a_reader_obsessed's reviews
3101 reviews

Snow and Ink, Vol. 1 by Miyuki Unohana

hopeful mysterious

3.5

An intriguing start about a disgraced heiress who saves a convicted murderer and how they find in each other acceptance, peace, and possibly redemption.

I really liked the theme of this where there’s always two sides to a story and of course, this applies the most to main characters Freya and Neneo.

Toss in an ex-fiance and other family members with possibly dubious intentions, and I look forward to the next installment to find out more!

Thank you to the author and Kodansha Comics via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review 

Inferno's Heir by Tiffany Wang

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

Let me preface this first.  I’m all for supporting debut authors and indie presses, and I admire Bindery Books’s interesting platform in doing so. Inferno’s Heir is one of four in their first round of publishing, and I was intrigued by its premise.  

This starts off with beleaguered princess Teia, whose rights are infringed upon by sadist half brother Jura, who will soon take the throne and control every aspect of her life.  To subvert this, she approaches the common folk rebellion who has been mistreated over the years (made far worse with Jura’s influence) and agrees to steal a precious family jewel to prove her loyalty to their cause so she can betray them to win favor with her brother.  Sounds like a wonderful premise for a plot and character driven story with the prospect of action adventure, high risk drama, and the promise of new friendships, budding romance, and a changed-for-the-better Teia, right? Right?

I will say for the most part this delivers on each of these points, but personally for me, the connection of dots was just a bit off. As a warning, Princess Teia is pretty cutthroat.  It’s understandable since she has had no one in her corner for many years, and the hatred her brother directs towards her is immense.  It’s no wonder Teia will do anything for her survival and that unfortunately, shows in the best and worst ways. Also, there’s little we see of the actual rebellion and their leader, focusing on three other characters instead, characters who are just as young, impetuous, and self indulgently idealistic as Teia and one questions, is this the best the rebellion has at their disposal?  Granted, this is YA fiction, so I shouldn’t be surprised that the spotlight is on these underage people, but it just seemed too incongruent for my old brain.

What this has going for it is an interesting world full of conflict and antagonistic countries where I assume will be further expanded upon in the sequel.  The elemental magic too was compelling, and one knows that will feature more heavily as well.  Toss in two heists, an amazingly talented thief who’s for neither side, and a hint of chaste romance, and this will probably appeal very nicely to the overall masses who enjoy a YA magical dystopic fantasy.

  

However, I wanted more emotional stakes, more maturity, and more personal growth for Teia.  Surely, this will be forthcoming in the next book as this technically ends on a cliffhanger.  It remains to be seen if the sequel’s reception will pique my interest enough to check it out.

Thank you to the author and Bindery Books for a copy in exchange for an honest review

How to Steal a Galaxy by Beth Revis

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

A necessary pit stop before the finale!

Last we saw Ada and Rian, Ada had made off with important technology designed to restore Earth to its former pollution-free glory. Thing is, Ada, and the mysterious group who hired her, knows that this tech comes with a very steep price that’s hidden under benevolence and conservation, and those providing said tech have a more sinister agenda based solely on diabolical greed.

To stop such “progress” Ada’s been hired again to steal another very important item at a fancy schmancy charity event hosted by the corrupt mogul himself.  Thing is, Rian, the man she kinda sorta betrayed in Full Speed to a Crash Landing, has been tasked as head of security, and he knows Ada’s coming.

Not as flashy or fast paced as the first installment, I still enjoyed Ada and Rian’s banter and push/pull. As much as their superficial occupations clash, fundamentally they’re on the same page. They both want to save Earth, but that doesn’t mean they’ll make it easy for the other, and it certainly doesn’t mean that time and space apart has cooled their curiosity nor their attraction.

Again, this served to further lay down the foundation for the end game to come, a race between those who want to save Earth the right way and those that are opportunistic no matter the cost of life as long as it puts more money in their already overflowing coffers. My gut feeling tells me the conclusion will be one intense, conflict ridden, action filled adventure (with a more definitive romance), and I’m all for it when it releases next year!

Thank you to the author and DAW via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review

Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

Admittedly, I have a penchant for anything related to Sherlock Holmes so when the blurb stated such, I was immediately intrigued.

This starts off with Samantha Harker, daughter of the infamous Jonathan and Mina Harker who faced off and killed Dracula, and it’s no surprise that her interests involve all things that go bump in the night, inevitably finding herself as a researcher for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena. What many don’t know is that she’s also a channel, a touch sensitive to objects associated with monsters, and she has a personal stake in a series of grisly murders plaguing Paris.  When Sam worms her way into being the newest partner of hunter Dr Helena Moriarty, estranged daughter of notorious criminal mastermind of the same name, both must learn to trust each other amidst subterfuge, secrets, and mortal danger.

This is a world full of all the creepy creatures you could want ranging from grindylows to giant snail monsters to shifters, not to mention social inequality and underground terrorists that are intricately tied to the supernatural murders of the French elite that Sam and Helena are investigating.

This had a distinct atmospheric feel to its historic gothic setting along with a hint of sapphic leanings threaded throughout a mystery containing a good amount of gore and horror.  The darkness is not too mired down in the macabre due to the sunshiny outlook of Sam as she pursues her personal mission while trying to figure out if partner Helena is a friend or foe.

Again, I like any association with Sherlock Holmes no matter how remote, and the mashup of other literary characters (Harker, Van Helsing, Moriarty) gave a League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (minus the gentlemen) vibe.

Overall, a promising start and should the author continue Sam and Helena’s adventures, I’d be more than willing to go along with them!

Thank you to Bindery Books via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Stunning in scope but heavy on all fronts.

Was this an easy read? Uh, that is a big NO. 

However, Wang won me over with The Sword of Kaigen, and though that story is an entirely different beast, this was no less impactful.

Here, Sciona is the lone woman to have ever achieved highmage status in a world that thinks very little of a female’s place in anything other than nurturing the home. She is ready to impress, and no one is going to stop her.  When she “jokingly” gets saddled with a janitor for an assistant, what Sciona and Thomil discover in the search for bettering the city of Tiran will change not only themselves, but everyone else’s belief system and their place in the world.  

Be prepared to encounter a bunch of hot topics - misogyny, racism, oppression, prejudice, bigotry, religion, overpopulation and dwindling resources are just to name a few.

It’s best not to discuss too many details so one can be equally affected as Sciona and Thomil were. You will be challenged. You will be struck by an ingeniously complex magic system that relies heavily on religious justification. You will be impressed with a totally original world and its varied peoples that inhabit it and how close it mirrors our own dark history.

Overall, I think if you are a fan of Wang, or if you want to take a chance on something different, this author doesn’t shy away from tough subject matter. Again, so very far from being an easy read, but like The Sword of Kaigen, the truth is devastating and tragic, and there are plenty who will fight with their whole being to maintain the status quo, who will hide behind a system that doesn't want to upset their divine given entitlement, but because of a select few, there is a chance for something better.  This author won’t sugarcoat things nor give you a perfect HEA, and the result is a moving tale that will make you ponder one’s own humanity and question what is just, fair, and kind.  There is triumph, there is the start of change, and most of all, there is hope.

Just like Sciona and Thomil can never unsee or unknow what they find, I too was affected the same way and won’t soon forget.

Thank you to the author and Del Rey via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review

House of Frank by Kay Synclaire

challenging slow-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.0

Look. No one wanted to love this story more than me. I admire the premise of Bindery Books Publishing who promotes reader communities to choose books they’re passionate about. This book was chosen by someone I personally follow on IG, who has many a time recommended reads I’ve enjoyed.  Sadly, this was not a win.

Just like the blurb says, Saika is grieving her dead sister and arrives at Ash Gardens to finally lay her remains to rest.  There, she’s pulled in with the denizens who reside at the sanctuary and finds a place of belonging and redemption. Everything else in between missed the mark.

When I don’t like a book, the last thing I want to do is nitpick it to death but inevitably a review must review.  This book promised healing and found family but really fell short for me.  Most of the characters were clueless as to what was going on around them which made no sense if this “family” truly cared for one another, and many were not at all likable, often coming off antagonistic and abrasive which also included the main character.  The sapphic romance was not believable, mistaking insults for flirty banter and desire, and don’t get me started on the multitude of secrets everyone is keeping from each other.  It didn’t help at all that Saika jumps from first person pov to a stream of consciousness dialogue to her dead sister constantly, and it was absolutely jarring everytime she did this, ruining storytelling flow and momentum.

I will concede that the magical system was interesting, and I liked the variety of fantastical beings that were included.  Each character had their own tragic grief that they dealt with separately and that did nudge me a little in the feels. Otherwise, I was mostly bored and impatient to get conclusive answers to all the issues, challenges, problems that Saika and her “friends” were confronted with, and when the reveal and solution finally came, it just didn’t satisfy my particular self in its simplistic incongruous answers. 

Overall, my unimportant opinion in the grand scheme of things is minuscule, as the vast majority who has read thIs book emphatically adored it. I just wish I was one of them.

Thank you to Bindery Books via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for a honest review

Jhereg by Steven Brust

adventurous mysterious

4.0

I came across this on The Quill to Live blog and was intrigued by the idea of a nonlinear series about a central character, where each book expounds on key moments of the life of assassin Vlad Taltos.  Interestingly, this takes place in an alternate universe that is ruled by a revolving 17 houses embodying different talents, ideals, and strengths that mirror a particular animal’s core traits.  

This first book is about the House of Jhereg, a cunning, ruthless dragon-like creature the size of a cat, and the only house who allows admittance of humans into their ranks.  It is here that lowly human Vlad survives and thrives, and the reader is introduced to him as he tackles his most profitable offer to date -  assassinate a thief who stole from the aforementioned house - a task with many mission constraints including an unfortunate tight deadline.

What Vlad encounters are repeated impossible roadblocks and multiple attempts on his own life.  In and amongst his going about this frustrating job, Brust slowly peppers this story with fascinating reveals about the cultural intricacies and history of this intriguing world.

Overall, this has impressive political intrigue, long lived races, sword fights, crazy heists, plentiful magic, and a cheeky cutthroat familiar.  Vlad is as cunning as he is resourceful, who has built a steady network of varied allies to help in his dubious dangerous endeavors, and curiously, was someone who I enjoyed rooting for.

A solid start and one that I am going to continue to follow through!

The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

As most books are wont to do, often it’s the blurb that will lead a reader to check out the story.  For me, it was the intriguing setup that lured me in as well as the fact that I highly enjoyed The Woman in the Library, and I was ready for another propulsive read to keep me on my toes. No doubt Gentill’s writing continues to be easy to digest.  It’s quick, it flows, it pulls the reader along.

So, I was looking forward to the prospect of conspiracies, a ton of chilling secrets, and an explosive mind blowing reveal. For me, this didn’t really crescendo until the last 20% and when it did, it kinda fizzled. I’m not saying the idea wasn’t smart and interesting because it was, but maybe my unrealistic expectations were just too high. Perhaps because it took over 300 pages to really set things up, the ending seemed too rushed where the conspiracy fallout never truly came and was sinisterly (and sadly probably realistically) left open to continue on its twisty nebulous path. I readily admit that I want my fictional entertainment to be solidly in the happily ever after realm where the bad guys get their well deserved comeuppance.

It didn’t help that the heroine Theo was difficult to root for where my jaded self wanted to shake her way too many times to have a bit more self preservation, to not be so naive and gullible.  In my opinion, the actual standouts of this were Theo’s brother Gus, and his friend Mac.  They’re protective and smart, and both of them work tirelessly (and fruitlessly) to keep Theo from making many mistakes and missteps. I truly enjoyed every scene that they were in.  Also, while I love any bit of romance to a story that I can get, I didn’t buy into what was presented and felt that Theo was one very lucky lady to deserve such devotion.

Overall, this had good bones, and I think many will enjoy this on its own merits or that of the author’s.  I personally wanted more of everything because what was delivered just wasn’t enough to fully titillate and engage me specifically. Regardless, Gentill is still an author of interest, and I’ll continue to check out her future works!

Thank you to the author and Poisoned Press via NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for an honest review

Heartstopper Volume 4 by Alice Oseman

emotional hopeful slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

Super sweet as always, Nick and Charlie warm the old cold heart.  

Most notable in this 4th volume, Oseman continues to bring the angst and difficult topics to light, all the while shining a ray of positivity, showing that though love can’t necessarily conquer all, it can support you through those terrible tough times, sharing the pain and burden of life’s struggles.

Overall, simply lovely.

Dark Space by Rob Hart, Alex Segura

adventurous dark hopeful inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Look. I basically became a fan of Rob Hart after reading Assassins Anonymous, so it was a complete no brainer in picking this book up that he co-wrote with Alex Segura.  Not surprisingly, this was a win as well.  

Told in split POV’s running coincidently, this story follows estranged friends Jose Carriles and Corin Timony.  Jose is an ace spaceship pilot who has skated through life on a road of privilege despite a recent personal scandal. Somehow, he has landed a coveted position on a history-making mission to explore the first viable planet that could be the answer to a beleaguered humanity currently struggling to survive on the moon.  Timony, who hasn’t had it easy in life, who also was tied up in the same aforementioned scandal, finds herself demoted to riding a desk monitoring messages from space instead of doing what she does best - being a secret agent serving national interests and preventing general destruction.

As this book goes back and forth between Jose and Timony trying to find answers when unexplainable events stall, and eventually threaten, the success of  the mission, they slowly unravel secrets that don’t want to be found, where the lives of the crew, and ultimately the last of the human race, is threatened with annihilation.  

This has great science to it, and as all stories with this sort of setup, it touches on our base desire and drive to survive and the lengths we go through to merely exist. It is also a very smart, brutally honest, and often unsavory,  commentary on what makes us human, HUGE warts and all, encompassing our greed, desperation, and callousness. However, despite our many inherent failings, this asks the question: are we redeemable as a whole?  Are we worth saving?  I certainly hope so. 

For me, I absolutely loved the Star Trek vibes of this.  Be reassured this isn’t all existential angst.  Hart and Segura don’t fail on the action, suspense, the urgent espionage vibe, shady complex politics, and omniscient powerful aliens who are judge, jury, and executioners of the galaxy where humanity is not exempt.  This held my attention with the fast pace and reveals as both Jose and Timony are like dogs with a bone.  They may be terribly flawed, but there’s honor and personal growth for these two.  They know something is off, that something sinister is going on, and they just can’t let it be.  Good thing they don’t.

I obviously enjoyed this, and I’m simply further reassured that Rob Hart (and Alex Segura) are authors to remain on my radar.  

Thank you to the authors and Blackstone Publishing via NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for an honest review.