Wednesday, September 12, 2018

The Chrysalis - Review


Title:  The Chrysalis
Author:  Brendan Deneen
Synopsis:   “Welcome to the dark side of suburbia.
     “Barely employed millennials Tom and Jenny Decker have to grow up fast when they lose their cheap Manhattan apartment.  Leaving “the city” is hard, but the blow is softened when they stumble upon a surprisingly affordable house in the suburbs.
     “For Tom, the bills, the mortgage, and Jenny’s unexpected pregnancy add up to terror.  He’s not ready for this kind of responsibility.
     “Then he finds the thing in the basement.  It makes him feel like a winner even as it scrambles his senses.  A new job soon has him raking in the big bucks – enough that Jenny can start making her entrepreneurial dreams come true.  
     “The Deckers’ dream home conceals more than one deadly secret.  As Tom’s obsession with the basement grows, Jenny realizes that to save her family, she must expose everything.  Before it destroys them all.
     “No one ever really wants to grow up… but sometimes behaving like an adult is the only way to survive.”

Review:  The story starts out with a brutal murder, and then cuts to a stereotypical millennial couple moving to the suburb.  The Chrysalis is engaging enough that I found myself thinking about it when I was doing other things.  While reading the first half of the novel I didn’t have a problem putting it down when my reading time was over and I had to do other things, like make dinner or go to work.  The second half of the novel I could not put down.  I read it in one go, at bedtime, and then couldn’t sleep because I was afraid that I was going to have nightmares. 
     
     ***It’s a new release, so I won’t post any major spoilers.  But there are a few minor ones below.***

     At first I felt bad for the characters, especially Tom.  He gives up a lot to provide for his little family and it had to be hard.  In his mind he is basically selling out by taking the sales job that allows him to be a provider.  And Jenny, getting fired from her job just when she finds out that she is pregnant, is dealt what had to be a devastating blow emotionally.  Things go from bad to worse when Tom discovers the chrysalis in the basement.  I’m going to admit that it took me a long time to realize that the chrysalis in the basement symbolizes addiction, and that the whole novel is about how addiction can ruin your life. 
     The Chrysalis is scary enough that it kept me awake at night, and it made me feel kind of queasy.  Which, for a horror novel, means that it did its job.  If you aren’t jumping at shadows and uncomfortable after reading a horror novel, did you really read a horror novel?

***I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

Publisher:  Tor

If you like this book you may want to read:



The Hunger by Alma Katsu



Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Beholder's Eye - Review



Title:  Beholder’s Eye
Author:  Julie E. Czerneda
Series:  Web Shifters #1

Synopsis:  “Esen is the baby of the family.  Only 500 years old, she’s impulsive and inexperienced, but determined to prove herself.  And her first assignment, to study the Human inhabitants of Kraos without being detected, seems so easy it’s almost insulting.
     “Esen herself isn’t Human – she’s a shapechanger, whose species has more in common with an exceptionally large amoeba than with anything we’d think of as sapient.  And of course she mucks the job up royally, going from observer to passionate defender of an endangered offworld Human who suddenly, without her quite realizing how, becomes her colleague.
     “Her family is furious, and their ruling Elder decides it’s time for Esen to grow up – to learn just why the family keeps itself hidden.  For the galaxy is a far more dangerous place than she’s ever imagined – and the danger is about to find them.”

Review:  Beholder’s Eye is the first book in one of my favorite series from one of my favorite authors.  I always tell readers, especially readers that don’t care for science fiction, that this is not a science fiction story.  Sure, there are science fiction elements.  It takes place in space, on spaceships, and on different planets.  There are spaceships, space stations, humans, and aliens.  The author has put a lot of effort into world building, character building and developing different cultures.  But at its heart, Beholder’s Eye is a story about people and family.


*****CAUTION: SPOILERS AHEAD*****
     
     Beholder’s Eye speaks to me about family, both birth/blood relatives and the family we choose.  Esen’s “birth” family is Ersh, Ansky, Mixs,Skalet and Lesy.  Even before she loses them all we see that while their relationships with each other are important, most of them have chosen to surround themselves with other families.  Mixs spends most of her time on the Panacian Hiveworld; Lesy with her artist’s colony; Ansky with the Articans; and Skalet with the Kraal.  Ersh, by the very nature of being oldest, has lived a very long time.  We don’t know a whole lot about her life before she gave birth to the other members of her web.  However none of them have become so attached to their chosen web that they revealed themselves to them.  That is something which is for blood relations only.  Until Esen.  Throughout the story we see Esen starting to build her own web.  She becomes quickly attached to Ragem and even reveals herself to save his life, something which none of her siblings would have ever done.  By the end of the book her family is gone and all that is left is Esen and Ragem, and the start of her new web. 
      Even though Esen and her family are not human, this speaks to me of human nature.  Most of us have a family; even if it’s not blood.  They are the people who raised us.  The people who taught us the embarrassing things like how to use a fork, how to use a toilet, and how to behave in social situations.  When we are older the relationships with those people are still important, but they begin to change.  We begin to surround ourselves with people we choose as our family.  As we become adults we create our own web of spouses, offspring and friends.  I call mine my tribe.  My tribe consists of my husband, my cats and our friends. 
     At the very end of Beholder’s Eye we discover that in human years Esen is not even ten years old.  She has just started creating her own web and we look forward to joining her in future installments in this series.

*****Join us Tuesday September 11th at 8pm EST on BookGirl’s BookNook Facebook Page for a Live discussion of Beholder’s Eye*****


Publisher:   DAW Books

If you like this book you may want to read:



Changing Vision (Web Shifters #2) by Julie E. Czerneda



All Systems Red (The Murderbot Diaries #1) by Martha Wells



Powers That Be (Petaybee #1) by Anne McCaffrey & Elizabeth Ann Scarborough



Stardoc (Stardoc #1) by S. L. Viehl

Thursday, September 6, 2018

Web Shifter Countdown & Readalong

 

      I found out a few weeks ago that Julie E. Czerneda has a new book coming out.  This new book, called Search Image, is part of new series set in the same world as her Web Shifters series and features the same main characters.  The Web Shifters series was one of my first forays into science fiction, and has been one of my favorites since I picked up a copy of Beholder's Eye in 1999.  I was scrolling through NetGalley looking for books to request for review (even though I'm so far behind that it's going to take years to catch up) when I saw it.  What it was didn't register at first.  I thought the cover looked interesting.  Then I noticed it was by Julie E Czerneda and anything by her is an automatic read for me.  So I requested it, and continued on.  I still didn't really realize that this new book required a jumping up and down level of excitement.  It wasn't until I was approved for the e-arc and was adding it to my blog planner that I realized it was a new Web Shifters novel.  My heart started to race.  I squealed loudly.  I jumped up and down. Now that I think about it, I really should bake some cookies for my downstairs neighbor.



     I was home alone, so I immediately texted SuperSteve and told him my exciting news.  He was happy for me; but, having not read the books, he doesn't really understand.  I decided that I wanted to do something to help build up the anticipation for other readers. So I've decided to do a quick readalong of the Web Shifters series leading up to the release of Search Image on October 2nd.  Thankfully they are fairly quick reads, so I think that those of us who read a lot can make this work.  So, whether you have read the Web Shifters series before or not, please join me each Tuesday on BookGirl's BookNook Facebook Page for a discussion of the Web Shifters series including the novella The Only Thing to Fear which was released September 4th (we will discuss the new novel Search Image on Saturday October 6th to allow everyone a chance to at least buy and start reading it), schedule posted below.  I haven't decided what format the discussion will take, but am leaning toward a combination of LIVE videos and a discussion post.  Let me know if you have other ideas for the best way to have a book discussion on the internet.  The timing of the discussions are to be determined as they will have to be based on my work schedule.  The schedule of the discussions is posted below and I will update the times as I get my schedule for each week, I will also post a review of each book on the Tuesday it is to be discussed and that post will also let you know what time we will be having the discussion.  I hope to see many of you there!







Tuesday September 11, 2018: Beholder's Eye, Web Shifters #1; discussion at 8pm EST



Tuesday September 18, 2018: Changing Vision, Web Shifters #2; discussion at 8pm EST



Tuesday September 25, 2018: Hidden in Sight, Web Shifters #3; discussion at 8pm EST



Tuesday October 2, 2018: The Only Thing to Fear, Web Shifter Novella; discussion at 8pm EST



Saturday October 6, 2018: Search Image, Web Shifter's Library #1; discussion at 2pm EST 

All discussions will be on BookGirl's BookNook Facebook page.

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Looking Forward - September 2018

     Harvest is my favorite season.  That's what SuperSteve and I call Autumn.  I want pumpkin spice and chai flavored everything, and I'm looking forward to wearing sweaters and leggings.  I love the cooler weather (I very much dislike sweat and being hot).  Soon we will be admiring the changing colors of the foliage, and it will be getting dark earlier.  I'll be snuggled under a blanket, with a cat in my lap while reading.  I've been looking forward to this since the middle of June.  Also, usually the harvest season means more time for me to read. 
   
     Speaking of reading, here are the books I'm looking forward to in September.  You may want to get your pumpkin spice latte before reading this.  There are a lot.  Let me know if you're going to be reading any of these, or if I missed any you're looking forward to, in the comments.



September 4, 2018:




















The Seclusion by Jacqui Castle:  This is a dystopian novel with, I'm hoping, a strong female protagonist.  Find it on Goodreads, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble
***I was provided a free copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

Plague Land: Reborn by Alex Scarrow:  This is the sequel to last year's Plague Land.  You all know how much I love a good apocalypse.  Find it on Goodreads, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble
***I was provided a free copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***




















A Deadly Brew by Lynn Cahoon: This a novella.  It's a cozy mystery, it's Halloween themed, and just look at that awesome cover!  Find it on Goodreads, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble
***I was provided a free copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

Night and Silence by Seanan McGuire: This is #12 in the October Daye series.  If you haven't gotten into this series yet do yourself a favor and go read the first one (Rosemary and Rue) now!  Find this latest installment on Goodreads, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble
***I was provided a free copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***





The Chrysalis by Brendan Deeen: This novel looks delightfully scary.  I'm hoping it will keep me up at night.  Find it on Goodreads, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble
***I was provided a free copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***




September 11, 2018:





















The Lantern's Ember by Colleen Houck:  I'll admit that I selected this one because of the cover.  It has a lot of not so great reviews on Goodreads, but I'm hoping to enjoy it anyway.  I mean, just look at that cover!  Find it on Goodreads, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble
***I was provided a free copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

Born Scared by Kevin Brooks: This is a book about fear.  I thought that with my anxiety issues it might be an interesting read.  Find it on Goodreads, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble
***I was provided a free copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***




The Late Great Wizard by Sara Hanover:  This is the first book in a new urban fantasy series.  A debut author, and a gorgeous cover; how could I say no?  Find it on Goodreads, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble
***I was provided a free copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***




September 18, 2018:




The Night Crossing by Robert Masello: The description of this novel starts with: "Bram Stoker kept secret a tale even more terrifying than Dracula."  Need I say more?  Find it on Goodreads, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble
*** I was provided a free copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

Worldshaper by Edward Willett:  This is the first book in a new urban fantasy series with a labyrinth.  Yes, you see why I picked this one now.  The book description promises a labyrinth.  Find it on Goodreads, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble
***I was provided a free copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

























SINdrome by J. T. Nicholas: I didn't realize this is the third book in the series.  I haven't read the rest so probably won't get to this installment in the series for a couple more months.  But it's about the synth uprising, woohoo!  Find it on Goodreads, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble
***I was provided a free copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

The Real Witches of New England by Ellen Evert Hopman: I'm trying to read more nonfiction.  I'm doing that by choosing topics that I'm really interested in.  Find it on Goodreads, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble
***I was provided a free copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***


September 25, 2018:
























The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller by Cleo Coyle: This is book #6 in the Haunted Bookshop Mystery Series.  I love cozy mysteries about books and shop owners, so I love this series.  If you like mysteries and haven't discovered this series yet go read the first one, The Ghost and Mrs. McClure.  Find this latest installment in the series on Goodreads, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble
***I was provided a free copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

Bells, Spells and Murders by Carol J. Perry: This is book #7 in the Witch City Mystery Series.  This series is currently my favorite cozy mystery series.  It has a supernatural cat, and paranormal twists galore.  If you haven't read any of this series yet give it a try, the first one in the series is Caught Dead Handed and you can read my review here.  Find the latest installment in this series on Goodreads, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble
***I was provided a free copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***