Month: May 2022

Posted in Book Review

Review of Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead by Elle Cosimano

Posted on by writingkat95

The Hook:

Our favorite mystery writer Finlay is back again, getting into even more shenanigans in the seedy world of contract killers. This time, she must unearth the identity of the person who has taken out a hit on her ex-husband. Before long, she finds herself in a high stakes game of cat and mouse with the assassin stalking her ex, and she’ll have to dig deep to decide what to do about all the peril he’s in.

My Impressions:

I could literally talk for hours about the Finlay Donovan books, which are undoubtably some of my favorite books in the entire mystery genre. The protagonist is extremely likable and fun to root for, the side characters are all memorable and enjoyable to read about, and the suspense is balanced perfectly with humor. I laughed so hard at times while reading this that I’m told my shrieks could be easily heard from across the house.

In a time when so much media strives to be dark and broody and to “subvert audience expectations” by pulling out increasingly alienating plot twists and shocking character deaths, books like this are truly a breath of fresh air. Cosimano’s writing style feels welcoming, as if the book is meant to take the reader by the hand and lead them on a fun, suspenseful journey with beloved characters.

I honestly loved every minute of this book, and will be reading it again whenever I need a pick-me-up or a reminder of what excellent foreshadowing and tight plotting can accomplish. Every single delicious beat of this book is constructed with a love of the genre and a level of respect and affection for the readers that is in a league of it’s own.

If you’ve read this book already, feel free to leave a comment discussing it, as I’d love to hear what other readers liked most about the story.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review of A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw

Posted on by writingkat95

The Hook:

Travis Wren is hired to use his peculiar talent for finding people to locate missing children’s book author Maggie St. James. In the process of searching for her, he finds a place many believed to be merely a legend.

My Impressions:

This has to be the most unique take on cults that I’ve seen, and the overall effect is enthralling and chilling. The way the separate timelines tie together, the carefully plotted out twists and lush storytelling all come together to make this book impossible to put down.

If you’re looking for a deeply atmospheric book that will pull you under and refuse to let you go long after you’ve stopped reading, this is it. I particularly enjoyed the complicated feelings all the characters have toward each other, their surroundings, and even their own sense of self. Each character felt vividly real, fully fleshed out on the page.

I highly recommend this captivating read for anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle of real life this spring- just don’t be surprised if you lose several hours without noticing, too sucked in to even look up from the page. For an even more immersive reading experience, check out the audiobook, which is phenomenally voice acted.

If you’ve already read this one, feel free to leave a comment about your favorite things about the book.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review of Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

Posted on by writingkat95

The Hook:

In this mecha sci-fi fantasy novel, protagonist Zetian sets out on a quest of vengeance against one of the top mecha pilots and gets more than she bargains for. Soon, she finds herself known- and feared- as an Iron Widow. In this unexpected position, she has a behind-the-scenes view of the misogynist pilot system, and it’s up to her to find a way to change it.

My Impressions:

Admittedly when I saw this book being described as “Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid’s Tale,” I honestly expected it to be a huge bummer. It’s hard to take on topics like systemic sexism without draining all the enjoyment out of a book, but Zhao manages it. This book was shockingly fun despite the serious subject matter, seamlessly blending moments of high action with heavy emotional scenes.

The protagonist is incredibly fun to root for, enjoyable to see on the page in a way that deepens the overall experience of reading. In a lot of high stakes sci-fi and fantasy, protagonists can get a bit interchangeable, and Zhao has managed to avoid this entirely with Zetian, who is frankly unforgettable. Even the villains in this book are the kind you love to hate, rather than the sort you endure every mention of with stoic exhaustion.

If you’re looking for a fantastic YA/NA crossover with memorable characters, excellent world-building, and knife-sharp wit, this is your next read, hands down. If you’ve already read this one, feel free to hop into the comments and discuss.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review of Cackle by Rachel Harrison

Posted on by writingkat95

The Hook:

In this horror-comedy, mild mannered Annie moves to a small village in upstate New York after a heartbreak and finds herself swept away by a bold woman named Sophie. Sophie encourages her to live more unapologetically, and Annie is drawn deeper into Sophie’s life despite a nagging worry that the older woman is more than what she seems.

My Impressions:

Despite the cover of the book, I was surprised by how much screen time was dedicated to spiders. If you’re easily unnerved by detailed descriptions of eight-legged beasties, you may want to skim over some sections of this book.

Now that that warning is out of the way, this was a truly delightful book. It felt cozy and funny, while still featuring some truly hair-raising scares. If you’re looking for something that feels like a Hallmark movie slowly turning into a surreal nightmare more befitting of a Gaiman book, this is absolutely the read for you.

I laughed, I shuddered, this book gave me goosebumps. Also, not to veer too close to spoiling the ending, but this book managed to give me one of those excellent moments where just as I’m thinking the protagonist should stop being nice and just [REDACTED] that very thing immediately happens. Loved it, unabashedly.

If you’re looking for something with fall vibes to take your mind off the humid late spring weather this May, I highly recommend picking this book up. For those who have already read it, feel free to talk about it in the comments and share your thoughts.

Happy reading!