#read 2018

Stranger Than Fanfiction is a beautiful book that addresses some of life’s hardest topics, illness, sexuality, gender, education, and responsibility. The characters are diverse, while most hailing from a small town in Illinois they are not all Anglo-Saxon, one is Japanese American, one is half African American and half Anglo-Saxon. Cash is American TV royalty and raised in California. They all have very different home lives, Topher lives with a brother with Cerebral Palsy and an absentee parent, Sam has only her mother and is socioeconomically disadvantaged, Mo lives with only her father and he places all the pressures on her we’ve come to expect from a Japanese parent and Joey father is a pastor, his family almost oppressively religious. All 5 characters have life-altering secrets. What ties them together is tv series Wiz Kids, of which Cash is the star. Wiz Kids feels like a mash-up of Doctor Who and a couple of other shows. The fans are crazy but loveable, they are worldwide, and it is believable. The inclusion of two international friends felt so important to a book of friendship built on fandom.

Stranger Than Fiction is a rare book it provides both mirror and a window. For most young people reading they will see themselves to a degree in one of the 5 characters (the mirror) and because the book is told from multiple perspectives the opportunity to develop empathy for others is presented (the window). The writing style is perfect for the story. Chapters are short, but it suits the events and the rolling narration allows for the processing of drama and topics. The correct use of pronouns was appreciated.

I’m giving Stranger Than Fiction 4.5 stars, I’m taking off half a star for the unforgivable act of outing. While it is necessary to the plot I despise the action, I don’t think the outcome in the book is reflective of real consequence, nor do I think it is strongly enough spoken against either in text or in the author’s note. There is a difference between the illegal acts in the book we are all raised to know are wrong and the life-altering act of outing that isn’t illegal but isn’t educated against because the education system hasn’t caught up with reality.

For the sheer range of issues addressed this is an essential book for libraries. The multi-diversity is so rare and so valuable in modern society.

The Lightning Struck Heart is a laugh out loud funny, but there are also some really emotional moments, moments where you really don't feel like laughter is appropriate but the style means you will laugh. And there are moments the motley crew get themselves into that are a little like how the hell did we get here? We were all safe and fine a paragraph ago.

The characters are fantastic, Mama, in particular, I hope we see more of her in later books. The only one I'm a little bit iffy on is Kevin, there is too much going on there. I ended up feeling so sorry for Justin obnoxious he maybe but that ending was ugly for him. The sheer idea of an apprentice wizard teaming up with a hornless gay unicorn and a half-giant is just really appealing. The one potential flaw in the characters/ writing is the lack of female characters. There are only a handful in the whole book, there are all kinds of magical creatures and a decent LGBTQ+ representation for what is there.

The humour TJ Klune uses isn't for everyone there is A LOT of sexual innuendoes actually that is basically all it is. But if sexual innuendo makes you uncomfortable this really isn't one for you, if you can get through the first couple chapters you can get through the book. If you read the blurb and it appeals to you I would suggest reading a sample before buying the whole book.

This is Where It Ends tells the fictional story of a high school shooting in Opportunity, Alabama by senior Tyler Browne. Told through 4 perspectives over the period of less than an hour it doesn't pull punches it is an emotional and triggering book. The perspectives belong to Autumn, Tyler’s sister, Sylv, her girlfriend, Tomás, Sylv's twin brother and Claire Tyler’s ex-girlfriend. The writing reflects their ages, positions, cultures, and it is a diverse book with multiple ethnicities and sexualities mentioned. There are cut sections with blog posts, texts and twitter content that tell other perspectives of the story. Their inclusion feels key in the reality, especially the addition of trolls in the comments.

The plot is well developed, well researched. While the events are discussed from multiple angles each character has their own insight as to why Tyler is doing what he is doing they are mentioned. As are their plans for the future. The use of perspective allows for different parts of the environment to be explored at the same time. The chapters are well marked with time codes, each chapter is approximately 2 minutes in the world. The epilogue is as beautiful as it is heart-wrenching something that was needed but painful to read.

I really like the characters. I found myself attached to them and by the end, I was involuntarily crying. Fareed is a wonderful character I have all the love for, the wordless communication between him and Tomás, his strength and his ending broke me. The twins Tomás and Sylv are amazing their story is a mesmerising subplot. Autumn is the character my heart goes out to, her brother is the shooter, she is condemned by association.

As I did with The Sun is Also a Star with its accelerated timeline I read this as fast as I could. It took me about 5 hours. That accelerated reading is damaging to my emotions and possibly means I missed details but when a book is set over 54 minutes and I have the time I am going to read it in less than a day.

It is worth noting the sort of shooting that is featured. It is a locked room, everyone is trapped, and the shooter has targets in mind. This isn’t a spray and hope to kill as many as possible. He is acting intelligently and rationally (as much as possible), it is thought out and planned. But This is Where it Ends isn’t about the act, it is about the human side. The immediate effect on people. The shooting has more in common with Virginia Tech than the more recent Parkland shooting, I make the comparison in relation to the personal nature and the locked doors, it is a stretch and I mean no disrespect.

This is Where it Ends is a way to develop empathy for survivors. No one wants to experience this event but we can't deny their existence. In a time of global citizenship and when so many young people talk to others online this is an important book. Allowing those in safe situations to see even a fraction, a glimpse of what survivors do, but nothing will ever compare to the event. I’m rating it 4.5 stars up to 5 because of a perspective issue. This is Where it Ends is a book that libraries should definitely have available for everyone but young people in particular.

There is some much positivity in Holding up the Universe from the body positivity to the messages about living with neurological disorders to changing perceptions to the value of family. What is great about the characters is their diverse depth. There is a racial diversity you would expect in a modern American high school but it isn’t in your face it’s just there, within the two main characters one is Anglo, one is mixed race African American – Anglo but has his mother’s dark skin. There is LGBTQ representation but like the racial diversity, it isn’t in your face it is mentioned and not dwelled upon.

It has a point of predictability we are all semi-aware of the end game but it’s the journey that matters. Holding up the Universe is a glorious journey that is fast-paced and takes a few surprising twists. For me this was more a character-based story, it is more about Jack and Libby than the plot. The support cast is introduced as needed with family and school family being basically the only people met. It is a pleasant way of reading but it does require engaging characters with good writing to succeed.

Jack has a neurological disorder called prosopagnosia, face blindness (he has been given a deliberately bad case), he cannot recognise people by their faces, he can see them, but can’t recall them. Then I started trying to walk in his shoes, I tried to think how I would identify the people in my life, how hard that must be. I live with my own neurological disorder and Jack’s hiding it, coping with it as best he can is so accurate. I spent so much time screaming at the book that is me, I did that. Jack’s family are great because they feel real, in particular, his little brother Dusty is just adorable, as is the robot.

And Libby. Libby is fantastic. Never does Jennifer Niven imply that she is a healthy weight, just that she is a healthier weight than she was and Libby is going to own it, not be a slave to people’s expectations. That body positivity is something that the age bracket this book is aimed at really need to read. A reminder that we come in all shapes and sizes and colours. Her creating fictional backstories is just something that people do (or is that a type of person that I know too many of) and the name selection for the people was king.

Jennifer Niven succeeded in creating good characters and suitable writing, Holding up the Universe is captivating and enjoyable while sending brilliant messages to people. 4.5 stars, I’m feeling like more could have been done with some of the support cast. This is a book that deserves all the praise it gets and more. For me this is essential for libraries and I would suggest reading it if you want a look with a window to what someone else is experiencing.

Overall It took me a while reading this to figure out what was frustrating about it, primarily the stories are first stories or prequels. I would have preferred more stand-alone stories. It is not impossible to create a world in this shorter space but it seems that authors have used it to provide fanservice and some background they wanted but had not written previously. I really hope most of these get published as individually, especially the 1st stories. This is a reasonable collection if you like reverse harem and want something to break up your other reading, none of the stories are taxing. And there is something for all tastes.

See No Devils by C.M. Stunich Disclosure: See No Devils is why I bought Realms and Rebels. I have written a full review which I will post when and if C.M Stunich publishes the story individually. I'm glad I bought it See No Devils is a fast-paced fun ride with brilliant characters that engaged me and made me theorise the significance of characters, of situations. Any story that can do that in 10 chapters is impressive. I loved the characters and the writing, both are amusing and intelligent. This is definitely a series I will be keeping an eye out for. 4.5 stars.

Light the Fire by Elizabeth Briggs Light the Fire is a prequel in the Her Elemental Dragons series (1st book Stroke the Flame). It's not a series I have read but this does make me want to read it, as any entry in an anthology should. The lore is brilliant, there are reverse harems woven into the world, the mythology and I like the fate angle that was used. What really struck me reading Light the Fire is the feeling of fan service, Calla and her men appear in Her Elemental Dragons as supporting characters this feels like something that fans wanted, had asked Ms Briggs for. (Full review is available here.) 4 stars.

Her Big Bad Wolves by Margo Bond Collins Another story with editing issues. Days and names were wrong sometimes. Liam was originally Seth I think and there is one instance where that wasn't changed. And there are continuity issues in the timeline. It is a helluva into a world with decent lore. I would love to spend some time getting to know, James, the pack historian. He is the brains trust and after the alpha the best person to introduce a reader to the world. Has the feel of a prequel if or when the series continues I don't think this will be a necessary read just a pleasant addition. But it did it the nail on the head to a degree S's options are a complete, balanced man. This is common in a reverse harem. (Full review is available here.) 3 stars (.5 loss due to bad editing)

Fifth Soul by Laura Greenwood & Arizona Tape Fifth Soul feels like a lost opportunity. The harem is 3 men and 1 woman centring on a bisexual protagonist. It is a situation I had thought of but never seen in a stand-alone. Given the authors have a series for this universe (Dragon Soul, Torn Soul protagonist Holly makes an appearance) it could have been published left on its own and done very well because that is a situation that is a fantasy for some. It is lost in here this anthology. It's also odd, the lore isn't explained well, the writing isn't consistent and there is too much focus on a single relationship. It's rushed and disappointing because of that. I can't even make this 2 stars. 1.75 stars

A Nightmarish Mystery by L.C. Hibbett & N.M. Howell I have never read any of the Cats, Ghosts and Avocado Toast series, that put me at a distinct disadvantage reading A Nightmarish Mystery. This story fits between A Vet Vanishes (book #2) and A Devilish Disappearance (book #3) and is admitted fan service, though not the kind of fluff one expects from fan service, this is heavy and dark. It can be read as a stand-alone though that is not its intention. I give props to the authors for creating a situation that allowed for fans to get what they wanted but didn't mess with the continuity of the series. I know from the authors note that A Nightmarish Mystery is different to the series but reading this first does not endear me to the series, does not make me curious to read it. Might that defeat at least part of the purpose of the story? 2 stars.

Twisted: A Fairy Tale Mash-up by Lena Mae Hill Another 1st book in a new series unlike the others though this one is explicitly aimed at the YA market. From the time I read it's intended audience I questioned its place in this anthology, Realms and Rebels seems to be aiming at a more mature audience. But Twisted had more sexual intimacy than a few of the others and some seriously dicey consent. Twisted has a well-executed setup Little Red Riding Hood meets Three Little Pigs. Having the leading man be not particularly likeable was a good thing in the scheme of things but Cayenne frustrated me a combination of her Red Riding Hood nature and her attempted modernity, it rubbed me the wrong way. My biggest issue was the questionable consent she sort of assented to their actions but not strongly enough for my conscience. (My full review of Twisted) 3 stars.

Raven’s Fall by Eva Chase Raven's Fall plays with Odin's raven Muninn, the raven of memory and the idea of shapeshifting. When Muninn transforms she appears as standard with a gorgeous black dress. What I really like is the use of the phrase "what in Hel's name" this is possibly the origins of the curse used now, Hel guardian of Helheim the Norse equivalent of the underworld. The language in Raven's Fall is fantastic, it is beautifully descriptive. The raven, the rogue, the healer and the charmer. They are an intoxicating combination. Muninn's innocence/ naivety is endearing because it is understood, she isn't human she is an immortal who has never experienced humanity's joys. Her men share easily, but their stories broke my heart. Mythology is always a whole lot of fun, make it Norse and it becomes even more bloody and vindictive. Reading Raven's Fall certainly made me interested in reading more of the Their Dark Valkyrie series.

Charms of Attraction by Julia Clarke Fantastic characters. Charms of Attraction focuses on the relationships the protagonist has with not only the men in her life but her sister. The portrayal of the sibling relationship between protagonist Katerina and sister Ana is particularly good. I really liked one date in particular. There is potential in the series, as with so many in the anthology though polyandry in the norm in the society. I will say though this story does really need a warning for those sensitive to domestic or psychological violence situations, violence plays a major role in Katerina's past and is discussed in some detail. 3.5 stars

Hell’s Calling by Bea Paige & Skye MacKinnon The first book in the Infernal Descent series re-imagining Dante's Inferno. I enjoyed the characters and the plot definitely looking forward to reading more. This story establishes the word, the characters, some of the internal relationships but stops short of anything drastic physically. Hell's Calling does for me what an entry in an anthology needs to do It makes me want to read more in the series. I want to know what happens to Ciera, Maro, (Cer)Beres, Plutus & Tris. 4.5 stars

Twisted by Amy Sumida What a brilliant take on the Wizard of Oz. It just works for me, nothing feels out of place. The origins are obvious and the twists are so clean and logical. My full review of twisted

Inconceivable Origin by Chloe Adler I read two chapters and stopped. I found the protagonist insufferable, she rubbed me completely the wrong way. Also, I have major issues with rape, I'm sure that there the author finds a way to write her way out of it (we are talking about magic here) but I can't do it.

On The Edge Of Forever by AJ Anders & Amanda Perry WTH just happened? So much promise, so much build. It was so rushed at the end I got head spin. Actually, the story felt incomplete, there is nothing confirming the status of the story as a first or a prequel, it just ends. I was so happy reading the start of this. It has an interesting lore that the authors did their best to explain as briefly as possible. The men having a pre-existing relationship helped for succinct writing as they could talk among themselves rather than just to her. The protagonist is badass and her familial relationships are brilliant. but their end is disconcerting. It's still a 3.5/4 star story.

Eclipse by Angelique Armae Bastet is a fave deity. I had to attempt to put aside some of my own issues to read this, I try to stay away from titles with any BDSM elements, even light ones. Spanking is part of the makeup of Eclipse. So this is an alright read if you don't mind your mythology being butchered. I liked the characters, to a degree I liked the lore but I cringed at the use of Egyptian mythology it just wasn't working for me. The truly appealing aspect of this story was the relationships, the reader meets the immortal daughter of Egyptian Goddess Bastet, Marcus the Lion, Lucius the Tiger and Horatio the Panther in present-day Manhattan but their relationship has existed since 30 B.C. It is an established, happy relationship. There are intimate moments with two of the three men but not the 3rd that was disappointing. 2.5

Queen Takes Jaguars by Joely Sue Burkhart Absolutely gorgeous. So much sex-positivity. I really loved the confidence and the owning of womanhood. I definitely made want to read more of the series (despite it having a different perspective). There is a whole scene in a hotel which is both hot as hell and emotionally devastating. I really liked the characters and the lore. (Full review is available here.) 4 stars.

Sovereign of Soul by Caia Daniels 3 chapters in I gave up. it didn't grab me and had done an awful job of explaining the lore and wtf was going on. Essentially it felt like a combination prequel and fanservice piece, despite only being a prequel. The series does have an interesting basis for the harem creation though.

Ugly Magic by May Dawson This is one of the stories I skipped for no real valid reason. I stopped 4 chapters in one day and didn't pick it up for about 5 weeks. By which point I was completely lost and it just made more sense to skip it.

At Water’s Edge by LA Kirk & Lyn Forester To me At Water's Edge is more a journey of self-discovery than a typical reverse harem, it feels like it's more about her than her relationship with them. The ending is just gorgeous. The story is quite self-contained. There is a lack of explanation that didn't detract from the enjoyability, I get the feeling there is some serious lore in play. I really like the portrayal of the neriads is perfect, they are quite bratty, teenage girl. 4 stars

My Soul To Keep by Jackie May A nicely written, pleasant story with lovable characters in an interesting setting. The protagonist is window-able, she is quite easy for you to see yourself in. Fairy-tale but in the best possible way. A shared trait to Her Big Bad Wolves by Margo Bond Collins with day by day dating to try and choose a man. 4 stars

Blinded Beauty by Cecilia Randell Odd, not bad just odd, it wasn't gripping for me. Blinded Beauty makes decent use of fantasy themes. it doesn't get bogged down in the lore it just gives you tid bits. Polyandry relationship is a non-issue is just happens, which works well. I quite like the characters though. 3 stars

Indebted to the Vampires by Erin Bedford I skipped this one. I just couldn't. it's short the synopsis just didn't appeal. I can see a way to make it not dangerous but it would be difficult.

Moon Academy by Catherine Banks Again the skipped because the premise really didn't appeal. It is possible it might have worked but by the time I got to Moon Academy I was done. I might come back to the 4 (?) I missed but I don't know.

Silver Borne is an emotional roller coaster. Some exceptionally good things happen and some devastating things. But by the end, we are much back on a level, with more knowledge, more friends and more questions. Much of the story revolves around an item from Iron Kissed, the fae and Samuel. Ben (sorry I still like him, he's a clever character) has some moments which are endearing.

Thank all things good sense was finally seen. And thank you, Bran, for saving the thick-headed males from themselves. I mean really. Ariana is a pleasant addition to the series I think we'll see more of her, I hope so. These books have an interesting perspective on strong women. On women, all the women in the series are strong, feminist characters but their societal role is set by their partners. Silver Bourne challenges this to a point, something I think will come more later on.

This is a fantastic addition to the series, Mercy Thompson is a series I'm really enjoying and recommend to others.