The #FridayReads Review (7/3/20)

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 <<

Honor's Knight by Rachel Bach (PBK)

Continuing my Paradox trilogy re-read with the second book. I'm surprised it was previously my favorite of the series as it takes a wide detour from the sci-fi action-adventure foundation into heavy paranormal, and I'm not a fan. But perhaps that's what I preferred back in 2014? Thankfully there's enough action to still keep me relatively engrossed, and I am curious to remember how it all ends so I plan to finish the series once more.

>> JUST FINISHED <<

Cutting-Edge Space Tourism by Kevin Kurtz (HBK)

3 Stars. My obsession with sci-fi has branched into reality (and writing research) and I checked out a bunch of non-fic books about space to peruse. Although short and simple, this was an interesting one for me because I had no idea we are getting so very close to sending tourists into space! Maybe it'll actually happen in my lifetime after all.

>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<

(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers (PBK)

My sci-fi obsession continues, so as the Paradox trilogy has diverted into paranormal I grabbed this new series for a hopefully more grounded sci-fi read.

So what are you reading this week?

Release Spotlight: Race the Sands (Sarah Beth Durst)

Today I spotlight the latest from award-winning author Sarah Beth Durst: RACE THE SANDS! I only discovered this standalone fantasy in the last month (how this thrilling read slipped under my radar I have no idea) but have since looked forward to devouring this paperback original with great anticipation. If you haven't yet checked out this fantastical story, do so below and purchase your copy today!

Title: Race the Sands

Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Release Date: April 21, 2020

In this standalone fantasy, a pair of strong and determined women risk their lives battling injustice, corruption, and deadly enemies in their quest to become monster racing champions.

Life, death, and rebirth—in Becar, everyone knows that who you are in this life will determine what you are in your next life. The augurs can read your fate in your aura: hawk, heron, tortoise, jackal, human. Armed with that knowledge, you can change your destiny with the choices you make, both in this life and your next. But for the darkest individuals, there is no redemption: you come back as a kehok, a monster, and you will always be a kehok for the rest of time.

Unless you can win the Races.

As a professional trainer, Tamra was an elite kehok rider. Then a tragic accident on the track shattered her confidence, damaged her career, and left her nearly broke. Now Tamra needs the prize money to prevent the local temple from taking her daughter away from her, and that means she must once again find a winning kehok . . . and a rider willing to trust her.

Raia is desperate to get away from her domineering family and cruel fiancé. As a kehok rider, she could earn enough to buy her freedom. But she can’t become good enough to compete without a first-rate trainer.

Impressed by the inexperienced young woman’s determination, Tamra hires Raia and pairs her with a strange new kehok with the potential to win—if he can be tamed.

But in this sport, if you forget you’re riding on the back of a monster, you die. Tamra and Raia will work harder than they ever thought possible to win the deadly Becaran Races—and in the process, discover what makes this particular kehok so special. 

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