Reviews and Comments

So happy to go on another adventure with the Nanshe crew - and the visit to the criminal underworld of Bulari was a special treat, visiting some familiar landmarks and meeting some old acquaintances! I also thoroughly enjoyed spending a little more time with Alex and getting to know him better.

It's so good to be back on the Nanshe - I really missed this motley crew! I especially enjoyed experiencing a part of this adventure through Jay's POV and getting to know him better.

The newest episode of this ongoing buddy comedy delivers the kind of banter-y action adventure I’ve come to expect from the series. John and Alvis are facing yet another “mission: impossible,” only this time with a bit of a role reversal: for once, John needs to be the adult in the room. And boy, is it fun to watch him deal with an increasingly unpredictable and gasp adventure-craving Alvis, who hasn’t been quite himself since their last mission.

More, please?

... and Holtar, necromancer, dark elf, and Seymour's partner in crime-solving, of course. But I've had a soft spot for Seymour since meeting him for the first time in Andi Ewington's The Hero Interviews, so I'm chuffed to bits that he and Holtar are getting their own series. Yay! The story is set in a world that makes heavy use of (and pokes fun) at fantasy and D&D tropes, and while it adds another layer of familiarity (and a couple of easter eggs) if you have read The Hero Interviews, it can absolutely be read as a standalone. I found the mystery engaging and there were enough clues (and a couple of red herrings) thrown in to keep me turning the pages (often way past my bedtime).

More, please?

I’m confused - is this the first book in a series?

The blurb sounded promising, and I’m sad that I didn’t like the story as much as I thought I would. While I found the slow reveal of bits and pieces of Grace’s history intriguing (and terrifying), some things in the story didn’t add up for me. One of those (and this one’s a doozy) was Grace’s mom. I do not understand why she acted how she did, both in the past and in the present. Some events happened for no apparent (to me) reason while some questions never got resolved.

More often than not, at one point in the story, the title makes sense and things fall into place, but this didn’t happen for me (YMMV). Is this supposed to be the first book in a series and the open question will be answered later?

A little extra? Maybe?

I have read and enjoyed both Pyper’s and Roxie’s books, and I was very much looking forward to Kai’s story. It was as entertaining and chock-full of quirky characters (as well as some old friends from the previous stories) as I’ve come to expect from Cori Cooper, and I found it super easy to root for Kai - for the most part. But sometimes I couldn’t help but wonder how and why he put up with Shelby’s harebrained shenanigans. (Anyone else thought Shelby was a bit - if not totes… - extra? No? Just me?) But overall, it was a fun read and I’m looking forward to the next book, be it in this series or another. :)

I found Reliance to be an intriguing protagonist, and the fast-paced story kept me turning the pages (hence the aforementioned loss of sleep...). I thoroughly enjoyed delving into this new-to-me world and getting to know Reliance's enemies and allies alike - not least of all Felix, her ship's feline avatar - but I'll have to admit that Walnut took my by surprise and stole a piece of my heart in record time.

More, please?

Space western with strong buddy movie vibes - totally my jam!

This first-in-series was a fun introduction to John and his artie-partner-in-crime Alvis, whose bickering game is as strong as their do-gooder tendencies. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know these two and the rest of the engaging cast of characters Tom Dell'Aringa brought to life in this entertaining adventure.

More, please!

Gambler hat not included.

Cute YA romance, but the movie references were a bit much (and maybe outdated?).

Well, that escalated quickly!

I’m a sucker for a story with a reluctant (s)hero, and Fanny’s inner voice coaxing her into doing all the right things from standing up against bullies to eventually fighting crime (I did say things escalated quickly, didn’t I?) totally fits the bill.

My favorite part of this fast-paced, entertaining adventure was getting to know Fanny and her family and friends, who all brought not only excellent banter to the table but their own, individual skills and strenghts.

While I found some aspects a bit over the top (must be nice to have all these resources to throw at the problem at hand), I enjoyed the family (and found-family) dynamics. And Buddy did a stellar job stealing his way into Fanny’s heart (and mine).

My heart is full! <3

I thought “Just Act Natural” might be a hard act to follow, but Genny Carrick hit it out of the park - again. I absolutely adored Tess and Ian - and August, OMG! so precious! - and it was such a joy to see them grow close, albeit reluctantly. Both had their reasons why they didn’t want to open themselves up to potential heartbreak, yet seeing Tess’s teenage crush rekindled was a lot of fun.
It was also great to reconnect with so many folks I’ve already met in other stories, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series! Pretty please, with a dinosaur footprint on top!