-
I first read Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow in November 2017. This review was originally posted on my Goodreads account at that time. Minor edits have been made before posting here. As a former history minor (and yes, also as a fan of the musical Hamilton), this book was a great read for me. Chernow did extensive research,…
-
I read The Alienist by Caleb Carr in January 2018. This review was originally posted on my Goodreads, but has since been edited and expanded upon. The Alienist is a fascinating, creepy, compelling fiction about murders of child prostitutes in New York City in the early 20th century. After the first victim is found, a motley team forms…
-
I first read Calamity by Brandon Sanderson (the third book in the Reckoners trilogy) in December 2017. This review was originally posted on my Goodreads account. Some minor edits have been made to this review. What is it with young adult dystopia trilogies? The first one is always really strong, the second one is okay but weaker…
-
This review contains SPOILERS — proceed with caution if you haven’t read the book yet! I first read Firefight by Brandon Sanderson (the second book in the Reckoners trilogy) in November 2017. This review was originally posted on my Goodreads account. Some minor edits have been made to this review. Firefight is a fine follow-up to Steelheart; David’s “metaphors” continue to…
-
I received an advance reader’s copy (ARC) of this book, so I will not quote, just comment generally. Open Mic Night at Westminster Cemetery by Mary Amato initially intrigued me because of the title, then the description — the lives, or rather deaths, of the occupants of Westminster Cemetery are upended by the arrival of a new…
-
I first read The Black Elfstone in June 2017. This review was originally posted on my Goodreads account. Some minor edits have been made to this review. The Black Elfstone, the first book of The Fall of Shannara by Terry Brooks, is much, much better than Brooks’ previous trilogy (the decidedly flawed though honestly attempted Defenders of Shannara books). With the…
-
I first read The Burning Maze by Rick Riordan (the third book in the Trials of Apollo series) in June 2018. This review was originally posted on my Goodreads account. Some minor edits have been made to the content of this review. The Burning Maze keeps up the quality of the previous books — funny quips, a fast-paced…
-
This review contains SPOILERS — proceed with caution if you haven’t read the book yet! Each time they occur in this review, I’ve noted them with the word “spoilers” in bold as here. I first read and reviewed The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan (the second book in the Trials of Apollo series) in May 2017. This review…
-
I first read The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan (the first book in the Trials of Apollo series) in February 2017, so this review is a long time coming! Having read Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and the Heroes of Olympus, I admit I was unsure about this series. How was it going to be, I thought,…
-
I received an advance reader’s copy (ARC) of The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James, so I will not quote it, just comment in general. I have to say, I liked this book more than I was expecting. It has a rather interesting premise that reminded me, at first glance, of a young adult version…