Wehia's journey in making her own sword, while also coming out of her sheltered life and realising that the real world and life are more scarier than she imagined.
Wehia has always been an impulsive and headstrong kid, so it's difficult for her to adjust to the new place, and to endure months of intense training. She already knows the basics of swordmaking as she grew up in a swordsmith holding but Hadana wouldn't take it into consideration, she puts Wehia through a lot of physical labour for months before accepting her as an apprentice. Even though it's arduous, Wehia perseveres with the training as she's focused on her goal of crafting her own sword, Fireheart. It was heartwarming to see her find a new family in Hadana's holding, and also find love and companionship through Geri...more
Thanks to NetGalley for the E-ARC, in exchange for an honest review!!
Set in 1930s LA, we follow our main characters, Issa Bui and Olivia Nong, VietnamThanks to NetGalley for the E-ARC, in exchange for an honest review!!
Set in 1930s LA, we follow our main characters, Issa Bui and Olivia Nong, Vietnamese women who dream of becoming Hollywood stars and making a name for themselves in a world where Asians are treated with indifference. Issa's family belongs to a line of shamans and she's asked to take over the art after her grandmother's death. But she makes a deal with them to give her a year's time to become an actress and if she fails to become one, she'll take on the family's work. And to make their dreams come true, Issa and Olivia summon the dead actress, Ava Rang for help. But are they prepared for what's about to come when you dabble in the mystic arts?!!
This was a perfect fall read, with its vintage vibes from the 1930s and the chilling atmosphere that come from the mystic art of shamanism. I had a wonderful time following the girls who worked so hard to make their dreams come true!
Racism is so prevalent in the film industry that their talents are overlooked cuz their appearances take precedence, and they struggle to land even minor roles at the start. But with the help of the summoned ghost, they're able to finally get smaller roles and are still treated as nobodies. And it was so painful and also rewarding to see them give their all and still have hopes that they'd become stars if they keep trying. And they do see some changes in the way people start to treat them as they showcase their talents. The willpower and strong beliefs of our FMCs shines throughout the novel, and I liked their character growth towards the end.
Also I love stories that have some amount of paranormal elements in them, and this tackled that aspect very well. With Issa belonging to a family of shamans, we're introduced to a world of seance and summonings, and a dabble into the darker side at times. The last part of the novel took a sinister turn that I saw coming but was still shocked at everything that happened within those few chapters. And I was satisfied with the way everything ended, and how their friendship lasted after going through such arduous times. And I'm glad that Issa and Olivia finally had their dreams come true, and also found out how precious their bond is.
Will definitely recommend this if you're looking for something both eerie and also fun at the same time....more
Huge thanks to the author for sending me the E-ARC through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest thoughts.
I gotta admit that this was such a fun read tHuge thanks to the author for sending me the E-ARC through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest thoughts.
I gotta admit that this was such a fun read that was packed with equal amounts of suspense & humor. And I did like this a lot more than the first one cuz it was so fast paced, and there were quite a lot of surprising reveals in the second half too!! (A few of em left me screaming what the heck!!!)
In this second installment of the cozy mystery series, we follow the mystery writer, Eleanor Dash visiting Catalina Island to celebrate the wedding of her best friend, Emma Wood, who also plays Eleanor in the movie adaptation of the said writer's first novel. As is the case with every vacation that Eleanor goes to, there's a dead body amidst this celebration too, and she has to solve the case before someone else turns up dead as well!
What can you expect - cozy mystery - eccentric & sarcastic FMC - funny chapter titles - mixed media - narrator breaking the fourth wall - footnotes that aren't annoying - book adaptation inside the book - female friendship
What I love most about this cozy mystery is the narrator talking directly to us!! It makes for a more fun experience, and it also feels like you're the Watson to the Sherlock (Eleanor) in solving this crime. And Eleanor is so good at seeing through people (most of the time), and when she does her act of deducing & reasoning as to who's the perpetrator, it's completely satisfying for us to witness as well. I gotta appreciate the author for making the footnotes as something additional to the story, and not as something you definitely gotta read cuz it only gives more info about the author's inner thoughts, so you can omit it if you don't feel like reading it! (but I did read everything & it was so much fun)
Also, I really feel like Eleanor & Oliver makes for a great pair! They complement each other so well that I liked seeing the way they worked together & did the investigation of the suspects at every step together. I hope we get to see more of that in book 3 as well (uh-oh did I spoil that for you?!! But I feel like it ain't a surprise at this point that every time Eleanor goes on vacation, someone dies...more
Huge thanks to Netgalley and RB Media for sending me the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completHuge thanks to Netgalley and RB Media for sending me the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
"Why not shape the world you live in instead of just existing inside it?"
This was such an adventurous read, and also one that's going to stick with me for a lot longer! I've read the Raybearer dualogy when it was released and it's one of my all time favourites, so I was extremely excited for this standalone set in the same world. And I can assure you that Jordan Ifueko does it again!
"The Maid and the Crocodile", while being marketed as a romantasy is definitely more than that. We follow Small Sade, who starts her job as a maid in one of the inns in the city, and the book focuses on her journey of self discovery and growth. Because of an unfortunate incident in her previous workplace, Sade has an injured leg and has to rely on a cane for walking. While many look at her as a weak person, she never lets any of it get to her! She works diligently and even questions the wrongness of the society as the plot progresses. I liked how assertive and strong she was in her opinions throughout the novel!!
On the other hand, our MMC, Crocodile is someone who's cursed to turn into a beast and Sade might be the only one who can cure his curse. From the moment we are introduced to him, it's so obvious that he's not the "murderous beast" everyone portrays him to be! He's intelligent, caring and also highly observant! And he never intends to ask Sade to help him but instead helps her in every step of her journey. He makes her see the value in herself, and also encourages her growth and I loved that about him.
Also the book heavily focuses on the aspects of revolution and the need for a world where everyone has equal rights and freedom to do what they want. The idea that people should not be bound by where they're born, and should be allowed to follow their passion and should not be looked down even if it's something so menial is highlighted in the novel. There's a lot of trigger warnings for domestic violence, ritualistic sacrifice and more, so I'd advise looking them up before starting it.
Overall, this was such a well-rounded YA fantasy that I'd highly recommend for people looking for more than romance in their fantasy books! Also it's perfect for readers who loved "Howl's Moving Castle" and "Half A Soul."...more
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