I Am Cleopatra by Natasha Solomons REVIEW

Summary:

The favored daughter of the Pharaoh, Egyptian Princess Cleopatra spent her childhood hiding amid the scrolls in the great library of Alexandria, dreaming of one day writing her own story.

When her father dies, naming both Cleopatra and her selfish brother Ptolemy as his successors to the throne, danger arises. While the young queen sails the Nile to greet her people, her brother plots to eliminate her and rule the empire alone.

But while Ptolemy has the power of the kingdom behind him, Cleopatra has her cunning wits. When the great Caesar arrives from Rome, she realizes he could be the key to her salvation - though courting this powerful man could cost her everything.

Can Cleopatra save her life, her throne, and her beloved Egypt and finally write her own history?

My Thoughts:

This book is told in dual narratives of Cleopatra and Servilla, Caesar's mistress in Rome. We follow her childhood, as her father appeals to Rome to help Egypt before he dies, making Cleopatra Queen. But her brother is twisted by the words of his advisors, and plans to kill her so that he alone rules. When word of Caesar arriving in Egypt comes, Cleopatra decides to infiltrate her own palace to meet him - and hopefully get him on her side to save her life. The book follows her affair with Caesar up to and briefly after his assassination.

While I do like that this book shone a light on her relationship with Caesar, I can't help but wonder why most books about Cleopatra only focus on her affairs and never just herself. It gets old real fast. However, the dual narrative serves a bit of a purpose of letting the reader know the events going on in Rome at the time, as well as to see Caesar in a different perspective than just how Cleopatra sees him. I do like the inclusion of this, as it does help set the scene for the issues within Rome's politics, relationships in Rome, and who Caesar is outside of being a powerful man. One issue I do have with the novel is that it uses some modern language/slang even though the real historical figures would not say things like that, which took me out of enjoying it as much.

My Rating: 4 stars

Brotherhood by Mike Chen REVIEW

Summary:

The Clone Wars have begun. Battle lines are being drawn throughout the galaxy. With every world that joins the Separatists, the peace guarded by the Jedi Order is slipping through their fingers.

After an explosion devastates Cato Nemoidia, the jewel of the Trade Federation, the Republic is blamed and the fragile neutrality of the planet is threatened. The Jedi dispatch Obi-Wan Kenobi, one of the Order's most gifted diplomatic minds, to investigate the crime and maintain the balance that has begun to dangerously shift. As Obi-Wan investigates with the help of a heroic Nemoidian guard, he finds himself working against the Separatists who hope to draw the planet into their conspiracy - and he senses the sinister hand of Asajj Ventress in the mists that cloak the planet.

Amid the brewing chaos, Anakin Skywalker rises to the rank of Jedi Knight. Despite the mandate that Obi-Wan travel alone - and his former Master's insistence that he listen this time - Anakin's headstrong determination means nothing can stop him from crashing the party and bringing along a promising but conflicted youngling.

Once a Padawan to Obi-Wan, Anakin now finds himself on equal - but uncertain - footing with the man who raised him. The lingering friction between them increases the danger for everyone around them. The two knights must learn a new way to work together - and they must learn quickly, to save Cato Nemoidia and its people from the fires of war. To overcome the threat they face they must grow beyond Master and apprentice. They must stand together as brothers. 

My Thoughts:

I loved this. Some time after the events of Attack of the Clones, Anakin gets to become a Jedi Knight and Obi-Wan accepts a seat on the Council. Since they are no longer Master and apprentice, the men struggle to become confident in their new roles apart from each other while still occasionally working together. When Obi-Wan is sent on a diplomatic mission, he is to go alone. He finds help in Ruug Quarnom, a young guard who is wary of the Jedi but wants to find the culprit, even if it turns out to be the work of a Separatist and not the Republic. He stumbles upon damning evidence against the Republic, and Ruug finds damning evidence against the Separatists. But when Obi-Wan is caught with a communication device, he is imprisoned and put on trial. Despite the evidence pointing to both sides, the Nemoidians blame the Republic, thanks to another guard named Ketar. Ketar holds a grudge against the Republic, partially due to his parents' deaths and partially due to the influence of Ventress. Anakin swoops in to help just as chaos erupts, and Ruug helps find the truth behind the attacks - it was all Ketar and Ventress.

Despite this book being fast-paced, it develops the characters and story very well. We get to see the vulnerable side of Anakin when he's alone with his wife and when he tells Mill (a youngling) about his past growing up. We see Obi-Wan struggle to start treating Anakin as an equal instead of an apprentice, and his thoughts regarding Satine, a woman he's had feelings for. Even Ruug and Ketar feel like they could be actual people. I would definitely recommend this book to any Star Wars fan.

My Rating: 5 stars

William by Mason Coile REIVEW

Summary:

Henry is a brilliant engineer who, after untold hours spent in his home lab, has achieved the breakthrough of his career - he's created an artificially intelligent consciousness. He calls the half-formed robot William.

No one knows about William. Henry's agoraphobia keeps him inside the house, and his fixation on his project keeps him up in the attic, away from everyone, including his pregnant wife, Lily.

When Lily's coworkers show up, wanting to finally meet Henry and see the new house - the smartest of smart homes - Henry decides to introduce them to William, and things go from strange to much worse. Soon Henry and Lily discover the security upgrades intended to keep danger out of the house are even better at locking it in.

My Thoughts:

While not as developed as well as it could have been, this was a really fun read. Henry and Lily are having problems in their marriage, and his agoraphobia isn't helping. He's almost always locked in his lab working on William, a robot with artificial intelligence who is also developing consciousness. When Lily invites her coworkers for dinner in an attempt to have Henry get more socialization, things get weird when they meet William. The robot's curiosity and bloodlust becomes apparent, and not all of them may make it out alive.

I love the concept of a robot developing free will and terrorizing people, and this book was great for that. My only issues were that the characters were not very developed and felt one-dimensional, except for Henry and William. We barely know anything about Lily, Davis, or Paige. While we do get a small glimpse of their stories at the end, it's hard to care about characters that we don't know much about. The story and concept felt very new and fun, but the lack of characterization knocked down my rating of this one.

My Rating: 3 stars

Katabasis by R. F. Kuang REVIEW

Summary:

Alice Law has only ever had one goal: to become one of the brightest minds in the field of Magick. She has sacrificed everything to make that a reality: her pride, her health, her love life, and most definitely her sanity. All to work with Professor Jacob Grimes at Cambridge, the greatest magician in the world.

That is, until he dies in a magical accident that could possibly be her fault.

Grimes is now in Hell, and she’s going in after him. Because his recommendation could hold her very future in his now incorporeal hands and even death is not going to stop the pursuit of her dreams….

Nor will the fact that her rival, Peter Murdoch, has come to the very same conclusion.

With nothing but the tales of Orpheus and Dante to guide them, enough chalk to draw the Pentagrams necessary for their spells, and the burning desire to make all the academic trauma mean anything, they set off across Hell to save a man they don’t even like.

But Hell is not like the storybooks say, Magick isn’t always the answer, and there’s something in Alice and Peter’s past that could forge them into the perfect allies…or lead to their doom. 

My Thoughts:

This was such an interesting take on Hell. While the general story of going to Hell in order to rescue someone you know isn't new, this particular take on it is (at least for me). Alice decides to go to Hell in order to bring back her professor for two reasons: she thinks his death is her fault, and she wants to be able to get a job right after graduation with his good connections. Peter has the same idea of rescuing him, and also believes that Grimes' death is his fault. Despite their shaky relationship, they decide to go together. Parts of hell look like the campus at Cambridge, but the two struggle trying to find their way to whatever section of Hell their professor is in. Throughout the journey, secrets are uncovered that may just turn their mission into something else . . .

While I love the amount of world-building in Hell, the author does not do the same for the world-building at Cambridge. We get character development along the way, but the book mostly takes place in Hell and the life at Cambridge is a mystery for the most part. There are small details revealed, but not enough to fully capture what it was like for Alice and Peter. While I am not a huge fan of Alice, I do love Peter's character, especially when we learn his backstory and the struggles he has with an uncurable illness. Their growing romance seems very real, slow, and not forced. They struggle with socializing due to past incidents and think the other hates them before they realize the truth. Parts of the ending, however, felt rushed. We are led to believe that Peter won't be able to make it back, so how does he make it back? Alice did a spell, yes, but it wasn't really explained on how it was possible.

Overall I did like the book, and will most likely try out some of the author's other works as well.

My Rating: 3 stars

Eat Slay Love by Julie Mae Cohen REVIEW

Summary:

Marina gave up her career as a chef to raise her children, but her divorce has left her harried, lonely, and the black sheep of her family. It’s also left her in dire financial straits.

Opal is a post-menopausal fitness guru who spends her days chasing likes and followers in an industry that worships youth. Even her glossy online persona can’t mask her checkered past.

Lilah is a shy and optimistic librarian who spends her days tending to the stacks, until she wins an unbelievable sum in the lottery. With a growing bank account and a dashing fiancé, life seems too good to be true—and it just might be.

These three women have nothing in common except for one the man who’s been lying to them all . . . and who they are now holding hostage in Marina’s basement. As this shared secret brings them closer together, other, deadlier problems come crashing into their lives. Can they put their differences aside to save themselves—and each other?

My Thoughts:

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Lilah, a librarian who won the lottery, meets her fiance through a book club. When her father tragically dies in what seems like a robbery, her fiance suggests investing in more security around the house. But when she tries to buy some books to cheer her up, her balance is much less than it should be . . .

Lilah meets Opal and Marina at a coffee shop where she learns the truth - her fiance is Opal's ex and is sleeping with Marina, not to mention stealing her lottery winnings from under her nose. The trio is determined to expose him, but Marina has had enough when he shows up to her home and shoves him down the basement stairs. The three decide to keep him hostage there until they come up with a plan. But more secrets are exposed while he is down there, and nobody is quite like they seem.

At first it was a bit difficult to keep the three stories apart, but it got easier as I kept reading. I grew to adore Lilah, Marina, and Opal throughout the plot, especially when the twists were revealed. The writing is great and the characters are well developed. I would definitely recommend giving this book a read.

My Rating: 5 stars

The Devil She Knows by Alexandria Bellefleur REVIEW

Summary:

Samantha Cooper is having a day from hell. In less than twenty-four hours, her life has unraveled, leaving her single and with nowhere to live. Adding insult to injury, she's trapped in an elevator with a gorgeous woman who claims to be a demon.

Daphne is not at all what Samantha expected from someone insisting she's an evil supernatural entity. She's pretty, witty, dressed in pink, and smells nice. And she's here to offer Samantha a deal she can't refuse: six wishes in exchange for one tiny trade - Samantha's soul. There's a glaring loophole in their contract; one Samantha fully intends to exploit so she doesn't have to fork over her soul. After all, she only needs one wish to win her ex back.

Hell-bent to gather the last of the one thousand souls she needs so that she can be free of her own devilish deal, Daphne grants each of Samantha's wishes with a twist, so Samantha is forced to make more.

As Samantha's wishes dwindle and Daphne offers her glimpses into the life she thought she wanted, the unlikely pair grows close. Perhaps the girl of Samantha's dreams is actually the stuff of nightmares, but Samantha and Daphne will have to outsmart the devil himself if they want a chance at happily ever after. 

My Thoughts:

This was a fun and quick read. When Samantha proposes to her influencer girlfriend Hannah, she thinks they'll spend the rest of their lives together. After all, they had discussed getting married before. But Hannah rejects the proposal and dumps her, leaving Samantha barely any time to find a new place to live. Desperate to get her ex back, when Sam meets Daphne in the elevator, she decides to make a deal with her. After all, she only wants one thing - so she won't have to worry about spending all of her wishes. However, each wish comes with a twist, and Samantha slowly realizes that she may not want Hannah back after all - she might just want Daphne instead.

Daphne is such a fun and interesting character, and I loved learning about her past and how she became a demon. Sam, on the other hand, is extremely one-dimensional, which made it kind of difficult to feel for her, other than when the proposal went wrong. We barely know anything about her, other than the facts that she loves Hannah and is a chef. It's easy to see why and how Daphne falls for Sam, but since Sam has very little depth, it's hard to see how she falls for Daphne.

While the novel was a lot of fun to read, it is difficult to give this a high rating due to our main character being extremely surface level with little to no development.

My Rating: 2 stars

Their Monstrous Hearts by Yigit Turhan REVIEW

Summary:

A mysterious stranger shows up at Riccardo's apartment with some news: his grandmother Perihan has died, and Riccardo has inherited her villa in Milan along with her famed butterfly collection.

The struggling writer is out of options. He's hoping the change of scenery in Milan will inspire him, and maybe there will be some money to keep him afloat. But Perihan's house isn't as opulent as he remembers. The butterflies pinned in their glass cases seems more ominous than artful. Perihan's group of mysterious old friends is constantly lurking. And there's something wrong in the greenhouse.

As Riccardo explores the decrepit estate, he stumbles upon Perihan's diary, which might hold the key to her mysterious death. Or at least give him the inspiration he needs to finish his manuscript. But he might not survive long enough to write it.

My Thoughts:

What started out slow turned into a creepy, atmospheric horror. Riccardo is a writer who is struggling to pay his bills. When the electricity turns off in his apartment, he gets a visitor: Maurizio. An old friend of his grandmother, Maurizio brings him news of her death. Estranged from his family, Riccardo is unsure that he will attend the funeral. But with his editor breathing down his neck about his non-existent manuscript, he decides to go. Maybe he'll get part of the inheritance, or at least inspiration to have his big break. As Riccardo returns, he is greeted with Perihan's villa; an old and eerie shell of its past. Looking through his grandmother's room, he finds a journal addressed to him. Curious, he brings the book back to his room and starts to read. What begins as a journal turns into something almost fantasy-esque. Angels, butterflies, and the ability to come back after death. But the increasingly odd staff start acting more suspicious, even drugging him a few times to find a lost book for a ritual. The twist? Perihan isn't dead, she is waiting to put her soul into Riccardo's body to live longer and pick up where she left off in life.

I do really like the glimpses in the past of Riccardo growing up, and the explanation for why his mother abandoned him with his grandmother to never be seen again. It showed a different side to why he is the way he is. Perihan's manuscript is boring at first, but it turns the story into what it is. That is a double edged sword - it is useful, but it takes away from developing other characters and takes up most of the book. I am annoyed that Riccardo never even started writing his book or at least making ideas since he was clearly inspired by his grandmother's story, and to be honest that was the majority of his character - a struggling writer with an estranged family. That's his entire personality in this novel, which was also not great, since the only developed character was Perihan. The only reason she was developed at all is because her journal takes up the majority of the book. 

I have a lot of mixed feelings about this novel. I liked it, but there were a lot of flaws as well that stopped me from truly loving it.

My Rating: 3 stars

The Secret Crush Book Club by Karmen Lee REVIEW

Summary:

For Dani, life is a juggling act. As a single mom devoted to her son and family, she barely has a moment to herself. But when her sister announces she's moving out of the house, the ache of loneliness creeps in, and Dani can't help but wonder if there's something else she's been missing in her life . . .

Zoey came to Peach Blossom eager to start her new job as the town's librarian and to do a little research for her next book. Yet she never expected to find inspiration in fellow book club member Dani, whose captivating brown eyes tell a story of their own. Before they know it, lingering glances over their favorite fiction turn into first dates and sizzling nights.

As their connection deepens, the two women must decide if they should turn the page on what their lives used to look like, or if this thrilling plot twist is the happily-ever-after they've been chasing all along.

My Thoughts:

This was a cute read. Dani, a single mom who's dedicated to her son and family, finds herself needing to go out and do things for herself to help the burnout and loneliness she's feeling. When Zoey, the librarian who runs a video game club her son goes to, asks her to join a book club, Dani hesitantly agrees. They start to notice an attraction growing between them, but Dani is unsure whether to pursue it due to her duties as a mother and the fact that this is the first time she's been attracted to a woman.

The fact that Dani's sisters are gay and their father is totally accepting of them was a nice touch. Instead of being afraid to come out to her family, she is afraid because she is a late bloomer. This was a nice 180 from the usual LGBT storylines that are frankly overused in romance novels. However, it also uses the will-they-won't-they and third act breakup trope, which definitely knocked down my rating for this one. I did like the amount of time the book spent showing Dani caring for her family and standing up/being there for her son when he was having a crisis though.

My Rating: 3 stars 

R.A.T.S. by Claudia Daher REVIEW

Summary:

In 2040, 15-year-old David discovers he and his friends are Earth's final defense against an alien race determined to steal the planet's water. 

Guided by a mysterious alternate reality game created by his grandfather, R.A.T.S. - Revolutionary Army of Teens - David and allies from around the globe must unite, train, and rise against a looming extraterrestrial threat. As they prepare for battle, they uncover hidden truths about the universe, face environmental catastrophe, and embrace their destiny as the last hope for humanity.

My Thoughts:

This book had such a good premise, but it unfortunately fell short. David plays a video game where he and other players from around the world discover and implement ways to stop environmental problems and societal conflicts. When aliens threaten to steal the water from Earth, he and his friends must join in person and save the world from the aliens.

Starting with the good things about this book, I enjoyed reading about the story behind the alien species that drove them to want to steal from Earth. While some of their kind was selfish, others were kind and caring toward others and their planet. David and a few of his game friends were very well-written to be just like teenagers, and his grandfather is a likeable character who I wish was written more of.

Now with the negatives, some of the teenagers were written more like mature adults. While it is true that some teenagers are more mature than others, they were almost like adults in their 30s or 40s. The teenager that becomes a traitor was very obvious and stereotypical from the start, which was an odd choice for such a diverse cast of characters and seemed out of place. Most importantly, the battle scene was jarring. It was not believable that the characters would learn how to operate spaceships and utilize the weapons in such a short time-frame, and there aren't any training scenes or hint that they've been taught how to do any of that.

While the novel is a fast and somewhat interesting read, the negatives unfortunately weighed out the positives.

My Rating: 2 stars

Ava by Victoria Dillon REVIEW

Summary:

Ten years after Roe v. Wade is overturned, twenty-two-year-old biologist Larkin finds herself unexpectedly pregnant in a country where choice is no longer an option. Initially uncertain, she embraces motherhood - until a devastating diagnosis changes everything. Trapped by Tennessee's strict abortion laws, she is forced to carry her baby to term, only to endure the heartbreak of losing her hours after birth.

Years later, Larkin joins a radical scientific movement that could change everything: a groundbreaking technology that replaces gestation with incubation, allowing women true control over their reproduction. When she uses it to bring her second daughter, Ava, into the world, she believes she has finally reclaimed her autonomy. But as Ava grows and begins to question the very choice that created her, Larkin is challenged in ways she never imagined. 

My Thoughts:

I was thoroughly impressed with this book. The story envisions a possible world with women's choices becoming obsolete, and how science could help provide an alternative. Larkin becomes unexpectedly pregnant after getting married. Initially, she and her husband are elated with the news. But when they find out the baby has a condition in which the brain will not develop and will die shortly after birth, the couple is devastated. Unable to get an abortion, Larkin becomes increasingly aware of the rights that are slowly being taken away from women. When her boss, Dr. Davis, shows her his research on creating a way for humans to reproduce by incubation, Larkin dives in to help out, even volunteering as a test subject in order to have a baby without the concerns of the same devastating diagnosis her first child had. What follows is the birth - or hatching - of Ava. Growing up, Ava has to learn about herself differently than other kids, and even questions why her mother went to such extremes to have her.

What's scary about the premise of this book is that some of the problems are actively occurring in America. Women being denied abortion even for ectopic pregnancies, and even dying as a result of their rights being taken away. The novel takes this a step further, imagining where birth control becomes illegal, and pregnancy tests are monitored and reported. Despite genuinely scaring me, I very much liked reading this. It was well-written, and you can tell that the author did her research when it comes to the scientific side of things. My only disappointment is that the ending felt rushed. Most of the novel is about Larkin, despite being named after her daughter. We barely get to know Ava, and despite her valid concerns about the way she was born, it feels like she moved on too quickly, especially for a teenager. I would still recommend giving this book a chance!

My Rating: 4 stars

Darth Plagueis by James Luceno REVIEW

Summary:

Darth Plagueis: one of the most brilliant Sith Lords who ever lived. Possessing power is all he desires; losing it is the only thing he fears. As an apprentice, he embraces the ruthless ways of the Sith. When the time is right, he destroys his Master - and vows never to suffer the same fate. For like no other disciple of the dark side, Darth Plagueis learns to command the ultimate power . . . over life and death.

Darth Sidious: Plagueis's chosen apprentice. Under the guidance of his Master, he secretly studies the ways of the Sith while publicly rising to power in the galactic government, first as Senator, then as Chancellor, and eventually as Emperor.

Darth Plagueis and Darth Sidious, Master and acolyte, target the galaxy for domination - and the Jedi Order for annihilation. But can they defy the merciless Sith tradition? Or will the desire of one to rule supreme, and the dream of the other to live forever, sow the seeds of their destruction?

My Thoughts:

Have you ever heard of the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise? This is it, as it follows his double life as a Sith and as a Magister of Damask Holdings, a bank and finance business. After killing his master, Darth Tenebrous, Plagueis embarks on a journey to master the Force in order to bring people back to life, and to extend his own. He takes a young Palpatine under his wing, and together they set the plans in motion to destroy the Jedi and rule the galaxy.

It was so interesting to know just how much of the plans Plagueis had were the ones that ended with Sidious destroying the Jedi and ruling the galaxy. I never thought that he was alive during the first two prequels, but he is! We get a lot of behind the scenes of the blockade planning, the plan to grow a clone army, and even to make Palpatine chancellor of the senate. We even see his first meeting with a young Anakin Skywalker. I would definitely give this book a read if you are a fan of Star Wars, especially since it is also very well written.

My Rating: 5 stars

Woodstake by Darin S. Cape REVIEW

My Thoughts:

The story starts off with Jack falling in love and marrying Lucy in 1927, only for her to be targeted by a vampire and turned. Van Hellsing kills her, but the other vampire is still at large. Many years later, Jack remarries, just for the same thing to happen again. Jonathan, a young man with a passion for music, attends a festival in the area. All hell breaks loose when vampires start attacking the attendees, and the sheriff is under the vampire's mind control. Jonathan must find a way to escape with his friends with the help of the son of Van Hellsing.

I think this was a very new and interesting vampire setting. I have never come across one where vampires attack a music festival. While I do think that the concept was great, the execution was not as well done. The only fleshed out character is Jack, who ends up dying partway through the graphic novel. The rest of the characters just seem surface-level and one-dimensional. While I do understand that it is more difficult to develop characters in graphic novel format, it is possible, as it was with Jack. That being said, I did enjoy the story and it was a fun, quick read.

My Rating: 2 stars

The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald REVIEW

My Thoughts:

The story follows Anthony Patch and Gloria. Anthony is the grandson of a wealthy man, and will most likely get his inheritance when he dies. Anthony does not have to work, nor does he choose to. He meets Gloria through Richard Caramel, a friend of his. He becomes infatuated with her, and eventually they become married. But their reckless spending on parties and travel leads to Anthony joining the army during World War I for a brief time. When he learns that his grandfather has passed and he did not receive any inheritance, Anthony takes it to court to win the money he believes he deserved. In the meantime, he can no longer stand being sober, and drinks every waking moment, causing another rift between him and Gloria. By the time he wins the inheritance back, Anthony regresses back to when he was a child.

I was not a fan of how the dialogue was written when there were more than a couple people. It was written as if it were a stage play, which did not flow well with the rest of the novel. That being said, I did like the book despite how long it took me to read it. The characters were all insufferable one way or the other at some point, which made it seem real.

My Rating: 3 stars