Summer TBR Update

Summer has finally come to an end (yay!) which means I am wrapping up my Summer TBR so I can get ready for Spooky Season! Yay! Although, let's be honest... I read spooky books year-round 😆😂

Review: Spider and Frost (Elemental Assassin #19.6, Mythos Academy #6.5) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Spider and Frost

Series: Elemental Assassin #19.6 | Mythos Academy #6.5

Previous books in the Elemental Assassin series: Spider's Bite (#1) | Web of Lies (#2) | Venom (#3) | Tangled Threads (#4) | Spider's Revenge (#5) | By A Thread (#6) | Widow's Web (#7) | Deadly Sting (#8) | Heart of Venom (#9) | The Spider (#10) | Poison Promise (#11) | Black Widow (#12) | Spider's Trap (#13) | Bitter Bite (#14) | Unraveled (#15) | Snared (#16) | Venom in the Veins (#17) | Sharpest Sting (#18) | Last Strand (#19)

Short stories in the Elemental Assassin series: Poison (#0.1) | Web of Deceit (#0.2) | Spider's Bargain (#0.5) | Web of Death (#1.5) | Wasted (#2.7) | Tangled Dreams (#3.5) | Tangled Schemes (#3.7) | Spider’s Nemesis (#4.5) | Thread of Death (#5.5) | Carniepunk: Parlor Tricks (#8.1) | Kiss of Venom (#8.5) | Unwanted (#14.5) | Nice Guys Bite (#15.5) | Winter's Web (#17.5)

| Hearts Stings(#19.5)

Previous books in the Mythos Academy series: First Frost (#0.5) | Touch of Frost (#1) | Halloween Frost (#1.5) | Kiss of Frost (#2) | Dark Frost (#3) | Crimson Frost (#4) | Spartan Frost (#4.5) | Midnight Frost (#5)

Author: Jennifer Estep

Publication date: September 26th 2023

Published by: Jennifer Estep

Source: eARC for review from author

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Synopsis: New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Estep delivers an epic team-up featuring beloved characters from her Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series and her Mythos Academy young adult series. This crossover novella, Spider and Frost, mixes magic and mythology in an action-packed adventure. Perfect for fans of Ilona Andrews, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Rick Riordan.

WHEN AN ASSASSIN . . .

My name is Gin Blanco, and I’m on vacation. Sort of. As the assassin the Spider, it’s hard for me to completely relax, but I’m determined to enjoy a scenic train ride and a nice, quiet lunch before heading back home to Ashland.

My plans change when Gwen Frost boards the train. The girl says she’s heading back to Mythos Academy, the fancy private boarding school, but I can’t shake the feeling that Gwen is hiding something—and is in far more trouble than she realizes.

. . . MEETS A CHAMPION

My name is Gwen Frost. I might have saved the world from Loki, the evil Norse god of chaos, but I’m still chasing down Reaper villains. It’s all part of being the Champion of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory.

I’ve been assigned to protect some mythological artifacts that are being transported via train to Mythos Academy, but some Reapers are hot on my trail, and they’ll do anything to recover the artifacts—and kill me.

Also on the train is Gin Blanco, who claims to be the owner of the Pork Pit barbecue restaurant. My psychometry magic keeps whispering that there’s more to her than meets the eye, although I can’t tell if Gin is a friend, an enemy, or something else entirely.

Note: Spider and Frost is a 28,000-word crossover novella between the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series and the Mythos Academy young adult series. It is told from the points of view of Gin Blanco and Gwen Frost.

Spider and Frost takes place after the events of Last Strand, book 19 in the Elemental Assassin series.

My rating: ★★★★★

I didn't know what sort of trouble Gwen Frost was in, but I was going to help her get out of it.

I cannot express how excited I was for this novella. I love both the Elemental Assassin series and Mythos Academy, so having a story where Gin Blanco meets Gwen Frost is just-

Review: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Title: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

Series: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder #1

Prequel novella in this series: Kill Joy (#0.5)

Author: Holly Jackson

Publication date: May 2019

Published by: Delacorte Press

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: Everyone in Fairview knows the story.

Pretty and popular high school senior Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who then killed himself. It was all anyone could talk about. And five years later, Pip sees how the tragedy still haunts her town.

But she can't shake the feeling that there was more to what happened that day. She knew Sal when she was a child, and he was always so kind to her. How could he possibly have been a killer?

Now a senior herself, Pip decides to reexamine the closed case for her final project, at first just to cast doubt on the original investigation. But soon she discovers a trail of dark secrets that might actually prove Sal innocent... and the line between past and present begins to blur. Someone in Fairview doesn't want Pip digging around for answers, and now her own life might be in danger.

My rating: ★★★★★

When you ask people in town what happened to Andie Bell, they'll tell you without hesitation: "She was murdered by Salil Singh." No "allegedly," no "might have," no "probably," no "most likely."
He did it, they say. Sal Singh killed Andie.
But I'm just not so sure.

This book was amazing! The mystery was very intriguing and the way everything unraveled was so good! The mystery was definitely my favorite part of this book. There were so many shocking revelations, some I saw coming, some I didn't. And the more Pip dug into the mystery, the more she realized that Andie might not have been everything everyone thought her to be 👀

Review: Darkest Dawn (Fear Street Nights #3) by R.L. Stine

Title: Darkest Dawn

Series: Fear Street Nights #3

Previous books in this series: Moonlight Secrets (#1) | Midnight Games (#2)

Author: R.L. Stine

Publication date: August 2005

Published by: Simon Pulse

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: When you can't sleep, there's always NIGHTS.

The Night People are safe at last. After all the ugly pranks and vicious murders, things have finally returned to normal. The friends who are left are trying to forget and move on, taking comfort by meeting up late-night at their old hang out, Nights.

It was the ancient spirit of Angelica Fear that caused all the trouble. And now she's been destroyed once and for all. Burned in a fire.

But if it's true that the horror is dead, what did Angelica mean when her voice cried out from the flames?

...The Evil Lives!

My rating: ★★★☆☆

Jamie and Dana thought they defeated Angelica Fear in the last book, but that may not be the case after all.

"Angelica, are you here?" I whispered. "Are you here?"

Review: Contagion by Erin Bowman

Title: Contagion

Series: Contagion #1

Author: Erin Bowman

Publication date: July 2018

Published by: HarperTeen

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: It got in us.

After receiving an urgent SOS from a work detail on a distant planet, a skeleton crew is dispatched to perform a standard search-and-rescue mission.

Most are dead.

But when the crew arrives, they find an abandoned site, littered with rotten food, discarded weapons... and dead bodies.

Don't set foot here again.

As they try to piece together who—or what—could have decimated an entire operation, they discover that some things are best left buried—and some monsters are only too ready to awaken.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I’ve been on a sci-fi kick lately and this book really hit the spot. I mean, it wasn't amazing, but I liked it overall and I really enjoyed the splash of horror it included.