Tag: book-reviews

Review: Dissonance: Volume Zero: Revelation by Aaron Ryan

~ likelystory18 ~ 3 Comments

Synopsis:

One day, they silently drifted down through our skies. We thought they were angelic messengers. We were wrong.

They arrived by the hundreds of thousands on June 6th, 2026. The aliens silently drifted down from the sky, hovering fifty feet above us for three long, tense months at a geostationary orbit, taking up positions around the world. No one knew why they came…what they wanted…or why they wouldn’t just go away.

Then, the unthinkable happened. They suddenly came to life…and hunted us down. We ended up calling them gorgons – after the mythical creature Medusa – because if we locked eyes with them, it was all over, and they could telepathically paralyze us with just one look. Once immobilized, they could consume us at their leisure, leaving us to feel every excruciating bite. There was no escape, no hiding from their relentless pursuit. Our only defense was to run.

By the end of 2026, eighty-five percent of mankind had been killed off. The alien invasion turned Planet Earth into a ghost town, with the few survivors eking out an existence in the shadows. Andrew Shipley is one such survivor thrust into an extraordinary nightmare of post-apocalyptic proportions. As chaos erupts, hope dwindles for Andrew and his wife and three small children. Will they make it? Or will the gorgons get them too?

Favorite Lines:

“We love you higher than the tallest tree…I love you faster than a hummingbird can flap his wings.”

“Dad, was that the Pope?”

“I bet him ten  bucks you were so old you wouldn’t be able to remember any more dad jokes.”

My Opinion:

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

I have read and reviewed Volumes I and II of the Dissonance Alien Invasion Saga and was really excited to read this prequel to see how it all began. This story follows Andrew Shipley, the main character we have been reading about in the rest of the series’ father, and details the start of the invasion 16 years prior to the events that we read about in rest of the series. We get to see how the world was before June 6th, 2026 and what kickstarts mankind’s fight for survival in the years to follow.

This book, and the entire series, can be compared to “Alien meets A Quiet Place” and is told in a unique and creative storytelling voice. Ryan does a great job at painting a world that is entirely realistic and full of events that could happen to us at anytime (assuming life exists outside of Earth). This book is the origin story that answers a lot of questions posed in the rest of the sage: What happened in 2026? How did most of mankind get wiped out? How did our protagonist become who we see later in the series? And much more. We get to see Andrew Shipley’s relationship with his family including Cameron (Jet), who we follow along with in the rest of the series . 

This prequel sheds light on quite a lot of this series and brings new meaning to what takes place in the rest of the series. I found myself engrossed in the story and having a lot of “aha” moments throughout. As with the rest of the series, this book explores the ethical dilemmas and moral costs of survival. It illuminates what it is truly like to be a human being and both the relationships and experiences that make us who we are. 

Summary:

Overall, this was arguably my favorite so far in the series perhaps because of the light that it sheds on the events that take place in the rest of the series. I found myself laughing at some parts and with tears in my eyes at others. Ryan does an excellent job at evoking emotion and keeping readers engaged throughout this book. If you are a fan of science fiction, dystopian worlds, aliens, action, adventure, thrills, and reading about what it means to be human, then this book could be for you. Happy reading!

Check out Dissonance: Volume Zero: Revelation here!

 

Monthly Features – July

~ likelystory18 ~ Leave a comment

Pigs in Paradise by Roger Maxson

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

Synopsis: Pigs in Paradise opens on a group of animals on a farm in Israel. Julius is a wise-cracking non-religious parrot. In other words, he is a non-domesticated farm animal. His is the small voice of reason, tinged with humor, and cynicism while the others, domesticated farm animals, are being led to religion by Mel, a mule, and the spiritual leader. Later, Mel becomes Magnificent when he elevates himself to Pope. Priests are celibate and mules are sterile; therefore, a Catholic pope was the obvious choice.

When Blaise, a Jersey cow, gives birth to Lizzy, a “red calf,” two American evangelical ministers arrive. As events unfold, the evangelicals buy the group and have them shipped to America.

Once in America, the animals are transported by tractor-trailers across the country to a “Christian” farm in Kansas, where seven television monitors are tuned to 24/7 church sermons and juxtaposed with scenes from a barn, a real circus. Even though they are animals, they can only take so much before they chase Mel from the barn, and Stanley, Manly Stanley, the black Belgian Stallion, kicks out the TV monitors for a moment of silence, giving peace a chance, however short-lived.

Summary: Overall, if you enjoyed Animal Farm and are a fan of satirical literature especially that which explores religious and political issues in today’s society, then this book could be for you.

See the full review here: Pigs in Paradise
Purchase here

 

The Gates of Yoffa by J. Brandon Barnes

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

Synopsis: A MISSION UNLIKE ANY OTHER.WHAT THEY FOUND WAS BEYOND BELIEF. John Lewis is a computer scientist recruited for a covert mission in the deepest regions of space.

When he makes a seemingly critical error during a test flight, the operation’s only orbiter crashes on a lush, highly classified planet. This leaves John, his boss Dirk, and exobiologist Ruth stranded, with few supplies and little chance of rescue.

Their best hope for escape is a lost landing craft that detached during their descent. To find it, they must search an unknown world while infiltrating the first extraterrestrial society human beings have ever encountered.

But this isn’t their greatest challenge. It’s something else. Something far more profound. Revealed through the aliens’ storytelling culture is a secret that could destabilize Earth and civilization as we know it.

And that secret is about to be exposed.

Summary: Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with this book and am interested to see if Barnes has anything more up his sleeve. If you like sci-fi full of exploration, survival, friendship, and storytelling with a touch of romance and religion, then this book could be for you.

See the full review here: The Gates of Yoffa
Purchase here

 

Review: It Was A Riot by Daniel Hall

~ likelystory18 ~ Leave a comment

Synopsis:

Growing up gay in the violent and poverty-stricken streets of East London, Eddy’s childhood is haunted by the shadow of bullying, rejection, and his domineering football hooligan father. Enrolling in medical school is his only lifeline – but it only catapults him into a fresh set of struggles that will define the rest of his life.

From the brutal front lines of the Falklands War to the impoverished mining communities of Northern England and the drug-fuelled raves of London, Eddy desperately tries to numb his pain and escape his inner demons. But his efforts are futile – and with the spectre of AIDS hanging over his head, he’s helpless to prevent his closest friends from succumbing to the disease.

But Eddy can’t hide forever. After a protest turns violent, he’s left fighting for his freedom against a biased court system that’s hell-bent on jailing him for manslaughter. His story quickly ignites a national frenzy as his case hits the headlines. And when Eddy makes a shocking discovery about his past, he must re-evaluate his entire life and decide what’s really important.

Can Eddy escape the shadow of his father’s judgement? Or will he never be able to accept himself for who he is?

As a gripping and authentic contemporary LGBT fiction novel that explores the stark realities of being gay in 1990’s England, It Was a Riot explores deep themes of identity, sexuality, paternal rejection, and the struggle to find oneself. This book is a must-read for fans of character-driven epics including Tomasz Jedrowski’s Swimming in the Dark and Douglas Stuart’s Shuggie Bain. Scroll up and grab your copy today.

Favorite Lines:

“And when I’m not being honest with myself, it also means I’m not living the life I really want.”

“You’ll always make me proud… No matter what you do. No matter the path you choose in life. No matter what you do or don’t accomplish. I’ll always be proud of you.”

My Opinion:

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

This story follows Eddy, who grows up in England in the 1990s with a complicated childhood. Eddy is gentle and kind but his father demands that he learns how to be a “real man” so Eddy signs up for boxing classes and learns how to fight. Despite this attempt to please his father, Eddy comes to the realization that he is just not a violent man and finds his real passion is in the medical field so he decides to go to medical school. After gradating, Eddy joins the military to get more training as a doctor and it is here that he realizes that he is gay.

As the story evolves, we follow Eddy as he tries to come to terms with his sexuality and begins to explore the world as a gay man. While there is some joy in this exploration, it isn’t all rainbows and sunshine. Eddy faces a lot of hard truths from both the outside world but also from within himself. As Eddy finally begins to find some real peace, his past comes back to haunt him and he finds himself in court fighting for his freedom.

This is a debut novel for Hall and it exceeded all of my expectations. It pulled me in from the first chapter and had me engaged throughout the story until I realized I had finished it in one sitting. Hall tells a beautiful and heartbreaking story that is simultaneously devastating and important to read. This touches on learning to live outside of your parents’ shadow, the prejudices that the LGBTIQA+ community faced, and learning to be at peace with your own identity. But be warned, you’ll be crying by the end!

Summary:

Overall, if you are interested in coming of age fictional stories with strong character development involving LGBTIQA+ and the gay community during the AID’s epidemic, then this book could be for you. Happy reading!

Check out It Was a Riot here!

 

Review: Deep Fried by Mark Doyon

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Synopsis:

Americanized millennial Arjun Chatterjee is a food-truck chef working in a parking lot outside the nation’s capital. He dreams up multiethnic recipes and pursues a young woman toiling in a Kafkaesque office nearby. Building a clientele, he faces life with a sly optimism.

One day he idly asks the sky: “Why am I here?”

Deep Fried is a tragicomic love story wrapped in creative freedom. Its characters – chefs, musicians, and entrepreneurs – face a world of oversized dreams and shaky prospects.

They try, fail, and fail better. Will it be enough?

Favorite Lines:

“If you weren’t making moves…you were a pawn in somebody else’s game.”

“Kids today. Fat and not even happy. Worst of both worlds.”

My Opinion:

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

This book primarily follows Arjun Chatterjee who serves food from a food-truck in a parking lot in Washington D.C. Arjun meets a cast of characters throughout this book and we follow along as he does both some teaching and learning from the various people he meets. 

I found this to be a slice-of-life-esque story that was entertaining and relatable while still managing to be comfortable. Doyon tells a story that is entirely realistic and that captures the nature of human relationships and how complex they can be.  As we follow Arjun and Candy, along with the others we meet in this book, we get an inside look into the every day lives of people just trying to reach the goals they have set for themselves and the bonds they nurture with those they care about along the way.

Without any spoilers, I wasn’t prepared for the few pages before the ending! I was so shocked but was happy with how things turned out in the end and almost wish that there was more to the story to get to see how things play out but that is coming purely for my own selfishness. 

If I had to be knit-picky, the change of points of view in the middle of the chapters were a bit disruptive to the flow. Despite this, I still appreciated the different points of view, I thought it added a lot of additional depth to this book. 

Summary:

Overall, I  enjoyed this book. Doyon uses a unique tone to tell a creative and engaging story. It is so full of life in a variety of ways and bonus points that it includes food! You can find the book trailer here! If you like fictional, slice of life books especially ones that include found love and/or food, then this book could be for you. Happy reading!

Check out Deep Fried here!

 

Review: Pigs in Paradise: A Fairy Story Most Absurd by Roger Maxson

~ likelystory18 ~ 2 Comments

Synopsis:

Pigs in Paradise opens on a group of animals on a farm in Israel. Julius is a wise-cracking non-religious parrot. In other words, he is a non-domesticated farm animal. His is the small voice of reason, tinged with humor, and cynicism while the others, domesticated farm animals, are being led to religion by Mel, a mule, and the spiritual leader. Later, Mel becomes Magnificent when he elevates himself to Pope. Priests are celibate and mules are sterile; therefore, a Catholic pope was the obvious choice.

When Blaise, a Jersey cow, gives birth to Lizzy, a “red calf,” two American evangelical ministers arrive. As events unfold, the evangelicals buy the group and have them shipped to America.

Once in America, the animals are transported by tractor-trailers across the country to a “Christian” farm in Kansas, where seven television monitors are tuned to 24/7 church sermons and juxtaposed with scenes from a barn, a real circus. Even though they are animals, they can only take so much before they chase Mel from the barn, and Stanley, Manly Stanley, the black Belgian Stallion, kicks out the TV monitors for a moment of silence, giving peace a chance, however short-lived.

Favorite Lines:

“How do they say it in Kansas? Fucking A.”

“Jesus wouldn’t be caught dead in burlap”

My Opinion:

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

This book is a satirical novel inspired by Animal Farm by George Orwell and follows a lot of the same themes revolving around the complex political and religious relationships in America.  While Julius the parrot and Blaise the cow can be seen as the protagonists of the story and representation of the every day woman/man caught between religious and political ideologies, the story also features a cast of other characters that each symbolize different aspects of society.

By utilizing talking animals, Maxson is able to dive into deeply complex subjects in a humorous and entertaining way. I found this book to be thought provoking without having to take it too seriously. I was a bit worried about the length of the novel at a glance – it is actually split into two books – but I found myself immersed in the world that Maxson creates and the pages began to practically turn themselves. 

Maxson did a great job at drawing inspiration from Animal Farm while still being able to make this story his own. The character writing, especially the dialogue, was  noteworthy. I found myself chuckling a lot under my breath and I realized that my humor might be a bit darker than I originally realized. Maxson utilizes a blend of dark humor and irony to help drive home not only the satirical nature of this story but also the absurdity that society often faces when it comes to religion and the politics that touch on it.

I have a potential hot take – I actually thought this book was more engaging than Animal Farm. This may have been due to just being more modern and therefore, easier for me to relate to. Please don’t come for me classic literature lovers…

Summary:

Overall, if you enjoyed Animal Farm and are a fan of satirical literature especially that which explores religious and political issues in today’s society, then this book could be for you.

Check out Pigs in Paradise here!

 

Review: Captives by Travis Tougaw

~ likelystory18 ~ 1 Comment

Synopsis:

A child disappears, leaving behind a broken and grieving family. With no witnesses, no motives, and no evidence, Hadley, Vince, and Eddie must delve deep into the past to piece together what really happened, unaware of the powerful enemies they’re about to make.

Two-year-old Jonah Davidson disappeared from his family’s front yard 15 years ago. While most people believe he’s dead or will never be found, his desperate sister turns to the Fleck, Collins, and Marcotte Agency for help. As the detectives dig up clues from the past, they uncover a web of secrets, including some of Hadley’s own. As she struggles to come to terms with her past, the team confronts present-day adversaries who will do anything to keep their deceit from coming to light. The case takes the team on a chase across Colorado, where one misstep could prove deadly.

Captives is an edge-of-your-seat thriller. Well-crafted and surprising, Travis Tougaw’s latest novel will keep you turning pages until the end. Don’t miss Vince and Hadley’s new adventure!

Favorite Lines:

“A flock of Canada geese flew overhead, squawking their way south. The air held a chill like it could snow any moment, and Hadley smelled a wood-burning fireplace nearby. She loved fall in Colorado.”

“We have way too many cases that end with one of us in a hospital bed.”

My Opinion:

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

I was racking my brain trying to come up with the last time I read a true detective novel and the only thing that came up was Nancy Drew….Suffice to say it has been quite some time but after this book, I know I’ll be reading more in this genre in the near future.

This is book two in the series – you can find book one here – but I don’t think it is a requirement to read book one before this. Each book follows the same group of detectives but features a separate case. In this one, the detective agency doesn’t usually take on this type of case – a missing child cold case – but Hadley Collins has personal reasons for wanting to get involved. Readers follow along with the detective team through a suspenseful mystery as they try to solve the case.

This was suspenseful, a thriller, mysterious, captivating, and addicting! I couldn’t put it down and ended up staying up until 2am to finish it!  It had me on the edge of my seat and threw me for a loop with a plot twist that I didn’t see coming. I thought Tougaw did an excellent job with this one and I will definitely be going back to read the first book in the series after this!

Summary:

Overall, if you like mysteries, investigative thrillers, and/or detective stories, then this book could be for you. Word of advice, start it earlier in the day so you aren’t up until 2am trying to finish it because you can’t put it down! Happy reading!

Check out Captives here!

 

Monthly Features – May

~ likelystory18 ~ Leave a comment

The Midnight Rose by Catalina Paris

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

Synopsis:

The Alchemyst
The Faerie
The Witch
The Warlock

Leo is a sixteen-year-old apprentice at the Alchemical Court until one night changes everything. When the castle is attacked and Leo is told to flee, he creates a new portal using the strange runes left behind in his missing master’s notebook. Arriving in the mysterious Realm of the Fey, a place long forgotten by mortals and Alchemysts alike, Leo meets the enchanting Lady Lisandre, a young faerie in need of his help. Together they quickly learn both their worlds are under threat from the elusive Dark Alchemyst; unless they find the mythical Talismans of Atlantica before he does. . Along the way they encounter Flora, a charming witch on a search for the truth of her family, as well as Leo’s former classmate, a warlock with questionable intentions, Lucien. The four of them are soon drawn together as they face numerous dangers and challenges to find and retrieve the talismans. Set in an alternative magical renaissance, The Midnight Rose is a spell-binding fantasy adventure unlike any other.

Summary: Overall, this was a creative fantasy story and I am interested to see where Paris takes this next. If you like fantasy, alchemy, action, adventure, and magic, then this book could be for you.

See the full review here: The Midnight Rose
Purchase here

Death’s Flow by Victor Klayin

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

Synopsis: Sometimes, you’re your own worst enemy…
Zaleck, a young albino farmer’s son from a little backwater town, wakes up not to the comfort of his home, but to the confines of a prison cart. His limbs bound, his voice stolen by a gag, panic mounts as he contemplates his fate, unaware of why he even became a target.
Yet, amidst despair, fate — or perhaps something more arcane — intervenes as he’s freed with the help of two other captives: Arneth and Vellis. Arneth, a scholar belonging to an obscure order of master manipulators, who wields knowledge as well as a sword, and who seems to manipulate fate itself. Vellis, a master markswoman whose prowess with the bow is matched only by the shadows of her past. Her ties to the nobility are as complex as the web of secrecy around her. An ex-soldier, she carries the weight of her skills and the burden of her past, her eyes always on the lookout for the next threat, her hand always steady.
Pursued relentlessly by their captors, in service of a dark priest from the powerful “Death Kingdom”, the trio must fight not only to survive, but also learn to trust and work together, uncovering the true reason for their capture.
Soon, they find they might even be able to hide from the slavers, but they can’t ever outrun the consequences of their actions.

Summary: This book has it all – adventure, suspense, mystery, magic, action, and fantasy. Klayin did a fantastic job of weaving these themes together into an addictive experience that will leave readers wanting more. I would recommend to anyone but especially those that have interests in one of the themes I mentioned previously.

See the full review here: Death’s Flow
Purchase here

 

This Kind of Man by Sean Murphy

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

Synopsis: THIS KIND OF MAN offers an unvarnished look at life in 21st Century America, excavating the complicated, tender, wild truth of what it is to be a man across generations and relationships. These stories interrogate the pressures and tensions of contemporary life, and the ways men grapple with them, often without success. Issues such as marriage, fatherhood, aggression, alcoholism, gender expectations, generational backlash, and the inexorable dread of death, abound.

Many of these stories live within a slow implosion of coping, and often failing, as well as those who refuse to succumb, addressing concerns oft-discussed, or not discussed enough, in mainstream print: gun violence, the recent history of coal country Appalachia, sports-related concussions, illegal immigration (and the jobs many of these ostensibly unwelcome folks are obliged to do), homelessness, and the inability of men to honestly connect or communicate.

Far from excusing or exonerating toxic males, this collection locates their violence (toward others, against themselves) in the context of a deadening culture and the false narratives that prevail in an exploitative, zero-sum game capitalist model, where those without are encouraged to quarrel with similarly overworked and underpaid, mostly blue-collar workers. We see that our received notions of manhood and masculinity are inculcated-from the beginning and by design-to ensure willing participation in a system where the overwhelming majority are excluded from the start. We witness the way these dysfunctions are handed down like inheritance, and how every cliché, from fighting to drinking to intolerance of dissent and distrust of others, is a carefully constructed trap, preventing solidarity, empathy, and love (for others, for one’s self).

Summary: Overall, I thought this was a creative way to tackle complex subjects while keeping readers engaged. It is an extremely clever way to get readers to answer some hard questions themselves through reflection brought on by the stories. I think this is an important read for anyone but would especially recommend it to those that are interested in the complexities of manhood and all that may go with it.

See the full review here: This Kind of Man
Purchase here

 

 

Review: Aftermath Boy by Robert E. Honig

~ likelystory18 ~ Leave a comment

Synopsis:

History has its way with Billy Cohen, charmed offspring of Holocaust Survivors Rozsa and Bertie Cohen. His mother’s story of survival from the 1944 Vienna Death March to Dachau’s deadly forced labor, disease and starvation, Bergen-Belsen’s typhus, and inhuman conditions, to her last minute escape with her sister, Lili, and the continuing struggle to survive in Soviet occupied Budapest after the war challenges Billy to grasp the incompressible while growing up with homegrown antisemitism in the 1950s and 60s. Billy’s father, Bertie, came to the U.S. with a mission, to save his father, mother, sister and brother-in-law, but his failure casts a pall over his only son. An only child, Billy dreams of putting his parents shattered world right as his own history sweeps him toward the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement, feminism, and a nation headed not only toward division, but doubling back upon the mistakes, the cultism, and the threats of fascism that led to the Holocaust. After a lifetime of Don Quixote pursuits, including a seductive brush with a left wing lover that leads him to join the Communist Labor Party, Billy finds himself the subject of an FBI inquiry into his investigation of the theft of hundreds of Wisconsin ballots cast during the 2024 Presidential Election, an election that hangs in the balance

Favorite Lines:

“A mature adult settles into himself, steadily gains confidence, and solves problems, even keeled, with or without assistance. One needn’t perform heroic deeds to achieve competence, but Billy Cohen has to save the world. Ironic that it takes a selfish ego to want to save the world and a selfless one to actually save it, even in small ways.”

“To take another life rends the threads of your conscience.”

My Opinion:

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

I would say that this isn’t my typical read but it sounded interesting and I think it is important to read books such as this from time to time. This story revolves around Billy who finds his life to be molded by his parents’ experiences, like many children, although unlike many children, Billy’s parents were Holocaust survivors. Billy is accused of election fraud that took place during the 2024 election and the story ends open ended where the reader is left to decide whether Billy is guilty or not.

This story flashes back and forth between past and present events. Billy is in present times being accused for election fraud but we see flashes back to during the Holocaust and what his family had to endure. I thought this book was interesting because while fiction, Honig used real testimonies from his two aunts who lived through the Holocaust. So while fiction, the events described in this book were very real realities for those who experienced the tragedies that took place during the Holocausts.

If I were to be nit-picky, the chapters were quite short and came off at times as choppy – this could have been because they were single spaced rather than double in the version I received for this review though. There were also some spelling/grammar errors scattered throughout that could be cleaned up.  However, neither one of these were distracting enough to take away from the overall well written story.    

Summary:

Overall, I thought this was an interesting book that melded together fiction with reality with Honig weaving true experiences throughout the story. I would recommend to anyone interested in historical fiction involving the Holocaust. Happy reading!

Check out Aftermath Boy here!

 

Review: Yellow Bird’s Song by Heather Miller

~ likelystory18 ~ Leave a comment

Synopsis:

In 1849, mercurial Rollin Ridge leaves his family behind to avoid hanging after avenging his father and grandfather’s assassinations.

After his crime, Rollin runs west with his brothers to mine California gold, packing sin and grief in his saddlebags. Through letters home, he finds his justice only after unearthing how the father’s sins have followed the son. Within the frame, from 1827-1835, Rollin’s parents, Cherokee John Ridge, and his white wife, Sarah, uncover illicit slave running, horse theft, and whiskey dealings across Cherokee territory. To end these inhumane crimes and fight Cherokee removal with President Andrew Jackson, John runs for Principal Chief, opposing the incumbent, Chief John Ross. John and Sarah must decide-fight discrimination and land greed, defy Georgia’s violent pressures and remain on his people’s ancestral land, or sign a treaty and uproot a nation and their family west.

Favorite Lines:

“Under diagonal sheets of rain, falling beneath a canopy of God’s smoke, I rode one life back into another.”

“To rise from the ashes, one has to burn.”

My Opinion:

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

If you have been following along with my most recent reviews, you would notice that this is the second historical fiction review in a row and I couldn’t be more pleased with the trend. This book seems to be a follow up to Miller’s other novel, Tho I Be Mute, which I have not read nor does it seem to be a requirement to follow along with this book. However, I will certainly be reading it after this! 

This story is told from the perspective of John “Rollin” Ridge, the son of John and Sarah Ridge but also includes narratives from John and Sarah. John is Cherokee while Sarah is white and they have mixed children which is relevant because this book primarily deals with the era of the Cherokee removal from Georgia and the events that took place during that time. Miller doesn’t sugar coat the realities of the time period but does handle them in a beautiful way. While I found this book to tragic and sad, I thought this was an extremely well written book full of complex topics that mostly surround human nature and all that it entails. 

I wanted to take a moment to recognize the beauty of Miller’s writing style. It has been quite some time since I have had my breath taken away simply by the way an author tells their story. Miller has a way with words that I think any description other than the word “breathtaking” would simply not due it justice. I hope readers experience the same sense of profound awe that I felt reading this story. Miller’s writing ability is simply a gift.

Summary:

Overall, I thought this was a tragic but beautiful book and I am excited to see what Miller has in store next. If you are a fan of historical fictions including Native American history fictions and/or American history fictions, then this book could be for you.

Check out Yellow Bird’s Song here!

Review: Starting Over by L.F. Roth

~ likelystory18 ~ Leave a comment

Synopsis:

Embark on a transformative journey through the hallowed halls of an English boarding school in the enchanting year of 1966. In Starting Over, a captivating tale unfolds as we are introduced to a diverse cast of characters who, against the backdrop of their extraordinary work with children who possess unique abilities, navigate their own intricacies and conflicts.

Amidst the corridors that echo with the dreams and challenges of the young minds they nurture, these remarkable individuals find solace and strength in their shared vulnerability. Their distinctive needs intertwine, creating a tapestry of complex relationships, unexpected alliances, and profound personal growth.

As the story unfurls, the characters are confronted with the inevitable winds of change, sweeping away the familiar to make room for new beginnings. Through trials and triumphs, they discover the resilience of the human spirit and the extraordinary power of embracing the unknown.

Favorite Lines:

“Please write something that’ll help me stay awake.
Like what?
Oh, anything. Use your imagination.
I can’t. I’m so tired I could hallucinate.
So am I. Addicts should do night duty instead of drugs.“

“And time, as he himself was well aware, will drag when you least want it to.”

My Opinion:

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

It has been quite some time since I have read a book like this. The easiest way I can describe it is it made me thinking of assigned books in school like Catcher in the Rye, The Outsiders,  or The Grapes of Wrath. Not because they share any particular themes or similarities, but the vibe of cozy, slice of life type of narrative was there. I know I am going to catch flack for calling any of those books listed above cozy or slice of life but it is the closest I can get to putting my finger on the emotions I felt reading this book.

This story is a pretty calm, tame book featuring a decently sized cast of characters that at first I had a hard time wrapping my head around but as the story goes on, it gets easier. I actually ended up appreciating the level of care Roth put into describing each character and scene throughout the book.

I don’t really  have any complaints for this book as long as you know what you’re getting into. If you’re looking for a page turning, at the edge of your seat type of book then this is not it. This is for lazy weekends in the sun when you’re looking to relax and not think too hard.

Summary:

Overall, if you like calm fictional books that feel like sitcoms with a variety of characters, then this book could be for you!

Check out Starting Over here!