Review: The Festival of Hungry Ghosts by Stephen Frame

~ likelystory18 ~ 2 Comments

Synopsis:

He was a big bad wolf, and he left Fairyland in 1929 to go work as a private detective in Los Angeles. He’s got a new case he doesn’t want; finding the kidnapped son of a local crime lord. He’s got a new partner he doesn’t trust; a chaotic female gangster who likes dames, booze, and bullets. Those are just the start of his problems. There are monsters in his way. And not all of them are human.

Favorite Lines:

“The love of my family sustains me.”

“She enjoys life too much to be worrying about heaven.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

When I received the request for this book, I thought it sounded really intriguing. A spin off of a classic fairy tale featuring the big bad wolf as a private detective; what’s not to love? This story follows the big bad wolf – or BB – as a private detective in LA and he isn’t as big or bad as the fairy tales make him seem; at least not to those on his good side. From the first paragraph, I knew this was going to be a good read. I felt pulled in by the conversational flow of the writing and was hooked before I knew it.

I thought the premise of this story was really interesting, I enjoyed the plot as well as the creative characters that were brought to life on the page. Frame did a great job at combining culture, fairytales, and a variety of themes in an entertaining tale that had me chuckling throughout.

Summary:

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with this book. Don’t be thrown off or misled by the cover, if you like a twist on classic fairy tales, action, adventure, and/or cop dramas (or in this case private detective dramas), then this book could be for you! Happy reading!

The Festival of Hungry Ghosts

 

Review: Freaks by Tam H. Athot

~ likelystory18 ~ 2 Comments

Synopsis:

“Syranda and magic are an interconnected tree with the same root, with many branches, and beautiful fruits in many shapes and colours.”

 Syranda is a hidden country whose peaceful, democratic system drifting almost unnoticed into dictatorship. An integral part of the people of Syranda are individuals with special skills who have been a great asset to the country’s prosperous development throughout history. But in the last decade something has changed, and democracy has slowly eroded, slipping into dictatorship, led by Angelus, the Minister of Defence. The main pillar of the dictatorship’s construction was the production of an enemy image. Anyone with ability began to be excluded and eventually persecuted.

 Angelus’ daughter Vitu was also born with a special gift, which her father tried to hide from the world. When Vitu became a teenager, she had to face the fact that her father was more concerned with serving the regime and his own ambition than her life, and she too was forced to flee. In her search for a way out, she learned a lot about her abilities, her fellow human beings and herself.

 “Many people think that dictatorship will come suddenly, spectacularly, with a great blare of trumpets and horns, and that everyone will notice it, that one sacred moment when the trumpets blare and the drums beat, and a loudspeaker shouts, “Attention, attention, the dictatorship has arrived, the dictatorship is here, everyone should lock themselves in their houses, because the oppression has arrived, from now on it’s what I, the dictator with the big hat and the red nose, dictate.”

 “The prey within us dies tonight and at dawn the predator will awake along with the sun!”

Favorite Lines:

“The world you live in is more complex and complicated than you think…”

“At that moment, two old, kind-hearted people fell in love again, more than they had many decades before when they first met.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

First, I want to give kudos to Athot. Athot is Hungarian so this book has been translated to English and that in itself is impressive. There were some choppy parts due to the translation but I don’t think it distracted from the overall story. The story follows a teenage girl who has superpowers in a world where those with abilities are persecuted. I thought this was a very unique world and a breath of fresh air from some of the other books that I have read. 

There are some political metaphors throughout this series as Athot uses this book as an outlet and to make a statement on the status of our planet and the direction we seem to be navigating towards so be on the look out for some hidden messages/parallels throughout the series. In addition to those undercurrents, there are also several questions raised including whether evil can be hereditary, how dictatorships come to power, and how people get caught up on the wrong side of things.

Summary:

Overall, I thought this was an interesting idea and Athot brought a vision to life in a creative way. If you like supernatural/fantasy themed books with touches of politics and psychology, then this book could be for you. Happy reading!

Freaks

 

Review: A Chef on Ice by Sebastien JM Kuhn

~ likelystory18 ~ 2 Comments

Synopsis:

Join a talented chef as he embarks on a life-changing journey to Antarctica. From grueling recruitment to months-long expeditions, experience the challenges and triumphs of living and working in one of the most remote places on Earth. With breathtaking landscapes, unexpected connections, and a newfound sense of purpose, this is a story you won’t want to miss. Get ready to be captivated by the adventure, resilience, and inspiration of this unforgettable tale.

Favorite Lines:

Instead of picking quotes, I thought I would pick a couple of the recipes that sounded particularly tasty to me!

  • Original black forest cake
  • 12 hours slow cooked lamb shoulder

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

I will start this review off by saying that if you’re a regular here, you know that this book isn’t one of my usual genre preferences. However, When Kuhn reached out to request a review, I knew I had to read it because it sounded really interesting. Plus, I’m a huge foodie and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to read about a chef and his delicious food. Bonus points to Kuhn for putting some recipes at the end of the book!

This book is an account of Kuhn being recruited to be a chef in Antarctica. It includes a details on his travels to get there, what work and every day life was like in Antarctica, and reflections on the whole experience. Plus, like I mentioned above, there are recipes included at the end. I had never really given much thought to what goes on in Antarctica let alone who worked there and that a chef might be part of the crew. I thought it was a really fascinating read and would recommend it to pretty much anyone!

Summary:

Overall, if you like travel, food, reading about cold regions, and especially if you want to know what daily life at a base camp in Antarctica is like, then this book could be for you. Happy reading!

A Chef on Ice

 

Review: The Happy Ending by Mandy Zundel

~ likelystory18 ~ Leave a comment

Synopsis:

The land of Anvara is a land where fairy tales are real. Because of a powerful spell on the land called the Happy Ending, the same tales are lived over and over again, with a few new additions from time to time. Each of these tales always ends the same way–happily.

Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Sleeping Beauty have begun again, along with a new tale for the land: The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Their courses are set with their endings as sure as their beginnings. Until the Happy Ending breaks.

Confused and frightened, the citizens of Anvara must adjust to a new reality, one where things can go horribly wrong, the familiar tales are not following their usual patterns, and there is no certainty of a happy ending for anyone.

But this is not all. The breaking of the Happy Ending has uncovered a secret that has been waiting to be revealed for thousands of years. And all of this time, Darkness has been waiting for its chance to strike.

Favorite Lines:

“But being cheerful and carefree was not easy.”

“Sighing in frustration, Darya pushed her thoughts away from all of the what ifs and should haves. This kind of thinking would not do any of them any good.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

When Zundel requested a review for this book, I thought it sounded cute and had similar enough to Once Upon a Time that I knew I had to read it. This story follows four fairy tales in a land that always has happy endings…until it doesn’t. Readers follow along as characters in the fairy tales realize that what they thought were blessings for happy endings were actually a curse and the happy endings they thought they were getting were actually weakening them. They have to put aside their differences and work together if they want any chance at real happiness while also learning what real happiness even is.

I thought the characters were well written and the plot had me seriously invested. This book has a lot of themes and lessons that I think can be enjoyed by any age group but I could especially see it being enjoyed by young adults. As I mentioned previously, this gave me Once Upon a Time vibes so if you are a fan of the show, I am sure you will enjoy this.

Summary:

Overall, I thought this was a really creative idea and Zundel did a great job at executing it. If you like fantasy and fairytales retellings with a twist, then this book could be for you. Happy reading!

The Happy Ending

 

Review: Six Moons, Seven Gods by Robert A. Walker

~ likelystory18 ~ 3 Comments

Synopsis:

“One must be careful practicing deception. The easiest to deceive will always be one’s self.”

The skilled thieves of the Takers Guild plot to overthrow the kingdoms of Baelon, but when their plans are thwarted by a prescient woman and her brooding daughter, they must turn to the League of Assassins for assistance. Meanwhile, retired royal guard Rolft Aerns returns to the palace of King Axil with an old score to settle. When they all cross paths–and swords–in the dark shadows of Fostead’s south end, nothing is as it seems and the murder count rises quickly.
The long fingers of the Guild reach everywhere, and one overly ambitious thief is all it takes to spark a chain of events that will haunt the world of Baelon for many years to come.

Six Moons, Seven Gods is book one in The Legends of Baelon.

Favorite Lines:

“One most be careful practicing deception. The easiest to deceive will always be oneself.”

“Death waits for us all, but it is far less patient with some.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

It has been awhile since I have read a fantasy as intricate as something like this (other than Sarah J. Maas’ universes). I’ve watched Game of Thrones and such but I never read the books so this would have to be my first fantasy novel of this nature.

The first book in The Legends of Baelon series, this book is full of action, adventure, betrayal, friendship, vengeance, and loyalty. This story isn’t really tied to one set protagonist as there are many but is about Baelon as a whole. We are introduced to many characters and plots as we jump to different perspectives in this creative world that Walker has imagined. Think Game of Thrones meets Wheel of Time meets Lord of the Rings.

I thought this was a really creative book and Walker did a wonderful job at creating an immersive world full of descriptive characters and settings not to mention the unique mythology throughout. I found this to be a story that had me invested from start to finish and I could most definitely see this being a TV show someday.

Summary:

Overall, if you like fantasy, action, adventure, and political intrigue then this book could be for you. Happy reading!

Check out Six Moons, Seven Gods here

 

Review: Beguiled Persuasion by K. Reagan Zell

~ likelystory18 ~ 2 Comments

Synopsis:

Living her normal everyday life, Cait had everything a woman would ever want; a career, a wealthy boyfriend, and a doting father who was her world. Her life began to quickly unravel once she found out that her boyfriend was married and then her father died. With the dramatic events pushing her empathic sensitivities to the brink, she took one sleeping pill to help her find some relief from the emotional chaos. But it would be a prophetic pill that would forever change her already unraveling future plans. Setting off a chain of uncontrollable events of supernatural encounters with just one pill, Cait was involuntarily pulled between unimaginable parallel timeline journeys and all that she once knew…a destiny that she never imagined possible. But sometimes, one’s fate is already sealed.

Favorite Lines:

“Could love at first sight be real? Or could it be a connection previously experienced throughout time? What draws one to another can only be answered by the people involved. But then again, maybe not.” 

“Being on the defensive does not mean that a person does not have the right to be. Denial never works.”

“Fear not the unknown for the known becomes too comfortable and will eventually be despised.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Ask anyone, I am a sucker for the supernatural, romance, and especially supernatural romances…if you can count time travel as supernatural. The story follows Cait as she seems to travel back in time to 15th century Ireland after taking a sleeping pill. Cait must adjust to her circumstances to survive and we get to follow her on that adventure. This story reminded me a bit of Outlander so if you’re a fan of that, you may be a fan of this. I am a huge sucker for love triangles if done right, and I think Zell did a great job at the one she introduces here. I won’t be giving any spoilers away so you will just have to read for yourself to find out who Cait ends up with. I also really enjoyed the text at the start of each chapter – I found that a lot of it resonated with me and added additional depth to the story.

If I had to nit-pick, I do wish that there were a bit more details. I feel like there was more room to be descriptive in some of the scenes but I also understand trying to fit a lot into one book can be tricky – I certainly couldn’t do it. I also felt that the intimate scenes were a bit choppy but maybe that goes back to the details. Zell did a wonderful job at balancing two, parallel timelines without any confusion and I found myself turning page after page to find out what happens next. I’m excited to see where Zell takes the rest of this series!

Summary:

Overall, if you like time traveling romances, the supernatural, and/or just romance period then this book could be for you! Happy reading!

Beguiled Persuasion

 

Review: Dissonance: Volume I: Reality by Aaron Ryan

~ likelystory18 ~ 2 Comments

Synopsis:

There are some rules you never forget. Above all else, whatever you do, you never look directly at a gorgon.
Now, plug your ears… because the war for humanity has begun.

Sergeant Cameron “Jet” Shipley was there when they first arrived in 2026. For 16 long years, he learned to hide. To never make a sound. Learning the most important rule of all about the gorgons: You just… don’t… look. The year is now 2042, and humanity is eking out an existence in the shadows. Shipley and his team are sent out on a recon mission with developments that may alter the trajectory of Earth’s fate… and his own. Joined by newcomers Bassett and Trudy, Cameron and his brother Rut will have to contend with a terrifying alien species that has annihilated eighty-five percent of mankind. Will his mission lead him on a slippery slope of discovery that demands accountability? Or will it plunge humanity, and everything in it, into further dissonance?

Favorite Lines:

“The only thing worse than being angry with someone is having nowhere to go to get away from the person that you’re angry with.”

“Reality can be pretty damn painful.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

I grew up watching pretty much anything science fiction with my dad so when I read the synopsis for this book, I knew I had to give it a read and I was not disappointed. I think Ryan hits the nail on the head comparing this to “Alien meets the Quiet Place”. This story takes place 16 years ahead in a dystopian future. Aliens occupied Earth 16 years ago forcing any human survivors into hiding. The story centers around two brothers who grew up in this new reality and join the military. They partner with a task force of other soldiers to rescue survivors. 

I thought this was a really creative and well written story. Ryan had a very unique voice and does a great job at telling a story that will have you on the edge of your seat. I think what freaked me out the most was how realistic a future like this could be if we ever find out aliens exist. This book had my heart racing at some parts and my eyes watering at others – Ryan did a great job at keeping me invested and evoking a variety of emotions from me. There was also a huge surprise towards the end that I give kudos  to Ryan for (I won’t spoil it for future readers).

Summary:

Overall, if you like science fiction that features dystopian worlds, aliens, action, adventure, thrills, and some romance then this book could be for you! Happy reading!

Dissonance: Volume I: Reality

 

Review: Maestro! Maestro! by Fred Calvert

~ likelystory18 ~ Leave a comment

Synopsis:

A tale about a deal with the devil and a feel-good romance. In 1900 romantic Vienna, a young composer, Anton Becker was fighting to be the best. But the stuffed shirts of tradition considered his radical music ‘barbaric and loony.’ In truth it was brilliant, but only to discerning ears, such as those of Lisa von Schelling, the off-limits love of his life. And also, to the ears of the Prince of Darkness, who was desperate to upgrade the cringingly awful music of hell. The heavenly angel Ludwig van Beethoven gets involved, and so does a gargoyle angel from hell, Villi, who, back when he was human, had been a cruel-hearted music critic.

Favorite Lines:

“Sir, your taste in music must be in the tongue of your shoes.”

“Everything this lunatic had just said made perfect sense. But then nightmares always seemed to make sense.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Set during the 19th century in Vienna, Austria, this story follows Anton Becker as he discovers and explores his passion for composing music. I found this to be a beautifully written story full of laughter and love that brings to light the relatable hardships we all might face as we progress through life.  I thought this flowed very well and really captured what a struggling musician might do to succeed. The plot was fantastic and I especially enjoyed the highlights of the forces of darkness and light engaging each other in a battle of wills. I could definitely see this being an animated movie in the future!

I was surprised that there were complementary illustrations and I loved them! It made sense once I found out that Calvert used to be (might still be) an illustrator. He has contributed to many projects including Sleeping Beauty and 101 Dalmatians. The illustrations truly reminded me of fantasia-esque story.

Summary:

Overall, if you like coming of age stories full of fun, laughter, love, and life lessons and would enjoy illustrations to compliment a story, then this book could be for you. Happy reading!

Maestro! Maestro!

 

Review: Awaken the Dawn by Ellis K. Popa

~ likelystory18 ~ Leave a comment

Synopsis:

A cryptic puzzle. A family secret. A deadly betrayal. When her dad dies during a business trip to Romania, Kat Barrett blames herself for their failed relationship. She’s racked with guilt, haunted by strange dreams about the crash that killed him, and she’d do anything to have him back. Then a package arrives. It’s from her dad and contains a list of clues — one of his classic scavenger hunts. Desperate for answers, she follows the clues to Bucharest and meets Maksim, a local with a dark past who offers to help. Kat doesn’t trust him, but when she hits a dead end, she’s left with no other choice. As they work together, decoding the clues and trying (unsuccessfully) not to fall for each other, the scavenger hunt reveals a deadly secret the dreams have been pointing to, something Maksim’s old crime ring has been hiding all along, and Kat has walked into their trap. Can she beat them to the final clue — and solve it — before she suffers the same fate as her dad?

Favorite Lines:

“I love how the forest is shadowy but the flowers are glowing. Like they’ve found their own magical life amid the death and decay.”

“Friendship is the hand that wipes your tears when life hurts.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

This story follows Kat Barrett after she receives a package that seems to come from her dad beyond the grave that sends her on a journey from the US to Romania to solve cryptic clues on a scavenger hunt for answers.

This is Popa’s debut novel but you would think Popa has been writing for years. It was very well written in its creativity, descriptions, and overall writing style. Full of puzzles, mystery, red herrings, romance, suspense, and adventure, this book has it all! There were also hints of supernatural notes that I hope Popa explores further in the future – anyone who knows me knows that I am a sucker for the supernatural.

If I had to complain about one thing, it would be that the beginning was a tad bit slow for my taste. But I promise you that if you stick with it, you won’t be disappointed and you’ll find yourself sucked into a world of mystery and suspense! I found myself unable to put the book down!

Summary:

Overall,  I thought this was an amazing debut novel and I cannot wait to see where Popa takes us next. If you like fiction, mystery, puzzles, suspense, and romance then this book could be for you. Happy reading!

Awaken the Dawn