🎧 HOLY COW

I don‘t know how to describe this.

Horror porn? Horror & Porn?

Dislikable, depraved, sadistic, female MC.

Like serial killer stories? Sexual torture? Body horror? A character study of the Hollywood crowd. Yeahp

A lot of horrific moments & the MC isn‘t the best representation of positive mental health.

Unique. Shock factor might be a little excessive? Gratuitous, maybe but it gets the point across.

Good ending.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 👇🏻

🎧 One last May book. My favorite part of this book was the depiction of office life in hell. It felt a little disjointed.

Multiple POVs and 2 storylines. Each chapter starts with the name of the POV character.

There‘s a couple things going on. Some obvious, some not. Family secrets, mystery, death. Hell with a side of dark humor.

Fun quick read. I‘d like more of Office life in hell.

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

1. In my life not just in May? Probably The Bible.

2. Three but if there were 5 trilogies 🤷🏼‍♀️ I also love extended series if they are shorter books like Zombie Fallout, Pendergast, Joe ledger, Bosch, Dark Tower, etc. 😆

3. Expeditionary Force, First law, Dark Tower & Harry Potter

#Wondrouswednesday

? it‘s like errr if Captain Jack Sparrow had a daughter with himself … a little more risqué cuz it isn‘t Disney.

Just listen to it! Super fun swashbuckler if you like that kind of thing. (It‘s a framed narrative)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+

MAY 2023 Wrap up

🎧📚 38 books. Great reading month. Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror, Police Procedural, Mystery, Fairytale Retelling, Non-fiction, SPFBO participants, ARCs, New Reads & Old.

5 re-reads that rocked!!

Finders Keepers - Stephen King
We Men of Ash & Shadow
Shards of Earth - Adrian Tchaikovsky
Guards! Guards! - Terry Pratchett
16 Ways to Defend a Walled City

The 16 below were all excellent, entertaining, fun listens!!

♥️

🎧 Jonathan Keeble raises the rating a full star! Fantastic!

This is an entertaining historical fiction based on Bernard Cornwall‘s actual family living in England during the 9th/10th centuries.

The story is told by Uhtred, a nobleman taken by Vikings as a child. He has no love for his King Albert & by the time he returns he‘s more Danish than English. The author knows how to stage a battle.

I bet this is an even better visual!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 Missed one. I‘m SO sorry about the huge review dump. Work has been crazy busy.

This one … the setting still haunts me & I read it nearly 3 weeks ago. The murder mystery was conventional and pretty mid BUT the setting. Read this book for the unusual setting!!

In thirds …. Starts strong and slowly descends. Still. The setting. It makes up for what the story lacks. Might make ya think.

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

🎧 This is a great start to a new epic fantasy. A lot of action! Including giant mind controlled machines.

Captured my attention early! So good!

A kingdom dependent on industry.

Chapters flip through 5 POVs. The audio has male & female narrators which helped with the length of the book & number of POVs.

Queen & her kids. Pampered spoiled brats that learn hard lessons to grow.

Swords, revolution, guilds!

AIRSHIPS … nuff said!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

5/27/23
EDIT - re-read - 🎧
Still a fun 5 star read. I‘ve been told that the descriptions of bridge building are excessive & it‘s slow. Ohh well, loved it. The prose is fluid, the dialog great. There‘s a lot of bridge talk so beware. Still a five star read! I‘ll read it again & I need to get book 2 for June!

🎧 This was a fun creepy FICTIONAL book. I LOVED IT. I read it in a day. I didn‘t like the MC! I still loved the story. The twists were great. I didn‘t see some coming. Fun! Compelling! Engagingly spooky. At least one of the reveals was DOH worthy! It was the book I needed when I listened to it. TW - mental health a bit misrepresented.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 I loved this book! I wasn‘t sure if I would. It‘s well written. Epic fantasy. Fitz is a typical kid, if not a little too perfect at times. A bastard Prince used as a pawn by his grandfather & uncles. Nosy & Smithy bring added depth and interest. I‘ll be adding book 2 to my TBR. If you haven‘t read it, you probably should.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

5/25/2023 update - I LISTENED TO THE BRAND NEW AUDIOBOOK. Not the original narrator but a fantastic job! I really enjoyed it & will listen/immersion read again!!

This was fun to HEAR!! What a fun take!

I love Carrot!! And Vimes!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 I‘m not currently a Sanderfan so take this with a grain of salt.

I enjoyed the book. A bit action adventure sci-fi. I liked Tress more BUT I want to reread this.

I imagine the book might be better.

Man wakes up in medieval England with no memory but an interdimensional travel handbook.

So I see why some readers might not like this because it‘s not Stormlight & maybe that‘s why I enjoyed it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/4

🎧 Eska is a 15 year old committed to The Pit. A mining prison for prisoners of war. Sorcerers.

She‘s very reactionary. She‘ll gamble herself for a piece of bread.

All or nothing & headstrong. Several times I hated her for not chilling.

A fascinating character study & the author‘s prose - dialog - is chef‘s kiss! If only the MC didn‘t become an insufferable brat. I‘m reading book 2 to see if she grows out of her pig headedness.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

🎧 Never ending book. Why am I reading so many LONG books lately. Epic fantasy. Book 1.

7 POVs

The book starts off perfectly. I might reread the prologue. Lots of fighting, warring, dysfunctional family, back stabbing, alcoholism, sibling rivalry, dying king, a kingdom falling to pieces, political, fantastic battles, unlikable gray characters, likable gray characters.

I‘d say it‘s all about grim dark battles.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Maybe I ingested too much hype. I‘ve read a lot of Simmons back catalog. Like his writing style & twists. This book threw me into the deep end of a story that I went into blind.

Hyperion - not Earth.

We‘re on the way there. Why? 6 people tell their stories/secrets/connections to Hyperion &/or the shrike. Maybe they can figure out why they‘ve been chosen.

I loved half of the stories.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

EDIT - 4/21/23

Re-read

I loved it even more!! 4.5 stars! I imagine I‘ll be reading this again!

🎧 FANTASTIC coming of age story a la King style!

Mark has a secret. His friends (actually the entire town) bully the young weirdo snooty Farrow sisters ever since the oldest sister died mysteriously.

Mark unexpectedly finds common ground with the middle sister & falls in teenage love with someone he can‘t admit to liking in public.

He figures life out too late & his secret is revealed.

It‘s all great fun & addictive. Read this!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧I like Naomi Novik‘s writing so this was a little disappointing. It started out strong! A Beauty & the Beast retelling that totally had its own spin!

Our Beauty is full of strong magic.

The Beast is named Dragon & boy did that throw me because I went in blind.

The woods are wrong & creeping into the town. It‘s the woods.

Such an awesome premise. Sadly, I didn‘t like the characters & the story went off in an unexpected tangent.

⭐️⭐️⭐️3/4

🎧 Felt like a cross between Murder She Wrote, NCIS (Tony senior‘s murder club), with plenty of British humor.

You‘ve got retired amateur detectives solving a couple murders close to home. A union boss, a psychiatrist, a detective, a crime solver & a nurse who narrates the story via journal entries. All bring something to the table.

Loved the actual detectives protective of the group as they bumbled into multiple red herrings.

Fun

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/4

🎧 Book 1 of Guild of the Night Series. This is a spin off. Read the original trilogy as it will explain Kost & Gaige‘s relationship & what‘s happened to get them to this unique point.

Action packed. The world & beasts are drawn so beautifully. Miscommunication - a common trope for YA/NA - this book uses it to almost frustrating levels. You‘ll be rooting for them but how can Kost get beyond Gaige‘s actions.

Adult situations. LGBTQ+

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

🎧 Book 2 - just as good as book 1.

Gwen has saved her kids from their serial killer dad. He‘s in jail but his psychotic followers are on the loose & now so is he.

The son who never knew his dad is contacted by him and is torn between telling his mom & wanting to believe his dad.

Gwen leaves her kids & hunts the killer. The tables are turned. The twist is good. Only one of them will walk away alive.

Book 3 is on my June TBR.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

🎧 RE-LISTEN … grim dark urban gaslamp fantasy.

5/14/2023 EDIT - I still love this book and Vanguard! Great reread! Looking back on the past year, so happy to have found Gaslamp! Sequel is on my June 2023 TBR.

If you think you might like a gritty gas lamp era Murder investigation, this might be for you. Adult fantasy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 Teleo - older MC - family murdered & son taken - his search is fruitless so he returns home. Begrudgingly he softens & finds a new family. When his new family is in jeopardy they hit the road.

Descriptive. Well thought out, unique, found family, quest.

BlackJack (horse) GREAT companion. 😆

I loved the story, characters, magic. It‘s not an action packed plot but that‘s not what I was in the mood for.

I look forward to the sequel. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

O M G … look what came today!

I LOVE IT!

I ordered this book from Waterstone‘s on 5/5/23. I got the shipping notice from Waterstone‘s on 5/10. Here it is!

HOLY SMOKE THAT WAS FAST!

ODDLY … I ordered from my book-seller-nemesis … Waterstone‘s. The box it came in says … BLACKWELL‘S … how can a bookstore I‘m not fond of be associated with Blackwell‘s? I love Blackwell‘s! I‘m so conflicted right now.

But I love the book! ♥️

I‘ve got so many books on my June TBR already … and this is one of them! Special edition from The Broken Binding. ♥️

Goldsboro GSFF april subscription box took awhile to get here, a nice special edition … pretty! I‘m looking forward to reading this one.

Adult FairyLoot subscription box .. was a let down … it‘s a pretty book but the second I saw it I picked up my phone and ordered the Waterstone‘s special edition. The whimsical art is part of the charm, right?

A special edition from The Broken Binding. I have t gotten any of my orders for a couple months. It‘s been Christmas daily around here.

🎧 Such a clever writer. From tension to laughter. I love Murder Bot, this is not that. This is a complicated entertaining superbly original fantasy epic!

Kai‘s a demon. Demons inhabit members of high families. This gives the families demonic powers & longevity. Why is this killer so likable? Great characters!

Two timelines. The past helps explain the present.

Such a cool premise. The groundwork has been lain for a new series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

🎧 I picked up this ARC for 2 reasons … I‘m enjoying a series by the author plus Legends & Lattes.

A secret restaurant? Great idea!! I enjoyed most of the characters & didn‘t like one 😆 intentional I‘m sure!

I loved the talk of food! It was so new to me that I gave an extra star! A good narrator pulls you into the world! Is this a stand alone? A book full of novellas about unique restaurants or a continuing series would be great!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

🎧 Gabe‘s driving home from work & sees a little girl in an unfamiliar car mouthing “daddy”. It‘s his daughter Izzy or is it?

Izzy & her mom Jenny were killed by an intruder earlier.

3 years later me meet Fran who‘s on the run with her daughter Katie or is she? Gabe‘s still looking for his daughter & ‘Samaritan” is helping him.

Tudor‘s books are twisty & come together in the end.

Richard Armitage is a perfect narrator!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️3/4

🎧 I enjoyed this little bit of non-fiction. I have a morning caffeine ritual. I joke about it but I enjoy a cup of eye opening caffeine every morning. It was nice to hear about caffeine from a fellow caffeine consumer who went cold turkey for the story!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 Monk reads math ideas. It was a great half hour! I added the book to my TBR. Audible Plus catalog. Give it a free listen.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 A LOT of people have recommended this as great horror! I went in blind.

I expected a serial killer with a necklace made of tongues. Not sure if I‘m disappointed by that but the spin on this story was good.

The same scenario happens in multiple different ways which slowly unveils the truth.

Engaged couple, cabin in the woods. Secrets. Native American horror. A couple spins. Some gruesome deaths. A good thriller/horror.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Subscription Book Box - The Broken Binding. This is such a pretty book. The silver foil design wraps around the book and the digitally sprayed edge is fantastic! The jacket matches the original artwork & there‘s a bookmark with a quote.

Audible Sale … I bought 4 new books … $22.96. I was approved for a sci-fi ARC. A Hoopla loan for The Last Kingdom because it‘s included in the Audible sale & I‘m only allowing myself 4 new books. 😫 so I‘m adding some books to my June TBR this weekend. How‘s your weekend?

I don‘t need everything I read to be meaningful, thought-provoking works of important literature. This was a fun sci-fi audiobook (yes a bit YA but forgivably so). I didn‘t skip my IC subscription for April on purpose & have been looking forward to the Special Edition delivery for the past month. Cool edges on all 3 sides, unique end papers, quote on front, the jacket glows like metal. I love interesting companions! ♥️♥️

🎧 Can horror be fun? Yesss! (From the author of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back) 😁

This novella reminded me of an installment of Tales From the Crypt or Creepshow!

Bugs Gone Wild!

That‘s all you need to know. Fun, scary romp. I was looking for something to creep me out and this was just the ticket. Bugs, yuck!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 Gaslamp - Western - Fantasy.

Pretty specific genre 😆 a genre I love. Huh … but I also love horror, sci-fi, grimdark, thrillers, mysteries, rom-com, etc. etc. etc.

I had 2 favorite characters.

Mildred (Millie) is a hardened x-soldier turned Deputy/mom. A bit older than your normal fantasy MC. She‘s full of badass character.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️3/4 👇🏻

🎧 SPFBO 2022 Winner

This was a comfort read/listen for me. If Good Omens & Hitchhiker‘s Guide to the Galaxy had a cozy modern day fantasy baby. Well that was the feeling I got.

Gadriel (man, woman, cat) is a fallen Angel that owes a bookie & now needs to tempt Holly to the dark side. Should be easy. 😆 The narrator stops & explains things breaking the 4th wall.

Love, grief, temptation, angels, demons, chocolate.

Recommendation!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️3/4

🎧 Book 2 & I was looking forward to more Hodges, Holly & Jerome. King can write a character & I was enjoying this combination.

This book is so intriguing but I had to wait for half a book to get back to the detective trio.

The story‘s told by multiple characters. A criminal, a child, our trio. All coming at the same crime from different angles.

It starts with a murder mystery which goes unsolved until the end when our trio …

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️3/4 👇🏻

🎧 She‘s a con artist, a thief & a liar … she‘s the goddaughter of Death & Fortune ... I love this main character!

I enjoyed Little Thieves & the sequel is even better. Yes … it leaves you in a bit of a cliff hanger BUT the story has advanced pretty quickly. Bombshells have been dropped. Decisions have been made. There are talking creatures/animals. I‘m ready for book 3 now.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 👇🏻

🎧 Stayed up all night! Narrator‘s perfect for this story. Author‘s best.

LOVE Titus. X-FBI turned Deep South sheriff! A stand up honest guy. He spends time with his family. Has a GF & a past but always tries to do the right thing.

In walks a serial killer & a town in racial turmoil while he‘s under pressure by certain citizens. Tension is high. Will he be able to solve the murders before the next child is taken?

Love the last act!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 I liked this book. Others won‘t. There‘s a bunch of trigger warnings. Super adult language. And adult situations. Thematically adult.

Body horror. Cannibalism. Revoltingly blatant sex. A lot of sex. I loved the characters. 25% in and I had to go back to the beginning.

The book‘s lingo is quotable or at least memorable.

Trans guys & girls and non-binary characters.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 👇🏻

🎧 I loved the pace of this book. A new mental health provider (blogger), an older crazy man. Or is he crazy. You follow the doctor as he tries to diagnosis and help Joe. You get some backstory of the doctor. All in all a face paced interesting character study of a doctor/patient at an asylum. Novella.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 I loved this book & I don‘t speak Latin.

Nuclear war has devastated the planet in the 26th century and most of those remaining become self proclaimed simpletons roaming the countryside burning books and executing anyone smart enough to drag them out of the dark ages.

Leibowitz is an engineer that engineered the nuclear holocaust who now wants to save humanity.

There‘s a lot of Latin.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 👇🏻

🎧 This is a difficult review. I feel like the Hogwart‘s sorting hat. 🧐

It‘s obviously a bit dated. A few TWs. On some level it felt poorly written. That could be due to the dialog being dated. But the ideas!! This story is going to haunt the cobwebs of my mind for a long time.

Dead humans wake up naked & hairless on a River world. It gets stranger.

Hermann Goering as a prominent character?

A very strange interesting book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 For me, this book has taken the place of several series either completed or pending.

What a fun post-apocalyptic litrpg dnd adventure!

I can‘t wait to dive into this series!! Read by the voice of Kvothe!

Fun fun fun

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

I finished 36 books in April.

14,538 pages or over 440 hours if you‘re listening. All are reviewed.

16 pictured here were my favorites. Tress was an absolute shocker! ♥️ I bought the DragonSteel edition 😁

1 - Under 100 pages
5 - 201-300
15 - 301-400
9 - 401-500
4 - 501-600
1 - 688
1 > 800

Did you read or listen to a great book in April?