Tag: Novel

Posted in Audiobooks, Book Reviews, Novels

REVIEW: My Murder by Katie Williams

Posted on by elishasbookreview

*No Major Spoilers*

What if the murder you had to solve was your own?
Lou is a happily married mother of an adorable toddler. She’s also the victim of a local serial killer. Recently brought back to life and returned to her grieving family by a government project, she is grateful for this second chance. But as the new Lou re-adapts to her old routines, and as she bonds with other female victims, she realizes that disturbing questions remain about what exactly preceded her death and how much she can really trust those around her.
Now it’s not enough to care for her child, love her husband, and work the job she’s always enjoyed—she must also figure out the circumstances of her death.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I discovered this book on Goodreads’ list of highly anticipated books for this summer. The summary intrigued me, and I was excited to wait for this book. Even though the wait might have been a bit long, let’s not wait any longer for this review of My Murder.

I haven’t read a popular book in awhile. I usually avoid them because I want to shine light on the underdogs or hidden gems. However, I still wanted to read My Murder and see if it was worth the hype.

Mystery is essential, they say. Mystery. Well, I was in one of those right now, and I couldn’t say that I liked it very much.

Katie Williams; My Murder

First off, I think this was an interesting idea for a plot. Being brought back after being murdered can shed some light on some various themes and subject matter we can bring up like, how society treats victims and their murderers, how the victims loved ones are coping after the attack, and finally how the murderer’s loved ones are coping with the guilt and shame.

There are more themes explored in this novel, but I’ll leave that for you to discover and experience. I loved how fleshed out this world was, and how the characters interacted naturally. I’m not sure if it’s just the string of ‘meh’ quality books I’ve been reading, or if this book really is something special.

As I was listening to the audiobook, I was about 60-70% through it and I was thinking of not finishing it. The ‘but not everything is as it seems’ had already been brought up, but I was already trying to go through my mental list of tropes to figure out what the twist was. I’m glad I stuck with it, because the twist came out of left field and caught me off guard.

Overall, I really enjoyed My Murder. It’s more like a cozy thriller/murder mystery with a splash of science fiction. It’s a good pallet cleanser if you are looking for a book to break the monotony or to break a dry spell. I’d certainly recommend it for anyone who enjoys a good mystery, the sci-fi element isn’t anything too crazy or out there. So don’t worry about that.

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 Bite-Sized Reviews, Book Reviews, Manga, Marvel Comics, Novels, Personal Blogs

Better Late Than Never: the books I read in 2023 so far

Posted on by elishasbookreview
Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

I know it’s been awhile since I posted a review or even an update. I have been struggling with writing the blog posts. I would get the spark and type out a couple of paragraphs and as I’m rereading it to check for mistakes I would have negative thoughts about what I just wrote. It’s frustrating and discouraging.

Well I’ve been keeping a notebook full of the books I’ve read, how I rated the books, some brief thoughts, and finally how long it took me to finish the book. Now I would like to share my five star reads of the year so far.

  • The Flintstones: The Deluxe Edition by Mark Russell – this graphic novel gives us a new take on the classic cartoon. I heard about this from one of the YouTubers I watch, and I’m glad I checked this collection out.
  • Black Panther vs. Deadpool by Multiple Authors – I loved the art style of this comic, each panel looked like it came off a storyboard. Black Panther and Deadpool are polar opposites of each other when it comes to their sense of what’s right and wrong. I actually found their philosophy discussions entertaining, but I know that’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
  • Cat Massage Therapy Vol. 2 by Haru Hisakawa – I don’t care that there’s barely any plot in these books, it’s a story about cats who run a massage parlor in Japan and the friends and clients they meet. Even as I’m typing this I have the next volume on my nightstand ready to be devoured.
  • Strange Vol. 1: I Belong to Death by Jed McKay – This is a follow-up to the Death of Doctor Strange story where Doctor Strange’s wife Clea takes over as the Sorcerer Supreme for Earth even though she is already the Sorcerer Supreme for the dark dimension. I loved how relatable Clea is, she is dedicated to her deceased husband’s wishes as well as how protective she is over the areas she’s meant to protect. Can’t wait to read volume 2 which is also on my nightstand.

Well, that’s my list of 5 star reads so far for 2023. I hope to be posting more reviews and updates as the year goes on. Hope you have a great day!

Posted in Book Reviews, Novels

REVIEW: Till We Become Monsters by Amanda Headlee

Posted on by elishasbookreview

*No Major Spoilers*

Monsters exist and Korin Perrin knew this as truth because his grandmother told him so. Korin, raised in the shadow of his older brother Davis, is an imaginative child who believes his brother is a monster. After the death of their grandmother, seven-year-old Korin, blaming Davis for her demise, tries to kill him. Sixteen years following the attempt on Davis’ life, racked with guilt, Korin comes to terms with the fact that Davis may not be the one who is the monster after all.

Past wrongs needing to be righted, Korin agrees to a hunting trip with his brother and father. But they, along with two friends, never make it to their destination. An accident along the way separates the hunters in the dark forests of Minnesota during the threat of an oncoming blizzard. As the stranded hunters search for each other and safety, an ancient evil wakes.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I am a big fan of cryptids and other mythological creatures. Since I live in Oklahoma which may not be the epicenter of Bigfoot sightings, this state does have more than a few known Bigfoot hunting grounds. However, there is no Bigfoot in this story, Till We Become Monsters is focused on the Wendigo.

For those unfamiliar with the Indigenous Peoples’ Mythologies, a Wendigo is a creature that is created from the dire straits people in the northern areas can find themselves in if they get caught in a snowstorm unprepared. They say once someone gets a taste of human blood, the never-ending hunger grows and morphs the person into a monster.

Back to the book, we meet Korin who we watch grow up feeling emotionally neglected by his parents. His big brother Davis has both of his parents’ attention and love throughout childhood and into adulthood. Seeing the events from mostly Korin’s perspective makes you feel bad for him.

“We never know how far we have fallen until we become monsters.”

Amanda Headlee; Till We Become Monsters

After about halfway into the book, we see Korin’s childhood from both parents’ and Davis’ perspectives. It doesn’t negate how his parents neglected Korin and that they spoiled Davis to the point where the whole family dynamic is toxic and borderline abusive. It just provides context for the reader that the parents fumbled the parental football to the detriment of the family.

Even though no one in the family is worth rooting for, you can’t help rooting for all of them to survive the aftermath of the car accident. I think this shows that the author took the time to give each character a slight redeeming quality. I think if everything was left in Korin’s perspective, we’d want all the family to fail.

Overall, this was a good book. I got swept up in the action, and the building of Korin’s character. I think the mythological aspect of this novel was pulled off really well. I also think if you are interested in cryptids, survival horror, and just all around spookiness, then I would say give this novel a try.

Posted in Book Reviews, Novels

REVIEW: Engines of War (Doctor Who: New Series Adventures Specials #4) by George Mann

Posted on by elishasbookreview

*No Major Spoilers*

The Great Time War has raged for centuries, ravaging the universe. Scores of human colony planets are now overrun by Dalek occupation forces. A weary, angry Doctor leads a flotilla of Battle TARDISes against the Dalek stronghold but in the midst of the carnage, the Doctor’s TARDIS crashes to a planet below: Moldox.

As the Doctor is trapped in an apocalyptic landscape, Dalek patrols roam amongst the wreckage, rounding up the remaining civilians. But why haven’t the Daleks simply killed the humans?

Searching for answers the Doctor meets ‘Cinder’, a young Dalek hunter. Their struggles to discover the Dalek plan take them from the ruins of Moldox to the halls of Gallifrey, and set in motion a chain of events that will change everything. And everyone.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

This was actually my second attempt at reading this Doctor Who novel. I don’t remember why I didn’t finish this the first time, maybe it just wasn’t the right time. So let’s jump in the TARDIS and check out this review of Engines of War.

It was interesting seeing The Doctor in a negative light in the beginning of the story. Cinder is in the middle of the Time War, and because of it Cinder sees both sides of the war as ‘the bad guys’. However, when she meets the Doctor she sees just how fruitless her attempts at beating the Daleks were.

I liked Cinder as a companion, she brought a new perspective to the mythos of The Time War. When the Doctor takes her to Gallifrey to try and alert the High Council about the Dalek’s end game, she sees that her assumptions of other Time Lords was correct.

She [Cinder] could see now that all she’d been doing was screaming into the wind. Those victories she’d notched up on the barrel of her gun had been hollow, every one of them. She hadn’t changed anything, hadn’t really made a difference. She’d wasted so much time.

George Mann; Doctor Who: Engines of War

I enjoyed getting more context for the War Doctor and the Time War. On the TV show they show bits of it, but nothing like what this novel accomplishes. We get to see what the war has not only done on a single planet, but what it has done to the people of Gallifrey.

Overall, this was an excellent Doctor Who book. There was action, exploration, and we got to see a lot of Gallifrey. I’d recommend Engines of War to all Doctor Who fans and even casual science fiction fans.