M.S. Happi

My debut fantasy novel is out now!

A roaring tale of friendship, romance, death and life.⁠ Follow Yaamilex as she's on a God-given quest.⁠ And Maya who struggles with her betrothal and the illness of her father.⁠

Order Now!⁠

E-book: https://bit.ly/Ebook_TMR⁠ Paperback: https://bit.ly/PB_TMR⁠

The Original by Brandon Sanderson & Mary Robinette Kowal is an audiobook exclusive Science Fiction novel a little under 3.5 hours.

In the near future, humans choose life for a price. Injectable nanite technology is the lifeblood that flows through every individual wishing to experience the world through the lens of their own theme. While death from mortal wounds is still possible, life is made easier in a socially liberated society where automation and income equality allow passion pursuits to flourish over traditional work. Renewal stations are provided to every law-abiding citizen for weekly check-ins, which issue life-sustaining repairs in exchange for personal privacy. But what becomes of those who check out, of those who dare to resist immortality and risk being edited under the gaze of an identity-extracting government surveillance system? When Holly Winseed wakes up in a hospital room, her memory compromised and a new identity imposed on her, a team of government agents wastes no time stating their objective. With intent to infiltrate and defeat the terrorist group ICON, the agents tell Holly that she is now a Provisional Replica and has one week to hunt down and kill her Original for the murder of her husband, Jonathan. If she succeeds, shell assume her Originals place in society. If she fails, her life will end. Hollys progress is monitored by an assigned contact that feeds her information as she confronts the blank, robotic world around her, discovering that others view life through the theme of their own choosing. With her newly implanted combat and deduction skills, Holly fends off both attacks by terrorists and doubts about her own trustworthiness as clues lead her to her Original and to the truth about Jonathan. In the end, one body remains and one walks away. Although questions persist, one thing is certain: life will never be the same.

I rate this book 4.5/5 stars.

Really enjoyed listening to this audiobook. The sounds effects, the chatter in the streets or a heartbeat in the background of tense moments, really made the experience immersive and not enough audiobooks to this. (if you know one that does this really well, let me know!) I really like how the pacing in the story is, as we start off with a lot of action, but as the story unfolds we see more dialogue. The world building itself was also really great. The ending was one I really like. An open ending can be very divisive which I've seen after reading a dozen reviews.

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake is a 375 page Fantasy novel. The 1st in The Atlas series.

The Alexandrian Society, caretakers of lost knowledge from the greatest civilizations of antiquity, are the foremost secret society of magical academicians in the world. Those who earn a place among the Alexandrians will secure a life of wealth, power, and prestige beyond their wildest dreams, and each decade, only the six most uniquely talented magicians are selected to be considered for initiation. Enter the latest round of six: Libby Rhodes and Nico de Varona, unwilling halves of an unfathomable whole, who exert uncanny control over every element of physicality. Reina Mori, a naturalist, who can intuit the language of life itself. Parisa Kamali, a telepath who can traverse the depths of the subconscious, navigating worlds inside the human mind. Callum Nova, an empath easily mistaken for a manipulative illusionist, who can influence the intimate workings of a person’s inner self. Finally, there is Tristan Caine, who can see through illusions to a new structure of reality—an ability so rare that neither he nor his peers can fully grasp its implications. When the candidates are recruited by the mysterious Atlas Blakely, they are told they will have one year to qualify for initiation, during which time they will be permitted preliminary access to the Society’s archives and judged based on their contributions to various subjects of impossibility: time and space, luck and thought, life and death. Five, they are told, will be initiated. One will be eliminated. The six potential initiates will fight to survive the next year of their lives, and if they can prove themselves to be the best among their rivals, most of them will.

I rate this book 3/5 stars.

Took me way too long to understand who each character was and what their abilities were. Even now, just two weeks later, I can't say I remember most of them. The story itself is compelling in most moments, but there are a lot of slow, dull moments too, which were a pain to get through. Honestly I was hoping for some more action sequences, but I do really like the reveal at the end of the novel.

Will I be picking up book 2? No. I also removed this book from my personal wishlist, as I don't want it physically. (thankfully my parents didn't buy it for my birthday.)

The Cat who Saved Books by Sōsuke Natsukawa is a 220 page Japanese Magical Realism novel.

Natsuki Books was a tiny second-hand bookshop on the edge of town. Inside, towering shelves reached the ceiling, every one crammed full of wonderful books. Rintaro Natsuki loved this space that his grandfather had created. He spent many happy hours there, reading whatever he liked. It was the perfect refuge for a boy who tended to be something of a recluse. After the death of his grandfather, Rintaro is devastated and alone. It seems he will have to close the shop. Then, a talking tabby cat called Tiger appears and asks Rintaro for help. The cat needs a book lover to join him on a mission. This odd couple will go on three magical adventures to save books from people have imprisoned, mistreated and betrayed them. Finally, there is one last rescue that Rintaro must attempt alone...

I rate this book 4.5/5 stars.

This book was so adorable, along with a cute talking cat; AMAZING! I also love the message of the book, as each labyrinth is representative of a different kind of reader; books are meant to be enjoyed in full and my multiple people. They aren't for display only. The messages are kind of on the nose, which I honestly don't mind, because often when it isn't so clear it goes over my head.

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch is a 352 page Science Fiction Stand-Alone novel.

Jason Dessen is walking home through the chilly Chicago streets one night, looking forward to a quiet evening in front of the fireplace with his wife, Daniela, and their son, Charlie—when his reality shatters. "Are you happy with your life?" Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious. Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits. Before a man Jason's never met smiles down at him and says, "Welcome back, my friend." In this world he's woken up to, Jason's life is not the one he knows. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born. And Jason is not an ordinary college physics professor, but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable. Something impossible. Is it this world or the other that's the dream? And even if the home he remembers is real, how can Jason possibly make it back to the family he loves? The answers lie in a journey more wondrous and horrifying than anything he could've imagined—one that will force him to confront the darkest parts of himself even as he battles a terrifying, seemingly unbeatable foe.

I rate this book 3/5 stars.

I still don't know how to feel about this book. At certain points I wish the story had taken different turns. It took me too long to read, even at 1.5x speed, as it wasn't really a book I wanted to keep coming back to once I'd put it down. It gives me strong midnight library vibes, which I also though was an alright book. The ending suck in my opinion. It was with a soft hiss instead of the bang I was expecting.

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree is a 308 page LGBT+ fantasy novel.

Worn out after decades of packing steel and raising hell, Viv the orc barbarian cashes out of the warrior’s life with one final score. A forgotten legend, a fabled artifact, and an unreasonable amount of hope lead her to the streets of Thune, where she plans to open the first coffee shop the city has ever seen. However, her dreams of a fresh start pulling shots instead of swinging swords are hardly a sure bet. Old frenemies and Thune’s shady underbelly may just upset her plans. To finally build something that will last, Viv will need some new partners and a different kind of resolve.

I rate this book 5/5 stars.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and love how the title of the book returned into the story. Another this I love is how chill and cozy the story is, while the pacing is sometimes broken with fast paced action sequences. I love how the friendship slowly evolves into into a romantic one. I like how the menu at the café expands throughout the story.

One thing I dislike, it a personal pet peeve of mine, and that is the fact that every chapter is starting on the right side of the pages. This causes the left sides to be blank, which is a waste of paper. This book could've been 11 pages shorter, which is close to a chapter.

Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown is a 432 page YA contemporary novel.

Joanna Gordon has been out and proud for years, but when her popular radio evangelist father remarries and decides to move all three of them from Atlanta to the more conservative Rome, Georgia, he asks Jo to do the impossible: to lie low for the rest of her senior year. And Jo reluctantly agrees. Although it is (mostly) much easier for Jo to fit in as a straight girl, things get complicated when she meets Mary Carlson, the oh-so-tempting sister of her new friend at school. But Jo couldn’t possibly think of breaking her promise to her dad. Even if she’s starting to fall for the girl. Even if there’s a chance Mary Carlson might be interested in her, too. Right?

I rate this book 4/5 stars.

I didn't take many notes while listening to this audiobook which I read for the Buzzword-athon, June 2023. And I'm kinda sad about that, because while I did really like the book while listening to it, can I barely remember it.

I noted that I did really like the discourse on religion and sexuality within the book, but that I disliked how Joanna's dad asks het to hide her sexuality when they move to another part of America, even though he is accepting of her.

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo is a 163 page contemporary novel.

Kim Jiyoung is a girl born to a mother whose in-laws wanted a boy. Kim Jiyoung is a sister made to share a room while her brother gets one of his own. Kim Jiyoung is a female preyed upon by male teachers at school. Kim Jiyoung is a daughter whose father blames her when she is harassed late at night. Kim Jiyoung is a good student who doesn't get put forward for internships. Kim Jiyoung is a model employee but gets overlooked for promotion. Kim Jiyoung is a wife who gives up her career and independence for a life of domesticity. Kim Jiyoung has started acting strangely. Kim Jiyoung is depressed. Kim Jiyoung is mad. Kim Jiyoung is her own woman. Kim Jiyoung is every woman.

I rate this book 4.5/5 stars.

Another book where I didn't take too many notes. I find it interesting to see that the struggle women have are not contained to one country of continent, but it's a worldwide problem. The next this to say is kind of weird, and I recognize that; I'd hoped that the sense of depression would've been worse, deeper and darker.

The Shortest Way to Hades by Sarah Caudwell is a 207 page Adult Mystery novel.

It seemed the perfect way to avoid three million in taxes on a five-million-pound estate: change the Trust arrangement. Everyone in the family agreed to support the heiress, Camilla Galloway, in her court petition - except dreary cousin Deirdre, who suddenly demanded a small fortune for her signature. Then Deirdre has a terrible accident, which is the moment when the London barristers handling the trust - Cantrip, Selena, Ragwort and Julia - decide to summon their Oxford mentor Professor Hilary Tamar to Lincoln's Inn. And when deadly accidents in the family escalate, Hilary is dispatched on the most perilous quest of all: to find the truth and unmask the killer...

I rate this book DNF/5 stars.

The main reason I DNF'd this book is because I couldn't stand the posh, difficult language the author used. I get that they are lawyers, but making a book approachable is still important. Ex. Chapter 9, very 1st sentence: 'And was, I need hardly say--though I must confess to a childish hope, unbecoming perhaps of a Scholar, of having aroused in my readers some measure of interesting apprehension--no more than soundly asleep.' The first 2 chapters are entirely a flashback, and I don't like that. Sometimes the characters respond to things that are written as exposition, rather than dialogue with is rather confusing and annoying.

Night Sky with Exit Wounds by Ocean Voung, a 80 page poetry collection.

An extraordinary debut from a young Vietnamese American, Night Sky with Exit Wounds is a book of poetry unlike any other. Steeped in war and cultural upheaval and wielding a fresh new language, Vuong writes about the most profound subjects – love and loss, conflict, grief, memory and desire – and attends to them all with lines that feel newly-minted, graceful in their cadences, passionate and hungry in their tender, close attention

I rate this book 3/5 stars.

I was heaving high hopes from Ocean Voung, and it was so not what I was looking for that I remove another of his book from my personal wishlist. The poems didn't really resonate this me. I've never been in a position he or his parent have been in, but the poems didn't really elicit a reaction from me. If the book was a different size the poems could've fit better on the pages. There are quite a few where there is like 1-3 line on the next pages and it really is a pet peeve of mine. What he does really well is set a scene within his poetry, so that I what I really liked.

Maybe with a few more years under my belt, I can appreciate this a little more.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley is a 386 YA Historical Fiction. It’s the first book in the Flavia de Luce series, which is 10 books long.

It is the summer of 1950–and at the once-grand mansion of Buckshaw, young Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison, is intrigued by a series of inexplicable events: A dead bird is found on the doorstep, a postage stamp bizarrely pinned to its beak. Then, hours later, Flavia finds a man lying in the cucumber patch and watches him as he takes his dying breath. For Flavia, who is both appalled and delighted, life begins in earnest when murder comes to Buckshaw. “I wish I could say I was afraid, but I wasn’t. Quite the contrary. This was by far the most interesting thing that had ever happened to me in my entire life.”

I rate this book 3/5 stars.

It’s been an entire month since I actually read this book and to be honest it didn’t stick with me in any way. I’ve forgotten all of what happened within this book and only remember what I’ve written down in my notes while reading this, so here we go:

The main character is really unbelievable, she’s only 11 years old but acts way older. With the amount of knowledge she soaks up in a matter of moments she instantly sounds more like a 15-18 year old. 45-50% through the book there is a scene where the dad pretends to be Asian man for a magic trick and it feels real racist because the audiobook puts on an stereotypical accent. It’s set in the 1950′s, so I kinda understand why they did that, but still. It made me feel uncomfortable.

I noted that the reveal was rather interesting and that it was a plus, but I can’t even remember what the reveal was, so I’m trusting past me on this one.

Artemis by Andy Weir is a 305 page Adult Science Fiction Stand-Alone novel.

Jazz Bashara is a criminal. Well, sort of. Life on Artemis, the first and only city on the moon, is tough if you're not a rich tourist or an eccentric billionaire. So smuggling in the occasional harmless bit of contraband barely counts, right? Not when you've got debts to pay and your job as a porter barely covers the rent. Everything changes when Jazz sees the chance to commit the perfect crime, with a reward too lucrative to turn down. But pulling off the impossible is just the start of her problems, as she learns that she's stepped square into a conspiracy for control of Artemis itself—and that now, her only chance at survival lies in a gambit even riskier than the first.

I rate this book 4.5/5 stars.

I flew through this book, it was fast paced with good well developed characters, who grow throughout the story. I like the plot as well, and in some ways it’s really out there and feels unrealistic, but at other times it seems very much the same as other stories when comparing two elements, which I really like. The humour of Andy Weir’s characters is something I really like, as they make bleak situation a little more bearable, but in this it felt a little forced and cringe at times. The kiss in the last chapter is total BS and has no right to be there since there is no foreshadowing for it in the entire book. I’ve read 3 Andy Weir books and every climax seems to be the same; Either the MC sacrifices themselves for the betterment of the group, or all will be well for everyone. However there is no point in the book where you can tell which ending it’s going to be.

If I get the opportunity I will pick up a physical copy of this book.

The Devil’s Detective by Simon Kurt Unsworth is a 358 page Adult Fantasy novel. The 1st in the Thomas Fool Duology, and it’s followed by The Devil’s Evidence.

Solving crimes was the purpose of Hell's Information Men, yet they almost never achieved it, and even when they did, the facts they scraped free were lost, buried again in the labyrinthine mess of the infernal Bureaucracy. When an unidentified, brutalised body is discovered in Hell, the case is assigned to Thomas Fool. But how do you investigate a murder where death is commonplace and everyone is guilty of something?

TW: graphic descriptions.

I rate this book 3.5/5 stars.

This is the 2nd time I’ve given this book a try. The 1st time, I only reached page 76 and it was a couple years ago. This time I made my way through it, but at times it felt like a slog. The pacing of this book it really slow, and it got so bad at times that even the action scenes, which should always be faster paced, felt like a baby crawl. What I do really like were the character. Especially Thomas Fool himself. His slow realisation of how to do his job and the fact that he doesn’t want any of the promotions that Hell throws towards him, makes me really like him.

My favourite quote however comes from the character Elderflower:

We all of us do what it requires of us, no matter how pointless or trivial those things appear to be. We are, all of us, at the whim of forces and desires and urgencies far greater, far wider, than we can ever hope to recognise or understand.

Loki - Where Mischief Lies by Mackenzie Lee is a 408 page YA Historical Fantasy Stand-Alone Novel.

When Asgardian magic is detected in relation to a string of mysterious murders on Earth, a younger Loki, desperate to prove himself, is sent to investigate. But as he descends upon 19th-century London, Loki embarks on a journey that leads him to more than just a murder suspect. He finds himself on a path to discover the source of his power - and maybe who he’s meant to be.

I rate this book 4/5 stars.

I really like the writing style of the author, which make me fly through the book. Another thing I really liked was Loki as a character, he’s just as witty, snarky and scheming as in the movies. He’s a jokester with a plan.

What I disliked was the slow starts. Only after page 121 the story really jumps off, which is 25% through the story. 

There is only one plothole I found; in the Ice Court, where everything is made of ice, Loki isn’t cold. But on Midgard, when there isn’t even snow, he’s shivering from the cold. He’s a Frost Giant, he shouldn’t feel the cold.

A Man called Ove by Fredrik Backman is a 377 page Adulr Contemporary novel set in Sweden. I read this as a 9 hour audiobook.

A grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door. Meet Ove. He's a curmudgeon, the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him the bitter neighbor from hell, but must Ove be bitter just because he doesn't walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time? Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove's mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents' association to their very foundations.

Trigger Warning: Suicide.

I rate this book 4.5/5 stars.

I really like the writing style as it’s very straight forward and the narrator who tells the story. The story is really compelling, and it’s really a man vs. world story which I really enjoy. The book shows his current life and through flashbacks which are really well placed within the story. I do really like Ove as a character as well, the grumpy old man. I understand why he’s thinking of ending his own life as I see myself in him at certain moments. It’s the fact that I’ve recently been in therapy for my own trauma that this hasn’t been as triggering for me. But I did break down in tears when the epilogue hit. It’s a very bittersweet ending, and the few jokes that were made, made me laugh as well. 

Favourite quote:

“Love is a strange thing, it takes you by surprise.”

I totally recommend this book to anyone.

Persuasion by Jane Austen is a 267 page Adult Romance Classic.

Eight years ago, Anne Elliot and Frederick Wentworth fell head over heels in love. But Anne's snobbish family put a stop to their engagement, believing the young naval captain wasn't good enough for her. Pretty, intelligent Anne soon realises it was a terrible mistake, and spends her twenties in the shadow of her father and her selfish sisters. But she never forgets. Then Captain Wentworth - by now a successful, wealthy man, looking for a wife - walks back into her life. Can he forgive her? Does he still love her? And could they ever be happy, after all this time?

I rate this book 2/5 stars.

I absolutely didn’t follow any moment within this book, yet somehow I was compelled to continue this one rather than DNF’ing it. I still don’t know why. Maybe it’s because it was simply for a quest during the Magical Readathon Orilium 2023.

Because of this, I honestly can’t say if I recommend this one or not. There is one thing I know for sure, and that I that I won’t keep my copy of the book.

Ikigai: The Japanese Philosophy to Improve Health, Work and Relationships by Alicia Mori is a Non-fiction audiobook of just under 4 hours.

Discover the true purpose of your life and live longer: here's how! Have you ever heard about Okinawa? It's an island in Japan where people regularly live to be 100 years old. Even at a very advanced age, they still do what they love and enjoy an active social life. One of their main secrets is "ikigai". It means the reason why you get up in the morning. It's what makes your life valuable. It makes you feel peaceful, focused, and energized. It can be a hobby, but you can also choose your job based on your ikigai, and you'll be an excellent professional because you'll be doing what you're naturally good at! So, how do you find your ikigai?

I rate this book 3/5 stars.

Maybe it because of the fact that it was an audio book, but while listening I really enjoyed the anecdotes and tips on how to find your purpose in life. While listening I felt that it all made sense, but now that I’m writing this review 10 days later, I must be honest and say that I’ve mostly forgotten everything that was discussed within the book. I do think that it’s very useful to have an insight into what makes you, you and how you can live the most fulfilling life, maybe this is one of those Non-Fiction book it’s best to have physically so you can mark certain passages and grab off the shelf every one in a while.

Pic beneath shows how the Ikigai works: (not my picture)