Love Me Tender

 

Barbarian's Prize by Ruby Dixon (Book 5 in Ice Planet Barbarian's series)

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5.0 stars

My Review on Goodreads

In book five of the "Ice Planet Barbarians" series, almost all of the Earth women who crash-landed on the planet have found their mates with the local species of blue humanoids. Tiffany is far from eager for her turn.  In fact, she just wants to be left alone. The unmated males are buzzing around her like bees around a flower, and she's feeling overwhelmed. Salukh knows that Tiffany is his mate, even if his symbiont hasn’t resonated for her.  He is playing the long game and more than willing to give her time. He is happy to woo her and to be there for her.  Tiffany hates all the male attention, but she feels strangely drawn to Salukh, even knowing it’s not to meant to be. 

Barbarian’s Prize is a short but spicy-sweet romance story.  Spicy in that the love scenes are very frequent and very detailed. Sweet in that Tiffany and Salukh seem to have a very meaningful connection that goes beyond sex, even if the symbiont isn't saying so.  Despite the short length, the characters are well-developed. Salukh’s a gentle giant who would do anything for the woman who has his heart.  Tiffany is a trying to find her feet after a terrible event, and seeking a sense of purpose in her new life on the planet she dubs Not-Hoth (a call out to Star Wars's ice planet Hoth). Despite her issues, she does trust and loves spending time with Salukh, and he grows in her affections with each moment they spend together, getting past her feels and mental barriers against romance. Readers who love a sweet, kind hero who always puts the needs of his heroine first will fall head over heels for Salukh.  Tiffany’s reticence and fears are very understandable, given her past.  Their courtship is well paced as this couple take careful steps into deeper intimacy, rendered in spicy and steamy detail on the page.  The love that develops between them is believable, and Tiffany’s trauma is dealt with in a respectful, caring way. Readers who dive into this series with this book won’t feel confused as the storyline gives context to previous happenings.  

I wasn't in the mood for a book that's primarily focused on sexy times, so I was ready to move on from the love scenes at a certain point, and I wanted a little more plot.   My mind wanted to know more about the planet and if there are other humanoid cultures in other geographic regions.  I want to know how they established their communities on the planet.  I have to remind myself that's not the point of the book.  It's probably also the fact that I haven't been reading as much romance lately and I've gotten used to other parts of the story being equally explored. There's no real external conflict, so if you want a story that's more low stakes, this is for you. That said, I enjoy Dixon's writing.  I love stories about true love winning the day and this definitely fits the bill. Readers looking for a quick, very steamy and heartfelt paranormal romance that spends its time mainly on the couple interactions with a few meaningful interactions with side characters will enjoy this book.   I do plan to read other books in the series, and I'm ready for Josie's story now!

Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars.

The Ultimate Prey

Out of the Dark by Gregg Hurwitz (Orphan X Book #4)

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

My Review on Goodreads

 I am so in love with this series. Sometimes you are afraid that new books in the series cannot live up to the hype, but with this series, that definitely has not happened for me. I love these books so much, I have reread all the first four at the time of this review. I have the other books, and I am waiting for a good time to dive back into this series. I strongly recommend the audiobook. Scott Brick is brilliant at narrating the books. For me, he's how Evan Smoak sounds.

It's not like Evan doesn't have challenging situations to deal with. It's just that he's just that damn good at what he does. And like the Hulk, you really don't want to get on his bad side.

There are parallel missions running. One in which Evan is tracking his ultimate prey, the President (you heard me right), and helping a young man who has been subjected to the most horrific situation imaginable. I just absolutely love Evan. He's scary as hell, but only if you deserve it. He's the guy you want to have your back, because he will watch your back but good. Maybe it's sadistic of me, but I love watching him rain down the fires of God on the bad guys. What I also love is that while Evan learned to be the perfect killer, his mentor Jack also taught him what love and loyalty is, and that caring man comes out in the choices he makes throughout the book.

Each scene is meticulously plotted and beautifully written. I so want to see this on the big or small screen. One of my favorite scenes is a huge spoiler, but reading it for the second time was just as fantastic as the first.

This is the best action/adventure/thriller series I've read. I love me some Matt Reilly and Scarecrow, but the Evan Smoak series has surplanted it in my mind (sorry Matt, I still love you!) If you haven't read this series, what are you doing? Do yourself a favor and pick up Orphan X right now.

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Untouchable

 The Darkest Touch by Gena Showalter (Lords of the Underworld #11)

My Review:  5 out of 5 stars.

My Review on Goodreads

I'd been waiting for Torin's book from practically the beginning. I love his character. I was a little unsure about things would go with Keeley Cael. But wow, I really loved them together. I wish I had written my review sooner, since I forgot some things. But I do remember being so engaged with the story. It was great to see Torin finally get his happy ending. It must have been very hard to see all his comrades find their mates and be all alone, destined never to have a special someone because of his Demon of Disease. I loved that Keeley was the type of heroine who would have her man's back and vice versa. I love when the couple is equally matched in a lot of ways. If I'm honest, Torin reminds me of Zsadist and a bit of John Matthew from The Black Dagger Brotherhood, and Keely reminds me of a combination of Nix and Regin from Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series. It's probably a big part of why I like them so much. The fact that Keeley is so ancient was a great part of this story. She had some knowledge about things that made her a great asset, but also it's a nice change from a lot of stories where the hero is much older and has more experience of the world than the heroine. I loved their own romance, but also how it fits into the ongoing story and progresses the narrative.

This series turned out to be one of my all time favorites. It's giving me happy feels to think about my glom, even though 2020 was just an awful year. If I ever decide I just want to reread some of my favorite books from the series, I'll definitely be rereading this one.

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Fruiting Bodies

 

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

My Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars.

My Review on Goodreads

I have been on a T. Kingfisher glom since last year, and I don't see it ending anytime soon. I will be real here. I have loved Edgar Allan Poe since I was high school kid and we read some of his stories in class. I was that kid who loved scary, Gothic stories, and I haven't changed much. So this was so innovative retelling of his short novel, The Fall of the House of Usher, was definitely something I wanted to read. I believe I did read the original, or at least a part of it, but I don't remember it. I plan to listen to the audiobook this year to refresh myself. Having said that, I don't think you need to read the original to enjoy this story.

The Gothic atmosphere is flawless. A rotting ancestral manse, and an aristocratic family whose remaining members are dying on the vine. Enter a character who knows nothing about that life, but who is entangled with the remaining two Usher family members through friendship. As the reader, you are immersed in the story by that character's point of view. Along with the trappings of the Gothic, there is also horror of the body and contagious variety. Let me tell you, that is a really sore spot for me. I feel this type of horror on a visceral level. I have a background in biological science, so I know a lot about pathology, infectious disease and microorganisms, so I was cringing so hard when I read this. Having said that, I was entrenched and I was so invested. Kingfisher is very good at description without bogging down the story with details that are unnecessary. There's enough of the setting to draw a mental image and to bring things to life. But she also nailed describing what was happening to poor Madeline in an very visceral way, and how it impacted Easton, our main character. I was rooting for Easton to find a way to help their friends and keep themselves safe at the same time.

A note on the cultural aspects. Kingfisher goes into some detail describing through their own narrative, the background of the lead character, who is non-binary. I absolutely appreciated this. It felt very natural, and was in no way a preachy way of asserting the importance of self-definition as a person and conveying the struggles of those who don't fit neatly into the boxes that humans create for others and themselves. I often had to remind myself that Easton was nonbinary (female at birth but working and living in a masculine space), as their energy did feel a bit more masculine their personality exerts themselves as their own definition of gender. It made some sense as Easton spent more of their life in the military. The aspects of how the Galician (sorry I listened to the audiobook, so the spellings might not be correct) works and how soldiers are by nature non-binary.
was super interesting and enriching to me as a reader.

So let's talk about Fungi. How do you feel about them? Do you have a love or hate relationship to them? I love eating mushooms, but I am somewhat repulsed by fungi in most other ways. I understand their place in the ecosystem but I tend to think of them also as pathogens that invade and destroy. If you are like me or maybe you don't even like to eat mushrooms, be aware! I had to compartmentalize my feelings about my beloved edible mushrooms as I read this book. Having studied the biology of fungi, I am well aware of how they grow and their anatomy, and I had some very disturbed moments as that plays out in this story. I will say no more about that other than to say, wow, this story has such a unique twist.

I would be inclined to give this a 4.25/5.0 stars. I think it's not a five star because it's a little too short. I would have loved to spend more time with these characters. In my heart of hearts, I hope Easton returns for more adventures.

A note on the narrator: I quite enjoyed the narrator's vocal stylings. She made sure every joke by the very funny Kingfisher landed. I enjoy the heck out of dry wit, and there is a lot of that in spades. The observations that Easton made about people through their understanding really endeared this book to me. I laughed so hard while reading this. I am so glad that there is a lot of humor, and also deep emotional caring/investment in this story along with the disturbing body horror aspects.

I recommend reading this if you're not too squeamish. It's far from gruesome or over-the-top, but there are some squicky aspects if you are a germaphobe.

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The River Knows

 Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mehia

My Rating: 3.5/5.0 stars.

My Review on Goodreads

This book was a reminder that sometimes, you have to hang in there. To me, this was a slow starter. And then it gets pretty weird, and I was brought to ask myself what was going on. Maybe it was so different from what I expected and that threw me off. Ultimately, I enjoyed the book, but I had a few issues with it that brought my rating down.

Paola, or Pao as she's called, has a huge chip on her shoulder. However, I do like that she is self-aware of her anger issues and how it makes her relationships with others complicated. Pao has a rocky relationship with her mother, as they are polar opposites. Pao is an empiricist, and is very focused on the scientific method (she is fascinated with space), whereas her mother is spiritually-minded, believes in healing crystals and candles. Pao blames her mother for their poor situation in life, not having a lot of money. Pao comes off as quite bitter at times. This is pretty important to the story as things go along, but it was a bit of a drawback.

The plot had a sense of vagueness that I didn't care for. In general, I learned what was going on behind the phenomena, but I don't feel like the mechanisms were explained enough for me. It was left to a superficial explanation that didn't work for me. I was left with this feeling that the author just wanted us to accept that things could happen because of magic. But there is a natural component brought up that made me wonder if some of the phenomena is not related to the location where it occurs and not just because of magic. I feel like this was a missed opportunity, as Pao, a scientist, conceivably would have wondered about that.

Yeah, I know, I'm over-thinking this book. Having said all that, I appreciate what this book does well. I loved how it shows people of Latinx cultures and how they are not a monolith, although it also shows how there are shared values that are foundational to their community. It's a story of loving your parents and giving them the benefit of the doubt that they are doing the best they can for you even if it doesn't seem like it. I loved the way that the narrative allows Pao to look at how her behavior and attitudes are a form of self-sabotage. That was so important to her growth as a character as she starts out borderline unlikable in parts. It also looks at the importance of friendships in which you are accepted as your authentic self, warts and all. The book also touches on the bigotry experienced by Latinx people, including unjust treatment by law enforcement and a lack of economic opportunities.

I can't say I 100% liked the direction the author took with the La Llorona legend, but it was an interesting twist. Overall, this was an enjoyable book, and I'm glad I was able to get the audiobook from my library, as it has one of my new favorite narrators, Frankie Corso. She's read a few of Silvia Moreno-Garcia books, and I love her voice. There's a lot to recommend about this book, despite any shortcomings. I will always support narratives by people who write about their own culture, and I can't get enough of it. I'll keep reading this series.

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DNA

 

Upgrade by Blake Crouch

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

My Review on Goodreads

This felt a lot like a blockbuster sci-fi action movie, and I'm not mad about it. I really liked the scientific foundations for everything and how there is credible science behind the plotting. I know that some of the changes induced by genetic modification are probably a bit far-fetched, but it doesn't feel like it when I was reading the book. It felt very plausible. My career background is science, so I like a story that has some good science foundations, if it's supposed to be a science fiction book. I get the impression that Crouch did his homework.

I liked that Logan was a bit of an unlikely hero who has to step up to the plate when the occasion and his unique identity puts him in that situation. If I had a few qualms, I feel like the secondary characters, even pivotal ones, feel a tad under-developed. I definitely think Crouch put more thought process into the science and the plotting than the characterizations. In my mind, a very crucial character had so many opportunities to be so much more than what they were, especially considering the situation they were in and the deeper motivations the characters struggled through. To me, the best villains are the ones who and layered and complex, giving me more opportunities to ponder their POV, at least a little. Honestly, I ended up putting this down for a week or three because I got less involved after a fairly good start. I'm glad I picked it up. It was great listening to this as I tromped around my neighborhood through the foot of snow that fell a few days earlier. I wasn't previously that enamored with the narrator, but he grew on me as I got move involved with the story.

I think this story says some pretty profound things in an unassuming package. This would make a really good popcorn movie, but also give the viewers a lot to think about at the same time. I gave this four stars for that reason, but I would have liked deeper characterizations to go along with the very interesting science and overall involving storytelling.

I have heard from others that this isn't his best book, which makes me enthused to check out his other sci-fi books, if they are better liked.

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Halloween Frights

 

Haunted Nights Anthology by Various Authors

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

My Review on Goodreads

I finished this on December 1st to round out my Spooky Season Reading. I started a new idea of November Frights because October just isn't long enough to dedicate to horror/scary reading. Sadly, I didn't finish it soon enough for it to qualify. I expected to like this more than I did, honestly. The anthology included the following stories. I will attempt to make comments on the stories as best as possible, and my brain fog is real.

“With Graveyard Weeds and Wolfbane Seeds” by Seanan McGuire
-I liked this story. It plays with the concept of kids making mischief on Halloween in/on abandoned houses. Maybe there are spirits there that don't like their abodes being abused. It was more on the cozy side of horror, which I like. 3.5 stars

“Dirtmouth” by Stephen Graham Jones”
-One of the darker stories in this volume. It's really sad and grim. The narrator was so good at inhabiting the character and getting the reader engaged in his story that he is telling. I had a quake in my stomach as I read. 3.5 stars

“A Small Taste of the Old Country” by Jonathan Maberry
-I really enjoy Maberry's writing. This was suspenseful. The plot builds and I could feel the tension rising in me as I read. The climax was really well executed. 4 stars

“Wick’s End” by Joanna Parypinski
-This has a classic horror/folklore inspired bent that I enjoyed (although it also has some modern trappings.) Nicely chilling. 3.5 stars.

“The Seventeen Year Itch” by Garth Nix
-I think this was the scariest book in the collection. It really got me. I am glad I didn't read this at night. For some reason, it reminded me of some of the dark, twisted villain origin stories in the Batman comics. 4 stars.

“A Flicker of Light on Devil’s Night” by Kate Jonez
-I dnf'd this story. I didn't like where it seemed to be going. There's a type of horror I avoid and I had a feeling it was going in that direction, so I didn't continue it.

“Witch-Hazel” by Jeffrey Ford
-This story really made my skin crawl. I have a fear of contagion that got triggered by this story. It had a unique feel and made me think of folk horror. I love stories with that edge of folklore/dark legends/stories associated with certain places. 4 stars.

“Nos Galen Gaeaf” by Kelley Armstrong
-This story had a mean spirit vibe to it that I didn't enjoy. I disliked the narrator intensely, and his motivations eluded me. There is definitely a sense of justice to the ending though. 3 stars.

“We’re Never Inviting Amber Again” by S. P. Miskowski
-The husband in this story was a major tool. Honestly, if I married a guy and he didn't like my sister, that would be a dealbreaker for me. Hard to feel sympathetic for this guy. I found the open ending intriguing, but I wish there was more comeuppance for the husband. 3 stars.

“Sisters” by Brian Evenson
-This was a weird story. Interesting, and I have lots of questions. 3 stars.

“All Through the Night” by Elise Forier Edie
-What a sad story. I loved the Irish folklore aspects of it. It reminded me of one of the narratives in the American Gods season one storylines. I wish things were better for that poor girl though. 4 stars.

“A Kingdom of Sugar Skulls and Marigolds” by Eric J. Guignard
-I loved this story. I am a sucker for Latin American folklore and this book was so rich and beautifully described in its depictions of Dia de Los Muertos and how it has a particular and personal meaning for the lead character. I would get this a 4.5 stars without reservation.

“The Turn” by Paul Kane
-Short and really brutal in execution but there was a tiny seed of hope in the whole situation. 3.5 stars

“Jack” by Pat Cadigan
-Another story rich with folklore. Interestingly, this has some similar themes to "Wick's End", but reads very different. I loved the twist. 3.5 stars

“Lost in the Dark” by John Langan
-If a reader is into found footage and metafiction, this is your thing 100%. I found it an interesting listen, and there are some genuinely hair-raising parts in this story. It has a documentary feel that adds to the metafictional narrative in an intriguing way. Normally, this wouldn't necessarily be my thing, but I liked it a lot. 4 stars

“The First Lunar Halloween” by John R. Little
-I wasn't a big fan of this story. It was too short and there's not enough depth to capture my emotions. The concept of Halloween on the moon and a sci-fi story was good in theory, but its execution doesn't catch me. 2.5 stars

My overall rating is 3.5 stars for this anthology. I think it was an enjoyable read. Although the stories are mostly set around Halloween, it could be read at any time.

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Lesson in Love

 Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

My Rating: 4.5/5.0 stars.

My Review on Goodreads

I read this shortly after I finished Get a Life, Chloe Brown, and it's a completely different kind of love story, but that makes sense as Dani is very different from her sister, and her approach to life and point-of-view is very distinct. I honestly didn't connect to Dani in the same way as I did to Chloe. Having said that, I became very engaged in Dani's story and it really helped to see her viewpoint in so many ways. Dani seems really tough and edgy, very confident, but interestingly, she is quite vulnerable. The choices she makes are not always decisive, but quite a few are reactionary and have put this very free spirit in a box in ways that one would not think was possible. She was so funny and silly, but also really brilliant. I really came to care about her. She's basically a big marshmallow with bad bitch energy.

I'd be lying if I didn't admit I fell in love with Zafir first. I had never heard of the term "cinnamon roll hero" until 2021 (from Booktube), but I mean, if those haven't been my favorite heroes since forever, other than lethal heroes (who are soft for their heroine)? Well Zafir fits the bill to the tee. He's a big and scary looking guy, but he is the biggest sweetheart on earth. He's so caring and I loved, loved his interactions with his family--mom, sister-in-law, and niece. He would probably move the earth for them (he probably could, he's a very big strong guy). A former professional Rugby player, he's been hiding from life since a tragic loss, and nursing a crush on Dani (seeing her come through the hallway everyday is the highlight of his day). When people think they're dating, they're thrown together in a way that gives them both a chance to explore the sexual chemistry on both sides, but it is much more than that. It's an opportunity to feel valued and be in a comforting relationship. Also, Dani, who has not believed in relationships for reasons can experience what it's like to be cherished by someone who wants more from her than just an orgasm.

When I was listening to this book, I could see a lot of self-sabotage in Dani. She's brilliant and capable, but it's like her self-confidence hides a lot of vulnerability and she's taught herself not to need or expect better from others. In the process, she's also hurt people who care about her. Sometimes she frustrated me with her choices and her blindness about things. But she definitely grew as a person, which I appreciated.

Zafir also had to grow in some ways. He had some healing to do. Zafir had so much to offer and he was continuing to punish himself for something that wasn't his fault. His family and friends could see that, and wanted more for him. He just couldn't see it for himself. I was happy to see Zafir finally realize that he had the freedom to be happy.

I was happy to see the development of the loving, deep relationship between Dani and Zafir. They had a friendship that naturally became more, and sex was part of it, but not the most important thing, which was good, since Dani had a series of relationships that were just about sex. While both needed to grow, I didn't feel like either was saving each other, but in the process of relating to each other, they were growing as people for their own self-actualization. Having said that, being in relationship contributed to them both being happy and loved.

Like Chloe's book, there is plenty of laugh out loud humor, a lot of situational humor, and lovely interpersonal exchanges between Dani and Zafir and the people in their lives they love. I really appreciated having two main characters who are very diverse. Dani is upper class, highly educated (PhD), Black British, pagan, plus-sized, bisexual and Zafir is a Pakistani Muslim son of immigrants who is quite the momma's boy (in the best way).

This book was definitely worth the read. The narrator is the same from the first book, and I love her voice. I cheered when Chloe and Red were in this book (I unapologetically am president of their fan club). I also loved that Dani has her supportive sisters and family and her friend Sorcha in her corner, just like Zafir has his family and good friend in his. Also appreciated the bonding moments with his team of kids he is teaching rugby to. The steamy times were great, but for me, I think they are going more towards spicy territory than my personal tastes. It makes sense for Dani's personality , and I have to say that Zafir is one hot dude! I would love to see who they cast for them if a movie is ever made (pretty please!).

I think this one sits at 4.5 stars for me.

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Ghost Talking at Midnight

 

 

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

My Review on Goodreads

I love a good dark urban fantasy with ghosty goodness and a health dose of "what am I reading." This fits the bill. There's also a great, and unique lead narrative voice. This had a post-apocalyptic feel, after some event that caused civilization as we know it to decline. Ghosts roam around freely, and Ropa has the ability to communicate with them. For a price, she will help them achieve what they are lingering around for. A desperate, recently dead ghost asks for Ropa to help her child, but has no way to pay. Ropa is supporting her grandmother and sister, so she doesn't work for free. However, she is convinced to help the spirit, finding a sinister far-reaching conspiracy of missing children.

This is a very unique feeling young adult story with a variety of textures. Huchu's writing is very sensorial, immersing the reader in the world he had created, mostly bad with a little bit of good. There are some genuinely scary moments, along with lots of intense, thrilling sequences. While I had some ideas about where things were leading, I didn't predict the way this story was going to play out at all.

I would recommend the audiobook for this one, because it really adds to the experience. Dark, atmospheric, complex, and suprisingly humorous in parts, I enjoyed this book quite a bit.

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The Ocean is Full of Memories

 

The Deep by Rivers Solomon

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I view The Deep as a story designed to provide therapy for historical trauma.  The Middle Passage is the stretch of the Atlantic Ocean at the heart of the journey of ships participating in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade from Africa.  Atrocities beyond imagining occurred as millions of humans were stacked in holds of those ships with no light, little food and no care to be taken too European colonies as enslaved labor.  Many died from disease.  Often, they were thrown overboard alive when the slavers realized they would not recoup their investment.  Many drowned or were eaten by sharks. Some committed suicide to escape the horrors of being raped and abused or giving birth to children who had nothing to look forward to but the bleak future of being enslaved, and unbearable emotional trauma of being stolen from their homeland. I did some research, and almost two million people died as a consequence of the Middle Passage.  The level of trauma and horror about those events lies heavy on the minds of many whose ancestors almost assuredly were enslaved, and truthfully, it should be horrifying to every human being.  

The Deep reimagines the consequences of the Middle Passage. Instead of all of those people dying, some become different. The magic of the water changes them into beings who are at home in the deep.  This transformation occurs in the womb, affecting the unborn.  They establish colonies deep in the waters.  Specific members of their society are selected to revisit and retell the memories of their ancestors and to guide the people through their remembrance.  It is extremely taxing for the memory keeper. Yetu is the latest, and she finds her role nearly intolerable, bringing her to a difficult choice.  Should she continue to bear this impossible burden for the good of her people, or seek an escape for her own survival?

The Deep is an adaptation of an award-winning song by rap group Clipping called “We Are in the Future.”  The audiobook was nominated by actor/musical artist Daveed Diggs, who is a member of the group.  I enjoyed his narration.  He has a soothing voice that kept me listening. However, I can’t say I enjoyed this book.  It is a traumatic read, yet an important read.  Important history that needs to be remembered is highlighted in this book.  I appreciate the value of that.  Having said that, admittedly, this feel like a chore to read and I didn’t enjoy listening to this book very much.  I did like the romance between Yetu and a fisherwoman she meets, and I liked the ending and the meaning behind this story.  It’s a short read, and I would recommend it in the sense that again, it’s an important retelling of a true historical tragedy that imparts a sense of hope where only despair would live.  I would say that reading this as a mermaid story alone is not going to engender that sense of enjoyment for fans of the legendary creature. Instead, it’s focused on what could be based on what was lost. The mermaid folklore is used as a device to speculate on how the deliberate murder of enslaved peoples could have led to their evolution into a new kind of water dweller.  It also has some vital themes about community, self-sacrifice, self-love, and loving and valuing others.