All Things Halloween Review - The Dirt on Ninth Grave

The Dirt on Ninth Grave (Charley Davidson, # 9)

By: Darynda Jones

Publication: January 12th 2016 by St. Martin's Press

326 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Humor, Mystery

Source: Borrowed from the e-library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--In a small village in New York lives Jane Doe, a girl with no memory of who she is or where she came from. So when she is working at a diner and slowly begins to realize she can see dead people, she's more than a little taken aback. Stranger still are the people entering her life. They seem to know things about her. Things they hide with lies and half-truths. Soon, she senses something far darker. A force that wants to cause her harm, she is sure of it. Her saving grace comes in the form of a new friend she feels she can confide in and the fry cook, a devastatingly handsome man whose smile is breathtaking and touch is scalding. He stays close, and she almost feels safe with him around.

But no one can outrun their past, and the more lies that swirl around her—even from her new and trusted friends—the more disoriented she becomes, until she is confronted by a man who claims to have been sent to kill her. Sent by the darkest force in the universe. A force that absolutely will not stop until she is dead. Thankfully, she has a Rottweiler. But that doesn't help in her quest to find her identity and recover what she's lost. That will take all her courage and a touch of the power she feels flowing like electricity through her veins. She almost feels sorry for him. The devil in blue jeans. The disarming fry cook who lies with every breath he takes. She will get to the bottom of what he knows if it kills her. Or him. Either way.

I was a little unenthused going into The Dirt on Ninth Grave. Charley gets amnesia at the end of Eight. I find that I enjoy amnesia stories when I am learning about a character's past at the same time that they are, but I don't always enjoy stories as much when I know a significant amount of information that the character doesn't. So I worried that I wouldn't enjoy this book as much because it almost felt like starting over at the beginning of the series. Thankfully the cast of characters I've come to love was present much sooner than I expected.

So basically all of the crew shows up in the town that Charley wakes up in. Charley is working as a waitress in a restaurant and the other characters mostly just show up and are hanging around except Cookie who has also gotten a job as a waitress. The others barely interact with Charley at first but slowly do so more and more. Cookie just feels like Charley's new BFF. Charley obviously has the hots for Reyes but she can see he's not just human and tries to keep her distance. You can tell how difficult of a time Reyes is having by letting Charley take her time with things. And seeing his pain at her not recognizing him is evident.

This wouldn't be a Charley Davidson book without several mysteries to solve. And it was fun to see how much of Charley's personality remained despite not remembering her past. Charley obviously doesn't know that she was a private investigator or the grim reaper in the past but her desire to help the living and the dead push her into another case. All the while attracting the unwanted attention of a psychopath.

There were times when I was waiting for Reyes to show up based upon Charley's heightened emotions. At times it seemed like he was still able to read her, but other times I felt sure if he could then he would have shown up. I hated that this wasn't explained because it seemed like a gap or inconsistency at the least.

I also found myself wondering why Charley never questioned the information before her when it came to Cookie and Reyes specifically having a connection with her old self. They both mention someone close to them disappearing. For Reyes his wife and for Cookie her best friend. In Reyes's situation, he mentioned his wife, Charley feels an unexplainable draw to him and she knows she woke up in the alley wearing a wedding ring. Plus Cookie calling her Charley multiple times over the name, Janey, that she has been going by. Even though Charley did question Cookie, I felt like this was explained away too easily. Especially given other things she took note of or overheard.

How Charley did get her memories back was both satisfying and anticlimactic at the same time. I won't discuss more here in an effort not to spoil anything.

And then there was the twist ending. I don't know why but I wasn't surprised in the least. I figure there will be a workaround, but time will tell.

I kind of hate that I put off reading The Dirt on Ninth Grave a few months after finishing book 8 because the ending of the previous book wasn't as fresh in my mind as I'd have liked. Overall my worries over The Dirt on Ninth Grave were for nothing and I was hooked into the story very quickly. The Dirt on Ninth Grave gets 4 Stars. Have you read The Dirt on Ninth Grave? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for The Guinevere Deception

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising, # 1)

By: Kiersten White

Expected Publication: November 5th 2019 by Delacorte Press

352 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retellings

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White comes a new fantasy series reimagining the Arthurian legend, set in the magical world of Camelot.

There was nothing in the world as magical and terrifying as a girl.

Princess Guinevere has come to Camelot to wed a stranger: the charismatic King Arthur. With magic clawing at the kingdom's borders, the great wizard Merlin conjured a solution--send in Guinevere to be Arthur's wife . . . and his protector from those who want to see the young king's idyllic city fail. The catch? Guinevere's real name--and her true identity--is a secret. She is a changeling, a girl who has given up everything to protect Camelot.

To keep Arthur safe, Guinevere must navigate a court in which the old--including Arthur's own family--demand things continue as they have been, and the new--those drawn by the dream of Camelot--fight for a better way to live. And always, in the green hearts of forests and the black depths of lakes, magic lies in wait to reclaim the land. Arthur's knights believe they are strong enough to face any threat, but Guinevere knows it will take more than swords to keep Camelot free.

Deadly jousts, duplicitous knights, and forbidden romances are nothing compared to the greatest threat of all: the girl with the long black hair, riding on horseback through the dark woods toward Arthur. Because when your whole existence is a lie, how can you trust even yourself?

*THE FIRST BOOK IN THE CAMELOT RISING TRILOGY*

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

2019 Series Enders Reading Challenge - October Wrap Up

Time for our Monthly Wrap Up for the 2019 Series Enders Reading Challenge hosted by Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know and Holly @ Words Fueled by Love!

Since our last monthly wrap up, Sandy finished A Pursuit of Home (Haven Manor, # 3) by Kristi Ann Hunter.

Which series enders did you finish? Link the up below. Don't forget to include the title, your name, & your blog name (Ex: Requiem - Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know) Also, the October giveaway runs from October 25th - November 25th. On November 25th we will use random.org and the linky entries to pull a winner.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

All Things Halloween Review - Tower of Down

Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass, # 6)

By: Sarah J Maas

Publication: September 5th 2017 by Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children's Books

672 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Source: Borrowed from the e-Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--In the next installment of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series, follow Chaol on his sweeping journey to a distant empire.

Chaol Westfall has always defined himself by his unwavering loyalty, his strength, and his position as the Captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since the glass castle shattered, since his men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken.

His only shot at recovery lies with the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme in Antica—the stronghold of the southern continent's mighty empire. And with war looming over Dorian and Aelin back home, their survival might lie with Chaol and Nesryn convincing its rulers to ally with them.

But what they discover in Antica will change them both—and be more vital to saving Erilea than they could have imagined.

I've really been in an anti-fantasy mood over the last year or so. Fantasy books can be so lengthy. World-building has to be established beyond whatever is going on with the characters. It's a necessity for the world to be explored. Yet for some reason, these books can also feel heavy--emotionally--to me. Empire of Storms ends with such a massive cliffhanger that I wanted to devour the next book in the series immediately (of course it wasn't released yet), but it was also so jammed packed with events that I needed a year to recover. But then I found out that the next full-length book in this series would be Tower of Dawn which would follow Chaol and Nesryn rather than Aelin, Rowan, Dorian, etc. And I was really disappointed because I didn't want to detour from the main storylines.

Chaol was once one of my favorite characters in this series. When we start Tower of Dawn that's certainly not the case anymore. I still like him, but he's not my favorite. His prejudices caused a lot of negative consequences. But all of that was necessary for Aelin to grow into who she needed to become. I was once again disappointed to find that Chaol and Nesryn had such a surface level relationship in Tower of Dawn. I shouldn't have been surprised because Sarah J Maas is the master of transitioning relationships. I will say that Chaol redeemed himself a little bit through seeing him work through some of his past mistakes, decisions he's made, and things he's experienced.

I can't discuss Chaol without discussing Yrene. I can't pinpoint exactly what it was that nagged me about Yrene but something about her just bugged me. I didn't hate her, but I didn't really fall in love with her character either. I don't know how to explain it. She wasn't hard for me to read or connect to at all really, but something was keeping me from really loving her. ***Highlight for spoiler:*** It definitely bugged me that it took Yrene WEEKS to heal Chaol yet nothing but a moment to heal Duva. I know that arguments could be made that Chaol's injury was physical. I mean he had a broken spine, yet it seemed that the biggest hindrance to his healing was this dark stain within him described as a remnant or an echo of the evil that was directed at him causing his injury. Yet this darkness wasn't alive. But Duva was possessed by a Vlag. This was compared to Hasar having a tapeworm--a parasite. Yet, it just seemed too simple for it to take weeks to heal an echo but a mere moment to evict a demon princess. ***End Spoiler***

I enjoyed the kaghan's family dynamics--at least when it came to the children. The idea of the children needing to compete with each other because none of them know who their father might choose as heir. The tactics each chose to use as their means of competing. It was interesting. I was easily a fan of Kashin and Sartaq. No one was meant to like Arghun. Duva was a non-issue. But Hasar. Ugh, I hated her. First of all, Sarah J Maas includes a gay character in every book, and I'm quite sure I've established how I feel about diversity for diversity's sake. But also Hasar was just a jerk. Yet because she occasionally had some brief moments of redeeming qualities or that she's madly in love with someone who seems like a decent person and if that person can be madly in love with Hasar then surely she's not so bad. I just don't buy it.

I briefly mentioned that I was disappointed that Chaol and Nesryn had such a surface level relationship and that I shouldn't have been surprised. I will say that I loved Nesryn and Sartaq's developments. If Nesryn's story has to move away from Chaol and Adarlan, then I ended up enjoying the direction her story took. I liked just about everything about Sartaq even if he seemed a little naive at times. Sartaq is a leader of the rhuks, and I will say that this area of the story felt a little repetitive to me. Of course, the rhuks are different from the wyverns, and we need an aerial fleet that will be able to combat the wyverns. But the area that they live, the pieces of the book that revolved around flying the wyverns vs rhuks....they were just too similar to me.

Tower of Dawn had a few Mountains out of Molehills moments. These are moments when I feel like I begin to look like a jerk by pointing them out because they can be so briefly mentioned. Yet just the fact that they exist within the story yet don't influence the actual story means the author put them in because of his or her own personal beliefs and not as a reflection of the characters or necessary for story development.

Favorite quotes:

"It is a soul-wound, Yrene. And letting it fester these years...I cannot blame you. But I will hold you accountable if you let it turn into something worse. And I will mourn you for it."

-"The darkness does not want to lose you."

Also a slight pet-peeve spoiler-ish thing I need to discuss. ***Highlight for spoiler: After Yrene loses her temper and pushes Hasar into a pool of water, she's warned by Hasar's lover that it would be best not to be there in the morning when Hasar gets up, Chaol and Yrene decide this is a great time to get it on. All night. Multiple times. In a tent. Really? Do these characters have a brain? Horrible timing even though nothing happens to them. ***End spoiler*** But all of that also leads me to mention that I'm frustrated with Sarah J Maas's continual increase in sexual scenes as well as the level of description. The books didn't start off like this. And while Tower of Dawn certainly doesn't have more scenes or description as say Empire of Storms, but I still feel the need to mention it.

And this is a huge pet peeve of mine even though it is such a small thing. But I hate when an author spends hundreds of pages slowly building a relationship between two characters only for them to decide to be together and one of them cheapens the journey by stating something like this:

"From the moment you walked into the sitting room that first day," {...} said. "I think I knew, even then."

And my last complaint about Tower of Dawn is that sometimes Sarah J Maas includes way too much description. This is exactly how a story that was intended to be a novella turns into 600 pages. I don't need to know the details of every meal the characters eat or intimate description of the city they're exploring in a one time scene meant to be a brief moment in the character's journey together. These elaborate, lengthy descriptions often pulled me out of the story and had me skimming ahead to find the action. I don't need EVERY detail possible. I just need enough for me to develop a picture of the events. Let my own brain fill in the gaps occasionally. Yet this isn't possible if there are no gaps.

I know all of that seems like a lot of complaining. I mean it was really. But in all honesty, I really wanted to keep reading Tower of Dawn to find out what was going to happen. Were Chaol and Nesryn going to be successful and if so in what ways or to what extent? I enjoyed Tower of Dawn much more than I expected to. It just so happened that what did bother me was easily identifiable. And I mean with a 600+ page book, you're opening more doors of opportunity for the reader to find issues. Tower of Dawn gets 4 Stars. Have you read Tower of Dawn? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Blood Heir

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Blood Heir (Blood Heir Trilogy, # 1)

By: Amélie Wen Zhao

Expected Publication: November 19th 2019 by Delacorte Press

496 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retellings

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--This hot debut is the first book in an epic new series about a princess hiding a dark secret and the con man she must trust to clear her name for her father's murder.

In the Cyrilian Empire, Affinites are reviled. Their varied gifts to control the world around them are unnatural—dangerous. And Anastacya Mikhailov, the crown princess, has a terrifying secret. Her deadly Affinity to blood is her curse and the reason she has lived her life hidden behind palace walls.

When Ana’s father, the emperor, is murdered, her world is shattered. Framed as his killer, Ana must flee the palace to save her life. And to clear her name, she must find her father’s murderer on her own. But the Cyrilia beyond the palace walls is far different from the one she thought she knew. Corruption rules the land, and a greater conspiracy is at work—one that threatens the very balance of her world. And there is only one person corrupt enough to help Ana get to its core: Ramson Quicktongue.

A cunning crime lord of the Cyrilian underworld, Ramson has sinister plans—though he might have met his match in Ana. Because in this story, the princess might be the most dangerous player of all.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

All Things Halloween Review - Beasts of the Frozen Sun

Beasts of the Frozen Sun (Frozen Sun Saga, # 1)

By: Jill Criswell

Publication: August 6th 2019 by Blackstone

368 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Burn brightly. Love fiercely. For all else is dust.

Every child of Glasnith learns the last words of Aillira, the god-gifted mortal whose doomed love affair sparked a war of gods and men, and Lira of clan Stone knows the story better than most. As a descendant of Aillira and god-gifted in her own right, she has the power to read people's souls, to see someone's true essence with only a touch of her hand.

When a golden-haired warrior washes up on the shores of her homeland--one of the fearful marauders from the land of the Frozen Sun--Lira helps the wounded man instead of turning him in. After reading his soul, she realizes Reyker is different than his brethren who attack the coasts of Glasnith. He confides in her that he's been cursed with what his people call battle-madness, forced to fight for the warlord known as the Dragon, a powerful tyrant determined to reignite the ancient war that Aillira started.

As Lira and Reyker form a bond forbidden by both their clans, the wrath of the Dragon falls upon them and all of Glasnith, and Lira finds herself facing the same tragic fate as her ancestor. The battle for Lira's life, for Reyker's soul, and for their peoples' freedom has only just begun.

Sigh. Beasts of the Frozen Sun started out so good. It has a Tristan and Isolde vibe to it. Enemies. One injured and nursed back to help by the other. Time spent together. Feelings develop. Forbidden romance. All good, good things. I was so excited to keep reading this book.

Lira is god gifted. She's able to read people's souls. But Reyker is different. She's never experienced a soul like his before. Lira loves her family. But her father has been using her gift and using her in the process. She's faced with two choices: go to live at the temple or get married. She doesn't feel drawn to either path before her. And when Reyker washes up on her shore, everything changes.

Reyker. He's struggling with himself. Who he was, what he believes in, versus what he's done and allowed himself to do in order to survive have him at war with himself. Darkness and light in a constant battle. Lira can see to the core of who he is. She brings the light forth. From a writing standpoint, I struggled with Reyker's character. He's built up as being super strong. A beast, right? He's the Dragon's Sword. He's a weapon. And at times he describes himself as letting a black river take over--almost like he's given over to battle lust and can't be defeated. Yet time and time again, he's bested by those of Lira's people. This isn't even about Draki at this point.

And that leads me to my next point. I was thoroughly enjoying Beasts of the Frozen Sun until about the 4 or 5th time that Lira and/or Reyker was captured and held hostage. These two could never get ahead. They made the tiniest forward movement in their missions. I truly feel like this was a writing flaw. Too many bad things were happening to the characters that it almost leaves the reader without hope for them. And it creates doubt in their abilities. This means that when they ultimately do end up overcoming their obstacles in order to achieve their happily ever after, it's going to feel unrealistic. That after all of these failed attempts to escape, to make an impact, they all of a sudden succeed at what they've been failing at time and time again. I hope that is remedied in the future of the series.

The world-building for Beasts of the Frozen Sun was almost too complex. There are two nations, each with their own histories and gods. The acknowledgments state that Jill Criswell was inspired by George R R Martin. And I can certainly understand how his vast world-building would inspire her to do something similar. Yet his books were no less than 800 pages long, and after 5 books that's 5200 pages (almost). You can do quite a bit more world-building in that amount of pages than you can in 368 pages.

Beasts of the Frozen Sun started out wonderfully to me. Yet the further I read into the story the most disappointed I became. I do think I'll want to read more and finish the series at this point, but the characters had too many failures and setbacks. And the setbacks were basically the same thing over and over again. The characters get captured before they can accomplish much nearly every time they try to move forward. The characters are built up to be larger than life in how they're described, but when push comes to shove they fail over and over. I wanted to see something that would give me cause for hope. In the end, I think Beasts of the Frozen Sun gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Beasts of the Frozen Sun? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 10/20/19

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

Another super busy week. Husband was off work all week, and Little Girl was on fall break until Friday. Monday and Tuesday, it was rainy at our house. We really needed the rain, and we took the opportunity to clean out our garage since there wasn't any other outside stuff Husband could get done. Tuesday night I met a friend for dinner. Tuesday morning I woke up with a sore throat and runny nose, I think due to stirring up all the dirt and dust from the garage. Wednesday afternoon we had family pictures made. I only got to see a few shots on her camera, so I'm really anxious to see how they turned out. We went to dinner and got ice cream for the kids being well behaved. Thursday we took the kids to the pumpkin patch. Apparently we picked their busiest day of the year this year because there were several schools there for field trips. But we had fun anyway. We grabbed lunch on the way home. Friday, Little Girl had to go back to school. I dropped off cookies for her class for her birthday. And Saturday was a normal day with grocery shopping and playing outside. And now today is Little Girl's actual birthday. She's 4 years old, and I can't believe how quickly time is going by. She's incredibly intelligent. She's a little sassy. She's detailed. And a little bit bossy. We love her so much.

My annual "All Things Halloween" event started last Tuesday. This is my month-long event where I feature reviews from Halloween-y genres (fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, sci-fi, horror, mystery, thriller, and suspense). Over the last few years I've had mostly fantasy books as I just haven't been in the mood for much horror, but still...these are books that can get you in the mood for Halloween.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: All Things Halloween Review of The First Girl Child by Amy Harmon (4 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Crescent City (House of Earth and Blood, # 1) by Sarah J Maas

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: All Things Halloween Review of Beasts of the Frozen Sun (Frozen Sun Saga, # 1) by Jill Criswell
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2019 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2019 to sing up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

The Curse of Tenth Grave (Charley Davidson, # 10)

By: Darynda Jones

Publication: June 28th 2016 by St. Martin's Griffin

352 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Humor, Mystery, Supernatural, Paranormal

Source: Borrowed from the e-library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--As a part-time PI and full-time grim reaper, Charley Davidson has asked a lot of questions throughout her life:
Why can I see dead people?
Who is the hot supernatural entity following me?
How do I get gum out of my sister’s hair before she wakes up?

But, “How do I trap not one malevolent god, but three?” was never among them. Until now. And since those gods are on earth to kill her daughter, she has little choice but to track them down, trap them, and cast them from this dimension.

There’s just one problem. One of the three stole her heart a very long time ago. Can the Razer, a god of absolute death and destruction, change his omniscient spots, or will his allegiances lie with his brothers?

Those are just a few of the questions Charley must answer, and quick. Add to that a homeless girl running for her life, an innocent man who’s been charged with murder, and a pendant made from god glass that has the entire supernatural world in an uproar, and Charley has her hands full. If she can manage to take care of the whole world-destroying-gods thing, we’re saved. If not, well…

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Crescent City

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Crescent City (House of Earth and Blood, # 1)

By: Sarah J Maas

Expected Publication: March 3rd 2020 by Bloomsbury Publishing

648 pages

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Half-Fae, half-human Bryce Quinlan loves her life. By day, she works for an antiquities dealer, selling barely legal magical artifacts, and by night, she parties with her friends, savouring every pleasure Lunathion—otherwise known as Crescent City— has to offer. But it all comes crumbling down when a ruthless murder shakes the very foundations of the city—and Bryce’s world.

Two years later, her job has become a dead end, and she now seeks only blissful oblivion in the city’s most notorious nightclubs. But when the murderer attacks again, Bryce finds herself dragged into the investigation and paired with an infamous Fallen angel whose own brutal past haunts his every step.

Hunt Athalar, personal assassin for the Archangels, wants nothing to do with Bryce Quinlan, despite being ordered to protect her. She stands for everything he once rebelled against and seems more interested in partying than solving the murder, no matter how close to home it might hit. But Hunt soon realizes there’s far more to Bryce than meets the eye—and that he’s going to have to find a way to work with her if they want to solve this case.

As Bryce and Hunt race to untangle the mystery, they have no way of knowing the threads they tug ripple through the underbelly of the city, across warring continents, and down to the darkest levels of Hel, where things that have been sleeping for millennia are beginning to stir...

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

All Things Halloween Review - The First Girl Child

The First Girl Child

By: Amy Harmon

Publication: August 20th 2019 by 47North

391 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From ​the New York Times bestselling author comes a breathtaking fantasy of a cursed kingdom, warring clans, and unexpected salvation.

Bayr of Saylok, bastard son of a powerful and jealous chieftain, is haunted by the curse once leveled by his dying mother. Bartered, abandoned, and rarely loved, she plagued the land with her words: From this day forward, there will be no daughters in Saylok.

Raised among the Keepers at Temple Hill, Bayr is gifted with inhuman strength. But he’s also blessed with an all-too-human heart that beats with one purpose: to protect Alba, the first girl child born in nearly two decades and the salvation for a country at risk.

Now the fate of Saylok lies with Alba and Bayr, whose bond grows deeper with every whisper of coming chaos. Charged with battling the enemies of their people, both within and without, Bayr is fueled further by the love of a girl who has defied the scourge of Saylok.

What Bayr and Alba don’t know is that they each threaten the king, a greedy man who built his throne on lies, murder, and betrayal. There is only one way to defend their land from the corruption that has overtaken it. By breaking the curse, they could defeat the king…but they could also destroy themselves.

I already know I'm going to have a hard time reviewing The First Girl Child. Basically here's my thought process throughout the book:

Prologue: "Ugh I hate children prologues." And "Are these the main characters?" To answer that question...no the prologue isn't from the main two characters.

Up to like 50%: "Why are we staying in their childhood so long? I want some juicy romance which is going to be weird because these two are basically like brother and sister."

50-70%: "Things are picking up speed. I've highlighted some good quotes and sections."

70-90%: "Okay so I clearly like this book. Yet I really have missed the deep romance being built."

90-100%: "Well that wrapped up well. I wouldn't mind reading more set in the same world."

Here's the thing, I love romance. It's my favorite part of any story, and it just so happens that the book I finished before The First Girl Child also ended up not having a romance. So I was disappointed back to back. Now let me be clear... There IS a romance (two in fact) in The First Girl Child but neither was the exact focus of the story. And what did happen was a lot of time spent building back story into the two main characters. A separation. And then a sudden jump to a relationship. Much of what could have been explored was left out.

The world-building was exquisite. I could picture the culture, the island, the temple, the characters, and their gods. There was enough of a history to give things a well-rounded feel without it seeming like a history book. I truly hope Amy Harmon returns to this setting in the future.

I loved the greater story here. At times I felt like it was just another "oh poor pitiful women being abused by the all-powerful men in their lives." But that really wasn't what it was about. In an attempt to curse men and prevent women from suffering at the hands of them, all Desdemona did was create more suffering for everyone, specifically, the women continued to suffer more than the men.

Favorite quotes:

-"The gods reward our faith in the face of fear, Bayr. On the other side of fear is triumph."

-"W-when I'm grown, I w-won't b-be a-afraid," Bayr murmmered, hopeful. "You'll still be afraid. But you must do what is right, what you must, despite that fear."

-"...strength without wisdom is dangerous."

-The view, no matter which direction he stood, took Dagmar's breath and added it to the sky.

-...it was easy to confuse responsibility with power.

-But her hate was no match for her love.

-"Is she beautiful?" Dagmar frowned, startled. "I don't know, Master. She is ... frightening. And dirty. And sad. But ... she could be beautiful if ... someone ... loved her."

-The king withdrew the blade once more, and the dead man paid homage to his boots.

-"Life is not kind to women," Ghost sighed. "My sister said the same thing. But life is not especially kind to men either. Life is suffering, and we all suffer." ... "Even amid the suffering, the good is not hard to find"...

I enjoyed The First Girl Child. It was deep, multifaceted, and had great world-building. I didn't want to stop reading, and thankfully I was able to keep reading through most of this book without needing to put it down. I'm afraid frequently needing to take breaks for real life would have severely impacted (for the negative) my experience with this book. As it stands, I was already battling the lack of romantic build-up. This is not the book for you if you're looking for all the warm and fuzzies that come with love stories. The First Girl Child still gets 4 Stars. Have you read The First Girl Child? What did you think? Let me know.

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

Sunday Post - 10/13/19

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

This was a busy week. Tuesday I had a chiropractor appointment. The kids went to Grammy's for the day and my appointment was really fast so I killed it cleaning house when I got home. Folded and put away all the clothes. Deep cleaned our two bathrooms. Vacuumed and mopped all of the floors. Washed the shower curtains and bathroom mats. And I even did a deep look at our finances while watching some old episodes of Grey's Anatomy that I'm behind on. Wednesday I took Little Boy for a haircut. Oh man, I regret that. Not only did she nick his ear causing it to bleed, but she also gapped him TWICE. He looks like she was trying to give him a bowl cut. (Do you guys remember those?) And we're doing family pictures this coming Wednesday so there's that. But I can't fully blame her because he wouldn't be still despite me letting him watch some videos on my phone. Thursday was Husband's birthday. The kids and I went for an early walk, and then because the weather was so nice we played outside for two hours. Little Girl helped me making some cookies for him. My parents took us to dinner for Husband's birthday Thursday night. Friday I had to get groceries instead of Saturday. Saturday we went to Husband's cousin's wedding. So much going on. And we likely won't be slowing down much until New Year's at this point.

My annual "All Things Halloween" event started last Tuesday. This is my month-long event where I feature reviews from Halloween-y genres (fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, sci-fi, horror, mystery, thriller, and suspense). Over the last few years I've had mostly fantasy books as I just haven't been in the mood for much horror, but still...these are books that can get you in the mood for Halloween.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Eighth Grave After Dark (Charley Davidson, # 8) by Darynda Jones (3.5 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Scavenge the Stars (Scavenge the Stars, # 1) by Tara Sim

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: All Things Halloween Review of The First Girl Child by Amy Harmon
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2019 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2019 to sing up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Scavenge the Stars

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Scavenge the Stars (Scavenge the Stars, # 1)

By: Tara Sim

Expected Publication: January 7th 2020 by Disney Hyperion

336 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retellings

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--When Amaya rescues a mysterious stranger from drowning, she fears her rash actions have earned her a longer sentence on the debtor ship where she’s been held captive for years. Instead, the man she saved offers her unimaginable riches and a new identity, setting Amaya on a perilous course through the coastal city-state of Moray, where old-world opulence and desperate gamblers collide. Amaya wants one thing: revenge against the man who ruined her family and stole the life she once had. But the more entangled she becomes in this game of deception—and as her path intertwines with the son of the man she’s plotting to bring down—the more she uncovers about the truth of her past. And the more she realizes she must trust no one…

Packed with high-stakes adventure, romance, and dueling identities, this gender-swapped retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo is the first novel in an epic YA fantasy duology, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Sabaa Tahir, and Leigh Bardugo.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

All Things Halloween Review - Eighth Grave After Dark

Eighth Grave After Dark (Charley Davidson, # 8)

By: Darynda Jones

Publication: May 19th 2015 by St. Martin's Press

293 pages

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Mystery

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--With twelve hellhounds after her, pregnant Charley Davidson takes refuge at the only place she thinks they can’t get to her: the grounds of an abandoned convent. But after months of being cooped up there, Charley is ready to pop. Both metaphorically and literally since she is now roughly the size of a beached whale. Fortunately, a new case has captured her attention, one that involves a murder on the very grounds the team has taken shelter upon. A decades-old murder of the newly-vowed nun she keeps seeing in the shadows is almost enough to pull her out of her doldrums.

Charley’s been forbidden to step foot off the sacred grounds. While the angry hellhounds can’t traverse the consecrated soil, they can lurk just beyond its borders. They have the entire team on edge, especially Reyes. And if Charley didn’t know better, she would swear Reyes is getting sick. He grows hotter with every moment that passes, his heat scorching across her skin every time he’s near, but naturally he swears he’s fine.

While the team searches for clues on the Twelve, Charley just wants answers and is powerless to get them. But the mass of friends they’ve accrued helps. They convince her even more that everyone in her recent life has somehow been drawn to her, as though they were a part of a bigger picture all along. But the good feelings don’t last for long because Charley is about to get the surprise of her crazy, mixed-up, supernatural life….

I had to take a short break between book 7 and this one. But the break didn't stop me from getting into Eighth Grave After Dark almost immediately. I was slightly thrown off by the time jump as all of the previous books are almost immediately one after the other. It's been eight months from where the last book left off. The time jump makes sense as the characters have been stuck on sacred ground for that time and it would be quite the boring book for them to never be able to leave for months. As it was, Eighth Grave After Dark does advance the overall storyline and Charley does have a mystery to solve (even from the safety of the convent). Yet it felt like not much was happening... probably due to the exact fact that Charley couldn't leave the convent.

I mentioned this before, but I love the pop culture references without name dropping. Name dropping always feels as if the author is trying too hard to be current, cool, or trendy. The way Darynda Jones does them is just right.

I've also mentioned this before, but I do get frustrated with the amount of information that's kept from Charley at times. She gets frustrated too. But since this has been going on for several books (or well...all of them) I'm a little beyond this being a plot tool.

I will also say that the alternate dimension pieces have increased and are getting so prevalent that I'm beginning to get a little frustrated. For some reason, this concept is something that I've always struggled with books. I hope that this doesn't cause me to lose interest in the series since I'm known to struggle with this type of thing.

Several things happened at the end of the book that has me excited about what's to come. Ultimately, Eighth Grave After Dark was probably my least favorite of the series so far. I still enjoyed it, but I certainly had more issues with this book than any of the prior ones. Eighth Grave After Dark gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Eighth Grave After Dark? What did you think?

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

Sunday Post - 10/06/19

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

Monday was a pretty normal day. I decorated the house for Halloween which the kids loved when they got up from nap/quiet time. Tuesday I let them put some window cling stickers up for Halloween which they loved too. I thought that would be a great, cheap, and easy way to include them in the decorating process without risking any breakable items. Then I took them to Grammy's house so I could get my hair done. It was a cut and color appointment, and I was there for about 3 hours. That's a long time to be in the chair, but it was nice to just be out and enjoy doing something for myself. Wednesday was again a normal day. Thursday we took Mom and Dad out for dinner for my Dad's birthday. Friday was normal. Saturday was grocery shopping and then we hauled the kids out for shoe shopping. Little Girl is getting to the age where she needs to try her shoes on to see if they're comfortable or not. And I wasn't 100% sure that I was getting the right size for them. Then we took them to get lunch at a place that has an indoor playground. They had a blast. I actually got to read a good bit more than normal on both Friday and Saturday which was super nice. (Be sure to enter my giveaway for Iron Gold linked below!)

My annual "All Things Halloween" event started Tuesday. This is my month-long event where I feature reviews from Halloween-y genres (fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, sci-fi, horror, mystery, thriller, and suspense). Over the last few years I've had mostly fantasy books as I just haven't been in the mood for much horror, but still...these are books that can get you in the mood for Halloween.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: September 2019 EOM Wrap Up
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Igniting Darkness (Courting Darkness Duology, # 2) by Robin LaFevers
Friday 9/27: All Things Halloween Review & Giveaway of Iron Gold (Red Rising, # 4) by Pierce Brown (4 Stars) - Be sure to enter!!!

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: All Things Halloween Review of Eight Grave After Dark (Charley Davidson, # 8) by Darynda Jones
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2019 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2019 to sing up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

All Things Halloween Review & Giveaway - Iron Gold

Iron Gold (Red Rising, # 4)

By: Pierce Brown

Publication: January 16th 2018 by Del Rey Books

480 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--They call him father, liberator, warlord, Reaper. But he feels a boy as he falls toward the pale blue planet, his armor red, his army vast, his heart heavy. It is the tenth year of war and the thirty-second of his life.

A decade ago, Darrow was the hero of the revolution he believed would break the chains of the Society. But the Rising has shattered everything: Instead of peace and freedom, it has brought endless war. Now he must risk everything he has fought for on one last desperate mission. Darrow still believes he can save everyone, but can he save himself?

And throughout the worlds, other destinies entwine with Darrow’s to change his fate forever:

A young Red girl flees tragedy in her refugee camp and achieves for herself a new life she could never have imagined.

An ex-soldier broken by grief is forced to steal the most valuable thing in the galaxy—or pay with his life.

And Lysander au Lune, the heir in exile to the sovereign, wanders the stars with his mentor, Cassius, haunted by the loss of the world that Darrow transformed, and dreaming of what will rise from its ashes.

Red Rising was the story of the end of one universe, and Iron Gold is the story of the creation of a new one. Witness the beginning of a stunning new saga of tragedy and triumph from masterly New York Times bestselling author Pierce Brown.

Oh man! You guys, I am plumb ashamed at how long I put off reading Iron Gold. I really and truly am. Pierce Brown's Red Rising series smashed its way into my all-time favorite series list with the conclusion of Morning Star, which was believed to be the series ender at the time it published. These books have been so, so good, but at the same time, they are weighty. They are deep, complex, beautiful, ugly, sad, hopeful, angry, forgiving, and while I love them, they bleed me dry of my emotions. So after every single release, I've needed time to recover from the previous book. Even while dying to know what was going to happen next, I still needed an emotional break from what I previously devoured. This is one of the only series I've ever needed the entire year (and then some) between releases. I might initially think that's a bad thing, but it really and truly isn't. And that is the only reason why I've put off reading Iron Gold for as long as I have.

Iron Gold is set 10 years into the future from when Morning Star ended. I wish it would have been possible for me to have re-read the first three books before starting Iron Gold because I felt a little lost for the first 25% or so. Names of side characters, events, chronology... All of that just wasn't as fresh in my memory as I would have liked. Getting reacquainted with some old characters took longer than I wanted and caused a little slower of a start than I wanted.

Anytime a series ends and I'm happy with where the characters stand at the end, I struggle with torn feelings over the author choosing to return to the series. On the one hand, I'm excited to return to a world and characters that I love, yet on the other hand, I'm nervous because more books mean more conflict and a new ending that might not leave me as satisfied as the original did. And I'd be lying if I said I didn't wonder about this exact thing in the early chapters of Iron Gold when Brown was establishing the conflict for this book and the rest of the series. But he's seen me through some pretty rough spots already, and I have faith he'll see me through the rest of the series.

I was thrown off to see that Iron Gold features multiple narrators. We have Darrow--as always--and now Lyria, Ephraim, and Lysander also. Each person added a perspective only they could reveal for the different parts of the story and world. I didn't want to read anyone but Darrow in the beginning. Lyria is angry at the republic for the promises that they've failed to keep. She blames them for the deaths of her family members. And really she represents the average Martian citizen. I grew to like her as she grew in her character. Ephraim was easy to hate. I know everyone handles grief differently, but we also all have a choice in how we feel and how we react to the things that happen in our lives. Ephraim plays the victim in a similar way to Lyria, except he has a lot more information and control over things than she does. And he chooses wrong over and over. His pain blinds him entirely and he allows it to be an excuse. I could do without him in future books. Lysander...oh Lysander. I want so badly to like him, to support him. He's actually fairly easy to like. It seems like he's trying to do right, but I believe his ideas on what is right are a bit skewed. But that's kind of a running theme through this series. Right versus wrong and all the gray areas in between. And Darrow...oh Darrow. All I'll say here is that Pierce Brown does a wonderful job placing doubt in the reader's mind. But it's not hard to do so when Darrow doubts himself as well. I have my fingers crossed for Darrow. He's never been the perfect hero, but I can tell you right now that if things go south through these additional books and screws up the ending I was satisfied within Morning Star when it comes to Darrow I'm going to be highly ticked.

Even though I forgot several characters and names, some are unforgettable. Mustang, Sevro, Victra, Pax, Kavax, Holliday, Cassius, and some of the more prominent Howlers were involved as you would expect. I can't say much about any of them without spoiling things that shouldn't be spoiled. I do want to mention that I love how Pierce Brown has some amazingly strong female characters amid his cast of amazingly strong male characters. The strength of one gender doesn't necessitate the weakness of the other. Both equally strong male and female character. Both feminine and masculine. Both emotional and logical. I love these characters. I need more. I'm insatiable.

I do have to say that there were no real surprises for me throughout the story. Every piece that felt like it should have been a twist...I saw coming in some form or other. This was a little disappointing to me because Brown has done such a great job in the past of letting me figure some things out while completely blowing me away with other things.

I also just wanted to say that Pierce Brown incorporates the lack of knowledge very well. Not all the characters are aware of the same information at the same time. Some are still missing crucial information when the book ends. This is something that I respect from George R R Martin's work that's really a great conflict creator.

Another slightly disappointing thing for me was the lack of quotable moments. If you go back to my reviews of the previous books you will see that I had a hard time restraining myself with all of the great quotes. But here are my favorites from Iron Gold:

-"Because when the law is not obeyed, the ground is fertile for tyrants."

-Sharing a life threads more than flesh and blood together. It weaves her memories in and around and through mine.

-My wife is not as fickle as a flame. She is an ocean. I knew from the first that I cannot own her, cannot take her, but I am the only storm that moves her depths and stirs her tides.

-"Do not let fear touch you. Fear is a torrent. The raging river. To fight it is to break and drown. But to stand astride it is to see it, feel it, and use its course for your own whims."

-"I know it may be impossible to believe now, when everything is dark and broken, but you will survive this pain, little one. Pain is a memory. You will live and you will struggle and you will find joy. And you will remember your family from this breath to your dying days, because love does not fade. Love is the stars, and its light carries on long after death."

-"A new wound can take a body. Opening an old one can claim a soul."

-The key to learning, to power, to having the final say in everything, is observation. By all means, be a storm inside, but save your movement and wind till you know your purpose.

Iron Gold was a good start to reopen this series. Yet I found it a little lacking compared to the previous books. I wasn't caught off guard by any twists. The story did hook me once I got past the first 25%. By 50% I was dying to read until I could finish. I truly hope that I can pick up Dark Age pretty soon. Iron Gold gets 4 Stars. Have you read Iron Gold? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

Also, the publisher kindly gifted me a copy of Iron Gold to giveaway to a friend. It was always my intention to give it away here on my blog as I posted my review. Please enter the rafflecopter widget below. (US entries only please. I'm sorry, but I have to pay shipping myself.)

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Can't Wait for Igniting Darkness

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Igniting Darkness (Courting Darkness, # 2)

By: Robin LaFevers

Expected Publication: June 2nd 2020 by HMH Books for Young Readers

496 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From New York Times best-selling author Robin LaFevers comes the follow up to “sharp and breathless” (Kirkus Reviews) historical fantasy Courting Darkness. Set in the world of the beloved His Fair Assassin series, this is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Game of Thrones.

When you count Death as a friend, who can stand as your enemy?

Sybella, novitiate of the convent of Saint Mortain and Death’s vengeance on earth, is still reeling from her God’s own passing, and along with him a guiding hand in her bloody work. But with her sisters on the run from their evil brother and under the watchful eye of her one true friend (and love) at court, the soldier known as Beast, Sybella stands alone as the Duchess of Brittany’s protector.

After months of seeking her out, Sybella has finally made contact with a fellow novitiate of the convent, Genevieve, a mole in the French court. But when Genevieve mistakenly draws the attention of the French king to the convent of Saint Mortain and its deadly arts, she may do her sisters (and herself) more harm than good. Sybella, having already drawn the ire of the French regent, may not be able to depend on her sister and ally as much as she hoped. Still, Death always finds a way, even if it’s not what one expects.

No one can be trusted and the wolves are always waiting in this thrilling conclusion to the Courting Darkness duology, set in the world of Robin’s beloved His Fair Assassins trilogy.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!