For whatever reason, Ali Vali has been an author I’ve always enjoyed, but not one that I’ve gone out of my way to buy (at least the back catalog). I’vFor whatever reason, Ali Vali has been an author I’ve always enjoyed, but not one that I’ve gone out of my way to buy (at least the back catalog). I’ve read 10 books by them (including this one) and one short story. Except for one book I rated 3 stars, and one I DNF’d (heh, I’d thought I’d stopped that one because of the formatting, but looking at it again just now, I see I stopped that one because the melodramatic babbling got on my last nerve and I stopped reading at 34.24%), I’ve mostly rated everything between 4 and 5 stars. This book here is not an exception � another solid four star book.
Two point of view book. Brinley Myers is a single mother who has taken a new job in a new city at the Moroccan Casino as an accountant. She got her kid out of her one time with a man, I think, at least, it was worded that way. And the kid does play a largish role in the book, but more as a ‘she has a kid� than as an individual character. Unfortunately for her, her very first day at her new job put her on the path to death, or at least into the path of a contract killer. Her immediate boss has pulled her and her co-worker, another single-mother, into doing an internal audit. Unluckily for her, the audit is of the ‘real� books. The owner of the casino wanted to do an audit for reasons explained in the book. He intended Dean, Brinley’s boss, to do the audit, though, not others. So, obviously, they need to die � the two women doing the audit on the real financial statements/numbers.
Which leads to the other main character and how the two characters meet. Though that character, Reed Gable, had already been in the book doing stuff. Stuff like killing people. She’s one of those elite killers, even though 1) she is an independent contractor type (not a member of any specific crime ‘family�; 2) her main job is being a thief not assassin. One thing leads to another and . . . oops, the one without much problems killing, just couldn’t get themselves to kill a kid and his mother. And so the book unfolds from there � attempting to figure out how to ‘fix� the situation, and stuff. Meanwhile, the two women grow close, though one believes the other should ‘stay away� for their own good, since they, Reed, are ‘damaged�.
Good solid book. Quite interesting and well-written. For those who care about such things: yes, Cain Casey was mentioned in the book, but more in passing. Several people from that series, though, do play important roles in this book. Specifically Mano, his sister (and her partner Dallas), and the rest of their crime family � who are partners with Cain Casey’s crime family. Mano runs a casino in Los Vegas, and Dallas and sister pay a visit (the sister is more important to the Casey series, but I’m drawing a blank on her name � it’s something like Remi? Remi Jatibon?). You do not need to read the Casey series, the side short story, nor the side series before reading this book here. Though you might get more out of this book if you do read them first. Not needed to understand this book, though.
Rating: 4.35
November 8 2019
Merged review:
For whatever reason, Ali Vali has been an author I’ve always enjoyed, but not one that I’ve gone out of my way to buy (at least the back catalog). I’ve read 10 books by them (including this one) and one short story. Except for one book I rated 3 stars, and one I DNF’d (heh, I’d thought I’d stopped that one because of the formatting, but looking at it again just now, I see I stopped that one because the melodramatic babbling got on my last nerve and I stopped reading at 34.24%), I’ve mostly rated everything between 4 and 5 stars. This book here is not an exception � another solid four star book.
Two point of view book. Brinley Myers is a single mother who has taken a new job in a new city at the Moroccan Casino as an accountant. She got her kid out of her one time with a man, I think, at least, it was worded that way. And the kid does play a largish role in the book, but more as a ‘she has a kid� than as an individual character. Unfortunately for her, her very first day at her new job put her on the path to death, or at least into the path of a contract killer. Her immediate boss has pulled her and her co-worker, another single-mother, into doing an internal audit. Unluckily for her, the audit is of the ‘real� books. The owner of the casino wanted to do an audit for reasons explained in the book. He intended Dean, Brinley’s boss, to do the audit, though, not others. So, obviously, they need to die � the two women doing the audit on the real financial statements/numbers.
Which leads to the other main character and how the two characters meet. Though that character, Reed Gable, had already been in the book doing stuff. Stuff like killing people. She’s one of those elite killers, even though 1) she is an independent contractor type (not a member of any specific crime ‘family�; 2) her main job is being a thief not assassin. One thing leads to another and . . . oops, the one without much problems killing, just couldn’t get themselves to kill a kid and his mother. And so the book unfolds from there � attempting to figure out how to ‘fix� the situation, and stuff. Meanwhile, the two women grow close, though one believes the other should ‘stay away� for their own good, since they, Reed, are ‘damaged�.
Good solid book. Quite interesting and well-written. For those who care about such things: yes, Cain Casey was mentioned in the book, but more in passing. Several people from that series, though, do play important roles in this book. Specifically Mano, his sister (and her partner Dallas), and the rest of their crime family � who are partners with Cain Casey’s crime family. Mano runs a casino in Los Vegas, and Dallas and sister pay a visit (the sister is more important to the Casey series, but I’m drawing a blank on her name � it’s something like Remi? Remi Jatibon?). You do not need to read the Casey series, the side short story, nor the side series before reading this book here. Though you might get more out of this book if you do read them first. Not needed to understand this book, though.
Other than a short story, I’ve mostly either loved or really really liked what I've read by this author, and yet I always seem vaguely . . . slow in gOther than a short story, I’ve mostly either loved or really really liked what I've read by this author, and yet I always seem vaguely . . . slow in getting myself to start a book by them. Eh, no idea what that’s about.
This specific book here involves an American with a deep connection to Ireland who has, after careful planning and preparation, set up a trip to Ireland. Specifically to the same place her grandparents are from (and the same place where ‘The Quiet Man� was filmed). Also a real life location � Cong, County Mayo, Ireland.
A thirty-something librarian (her specific age was given, it slips my mind), Nora McNeill has spent most of her life, except for a more independent early period, living under the constraints of bowing to the will of more domineering individuals � including her sister, and later her . . . something like a girlfriend Amy. So this trip to Ireland is both something of a break from her lifelong personality, and a chance to reinvent herself (or, at least, ‘grow a spine�).
The book is more about Nora and her interactions with her family’s Irish past, but does have a deep romantic storyline through the other POV character Briana Devlin (actually, there are more than two POV’s presented). There’s a neat story of the two growing close and becoming friends and stuff, but their story is overshadowed by another � one that’s in the book description and involves a ghost.
Yeah, see, this isn’t a straight forward lesbian romance set in Ireland. There’s also a bit of supernatural stuff going on. Ghosts and witches, and all that.
Both elements are handled well � the lesbian romance, and the more fantastical stuff. I suppose the thing I was slightly less than happy with were those parts that were not in either main character’s POV � those parts set in . . . hmm, mid-1800s when a certain family was living and working during the great potato famine in Ireland. There’s a reason why their story was told, an important reason, but I did find it distracting at times.
Right, so, great book.
Rating: 4.78
March 30 2019
Merged review:
Other than a short story, I’ve mostly either loved or really really liked what I've read by this author, and yet I always seem vaguely . . . slow in getting myself to start a book by them. Eh, no idea what that’s about.
This specific book here involves an American with a deep connection to Ireland who has, after careful planning and preparation, set up a trip to Ireland. Specifically to the same place her grandparents are from (and the same place where ‘The Quiet Man� was filmed). Also a real life location � Cong, County Mayo, Ireland.
A thirty-something librarian (her specific age was given, it slips my mind), Nora McNeill has spent most of her life, except for a more independent early period, living under the constraints of bowing to the will of more domineering individuals � including her sister, and later her . . . something like a girlfriend Amy. So this trip to Ireland is both something of a break from her lifelong personality, and a chance to reinvent herself (or, at least, ‘grow a spine�).
The book is more about Nora and her interactions with her family’s Irish past, but does have a deep romantic storyline through the other POV character Briana Devlin (actually, there are more than two POV’s presented). There’s a neat story of the two growing close and becoming friends and stuff, but their story is overshadowed by another � one that’s in the book description and involves a ghost.
Yeah, see, this isn’t a straight forward lesbian romance set in Ireland. There’s also a bit of supernatural stuff going on. Ghosts and witches, and all that.
Both elements are handled well � the lesbian romance, and the more fantastical stuff. I suppose the thing I was slightly less than happy with were those parts that were not in either main character’s POV � those parts set in . . . hmm, mid-1800s when a certain family was living and working during the great potato famine in Ireland. There’s a reason why their story was told, an important reason, but I did find it distracting at times.
I tend to enjoy Lesley Davis' works. Not sure why I've been somewhat slow to read them.
This is the fourth book in this series, and yes, previous coupI tend to enjoy Lesley Davis' works. Not sure why I've been somewhat slow to read them.
This is the fourth book in this series, and yes, previous couples from the series show up though I do not believe it is specifically needed to enjoy this book to read the previous works (though it'd be easier to read those others without being spoiled about those specific books storylines if read those first).
The series follows "average" people doing stuff, like coupling up. Here we find geeky Drew Davis who owns a comic book store that is right next to a particular restuarant (run and owned by the couple from the previous book in the series) where the other main character works as a chef - Wren Bandaras. Both have POV's in this book, and are interesting to follow.
Most of the action takes place in the general area around the comic book store & restaurant (Drew and her 70+ year old grandmother live over the comic book store), though there's brief moments elsewhere, like at comic cons, and at Wren's mother's huge house, and at Wren's apartment (I've a fairly good recollection of most of the places visited, but I can't really recall what Wren's apartment looks like).
Both have had issues they had to overcome (much more Drew), that adds a layer of tension/angst/drama, but this is a relatively low-key, friends to lovers book.
Re: guitar on cover and no mention of any musicians in this book: that's Drew's issue she had to overcome. Horrible parents. Massive singing talent. Beatings and abuse, etc. while profiting off of young Drew's talents. To the point Drew just can't get herself to sing. Triggering. So, that's what the guitar on the cover is about.
Good book.
Rating: 4.78 January 11 2023
Merged review:
I tend to enjoy Lesley Davis' works. Not sure why I've been somewhat slow to read them.
This is the fourth book in this series, and yes, previous couples from the series show up though I do not believe it is specifically needed to enjoy this book to read the previous works (though it'd be easier to read those others without being spoiled about those specific books storylines if read those first).
The series follows "average" people doing stuff, like coupling up. Here we find geeky Drew Davis who owns a comic book store that is right next to a particular restuarant (run and owned by the couple from the previous book in the series) where the other main character works as a chef - Wren Bandaras. Both have POV's in this book, and are interesting to follow.
Most of the action takes place in the general area around the comic book store & restaurant (Drew and her 70+ year old grandmother live over the comic book store), though there's brief moments elsewhere, like at comic cons, and at Wren's mother's huge house, and at Wren's apartment (I've a fairly good recollection of most of the places visited, but I can't really recall what Wren's apartment looks like).
Both have had issues they had to overcome (much more Drew), that adds a layer of tension/angst/drama, but this is a relatively low-key, friends to lovers book.
Re: guitar on cover and no mention of any musicians in this book: that's Drew's issue she had to overcome. Horrible parents. Massive singing talent. Beatings and abuse, etc. while profiting off of young Drew's talents. To the point Drew just can't get herself to sing. Triggering. So, that's what the guitar on the cover is about.
This, the 8th book I've read with Kevin J. Anderson and Doug Beason as co-writers, is both the worst book I've read by those two authors, and somewherThis, the 8th book I've read with Kevin J. Anderson and Doug Beason as co-writers, is both the worst book I've read by those two authors, and somewhere near the worst I've ever read. The other seven books I've read by them were given ratings between 3.75 to 4.5 (which just means a 4 on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ). This book? Barely 2 stars (and, if possible, something closer to 1.66 stars).
bah. Wonder if I'd think differently of this book if I hadn't spent so many years working on a "Spent Fuel" project. Which involves the nuclear waste created by the nuclear industry. *thinks about it* Nah, I'd still have rated this near 2 stars.
The characters are crap. The plot is contrived and stupid. And, then based on everything that came before in the book, the book ends abruptly unresolved. It's a "solid ending" in a "normal thriller", but because of how everything that happened before in the book, it's more of a cliff-hanger. I remind myself more than anything else (view spoiler)[the book ends with the survivors planning on telling those in authority what happened (off to the side one is on the phone with a high up person, but we don't hear either end of that conversation except for bits and pieces; and it was a very brief call - it'd take more than 8 or so minutes to "bring them up to speed". It also ends with the survivors still facing death and long term isolated imprisonment. And nuclear disaster still hasn't been averted, not really. (hide spoiler)]
Right. Hmm. I mentioned Spent Fuel up above. A little backstory. (Very Little). During the nuclear power process, "spent fuel rods" - rods still radioactive but no longer able to be used to power a nuclear power plant (not mentioned in the book, but one way to "get around" the issue presented in the book is to "reuse" the rods, it'd take a differently designed system, but there are countries out there that reuse rods). These rods need to be protected or they'll leak radioactive waste all over the place, contaminating everything and everyone, and killing people and stuff. But the nuclear industry doesn't have anywhere to send the nuclear waste, the spent fuel rods. Mentioned in this book was the very very long process taken to set up a permanent storage facility deep within a mountain (Yucca Mountain), but seemingly seconds after it was to open, political pressure forced its closure. Not mentioned in this book, and not really that relevant except to what this "spent fuel project' I worked on was: while Yucca Mountain was being set up/built (not specifically that, but lets not get too deep into details), the utility companies that owned the nuclear plants were paying money to the government so that, eventually, the spent fuel rods would be picked up and stored . . . somewhere (also part of not going too far into details: some paid up front, some paid in yearly deposits, and some deferred payment; and yes, the public was involved in this: in fees tacked onto energy bills). I worked on the many lawsuits against the federal government when Yucca Mountain was closed (the lawsuits actually started the second the first fuel rod wasn't picked up by the date it was supposed to be picked up, which was before Yucca Mountain closed - it just didn't open on time for those first spent fuel rods).
Right, so. Book opens with a terrorist attack on a nuclear plant. One that has spent fuel rods sitting around in pools of water "temporarily" waiting on being moved (the wait might be as long as it takes for the rods to stop being radioactive, oh, 50,000 years or so, give or take 100,000 years). Due to fast thinking, the disaster was limited by one of the main characters in this book (and almost turned into a much worse disaster by another main character in this book). Both characters, though, acted stupidly, though only one of them was called on it (the site manager, the "good character" in the book constantly did stupid things in the book but were presented as "the good character who knows what they are doing", what stupid thing did they do at the start of this book? Run down stairs to get in the way of the clean-up crew: everything she needed to do and could do, could have been done sitting in her office on her phone).
The book plot proceeds with the "bad character", the assistant Energy dude, or whatever his title was, got a meeting, after the terrorist disaster that he grabbed all the praise from for solving/fixing/etc, with the President of the United States of America. Important/not-important is the part where a third main character was also at the meeting (it was a three person meeting). The military advisor to the president. Van StupidHead, the bad character, presented a plan to the president to "take care of" the situation. Use the power of the president to store the nuclear waste in a decommissioned military base that has a mountain wherein they stored nuclear weapons.
A year later various people are called on to explore the place on a Sunday (a huge, and I mean HUGE deal was made about how the meeting took place on a Sunday (if I didn't know better, and I do know better, I'd think neither author ever worked on projects for the federal government). Right, so the people were to review the facility. While inside the mountain, a plane crash-lands outside - causing the mountain to get locked down, and causing the people inside to proceed to do one incredibly stupid thing after another. Very very stupid incredibly stupid thing after another. As expected, they begin to die, and because of how everything was set up, and how everything proceeded, I actually started rooting for them to die. But, eh, whatever.
An incredibly dumb stupid book.
Rating: 1.65 February 26 2022
Merged review:
This, the 8th book I've read with Kevin J. Anderson and Doug Beason as co-writers, is both the worst book I've read by those two authors, and somewhere near the worst I've ever read. The other seven books I've read by them were given ratings between 3.75 to 4.5 (which just means a 4 on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ). This book? Barely 2 stars (and, if possible, something closer to 1.66 stars).
bah. Wonder if I'd think differently of this book if I hadn't spent so many years working on a "Spent Fuel" project. Which involves the nuclear waste created by the nuclear industry. *thinks about it* Nah, I'd still have rated this near 2 stars.
The characters are crap. The plot is contrived and stupid. And, then based on everything that came before in the book, the book ends abruptly unresolved. It's a "solid ending" in a "normal thriller", but because of how everything that happened before in the book, it's more of a cliff-hanger. I remind myself more than anything else (view spoiler)[the book ends with the survivors planning on telling those in authority what happened (off to the side one is on the phone with a high up person, but we don't hear either end of that conversation except for bits and pieces; and it was a very brief call - it'd take more than 8 or so minutes to "bring them up to speed". It also ends with the survivors still facing death and long term isolated imprisonment. And nuclear disaster still hasn't been averted, not really. (hide spoiler)]
Right. Hmm. I mentioned Spent Fuel up above. A little backstory. (Very Little). During the nuclear power process, "spent fuel rods" - rods still radioactive but no longer able to be used to power a nuclear power plant (not mentioned in the book, but one way to "get around" the issue presented in the book is to "reuse" the rods, it'd take a differently designed system, but there are countries out there that reuse rods). These rods need to be protected or they'll leak radioactive waste all over the place, contaminating everything and everyone, and killing people and stuff. But the nuclear industry doesn't have anywhere to send the nuclear waste, the spent fuel rods. Mentioned in this book was the very very long process taken to set up a permanent storage facility deep within a mountain (Yucca Mountain), but seemingly seconds after it was to open, political pressure forced its closure. Not mentioned in this book, and not really that relevant except to what this "spent fuel project' I worked on was: while Yucca Mountain was being set up/built (not specifically that, but lets not get too deep into details), the utility companies that owned the nuclear plants were paying money to the government so that, eventually, the spent fuel rods would be picked up and stored . . . somewhere (also part of not going too far into details: some paid up front, some paid in yearly deposits, and some deferred payment; and yes, the public was involved in this: in fees tacked onto energy bills). I worked on the many lawsuits against the federal government when Yucca Mountain was closed (the lawsuits actually started the second the first fuel rod wasn't picked up by the date it was supposed to be picked up, which was before Yucca Mountain closed - it just didn't open on time for those first spent fuel rods).
Right, so. Book opens with a terrorist attack on a nuclear plant. One that has spent fuel rods sitting around in pools of water "temporarily" waiting on being moved (the wait might be as long as it takes for the rods to stop being radioactive, oh, 50,000 years or so, give or take 100,000 years). Due to fast thinking, the disaster was limited by one of the main characters in this book (and almost turned into a much worse disaster by another main character in this book). Both characters, though, acted stupidly, though only one of them was called on it (the site manager, the "good character" in the book constantly did stupid things in the book but were presented as "the good character who knows what they are doing", what stupid thing did they do at the start of this book? Run down stairs to get in the way of the clean-up crew: everything she needed to do and could do, could have been done sitting in her office on her phone).
The book plot proceeds with the "bad character", the assistant Energy dude, or whatever his title was, got a meeting, after the terrorist disaster that he grabbed all the praise from for solving/fixing/etc, with the President of the United States of America. Important/not-important is the part where a third main character was also at the meeting (it was a three person meeting). The military advisor to the president. Van StupidHead, the bad character, presented a plan to the president to "take care of" the situation. Use the power of the president to store the nuclear waste in a decommissioned military base that has a mountain wherein they stored nuclear weapons.
A year later various people are called on to explore the place on a Sunday (a huge, and I mean HUGE deal was made about how the meeting took place on a Sunday (if I didn't know better, and I do know better, I'd think neither author ever worked on projects for the federal government). Right, so the people were to review the facility. While inside the mountain, a plane crash-lands outside - causing the mountain to get locked down, and causing the people inside to proceed to do one incredibly stupid thing after another. Very very stupid incredibly stupid thing after another. As expected, they begin to die, and because of how everything was set up, and how everything proceeded, I actually started rooting for them to die. But, eh, whatever.
The main character is the kind that I'd probably normally not be able to stand. But something clicked and I enjoyFirst book I've read by this author.
The main character is the kind that I'd probably normally not be able to stand. But something clicked and I enjoyed their antics. I can easily see how everything about this book could annoy someone though. The main character, Princess Juliette Contzen, 3rd princess in the kingdom and, if I recall correctly, fifth in the succession line (the third princess thing gets repeated a lot, I think the place in succession was only mentioned once or thrice) is incredibly naive, very pro-kingdoms (as in very rule by kings/queens), very ... well, stuff.
Juliette is the fifth child of the current king and queen, and, as such . . . they are an 'extra' so to speak. Her older siblings have been trained to take over, and are working directly on highly important kingdom related things, and stuff. So Juliette spends her days resting in gardens, reading, and keeping herself dry from rain drops by using her sword to redirect the water (that last part is important to mention for reasons).
Near the beginning of the book Juliette's parents let her know that they are bankrupt and Juliette needs to marry. Learning that the kingdom is facing many issues, Juliette decides to step up and do her duty. Which isn't to marry some rich dude but instead to go out into the world and fix things. She has no plan, just . . . go out there and fix things. And that's how the book proceeds. Someone very self righteous, with the need to fix things, and without any plans.
Truth be told, anyone else following this path, being the main character, would probably . . . well, depends on the genre but probably bruised, bloodied, and, well, dead within moments of starting on her adventure (she does literally start her adventure by going out her window, climbing down a tree, and almost landing on top of two thugs, one of whom sees her as easy-pickings, someone to get some extra money from by kidnapping and/or ransoming, and, so...).
bah, I'm not conveying any of this correctly. I should just go with 'book good. me like. want to read next book in series' and leave it at that. Though two things I wanted to note: book cover & book title.
Book cover looks like something you'd see on a graphic novel, manga, or light novel. This book isn't the first two, and I do not know enough about light novels (other than what their covers look like) to say if this book would fit the light novel definition.
Book title: maybe Juliette will eventually become a villain, but, at the moment, she's bouncing around on a mission to save the kingdom. Mind, being a princess and being a villain appparently have a lot in common, though. Like how she just takes without asking the money at a bar (she's a princess, she forgot to bring money, it's not like she's stealing it, she'll give it back . . . or something). And later robs bandits. But, really, she wasn't robbing them, she was taking it because they hadn't paid their taxes. So, no, she's not a Villainess, she's a Princess! Who laughs like a villain! Who even tells people to stop talking for a moment because she's laughing in her head! And, while she did have some random adventurer attempt to 'rank' her sword ability at the start of the book, she doesn't stick around to find out what her rank was; and adventurer? Pfft, those bums? She spits on them. Or something. Basically, what I'm saying is that the book title appears to be a series title, and reflects more what Juliette might become (or will become), not who she is at the start or during the first book. Though her ability with a sword at the start of the book . . ..
Oh, right, I was going to mention that. Juliette is the kind that would drive, and does drive teachers to retirement. She likes reading, but what she reads isn't something a teacher gave her or would give her, no, she prefers reading 'trashy novels' (so that she'd be the princess who is 'up' on 'commoner culture'). She's the type to put in the appearance of being prim and proper while doing and being something else (as, for example, she knows she isn't supposed to be going around climbing trees, so she doesn't (but really, she does) (there's a lot of that in this book, her thinking about things that are what a princess does and should do, and that she wouldn't do something different than that, while also showing how extremely exprienced and good she is at whatever she said princesses don't do - like climb trees)). The kind who who has a sword, because it is her birthright, but hasn't gotten training because she didn't want to get yelled at. Also, because she has a sword, she has taught herself to do stuff with the sword. Expert level stuff. But because she hasn't been trained or had anyone tell her how good or bad she is with the sword, she assumes she's horrible. Like, say, she doesn't want to get wet, or allow her books or food to get wet, she's taught herself to use her sword to deflect rain way from her. And she thinks nothing of being able to keep herself dry during a rainstorm from using a sword.
I like reading books by this author, though this one came close to getting a 3/5 on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ rating (as you can't do half stars on here). Mostly becaI like reading books by this author, though this one came close to getting a 3/5 on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ rating (as you can't do half stars on here). Mostly because I was 95% in and suddenly realized I was 95% into the book and not much time had actually been recorded in the book. Then the last 5% happened and I was better understand . . . stuff.
Right, so. Book description mentions that a young woman was asked three times to be a magical girl. Then herself asked. Except . . . I only really noticed one time she was asked to be a magical girl (unless I missed an asking, she did interact with those who would have asked more than once, but I don't recall them asking in those occasions). Right, not important.
A young high school woman lives in a very small town with her ailing father. While gathering his medication, she is almost crushed by a rolling truck (which is how the book opens, with the woman watching the truck rolling towards her and her knowing she doesn't have time to get out of the way).
Opening to the book is a little rough in the sense that I think some modifications were made but not fully implemented. I say that because: 1) the book opens with a prologue, but the action in the prologue just continues into chapter one without any time passing or change in anything. As in, a young woman is being attacked, she's trying to escape. Prologue ends. She's still continuing to escape as chapter one starts. 2) there's this mention of being asked 3 times to be a magical girl, but I don't recall her being asked 3 times; 3) she's saved from the same rolling truck two times, though I think that might have been a foreshadowing of her powers before she became a magical girl (her powers involve time).
Right, so. Like in this author's Stray Cat series, book opens with a young woman involved in an attack and outsiders give her the option to become powerful. Unlike in Stray Cat, the young woman was by herself at the time when the action started (though wouldn't be by the time the action stopped - she also had someone she needed to protet, that previoiusly mentioned ailing father), and, unlike in Stray Cat, the young woman turns down the opportunity to become powerful. Instead she, and her father, are picked up by people working with FEMA and moved to a FEMA camp.
A week or more passes in the camp (I'd atually forgotten so much time passed in the camp until I wrote this up) with her father continuing to get worse. And then she finally becomes a magical girl for the sake of her, now dying, father. She used too much power, though, and ended up shaking and waking up in a forest. She is, again, saved by magical girls and dumped off at an Academy for magical girls.
Book then proceeds to show her attempt to adapt to her situation, which includes being put onto a team of three other young women; taking classes; adjusting to her power; interacting with people trying to destroy the school. Book ends.
The book has a publication date of February 21, 2023, the first episode of season 1 aired May 2022 & last episode of season 1 having appeared on July The book has a publication date of February 21, 2023, the first episode of season 1 aired May 2022 & last episode of season 1 having appeared on July 2023. Star Trek books have a tendency to include something like "this story appears before/after x occurred". This book did not appear to have anything like that (at least not my copy). All of which to say: Regardless of what knowledge the author had or didn't have about that first season, the book appears to be set pre-Season 1 -- unlike the only other media-tie-in I've read, which was a comic series set immediately after season 1 ended.
The above is important to know if someone desires to read the first original media-tie-in novel in this universe because it has an impact on characters and story. Like, for example, the first officer is in this here book. Which would otherwise be problematic because . . . x. Oh, and I'm not going just by that inclusion of that character, the docotor also has a "special medical issue" hiding in the transporter in this book.
Right, so: four of the main characters are on a shuttle flying near a planet, the Enterprise is in the area because a civilian science mission has gone silent. Spock, Pike, Uhura, and First Officer Una are all on board the shuttle, and all but for Spock take their turn as point of view characters (along with three or more characters on Enterprise, including the chief engineer (Lieutenant Hemmer), the doctor (Dr. M'Benga), and La'an Noonien-Singh (left behind on Enterprise in command on Enterprise during the shuttle mission). Nurse Christine makes no appearance. Erica Ortegas is mentioned.
Right: Spock, Pike, Uhura, and Una Chin-Riley are on a shuttle heading towards a planet near the beginning of the book. Something from the planet interferes with their electronic systems, and the transporter can't get a good lock. Sooo . . the four end up getting transported to the planet surface, instead of back to Enterprise.
Spock's part of the story is learned, but he's basically out of the book for the first half or so. Pike wakes up in a bed in an old west type town (albiet one that has a mix of humans and aliens), and he has some adventures with the towns people. Una is stuck very high up in a tree when the story turns to her, and she ends up meeting up with a "native" of the planet. Meanwhile Uhura had been transported basically into lava. Instead of dying, she, luckily enough, is wearing an environmental suit, though she's only protected just long enough to escape the lava.
The book involves the three point of view characters learning about their circumstances, and trying to find the other members of their ship. Meanwhile most of them are very aware of and trying to obey the relatively new Prime Directive.
Bah. I can't seem to get the angle I need to write this. Mostly because I'm not sure what'd be too spoilery to mention, and what wouldn't be. Bah.
Book seemed interesting and had a good storyline/plot. Nice good book. Probably too much there for one episode. Maybe a three episode arc.
I don't reall how I ended up trying this one, I think I saw it marked 5 stars on my feed, regardless, it looked interesting so I added it to my list oI don't reall how I ended up trying this one, I think I saw it marked 5 stars on my feed, regardless, it looked interesting so I added it to my list of books to check out. Later the same day I decided to try the sample. Actually, right before I went to bed. To sleep. Bad mistake. Why? Well, I read the first chapter (not the entire sample, just the first chapter), bought, and read in one sitting. And this isn't really a book the length that should be read in one sitting. I just couldn't stop reading.
I now have three books on my "2023-year-read-favs" and this is the first book (hopefully not only) on my "2023-favorites" shelf. First shelf involves favorites read the year listed (here 2023); second shelf involves favorites based on year published. This book was published in 2023. So, to recap: this is my favorite book published this year, and one of three favorite books I've read this year.
Right, so.
First up: this is one of the few books that is full length and tackles, head on, COVID. Most books published 2020-2023 seem to either lighty touch on the pandemic, or ignore it. It's not 'oh, yeah, pandemic', it's basically one of the main plot lines of this book. It is basically the basis for more than one plot line actually.
The main character and only POV is Lyssa. The book opens right after Lyssa learns that her graduate school is closing. She was only a few moments away from graduating with her Masters, but the group project she had been working on for months is now shelved because of the closure, and she doesn't know if she will have any way to save the situation. If she is going to get her Masters degree for film/animation. I didn't immediately get it, but the school didn't go bankrupt, or anything like that. It was closing because of COVID (see, the pandemic is directly underlying the plotlines).
Lyssa is worried about rent, school, life, etc. What to do while things are closed down. She has two jobs beyond being a student: she has a YouTube channel that has just enough followers to get her about $0.03 (or something like that), and she works in a bar. As a bartender. The book specifically opens with Lyssa being begged by the bar owner to go in to bartend. Lyssa is reluctant because: 1) she's specifically the type of person to not be around others during a pandemic because of her medical issues (both breathing issues due to lung puncture, and potential for massive panic attacks); 2) Dag is the current batender as the others can't come in or have fled, and Dag is a massive dick (and the wife of the bar owner). One who always seems to be yelling and stuff at . . . well, everyone, but also Lyssa. But Lyssa goes in to help.
At the door Lyssa almost doesn't go in, but she spots Greer. Lyssa likes Greer. Doesn't want to leave Greer being served by Dag. So, Lyssa goes in to work.
Right, so. Instead of detailing every little scene in the book, I'll jump to: Greer wants Lyssa to live with her in a house she is rebuilding (she's in the business of rebuilding stuff and stuff) during the COVID closure. And, so, Lyssa needing a place to stay, and getting a firm no from her horrible horrible mother to a request for a "brief" stay with said mother, and not really wanting to go the long distance to stay with Rory, her cousin (here is one of those confusing parts, Rory is in Hawaii, but I distinctly got the impression that going to live with Rory, at this part of the book, would have involved traveling to Tallahassee; eh, I probably got confused as Rory & Lyssa used to live together in Tallahassee, and Lyssa had let Rory stay with her in a type of needing to be saved situation), Lyssa moves in with the really eager Greer.
Right, so. Don't want to mention and reveal everything. Um. Lyssa has issues with her family. Has a medical issue from a childhood accident, and has issues with reading people/emotions/etc. Greer, also had a childhood accident that causes her issues. Like being unable to talk verbally. Though can communicate with her hands (ASL). Which Lyssa also knows from the time she herself couldn't talk for a year.
Loved the book. Only one thing I noticed that I was vaguely confused about: no mention of stockpiling toliet paper, though there was mention of Greer stockpiling stuff pre-COVID closure of life.
Vaguely confused - thought I'd put something in the review box.
hmms. 16th work I've read by this author. There are three works I've rated higher (behiVaguely confused - thought I'd put something in the review box.
hmms. 16th work I've read by this author. There are three works I've rated higher (behind 'You Make Me Tremble', 'Sit. Stay. Love.'; 'Set the Stage').
Great book about a wedding planner & POV character Taryn Ritter & a cat cafe owner & POV character Bonnie James.
Taryn has a niche role in the wedding planner industry - she goes out of her way to create "unique" wedding events (like sky-diving weddings; weddings on donkeys; etc.). The 'unique' wedding she needs to plan for now? One involving a mayor of a small town wishing to marry in a cat cafe. Specifically the cat cafe in their small town, Bonnie's cat cafe.
Neither woman has time for romance, and, in addition, Taryn doesn't have time for pets (including cats), though she's neutral on the matter. Bonnie loves cats, has three of her own, in addition to the roughly 20 or so in the cat cafe itself.
Taryn stops by Bonnie's place expecting to make a quick visit, but, oddly enough, Bonnie's immediately response is no. As in, hell no. Bonnie, you see, used to work in the non-profit industry, and while her cat cafe still involves finding homes for homeless cats, she's no longer in that industry. Because . . . she allowed herself to be in something embarrassing. And doesn't want people to be reminded of her past. So, can't allow herself to host a wedding.
And, so, the two women circle each other, while two cats cricle Taryn.
Lexxi Kitty
>
Books:
length-260-519-novel
(362)
Loading...
