For some reason I had in my mind that Roger Akroyd was the first Agatha Christie novel, but as it turns out there are two others before that--this oneFor some reason I had in my mind that Roger Akroyd was the first Agatha Christie novel, but as it turns out there are two others before that--this one and Styles. This one introduces Captain John Hastings, and before this reread, I didn't remember that Poirot was so much older than Hastings. That set the scene for Hastings being completely taken in by Giraud and pretty women, while Poirot employed his little gray cells and methodical detection and organization of the clues, while Hastings thought he might be a bit beyond his prime. Ha! As if!
I listened to Armitage's narration. The majority of my Agatha Christie audiobooks have been narrated by David Suchet and Hugh Fraser, both excellent narrators. But I recently discovered a number of Armitage's narration and have been slowly making my way through them. I'm not completely sure about his voicing of Poirot, but overall, his delivery is excellent. ...more
Review of the audiobook, August 2022: Michael Lesley narrates this as he does the rest of the series and he truly is impressive. When I first read thisReview of the audiobook, August 2022: Michael Lesley narrates this as he does the rest of the series and he truly is impressive. When I first read this series in paperback, I remember thinking that the books were long and that it would take me a long time to get through the series. So I started out borrowing the first book and put off starting the book right away while catching up on other books. Then I decided to read a few chapters a week. Except once I started, I couldn't stop. Sam seemed so ridiculously immature, and yet there was something so endearing about him. Long story short, I ended up borrowing the other books as soon as they were available and became a permanent fan of T.J. Klune. Then I saw that the series was on audible and read many reviews that said Michael Lesley made a great series even better. And they weren't wrong. I now don't remember if there were sound effects in the first two books, but whether they are there or not, Michael Lesley is gold. I will never read these books without hearing his voicing of each of the characters. Each character has a voice that perfectly captures who they are and I love how effortlessly he seems to switch between characters. I can't tell you how many times I garnered strange looks when I started giggling uncontrollably over certain scenes. This series is funny. And yes, some of the humor is absolutely juvenile and frenetic, but for some reason, I can't get enough of it. And the poignant scenes? Yes, I definitely went through many tissues with this book. There were many times when I would find myself laughing so hard over something, only to be in tears a few scenes later.
If you're already a fan of T.J. Klune, you should definitely check out this series, and I highly recommend the narration by Michael Lesley. And yes, I have now bought the entire series on Audible, plus the newly released spin-off, The Damning Stone.
Review, December 2021:
I binged the second half last night because I really wanted to know how this tale would end! It was absolutely satisfying, and I love how the author wrapped up most of the story arcs but left it open so that we can have a spin-off series with Prince Justin. After all, Sam still needs to find his best friend 5eva a boyfriend! There was a note from the author saying that he created Sam and his merry band of misfits during a dark time in his life and I love that it not only entertained him, but it has developed into a wonderful four-and-a-half book series that had me rooted to the world once I started the story. While Sam and his immediate circle still remain ridiculous and immature, I like to think that I noticed some personal growth in all of them! They are the best mix of aggravating and endearing and this series has permanently made me a fan of the author. I will now read anything he writes. Thankfully, he just released a new book and I just got it, so I'll be reading Whispering Door soon.
At some point, I think I'm going to need to invest in all of the audiobooks in this series because I see myself revisiting Sam's world whenever things start to seem dark and depressing and I've read good things about the audio narration!
Merged review:
Review of the audiobook, August 2022: Michael Lesley narrates this as he does the rest of the series and he truly is impressive. When I first read this series in paperback, I remember thinking that the books were long and that it would take me a long time to get through the series. So I started out borrowing the first book and put off starting the book right away while catching up on other books. Then I decided to read a few chapters a week. Except once I started, I couldn't stop. Sam seemed so ridiculously immature, and yet there was something so endearing about him. Long story short, I ended up borrowing the other books as soon as they were available and became a permanent fan of T.J. Klune. Then I saw that the series was on audible and read many reviews that said Michael Lesley made a great series even better. And they weren't wrong. I now don't remember if there were sound effects in the first two books, but whether they are there or not, Michael Lesley is gold. I will never read these books without hearing his voicing of each of the characters. Each character has a voice that perfectly captures who they are and I love how effortlessly he seems to switch between characters. I can't tell you how many times I garnered strange looks when I started giggling uncontrollably over certain scenes. This series is funny. And yes, some of the humor is absolutely juvenile and frenetic, but for some reason, I can't get enough of it. And the poignant scenes? Yes, I definitely went through many tissues with this book. There were many times when I would find myself laughing so hard over something, only to be in tears a few scenes later.
If you're already a fan of T.J. Klune, you should definitely check out this series, and I highly recommend the narration by Michael Lesley. And yes, I have now bought the entire series on Audible, plus the newly released spin-off, The Damning Stone.
Review, December 2021:
I binged the second half last night because I really wanted to know how this tale would end! It was absolutely satisfying, and I love how the author wrapped up most of the story arcs but left it open so that we can have a spin-off series with Prince Justin. After all, Sam still needs to find his best friend 5eva a boyfriend! There was a note from the author saying that he created Sam and his merry band of misfits during a dark time in his life and I love that it not only entertained him, but it has developed into a wonderful four-and-a-half book series that had me rooted to the world once I started the story. While Sam and his immediate circle still remain ridiculous and immature, I like to think that I noticed some personal growth in all of them! They are the best mix of aggravating and endearing and this series has permanently made me a fan of the author. I will now read anything he writes. Thankfully, he just released a new book and I just got it, so I'll be reading Whispering Door soon.
At some point, I think I'm going to need to invest in all of the audiobooks in this series because I see myself revisiting Sam's world whenever things start to seem dark and depressing and I've read good things about the audio narration!...more
I just got the ARC for the second book and decided to give this a reread. I was able to get my hands on the audiobook which was nDecember 2024 reread:
I just got the ARC for the second book and decided to give this a reread. I was able to get my hands on the audiobook which was narrated by Andrew Fallaize, who is unfamiliar to me. But he did a phenomenal job, and I am so glad he narrates the second book!
It had been long enough that I couldn't remember all the details, but I remembered the main culprits, and yet, it was so much fun to watch them fall into Ana's trap and for Kol to try to play catch up, but still not hold a grudge against Ana. I also love that this story ends satisfactorily, and even though you know Ana and Kol's adventures will continue, it doesn't leave you on a cliffhanger. I am so looking forward to the second book!
4.5 stars
I loved this! It was not at all what I was expecting, having read and loved his Founders Trilogy. Although the story is definitely fantasy, it's a wonderful blend of mystery and fantasy.
At the beginning we are introduced to Signum Dinios Kol, an assistant to an Iudex (imperial administration for justice) investigator, and, you quickly learn, her eyes and ears. He is called to the scene of a grisly death, that of a prominent engineering officer, which also takes place in a ridiculously fancy house of a prominent family (basically the family that controls a large portion of the wealth in the empire.
There are a LOT of characters, but I knew that going in, and the author does a really good job of rolling them out slowly so that you're not overwhelmed. Still, as each character was introduced, I jotted down their name and basic info, and how they were connected with the case, and it really helped.
Without going into detail about this world (it's so much better for things to be introduced organically), you quickly learn that there are lot of politics that govern how this world functions, one of the reason the cities are arranged the way they are is because of the regular encroachment of huge leviathan monsters, and much day-to-day living centers around this survival.
Ana (Anagrosa Dolabra), the Iudex investigator, is wonderfully eccentric, and Kol and Ana act as foils to each other. Each of the characters have something to hide, including Ana and Kol, and it's so much fun trying to figure out the mystery as Kol unravels each clue. Naturally, Ana seems to be a step ahead of everyone, but either way, I love this duo so much and I am so glad this is a trilogy! Of course, now I have to wait patiently while the author writes two more books!
Either way, I found this to be a strong start to a new series with really interesting characters. While the murder is serious and gruesome, there are moments of humor sprinkled throughout, as well as sweet moments. There was even a little bit of romance thrown in, although that was a VERY minor part of the book (okay, it really only happened at the end, but I was kind of hoping for it). I was able to follow the mystery and while I made some correct predictions, I was kept guessing until the end. It was very well done.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publishers. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This book will be published on February 6, 2024....more
This is a small, but powerful short story about Bill Furlong, his family, and the town he lives in. The story was wonderfully narrated by Aidan Kelly This is a small, but powerful short story about Bill Furlong, his family, and the town he lives in. The story was wonderfully narrated by Aidan Kelly and introduces us to a man whose unwed mother worked as a housekeeper, and rather than being kicked out, her employer kept her own and made room for Bill in her house, even after his mother passed away. Because of the helping hands he received, he is now a successful businessman with a wife and five daughters. Because of his own upbringing, we learn about many unwed mothers in his town being housed in a convent and being made to work as laundresses under terrible conditions, which many in the town ignore or don't talk about, but he can't help but notice. This story takes place around Christmas time, and the ending really moved me.
When the book started, it drew me in right away, but then it felt like the story meandered a bit. Eventually, though, the story got back on track and ended most powerfully. I had never heard of the Magdelene laundries before, so this book made me look them up. The Magdalene Laundries were part of an interlocking system of orphanages, industrial schools, “mother and baby homes� for unwed mothers, and church-run institutions in which Ireland once confined tens of thousands of these mothers and children. They were rife with abuse, and over ten thousand were put through the system, with the latest being closed as late as 1996!
The story ends with hope for at least one girl, and it highlights our responsibility to do what we can even in small ways when we observe an injustice.
I would recommend both the book and the audio narration....more
I read this after the 2nd book in the series because the summary on Booksirens mentioned it was a standalone story, and iOriginal review of the story:
I read this after the 2nd book in the series because the summary on Booksirens mentioned it was a standalone story, and it was, but it referenced events that took place in the third book, giving just enough information to give you a general understanding. I think if I had not read any of the books before reading this book, I would have been fine. But having read the first two books, I already knew who the other characters were and I ended up trying to figure out, based on what was said, what happened in the third book. I guess I will find out shortly, lol!
Getting back to this story--I loved it. I really liked Falcon from the times he showed up in the first two books. Although he wasn't as major a side character as Dmitri, for example, I really liked who he seemed to be, and this story was wonderful to read. Loosely speaking, it's about his love story, but it's also about finding his place in this world and using his influence to truly make things better with the Enforcers. He's never agreed with how they run things and joined because he wanted to help make things better. If you've read any of the other books, you'll discover that while he has his own personal standards, he never really had any power to do anything. This is sort of his coming-of-age story. I loved Keene and I loved the two of them together. Even though there was instant attraction from both of them early on, I thought their romance was much more of a slow burn and I loved how it all ended up developing naturally. Highly recommended, especially if you've been enjoying this series. And yes, this can be read out of order, but I would recommend that you finish the trilogy first, if only because of the timeline.
This series has become one of those hidden gems for me and I hope the author continues writing stories in this universe.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from BookSirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 5 review of the audiobook (3.5 stars): I received a copy of this audiobook from the author, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I loved this story and was so excited to get a copy of the audiobook as I wanted to hear what Falcon and Keene sounded like. And while I enjoyed the story and was so happy to hear Falcon's story all over again, the narration was a little flat. I haven't heard Brandon Au before, so I looked him up and he and his two brothers are professional jazz musicians from New Orleans (I think). I listened to some clips and they are really talented musicians.
Unfortunately, while Brandon Au did a decent job of the audio and there were moments that were wonderful, his overall performance felt flat to me. In particular, his third-person narrator voice described what was happening but without much in the way of emotion. The voices of the different characters were also not that distinguishable from one another. However, in truth, there was a lot of telling what was going on, rather than conversations between the characters. When I read the book myself, I didn't notice this, but listening to the book, I realized that there was more narrating and doing than talking. In the rare moments when Keene and Falcon talked to each, I enjoyed Keene's voice and wished there was more of it. Some of the best moments of the audiobook were moments between the two of them. Since this is a cozy mystery/queer romance (and it nails all this), I'm fine with this. I still love the story, but the audiobook left me a bit wanting. I still give the story 5 stars, but the narration 3.5. I think on Spotify I rounded up to 4 because I still very much enjoyed revisiting their love story....more
March 19, 2025 update: I have to admit that Joe having an American accent is no longer as distracting for me as it was when I originally listened to thMarch 19, 2025 update: I have to admit that Joe having an American accent is no longer as distracting for me as it was when I originally listened to the book. I like that Joe's voice is distinct from the rest of the characters, and maybe that's purposeful. It was obviously an artist's choice. But I enjoyed this listen a lot more than the first time around and I am diving into the third book immediately.
June 2022 review: I enjoyed this story just as much as the first book, but I still have to take off for the narration because of the choice to do Joe's voice with an American accent. So weird. The story begins with the ramifications that occur after the events of the first book, and if you haven't read the first book, then you definitely need to go back and read that first, or you'll end up with spoilers. I liked the character development of Joe in this book. In the first book, he basically stopped living after his sister was taken and as a result, the person he was in the first book was very different from the what-if person he could have been. But was that necessarily a bad thing? I don't want to risk any spoilers, so I'll just say that he learned more about the rules of time travel in this story, and there was more action and danger in this one. His friend Vinnie was awesome in this story and I loved the epilogue blurb about something that Vinnie did. The police box was a fun little nod to Doctor Who, and while parts of it were more predictable, I still very much enjoyed this story from beginning to end. I was on a road trip when I listened to this and it turned out to be the perfect listen. If you enjoyed the first book, you should definitely check this one out. With the oddity of the American accent, I can't give this 5 stars, but I can still recommend it as a solid second book in the series....more
2025 reread: I decided to go back and listen to this and I enjoyed it just as much although I didn't remember that it basically ended on a cliffhanger.2025 reread: I decided to go back and listen to this and I enjoyed it just as much although I didn't remember that it basically ended on a cliffhanger. Yes, the main part of this story is resolved. But it does leave us hanging, so I will have to jump into the second book as soon as I get caught up with other books! I definitely enjoyed this just as much this time around.
4.5 stars
I discovered this series because NetGalley had the third book available for request and I decided if they granted my request, I would want to have read the first two books. So I grabbed the first two books from Audible (it was part of the Plus catalog) and started listening. What a great discovery. I loved this story from beginning to end. Joseph Bridgeman is a very likable protagonist and while time travel stories can be hit or miss, the story on this one ended up being very well done and I couldn't put it down. The story begins with Joseph and his sister at a carnival, and after he takes his eyes off of her for literally 5 seconds, she seems to disappear into thin air. Fast forward many years into the future and his life has been pretty much a disaster since then. He is now an adult and even though it's been decades, his family (and he) have not coped well. He's basically become a hermit, he's lost his father, his mom is in advanced stages of dementia, he's basically not sleeping, and he's about to lose everything. In desperation, he agrees to see a hypnotherapist, which leads to the rest of this story. With one exception, this story is wonderfully narrated by Ray Porter. His ability with voices means that I never had to rewind to figure out who was talking, and I had no trouble following the story. The one exception is that for some unknown reason, Joseph Bridgeman is narrated with an American accent, even though the rest of the characters speak with British accents and this story definitely takes place in London. There was a moment when I paused and did a search, thinking that maybe he was an American who decided to settle in England after studying there, but he was living in his parent's house. Note, I didn't figure this out until the SECOND book when his mom started talking to him and she also had a British accent. When I first started this book, I just thought that he had a number of British friends, lol. This does not mean that Ray Porter was not an excellent narrator. He really did a great job. I'm not British, but I thought his British accents for the rest of the characters were very well done, so it's not like he couldn't have narrated Joseph Bridgeman with a British accent. But perhaps being American it would have been more challenging to do the majority of the story with that accent?
In the end, it was only a minor distraction because it was excellently narrated and I loved the story. As I mentioned, Joseph Bridgeman was a likable protagonist, and while some of the rules of time travel were a little different than you would expect, I liked the way he and his friend went about figuring out the possible rules systematically. I also liked his psychometry ability and the use of self-hypnosis to better access and control his ability. Overall, this was an excellent tale with a compelling storyline, great characters, and the right mix of science fiction, humor, action, drama, and even a dash of romance. Highly recommended....more
Nov 2024: This was a reread and this time I listened to Richard Armitage. He was very good, but I think I still prefer Hugh Fraser's rendition.
May 202Nov 2024: This was a reread and this time I listened to Richard Armitage. He was very good, but I think I still prefer Hugh Fraser's rendition.
May 2022: This was a reread, but it's been over 20 years since I last read it and I didn't remember much of the story. And yet, there was something about it that rang some bells and I was able to figure out the murderer and even why, although I didn't figure out all the details of the how.
I listened to this audiobook narrated by Hugh Fraser, which was really interesting, because of course Hugh Fraser plays Captain Hastings in the BBC Poirot series, and he's the voice and face I picture every time I think of Captain Hastings. Although Hastings is not in this story, Dr. Shepherd plays the part of the country doctor chronicling the events of this murder and it wasn't always easy to separate that from Hastings. That said, the two are very different. Dr. Shepherd shares the facts without being overly sentimental and I think he may be a little bit quicker on the draw. I loved this rereading and can understand why it was so unique at the time of its release. All I can say is that if you have not read this before, go in without reading spoiler reviews. It will make it that much more interesting!...more
December 2024 reread: I decided to make this my holiday read of the season and managed to finish it on the last day of the year. I listened to it this December 2024 reread: I decided to make this my holiday read of the season and managed to finish it on the last day of the year. I listened to it this time and it was wonderfully read by a full cast of actors. I very much enjoyed it and am glad I was able to snag it during the Christmas special as part of the Plus catalog. I've done a rereading/listening of Dicken's Christmas Carol (different readers) for the last several years and decided to give this a try. This will definitely be on my regular holiday rotation in the future.
Original review: Okay, this was a pretty cute story that totally had the feel of Toy Story meets Velveteen Rabbit meets Soul, whose main message was about coming to terms with a major loss and finding a way to move forward. Pigs have always had a special place in my heart, especially because I was born the year of the pig, and every time the story talked about the Christmas Pig pointing with his trotter or some reference to the trotter, I couldn't help but smile. I liked the additional message about how sometimes when you're in a lot of pain, it's hard to see other people's unkind actions as anything other than about them being mean to you, but they could be hiding deep pain of their own. If you are willing to view them with compassion, sometimes you can both find healing together. Overall, it was a pretty cute Christmas story with a positive message, and I enjoyed it very much. I read this in the hardcover edition and really liked the illustrations between the chapters....more
June 2022: After reading this for the second time, I am planning on buying the entire series when it comes back in stock and when the fifth one is publJune 2022: After reading this for the second time, I am planning on buying the entire series when it comes back in stock and when the fifth one is published! This is such a moving graphic novel that covers so many important topics relevant to teens and not just those who identify as lgtbqia+. Highly recommended.
Original Reveiw: So excited to get this from the library! I had trouble getting it on my kindle, so I decided to read it with the browser and at first, I thought I'd read the first chapter just to make sure it was easy enough to read. Before I knew it, I had read the whole thing! In this episode, which takes place after their Paris trip, Charlie begins by obsessing about when/how to tell Nick that he loves him. But he worries about whether Nick will feel the same way. What's on Nick's mind is how to help Charlie with his eating disorder. I could not stop reading this as I followed their sometimes painful journey and I cried for them both, but in the end, I loved the messages the author sent about mental disorders, and how you can help loved ones navigate them. In particular, she had a very good message about the ways you can be there for someone you care about and how you can help them seek professional help. I also liked what she said about relationships and that we all need more than the love of a good partner. We also need the love of friends, family, parents, teachers, counselors, and medical professionals. If you haven't read this series, I highly recommend you start at the beginning. I highly recommend this series!...more
I continue to love this series and have already requested the next one from my library. This one is a bit heavier and several villains are revealed (oI continue to love this series and have already requested the next one from my library. This one is a bit heavier and several villains are revealed (or more revealed). In the end, I teared up and got mad, but I suspected it was going to go that way, so that made it a bit easier to accept. I can't wait to read the next one, but it looks like there's already going to be a fifth one. Darn it, why do I get myself sucked into these series that are not yet complete?! And yet, at this point, I will read anything by this author. I adore his characters and end up feeling so invested! I just wish I had discovered his books AFTER his series was complete, ha!
8/5/22: I listened to the audio this time and Michael Lesley is absolutely perfect for this series. They added some sound effects to this book and it just added to the experience. But it's the voicing and the timing and the tone of voice that Michael Lesley adds to this book that makes it the amazing experience that it is. I ended up binging this audiobook and even though I knew what was coming, I was on the edge of my seat. The ending will absolutely rip you to pieces, but I promise you, the fourth book (and conclusion to Sam and Ryan's story) is worth the ride. I'm looking forward to the audiobook!...more
Okay, once you get sucked into these books, you just can't stop. Is it high lit? By no means. But I love Sam and his merry band of misfits, even the rOkay, once you get sucked into these books, you just can't stop. Is it high lit? By no means. But I love Sam and his merry band of misfits, even the reluctant ones like Prince Justin. You just can't help cheering him on and laughing and groaning and then hugging him for awkward lengths of time. The first book set the stage for the whole prophecy business and they ended up collecting Dragon #1, Kevin. In this book, they seek out Dragon #2 and without revealing any spoilers, I love what ended up happening. His relationship with Randall and Morgan continues to be a bit rocky, but you can tell that he cares deeply for them, even though he is still angry with them. And it's clear that they care deeply about him too. The sex and sex jokes are probably the biggest reason why I wouldn't recommend this for people under 18, but I'm finding myself cracking up over the ridiculous dialog and having a total blast with this series. I'm continuing directly into book #3.
****
4/14/22: Just finished listening to the audiobook and I WILL be buying the rest of this series. The narrator does an excellent job of changing voices, and while not all of the voices are perfect, the majority of them are. It definitely does a good job of making everything even funnier. However, I have to say that whenever he does Ryan's voice, I not only hear, but also picture David Boreanaz from Angel/Bones which makes it even funnier. Especially when Sam accuses him of posing because just picturing a brooding Angel posing makes me want to laugh even more. In any case, I'm really enjoying going through this series a second time, this time on audio. I think that if Klune's frenetic style is too much for you, you might not like this series, but I'm personally loving it....more
Nick and Charlie are so stinkin' cute! I love this series and although the strips are in black and white (at least for me on the Kindle), there5 stars
Nick and Charlie are so stinkin' cute! I love this series and although the strips are in black and white (at least for me on the Kindle), there is something very endearing about the illustrations. I can totally relate to Charlie's thought processes and honestly, they both make me laugh so much. If you're looking for a sweet romance in graphic novel form, this is it! But make sure you start from the beginning!
June 2022: Even though this is a reread and I know what's going to happen, and even though I've now seen the Netflix show, this still makes me cry! I love this series and will always love rereading this series when I need a pick-me-up. The latest volume can't come out too soon! In the meantime, I'm going to continue rereading this series!...more
May 2024 reread: I meant to put off starting this so that I could catch up on other reads, but as soon as #3 ended, I had to keep on going. I loved thiMay 2024 reread: I meant to put off starting this so that I could catch up on other reads, but as soon as #3 ended, I had to keep on going. I loved this book and it still deserves my original 5 star rating. Everything I wrote below holds true and I will jump immediately into book 5. Ìý Original Review: Oh man, these are so good! I love Hozark and his scrappy band! These books are so much fun and I've loved getting to know each of the characters (well, with the possible exception of Laskar--there is much about him that bugs me, from the first time I met him and so far that has not changed). As with the others, this was held plenty of action, fights, death (because when you're dealing with space assassins, naturally you need death), but also friendship and humor. In this episode, Hozark and company are still in search of Hap's father, but they are also seeking to find the mastermind in the council of twenty who is behind the kidnapping and excessive violence. I've really enjoyed watching the development of the various relationships within his crew and see the genuine fondness grow among them. Even though Ghalians work alone and Hozark has always worked alone, I've enjoyed watching how working with this crew has been good for him. I can't wait to find out how this epic series is going to end up! Throughout the series, I've had this sense that this story would be great as an RPG with a really good storyline and I still think so. If you like action, adventure, space pirates, mystery and mayhem, this is the series for you!
I received an advance review copy from Booksirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily....more
May 2024 reread: The last time I read this series, I read the e-book as an ARC. This time I listened to the audiobook, although I followed along with tMay 2024 reread: The last time I read this series, I read the e-book as an ARC. This time I listened to the audiobook, although I followed along with the ebook when I could. Both experiences were enjoyable and I decided that I really love this series, but I also acknowledge that it occupies a unique niche of stories that is part sci-fi, part fantasy, part space opera, and part quirky. There is an element of dry humor that runs throughout the series. My initial impression of this series was that the first novella is a bit dry, but I think it was the oddness of the idea of vampire assassins who are the good ideas that kept me reading. My husband has only read the first novella, and he wasn't sold on the series. The second book was better as it introduced what has turned out to be some of my favorite side characters. By the time I hit the third book, I was thoroughly hooked by this universe. I loved the way this series ended and I am now starting the series about Bawb (who is briefly mentioned at the end of this book) and enjoying that as well. If you're looking for something a little different, give this book a try, but read past the first novella to decide it if it's for you.
Original Review: 5 stars
This was a very satisfying ending to the series and I was happy to see that my radar on one of the characters was totally correct, although I did not figure out who this person could have been. The story continues as Hozark and his crew continue to search for Henni, Visla Jinnik, and Maktan. There are separate threads as Bud works with the Space Pirates to seek out Henni, Hozark and Demelza search for clues of Maktan, and Henni and Jinnik are imprisoned together and using the most of their time together. I love how each part was equally interesting to me and I never felt like I was trying to while away my time through any of the threads. I also loved how he eventually brought all the threads together into an epic battle that was so well done! I absolutely do not want to reveal any spoilers, but I will say that the surprise ending was not a complete surprise, although how he explained the motivations of this villain was pretty clever and totally in keeping with all the various jockeying of positions in the council. I also love how he handled Hozark and Samara's relationship and what ended up happening with it. I grew to love every member of the crew with the exception of one, but of course I didn't like this person from the beginning so that was okay. Overall, I love how Hozark began the series as someone who worked alone and who didn't like children to the man that he became by the end. This was truly a fun series and perhaps I will check out the audio version of it in the future, but I really enjoyed reading these. I may have to check out his other series set in this universe. If you enjoy space opera or you enjoy RPGs, you should definitely check this series out. It's a bit quirky, but it's highly enjoyable.
I received an advance review copy from Book Sirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily....more
I went back and forth on this rating but ultimately decided to round it down because it may not be for everyone. That said, I loved it.
The fi4.5 stars
I went back and forth on this rating but ultimately decided to round it down because it may not be for everyone. That said, I loved it.
The first book I read by the author was The House by the Cerulean Sea and I absolutely fell in love with Linus and it made me want to read other books by the author. My next foray was The Extraordinaries and let's just say I am anxiously waiting for the third book to come out. This book shared quite a few similarities with the Extraordinaries, although I would say that the intended audience seems to be slightly older. In both series, the main character is an endearing gay boy with ADHD and diarrhea of the mouth. He has a great relationship with his parents/parental figures and is a hopeless romantic who has a huge heart for all of humanity. So if you're a fan of books like these, then you'll probably like this one as well.
Sam is one of those characters that would be absolutely aggravating and annoying in real life who you would love anyway because he wears his heart on his sleeve. He's also completely clueless when it comes to anything having to do with himself. There are a lot of penis/sex jokes/puns in this book, so if that would annoy you, you may want to give it a pass. There is also one gay sex scene and mentions of cross-species sex if that bugs you. But hey, this is fantasy. And it was hilarious.
At first, I thought the sexual humor was a bit much, but as Morgan was fond of saying, it's a lot easier if you just roll with it. So I figured this was all very appropriate for a teenage gay protagonist who has been saving himself for "the one" and is completely in love with someone he can never have. And it definitely grew on me and I became team Sam all the way. But as much as I loved Sam and Ryan, Gary and Tiggy ended up being the funniest characters and I would break out into literal laughter (inside joke) while reading. But as with all of Klune's books, the parental figures were just as important and this book was no exception. I loved Sam's mom and dad, Morgan, the King, and even Randall. I think the only thing that would have made this book better is if I had listened to the audiobook. If the audiobook is anything like his Extraordinaries Series, I would probably be laughing all the time.
But what made me really love this book (and future readings may elevate this to 5 stars) was that for the last 25% of the book, I couldn't stop sniffling and laughing. I mean, I know I have a cold, but I was weeping! There were so many moments when I was crying for Sam while still laughing because of something ridiculous that was going on. When I got this book from the library, I meant to read it right away because I just finished the latest Extraordinaries book and I wanted more from the author. But with one thing and another, I had this book for over two months before I cracked it open. I ended up reading it in one day and now I can't wait to read the next book. I have now requested the next two books from the library and I can't wait to read more in this series.
3/2022:
I just finished the audiobook and it made me love this book all the more. Michael Lesley is a wonderful narrator for this and I love all the different voices he gives to the characters. Kevin sounded a bit like Sean Connery and it made me fall over laughing. If the rest of the audiobooks are as good as this one, I'll probably make my way through them, even though it hasn't been that long since I've read the entire series. Even though I KNEW how the story would end, it still made me laugh and cry, especially the last third of the book. I understand that this kind of story may not be for everyone, but I absolutely love it. ...more
A super sweet story about Nick and Charlie's friendship that turns into something more. This is the first of three volumes, so it kind of lea4.5 stars
A super sweet story about Nick and Charlie's friendship that turns into something more. This is the first of three volumes, so it kind of leaves you hanging with Nick sort of coming to a realization, but not quite sure what to do with it. Apparently, the author wrote a novel (her debut YA novel) about Nick's older sister Tori (Solitaire), and Charlie and Nick were in it as boyfriends, so these three volumes are sort of a prequel/backstory for that setting. I loved the artwork and the friendship Nick and Charlie have in this volume and I can't wait to read the next two. They're already on hold at my library! In the meantime, I'm going to check out Solitaire!
***
June 2022 reread. It's been a year since I first discovered this wonderful series and I just recently binged the Netflix series and realized just how much I missed Charlie and Nick, so it's time to do a reread of the graphic novels. Some thoughts:
* Can they be any cuter?! * This is even better the second time around * I was surprised at how well the Netflix series follows the graphic novel * This volume ends the morning after Henry's birthday party, so if my memory is correct, the first season in the Netflix series covers the first two volumes * They cast the actors amazingly well and the chemistry between Joe Locke and Kit Connor is exactly what you see on the pages. Can they be any cuter?! * I can't believe how well the actress for Tori matches what I see in the pages. * I didn't remember some of the things the Rugby coach said in the graphic novel, but now I see that they took her words from the graphic novel as well. * Tao seemed angrier in the series than in the graphic novels. In the graphic novels, he seemed much more concerned about Charlie's well-being as the primary motivation to warn him to be careful. But they ultimately did a good job with him in the Netflix series and they cast him well. * Honestly, the whole cast was wonderful and really reflected the novels well. I can't wait for future seasons! * After reading these last year and then watching the series, I want to buy this entire series, but it seems to be back ordered everywhere I look, so I'll have to give it a few months, I think. But I'm kind of waiting for the fifth one and wondering if I can get a boxed set. We shall see....more
Let me start by saying that I'm a huge fan of this author, but this is the first serious book I've read by him and it's geared towards an old4.5 stars
Let me start by saying that I'm a huge fan of this author, but this is the first serious book I've read by him and it's geared towards an older audience. I was both hopeful and skeptical when I heard about this book, but I like his writing, so I decided to give this book a try. And I'm so glad I did! His previous books had to do with Arastana, a make-believe world that parallels our world, but you can reach Arastana through various portals, including one that sucks you through a toilet. Perhaps that gives you an idea of what kind of books those are! They're absurd middle school books and they were always a fun palate cleanser when I needed a break from more serious books. So back to Ridge. I can see some of Shawn's style in this book, including moments of levity, but also pretty easy reading where you get into the mind of the narrator/main character. Ridge is a town that is protected by high walls and the inhabitants have been protecting themselves from the Beasts for decades. The inhabitants typically die at around 33 or 34 years when the Dusk takes them (some sort of disease?). Our main protagonist is Rezin Hamel, who at 44, has somehow managed to avoid the Dusk. He is a General in the army but has also been the Honored Pater (Mayor of sorts) of their town and has spent his life protecting and nurturing his people. You can tell pretty quickly that honor and blessings are a big part of their daily life. When he allows himself to be dishonored and shamed and shunned by his people (but not exiled, just shunned), you know that something has to be up. This takes him on a completely different journey than he has hitherto experienced and while I don't think it's completely unpredictable (the author really gives us a lot of hints), you can't help but feel connected with Hamel and figure out how he's going to get out of it. The series is geared towards adults, but other than the highish body count, I really think older kids could read and enjoy this book. There are some pretty explicit lessons about honor and the evilness of slavery and some of the good vs bad stuff is pretty black and white, but overall, I really loved this book and I can't wait for the next one! Shawn Robinson, I was on the fence about how I would like this book, but once I started, I couldn't stop reading. Kudos on another great start to a series--I can't wait to see how this story resolves itself!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
2022 Reread: I recently bought the second two books of this trilogy and decided I wanted to reread this and remind me of who Hammel is and what this world is about. I'm glad I did because while I remembered many of the events, I didn't remember who all the characters were and I think if I had jumped straight into the second book, I would have had to do a lot of looking back. What I thought this time around is that Hammel is a very sympathetic character. The worlds of Ridge and Olmos are different from each other, and each country takes its values to the extreme. There were more than a few times when this book felt like an allegory. Hammel is on a journey (spy mission) to determine the reason for the attack by the Beasts, which they don't understand. Without revealing any spoilers, he finds out way more than he anticipated, but he also makes friends and allies along the way. There is a high body count in this story, but it never becomes grisly or too much, and you can see it weighs heavily on Hammel. I absolutely love this series and will be continuing immediately....more
May 2024 reread: The first two books drew me in, but this was the book that hooked me into the universe. Hap and Henni both started out as immature chaMay 2024 reread: The first two books drew me in, but this was the book that hooked me into the universe. Hap and Henni both started out as immature characters, but it was really enjoyable watching them grow, even in this first book, but then later in the 4th and 5th book. At the same time, it was neat seeing how Uzabud and Hozark both became invested into their growth. Demelza was one of my favorite characters in this series, and even in this book, you can see signs of the teacher she will become. I'm still reading along to the audio when I can, but I love that I can listen to this book while I drive or run errands. The narrator is doing a solid job with this series.
Original review: I'm really getting to love this band of misfits! I think this series is actually getting stronger as we move along and I'm really liking one of the two new characters that were added in this book. There's a mystery surrounding exactly who she is and what she is capable of but I'm liking her all the same. The banter between her and Uzabud can be a bit juvenile, but it's still entertaining. We are learning more about the power working against them, but the more we know, the more mysterious it seems to be. I am looking forward to continuing with this series and I hope I start liking Hap more. Either way, I'm loving Hozark and Demelza and how they're handling the crew. I can't wait to find out what happens next!...more
I had the opportunity to review the audiobook for this book and I jumped on it since I've enjoyed this series so much, including the narratiJune 2022:
I had the opportunity to review the audiobook for this book and I jumped on it since I've enjoyed this series so much, including the narration by Michael Wetherbee. But then I discovered this book was narrated by N.W. Edwards instead and I was concerned it was not going to be nearly as good. However, it ended up working out just fine. I'm sure part of that is because the strength of a good narration depends on having a good story and this is a great story.
Of course, since it's been over a year since I last read this book, you know I HAD to start back from the beginning. So on my road trip, I decided to start with Book 1 and pretty much tore through the entire series, including this one. Well, okay, I finished this on the second day, but these books are fast reads and they're also non-stop action. For those who might be concerned that elementary/middle school students might not want a long series, each of these books are less than 160 pages, which makes them pretty quick reads, even for less advanced readers. For me, personally, these books have gotten better and better, partly because I've loved watching each member of the MYTH squad learn to work as a team and realize that they're each important with different gifts to add to the mix. It's been satisfying watching Chace learn that it doesn't all rest on him and that leaning on his friends just makes him better, and vice versa. I also love Baby Blue, Taz, Twee Twila, Maps, and of course Raven. I think this would make a fun animated series and I can't wait for the next one!
March 2021: The more I read in this series, the more invested I feel. I thought this was going to be the final book but about 3/4th of the way through, I realized there had to be more to come and I'm definitely happy about it. In this book, the Myth Squad goes after Seth and the Sorcerer, and each of the members of the squad has their role to play. I love each of the members of the squad as they learn what they can do and why they're fighting. I also love that they all have their own strengths and weaknesses, but they work well together to help support the team with everyone looking to accomplish the same goal. There was definitely some humor in this book, but it was pretty non-stop action. This series is a perfect fantasy/adventure story for middle school kids, but as an adult, I definitely enjoy it as well! I can't wait for the next book!
I received an advance review copy from Booksprout for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily....more
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