spaceonthebookcase's reviews
1047 reviews

 While I went into the story with a lot of hope, I left with a lot of disappointments.

The choice to switch around between so many character POVs and timelines didn't help this book feel like a cohesive story. Amanda, the FMC read almost like an afterthought while her father, Charlie, and his story took center stage for the majority of the book. I struggled with some aspects of realism, for example Charlie falling for the oldest trick in the spy craft book and Amanda's ability to seemingly absorb everything instantly.

The end of the book, which gave time for Amanda to be reflective, was perhaps the deepest and most connected I felt to the story. The premise was promising, but the author lacked in execution.

Thank you Simon Books for the gifted copy.

***Read Around The World Challenge: Rome, Finland, Russia 

A difficult book to rate given the circumstances. Opening with remarks by Marina Keegan's former professor I do think even Marina Keegan may have side eyed the publication of her journal entries and short essays. 

Were the stories good? Superficially yes, but they aren't much different than you'd find in a college creative writing class. That isn't necessarily a bad thing because Marina Keegan was twenty-one years old when she passed away. Would this have been published had her life not been tragically cut short? Absolutely not. 

The story I enjoyed the most was The Emerald City. I found connection there as a former Army wife to a now retired Army Veteran who spent more than his fair share in Iraq. The back and forth of emails for formatting told the story in short vignettes that kept it brief but moving. 

If you're bored and need an easy read this will be up your alley, but don't expect hard punching stories. 

Thank you Scribner Books for the gifted copy. 

 

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When I first started reading Lightlark, I either assumed or was told that this series was meant to be a trilogy. When I found out Skyshade wasn’t the end of the series, I almost didn’t pick it up out of frustration. At this point, the series feels like a money grab, especially after author Alex Aster announced two full-length Lightlark books coming in 2025. Girl, maybe you should focus on fleshing out the series and fixing its plot holes first.

Where to begin? Oh, right—the cave. There’s a difference between a love triangle and cheating, and I feel Alex Aster is blurring the lines in a way that’s hard to come back from as a reader. Love triangles, though not my favorite, can serve a purpose when written well, adding depth to the story. In Skyshade, however, the love triangle feels pointless. I don’t understand why Oro is still part of the conversation when most of the book focuses on Grim and Isla rebuilding their relationship and Isla publicly choosing Grim. This is starting to feel very Twilight—and not in a good way—where the love triangle was only maintained so Jacob could imprint on a baby. Unless Isla ends up with Grim, the love triangle makes no sense. Beyond marketing and fan love for Oro, there’s no real substance here.

Another issue I had with Skyshade is how conveniently problems arise and are then magically resolved. There’s little world-building, no meaningful character development, and overall, a lack of depth. While we did get some answers about Isla’s background and past, everything beyond that point felt far too simplistic.

I’ve already invested in three books, so I’ll finish the series—even if it means hate-reading the rest. Grim has so many amazing lines in Skyshade, and Isla is deserving of none of them. I find it hard to envision any kind of redemption arc for Isla. Her indecisive internal monologue and the cave scene with Oro will be a mountain to overcome. 

 Cold Storage by Michael C. Grumley picks up where Deep Freeze leaves off. While I've seen his marketed as a standalone novel I disagree, without the knowledge of Deep Freeze I'm not sure it would be easy to invest in. A thrilling story about survival, Cold Storage brings with it a pre-apocalyptic dystopian vibe that aligns with the current state of affairs in the United States. I have a deep passion for books that act as a foreshadowing of real life and Cold Storage does just that in spades.

We meet Army Veteran John Reiff again, this time having been frozen for a second time and brought back, he doesn't have the luxury of a quiet recovery. On the run with his body doing strange things, Reiff must rely on those around him to keep him safe. Back in the lab an even bigger secret is uncovered and the origins of why John Reiff's unthawing was so special, and important, is revealed. Another frozen body, another story to unlock, with devastating consequences for everyone involved Cold Storage is a face paced thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The ending left room for more, so I hope a third book in the Revival Series is on its way!

For Audio: Scott Brick is a master of voices and his pitch and tone were perfectly synced for the fast paced nature of the story. I struggled to put it down from start to finish.

Thank you Forge & Macmillan Audio for the gifted ARC/ALC.