Rant & Rave- Contest of Queens by Jordan H. Bartlett

Hi All! I'm checking in with another two books under my belt- Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone from Last month's Owlcrate box and Contest of Queens by Jordan H. Bartlett. I'll be brief with my thoughts on Lakesedge. I loved the gothic vibe of this novel. It was dark, but in a beautiful way. The sections about the corruptiuon shift from a realistic writing style to a flowing, poetic writing style. While I typically enjoyed this secondary style, Clipstone had a tendency to repeat herself in these sections, which felt almost lazy to me (even though I'm sure the point was to emphasize the repeated adjectives). My biggest complaint about the book was that I wish it had ended exactly one chapter earlier. It would have left more to the reader's imagination, and, in my opinion, concluded the book at a more appropriate point in the story. Today's Rant & Rave will be on a book coming out next January (2022)-Contest of Queens by Jordan H. Bartlett. I was honored to be able to read and review the book early, as well as email back and forth directly with author Jordan H. Bartlett. She even answered a few interview questions for me to put up here on the blog! Contest of Queens takes place in Frea, a world divided into two realms separated by their physical location. The wealthy Upper Realm towers over the poorer Lower Realm. Not surprisingly, the upper echelon of society, such as nobles and royals, reside in the Upper Realm, while everyone else is relegated to the Lower Realm. Passage between the two realms is rare, but when the Queen comes to the Lower Realm for a visit, it is made clear just how unhappy the Lower Realm is with the arrangement. Jacs, the main character of the book lives in the Lower Realm, on her family farm, but is quickly discovered and apprenticed by the master inventor in her village. She uses the knowledge acquired there to begin a relationship with Connor, an Upperite boy who sent a message over a waterfall and on to the Lower Realm in a boat. They build their relationship on the back of message-toting ships and hot air baloons over the next few years. Eventually, Jacs realizes that if she wants to prove to the queendom that Frea is better off united, and meet Connor, she will need to make it to the upper realm and win queenship in the contest of queens. So let's Rant... My biggest (and really only) complaint about this book was that it was so predictable. Being able to predict the ending of a book isn't an inherent negative for me, but in this case, it felt like it didn't have much in the way of unpredictable or clever occurances on the path to the ending either. There were definitely plenty of events in the plot, but none of these were unique to this story. It felt like the solutions to each problem were taken from similar situations in other novels. Regardless, the ending and flow of the story were definitely appropriate for the book and its message. To me, this book was closer to a middle grade novel than a young adult novel, given the amount of innocence and lack of skepticism in the main characters. I think it could have been improved as a young adult book with some more instances that break from the optimistic, whimsical nature of the book. And Let's Rave... My favorite part about this book was that Jacs had her priorities straight. As someone who reads quite a bit of young adult books, it is soooo refreshing to see a strong female lead who prioritizes her family, her friends, and her mission above the romantic interest. I really liked the quirky, fantastical atmosphere of the novel. With the clever inventor theme, the literal castle in the sky, Jacs' general optimism, and the development of the relationship between Jacs and Connor, Bartlett really captured and combined some of the best parts of fantasy and steampunk. One of the other things I liked about Contest of Queens is that the contest itself isn't violent. It is a twist on the usual "battle for the throne" trope, and being non-violent allows the book to remain focused on unification, as well as maintain the whimsical air established in the novel. I think it was an excellent choice on the author's part. I wanted to give you guys a little information about Jordan H. Bartlett and her book. Here is a link to her website, where she has links to buy books, an author bio, and some other good stuff, like a collection of fairytales:https://jordanhbartlett.com/ You can buy Contest of Queens (release date in January 2022) from the following link:https://camcatbooks.com/Books/C/Contest-of-Queens Now on to the questions Jordan H. Bartlett was kind enough to answer for us! 1. The only real "magic" in Contest of Queens is scry crystals. Do you picture Frea having magic and magic users, or are scry crystals more like a form of science or invention that has yet to be explained? The only magic elements I wanted to include in Frea were the scry crystals and the Griffins. With both we have seen a fraction of their potential in the first novel and their uses (and abuses) will definitely be explored in later novels. I wouldn't necessarily call the crystals a scientific invention, but because Jacs is very science minded, they will likely be explored in a more scientific manner (to align with how she views the world). 2. We saw some of your thoughts on women versus men in power throughout the book. Have you found that, as female representation in government in the real world continues to increase, your ideas have been realistic? I hope so! I definitely drew from real female rulers and researched matriarchal societies for inspiration, but I think too that, since my world doesn't have foundation in a patriarchy, I feel I wasn't tethered by it, whereas females in power in our world still very much have to navigate our patriarchal values/systems/prejudices. 3. What is your favorite fairytale (and version, if applicable), and why should we all read it? Oh great question, I love fairy tales in general, and I'm a huge Disney fan. I love both iterations of the little mermaid (Hans Christian Andersen's original and the Disney version). Mostly because both deal with the idea of belonging. I moved around a lot as a kid and often felt like a fish out of water, so I really related to her story. I also love that in both the original and in the Disney version, the mermaid finds a sense of belonging at the end (either with the spirits of the sky, or in the human world with the blessing of her family). However, while I love fairytales, some of the messages in the originals about gender and love are a bit outdated (obviously, they were written for a different time) so I recently published a collection of 9 fairytales titled, The Rose Petal Princess, that I'm really proud of and that I hope is a bit more relatable for the modern reader (more information on my website). Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, Jordan! Thanks for reading, and, as always feel free to comment your thoughts on the books or on my evaluations below- I love hearing from you guys! Dana

Rant & Rave- A Measure of Serenity by Bryan Prosek

Hi all! I'm still pretty busy, between work and coaching youth cheerleading, but I wanted to pop on and check in on my reading progress. I've now finished the first three books of the Three Dark Crowns series, as well as Sisters of the Snake, This Poison Heart, and A Lesson in Vengeance from Owlcrate boxes, The Secret of the Green Anole from Paper Raven Books, Ink Iron and Glass, and The Beautiful. I won't be doing a full Rant & Rave for these books, but I will give a quick comment for each. For the Three Dark Crowns Series, I'm still really enjoying the characters, and think the books and plot are fast paced and interesting. I did, however, feel like the plot of the third book kind of came out of nowhere. Sisters of the Snake was okay in terms of characters, but I felt like the history and lore wasn't as well thought out (or at least as well depicted) as it could have been. This Poison Heart is my personal favorite Owlcrate so far. With the combination of likable characters, some awesome magic, and a topic I really enjoy (potions and poisons), I couldn't put it down! I also absolutely loved A Lesson in Vengeance- the way it had me second guessing myself throughout the book was amazing. You can tell it was written by a psychologist. The Secret of the Green Anole was my favorite Paper Raven book so far. (It's also great for spooky season!) As for Ink, Iron and Glass, I think the world is creative and fun to learn about. The one complaint I had was that it felt a little juvenile for a young adult book, at least to me. I'll be honest- I bought The Beautiful because I liked the cover of its sequel, The Damned. It has an excellent setting, that I wish was utilized more in the plot and described in more detail, especially with the beautiful, poetic writing style featured in the novel. I thought the romance was hit-or-miss. Some parts had me swooning and others felt forced to me. The plot was mediocre, in my opinion, although I liked the ending. Today's Rant & Rave will be on a book coming out next month- A Measure of Serenity by Bryan Prosek. I was honored to be able to read and review the book early, as well as email back and forth directly with author Bryan Prosek. I even got to ask him a few questions to put here on the blog! A Measure of Serenity follows Serenity Ashdown, a neurodivergent eighteen year old senior at Harvard University. Her father has been conducting secretive government research for years, and one day, while searching for her father in his lab, she falls through a portal to an alternate universe. She quickly discovers that many things on this Earth are different, including constant war and the complete annihilation of the planet's resources. Serenity is swiftly caught by the government in this new world, dubbed "the Feds" by Resistance members, but she changes hands again and ends up with the Resistance. While with the Resistance, Serenity finally figures out the whole story- that the government wants to invade her Earth for resources, and decides to help them with their mission to overthrow the Feds and close the portal between worlds for good. So Let's Rant... I felt like the overarching theme (main character stands up to a much stronger government) was lacking in ingenuity. The surface level plot of Serenity and her activities was interesting and engaging, but I wish there was some kind of spin on the overarching theme to help it stand out against all the other books with that theme (especially within the sci-fi category). I would have liked to see the true motivations for the Feds, past all the excuses they give Serenity. There are people in this world (and parallel universes, I'm sure) that are just plain evil and only want power, but they are few and far between. Sure, one can argue that there's only a few evil high-up Feds and everyone else are just following orders, but I still feel like the reader could use a little more context , even if they are going to end up siding with the Resistance anyways. And Let's Rave... I loved the ending. No spoilers, of course, but I thought the ending fit the book well and left some important things to the reader's imagination. I felt like the characters, Serenity and side characters alike, were realistic. They had dreams, they had motivating backstories, and they had unique personalities. I think the writing style was concise and easy-to-follow. It wasn't poetically written or filled with advanced vocabulary, but it was appropriate for the average young adult sci-fi reader. I wanted to give you guys a little information about Bryan Prosek and his books. Here is a link to his website, where he has links to buy books, an author bio, and some other good stuff:https://bryankprosek.com You can buy A Measure of Serenity (release date November 2nd) from the following link:https://camcatbooks.com/Books/A/A-Measure-of-Serenity Now on to the questions Bryan Prosek was kind enough to answer for us! 1. Do you think that the "other" Serenity could have advocated for peace, given everything that had happened to her? No, I don’t think the other Serenity could have advocated for peace. Like you said, with everything she saw and had been through, I think her heart would have become too cold to be willing to accept peace short of wiping out the feds. That was an advantage that our Serenity had over the other Serenity. Our Serenity had been hurt by the feds, but not like the other Serenity had been. Also, our Serenity’s personality was better suited to advocate for peace. I don’t think peace would have even been in the other Serenity’s vocabulary. 2. In your opinion, would discovering that there are parallel universes be good or bad for humanity? Very good question. I think it could go either way, but for the most part, I think it would be good. Of course, the discovery of a parallel universe bent on invading our universe would not be good. But otherwise, if the new universes were thriving more than ours, they might be able to provide some technology or discipline that would help our universe. And if the new universes were in worse shape than ours, then people here could realize how good they have it. 3. What's your favorite book, and why should we all read it? This is a tough one. I would say my favorite young adult book (since I write young adult) is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. You should read it because it has a little bit of everything. It touches on many young adult tropes (love triangle, enemies to lovers, etc.), and it has action, romance, and of course teens having to deal with some very serious issues (kill or be killed). My favorite overall book is Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz. You should read it because it dives so deep into the protagonist’s mind that you actually feel like you have become him. Gregg’s writing is superb. He develops his characters and the plot masterfully and pulls you right into the story. What wonderful insight! Thanks for reading, and, as always feel free to comment your thoughts on the books or on my evaluations below- I love hearing from you guys! Dana

Rant & Rave- Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake AND The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson AND Power of Four: Island of Exiles by Seven Borup

 Hello All! 

Sorry for the radio silence this past month. I've been extra busy at work with the paving season in full swing and a small promotion, but I did manage to finish three books! Today's Rant & Rave will include Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake, The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson, and Power of Four: Island of Exiles by Seven Borup.  Since this post will be WAAAAYYY too long if I don't cut it short, I'm going to do one rant and one rave for each book.  (I could probably write a super long Rant & Rave just about Three Dark Crowns, so please comment and discuss it with me!)

Three Dark Crowns follows three magical queens vying for the same crown in a yearlong battle to the death.  This is the first book in the series and mostly takes place before the fighting starts.  This book focuses on worldbuilding and getting to know the three queens- Katherine, Arsinoe, and Mirabella.  Katherine is a demure poisoner.  Poisoners can eat poison without getting sick or dying, and have held power on the island of Fennbirn for quite a while at the time of the book, though Katherine shows little potential as a poisoner.  Arsinoe is a determined naturalist. Naturalists have a way with plants and wildlife, and usually have an animal familiar, though Arsinoe has yet to show any sign of a familiar.  Mirabella is a kindhearted elemental. She can control storms and elements to her whims, and is a favorite to win the yearlong battle, but she doesn't want to hurt the sisters she remembers from early childhood.  

The Year of the Witching follows Imanuelle, a young woman living in a puritanical society as it suffers through four plagues- blood, blight, darkness, and slaughter.  Imanuelle discovers that there is much more to the history of Bethel, and the story of her witch mother, than the church is letting on, and she struggles to find the key to breaking the cycle of plagues before it's too late for herself, her family, and all of Bethel.  

The main character of Power of Four: Island of Exiles is Deerface, a young rabbit just coming into colony life.  The colony is comprised of patrollers, who fight off threats to the colony, collectors, who gather the colony's food, Healers, who aid the injured and sick, and messengers, who act as the main line of communication within the colony and its land.  Deerface is disappointed to be chosen as a messenger, but quickly learns that his job is very important.  When he and his teacher go to far into the woods one day, Deerface meets his father, an exile of the colony.  It seems that Deerface's father has banded the exiles together, and is now their leader.  As would be expected, Deerface has some conflicted feelings and difficult decisions to make.  

First the raves:

Three Dark Crowns does an excellent job of making the reader like all three queens.  Throughout the book,  I cheered for each queen at some point, leaving me conflicted about who I really want to see become queen in the end.  Luckily, I don't have to choose just yet. 

Throughout The Year of the Witching, there are not-so-subtle statements fighting racism, sexism, classism, and the hypocrisy of religion. The entire novel is a thinly veiled look at issues prevalent in our society. (It even feels more like a historical fiction book than a fantasy book!)  Imanuelle's conflict, between her upbringing and the problems she sees within the church, is eerily relatable, and not in a way that makes me proud to be a member of American society.  However, I loved that about this book.  It really made me think about society, how it needs to change, and how I can make those changes happen.

In the first Power of Four book, I really liked the way the rabbit society was set up.  It was organized, but not sophisticated.  I felt like this was a good representation of what I expect from rabbits.

And the rants: 

Three Dark Crowns has an ending that is supposed to be a bit of a twist, but I think it was extremely predictable.  (There's two surprises, actually, but one is more unexpected, and therefore nothing to rant about.) The way the book was set up, along with some other factors, really gave it away for me.  That's all I can say without spoilers, but feel free to let me know what you thought if you read the book!

As for The Year of the Witching- the threat level in this book didn't seem very high.  The description made the book seem very doom and gloom-y, but as I was reading, I almost never felt like the main character was in any danger.  This took a lot away from the book, in my opinion.  

Power of Four: Island of Exiles is another Paper Raven book I felt was a little immature for adult audiences, but it also has some content that is questionable for younger children.  This gives it a pretty small audience range of about 11-16 years old.

Up next will be my June Owlcrate book, which was a little late getting here, Sisters of the Snake by Sarena and Sasha Nanua.  As always, feel free to comment and share my blog with other fantasy lovers!

Dana

Rant & Rave- The Ones We're Meant to Find by Joan He

 Hi All!

This is my Rant & Rave for The Ones We're Meant to Find by Joan He.  This was the latest Owlcrate book, though I got a bit of a late start on this one.

The Ones We're Meant to Find follows two very different main characters- Cee, a free-spirited woman trapped on a long-forgotten island with a robot and faint memories of her sister, and Kasey, a reformed criminal science genius dealing with the loss of both science and her sister.  The book takes place in an apocalyptic post-climate crisis world.  Through Cee's story, we see the destroyed world as we know it, and through Casey's, we see a novel science-based way of living.  Both stories are captivating in their own way, and all I can say about the book as a whole is "wow!"

So let's rave!

The twist in this book- amazing!  It was perfectly hinted at in a way that still leaves you dumbfounded when you figure it out.  I kept asking myself "how did I miss this, there were so many hints?"  The answer, of course, is that the hints were subtle and a little confusing until everything clicks into place. Joan He does an excellent job both concealing and finally revealing the twist in the book.  Is she planning to switch to mysteries anytime soon?  (I hope not, because I don't really read mysteries!)

The book flows nicely.  It's almost like reading poetry in two very different styles- Cee's chapters are emotional, passionate, and social, while Kasey's are thought-provoking and filled with world-building and problem solving.  However, throughout both chapters, Joan He's beautifully flowing authorial voice shines through.  

And my (admittedly scant) rant:

I really wanted to jump into every detail of this world.  Joan He does a good job of limiting what information the reader needs, but I almost felt like it was a little too limited.  Yes, it provided what was necessary for the book, but I think that a little more about Kasey's world in particular might have added to the flavor of the book, and made the world itself as memorable as the plot.  

Overall, I think this book takes the top spot of all the Owlcrate books I've gotten so far.  (Sorry Sweet and Bitter Magic; I loved your characters more, but the plot of this one is just TOO good.)  I don't really think a sequel to this book would be worthwhile, but I will certainly be following Joan He's career and checking out future books.  I might decide to do a more elaborate review of this book with spoilers sometime soon, but I don't want to make any promises yet.  

Up next is Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake. A friend recommended it to me and I can see why! It has all the dark fantasy, magic, and courtly intrigue I could ask for.  As always, feel free to leave comments about the book or my thoughts on the book in the comments!

Dana

Rant & Rave- The Seventh World: Search for the Lost Keeper Book One by A.S McMillen

 Hello Everyone!

I'm back with my Rant & Rave for The Seventh World: Search for the Lost Keeper (Book One) by A.S McMillen.  This is the second book I'm reviewing for Paper Raven Books.

This book follows Evie, starting with her time in an orphanage, through her adoption, until a little after her 16th birthday.  Evie, as it turns out, is a descendant of Magnus (who features in the prologue), a great man, who knows the truth about Earth and the many galaxies, and was working to protect them.  Evie starts to learn the truth during a heritage trip to Ireland, where she meets another descendant of Magnus.  Her new friend helps Evie discover her true potential, as a savior of Earth and the rest of the Devas galaxy.  

So lets rave:

The writing in the book is straightforward and easy to follow.  I found myself getting lost in Evie's world after only a few seconds, and, at times, had a hard time pulling myself out of the rich fantasy world.  The vocabulary is not exceptional, but the use of everyday language adds to the ease of transition into the book. 

While the worldbuilding itself was nothing special (although it was unique), each part was well-described and left just the right amount to the reader's imagination.  A.S. McMillen does an excellent job of weaving the necessary descriptions into the plot without creating blocks of solely description.  Both as an avid reader and as someone that struggles with writing like this myself, I can appreciate when it's done right.

This novel is excellent for preteen and teenage readers, as well as adults that want a read with less intellectual strain.  My last book involved a lot of focus and thinking to understand the plot and repercussions of each character's actions.  The Seventh World doesn't take as much mental energy to get through, and is therefore a more versatile book.  I can pick it up without having to carve aside tons of time to dedicate to its pages.  

On to the ranting:

So this is related to my last rave comment, but sometimes the plot felt overexplained. While McMillen does a great job describing people and places, she sometimes uses Evie's thought process to "dumb down" the plot for the reader.  There is a thin line to tread here- the plot is elaborate and designed to take place over several books, so it's complicated- but I think it could have been explained less and still been sufficient.  At the very least, leave some room for the reader to brainstorm their own ideas about what is going on before explaining.  

Evie's thoughts seem elementary for her age.  I didn't notice much mental development between young, recently adopted Evie, and sixteen year old Evie.  Her thoughts don't seem any more elaborate, and her emotions are very defined, which also adds to the perception that Evie isn't a fully developed 16 year old character. It's possible that this is done to maintain her "innocent" image (which is pertinent to the plot), but, in my opinion, she can be innocent without sterilizing her thoughts and emotions of all hints of teenage behavior. 

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and, like I mentioned, it was a good mental break after my last novel.  I will certainly read (and review) the sequel at some point.  I think A.S. McMillen is a promising new author, and I'll certainly look into any books she puts out in the future.  

My next book will be another Owlcrate book, The Ones We're Meant to Find, by Joan He. Remember to let me know if you'd like to be added to the email address list and get content notifications in the future!

Thanks for reading and, as always, let me know what you thought of the book or my review in the comments!

Dana

Rant & Rave- Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart

 Hello Everyone!

It's that time again- this time I'll be reviewing Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart.  This was another Owlcrate book, from their rivals-themed box. This book took me over two weeks to read, but was definitely worth it!

Witches Steeped in Gold follows Jazmyne Cariot and Iraya Adair.  Both rulers by birth, they vie for the same throne.  Jazmyne is the daughter of the current ruler of Aiyca, the doyenne, but is frustrated by her mother's practices.  Countless times, her mother has sacrificed her fellow Alumbrar order members (including Jazmyne's sister) for reasons Jazmyne sees as unnecessary.  Iraya is the daughter of the previous rulers of Aiyca, killed by the current leaders in a brutal takeover. She was recently freed from prison, and seeks revenge, as well as to help her order, the Obeah.  However different they may be, Jazmyne and Iraya understand each other's value in bringing down the current doyenne, and enter an unlikely, and admittedly unfriendly, alliance. 

So let's get to the raving!

First, I loved how well-woven the relationship between politics and emotion was in this book.  Ciannon Smart illustrated this through the use of two main characters at opposite ends of both the emotional and the political spectrum. In the novel, we see time and time again how emotion influences political decisions, and the less obvious vice versa.  

Both Iraya and Jazmyne are fully realized characters, and make understandable decisions based on their emotions and knowledge.  The places where their duality were most obvious were when each character reached a crossroads and had to make a decision.  You could tell that they were heavily influenced by the beliefs and customs of their own order.  In a way, they both fit a typical fantasy novel protagonist (Jazmyne the enterprising revolutionary, Iraya the passionate orphan seeking revenge).  You find yourself rooting for both characters at different points in the book, and conflicted feelings abound.  

The language used in this book is a step up from most other young adult novels I've read.  This was a pleasant surprise, but it did periodically slow my reading speed a bit.

And the ranting:

One of the biggest problems I had with this book (and the reason it took so long to read) was the use of made up words.  I read a lot of fantasy- I know that made-up words come with the territory- but it's taken to a new level in this book.  Some made up words appear to have a dual meaning, and others are briefly described once and then not used again for another hundred pages.  I found myself having to go back and look up words multiple times.  I honestly like made up words.  I think they can add to the worldbuilding and give character to a novel.  However, even I have a limit to the amount of made up words I can handle in a book, and this novel exceeds it.

I thought the systems of magic in this book were hard to follow.  What little description there was, it seemed like it was spread out over the entire book.  I would read one piece of information, but then wouldn't learn anything else about it until much later.  I think that both this and the problem above had to do with the writing style of the book.  I'm sure it was designed to create intrigue, but instead it created confusion, at least for me.  

This one is more of a suggestion than a rant, but I wish I had known more about island culture when I read this.  As it stands, I know very little about Jamaican culture and history.  I think that I missed some subtle references I might have really appreciated by not knowing this information beforehand.  Obviously this is nothing wrong with the book, just my own lack of knowledge.

So those are my opinions on Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart.  I'm very interested to see what comes next for Iraya and Jazmyne.  The book was clearly designed with a sequel or series in mind, and I will definitely pick up the next book when it comes out.  Hopefully it will clear up some of the confusion I had with the magic systems and language, and add more to this dramatic plot.  In the meantime, I'll read up on island culture and daydream about visiting Jamaica!

A reminder for those of you reading this on email- this feature will no longer be available in a couple months.  Please reach out if you'd like to continue reading my reviews.  If you leave your email in the comments, I'll add it to my list and promptly delete the comment.  If you know me personally, message me with your email address (or just tell it to me) so I can put it on my list.

My next Rant & Rave will be for The Seventh World: Search for the Lost Keeper, another book I'll be reviewing for Paper Raven Books!  Thanks for reading, and don't forget to let me know what you thought in the comments!

Dana

Rant & Rave- Grave Importance by Vivian Shaw

 Hello everyone! 

You've made your way to my Rant & Rave for Grave Importance by Vivian Shaw.  

Grave Importance is the third book in the Dr. Greta Helsing series. Check out my previous post about the series for information on the first two books, but beware- there's spoilers. Dr. Greta Helsing is a doctor for all manner of supernatural beings- ghouls, vampires, vampyres (there's a difference), demons, mummies, banshees, etc.  In the third installment of her adventures, she is asked to take a temporary medical director position at a luxurious medical spa and resort for mummies. She discovers that something strange has been causing bouts of fatigue and dizziness in her mummy patients.  Needless to say, there's more going on than meets the eye. 

So let's rave:

I loved the way Vivian Shaw weaved multiple plotlines together to provide a seamless story.  Like her second book, I thought this book brought the plotlines together well.  I still prefer the story of the second book, but, in my opinion, this novel does a better job of hinting at relationships between different viewpoints.

I loved the inclusion of some actual medicine and Egyptian culture in this book.  It felt more like a dive into the day-to-day of a supernatural doctor, which is why I chose the series to begin with.  It connected the dots between magic, in this case based on Ancient Egyptian culture, and modern medicine.  This bridged a gap that, until this book, was kind of overlooked.  

And some ranting:

Similar to the first book, I feel like the resolution of the story was a little too "out of nowhere."  It felt almost like Greta got herself into something that was too big for her to solve, so Vivian Shaw wrote a cop out for her to get out of it.  I can't really elaborate on this without major spoilers, but if you read the books, I think you'll agree with this part of my assessment.

I like the voice of this book.  It's rational and evaluative, but snarky, with some humor thrown in.  I know, this isn't ranting, but bear with me.  I've found that this is hit or miss with readers of the series.  Here's the real ranting- I wish that the voice varied a little more between characters.  It felt obvious to me that all the characters were penned by the same person.   

And some final announcements:

My next book will be Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart.  This book comes from my rival-themed Owlcrate box.  These boxes are always an exciting part of my month! There is rarely more than one item in the box that I don't use or enjoy in some way, which was a reservation I had about getting the boxes, and I highly recommend them (and no, they aren't paying me to say that). 

A friend of mine from my time in the Peace Corps, Danielle Timmons, just published a memoir called God, Love and Mototaxis. I've read it and, with the exception of a few grammatical errors, it's a good, fast read.  It's available on Amazon for anyone that's interested in supporting her on her latest venture. 

If you are getting notifications for this blog via email, you will stop receiving email notifications for new content in July.  Since I'm not particularly tech savvy, I can't figure out how to export your email addresses to a list I can use to continue sending emails.  If you'd like to continue receiving emails, please let me know your email address, either in the comments section or in person.  Once your address has been added to the list, I will delete the comment, so don't worry about it being online forever.

Dana