Monday, October 26, 2020

Paragraph Review: Tunnel of Bones (Victoria Schwab)

Title: Tunnel of Bones
Series: Cassidy Blake, Book 2
Author: Victoria Schwab
Publisher: Scholastic
US Release Date: September 3, 2019
Genre: Middle Grade Paranormal Thriller
Content Rating: Teen (scary and near-death situations, briefly disturbing ghosts)
Format Read: Paperback
Find OnGoodreads
PurchaseIndiebound | B&N | BookDepo | Azon
Summary:

Trouble is haunting Cassidy Blake . . . even more than usual.

She (plus her ghost best friend, Jacob, of course) are in Paris, where Cass's parents are filming their TV show about the world's most haunted cities. Sure, it's fun eating croissants and seeing the Eiffel Tower, but there's true ghostly danger lurking beneath Paris, in the creepy underground Catacombs.

When Cass accidentally awakens a frighteningly strong spirit, she must rely on her still-growing skills as a ghosthunter -- and turn to friends both old and new to help her unravel a mystery. But time is running out, and the spirit is only growing stronger.

And if Cass fails, the force she's unleashed could haunt the city forever.

*          *          *

Series
: This is the second book in the Cassidy Blake series. As of October 2020 there are two released books, with a third to release March 2021. You can read my review of Book 1, City of Ghosts, here.

Young ghost-hunter Cassidy Blake returns for another chilling adventure in Tunnel of Bones, the second installment in the Middle Grade paranormal thriller series. This time she, her ghostly best friend, her paranormal investigator parents, and their cat visit Paris, France, a city of light and life aboveground but tunneled with darkness and bones beneath. While taking us on a brief but engaging tour of the city's more ghostly locales, Cassidy accidentally attracts the attention of a young poltergeist and is forced to quickly seek out his long-lost story to send him on and save Paris from his menace and mayhem. Along the way she makes curious new acquaintances, finally learns about Jacob's deadly (and mysteriously intriguing) past, and catches a glimpse of the creepy future that no doubt awaits her in the next book. As with City of Ghosts it was overall a quick and engrossing read with a spooky setting and entertaining story that I thoroughly enjoyed, and I'm so eager for Book 3, Bridge of Souls, that I may just resign myself to reading the hardcover (a great compliment indeed).  


Scribble Rating
4.5 of 5 Scribbles



Other Reviews That Might Interest: 

City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab
The Archived by Victoria Schwab
Shutter by Courtney Alameda
The Mediator Series by Meg Cabot

Friday, October 23, 2020

The #FridayReads Review (10/23/20)


   

Welcome to The #FridayReads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week, and what I'm planning to read next! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own #FridayReads Review and leave the link in the Comments below, or just Comment with what you've been reading!


>> CURRENTLY READING <<
Servamp vol. 7 by Strike Tanaka (PBK)
Currently in the middle of bingeing the first 13 volumes of this series from the library. For a paranormal battle manga it hasn't been what I expected with its focus on emotional turmoil and very little actual battling, but I'm a sucker for "simple" protagonists and haunted immortal characters so I'm invested enough to read all volumes on hand. 


>> JUST FINISHED <<
The Get To Principle by Ted Larkins (HBK)
3.5 Scribbles. "Get to" is such a simple and obvious mindset for a calmer and happier life yet most of us are mired in the miserable "Have tos" instead. I don't know if the concept needed an entire book - I must admit I skipped over a few chapters - but the chapters I read left me contemplative and inspired and I'm already feeling lighter by applying the "Have to/Get to" swap to my thoughts and actions. I'm glad this book caught my eye at the library.


>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<
(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)
The Ancient Magus' Bride vol. 13 by Kore Yamazaki (PBK)
A new volume of this favorite series has finally released! I haven't been as enamored of the university arc, but with its fascinating world, intricate magic, and onion-layered characters I'm invested in this series until the very end.


So what are you reading this week?

Friday, October 16, 2020

The #FridayReads Review (10/16/20)


  

Welcome to The #FridayReads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week, and what I'm planning to read next! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own #FridayReads Review and leave the link in the Comments below, or just Comment with what you've been reading!


>> CURRENTLY READING <<
Snapdragon by Kat Leyh (PBK)
I've been excited by the surge in MG/YA graphic novels of late but haven't been keeping up with them as I should, so I only discovered Snapdragon last week. I just finished Part 1 of this diverse and currently contemporary story and am intrigued to find out in Part 2 if it's actually in fact magical realism...


>> JUST FINISHED <<
The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket (HBK)
3 Scribbles. Re-read. I was feeling nostalgic (as I do in the fall) and randomly thought of this series again, so I picked up the first book from the library and found myself reading the entire thing in less than 3 hours. It was both what I remembered and not, unsettling yet playful but also surprisingly really simple as it barely hints at all the layers of dark secrets to come. I vaguely recall that I got a bit bored with the later books in the series and distinctly recall that I hated the last with its depressing end, but I couldn't help but put the second book on library hold and will be curious to see how far I end up diving into this disturbing children's series now that I've begun anew. Review to come.


>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<
(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)
Servamp vol. 2 by Tanaka Strike (PBK)
The first volume was surprisingly good (if a little gory) with a unique premise and engaging characters - I couldn't believe I'd never heard of the series before now! I've put the rest of the released volumes on library hold (there are currently 13, I believe?) for a serious binge very soon.


So what are you reading this week?

Friday, October 9, 2020

The #FridayReads Review (10/9/20)


  

Welcome to The #FridayReads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week, and what I'm planning to read next! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own #FridayReads Review and leave the link in the Comments below, or just Comment with what you've been reading!


>> CURRENTLY READING <<
Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab (PBK)
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this ghostly MG series a few months ago (review) and once this sequel arrived I just couldn't hold off reading it in favor of more pressing titles. Just like City of Ghosts it is easy and engrossing with a chilling ghost story and lots of spooky atmosphere, and no surprise I'm already eager for the third book!


>> ON HOLD <<
The Language of Ghosts by Heather Fawcett (ARC)
The writing style was a lot thicker and the story a lot slower than I was expecting so I wasn't enjoying this as much as I'd hoped. I'm definitely still interested in reading it though, and plan to continue after Tunnel.


>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<
(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)
Yokai Rental Shop by Shin Mashiba (PBK)
I was reminded of this series last week and discovering there are only four volumes, all released, I put them on library hold for an October binge. Possible review to come.


So what are you reading this week?

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Release Spotlight: The Captive Kingdom (Jennifer A. Nielsen)



Today I'm excited to spotlight the return to the fantastical Ascendance series, THE CAPTIVE KINGDOM by Jennifer A. Nielsen! This fourth addition to the former trilogy looks to be another exciting and violent adventure, and I look forward to reading it soon. If you don't yet have your own copy on order, see below for all the details!



Title: The Captive Kingdom
Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: October 6, 2020


Jennifer A. Nielsen returns to the world of The False Prince in this fourth book of the Ascendance Series!

In a peaceful Carthya, Jaron leads as the Ascendant King with Imogen beside him -- but the peace he fought so long for is not destined to last.

On a routine sea voyage, Jaron's ship is brutally attacked, and he is taken hostage. The mysterious captors and their leader, Jane Strick, accuse Jaron of unthinkable acts. They are also in possession of some shocking items -- including the crown and sword that belonged to Jaron's older brother, Darius. The items unearth a past Jaron thought he had put behind him.

Though it seems impossible, Jaron must consider: Could Darius be alive? And what does Strick want from Jaron? Against his will, Jaron will be pulled back into a fight for the throne -- and a battle to save his kingdom. 


Add to Goodreads

PURCHASE:
B&N | Indiebound | Book Depository | Amazon



Check out the rest of the series:

Purchase:

Monday, October 5, 2020

Re-Review: Heaven's Queen (Rachel Bach)

Heaven's Queen  (Paradox #3)
Title: Heaven's Queen
Series: Paradox, Book 3
Author: Rachel Bach
Publisher: Orbit
US Release Date: April 22, 2014
Genre: Adult Paranormal Science Fiction
Content Rating: Adult (heavy violence, some language, child mistreatment, sexual content)
Format Read: Paperback
Find OnGoodreads
PurchaseIndiebound | B&N | BookDepo | Azon
Summary:

From the moment she took a job on Captain Caldswell's doomed ship, Devi Morris' life has been one disaster after another: government conspiracies, two alien races out for her blood, an incurable virus that's eating her alive.

Now, with the captain missing and everyone -- even her own government -- determined to hunt her down, things are going from bad to impossible. The sensible plan would be to hide and wait for things to blow over, but Devi's never been one to shy from a fight, and she's getting mighty sick of running.

It's time to put this crisis on her terms and do what she knows is right. But with all human life hanging on her actions, the price of taking a stand might be more than she can pay.


*          *          *

Series: This is the third and final book in the Paradox trilogy. All are released and available. You can read my review of Book 1: Fortune's Pawn here, and re-read review of Book 2: Honor's Knight here.


After my original 2014 read of the trilogy, this third and final book was my least favorite because, as my original brief review declared, there was "way too much introspection and discussion where there should've just been action, and because of this the climax dragged on way to long (almost half the book)." That opinion now surprises me after this 2020 re-read because, while I can see in retrospect where those feelings came from, I didn't hold to them this time around. 

There are really two parts/halves to Heaven's Queen: on-the-run, and the climax. The first half sees Devi trying to keep away from capture while at the same time make some kind of progress towards doing some good with the cards she's been dealt. It's a lot of action-rest-infodump-repeat sequences, but this read I felt the action-to-discussion ratio was pretty well balanced. I also enjoyed the longer bouts of downtime (except for the romantic sappiness it encouraged) along with the bits of quieter galactic exploration as Devi visited some interesting planets and stations in search of help and answers. 


And then the second-half climax kicked in. Almost all breathless and violent action, Devi fights tooth and nail to see her wild plan through against literally all odds. While it is long, it's a thrill-ride with a few twists that granted I wasn't particularly impressed with but they kept the story and the characters on their toes until the explosive end. Despite all of the physical and emotional pain the story concludes on a surprisingly happy note with everything wrapped up rather neat and tidy - not exactly plausible, but I've never enjoyed the depressive aftertaste of a melancholy finish so I gratefully ignored the inconsistency and reveled with Devi in the win of a job well done. 

Through it all Devi maintained her kick-arse personality and moral convictions and remained the best reason to read this series, although the sappy romantic struggles created by her perceived weakness of her feelings for Rupert took up a bit too much time in my opinion. Rupert continued to be his charming if tortured self and only grew more adorable despite the nauseating sappiness he brought to the book - and brought out in Devi. But theirs is a sweet and fierce female-dominated romance and, for all its passion, Ace me definitely considers it a favorite.

Conclusion: While it had a little more discussion and sappiness than I prefer and the paranormal plot continued to be ridiculous right to the finish, overall I enjoyed this re-read more than my original 2014 one due to the on-the-run first half and thrill-packed second. The end wrapped up way too neat for the violent mess the story was, but I appreciated that most of the characters got what they wanted. A must-read if you enjoyed the first two.

Scribble Rating
4 of 5 Scribbles


Series Conclusion: While I felt the paranormal aspects diminished this otherwise thrilling sci-fi action-adventure trilogy about a kick-arse female warrior and her violent escapades, Devi was a solid and engrossing character and despite my problems with the mystical plot I pretty thoroughly enjoyed myself (some language, sex, and sappiness aside). If you like a decent paranormal sci-fi read then this is series not to be missed.

Series Scribble Rating
4 of 5 Scribbles



Other Reviews That Might Interest: 

Fortune's Pawn by Rachel Bach
Honor's Knight by Rachel Bach
Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
Zero Repeat Forever by G.S. Prendergast
Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Nyxia by Scott Reintgen

Friday, October 2, 2020

The #FridayReads Review (10/2/20)


  


Welcome to The #FridayReads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week, and what I'm planning to read next! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own #FridayReads Review and leave the link in the Comments below, or just Comment with what you've been reading!


>> CURRENTLY READING <<

The Language of Ghosts by Heather Fawcett (ARC)
Decided I felt like a MG fantasy and finally started this September release. Only a few chapters in and it's a little odder than I expected, but it's certainly intriguing and I'm invested enough to continue.

A Library Miscellany by Claire Cock-Starkey (HBK)
I have a special fascination of libraries so I'm thoroughly enjoying this little book of factoids. So far I've learned about different types of libraries (including lost ones), classification systems, book thefts, fines, popular borrowed authors, Public Lending Right, the Future Library, and library philanthropist Carnegie.


>> JUST FINISHED <<
Death Marked by Leah Cypess (ARC)
2 Stars. While readable with an interesting premise, the vague setting, confused magic, forced plot, conflicted and cowardly main character, and anticlimactic end where nothing actually changed after two books of soul-searching left me very disappointed. Review to come.


>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<
(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)
Waiting for Spring vol. 12 by Anashin (PBK)
Discovered I'm a few volumes behind in this series so I've acquired them from the library (not that I quite remember what the story is about...).


So what are you reading this week?