Legacy by Nora Roberts
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
When will I learn? I’ve read over 200 Nora Roberts novels, and yet every once in a while I will still read a synopsis for an upcoming novel of hers and decide that I’m not sure I’m going to love that one. So instead of preordering, like I generally do for her new releases, I place a hold with my library. That’s what I did with Legacy. And now I have to buy it anyway, because I loved it. …
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher, Macmillan Audio, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The premise for The Maidens immediately piqued my interest. A ritualistic murder on a prestigious college campus, with a Classics professor and his select group of all female students, known as the Maidens, at the center of the intrigue? Yes, please. I love dark academia, especially when combined with the study of Ancient Greek and classical literature. I went in hoping form something along the lines of The Secret History, which I absolutely adore. But I liked what this book pretended to be far more than what it actually was. If that makes sense. Alas, The Maidens fell a bit flat for me. …
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Ocean at the End of the Lane was the very first Gaiman book I ever read. I’ve sense read nearly everything he’s written, and have discovered that my favorite way to ingest his stories is via audio when he reads the books himself. His voice is divine, and I’ve found that listening to him tell his own stories adds to the magic for me. So what better way to revisit the novel that first charmed me into reading his work than by trying it on audio? It was the right decision. I was once again transported into this nameless boy’s childhood adventures, and Gaiman’s voice merely added to the charm of the tale.
“Words save our lives, sometimes.”
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Cover art designed by: Stephen Mulcahey
HELLMOUTH: A novella by Giles Kristian
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Series: Standalone
Genre: Historical fiction, Horror
Pages: 52 pages (Kindle edition)
Published: 19th February 2021 by Giles Kristian (Self-Published)
Hellmouth is a bloody terrifying blend of historical fiction and horror.
“In the absence of light, darkness prevails”
From a Buick 8 by Stephen King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
From a Buick 8 was way more interesting than I expected. Honestly, this is one of the few novels in King’s backlist that I would have had no qualms skipping if it hadn’t been on the suggested expanded Dark Tower reading list I found here. I had no desire to read about a supernatural car. Freaky inanimate objects don’t really do it for me. Most of the time, anyway. I should’ve remembered the topiaries in The Shining. Because this unnatural Buick ended up being pretty darn creepy. I was expecting Christine or James Dean’s Little Bastard. That’s so not what was delivered. …
Near the Bone by Christina Henry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Near the Bone is the story of Mattie, a young woman living alone on a mountain with her abusive, much older husband. Something isn’t right on the mountain. Something besides the abuse Mattie can never seem to escape. A new creature has made the mountain its home. It’s huge, a master at staying hidden, and far too intelligent to be a bear or any other average predator. Can Mattie find a way to escape them mountain, and leave both of her monsters behind? …
The One by John Marrs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The concept of soul mates is not one that I believe in. I love my husband with every single fiber of my being, but I can’t fathom there only being one right person out there for anyone. There are too many things that could potentially go wrong. What if your soul mate dies of cancer before they graduate high school? What if they live halfway around the world? Those kinds of questions are just scratching the surface of what Marrs explores in The One. …
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Cover art illustrated by: Charlie Mackesy
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: Standalone
Genre: Self-help, Philosophy
Pages: 128 pages (Hardcover edition)
Published: 10th October 2019 by Ebury Press (UK) and 22nd October 2019 by HarperOne (US)
Well, isn’t this just incredibly wholesome and hopeful.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy was a book that I spotted several times on many best-sellers list. However, I was never interested in it; I never expected or planned to read this book. This was a book gifted to me by my co-blogger, TS; she insisted her co-bloggers receive this wonderful gift, and I’m really thankful for her generous gesture. Why? Because I surprisingly loved it. It arrived at my doorstep earlier today; I took a peek and ended up being charmed thoroughly to the end.
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ARC provided by Goodreads and the publishers—Ballantine Books, Cornerstone—in exchange for an honest review.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Series: Standalone
Genre: Science fiction, Space Opera, Hard Sci-fi
Pages: 496 pages (Kindle edition)
Published: 4th May 2021 by Ballantine Books (US) and Del Rey (UK)
Andy Weir is back with a new novel suitable for fans of The Martian.
“Stupid humanity. Getting in the way of my hobbies.”
The featured image above was specifically designed by Felix Ortiz for Novel Notions’ Top 20 Lists. Check out his portfolio, he’s brilliant.
This list is also available on my Booktube Channel if that’s what you preferred: https://youtu.be/1gXaV7SQVio
Click here if you want to see the list of all the books I’ve read this year: Petrik’s Year in Books (2020) …