Author: elishasbookreview

I am just a 30 something trying to figure out how to survive in this crazy world. I want to share my love of reading with everyone! I want to introduce people to some underrated or unknown authors. I also blog about other media I consume such as TV, Movies, Podcasts, and Video Games.
Posted in Graphic Novels, Rapid Reviews

RAPID REVIEW: The Blue Flame: The Complete Series by Christopher Cantwell

Posted on by elishasbookreview

A cosmic action adventure for fans and readers of Watchmen, Strange Adventures, and Hawkeye, The Blue Flame tells the story of a blue collar working man/DIY vigilante/cosmic hero, who must defend Earth with an answer to the “Is humanity worth saving?” Repairman. Vigilante. Cosmic Hero. The Blue Flame is a cosmic hero. The Blue Flame is a DIY vigilante that fights crime on the streets of Milwaukee. The Blue Flame is a blue collar HVAC repairman named Sam Brausam. In the wake of a horrific tragedy, the boundaries of the Blue Flame’s identity blur even further. Now, before a universal trial, the Blue Flame must prove that humanity is worth saving. But in order to do that, Sam Brausam has to save himself. Can he? An odyssey for answers at the heart of the universe. Collects the entire series.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I discovered this graphic novel on my virtual library section called “Waiting on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” and I thought I’d check this out. So let’s heat up this review of The Blue Flame.

I guess I can see the similarities between Blue Flame’s Night Brigade and The Guardians. Sam aka Blue Flame reminds me a lot of Peter Quill who is the leader of the Guardians. They both have this idealistic view of humanity, while both characters have problematic qualities.

For example, after the tragedy, Sam falls into a deep depression and gets addicted to alcohol and his pain meds. When his brother-in-law gets arrested by ICE because he was in the US illegally, Sam goes to the person who tipped off ICE and beats him up which lands him in trouble with the law.

All of this on top of trying to defend Earth from being obliterated. Then it becomes more of a philosophical debate rather than a traditional superhero comic. There’s even moments of religious verbiage, and I was surprised to see that in a comic book.

Overall this comic was solid, I liked seeing the debates that Sam and the alien prosecutor got into, but it quickly got old. I’m not sure who I’d recommend this comic to, but if you’re looking for an action-packed comic adventure, I’d give this one a pass.

Posted in Audiobooks, Book Reviews, Novels

REVIEW: Extinction by Bradley Somer

Posted on by elishasbookreview

*No Major Spoilers*

In a lonely valley, deep in the mountains, a ranger watches over the last surviving grizzly bear. With the natural world exhausted and in tatters, Ben has dedicated himself to protecting this single fragment of the wild. One night, he hears voices in the valley — poachers, come to hunt his bear. A heart-pounding chase begins, crossing forests and mountainsides, passing centuries of human ruins. Sometimes hunter, sometimes prey — Ben must choose the bear’s fate and his own. Is he willing to lay down his life for a dying breed? Is he willing to kill for it?

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

I was browsing Hoopla last week and came across this book. The cover caught my attention, and I was interested in the blurb/summary. What this book gives is detailed scenery, and no interesting characters. Nonetheless, let’s scout this review of Extinction!

First off, this book reminded me of a video game called Firewatch. The game is about this park ranger who is out in the National Park during peak wildfire season, and he’s all alone except for his fellow ranger on his walkie talkie. The visuals in both Firewatch and Extinction bring the world of these stories to life.

Now enough about video games, and let’s talk about this book. I found the characters in Extinction to be either unlikable or just bland. The only character I did like was Poppy, she is an elderly woman who lives in the wilderness and helps out our main character Ben when he’s in trouble. She’s feisty, no nonsense, and can take care of herself when it comes to dealing with poachers.

I’m not even sure who I’d recommend this book too if I was to be honest. I think I’m willing to give his other works a chance though. Maybe this just didn’t hit me the way it was supposed to. This is definitely an action-packed thriller. Is eco-thriller a subgenre people are using?

Overall, this book was alright, the action was good, the descriptions of the environment was great, but everything else was just ‘meh’.

Posted in Audiobooks, Book Reviews, Novels

REVIEW: Falling by T.J. Newman

Posted on by elishasbookreview

You just boarded a flight to New York.

There are one hundred and forty-three other passengers onboard.

What you don’t know is that thirty minutes before the flight your pilot’s family was kidnapped.

For his family to live, everyone on your plane must die.

The only way the family will survive is if the pilot follows his orders and crashes the plane.

Enjoy the flight.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Recently I have been feeling like reading something other than comics and manga. I was browsing one of the themed book lists I get through a newsletter, and this book was on it. It seemed different and I wanted to check it out, so let’s buckle our seatbelts and fly over this review of Falling by T.J. Newman.

First off, I want to say this is an emotional read. The author knows how to tug on your heartstrings and forces you to see humanity in a positive light. Her use of characters and not fearing showing the depravity humans can cause, made me choke up and sympathize with everyone involved.

You don’t think everyone actually lives, do you? Most people just exist and roam around. It’s a choice, to actually live.

T.J. Newman; Falling

One small gripe I had with the book was how the captain was named Bill and his copilot was named Ben. That got confusing real quick. I had to keep reminding myself which one was which every so often. Most of the time the confusion happened was when another character outside of the cockpit mentioned them. Like I said, it’s nothing major it’s just something I noticed.

My favorite character was the flight attendant named Jo. She was heroic and brave throughout the whole hijacking, exactly how we all hope to be if a crisis was ever to happen to or around us. She was able to separate herself from the situation to a certain extent and protect the passengers to the best of her abilities. You can definitely tell the author put a lot of work and care into her character the most.

Overall, I loved this novel. It can tug at your heartstrings at points, yet still feel a sense of direness and dread as the miles tick down and the final destination gets ever closer. I’d recommend this for fans of thrillers, fans of survival stories, and fans of female authors.

Posted in Personal Blogs

Recommended Summer Reading for 2023

Posted on by elishasbookreview
Photo by Perfecto Capucine on Pexels.com

It’s almost the end of May and that means summer is right around the corner! Now, I have come to you with a lists of books that give me feelings of summer, whether that’s a roadtrip, vacation, or being free from school and getting a break. So here we go!

  • The Tea Dragon Society by K. O’Neal – I think this is a good book/series for anytime of year, but I think the first book has summer vibes for sure.
  • A Little Bit Country by Brian D. Kennedy – This book takes place at a theme park similar to Dollywood, and it’s perfect for anyone who likes LGBT+ stories, country music, or books that take place in a theme park.
  • Crazy Food Truck Vol. 1 by Rokurou Ogaki – Take a roadtrip through this post-apocalyptic wasteland in search of the next meal, or maybe just end up finding trouble in town. This whole series is only 3 volumes, so it’s a quick read.
  • Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire by Dan Hanks – This is for the Indiana Jones fans, there’s traveling, and treasure hunting, and I think it’s a perfect summer read for those looking for an escape into the archives of archeology.
  • The Last One by Alexandra Olivia – I will never stop recommending this book, it has stuck with me even after all this time. It reminds me of the TV show Survivor, which usually airs in the early summer. Highly recommend this one!

So there we are! Five books to add to your TBR this summer! Hopefully you’ll check them out and share with me your thoughts on any summer read or books you’re looking forward to this summer! If I get enough responses, I might feature these in a future post!

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Posted in Audiobooks, Book Reviews, Non-Fiction, Rapid Reviews

Rapid Review: When Women Ruled the World: Six Queens of Egypt by Kara Cooney

Posted on by elishasbookreview

*Historical Spoilers*

This riveting narrative explores the lives of six remarkable female pharaohs, from Hatshepsut to Cleopatra–women who ruled with real power–and shines a piercing light on our own perceptions of women in power today.

Female rulers are a rare phenomenon–but thousands of years ago in ancient Egypt, women reigned supreme. Regularly, repeatedly, and with impunity, queens like Hatshepsut, Nefertiti, and Cleopatra controlled the totalitarian state as power-brokers and rulers. But throughout human history, women in positions of power were more often used as political pawns in a male-dominated society. What was so special about ancient Egypt that provided women this kind of access to the highest political office? What was it about these women that allowed them to transcend patriarchal obstacles? What did Egypt gain from its liberal reliance on female leadership, and could today’s world learn from its example?

Celebrated Egyptologist Kara Cooney delivers a fascinating tale of female power, exploring the reasons why it has seldom been allowed through the ages, and why we should care.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I found myself setting a new goal recently; read more nonfiction. So, since I enjoyed The Last Days of the Dinosaurs I figured I’d try and find more enjoyable nonfiction. So let’s excavate When Women Ruled the World.

This is your typical nonfiction book, it’s dry, and it’s easy to doze off. I wouldn’t recommend this for the casual Ancient Egypt student, the only parts I found interesting was the beginning and the end with Cleopatra and the epilogue.

I’d also recommend taking notes if you have any hopes of retaining the information. Maybe this was my experience since I listened to the audiobook. I’ve thought about adjusting my rating to match my feelings on the content I listened to, but I’m too generous with my ratings.

Ancient Egypt is an anomaly as the only land that consistently called upon the rule of women to keep its regime in working order, safe from discord, and on the surest possible footing—particularly when a crisis was under way.

Kara Cooney; When Women Ruled the World

On a positive note, I liked how the author used modern examples to explain the expectations and politics of Ancient Egypt. She often brought up Hilary Clinton and her political journey, which at moments I appreciated. I think having more modern examples of the double standard that women face, especially in politics helped convey the talking points.

Overall, this is a good book in my opinion. I’m not a student on the subject, just a casual fan of the time period. I’d recommend this book for anyone wanting to know more about the queens of Ancient Egypt and the politics that were involved.