Categories
Book Reviews Books

Contest: A High-Octane Thriller Where a Library Turns Into a Deadly Alien Arena

Estimated Reading Time: 5min

I don’t know quite what I was expecting when I went into this story, but it wasn’t what I got.. not really. There was a level of alien that I hadn’t really been considering, and honestly, it had a serious feeling as the characters dealt with high pressure and BIG stakes. While this came out a while ago, being re-released pushed it forward in the reader’s attention, so here we go.

Contest

The New York Public Library. A silent sanctuary of knowledge; a 100-year-old labyrinth of towering bookcases, narrow aisles and long marble hallways. For Doctor Stephen Swain and his daughter, Holly, it is the site of a nightmare. Because for one night this historic building is to be the venue for a contest. A contest in which Swain is to compete – whether he likes it or not.

The rules are simple: Seven contestants will enter, only one will leave.

With his daughter in his arms, Stephen Swain is plunged into a terrifying fight for survival. The stakes are high, the odds brutal. He can choose to run, to hide or to fight – but if he wants to live, he has to win. For in this contest, unless you leave as the victor, you do not leave at all.

Grab the book Here

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Fire, Blood, Death

My Review

I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy this book, especially because from what I could gather from other reviews some of the scenes were a little gory. Having said that, I actually did enjoy it quite a bit. Yes, there were some gruesome descriptions of death, and some pretty frightening descriptions of alien creatures, but all in all it wasn’t too bad. 
It was pretty fast paced, kept you on the edge of your seat, and the stakes were high. Having just read Dungeon Crawler Carl not long ago, this was something in a similar vein and while it did lack the levity that book had, it felt familiar enough for me to go with the flow (especially considering this hasn’t been my normal type of story that I read regularly). 
I thought the plot flowed pretty well, though some of the outside plot points weren’t really explored or explained as well as I would have liked. 
I liked most of the characters fine, but did think the reactions (particularly from a child) to be a little sedate in the light of what they were witnessing. Honestly, the thief from the beginning had the most realistic reaction to me, but everyone else was just… fine? resigned but functioning? hmmm… okay. 

Would I Recommend This Book?

A lean, mean alien fighting machine is how Matthew said it (although my memory might have butchered that slightly). Yes, I would recommend if you don’t mind aliens and some pretty brutal death.

Similar Books You Might Like

If you are thinking what kind of books would have similar feel, themes or content, here is a list that you can consider:

  • Ice Station (Matthew Reilly)
  • The Maze (Nelson DeMille)
  • The Hike (Drew Magary)

See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace

Categories
Book Reviews Books Booktok/Booktube

Cheat Sheet: Friends-to-Lovers Done in a Way That Actually Feels Believable

Estimated Reading Time: 3min

Sports romance that is actually closed door? Almost unheard of on Booktok or online? That’s why this one stands out from the crowd. Banter that hits, a romance you root for, and closed door for all the ‘juicy’ stuff.

The Cheat Sheet

adams

Hi, my name is Bree Camden, and I’m hopelessly in love with my best friend and star quarterback Nathan Donelson (so is half of America, judging by the tabloids and how much the guy dates). The first step is admitting, right? Except, I can never admit it to him because he clearly doesn’t see me that way, and the last thing I want is for things to get weird between us. Nothing but good old-fashioned, no-touching-the-sexiest-man-alive, platonic friendship for us! Everything is exactly how I like it! Yes. Good. (I’m not crying, I’m just peeling an onion.)

Our friendship is going swimmingly until I accidentally spill my beans to a reporter over too much tequila, and now the world seems to think me and Nathan belong together. Oh, and did I mention we have to date publicly for three weeks until after the Super Bowl because we signed a contract with…oops, forgot I can’t tell anyone about that!  Bottom line is, now my best friend is smudging all the lines and acting very un-platonic, and I’m just trying to keep my body from bursting into flames every time he touches me.

Grab the book Here

Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic Attacks, Car Accident
Moderate: Mental Illness, Injury
Minor: Sexual Content, Alcohol

My Review

One of the easiest 5 stars I have ever given a book.
It was cute, funny, swoon worthy, emotional in all the best places, and just plain fun to read.
I loved Bree and Nathan. The fake dating was perfect with the friends to lovers trope. It was just everything I want in a romance book.

Would I Recommend This Book?

Yes. I think while sometimes the line got pretty close in what open and closed door is all about, it maintained that and the bantering and relationship dynamics were a good time.

Similar Books You Might Like

If you are thinking what kind of books would have similar feel, themes or content, here is a list that you can consider:

  • The Friend Zone (Abby Jimenez)
  • Better Than The Movies (Lynn Painter)
  • Dial A For Aunties (Jess Q Sutanto)

See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace

Categories
Writing

What I Learned Writing A Romance Novella In 14 Days

When I set out to try and write a romance novel in 7 days, I didn’t quite know if I was able to do it. I thought I was. I had the outline, I had the determination, and I had the time. Then, I started. If you weren’t sure, or if you didn’t follow along with the challenge, I did technically write the book in 7 days, but for the sake of the quality, I took another 7 to edit and polish what I put out there on Amazon. As I reflect on the experience, I wanted to share some insights into what I learned during this crazy process.

What Worked

Having this challenge up and posting about it every day brought an incredible sense of accountability. I couldn’t slack off, couldn’t put it off for something else, and couldn’t get distracted if I didn’t want to fall flat on my face in front of the internet strangers that were actually watching and hoping I made it. There were so many lovely supportive messages that were given, and my competitive streak absolutely wanted to succeed!

Technically, I DID succeed in writing and releasing the romance book, so that was a huge win.

What Didn’t Work

Everything was extremely rushed. I watched the word count not quite reach the goal, but because of the short deadline, I didn’t have time to sit and decide what, if anything, could be expanded out. If I wanted to make this more of a full length story and shade out the rougher spots, I didn’t have the time. While I did go through it and get the really obvious things fixed, I couldn’t make it the absolute best it could be.

What I’d Never Do Again

While I had fun, it was a great creative experiment, and was technically successful, I would never write a book in 7 days again. I wanted to see if I could, and the heavy and complex writing of a fantasy book had been long, so the process itself was a nice break. It was just not the way to get your best work. There were no beta readers, no feedback (outside of grammar on ProWritingAid) and even then, no chance to really fine tune. For this reason, the short time span on a week would never again be my go to for a book… maybe something else, but not a book.

What Surprised Me

I think part of me was surprised I actually made it, and the other surprise was how much I actually enjoyed it. I wasn’t expecting a short deadline to spur me on with energy, but it did. I managed to actually stay on task and not get distracted. I wish every book came together this way. Having said that, maybe a similar model (though not 7-14 days) might be useful for writing in the future. Editing, however, is another story.

How It Shaped My Approach to Book 2

The experience made me realize that I can write with a quick turnaround, and that was extremely useful information to gather. While I can say confidently that I won’t be doing a book in 7 days this time, I think having a challenge that uses regular online check-ins and accountability might do the trick. While I’ve already started a few chapters of book 2, I think doing another challenge is absolutely worthwhile.

After this experience, I am confident when I say that for a book, 7 days is not the go. It was a rollercoaster whirlwind that I’m happy to leave in the dust. I am so proud of what I accomplished, however, and would do another challenge to get the sequel out there into the world.

See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace

Categories
Book Reviews Books

Hover Car Racer by Matthew Reilly: High-Speed Racing That Reads Like Pure Adrenaline

Estimated Reading Time: 2min

If racing was done in a hover car, this would be like F1 on steroids! Such a fun idea that it drew me in, even with my previous failures at enjoying a Matthew Reilly book, and I’m so glad I gave this one a chance.

Hover Car Racer

In the world of the near future, man travels everywhere in vehicles that hover four feet above the ground. But this brilliant new technology has inspired a super-fast, ultra-competitive sport the likes of which the world has never seen: hover car racing. It’s both dangerous and glamorous, where racers are part fighter pilot, part race-car driver, all superstar. It is the hottest ticket in town.

This is the story of Jason Chaser, a talented young racer who is selected to attend the famed International Race School, the brutal gateway to the Professional Circuit. There he will contest against the best young racers on the planet–on some of the wildest circuits you can imagine–all of them wanting one thing: to graduate from the Race School and get a contract to compete in the big time, the International Pro Circuit.

Grab the book Here

Content Warnings

Graphic: Car Accident
Minor: Sexual Content

My Review

This was fast, fun and full of action and adventure!
I loved the look not just at racing, but racing hover cars at a pro level, with an underdog team. The racing school and all other races were great, I loved the dynamics between characters and racers.
Special place in my heart for The Bug who was a quirky addition to the team, and it was a really fun time all around.
I wasn’t sure if the racing would lose my attention, but because of the hover car element it actually kept it quite well. The way the races were set out and described was fascinating.

Would I Recommend This Book?

Yes. I thought this book was a great adventure, had high stakes and a world that was like watching Cars or F1 if it existed inside Speed Racer.

Similar Books You Might Like

If you are thinking what kind of books would have similar feel, themes or content, here is a list that you can consider:

  • Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
  • Ready Player One (Ernest Cline)
  • The Maze Runner (James Dashner)

See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace

Categories
Book Reviews Book Series Books

The Blonde Identity Duology: A Spy Romance That Doesn’t Take Itself Too Seriously

Estimated Reading Time: 6min

If Jason Bourne were actually a blonde woman that didn’t quite know what was going on, would the story have been different? When another spy who does know who he is shows up, the answers become pretty clear.

The Blonde Identity

It’s the middle of the night in the middle of Paris and a woman just woke up with no memory. She only knows three things for certain:

1. She has a splitting headache.

2. The hottest guy she has (probably) ever seen is standing over her, telling her to run.

And oh yeah…

3. People keep trying to kill her.

She doesn’t know who. Or why. But when she sees footage of herself fighting off a dozen men there’s only one explanation: obviously. . . she’s a spy!  Except, according to Mr. Hot Guy, she’s not. She’s a spy’s identical twin sister. Too bad the only person who knows she’s not the woman they’re looking for is this very grouchy, very sexy, very secret agent who (reluctantly) agrees to help her disappear. Which is easier said than done when a criminal organization wants you dead and every intelligence service in the world wants you caught. 

Luckily, no one is looking for a pair of lovesick newlyweds on their honeymoon. And soon they’re lying their way across Europe—dodging bullets and faking kisses as they race to unravel a deadly conspiracy and clear her sister’s name. But with every secret they uncover, the truth shifts, until she no longer knows who to trust: the twin she can’t remember or the mysterious man she can’t let herself forget…

Grab the book Here

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Gun Violence, Injury
Moderate: Blood, Sexual Content, Murder
Minor: Death of Parent, Cursing, Death

My Review

Hilarious, clever and very well done.
Enjoyed the story and characters a lot. Used to her YA novels and this one had the humour of those, but adult concepts that pushed it to a different level. I’m still deciding if I liked that or not.
Content warning: moderate sexual content, swearing and violence.

The Blonde Who Came In From The Cold

An action-packed, second-chance rom-com about two rival spies who must join forces in order to stay alive, from New York Times bestselling author Ally Carter. Ten years ago, they joined the CIA.  Six years ago, he left the game.  Five years ago, they fell in love.  One year ago, she ran out into the cold with absolutely no intention of ever coming back. And two minutes ago, they woke up, bloody and bruised and handcuffed together in the dark.

They don’t know where they are. They don’t know how they got there. And they have absolutely no idea who is after them or what this nameless, faceless villain wants.  The only thing that’s clear is that, after ten years of covers and chemistry, secrets and lies, these two rival spies have been sucked into their greatest mission yet, and now they’re going to have to team up to stay alive. (If they don’t kill each other first.)

Grab the book Here

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Gun Violence, Injury
Moderate: Death, Death of Parent, Sexual Content
Minor: Pregnancy, Alcohol, Kidnapping

My Review

I enjoyed seeing The spy journey of Alex and King. It has been a long time since since the first book came out, so I basically forgotten everything. For some reason I thought they were the same twin that I was reading about, so I was a bit confused until about halfway when I realised the opposite was true. I didn’t mind The twisty spy type plot. I liked the dynamic between the two main characters, however it did feel a little bit disingenuous. I don’t quite see how they made it from point A to point B. I know what they were like in A, but I didn’t feel like there was enough character work done in the middle for it to get to point B. I understand what was happening where we were going and how they ended up there, but something just felt a little bit… Off. I still love them, I still love where they ended up, don’t get me wrong. It was really fun.

Would I Recommend This Book?

Yes! This was so fun, and for me, better than the original Bourne stories!

Similar Books You Might Like

If you are thinking what kind of books would have similar feel, themes or content, here is a list that you can consider:

  • The Rom-Commers (Katherine Center)
  • The Fixer (Jennifer Lynn-Barnes)
  • Not if I Save You First (Ally Carter)

See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace

Categories
Book Challenges Book Reviews Books

Marie Lu Books I’ve Read: What Makes Her Worlds So Easy to Get Lost In

Sometimes just one series can make you a fan of many other books, that was Legend with Marie Lu for me. I’ve read a few of her books now, so let’s see how they all hold up.

Stars and Smoke

marie lu

Fun ride. Basically like that movie “I Spy” but instead of a boxer, it’s a singer, and instead of a buddy cop drama it’s a romance… sort of.
I actually really liked the story and how they folded in the characters together. Some of it had to suspend my disbelief, but what else is new 😂
There were parts that felt like even in the world of these characters wasn’t realistic or believable. For me, I also felt the flashback memories of the characters pulled me out of the story and slammed me back in just by saying “the memory faded” over and over. I would have liked maybe a smoother way to bring these across.
It was quite witty and I did like the dynamic of the two main characters. I actually appreciated the ending (don’t come for me!) but there was also a bitter sweet feeling across the entire book. Lots of grief and traumatic background to propel the characters forward.

Legend

marie lu

I LOVED Legend.
(The only reason it even took so long to get through was because I was moving, and super busy – otherwise I would have finished it in a day!)

First – the premise.
Loved it. Can’t wait to continue unraveling the mysteries and secrets in the next book.
Second – the world.
It was introduced to the reader in a seamless way. It felt natural, part of the story, no info dumps and was just beautifully done.
Third – the characters.
I found not only the main characters, but the secondary ones as well, so intriguing. I loved all of the interactions, the development, the exploration of each characters stories – just all of it.

The writing style flowed so well, and the story was filled with fascinating turns, dialogue and world building.

Overall, an amazing YA book, and I can’t wait to read more!

Prodigy

I really enjoyed the continuation of this story!

It’s interesting timing for me to pick this book up in 2020/2021… but I’m going to leave that thought right where it is and ignore it for the purposes of this review.

I loved the characters of June and Day in the first book Legend, and they didn’t disappoint in book 2!
There was a beautiful depth to these guys this time around, and like in the first book, we got to see some of them together, and some of them apart.

Being able to see how these characters wrestled with the world shattering news of the first book was fantastic. The more they got to know about the world they thought they knew, the more we got introduced to new elements, characters, and an incredible world that spanned bigger than you ever thought.

I loved the way that Marie Lu went about sharing the world she has built for these characters. It all flowed so seamlessly, and was jam packed with action and adventure as the fight for these characters lives continued.

My mind, and what I thought I knew about this story, was blown over and over. Even though some things you may have suspected along the way, it didn’t matter. Some chapters, I couldn’t even turn the page fast enough.

I am so glad I have the next book ready to go, because I couldn’t imagine having to wait too long for the conclusion.

Champion

What a conclusion!

I am still a little shell shocked writing this review, but I’m going to try and find the right words.

The whole Legend trilogy has been fantastic. So well written, with characters so easy to connect with. The plot was fascinating, the world incredible and easy to be enveloped by.
This final part of the story was the most exciting, dramatic, tense, and jam packed part!

It left me clutching my book until my fingers were white, crying into my pillows, and throwing things around my house!

Worth the read

Rebel

This was a nice way to see some endings for the Legend story line and get an insight into the Antarctica world we saw a glimpse of in the trilogy.
I liked it, but it did feel like an excuse to rewrite the ending of the original story to a more satisfying end.
Overall, it was good, but not as satisfying as the books that came before.

Warcross

I LOVED this book.
It was nice to have a fantasy/dystopian that wasn’t all magic and superpowers, but technology based (that had subtle links to the Legend trilogy – supposedly set way in the future from Warcross).
The characters were great, plot very interesting and unpredictable (for me) and I love Marie’s writing style.

Wildcard

marie lu

Not as good as the first book, but still interesting. Not enough to read right after the first book, but months later.
A bit more techno babble that was skin worthy. I didn’t mind the twists and where the story went. Characters were just as interesting.
Pretty middle of the road.

See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace

Categories
Book Reviews Books

The Will of the Many: A Brutal, Brilliant Academy Fantasy About Power, Loyalty, and Rising Against Empire

Estimated Reading Time: 6min

I honestly didn’t think anything you could write possibly needed to be this many pages (684!), but here we are. After reading this one, I can see now why it was so many pages, however I stand by the fact that this could 100% have been split into more books and have become a reasonable length.. even for fantasy, this felt like a lot. With a steep learning curve, and deep mythology roots (more of which pop out in the second book), this was an interesting ride and mostly fascinating.

The Will of the Many

I tell them my name is Vis Telimus. I tell them I was orphaned after a tragic accident three years ago, and that good fortune alone has led to my acceptance into their most prestigious school. I tell them that once I graduate, I will gladly join the rest of civilized society in allowing my strength, my drive, and my focus—what they call Will—to be leeched away and added to the power of those above me, as millions already do. As all must eventually do.

I tell them that I belong, and they believe me.

But the truth is that I have been sent to the Academy to find answers. To solve a murder. To search for an ancient weapon. To uncover secrets that may tear the Republic apart.

Grab the book Here

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Blood
Moderate: Death of Parent, Suicide, Grief
Minor: Vomit, War, Child Death

My Review

This was a long one. Almost 700 pages long. I honestly thought there was no way a story needed to be that long, but when you consider that there were around 3 different stories crammed into one world, time and setting, it made sense. It was well written, the magic system and world building was very good, and I enjoyed the varying characters. I do think if the books were split into more, rather than cram this much into so few, it would have been easier to consume. Having said that, lots of books out there exist that are longer than this, and it is the first extremely long book I’ve read. 
With a bit of scouting on the follow up book, I’m not sure what to think of where this story is going, but I am intrigued. 

Would I Recommend This Book?

While I DNF’d the second book in this series as it got creepier, I did enjoy this first one. We saw a hint of the creepy pop through towards the end, but most of this book was orphan inside a world with strange abilities goes to a war college/rich prep school and tries to figure out how to survive. If that is something you think you would enjoy, along with vague (and sometimes not so vague) ancient Roman and Greek mythology thrown in and twisted around into something new, this one’s for you. Yes, I would recommend to certain audiences.

Similar Books You Might Like

If you are thinking what kind of books would have similar feel, themes or content, here is a list that you can consider:

  • Red Rising (Pierce Brown)
  • The Poppy War (R.F. Kuang)
  • The Name of the Wind (Patrick Rothfuss)

See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace

Categories
Book Reviews Books

Dungeon Crawler Carl: A Chaotic LitRPG Adventure About Survival, Snark, and the Weirdest Dungeon Ever Built

Estimated Reading Time: 5min

Never did I think that I would find myself reading something like this book… yet here we are. After it exploded online, and was practically everywhere in the bookish spaces, I decided to try it out and BOY am I glad I did. While the rest of the series might be a no for me (I looked into some spoilers and did try to read the next book), this one was so fun and interesting, that I unexpectedly found myself rooting for a cat to win and rule the world!

Dungeon Crawler Carl

dinniman

In a flash, every human-erected construction on Earth–from Buckingham Palace to the tiniest of sheds to all the trucks and cars–collapses in a heap, sinking into the ground. 

The buildings and all the people inside, they’ve all been atomized and transformed into the dungeon: an 18-level labyrinth filled with traps, monsters, and loot. A dungeon so enormous, it circles the entire globe.

Only a few dare venture inside. But once you’re in, you can’t get out. And what’s worse, each level has a time limit. You have but days to find a staircase to the next level down, or it’s game over. In this game, it’s not about your strength or your dexterity. It’s about your views and your followers. It’s about building an audience and killing those goblins with style.

Grab the book Here

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Gore, Death
Moderate: Child Death, Murder, Cursing
Minor: Infidelity, Drug Use, Sexual Content

My Review

Ridiculous, horrendous, hilarious. The idea is so preposterously amazing that I absolutely loved it. Even amongst the dark, very intense moments and ideas, the humour made it enjoyable. Something that would otherwise be horrible, somehow is now incredible. I now officially want a cat to win and rule the world… yup.

Amidst the sometimes dark and grisly reality of the new world for whoever is left, there manages to be levity and absurdity that draws you in. The group of old aged people just trying to make it, the trolls and various creatures trying to kill everyone, and the mysterious game runners and levels that we just want as many humans to live through as possible. Although, once you’re on level three, you can change your species and man, do some of them choose that route.

What a fun and different genre that I would never have considered, but am glad that I experienced.

Would I Recommend This Book?

Yes, I would recommend this book if you don’t mind a bit of gore, a bit of alien and a little touch of talking cat. While I would say an adult audience is certainly needed, this one is fun and a little zany, so if that’s your thing, have at it!

Similar Books You Might Like

If you are thinking what kind of books would have similar feel, themes or content, here is a list that you can consider:

  • He Who Fights with Monsters (Shirtaloon)
  • The Land: Founding (Aleron Kong)
  • Awaken Online (Travis Bagwell)

See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace