Review: Flying by Carrie Jones

Title: Flying

Series: Flying #1

Author: Carrie Jones

Genre: YA, sci-fi, urban fantasy

Publication date: July 2016

Published by: Tor Teen

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: People have always treated seventeen-year-old Mana as someone in need of protection. She's used to being coddled, being an only child, but it's hard to imagine anything could ever happen in her small-town, normal life. As her mother's babying gets more stifling than ever, she's looking forward to cheering at the big game and getting out of the house for a while.

But that night, Mana's life goes haywire.

First, the hot guy she's been crushing on at school randomly flips out and starts spitting acid during the game. Then they get into a knockdown, drag-out fight in the locker room, during which Mana finds herself leaping around like a kangaroo on steroids. As a flyer on the cheerleading squad, she's always been a good jumper, but this is a bit much. By the time she gets home and finds her house trashed and an alien in the garage, Mana starts to wonder if her mother had her reasons for being overprotective.

It turns out, Mana's frumpy, timid mom is actually an alien hunter, and now she's missing--taking a piece of technology with her that everyone wants their hands on, both human and alien. Now her supposed partner, a guy that Mana has never met or heard of (and who seems way too young and way too arrogant to be hunting aliens), has shown up, ordering Mana to come with him. Now, on her own for the first time, Mana will have to find a way to save her mother--and maybe the world--and hope she's up to the challenge.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

This book is a good example of a good premise but not-so-great execution. I liked the idea of aliens and the main character’s mother who’s suddenly missing being an actual alien hunter... that is very cool!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #373: Slump Begone!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #407: A Busy Week of Doing Nothing

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

The Summer Camp Book Tag

This fun tag was created by jessethereader. I thought it was such a fun concept, but I'm not gonna lie, the urge to pick Percy Jackson for every question was STRONG 😆 So I decided to go in a completely different direction, and went with a more spooky theme. Lol.

Review: Blood of My Blood (I Hunt Killers #3) by Barry Lyga

Title: Blood of My Blood

Series: I Hunt Killers #3

Previous novellas/books in this series: Down Time (#0.1) | Lucky Day (#0.2) | Career Day (#0.3) | Neutral Mask (#0.4) | Blood Boy (#0.5) | I Hunt Killers (#1) | Game (#2)

Author: Barry Lyga

Genre: YA, mystery thriller

Publication date: September 2014

Published by: Little, Brown and Company

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: Jazz Dent has never been closer to catching his father.

Jazz has been shot and left to die in New York. His girlfriend, Connie, is in the clutches of Jazz's monstrous father, Billy—the world's most notorious serial killer. And his best friend, Howie, is bleeding to death on the floor of Jazz's new home.

Somehow, these three must rise above the horrors and find a way to come together in pursuit of Billy.

But then Jazz crosses a line he's never crossed before, and soon the entire country is wondering: "Like father, like son? Who is the true monster?"

From New York City to the small town of Lobo's Nod, the chase is on, and this time, Jazz is the hunted, not the hunter--while Billy Dent lurks in the shadows.

And beyond Billy? Something much, much worse. Prepare to meet... the Crow King.

My rating: ★★★★☆

This book was a rollercoaster of emotions. I highly recommend you look up trigger warnings, if need be, because any type of abuse you can possibly imagine, poor Jazz endured. I nearly cried and threw up at the same time. Just reading over the notes I left myself in preparation for writing this review made me teary-eyed and angry on his behalf.

Review: The Night Shift by Alex Finlay

Title: The Night Shift

Author: Alex Finlay

Genre: Adult, mystery thriller

Publication date: March 2022

Published by: Minotaur Books

Source: Borrowed form library

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Synopsis: It’s New Year’s Eve 1999. Y2K is expected to end in chaos: planes falling from the sky, elevators plunging to earth, world markets collapsing. A digital apocalypse. None of that happens. But at a Blockbuster Video in Linden, New Jersey, four teenage girls working the night shift are attacked. Only one survives. Police quickly identify a suspect who flees and is never seen again.

Fifteen years later, in the same town, four teenage employees working late at an ice cream store are attacked, and again only one makes it out alive.

Both surviving victims recall the killer speaking only a few final words... “Goodnight, pretty girl.”

In the aftermath, three lives intersect: the survivor of the Blockbuster massacre who’s forced to relive her tragedy; the brother of the original suspect, who’s convinced the police have it wrong; and the FBI agent, who’s determined to solve both cases. On a collision course toward the truth, all three lives will forever be changed, and not everyone will make it out alive.

My rating: ★★★★★

I love a mystery thriller, but more often than not they turn out to be mediocre at best. This book, however, was one of the good ones! I was honestly surprised at how much I liked it!

Review: Miracle Mountain (Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper #20) by J.L. Bryan

Title: Miracle Mountain

Series: Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper #20

Previous books in this series: Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper (#1) | Cold Shadows (#2) | The Crawling Darkness (#3) | Terminal (#4) | House of Whispers #5 | Maze of Souls #6 | Lullaby (#7) | The Keeper (#8) | The Tower (#9) | The Monster Museum (#10) | Fire Devil (#11) | The Necromancer's Library (#12) | The Trailwalker (#13) | Midnight Movie (#14) | The Lodge (#15) | Cabinet Jack (#16) | Fallen Wishes (#17) | Sunset House (#18) | The Funtime Show (#19)

Author: J.L. Bryan

Genre: Adult, paranormal, horror

Publication date: April 2024

Published by: J.L. Bryan

Source: eARC from author

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Synopsis: In the early nineteenth century, hungry gold prospectors descended on Miracle Mountain in north Georgia, ripping open the ancient wilderness, driven by dreams of glittering fortunes. Local legends tell of mysterious events, like a young girl who defied death after toppling from the mountain's treacherous waterfall.

Today, tourists visit to see the legendary falls along with the blazing colors of the Appalachian forests in autumn. The rustic, antiquated Highwater Inn welcomes them, but specters from the past haunt the halls and terrify the guests and staff. Paranormal investigator Ellie Jordan arrives to help the owners, who are desperate to clear away the evil influences before they're forced to close down and abandon the struggling hotel.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I was SO excited when this book landed in my inbox! I love this series and I was really starting to miss Ellie and Stacey and all their spooky adventures, so this came at the perfect time!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #372: A Reading Slump?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #406: Much Needed Break

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Review: Game (I Hunt Killers #2) by Barry Lyga

Title: Game

Series: I Hunt Killers #2

Previous novellas/books in this series: Down Time (#0.1) | Lucky Day (#0.2) | Career Day (#0.3) | Neutral Mask (#0.4) | Blood Boy (#0.5) | I Hunt Killers (#1)

Author: Barry Lyga

Genre: YA, mystery thriller

Publication date: April 2013

Published by: Little, Brown and Company

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: In an effort to prove murder didn’t run in the family, Jazz teamed with the police in the small town of Lobo’s Nod to solve a deadly case. And now, when a determined New York City detective comes knocking on Jazz’s door asking for help, he can’t say no. The Hat-Dog Killer has the Big Apple–and its police force–running scared. So Jazz and his girlfriend, Connie, hop on a plane to the big city and get swept up in a killer’s murderous game.

My rating: ★★★★★

This book was insane... in the best way possible!

Review: Beautiful Demons (The Shadow Demons Saga #1) by Sarra Cannon

Title: Beautiful Demons

Series: The Shadow Demons Saga #1

Author: Sarra Cannon

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: October 2010

Published by: Dead River Books

Source: Amazon freebie

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Synopsis: Harper Madison isn't like other girls. She has extraordinary powers, but her inability to control them has gotten her kicked from so many foster homes she's lost count. Shadowford Home for Girls is her last chance, and she hopes Peachville High will be the fresh start she needs.

At first, life appears to be looking up for Harper. She's making new friends and is strangely drawn to the guy next door. But when evidence ties her to the gruesome murder of a Demons cheerleader, Harper discovers this small town has a big secret.

My rating: ★★☆☆☆

This book was, uh, something. I liked the premise, I’ll give it that. I love protagonists with cool powers and mysteries... all that stuff is interesting. But this book? Yikes. I mean it started off okay, and quite intriguing. One of the cheerleaders at Harper’s new school was murdered and someone is framing Harper for it.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #371: I Hate Being a Mood Reader

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #405: Busy Week

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Review: Blood Boy (I Hunt Killers #0.5) by Barry Lyga

Title: Blood Boy

Series: I Hunt Killers #0.5

Other novellas/books in this series: Down Time (#0.1) | Lucky Day (#0.2) | Career Day (#0.3) | Neutral Mask (#0.4) | I Hunt Killers (#1)

Author: Barry Lyga

Genre: YA, mystery thriller

Publication date: August 2014

Published by: Barry Lyga

Source: Purchased ebook

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Synopsis: Fan-favorite character Howie Gersten — Jazz Dent’s hemophiliac best friend from the I HUNT KILLERS series — finally gets a story all his own! Set one year before the events of the series, “Blood Boy” takes you inside Howie’s hilariously twisted mind for one night only. Enjoy Halloween as only Howie can, learn more about his relationship with Jazz and Connie... and discover exactly what it is he’s keeping a secret from both of them.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I love the I Hunt Killers series! It is such an interesting series with a complicated main character. Going into this novella I actually had no idea that it was going to be in the POV of Howie, Jazz’s best friend! So as soon as I started reading, the title of the book made a lot of sense!

2024 Summer Library Book Bingo

It's that time of year for my library's Summer program! This year it goes from June 7th to August 16th, and it has this sort of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle sort of theme to it, which is cool. I have been participating in this program for the last... 5 years now? It's been a while. Lol. And this program is actually what got me into learning Japanese! One of their challenges in 2019 was to use Rosetta Stone through the library (it's free when you use it through them!) to learn a language and I picked Japanese! I have been learning it on and off for the last 5 years and it has been so fun! (I actually JUST got back into it last week after not having practiced in like a year 😬 I am honestly shocked at how much I remembered despite the fact that it had been a year since I last did a lesson. Lol).

They have a lot of fun activities to do that involve using the library resources, they have virtual events, and they even have in-person events as well! My youngest brother is in a Mariachi band and the library hired them to play at a bunch of library events in branches all over the state. They did this last year too and the patrons loved it, apparently. Lol. I've seen my brother play before so I didn't bother going to one of these events to watch them play. Lol. I am sooo supportive 😆 I might go this year... maybe. Lol.

Review- The Lightning Thief: Illustrated Edition (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1) by Rick Riordan

Title: The Lightning Thief: Illustrated Edition

Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1

Author: Rick Riordan

Illustrator: John Rocco

Genre: Middle Grade, urban fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: July 2005

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school . . . again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

This deluxe gift edition of the internationally best-selling first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, lavishly illustrated by series artist John Rocco, is a must-have for Riordan fans.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I have owned this copy of The Lightning Thief FOR YEARS but I had not read it. I first read The Lightning Thief I think maybe 13 years ago? So it’s been a while. So with the new TV show coming out, I thought this would be the perfect time to revisit this book and finally read the illustrated edition.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #370: From One Apocalypse to Another

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #404: Counting Down

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!