April Reading Challenge

The reading challenge for April is titled April Showers...

Challenge: read the amazing books you’ve been saving for a rainy day.

I was pretty excited to get to April's reading challenge. I had lots of books waiting on my shelf to be read; ones that I was sure I would love, but had been waiting for the right time to read. I added 19 books to this list, and I ended up reading 11 of them. I going to post reviews for 8. Some of the ones I read were also ones that I was considering as book club reads, but wanted to at least sample before I brought them as choices. 

Surprisingly, the ones I thought would be good book club choices ended up being crossed off the list. One of them I even gave a 1 star rating, but anyway, let's get to the book reviews!

 

Manners and Monsters (Manners and Monsters #1) by Tilly Wallace

 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Paranormal
Content: Clean

 

A lady never reveals the true extent of her decay...

Hannah Miles lives a quiet existence, helping her parents conduct research into a most terrible affliction - until a gruesome murder during her best friend's engagement party pulls her from the shadows. With her specialist's knowledge and demure disposition, Hannah is requested to aid the investigation.

Except Hannah discovers her role is to apologize in the wake of the rude and disgraced man tasked with finding the murderer. The obnoxious Viscount Wycliff thinks to employ Hannah purely as a front to satisfy Whitehall, but she'll have none of that.

The two must work together to find the murderer before the season is ruined. But the viscount is about to meet his greatest challenge, and it's not a member of the ton with a hankering for brains. 

This was a delightful book that feels like a historical fantasy/paranormal/cozy mystery mashup. It reminded me a little of the Parasol Protectorate books, but without the steampunk element. It also made me think of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I love the regency setting and the take on zombies. Face powder, who knew? 😂 The brooding love interest with secrets was also a plus. I'll definitely be reading more of this series.

I came upon this gif and thought it was perfect!

 

 

 

Shards of Honor (The Vorkosigan Saga #1) by Lois McMaster Bujold

 

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Space Opera, Sci-fi
Content: Strong language, Two near rapes (I found this to be pretty intense and had a hard time listening), A woman is nearly tortured

 

Cordelia Naismith, Betan Survey Captain, was expecting the unexpected: hexapods, floating creatures, odd parasites... She was not, however, expecting to find hostile humans on an uninhabited planet. She and her survey crew are attacked by a renegade group from Barrayar, she is taken prisoner by Aral Vorkosigan, commander of the Barrayan ship that has been taken over by an ambitious and ruthless crew member. Aral and Cordelia survive countless mishaps while their mutual admiration and even stronger feelings emerge.

I've been wanting to try this series for so long. So many of my friends have loved this book, and this series in general, that I was sure I would love it too. Unfortunately, I didn't love it.

First off, I decided to listen to this instead of read it, and I kind of regret that because I didn't like the narrator at all, and it's hard to say if the way I feel about the book is entirely the book's fault or if some of it lies with the narrator.

Second, I found the story a bit bland in the beginning, and the characters hard to connect to, at least at first. Later Cordelia grew on me more. The romance that developed between Cordelia and Aral wasn't bad, but I didn't really feel the connection so much as I was told it was there. As for the side characters, some of them were not very memorable, but the sadistic one was over the top. I was very disturbed by the near rape and torture scene that happens at one point in the book.

So why did I still give it 3 stars? Well, it wasn't all bad. The author is a good writer, and I kind of liked the tone of the book. I also enjoyed the space opera aspect of the book, even though I didn't think there was enough of it. I feel like it has potential to get better, especially since everyone says the books with Miles are the best, and the next one features Miles. So I'm willing to give the series one more try.

As a side note, this series is written out of chronological order and a lot of people appear to read the books in chronological order instead of publication order. I was unaware of this until after I started reading this book. At this point I can't say which is the better way to read it. 

Midnight Crossed (Midnight Texas #1) by Charlaine Harris

 

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy
Content: Strong language

 

Welcome to Midnight, Texas, a town with many boarded-up windows and few full-time inhabitants, located at the crossing of Witch Light Road and Davy Road. It’s a pretty standard dried-up western town.

There’s a pawnshop (someone lives in the basement and is seen only at night). There’s a diner (people who are just passing through tend not to linger). And there’s new resident Manfred Bernardo, who thinks he’s found the perfect place to work in private (and who has secrets of his own).

Stop at the one traffic light in town, and everything looks normal. Stay awhile, and learn the truth...

 

I've wanted to read this book ever since I saw the TV series, so it's been on my list for a while. I enjoyed the TV series, but didn't love it. I was interested in seeing the source material because I suspected it would be even better than the series. After reading this I'll say that there are things I like better about the book, and things I like better about the TV series. There were definitely quite a few changes for the TV series, but I didn't think they were all bad. What I wasn't expecting was for this to be so slow paced, but the slow pace didn't really bother me. This felt kind of like a slice of life story with weird, unique characters that all had something to hide.

The murder mystery aspect of the story was just ok. I didn't figure out who the killer was, and I feel like it was because there weren't enough clues given. Either that or I wasn't paying enough attention. I didn't really care who killed the woman because my mind was more focused on the mystery surrounding the townsfolk, and who and what they were. That being said, I was hoping to really like the characters, but I ended up feeling kind of indifferent about them. Fiji was the most likeable for me, but even she was a bit bland.

Fiji is a witch, and I had a problem with the inconsistent use of her powers. There is one point where she freezes someone and does it quite easily, and then later when her life is in danger, she doesn't even think to do the same thing in that situation until far later than she should have. It seemed like it was conveniently forgotten to add to the drama and danger of the situation, and then conveniently remembered to finally get her out of it. 

Originally, I was on the fence about continuing this series, but I found the audio on Scribed when I signed up for a free trial, and decided to go ahead and listen to the other two books in the series. I did not like book two quite as much as this one, but book three so far, is better.

The Sword-Edged Blonde (Eddie LaCrosse #1) by Alex Bledsoe

 

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery
Content: Strong language, Abuse is mentioned, Rape done off page, Mildly described sex scene

 

Private investigator and sword-for-hire Eddie LaCrosse is swept up in a web of mystery involving a brutally murdered royal heir, a queen accused of an unspeakable crime, and the tragic past he thought he'd left behind.

 

I wanted to like this because I enjoyed the mystery and fantasy combo but this was disappointing. There were several times I wanted to quit, but I stuck with it to the end.

I dislike the way women are portrayed in general in this book, and I suspect all the author's books will be the same. One part in particular that annoyed the heck out of me, was a character alluding to the fact that horses are a sexual thing to women. This kind of crap thinking is why it took women so long to be able to ride astride a horse, instead of on those dangerous sidesaddles. It was a tiny blip of a conversation in the book, that most people will probably read and move past without much thought, but it struck the wrong nerve with me. There are lots of other examples of the way the female characters are treated in this book that just didn't sit well with me. None of them had any real good substantial roles in the book, not even Epona. It was always about sex or abuse in some way.

Then there's Eddie, who didn't come off as very likable to me. I wanted to like him, but he never really let me. I especially disliked the way he treated Rhiannon near the end when he wanted to see the mark on her thigh. He had her thinking he was going to rape her. There was no need for that.

Of course, I'm sure you've guessed that I will not be continuing with this series.  

 

 

Sanditon (Jane Austen's Unfinished Masterpiece Completed) by Jane Austen and Juliette Shapiro 

  

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Classic
Content: Clean

Had Jane Austen lived to complete Sanditon, it would have been as treasured as her other novels. In the half-finished masterpiece, Austen fashions one of her classic heroines--Charlotte Heywood. The surviving fragment also sets the story well on its path as Charlotte begins an adventure to Sanditon where a full cast of characters becomes intertwined in various intrigues.

At first, Charlotte finds amusement enough standing at her ample Venetian window looking over the placid seafront. However, before long, Charlotte discovers that scandals abound. She becomes captivated by the romance of the seaside lifestyle. But is the town of Sanditon truly a haven and will Charlotte find happiness there?

Now, fully completed by respected author and Austen expert Juliette Shapiro, this new edition of Sanditon finishes the original story in a vivid style recognizable to any fan. Shapiro's prose and plot twists stay true to Austen's sensibilities at all times while capturing her romance, tragedy, humor and sardonic wit.  

 

After watching the first season of Sanditon on PBS a couple of years ago I was very disappointed when I found out it was canceled. Now, I knew the TV adaptation wasn't very true to Jane Austen's book, because it was obvious that some of the elements that were added into the story would never have been written by Jane Austen, but nevertheless, I enjoyed the show and wanted it to continue after that terrible, heartbreaking cliffhanger. Imagine my delight when my wish came true and it was rescued and given another season! Then imagine my disappointment when the actor that played Sidney wouldn't come back to finish the story! So I gave up on the TV version. I decided not to watch the second season and instead decided to try this book in hopes that it would give me closure to the story of Charlotte and Sidney.

There was a bit of confusion for me concerning the finished versions of Sanditon. I did not realize that there were multiple versions that were completed. I picked this one up thinking it was the only one, only to find out differently afterwards. There is one other in particular that I want to read that is finished by Anne Telscombe, referred to on some of the covers as "Another Lady" I think it would be fun to compare the two different versions.

As for this version of the work, I feel like this gave me some good closure, and I enjoyed listening to the audio version of it. I do recommend it, but keep in mind that it's not going to be perfect. No finished version of another author's work ever is. I have to say though, that not knowing where the original story left off, I couldn't tell at what point Juliette's part of the story took over.

Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith

 

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Classic, Psychological thriller, Suspense
Content:

 

Guy Haines and Charles Anthony Bruno are passengers on the same train. Haines is a successful architect in the midst of a divorce, Bruno a mysterious smooth-talker with a sadistic proposal: he’ll murder Haines’s wife if Haines will murder Bruno’s father. As Bruno carries out his twisted plan, Guy finds himself trapped in Highsmith’s perilous world, where, under the right circumstances, ordinary people are capable of extraordinary crimes. 

The inspiration for Alfred Hitchcock’s classic 1951 film, Strangers on a Train launched Highsmith’s prolific career, proving her a master at depicting the unsettling forces that tremble beneath the surface of everyday life.

 

 

I got into a real classics mood after finishing Sanditon and listened to the dramatization of  The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler. I'm not writing a review for it because it was far shorter than the actual book and I need to go back and read the whole thing, but that led to me picking up this classic. I've had this book sitting on my bookshelf for so long. I loved the Hitchcock movie version of this, and was eager to find out if I would love the book just as much. The verdict is that I found the book absorbing, but can't say that I liked it better than the movie. One thing I liked about the movie was that I found Guy Haines to be a sympathetic character who gets swept up in this scheme created by Charles Bruno, and he stays sympathetic. In the book, not so much. In fact, after Miriam's murder, the movie and book share little in common. That being said, I think the biggest flaw the book has, is that it just goes on for too long. I'm still glad I read it though.

Guns of the Dawn by  Adrian Tchaikovsky 

  

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Flintlock Fantasy
Content: Strong Language, Attempted rapes, Implied sex

 

The first casualty of war is truth . . .

First, Denland's revolutionaries assassinated their king, launching a wave of bloodshed after generations of peace. Next they clashed with Lascanne, their royalist neighbour, pitching war-machines against warlocks in a fiercely fought conflict.

Genteel Emily Marshwic watched as the hostilities stole her family's young men. But then came the call for yet more Lascanne soldiers in a ravaged kingdom with none left to give. Emily must join the ranks of conscripted women and march toward the front lines.

With barely enough training to hold a musket, Emily braves the savage reality of warfare.
But she begins to doubt her country's cause, and those doubts become critical. For her choices will determine her own future and that of two nations locked in battle.  

 

I have mixed feelings about this book. It had been high on my list of books I wanted to read for a long time, but after reading it I'm somewhat disappointed. Going into this I had read quite a few reviews from friends and most of them really loved it. I thought I knew what to expect. It had been described as Jane Austen on a battlefield, and that was intriguing to me.

What I didn't expect was the amount of time the novel takes place on the battlefield, and the lack of fantasy elements in the book. While the book contains sorcerers that wield magic, there was virtually nothing about it in the book. I was expecting magic infused battles and got nothing. That was incredibly disappointing. I struggle to even call this a fantasy novel, and I honestly am not quite sure what to classify it as. I'm just going with flintlock fantasy.

On the surface, it feels like there is little character development in the book, but then it's the kind of development that sneaks up on you. It's so subtle, so gradual. I liked Emily a lot and enjoyed the way her character is shown throughout the book. That being said some of the characters weren't as well developed as I would have liked. I do think this author is a really good writer and the book was well written, but at times it felt like it went on too long. I wanted to get to the end of all the battles sooner. The battle scenes themselves felt very real, and I could feel the misery of the situation right along with the characters. Emily had a lot of courage and I admired that about her. I also really came to like several of her comrades, and even shed a tear or two at a couple of the deaths.

 

“I am picked apart. Each day, some new part of me is pecked out. I am losing those things that make me human. Take me away from this place before it devours me, piece by piece.” 

 

I particularly enjoyed the relationship that develops between Emily and one of the love interests in the book, and it gave me some Pride and Prejudice type vibes. Unfortunately, I didn't like the way the romantic relationships were handled in the book. First there was a love triangle that I wish had not been there, and then the way it ends felt very wishy-washy to me. Emily couldn't figure out who she really wanted for far too long and it harmed the credibility of both romances. 

Overall, I liked this book. I kept going back to it, but I didn't feel a sense of urgency to do so. It felt like a character study during war more than anything else to me, and it lost my interest at certain points.

The Invisible Library (The Invisible Library #1) by Genevieve Cogman

  

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Steampunk
Content: Strong Language

 

Irene is a professional spy for the mysterious Library, which harvests fiction from different realities. And along with her enigmatic assistant Kai, she's posted to an alternative London. Their mission - to retrieve a dangerous book. But when they arrive, it's already been stolen. London's underground factions seem prepared to fight to the very death to find her book.

Adding to the jeopardy, this world is chaos-infested - the laws of nature bent to allow supernatural creatures and unpredictable magic. Irene's new assistant is also hiding secrets of his own.

Soon, she's up to her eyebrows in a heady mix of danger, clues and secret societies. Yet failure is not an option - the nature of reality itself is at stake.

 

This is another book that I kept going back to but didn't feel any real urgency to do so. I think I like the idea behind this book better than the execution. For me the story ended up feeling somewhat absurd. I didn't think the whole premise of the book made all that much sense. Why are these people going through all this trouble for certain books? What's so dangerous about these books that they are risking death, and some people are even killing for them? Unless I missed something, I don't feel like this was adequately explained. 

For the most part this was a mixed bag of exciting moments and boring ones, and the book was just missing something for me that could have made it really good. I liked the steampunk aspects of the books and the type of magic used in the book, but I'm not sure either of those elements were used as well as they could have been. And there is a dragon in this book that does nothing very dragonish, and that was a huge disappointment. I liked the interdimensional travel, but with the exception of the beginning of the book, where the protagonist is finishing up a job elsewhere, we are bogged down in only one for the whole book. It also looks like we might be stuck in the same one in the next book because the protagonist was appointed a position in that dimension. I hope not, but then, I don't think I'll be reading on anyway.