The Only One Left Publisher: Hodder Pub Date: 20 June 2023 Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Panda Rating: (4 pandas)
๐SYNOPSIS
Everyone believes that Lenora Hope is a mass murderer.
When the Hope family was massacred decades ago, she was the only one left after that tragic night.
Mute, paralysed and confined to a wheelchair, Lenora has never been able to tell her side of the story.
Until her new live-in caregiver Kit brings her a typewriter.
And with one working finger Lenora begins to type:
I want to tell you everything.
โ ๏ธCONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS
Parental abandonment, infidelity, suicide by hanging, overdose, abortion mentioned, childbirth, teenage accidental pregnancy, blood, terminal illness, death of an infant discussed, death of parents (recounted), death of sister (recounted), death from a fall (recounted), death of a father, murder & attempted murder, knife violence
TL;DR: Long story short it was a good, good time. I know a lot of people have a love/hate relationship with Sager’s mysteries but it’s a genre I don’t read often and I find that I enjoy them quite a lot! This one was no different. THE TWISTS!! I loved it!!! ๐คฏ
Voyage of the Damned Publisher: Michael Joseph Pub Date: 20 September 2022 Genre: Contemporary Romance
Panda Rating: (4.5 pandas)
๐SYNOPSIS
For a thousand years, Concordia has maintained peace between its provinces. To mark this incredible feat, the emperorโs ship embarks upon a twelve-day voyage to the sacred Goddessโs Mountain.
Aboard are the heirs of the twelve provinces of Concordia, each graced with a unique and secret magical ability known as a Blessing.
Except one: Ganymedes Piscero โ class clown, slacker, and all-round disappointment.
When a beloved heir is murdered, everyone is a suspect. Stuck at sea and surrounded by powerful people without a Blessing to protect him, odds of survival are slim.
But as the bodies pile higher, Ganymedes must become the hero he was not born to be. Can he unmask the killer and their blessing before this bloody crusade reaches the shores of Concordia?
TL;DR: Voyage of the Damned is an awesome debut and I didnโt want this story to end! While I can see that the mesh of snarky humour and slow-paced mystery might not work for everyone and our main character takes some getting used to. Luckily, I grew to love Dee and I found myself sucked into the slow-building murder mystery on a fantastical ship run by magic and amazing tiny sentient dragons. If you love your fantasy with a huge dose of corny comedy, secrets upon secrets, politicking, magic, murder (obvi), and found family then I would urge you to try this!
When Andrew stumbles upon Jamieโs house, heโs injured, starved, and has nothing left to lose. A deadly pathogen has killed off most of the worldโs population, including everyone both boys have ever loved. And if this new world has taught them anything, itโs to be scared of what other desperate people will do . . . so why does it seem so easy for them to trust each other?
After danger breaches their shelter, they flee south in search of civilization. But something isnโt adding up about Andrewโs story, and it could cost them everything. And Jamie has a secret, too. Heโs starting to feel something more than friendship for Andrew, adding another layer of fear and confusion to an already tumultuous journey.
The road ahead of them is long, and to survive, theyโll have to shed their secrets, face the consequences of their actions, and find the courage to fight for the future they desire, together. Only one thing feels certain: all thatโs left in their world is the undeniable pull they have toward each other.
โ ๏ธCONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS
Pandemic, pandemic related deaths, gun violence, violence, cult, homophobia, traumatic deaths of loved ones (recounted), murder
TL;DR: All Thatโs Left in the World is an emotional queer post-apocalyptic story about two boys trying to survive in the world following a world-ending pandemic. It wonโt be for everyone as itโs hard to read about a pandemic after having lived through one IRL. However, despite the loss, deaths, and horrors that await our protagonists, there is so much hope and love within these pages. I grew to love Andrew and Jamie and I canโt wait to see where their story goes next!
EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY IS A KILLER. EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY IS A SUSPECT.
BUT WHICH OF THEM IS A MURDERER?
I knew our family reunion wouldn’t end well. But I didn’t expect murder.
Maybe I should have known better. After all, everyone in my family is a killer. My parents, my siblings, my in-laws . . . even me. The deaths weren’t all deliberate, of course. Accidents happen.
So when a body is found in the snow, it’s clear it’s the work of a Cunningham. But which one? And why?
I’ll give you one it wasn’t me.
But a piece of advice? Never trust a Cunningham . . .
TL;DR:ย I think this book received a lot of hype towards the end of 2023 and when I started it, I was a bit worried it wouldn’t live up to it because it was told in first person to the audience. I’m so glad I was proven wrong by the end. This was such a unique and cleverly written book with an incredibly messed up family that served many incredulous laugh-out-loud moments alongside the murder mystery. I’d recommend it if you’re looking for a different and interestingly murderous ride!
The Kiss Countdown Publisher: Penguin Pub Date: 4 April 2024 Genre: Contemporary Romance
Panda Rating: (4 pandas)
๐SYNOPSIS
Discover the sizzling new fake-dating romance, perfect for fans of The Love Hypothesis and The Hating Game — Three. Two. One…Romance?
Amerie Price is jobless, newly single, and about to be evicted. The last thing she needed was to run into her ex and his new girlfriend at her favourite coffee shop. Panicked, Amerie pretends to be dating the annoyingly sexy man she met. He plays along – for a price.
Half the single men in Houston claim to be astronauts, but Vincent Rogers turns out to be the real deal. What started as a one-off lie morphs into a plan: for the three months leading up to his mission, Amerie will play Vincent’s doting partner. In exchange, she gets a rent-free room in his house.
What Amerie doesn’t plan for is Vincent’s gravitational pull. While her mind tells her a future with this astronaut is too unpredictable, her heart says he’s exactly what she needs. As their time together counts down, Amerie must decide if she’ll settle for the safe life โ or shoot for the stars.
TL;DR:I was pleasantly surprised by The Kiss Countdown and think itโs a great romance debut. This fake dating romance was a slow burn and honestly, the story felt like a warm hug with relatable characters and wonderful heartwarming family moments. I loved Mimi and Vincent together and how this also had a strong focus on friendship and character growth.
Hello, friends. โจ Today I’m excited to be part of the blog tour for The Magic Paintbrush by Kat Zhang! Special thanks to the TBR & Beyond Tours team for organising the tour and including me in it.
Thanks to Crown Books for Young Readers for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Click here or on the banner above to check out the rest of the fantastic bloggers on tour!
The Magic Paintbrush Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers Publication Date: 21 May 2024 Genre: Middle-Grade Fantasy Rep: Chinese, Asian American
Panda Rating: (3.5 pandas)
๐SYNOPSIS
In this highly illustrated series launch, Amy, a Chinese American girl picks up an ancient paintbrush and unwittingly unleashes the power to make her art realโand sometimes dangerous. Perfect for fantasy readers who love Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor and Dragon Pearl series.
โGorgeous and gripping, The Magic Paintbrush swoops readers off on rip-roaring fantasy adventure that unfurls like a magnificent scrollโฆBrimming with imagination and heartโฆโ Soman Chainani, author of THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL series
Amy has always loved art, but lately her drawings have been less than impressive. Thereโs no passion, nopersonality, noโฆmagic. Until Amy visits her Lao Lao, her grandmother, and finds an ancient paintbrush that brings anything Amy creates to life!
Now her creation Luna has taken over her bedroom and is running through the streets of Flushing, Queens. What an international adventure filled with an ancient Chinese legend, a greedy adversary and ghastly beasts!
Award-winning author Kat Zhang teams up with Eric Darnell, the writer and director of the Madagascar series and the Chief Creative Officer of Baobab Studios, to create a captivating highly-illustrated middle grade series debut about finding your own path, the power of imagination, and the strength of family.
TL;DR:The Magic Paintbrush is an action-packed, adventure-filled, Chinese mythology-inspired middle-grade fantasy with wonderful illustrations to accompany a fun and creative story! Amy was a relatable main character who was easy to root for and I loved her relationship with her Lao Lao and Lunaโwho is unquestionably my favourite character in this book. The story doesn’t dive too deep into character development and neither does it go too hard with its themes, but I think that is also what would make this a great pick for young readers who simply want an enjoyable and entertaining fantasy story. Overall, while this wasn’t my favourite as an adult reader of MG, it was still a terrific read that I would recommend to the young readers in my life.
Bestselling thriller writer Tess Harrow is almost at the end of her rope when she arrives with her teenage daughter at her grandfather’s rustic cabin in the woods. She hopes this will be a time for them to heal and bond after Tess’s recent divorce, but they’ve barely made it through the door when an explosion shakes the cabin. Suddenly it’s raining fish guts and…is that a human arm?
Tess was hardly convincing Gertie that a summer without Wi-Fi and running water would be an adventure. Now she’s thrust into a murder investigation, neighbors are saying they’ve spotted Bigfoot in the woods near her cabin, and the local sheriff is the spitting image of her character Detective Gabriel Gonzalesโsomething he’s less than thrilled about. With so much more than her daughter’s summer plans at stake, it’s up to Tess to solve this case before anyone else gets hurt.
TL;DR:I’m so glad that I finally read Buried in a Good Book! I had no idea what to expect going in but I didn’t think the writing would be so amusing, even with the murderous plot. I loved the humour and the cosy yet spooky atmosphere of this quaint and quirky small town surrounded by thick woods and nature near the Canadian border. Tess was a fantastic main character and I loved the role many of the side characters play, especially Sheriff Boyd, Gertie, and Nicki! It’s a wildly adventurous and murder-filled read and I can’t wait to continue this series.
Hello, friends. โจ Today I’m excited to be part of the blog tour for Summer Vamp by Violet Chan Karim! Special thanks to the TBR & Beyond Tours team for organising the tour and including me in it.
Thanks to Random House Graphic for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Click here or on the banner above to check out the rest of the fantastic bloggers on tour!
Summer Vamp Publisher: Random House Graphic Publication Date: 14 May 2024 Genre: Middle-Grade Fantasy
Panda Rating: (4 pandas)
๐SYNOPSIS
What happens when a very human kid ends up at the wrong summer campโFOR VAMPIRES?! This quirky and heart warming graphic novel about making friends and getting in trouble is perfect for fans of Witches of Brooklyn.
After a lackluster school year, Maya anticipates an even more disappointing summer. The only thing sheโs looking forward to is cooking and mixing ingredients in the kitchen, which these days brings her more joy than mingling with her peers… that is until her dadโs girlfriend registers her for culinary summer camp! Mayaโs summer is saved!… or not.
What was meant to be a summer filled with baking pastries and cooking pasta is suddenly looking a lot… paler?! Why do all of the kids have pointy fangs? And hate garlic? Turns out that Maya isnโt at culinary campโsheโs at a camp for VAMPIRES! Maya has a lot to learn if sheโs going to survive this summer… and if sheโs lucky, she might even make some friends along the way.
What happens when you realize you havenโt gone to culinary camp and ended up at not just any regular old summer camp, but a camp for vampires?! Well, it turns out you can have a whole lot of fun in the last place youโd expect to! ๐
Hello, friends. โจ Today I’m excited to be part of the blog tour for Wrath of the Talon by Sophie Kim! Special thanks to the TBR & Beyond Tours team for organising the tour and including me in it.
Thanks to Entangled: Teen for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Click here or on the banner above to check out the rest of the fantastic bloggers on tour!
Wrath of the Talons (Talon #2) Publisher: Entangled: Teen Publication Date: 2 April 2024 Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Rep: Asian, Korean
Panda Rating: (4.5 pandas)
๐SYNOPSIS
Everyone thinks the Reaper of Sunpoโeighteen-year-old assassin Shin Linaโis dead. The only ones who know the truth are her cherished little sister and Haneul Rui, the icily gorgeous Dokkaebi Emperor, who she was sent to killโฆand kissed instead.
Now, with the potent Imugi venom surging in her veins, Linaโs returned to right all wrongs. Already her body is changing, growing stronger, stealthier, and more agile, with serpentine scales she can call at will. She is living vengeance, seeking retribution for the massacre of the Talons. Sheโll become the sword who cuts down the rival Blackbloods gang, along with their ruthless crime-lord leader. And when she is through, she will take the kingdom as her own.
But there is a mysterious side to Linaโs growing power, a dark voice inside her that whispers and guides her as she slips through the shadows of Sunpoโs streets. One that warns her not to trust the Dokkaebi, especially Rui.
Because if her destiny isnโt to love himโฆit must be to destroy him.
TL;DR:Holy wow, this was a sequel! That ending had me floored because no way was that the choice! Author!! The way you built up hope is illegal!!! I canโt remember the last time I was so thrilled by the second book in a trilogy but this, to me, did not suffer from that dreaded second/middle book syndrome. Perhaps itโs because I went in with lowered expectations having thought the first book was okay; however, I think the writing, plot, and character development were sharper and Iโm happy to see that author growth. With such high stakes and a whole lot of tension and angst, this sequel got me invested in this series and after that ending, I canโt wait for the finale!
While most of the world has drowned beneath the sudden rising waters of a climate apocalypse, Dinรฉtah (formerly the Navajo reservation) has been reborn. The gods and heroes of legend walk the land, but so do monsters.
Maggie Hoskie is a Dinรฉtah monster hunter, a supernaturally gifted killer. When a small town needs help finding a missing girl, Maggie is their last best hope. But what Maggie uncovers about the monster is much more terrifying than anything she could imagine.
Maggie reluctantly enlists the aid of Kai Arviso, an unconventional medicine man, and together they travel the rez, unraveling clues from ancient legends, trading favors with tricksters, and battling dark witchcraft in a patchwork world of deteriorating technology.
As Maggie discovers the truth behind the killings, she will have to confront her past if she wants to survive.
TL;DR:This was a reread for me but I read it back before I wrote reviews so despite giving it 4 stars I didnโt remember what I loved and didnโt love about it. Iโm blown away by how much I enjoyed this especially because there are horror aspects in this that fall outside my usual reading comfort zone. Despite the stomach-turning moments and the fact that these pages are filled with a fairly depressing post-apocalyptic setting and dark mythology, I found myself being unable to turn away and I often didnโt want to stop reading even when adulting responsibilities called me back to reality. This review is a bit all over the place but that tends to happen with a book Iโve thoroughly enjoyed! ๐
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