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Book Review: Queens and Monsters, by India Amare

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I purchased a copy of India Amare’s Queens and Monsters. I had a flight yesterday and allowed my daughter to pick out what I read. Based on nothing more than the covers, she chose Queens and Monsters for me.
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She is the enemy…and he is sworn to protect her.

Just out of sight exists a world of magic, vampires, monsters and royalty all on the brink of war…

Something Rhysa Smith knew nothing about until the sight of Draygus Wren’s blood Awakened her. She’s suddenly thrust into the middle of a lavish new world with powers she doesn’t understand, a trail of lies and deceit she must untangle, and an unstoppable love for the monster who is both her sworn enemy and her sworn protector.

my review

Meh, this was fine but I wasn’t blown away by it. It ended on a cliffhanger, such that it felt like part of a story, rather than anything complete in and of itself. I did appreciate that Rhysa was quite independent, but I also felt like her self-defensiveness was overblown (or maybe not well enough supported). I liked Dray as a romantic lead, but I also didn’t feel like the romance was particularly deep and I wasn’t given enough meat to truly dig in. All in all, a fine read but not outstanding. I’d read another if I found it free or at the library. But I don’t think I’d buy the next book.

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Book Review: Death Opens a Window, by Mikel J. Wilson

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Some time ago, I won copies of Mikel J. Wilson‘s Murder on the Lake of Fire and  Death Opens a Window (Mourning Dove Mysteries, #1 & 2) on Instagram. I read and reviewed book one, Murder on the Lake of Fire, last year, but never got around to Death Opens a Window. However, with book 3 soon to come out, the series  was promoed on Sadie’s Spotlight recently, which reminded me Death Opens a Window was buried on my shelf. So, I pulled it out.

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As he struggles with the consequences of his last case, Emory must unravel the inexplicable death of a federal employee in a Knoxville high-rise. But while the reticent investigator is mired in a deep pool of suspects – from an old mountain witch to the powerful Tennessee Valley Authority – he misses a greater danger creeping from the shadows. The man in the ski mask returns to reveal himself, and the shocking crime of someone close is unearthed.

my review

I quite enjoyed this. I like Emory as a main character and Jeff is possibly the most abrasive partner ever. But they make a good straight man / wise guy duo. I didn’t even guess the murderer. I’d started to suspect, but I wasn’t sure and that’s a pleasant rarity for me. The editing is clean and writing is sharp. I thought the use of names or endearments in dialogue cropped up on occasion, but not too often and mostly with the same characters. So, maybe it’s just supposed to be a speech pattern of them in particular. Then that reveal at the end…well, I guess I need book three now.

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wyrd gods

Book Review: Wyrd Gods, by Susana Imaginário

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Wyrd Gods, by Susana Imaginário, was promoed on Sadie’s Spotlight back in May. I didn’t agree to review the book for the tour, but everyone who participated received a free copy of the book. I’m trying to make an effort to get some of the harder to accomplish letters for my yearly alphabet challenge out of the way, so I’m not scrambling in December, like usual. And here we have an ‘I’!

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The God of Time wants to destroy Eternity.

A mysterious immortal seeks vengeance.

And a reclusive deity does what no god should ever do: she answers a prayer.

As punishment, she is stripped of her powers and trapped in a mortal’s body. Now a Wyrd – a fated god – she is haunted by the memories and thoughts of her host and must hide her true identity in order to survive in Niflheim, the rival Norse Underworld.

There she discovers the afterlife is not quite what it used to be. Niflheim’s new ruler threatens the precarious balance of a world overrun with outcast deities and mortals alike.

To save her own sanity and find her way back to the stars, she must help the other Wyrd overcome their grievances to defeat this enemy, but those who would be her allies appear to have motives as hidden as her fragmented consciousness.

And yet it seems the greatest threat to her freedom comes from within, and the prize it seeks is her immortal soul…

my review

I mostly enjoyed this. I liked the main character, the difficulty of non-humans trying to adapt to human (or human-like) limitations, the attempt to save the world(s), the sarcasm, and the really readable writing. I did get lost in all the characters and species though—there are a lot. I might have been helped out if I knew all the gods and races of different pantheons more intimately. There was no one here I’d not heard of, but being all muddled together it still felt like a tsunami of ‘who will show up next.’

But…BUT I think those of you who are really invested in the Marvel Universe will adore this. (And yes, I very seriously considered “accidentally” referring to Loki and the DC universe just to see who’d come out of the woodwork to call me a degenerate heathen. I saw reason though.) But if you like the gods, as presented in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I promise you’ll like this too.

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