Category: Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Book Review – Burn Our Bodies Down by Rory Power

Genre: Fiction with a side of Science Fiction; Horror

Rating: 4 / 5

Note: There are NO spoilers in this review. When discussing in the comments, please provide a spoiler warning if needed.

Before diving into the overview and review I want to note that I read this entire book in less than 24 hours. I know this isn’t a milestone for some people, but this is a feat for me. When you have a toddler running around – your free time just isn’t the same. 

The being said, I have some mixed feelings and thoughts on this one, so let’s dive in. 

In Burn Our Bodies Down by Rory Power, 17-year-old Margot is searching for answers about her family. For her entire life, it’s been her and her mother with no other family to speak of. While searching through her mother’s things, she finds a clue that leads her to her grandmother and a family she’s never known.

This novel is a sprinkle of my favorite things (just missing vampires) – mother-daughter drama, family secrets, a touch of SciFi, and one hell of a PLOT TWIST. I had a theory, I refined my theory and WOW was I off the mark. I was not prepared for the ending of this book. 

Important to note here any surprise ending that catches me off guard immediately moves a book up in my mental rating scale. It’s one of the top elements I look for when reading any kind of horror or thriller novel. 

I haven’t read Rory Power’s debut novel Wilder Girls but she definitely has talent. She drew me in, painted a picture, and created characters I wanted to know. But there were still some characters and elements I wanted more from and felt like I couldn’t quite connect with. 

Scrolling through Goodreads, I noticed Burn Our Bodies Down received quite a mix of reviews. From 5 star reviews praising everything about the novel to 1 star reviews, so I think my mixed feelings aren’t far from the majority opinion.

Let’s talk about small towns, especially how they are presented in this book. Both towns we explore are deserted with the exception of a few key characters interacting with Margot. This seems a bit off to me and I often found myself thinking about why there were only like two people out and about in each town. I KNOW there has to be a group of busy-bodies somewhere just waiting to gossip about the new girl in town. 

This story was short and sweet, and I understand why there may not have been a large amount of narrative around characters or description not directly involved in the plot, but it did seem off to me. I wanted a picture of the town and all I got was a deserted shopping center vibe with a small group of teenagers hanging out. 

Let’s take a quick break for a small PSA – in this novel Margot hitchhikes with a man she doesn’t know. Never, under any circumstances, should you ever do that. I was screaming at Margot the whole time. For my murderinos – stay sexy. 

But this isn’t to take away from the strong main character, Margot. The rebellious teenager trope is one we can all relate with on some level. Parents keep secrets and we go out of our way to uncover the mystery. Usually it’s some boring family drama, but Margot’s family was anything but. 

I enjoyed uncovering the mystery while Margot did. We didn’t learn anything she didn’t already know, and I liked that about the story. It built more suspense and ultimately made the ending stand out a bit more. 

If you haven’t read Burn Our Bodies Down I do recommend it if you are a fan of lite-SciFi. It’s a fun and quick read. It won’t change your life, but you will enjoy reading this one. 

Have you read Burn Our Bodies Down by Rory Power? Let me know in the comments here or on Instagram. 

Buy Burn Our Bodies Down by Rory Power here from Old Town Books (Alexandria, VA) or at your local bookstore!

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Book Review – The Rook by Daniel O’Malley

Genre: Science Fiction

Ciera’s Rating: 4 / 5 

Josh’s Rating: 4.5 / 5 

My husband has been recommending this book from the moment I met him. I have avoided it for years, but recently decided it’s time to take the plunge. There was a lot of pressure riding on this one, so I was hesitant to write a review. Thankfully, I enjoyed Daniel O’Malley’s The Rook a good bit. 

Because this is a favorite of my husband’s, and because this is an older book,  I wanted to do something a little different for this review. First I want to say this isn’t the typical no-spoiler post. This review is going to be a back-and-forth conversation between my husband and I regarding various elements of The Rook. THERE WILL BE SPOILERS BELOW. We won’t give away any key plot points, though, so at least you should be safe there. 

Ciera: Let’s start on a positive note – what I liked about the novel. It’s rare to find a unique and new storyline. Yes, the names, places, and general order of events change from book-to-book, but it’s not often I find a novel with something unlike anything I’ve read before – The Rook did that for me. I wasn’t reminded of other novels as I read the pages of Daniel O’Malley’s book. I was surprised at each turn and impressed by the individuality of the plot. 

I also really enjoyed the mixing between the letter writing to general narration. 

Josh: I agree, this unique take on the secret society motif truly felt new and inspired. What kept me turning the pages wasn’t just an interest in why Myfanwy Thomas, the main character, woke up in the rain without her memory, it was also the rich history of the other characters and the Checquy, itself. It’s rare for a book to keep me engaged and curious on every page but The Rook accomplished exactly that. I’m usually bored with an info-dump of this scale but it was well weaved into the story and never felt like pointless lore. Everything felt important and necessary for the thickening plot. 

Ciera: Honestly, the whole time I was reading I was thinking about how Mulder and Scully spent all of those seasons trying to find the truth when all they needed to do was read this book. 

Now, to one thing I didn’t like. There is one section at the beginning of the novel where Myfanwy is heading to her meeting with the inner court. The author switches narration to the court members getting ready for their meeting which is a weird change that never happens again. Myfanwy is the narrator and there’s no way she could’ve been in the rooms watching them. It really threw me off, but it didn’t happen again. 

Other than that small thing, the other piece I struggled with was how unbelievable it was. Not the secret society or supernatural power or weird sewn together people – it was how quickly this new person just stepped into Myfanwy’s life. When people suffer from amnesia like that, they have to relearn a lot of things, much less a whole backstory of some super secret agent. There should have been some sort of explanation of how she recovered that fast. Otherwise, how did none of the people surrounding her, who are trained to pick up on these kinds of things, not notice? Just seems too good to be true. 

Josh: I agree with you about the transition into the other court members. Though, while it was a jarring transition, I see why it was necessary. There needed to be a way of introducing the members before the meeting. That way there wasn’t this weird scene of going around the table inside of Myfanwy’s mind. It seemed like the author was prepping the reader with character imagery just before the reveal. 

See, to your second point, I thought it was brilliant. The old Myfanwy was invisible. No one expected anything of her or knew anything about her life. So, one day it just seemed like she had a midlife crisis and started wearing colorful clothes and speaking up for herself. No supernatural ability would be able to detect that she is a different conscience because she wasn’t. Not to say that the people closest to her knew immediately that something was wrong. The Lady after entering her dreams and her office assistant Ingrid both found out before the first day was over. The device was clever because of the other character’s motives. You don’t see what you aren’t looking for and no one was searching for an amnesiac with enormous power. 

Ciera: I guess that’s a good point. That’s one of my favorite elements of American Psycho. Patrick Bateman keeps blatantly telling people what he’s going to do or has done and people either refuse to believe him or are paying so little attention they don’t hear him at all. Completely different story, same concept. 

Let’s talk about something a little more fun. Of all the superpowers in this book, which would you want to have? Four bodies, ability to control others, wiping memories? For me, it’s definitely Myfanwy all the way. I think if she spends some time learning to strengthen her ability to control others with her mind, she could accomplish some spectacular things without ever having to lift a finger, literally. 

Josh: Oh, that’s a tough one. There were a lot of interesting powers. The ability to enter dreams, be a vampire, and Myfanwy’s nervous system control are top contenders, however, I think I would choose Eckhart’s power. Not only does he not age, he is bulletproof and can sculpt metal to meet his any need by touching it. Immortal, invincible, metal bender named Joshua? Yes, please. 

Ciera: Overall, I really liked this one. You say I’m a tough grader, with my 4 out of 5, but I save my 5s for books that impact my life in a significant way. This book was an excellent story, but it didn’t have me sobbing in a corner or examining my soul. 

Josh: I’m just glad you finally read it! This has been four-and-a-half years in the works. I get that it may not be life-altering but, for those who use books as escapism, this novel is worthy of delving. I have so much more praise and nostalgia for Daniel O’Malley’s The Rook, but perhaps your readers will just have to search the rest of its secrets out themselves. 

Want to join in on the conversation? Read it and then tell us what you thought of The Rook below in the comments, on Instagram, or via email!

Purchase The Rook by Daniel O’Malley here at Old Town Books, or your local bookstore!

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Book Review – A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Genre: Fantasy; Fiction

Rating: 5 / 5

Note: There are NO spoilers in this review. When discussing in the comments, please provide a spoiler warning if needed.

In The Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness – the first book of the All Souls Trilogy – readers meet a witch named Diana Bishop. She’s a witch who never mastered her craft and altogether avoided it for a majority of her life, mostly because she blames her parents’ death on magic.

But, of course, what a woman wants is rarely tied to fate. Through a series of accidents (at least that’s how they appear) Diana meets the vampire Matthew Clairemont and her life changes forever. 

The historical detail mixed in with the unbelievable tension of their relationship was enough to hook me in the first chapter. Without so much as a kiss, Deborah Harkness is able to build up to a sexiness and tension that leaves you screaming for more. On top of that (I’m a sucker for a good vampire romance), Diana’s journey and the conflict surrounding the mysterious alchemical manuscript is fantastical and unlike anything I’ve read. 

In a word, this novel is EXCITING. It’s the perfect book for an adult who loves Young Adult Fantasy but wants to read something for an older audience. 

I first decided to pick up A Discovery of Witches because I’ve been wanting to watch the show on AMC. I always try to read before watching. But I was not expecting to get sucked into this novel this way. It was immediate and overwhelming. 

As a writer, this is the book I wish I wrote. I don’t know if I can say that about anything else. 

This re”vamped” take on witches, vampires, and daemons is spectacular and had me obsessed from page one. 

One key element for me – while the arc of the story is dependent on her relationship to Matthew – the plot and conflict is not driven by any kind of drama between the two of them.

So often when we have a female lead, the story is driven by the back-and-forth relationship-based drama. Yes, Diana and Matthew being together is a key driver of the plot, but this isn’t about their quarrels as a couple – it’s about so much more. And, not going to lie, just LOVE a strong female lead. Diana Bishop takes no shit. I’m here for it. 

I can’t say I read this in a day or one sitting. At nearly 600 pages, this was a huge undertaking. It took a few days, but every moment I was away from the book, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. 

If you haven’t already, please go pick up A Discovery of Witches. Next on my list are the remaining books in the trilogy, so stay tuned for future reviews.

Buy A Discovery of Witches here at Old Town Books (Alexandria, VA) or your local bookstore!
Have you read A Discovery of Witches or any book in the All Souls Trilogy? Let’s talk about it in the comments!

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Book Review – The Devil’s Thief by Lisa Maxwell

Genre: Fantasy Fiction

Rating: 4 / 5

Note: There are NO spoilers in this review. When discussing in the comments, please provide a spoiler warning if needed.

The Devil’s Thief by Lisa Maxwell picks up right where we left off in The Last Magician (read my review here). Esta and Harte are running from the Order, and Jack Grew. They have to find the stolen artifacts before they get into the wrong hands. Early in the novel, they jump two years into the future and, due to some complications, the book maintains a steady leap between 1902 and 1904 throughout the novel. 

The novel is told from the perspective of Esta, Harte, Jianyu, Viola, Nibsy, and more as the story unfolds. In St. Louis, Esta and Harte work to obtain the Djinni’s Star while the remaining pieces of Dolph Sander’s team remain (by no choice of their own) in New York City to find Delphi’s Tear. There are twists, turns, and all out moments where you want to SCREAM at Lisa Maxwell. 

One of my favorite parts of this book is having a chance to learn more about our supporting characters – Viola, Jianyu, and Nibsy. The Last Magician gave us small backstories for these characters, but reading from their perspective really let’s us dive into Jianyu’s nostalgia for his home country, Viola’s loyalties and desires, and Nibsy’s affinity and overall plan to take control of the artifacts and, ultimately, magic. 

Esta and Harte also finally give us what we want, an acknowledgement of their feelings and connection to one another. This is one of the more bumpy and complicated pieces of the novel, but I love a slow build that is all tension and no satisfaction. I will be shipping Esta and Harte forever. There are a lot of potential power couples in this novel, but in the spirit of keeping to my promise above about no spoilers – I will keep quiet for now. Once you read the book, let me know and we can discuss.

This novel took me a while to read. It’s hefty (nearly 700 pages) and requires a serious level of concentration. We are jumping through time and from character to character, which brings me to my next point. 

I haven’t decided yet if I love or hate the constant change in time and perspective. The subheaders and writing style make it very easy to follow who is talking and what timeline we are in. But sometimes you only get one (or less) page with a character before you are jumping to the next. It builds tension and suspense in such an aggressive way. It kept me reading, pushing forward, and wanting to know more. But it always made me want MORE. Right when I was getting there – so close – CHANGE. 

I highly recommend this series, starting with The Last Magician followed by The Devil’s Thief. I’ll be picking up the third book in the series later this year when it’s released. 

Buy The Devil’s Thief by Lisa Maxwell here at Old Town Books (Alexandria, VA) or at your local bookstore!

Have you read either book in The Last Magician series? Let me know what you thought in the comments!

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Book Review – Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer

Genre: Young Adult; Fantasy

Rating: 4 / 5 

SPOILER ALERT!

If you have somehow made it through the past 15 years without reading or watching anything Twilight-related, there are spoilers below. 

I need to be honest up front – I am an OBSESSIVE Twilight fan and I go very hard for Team Edward. It’s been more than a decade since I first met Bella, and I still watch the movies regularly. In fact, I just reread Twilight a few months ago. I tell you this because it’s important to know going into my book review of Midnight Sun. I have been waiting for Edward’s point-of-view for a while (like I said, over a decade). If you aren’t a Twi-hard, like me, you may not enjoy this one as much as I did, but here we go.

Much like the 50 Shades of Grey series from Christian’s perspective, this shift of in vantage point to let you hear, see, and experience everything from the other side. The preconceptions I had about what Edward was thinking were shattered as I finally got a look beyond Bella. Stephenie Meyer did an excellent job of weaving people’s thoughts with their verbal dialogue. It was easy to read and engaging. From the scene where the boys at school line up to ask Bella out to Edward’s complicated relationships with each of his family members – it gives a new light to the story. 

I was hoping we may learn more than we didn’t previously know, which didn’t happen. We had a glimpse of Edward’s “birth” and his early days, but it wasn’t more than what we previously knew. This is likely because Bella and Edward are together for a majority of the story and they are very open with each other. I think this will improve in the future books since the couple does spend some time apart. 

We also get a better understanding of Edward’s individual relationships with each member of his family. My favorite, which I won’t get into in hopes of not spoiling anything, is Jasper. He’s much more than we ever imagined. The love permeating off of Esme is also something to behold. I hope to be half of the mom she is.

However, there are some things we learn throughout this story that weren’t present in the first novels. First is about how Bella and Alice became such good friends. I don’t remember Twilight getting into the details of how Alice helped Bella recover from the fight with James, but Edward does give us some additional details that help explain the strong connection. 

Overall, I’ll just say this was a fun read. I was unable to put the book down and read it cover-to-cover in less than a week. I love this series and this just gave me another avenue to learn more about some of my favorite characters on a journey we started together long ago. If you are a Twilight fan, I highly recommend it. If you have yet to read any of the Twilight books, start with the original series and wrap it up with Midnight Sun. The original series is still at the top of my list. Even Edward Cullen can’t compare with that. 

Buy Midnight Sun here on Amazon (or at your local bookstore)!

Have you read Midnight Sun? Share your comments below!

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Book Review – The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell

Genre: Young Adult; Sci-Fi; Fantasy

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Note: There are NO spoilers in this review. When discussing in the comments, please provide a spoiler warning if needed.

I consume a lot of fantasy and sci-fi literature, movies, television shows, and video games. While I love a good sappy sparkly vampire story, it’s rare that a world, story, or universe created by an author feels real and like home. The older I’ve gotten the less I’ve been able to completely disappear into the depths of Mordor or the halls of Hogwarts. They are wonderful stories, but I don’t find myself pulled to them in dreams like I did when I was a child. 

This novel did just that. Lisa Maxwell builds a beautiful new take on magic in this mixed Fantasy/Sci-Fi world. If you are a lover of young adult or fantasy literature, I highly recommend this book. When I wasn’t sneaking a few pages into my day whenever I could (yay motherhood!) I was walking the streets of New York City in my dreams. I was alongside Esta and the other Mageus, shying away from the Brink and plotting to take down the Order. 

Ultimately, this is a story about a young girl, Esta, eager to prove herself while trying to figure out who she is and what she really wants. (Like young girls do) she struggles between her personal desires and how she was raised. It was refreshing to have a strong female character whose struggle wasn’t centered around being a woman. So often stories are told because there is a woman and she is strong and she’s doing something only a strong woman could do, but I find it frustrating that it’s “special” when a woman conquers a challenging obstacle. 

I never felt like this story was only important because a woman was at the center. This is such an intangible element to attempt to describe, but this made me hopeful for the future of literature and storytelling. I am so tired of feeling like it’s a novelty to have a powerful female lead. Women are just extraordinary, everyday. It’s not a novelty, it’s just reality. 

Esta’s choices lead us on a journey with many twists and turns, but they happen organically. Lisa Maxwell was never forcing an Ah-Ha moment on us just for the shock factor. The story flows and feels genuine.

Like most novels that shift between narrators, it took me a few chapters to find the flow. But the narrators have unique voices and, when you meet each character, the transition between becomes seamless. I found myself eager to hear from the different points of view in the scene. The impact helps to round out the picture and build tension, which remains from the first page through the last.

The push-and-pull of tension (sexual and otherwise) throughout the novel created a sexiness without any real “sexy” scenes. Don’t get me wrong, I am a sucker for an erotic novel (hello Christian Grey), but, thankfully, Lisa Maxwell didn’t try to force it into the story. The tension is ever-present and not always romantic. It pushes the story along and makes you want to keep reading more.

The last note I have is related to the time travel this novel is centered around. Generally, time travel as a plot device makes me uneasy. There is always something that doesn’t sit right with me, a loophole not discussed or explored, or the move back into the past erasing the entire story you just read (looking at you School for Psychics Book 2). However, in The Last Magician, it works. There isn’t a lot of digging into the science and there are no multiple timelines. Do something – the future is impacted. The story keeps it simple, which I appreciate, but doesn’t ignore the impact of changing the past.

If you are looking for a novel (and potentially series – stay tuned) to pull you in from front to back, this is the one. The Last Magician is a beautiful story and a new take on magic. The sights, sounds, and people feel familiar but with a unique flavor. This book will remain on my “recommend-to-a-friend” list.

Buy The Last Magician here on Amazon (or at your local bookstore)!

Have you read The Last Magician? Let’s talk about it. Leave a comment or send me a message letting me know what you thought of the novel.

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