The Finalists (David Bell)

 

The Finalists
David Bell
⭐: 4/5

Pros: great plot idea, loved the historical background, loved the diverse characters. I kind of had a feeling from the start of "who done it", but was wrong, so that was nice.

I was kept guessing the whole while. Props for that.

Cons: politics are not my most favorite subject ever and it felt like they were a light undertone in this. It's good to bring attention to things and I felt it wasn't overdone, I just thought, "really?" several times. Then again, that's how I feel in general with them, so this point may be completely irrelevant for some of y'all.

Conclusion: if you want a fairly fast paced "who done it", see if you like this. You've seen my pros and cons, so hopefully they help!

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I Liked My Life (Abby Fabiaschi)

 

I Liked My Life
Abby Fabiaschi
⭐: 5/5
*Buddy read with my lovely "bonus sister", caffeinereadrepeat on Instagram. She's amazing and you should go follow her for more book reviews!

This book wrecked but simultaneously healed me.

Pros: grief has been a friend of mine for some time now, so seeing it in I Liked My Life was refreshing. It's nice to know I'm not alone in the isolation and immense growth I was forced into.

My grief wasn't specific to death, either, so in those aspects, I felt like I had revelations in how to deal with or think about things, as well as to have grace with myself.

I immensely enjoyed the no nonsense writing style, staying on point, and flow of this work. Such a beautiful, beautiful book despite the cloud of pain it carried in initially. "The end depends on the beginning" is not only a quote from this, but one that fits the entire context as a whole.

Cons: if you're not the type to face your pain or traumas, you need to skip this. I Liked My Life will force you to confront them, so only read if you're ready to grow. That's not even a con, but I don't have any other con to give and this is my traditional review formatting.

Conclusion: If you're ready for a story where the main characters grow in realistic yet admirable ways, you'll want to give this one a shot. The interactions, lack of predictability, and overall plot absolutely will pull you in to the very last line!

P.S.: this was such a joy to buddy read with you, C! We both grew immensely in our own ways and I'm super thankful in how much stronger our friendship has become due to this alone! I just love you and thank you, Abby, for writing this and letting the world see it!

Under the Grave (Willie E. Dalton)

 

Under the Grave
Willie E. Dalton
⭐: 4/5

Side-note: I am IN LOVE with the cover!

Pros: more character growth for MC, Helen! I absolutely love that as much as I love how many afterlife options there are. I admire how Dalton entertained mythology in several cultures more than anything, I think.

Fantasy isn't usually my thing, but I devoured these!

The setting shifts and creativity is allowed to flow. I'm trying not to spoil it, so that's a vague sentence, but once you read it, you'll understand!

I really loved how nothing was rushed, either. Everything was natural and I didn't see the end coming until it did.

Cons: as with the others, there is quite a bit of sex. Sex is great, but I personally am just not a fan of reading about it (the actual act takes the cake there). Still, the plot of this and the previous ones leading to it make those scenes bearable, especially for character interaction and development.

There are quite a few typos, so if you're the type to catch them like I am, just try to look over them. There's not enough to ruin anything, but still.

I'm also sad the next book isn't out yet. I was sure this was a completed series!

Conclusion: if you're fascinated with death, afterlife, mythology, and fantasy while keeping parts of your humanity, you really need to read this series. You'll think about the afterlife in ways you probably haven't before, as well as become attached to the characters!

Digging Up the Dead (Willie E. Dalton)

 

Digging Up the Dead
Willie E. Dalton

⭐: 4/5

Pros: this is the second book in the series and so far, I'm still hooked! I usually lose interest quickly when it comes to series, but not this one. The intrigue of "are things what they really seem?" haunts my mind, constantly leaving me hungry for more.

Speaking of hungry, new creatures are introduced feeding my appetite, mixing the world with creepy and mythology. I'll be starting book three shortly. Still need to figure out what happened to the earth loves of these dead souls!

Also, I'm a bit obsessed with the Romanov family, which is how I came to know about Rasputin, and even in book one, was humored by that. It's been intriguing to see the old mystic in this new, creative spin.

Cons: I actually can't think of any for this one. My con for the first book doesn't even apply, as there's not as much in this one as there was in that. (Go read my review to know what I'm referring to.)

Conclusion: if you're gunning for a paranormal book with an original take, this is your slice of cake, baby!

The Girl Who Digs Graves (Willie E. Dalton)

 

The Girl Who Digs Graves
Willie E. Dalton

⭐: 4/5

Pros: I'm fascinated with death and the afterlife, as well as morbid professions, so this book easily drew me in with all of those.

I'm new to this genre, but I'm guessing this is still a very original story that I read in one setting! I love how direct the MC is, how she doesn't care what others think, and just does what she wants to.

I definitely am interested to see what Hel (MC) finds out about the mysterious wall, where her earth love ended up, and what happens next! I'll be binging these books on study breaks for sure!

Cons: I'm not a fan of romance or sex in any genre, but can handle them in moderation. There is SO MUCH sex in the book, though! I'm not a conservative person, I just don't care to read about it, so I skimmed quite a bit. If you love that kind of stuff, you'll love this.

Conclusion: if you're dark and twisty and love paranormal, give this one a try!

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The Crowns of Croswald (D.E. Night)

The Crowns of Croswald
D.E. Night
⭐: 5/5

Let me begin with the fact that fantasy is not typically a genre I’m easily drawn into. I knew within two chapters that I absolutely wanted to read and review this book for Night! 

Pros: It’s a bit Harry Potter reminiscent in some ways, but the plot itself is original and captivating. There’s plenty of foreshadowing, but not so obvious that it gives the plot away. Night also is a brilliant wordsmith - I cannot count how many times I giggled or smiled seeing wordplay! I also was intrigued with how well she built not only Coswald, but the characters and even inanimate objects such as quills and bottles (both are very important to the storyline). 

There isn’t a detail in this book that doesn’t belong! Every last description, personification, and scene all work together as a cohesive whole! I especially love that the ending wasn’t rushed, given the enormity of building that went on for the world, characters, their interactions, and plot itself. I truly cannot wait to read the next few books in the series!

Cons: There were a few times I was slightly confused, but those moments were answered in time. I just had to exercise some patience. Otherwise, I really don’t know that there are any cons I can think of, truthfully. 

Conclusion: If whimsy, original, similar to Harry Potter, and magical are your things… this is a book you need to try out. I feel it’s not a story that’s been said before, so open the cover for yourself and see if you agree!

P.S.: There's a bit of an Easter egg with one of the Scrivenist's names. See if you can figure it out! If you haven't by the end, message me and I'll tell you! So clever!

P.S.S.: If you're interested, the author is looking for readers! You can obtain the email addresses to contact from her Instagram if interested!

Alive Again (T.W. Piperbrook)

 

Alive Again
T.W. Piperbrook
⭐: 4/5

The premise of this book is what made me pick it up. How often do we see zombie books? ALL the time! How often do we see them from the zombie's perspective? Hardly ever!

Pros: again, the plot is what initially drew me in. As a real life scientist, zombie infections annoy me because they never seem realistic, but I was glad this book seemed so for the most part.

I was also intrigued because a vaccine actually exists, though we don't know that much about it. Hopefully book two releases soon!

Cons: if you're an action lover, this story is super led by it. I'm not personally, so I honestly skimmed through many of the scenes until it was dialogue and story driven again. Not a bad thing overall, but all my reviews are pros/cons format, so I had to put something here.

Conclusion: if you're sick of the same zombie apocalyptic reads, give this one a chance and see what you think!

*Available on #KindleUnlimited for free*