Mermaids???

The Sweetest Kind of Fate (Windy City Magic #2)

by Crystal Cestari

Hardcover, 320 pages

Expected publication: February 13th 2018 by Disney-Hyperion

ISBN: 9781484752739

ARC From Publisher and Copy From NetGalley

About:

GREAT. I’ve somehow found myself tangled up with a siren, a mermaid, and a homicidal wicked witch who once tried to strangle me to death. Way to go, Amber!

Amber Sand, legendary matchmaker, couldn’t be more surprised when her arch nemesis, Ivy, comes asking for her help. Ivy’s sister, Iris, is getting married, and Ivy wants to prove her sister is making a huge mistake. But as Amber looks into Iris's eyes, there doesn’t seem to be a problem—Iris has clearly found her match.

It seems happily ever after is in the cards, but when Iris seeks out a dangerous, life-altering spell, it’s up to Amber and Ivy to set aside their rivalry and save the day.

While Iris is willing to put everything on the line for love, Amber continues to wrestle with her own romantic future. Her boyfriend, Charlie, is still destined for another, and no matter how hard she clings to him, fear over their inevitable breakup shakes her belief system to the core.

Because the Fates are never wrong—right?

(Goodreads)

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:

Just like the first book in this series, The Sweetest Kind of Fate is a cute, quick, fun supernatural adventure. All of our main characters are back, including evil Veronica. We have a light teen romance (very PG) again that doesn’t ruin the story. This time around our main character Amber the matchmaker is trying to save her arch nemesis’s sister from an evil witch. We get a mix of witches, werwolves, vampires, mermaids, sirens, humans, and more that come together to defeat the evil witch. The book has a bit of “teen” drama mixed in that teen readers will be able to relate to.  The way the author describes Chicago is perfect…. though I have been to the city many times and have been to many of the places that the characters go to in the book. Unfortunately I have not found the Supernatural restaurant/bar to visit yet. I think those who have not been to the city will still be able to picture it pretty well. This book/series is perfect for younger teens just getting started in YA, but I know older teens and teens at heart will enjoy it too. I hope that there will be more books in this series. 

Indiana Jones Read Alike?

Unearthed (Unearthed #1)

by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner 

Hardcover, 336 pages

Expected publication: January 9th 2018 by Disney-Hyperion

ISBN 9781484758052

ARC From Publisher

About:

When Earth intercepts a message from a long-extinct alien race, it seems like the solution the planet has been waiting for. The Undying's advanced technology has the potential to undo environmental damage and turn lives around, and Gaia, their former home planet, is a treasure trove waiting to be uncovered.

For Jules Addison and his fellow scholars, the discovery of an alien culture offers unprecedented opportunity for study... as long as scavengers like Amelia Radcliffe don't loot everything first. Mia and Jules' different reasons for smuggling themselves onto Gaia put them immediately at odds, but after escaping a dangerous confrontation with other scavvers, they form a fragile alliance.

In order to penetrate the Undying temple and reach the tech and information hidden within, the two must decode the ancient race's secrets and survive their traps. But the more they learn about the Undying, the more their presence in the temple seems to be part of a grand design that could spell the end of the human race… 

(Goodreads)

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:

Not what I expected, but in a good way. It was kind of a repetitive Indiana Jones knock off throughout the middle of the book. Don’t get me wrong. I do love me some Indy, but it would have been nice to do something different or make this area of the book shorter. The book switches it up and gets really exciting and fast paced towards the end. Space ships. Uninvited “guests”.  A WTF moment. All this and more helps redeem the slowness in the middle. 

The characters evolved got more and more interesting throughout the book. I usually don’t enjoy shifting view points from chapter to chapter but this book surprisingly got it right. Our two main characters are so different, yet so alike, that getting to see what each one was thinking and why really added to the story. 

The new planet that they’re on and the search for alien technology made this story similar to other sci-fi books out there and yet different at the same time. There was a certain charm that came from the writing that other books don’t have. The “romance” was definitely YA like. “I love you. I hate you.” kind of stuff. But it was still kind of cute and didn’t hurt the story too much. 

That ending though! WOW! I’d really like to know what's going to happen next! It was a pretty “clean” read so teens of any age who enjoy sci-fi and adventure will gobble this one up and be begging you for the next book! 

Marvel Does It Again!

Runaways: An Original Novel

by Christopher Golden 

Paperback, 352 pages

Expected publication: January 2nd 2018 by Marvel Press

ISBN: 9781484782019

Received ARC From Publisher

About: 

"The Pride, back in L.A.? Their parents, alive? Karolina had never realized hope and fear could feel so much alike."

Written by New York Times best-selling author Christopher Golden, Runaways: An Original Novel is a fresh take on the Marvel fan favorite. Including the first issue of the revived Runaways comic series written by Rainbow Rowell and with art by Kris Anka, it's easy for fans of the comics, fans of the new Hulu TV show, and first-time readers to all enjoy this new take on an old classic.

Turns out murderous Super Villains don't make for good parents. The Runaways had no choice. They had to kill them. Well, more or less. Now Nico, Karolina, Gert, Chase, and Molly are on the run again, hiding out and trying to regain a sense of normalcy. But kids with super powers don't get to be normal.

The city is overrun with criminals, each faction bent on murdering them for one reason or another. It's only when the Runaways uncover the truth behind their parents' past that they realize the evil isn't just in L.A. (Goodreads)

Rating: 4

Review:

I was pleasantly surprised by this read. After being disappointed by DC's new Batman novel I didn't have high hopes for another superhero book. This one however, was actually pretty good. It stuck close to the graphic novel origins (yes I have read the series). It gave good back story from the comics so those who haven't read the comics will still be able to follow and enjoy.  I do wish there was more character looks descriptions though. Sometimes I had a hard time picturing the main heroes in my head, despite the fact that I’ve seen them countless times in the comics. I feel like the "good guy" characters kept in character from the comics. The bad guys were very "Marvel" bad guy like. All super powered and in costumes for the most part. There were a few “hidden” bad guys that made the end more exciting. There was plenty of action and plot development to keep the story moving and to keep the reader interested. The ending wasn't really a big surprise, but it was still done in a clever way. Due to swearing (mostly done by the youngest Runaway member) and sexual content (Two members end up naked in bed but it doesn't end up going all the way... if you know what I mean) I'm not sure I'd give it to younger teens. Those who are looking for a decent Marvel read or who are getting ready for the Runaways TV show will probably enjoy this read though. 

Batman??? Not So Much...

Batman: Nightwalker (DC Icons #2)

by Marie Lu

Hardcover, 272 pages

Expected publication: January 2nd 2018 by Random House Books for Young Readers

ISBN 0399549781 (ISBN13: 9780399549786)

SeriesDC Icons #2

Received ARC From Publisher

About:

Before he was Batman, he was Bruce Wayne. A reckless boy willing to break the rules for a girl who may be his worst enemy.

The Nightwalkers are terrorizing Gotham City, and Bruce Wayne is next on their list.

One by one, the city's elites are being executed as their mansions' security systems turn against them, trapping them like prey. Meanwhile, Bruce is turning eighteen and about to inherit his family's fortune, not to mention the keys to Wayne Enterprises and all the tech gadgetry his heart could ever desire. But after a run-in with the police, he's forced to do community service at Arkham Asylum, the infamous prison that holds the city's most brutal criminals.

Madeleine Wallace is a brilliant killer . . . and Bruce's only hope.

In Arkham, Bruce meets Madeleine, a brilliant girl with ties to the Nightwalkers. What is she hiding? And why will she speak only to Bruce? Madeleine is the mystery Bruce must unravel. But is he getting her to divulge her secrets, or is he feeding her the information she needs to bring Gotham City to its knees? Bruce will walk the dark line between trust and betrayal as the Nightwalkers circle closer.

Rating: 3 Stars

Review:

Fox got it right by calling their young Bruce Wayne/James Gordon show Gotham and not connecting it to Batman. This book got it wrong. So wrong! We have an 18 year old Bruce who doesn't seem to be anywhere near becoming the dark knight yet. Yes he saves the day all while wearing black, but it's not Batman like. It's more of a generic YA drama/adventure/romance book.

If you look at it like just an everyday YA book then it's a decent read. The writing it ok, though it is kind of slow in some parts. If you don't try to picture this as a Batman book the characters and such are ok. If you're like me though and you were hoping for a good Batman novel, you're out of luck. Besides his parents being killed and having a Butler named Alfred this Bruce wasn't what I was looking for. Where's the dark, brooding character , with a tortured soul, kind of looking for revenge and wanting to fix his city? Even TVs Gotham with an even younger Bruce has all that.

Why is Harvey Dent (who is very un Dent like) one of Bruce’s best friends? It seemed like a stunt to throw a well-known character into the mix since our bad guys (who aren't too Batman villain like) are all newbies. And the other couple name drops seemed like a stunt as well. Fox and Gordon weren’t used to the extent that they should have been. Even Alfred had a minimum roll until closer to the end of the book.

Gotham is not how I've ever pictured it either. Wayne's house and property are way to close to other houses. Arkham didn’t seem to scary or troublesome. It seemed like even the worse inmates were tame.  Even the streets they drive through in the city just seem wrong and to nice and light. Gotham should be dark and run down. There should be criminals and gangs, not concerts in the park and joy rides. And don’t get me started on the drones. Are they flying drones like I first pictured because of the word drone? Or are they more robotic humanoids? I really had a hard time figuring that out.

By the end of this I was expecting Bruce to either run off and marry the girl or just become a rich guy who helps people by charity or becomes a cop. Not a guy who runs off and trains to become a vigilante, which there is no hint of.

And my biggest pet peeve... what was with all the bats. Bruce mentions liking watching the bats at home and flying over Gotam. I get he's going to become Batman, but from my memory it wasn't because he enjoyed watching the bats fly every night.

I'm very disappointed in this "Batman" novel. If you're expecting Batman, pick up something else. If you want teen drama then give this one a shot.

Reviews Coming Soon...

Hey Readers!

I'm so excited to share pictures of some of the ARCs I received this week from my publisher friends! I can't wait to get reading! Hopefully I'll have some reviews for them soon. It just might take a little longer than I like with the holidays coming. 

Until then I'll still be posting reviews of many of the books that I've already read. Please keep checking back for new reviews. I'll try to get a few up each week! 

Thank you so much for reading!