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WE RIDE TITANS

Book Review: We Ride Titans, by Tres Dean

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I accepted a review copy of We Ride Titans, by Tres Dean (author), Dee Cunniffe (colorist), Sebastián Píriz (Illustrator), Jim Campbell, Adrian F. Wassel (Editor). The book was also featured over on Sadie’s Spotlight. So, you can hop over there for a sample page, author and illustrator info, the tour schedule, and a chance to win a copy of the graphic novel for yourself.

Pacific Rim meets Shameless in this sci-fi kaiju action adventure, female helmed thrill ride where one woman must keep the monsters in check – as well as her explosive family!

It’s Mechs vs. Kaiju in this hard-hitting, action sci-fi adventure!

Kaiju hit hard. Family hits harder.

Just when you break free … you get pulled back in.

Trying to keep your family from imploding is a tall order. Titan-rider Kit Hobbs is about to find out it’s an even taller order when that family has been piloting the Titan that protects New Hyperion from the monstrous kaiju for generations. With an addicted, spiraling brother, a powder keg of a father, and a whole bunch of twenty-story monsters, she’s got her work cut out for her.

my review

I enjoyed the heck out of this. I liked the art and use of color. I appreciated the sibling affection and inter-generational discord. There is a little bit of background romance, and I liked that it wasn’t sullied by needless cheating to give the story artificial grit. There’s diversity and appropriate use of mental health services to address the result of generational trauma.

I did think that the introduction of the villain was abrupt, and I could have done with a little more backstory. The mother’s role was never defined in any significant way, and the kaiju just exist; we’re not told anything about them. All of this could have been improved with a little more length and time to unfurl. All in all, however, I’ll call this one a winner. If you’re at all into the mecha genre, check this out.

we ride titans photo

Other reviews:

The Real World According to Sam: Blog tour review, We Ride Titans

You Are The Wall – Character Outshines Spectacle in Vault Comics’ We Ride Titans

 

 

 

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Book Review: A Wolf in Duke’s Clothing, by Susanna Allen

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I borrowed a copy of Susanna Allen‘s A Wolf in Duke’s Clothing through Hoopla.
a wolf in dukes clothing

A Duke in want of a wife…

Alfred Blakesley, Duke of Lowell, has long been an enigma. No one dares to give a man of his status the cut direct, but there’s simply something not quite right about him. What would the society ladies say if they learned the truth―that the Duke of Lowell is a wolf shifter and the leader of a pack facing extinction if he doesn’t find his true love? So now he’s on the hunt…for a wife.

Felicity Templeton has a goal of her own: to remain unwed until her twenty-fifth birthday, when she will inherit a significant fortune. But that all changes when she meets Alfred, the dashing duke who’s determined to have her for his very own…

my review

This was absolutely ridiculous. Nothing about Felicity’s reactions felt believable. So, it took a lot of suspension of disbelief. But it was ridiculous in a cute way. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I appreciated Felicity’s backbone and how unflinchingly and openly willing to want Alfred was.

I was annoyed at how often Felicity fell asleep and was able to be picked up, moved, undressed, etc, in her sleep. This is a scenario that only really makes sense with small children and I find it a wolf in duke's clothing photohorrendously infantilizing when authors subject their adult female characters to this. (It’s only ever women too. I can’t think of a single male character this happens to.) Additionally, this is labeled “a steamy shapeshifter regency romance” on Amazon. But that calling that is a stretch. There’s basically nothing more than angst and a kiss at the very end, and even then, the sex is very tame. So, I don’t know what steamy scale it’s rated on, but don’t expect much.

All in all, for a bit of light fluff, this was fun. But I wouldn’t call it anymore than that.

Other Reviews:

ARC Review: A Wolf in Duke’s Clothing by Susanna Allen

Review: A Wolf in Duke’s Clothing – Susanna Allen

 

 

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Book Review: Given, by Elin Wyn

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I picked up a copy of Elin Wyn’s Given as an Amazon freebie.

given cover

 

The last thing this warrior needs is a sexy thief – even if her scent drives him to madness.

Davien will do whatever it takes to get back into space. The last thing he wants is a smart-mouthed thief – even if her scent drives him wild – and she may have the clue he needs to hunt down whoever destroyed his home. 

Thief Kara Shimsi has learned three lessons well – keep her head down, her fingers light, and her tithes to the syndicate paid on time.

But now a failed heist has earned her a death sentence – a one-way ticket to the toxic Waste outside the dome. Her only chance is a deal with the syndicate’s most ruthless enforcer, a wolfish mountain of genetically-modified muscle named Davien.

The thought makes her body tingle with dread-or is it heat? 

Caring is a liability. Desire is a commodity. And love could get you killed.

my review

This was fine entertainment. I didn’t hate the characters, which isn’t a given for sci-fi romance. As much as I sometimes love an alien romance. It’s not uncommon for the aliens to lean so far into alpha a-hole territory that I can’t bear the gender dynamics that result. So, the fact that Wyn didn’t do this and, therefore, I didn’t hate the romantic leads is actually a point worth mention and praise. The writing is clean and easy to read and I don’t remember any big editing mishaps. So, fine entertainment.

It’s not deep, though. There’s not enough world-building or character development. The romance isn’t particularly developed, and it’s not explicitly fated mates to excuse its lack of development. And while the book ends reasonably, I didn’t feel it quite reached a happily-ever-after or even a happy-for-now. It felt just a little too soon for that, like the book needed a few more chapters of wrap-up before that was a safe assumption.

All in all, however, for fluffy entertainment, it did it’s job. I’m not a fan of the cover, though.

given photo

Other Reviews:

MP Book Reviews