I admit up front that I have loved this entire series. It's one of my guilty reading pleasures, and I reread the series about once a year. This instalI admit up front that I have loved this entire series. It's one of my guilty reading pleasures, and I reread the series about once a year. This installment did not disappoint! As a matter of fact, this one is one of the best. If you haven't read the others, do NOT start with this one. The characters, and the relationships between them, in all of Briggs' novels grow and change in realistic ways. If you read them out of order, not only will you be subject to major spoilers for the previous books, but you may not follow or enjoy what's happening as much as you otherwise would because you won't understand the changes the characters experienced or how their relationships changed in the books you skipped over. For me, one of the great pleasures of this particular series (and its companion series Alpha and Omega) is how the characters grow and change in realistic ways and time frames.
When the book begins, it's only been a few months since the events of the previous book, Storm Cursed and Mercy and Adam and their pack are still suffering the after effects. Adam has closed down their mating bond and won't talk to Mercy about why or how. This stresses the entire pack. Add to that the fact that Jesse is getting ready to head off to college, Wulfe has started stalking Mercy, and Underhill has built a doorway to itself in the Hauptman's backyard through which a monster has escaped, and Mercy again faces challenges that might turn out to be overwhelming. Her life is never boring.
Mercy understands, though, that her biggest strength lies in her allies. After the last two books, Silence Fallen and Storm Cursed, having so little involvement of the pack, it was a relief and a joy to have the pack fully back and participating in Smoke Bitten. I didn't guess the identity or motivation of the villain (which always makes a book more fun!) before the big reveal. Also, the relationship issues between Adam and Mercy stayed true to their character arcs from all the past books.
Overall, this book was just fun to read! I love the secondary characters (Jesse, Warren, Kyle, Stephan, Tad, Zee, Ben, etc.) just as much as Mercy and Adam. If you have enjoyed the rest of this series, definitely pick this one up and you will not be disappointed! 5 stars!
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Re-read 5/24/2024: I still love this book and enjoy the ALL characters....more
Typical Kinsey Milhone - if you enjoyed the other books in the series, you'll enjoy this one. Mindless, but entertaining, with a twist I did not see cTypical Kinsey Milhone - if you enjoyed the other books in the series, you'll enjoy this one. Mindless, but entertaining, with a twist I did not see coming....more
As I look through my Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ tags, I realize that I have no idea how to categorize this book. There's a mystery, but it is absolutely not a traditioAs I look through my Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ tags, I realize that I have no idea how to categorize this book. There's a mystery, but it is absolutely not a traditional mystery. There's some romance, but it's definitely not a romance. The majority of the book takes place in the past, but it doesn't fit into what I would traditionally call historical fiction. I guess I would categorize it by saying it's a book that I quite enjoyed. It grabbed me from about page 3 and didn't let go. I found the story fascinating, the characters compelling (even though I didn't necessarily like them).
Without giving spoilers, all I can say is that, without being graphic or explicit, the book essentially revolves around the concepts of sexuality and sensuality. Evelyn has it in spades - that's how she breaks into the movie business - and the entire book is based on her life either thriving or just surviving in Hollywood and her relationships. There's also multiple homosexual relationships discussed, but they must be kept hidden because it's the 1960-1990s.
Honestly, nothing about this book fits my typical reading tastes, and yet somehow it worked for me. I did guess one twist before the end, but it didn't lessen the enjoyment. Highly recommended!...more
I've read quite a few Reacher novels and always enjoy them (despite cringing sometimes at the violence). This one was far less violent than the othersI've read quite a few Reacher novels and always enjoy them (despite cringing sometimes at the violence). This one was far less violent than the others I've read and took place entirely while Reacher was on active duty in the Army. It was fun to get a peek into his life on AD and his relationships with his brother and his mother. 3 solid stars...more
This was a hard book to read. First, it started off really slow and I had a hard time getting into it. Then, when I did get invested and begi3.5 stars
This was a hard book to read. First, it started off really slow and I had a hard time getting into it. Then, when I did get invested and begin to care about the characters, it got sad! The racism and discrimination in this book made me so angry, but it didn't surprise me given the time period (1930s). The characters and situations felt real and I enjoyed the inclusion of a Black librarian. The story of the Pack Horse Librarians and how they fit into the WPA is fascinating. Recommended....more
A quick, sweet read about a young boy in 1948, child of Greek immigrants and baseball. Definitely read the author's note at the end! Highly recommendeA quick, sweet read about a young boy in 1948, child of Greek immigrants and baseball. Definitely read the author's note at the end! Highly recommended to anyone that enjoys baseball and middle grade books. It's easy to see why this one was chosen for a Texas Bluebonnet award....more
This book was just beautiful. It was a quick read that sucked me in from the first page. Nova and her sister Bridget have been in foster care for yearThis book was just beautiful. It was a quick read that sucked me in from the first page. Nova and her sister Bridget have been in foster care for years. Nova, who is autistic and almost nonverbal, is five years younger than Bridget and counts on her to help navigate the world. When people call Nova retarded because she cannot talk clearly, Bridget quickly corrects them by saying, "My sister is a thinker, not a talker." Bridget is the one who taught her to read and helps her travel to the moon. Bridget promised Nova that whatever happens, they will watch the space shuttle Challenger liftoff together because it has a teacher from New Hampshire (their home state) on board. However, Bridget has disappeared and Nova is in a new foster home. It's okay, though, because she knows Bridget will never break her promise to be there to watch the liftoff together.
This book is told through alternating chapters: one in third person and one as a letter from Nova to Bridget. There's lots of flashbacks to prior events which help the reader understand the sisters. It's all compelling and I enjoyed the writing style. Similar to Sharon Draper's Out of My Mind, we get a glimpse into Nova's head in the letters to her sister. Definitely read the author's note at the end as she is on the Autism spectrum, just like Nova and her insights are valuable.
I highly recommend this entertaining and informative book!...more
Powerful and eye-opening, especially to those of us who don't experience the systemic racism that Black Americans do. This book is well-written with bPowerful and eye-opening, especially to those of us who don't experience the systemic racism that Black Americans do. This book is well-written with believable characters and situations and I highly recommend it to readers 10+. Although, I need to warn you that the internalized racism the characters experience is heart-breaking and bothered me far more than some of the overt racism I've read/learned about in other books. I wanted to cry for Genesis and just pick her up and take her away from all the horribleness she experienced....more
A quick read (I finished it in one evening) that deals with some very heavy themes in a light, but hopeful way. This is a great option for middle gradA quick read (I finished it in one evening) that deals with some very heavy themes in a light, but hopeful way. This is a great option for middle grade readers who need something that deals with grief, healing, and trauma. At its core, this is a book about healing....more
Reminiscent of Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, this book was painful to read at times. Some of the characters were undeveloped and I wanted to know moreReminiscent of Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, this book was painful to read at times. Some of the characters were undeveloped and I wanted to know more, but overall it was a good read. The ending was a bit uncertain, which bothered me, but I'm not sure how else it could have ended. I listened to the audio book, which had an interview with the author at the end, which I highly recommend....more
Aack! What the heck?? The twist, oh my goodness, the twist. Thoroughly entertaining and although I guessed a couple of the twists, I was shocked by thAack! What the heck?? The twist, oh my goodness, the twist. Thoroughly entertaining and although I guessed a couple of the twists, I was shocked by the big reveal. Definitely recommended to fans of mysteries!...more
Wow, just wow. The utter callousness for life was absolutely astonishing and yet the story was completely captivating. The amount of research Capote dWow, just wow. The utter callousness for life was absolutely astonishing and yet the story was completely captivating. The amount of research Capote did is amazing and the detail with which he tells the story is at times overwhelming. I did feel like it got bogged down a little near the end when he goes off on a tangent about the death penalty's legality in Kansas and describes the work of a couple other death row inmates who were in prison at the same time as Smith and Hickock, thus 4 stars instead of 5. But, overall it's a compelling and fascinating read, an interesting story and very well-written, even if it is horrific and appalling....more
This whole book was just weird for me, I felt like I got thrown in the middle of a story and never quite caught up to what I'd missed. I never connectThis whole book was just weird for me, I felt like I got thrown in the middle of a story and never quite caught up to what I'd missed. I never connected with any of the characters so I didn't care what happened to them. Then, the ending is perhaps the least satisfying ending of any book I ever read. I'm not a HEA, everything tied up with a little bow kind of reader, but there has to be some payoff at the end for all the time invested and pain spent reading the book and this one just didn't have it. 2 stars
I would only recommend this to die-hard sapphic horror fans (and even then the horror was more creepy than horror and the sapphic relationship was not believable, but still)....more
Normally I love this series, for some reason this installment just didn't grab me. I think maybe there's too many characters who've been pulled into GNormally I love this series, for some reason this installment just didn't grab me. I think maybe there's too many characters who've been pulled into Genevieve's circle so there's not enough focus on the individual personalities? Or maybe it's just because this book's mystery was just too easy to figure out? (I knew who the bad guy was at about 35%). In any case, it was entertaining, but not on the same level as other books in the series....more
I absolutely loved Chains, but just liked this one. I think it's just because I don't like Curzon nearly as much as Isabel and this book was clearly aI absolutely loved Chains, but just liked this one. I think it's just because I don't like Curzon nearly as much as Isabel and this book was clearly all him. Also, in the last eighteen days I have read The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom, Hurricane Song by Paul Volpini, and March: Book Two by John Lewis, plus Forge, so I've been inundated with historical fiction about racism and trauma. If I'd read this book a few months from now I might have rated it higher.
Still, the historical information at the end is comprehensive (for a YA fiction book) and the story is entertaining. At some point I'll read the last book in the trilogy, Ashes. Recommended for fans of historical fiction and YA lit....more
Interesting magic system, but I didn't actually like any of the characters except Luyu. I don't have anything else negative to say about this book, itInteresting magic system, but I didn't actually like any of the characters except Luyu. I don't have anything else negative to say about this book, it was very well written, but I just did not enjoy reading it. It dragged for me and I wasn't excited to pick it back up....more
Yes, I know I'm in the minority here, but two stars on GR means "It was okay." and that what this book was for me, just okay.
This wasn't my first TonYes, I know I'm in the minority here, but two stars on GR means "It was okay." and that what this book was for me, just okay.
This wasn't my first Toni Morrison book and it won't be my last, but man was it hard to read! First of all, the subject matter is hard. But also, the story felt very disjointed and I was uninterested the majority of the time. I just didn't enjoy the experience of reading it and I wasn't engaged by the characters or the story line. Then, add in the fact that there's a very graphic scene of child rape that is written from a point of view that almost seems to try and absolve the perpetrator of responsibility. That sickens me and I don't understand Morrison's motivation in writing it that way. So, put those two things together and the result for me is two stars. ...more
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