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Emotional And Visceral Series Conclusion. This is one of those books where you *feel* everything our main character feels. From the utter despair at the situation she finds herself in to the crash and crush of the white water rapids she thrusts herself into to try to escape the emotional turmoil... while telling herself that she's just doing her job.

While this is *technically* a romance, the romance is absolutely more of a side story here to the family and friend relationships of our primary character - so those that want a more romance-centric tale may not like this one quite as much, but those who enjoy a solid women's fiction with a touch of romance - still in the Hallmarkie type style, but with more focus on the friends than the boy, necessarily - you're going to enjoy this book quite a bit.

I personally came into this book having not read any of the prior three... which is probably not the best for a series concluding book, but even there, it worked well with fully fleshed out characters and a story that was easy to follow even coming in so late. Still, I absolutely recommend starting with Book 1 for anyone not reading an Advance Review Copy, as I did.  

Overall a solid and emotional tale that will pull your heartstrings and have your pulse pounding with adrenaline in alternating measures.

Very much recommended.

The Practical Case For A More 'Libertarian' Ethic In All Walks Of Life. First off, let's acknowledge that the Libertarian Party in the US is a joke of its former self that has squandered in these last few years all the hard-won gains it had achieved in its first 40 years - including the first so-called "third" Party candidate with over a million votes in any US election *ever* (John Monds, Governor of Georgia, 2010, followed by the LP's Presidential nominee, Gary Johnson, in 2012 and again in 2016).

But seriously, forget about the LP and every instance you've ever heard of "libertarianism" in the media, particularly over the last 15 yrs or so.

What Lam does here, instead, is build a far more practical case for largely the same ideals. No, he never specifies "remove this government agency" or "that mandate is unconstitutional" or some such, his arguments are far more practical and every day - why must a mandate exist to buy coffee from a coffeeshop that doesn't even open (at least on certain days) until 10am exist? Why shouldn't I be able to buy coffee for my 8a meeting from a different vendor who is open at that time? As but one example Lam actively cites.

Time after time after time, case after case after case, Lam builds his argument chiefly around the insanity of the proliferation of laws, mandates, and rules across the US in particular. Even mandates with lofty ideals often wind up *harming* those ideals in their specificity and implementation, according to Lam, in a common theme throughout this text.

While entirely a philosophical, if practical philosophy, text, the writing style is far from a Mill or a Thoreau - this is far more approachable and conversational, easy for basically anyone with the reading skills to actually read the text to follow through logically and understand Lam's points.

No, the singular flaw I found here was dearth of its bibliography, clocking in at a paltry 9% in the Advance Review Copy of the book I read just a couple of months before publication. Had this had double (or even triple, if I'm being hopeful here :D) the documentation it does, it would be a truly flawlessly executed book that strongly and persuasively makes its case quite well indeed.

Overall a compelling book written in an easily approachable style, this is one of those books that anyone committed to "Liberty in our lifetime" (as the LP once proclaimed) should read, take to heart, and begin beating the drums for. It makes the case for its points truly better than most libertarians of any era have, including the oft-cited (in LP circles) Harry Browne.

Very much recommended.

Twisty Thriller. Maybe Not The Best Read The Day I Read It. Without spoiling *too* much, I read this book on the same day that United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson was murdered in cold blood - and given many peoples' opinions of that murder, opinions echoed by one of our characters within this text... it was a bit much to read on that exact day.

But since *you* won't be reading it *that* day (and, hopefully, not on any similar day), know that this book is actually one of the twistier, more inventive books I've read this year or even in quite some time, really. By the end of it, you're going to feel very sad for certain characters and you're likely to want to pull a gun on other characters yourself. Still other characters come off as incredibly sleezy basically every time they are "on screen", and other characters you're going to wind up actively cheering certain actions, at minimum.

If you enjoy twisty thrillers where nothing is ever as it seems... there is quite a bit to like here. If you're a fan of more straightforward books... this may not be your cup of... well, whatever you prefer to drink. (As an American of the Southern US, the only tea I drink is sweet and iced, and I'm fairly sure the idiom "not your cup of tea" refers to that disgusting British stuff that we rightfully dumped into Boston Harbor all those years ago - which is all that stuff is good for. But I digress. :D)

Complex. Thrilling. Titillating (to a degree) even. If those are things you like in your books, congratulations. You've found a book that is *right there*. If a more Hallmarkie approach is more your speed... there are a lot of those stories out there, but this aint that.

Overall truly one of the more enjoyable and interesting books of the near 200 I've read this year, it will likely be on my Top 24 Books I Read In 2024 list. :)

Very much recommended.

Rare Blend Of Science And Mysticism Marred By Racism And Misandry. Quite honestly, I read the Audible version of this book, where Schlanger's wonder of her topic comes through in her breathy, reverent reading of her text - and kudos to her, as not many authors can pull off reading their own text for the Audible version. (Though yes, this *is* far more common in nonfiction.) But *because* I read the Audible, I actually had to borrow this book from the Jacksonville Public Library, where I live, to check the length of its bibliography - which does in fact clock in at a relatively healthy 25%. So despite the extraordinary claims made throughout this text, at least it is reasonably well documented.

All of the above noted, however... Schlanger makes some *remarkable* claims throughout this text, and while I don't agree with at least one 1* review on Goodreads that she was nearly dogmatic - my summary of that review's arguments - about her insistence on her so-broad-as-to-be-nearly-useless definitions of concepts such as "intelligence" and "communication" and "consciousness", I *do* agree that Schlanger stretches these words so as to be nearly incomprehensible to anyone.  

While Schlanger does a remarkable job as a journalist covering all aspects of her chosen topic, she also crosses the boundary lines of science and mysticism so early, often, and frequently that to read this book is very nearly to watch a Dr. Strange MCU movie and accept that the conceits of its mystic "sciences" are real in the reality in which you are reading this review. Her skills as a writer make the text flow beautifully and, again, reverently... but the grasp on objective reality one would normally expect in a popular science book... isn't always as "there" as it should be in such a book. Instead, Schlanger's embrace of the (at least near) mystic is more readily apparent, particularly through certain sections of the text.

And while this is bad enough, and let's call it a half star deduction, these are almost style issues - few would bat an eye if this were labeled more a philosophy or ethics book than a science book.

No, the real problem with the text, at least for me, was the frequent excusing of mystics claiming to be scientists by claiming that their mysticism is no worse than far more accomplished actual scientists such as Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison, pointing to their own mystic beliefs (common in their era over 100 yrs ago) and proclaiming "but those were white men" (an exact quote) and so their mystic beliefs were excused. No ma'am. Their mystic beliefs were excused because they achieved great scientific accomplishments. The people you excuse have not reinvented the way humans live or communicate many times over, and if they ever manage to achieve a similar accomplishment, you won't be the only one excusing their mysticisms. It is the blatant and pervasive racist misandry of these types of comments throughout the text that results in the other half star deduction, as they are not *so* pervasive as to necessitate a full star deduction of their own.

Overall this is absolutely an interesting read on many fronts, one that one can learn a great deal from and on that is documented enough that its claims should be taken seriously - but as we all know, sources *can* be cherry picked, so a great deal of discernment and further reading is also very much in order after reading this text.

Recommended.

Yet Another Excellent Entry In Series. Seriously y'all, if you enjoy small towns and family drama, you're going to love this entire series. So just go all the way back to Book 1, start there, and this one will be here when you get here.

Yet again with this series, Bratt bases the crime of the book on an all-too-real one, though as she notes in the author's note, this particular one was *so* horrible that she just couldn't bring herself to replicate certain elements of the real crime in her fictional world.

And that brings me to my one criticism of this particular book. Anyone that knows Bratt and follows her on social media, particularly her Facebook page, knows that she brings quite a bit of her own real world into her fiction, and there was one particular line that while meant as fiction and from a character's perspective... there are just too many instances of the real world blending into the fictional for this line not to be addressed in my review, particularly since, as I told Bratt personally, I tend to call such bullshit lines out any *other* time I see them, and I do try my best to approach every book and every author in the same manner, *no matter what*. Indeed, the very line in question references by name and detail an all too real event that happened just months before publication of this book.

The particular line in question here is that "The gun laws in this State are a joke, and you know it. That's why we've got tragedies like Apalachee High School - two kids and two teachers gunned down because *it's easier to buy an AR-15 than it is to adopt a damn dog*." (Emphasis mine).

As I told Bratt directly before sitting down to write this review - and I quote: "As someone who has both adopted a dog and bought a gun in the State of Georgia - the gun across State lines at a Georgia gun show while living in South Carolina, no less! - I can state without hesitation or equivocation that Bratt is 100% wrong about it being easier to buy a gun in the State than adopt a dog. For one, there are no background checks at all when adopting from a County-run animal shelter, while buying a gun anywhere in the United States requires a criminal background check to be completed before the gun can be purchased - yes, even if buying the gun at a gun show. Furthermore, while where I can take my dog is not legally restricted in any manner (though property owners certainly may decline to allow my dog on their property), where I can take my gun is heavily restricted, even in the State of Georgia."

I also told her that I would also note here that this is absolutely one of those issues where your mileage may vary - you may agree that guns need to be more heavily regulated or you may not, you may think that pet adoption or pets generally need to be more heavily regulated or not - but the statement in the text was 100% wrong in the real State of Georgia, and I've personally experienced both sides of the statement and know of what I speak here. But hey, Bratt never specifically addresses these issues in her fictionalized Georgia, so even though it bears a striking resemblance to the real thing, as authors frequently note in the front pages of their fiction books  "This work is fiction and not intended to represent any real person, place, or thing no matter how similar they may or may not be. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the fictional characters only and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by any real person, including the author." So let's give Bratt the benefit of the doubt here that she isn't addressing the real State of Georgia in that particular line and move on. :)

Again, outside of that particular line, the book itself is perhaps even one of the stronger of the entire series - which is saying something, considering Bratt originally intended to end this series a few books ago, but fans keep demanding to come back to this world, and she keeps delivering. The drama in our central family is coming back up from unexpected and interesting places, there is more drama brewing in other areas well established earlier in the series yet which had cooled off in recent books, the crime of the book is particularly gnarly and the investigation is tight without being the frenetic sprint of the prior book...  

It just all works truly, truly well, and again, makes this one of the stronger books in the series to date overall.

So again, go back to book 1 (assuming you're new to the series) and get here - you'll want to get here when you do, and this book will make you fall in love with the series all over again and want at least one more book from it. Which Bratt may or may not have news about in the Author's Note. ;)

Very much recommended.

Intriguing Crime Drives Solid Series Continuation. This is one of those FBI tales where the crime at hand really drives this particular story, even as Brennan expertly weaves the relationships between her team forward even throughout the investigation. Showing each teammate at their best - but also showing that they are not superhuman by any stretch of the imagination - this particular story is at its best when its villains are at their creepiest.  

And yes, the crime at hand is particularly creepy on its face... which Brennan then spins into its own breathtaking and heart rending sub plot.  

I wouldn't *start* reading the series here, mostly due to the relationships between the teammates, but the crime itself isn't tied to any prior tales, so it also isn't a "you absolutely cannot start reading the series with this book". So whether you're new to this series intrigued by its premise and *want* to start here or whether you're a long time fan of it, you're going to have a good time with this book. Just be warned that there *are* situations that will make some uncomfortable here. Read the book anyway, and hopefully make such situations a touch easier from having dealt with them in the safety of fiction.

Very much recommended.

Terrific Trilogy Puts A New Spin On Well Established Entities.

As this *is* a review of the entire trilogy, let me start by placing my reviews of THE SENTINEL and THE RAVEN (Books 1 and 2) here first:

THE SENTINEL:

A Long Time Coming. Let me tell you a story. It begins in 2010. Jeremy Robinson and I have known each other online for a few years now, having met in MySpace. I've read every book he's written (just a half dozen or so at this point), and he is now releasing a book he calls TORMENT - his first outright horror book. So I read it too. And it literally gave me nightmares for YEARS after reading it.

A year later, Robinson releases his next horror book - The Sentinel. And it becomes the first of his books that I would not read... for 13 years. Until November 2024, when he is gearing up to release the completed Jane Harper Trilogy via writing a book called THE HOST and packaging it similarly to how he did FAMINE and HUNGER: THE COMPLETE TRILOGY earlier in the 2020s.

And now that my nightmares from TORMENT have faded - particularly after Robinson retconned it into his INFINITE TIMELINE event in the late 2010s/ early 2020s and weakened it significantly - I'm finally in a position that I can attempt to read THE SENTINEL.

And what I found... was nowhere NEAR the horror of TORMENT. Yes, it absolutely has its horrific moments - many times over. Its got an almost Carrie-type callback. Its got a ship sinking. Its got creatures. Its got the same irreverent wit that Robinson would come to develop more over the last 15 years. Truly, having read everything Robinson has released since THE SENTINEL (other than its sequel, THE RAVEN), this may as well be included in his "Origins" package, because you can absolutely see in this book the beginnings of his style to come for the next decade+ of his career.

So pick this book up, even now - or maybe wait until March 2025 when THE SENTINEL: THE COMPLETE JANE HARPER TRILOGY is released. You're going to laugh. You're going to cry. You might even puke a few times at the horror on the screen. But you're going to have a blast doing it, and you're going to want to have the next book available immediately at hand anyway.

Very much recommended.

THE RAVEN:

Second Book In Series Picks Up Weeks After First Book And Raises Stakes. This is one of those second books where we get direct (if a few weeks later) follow-up to the story from the first book - so absolutely read The Sentinel first, or wait until March 2025 when The Sentinel: The Complete Jane Harper Trilogy will be available, as you absolutely need that context to understand much of any of the insanity happening in this book. As has always been the case in a Robinson book, the New God of Science Fiction - a moniker I gave Robinson long after the original release of this book over a decade ago - takes a somewhat common concept in scifi (zombies, here) and makes it 100% his own while creating utterly wild action sequences that you'll never see anywhere else. And boy do this book have a lot of those. Wow.

The one issue with this particular book - soon to *finally* be rectified - is that it very clearly sets up a sequel and likely conclusion to the trilogy... that Robinson then waited *over a decade* to deliver on. Though he's still faster in concluding his stories than a certain famous "Game" / "Song" writer. ;)

So read this one now if you haven't, to get ready for THE HOST, available in the aforementioned THE SENTINEL: THE COMPLETE JANE HARPER TRILOGY in just about 3 months as I write this review. Or pick up that book when it comes out in March, because I guarantee you that by the time you finish this book, you'll be glad THE HOST begins on the next page.

Very much recommended.

And now, the conclusion of our trilogy:

THE HOST

Concussive Conclusion. Man, if you thought THE RAVEN hit hard and heavy, this book is about to feel like you went a few rounds with Iron Mike Tyson in his prime... in the best of ways. The action here, well, Robinson has had a decade since writing the last book to hone his craft even further. And with that truly demented mind... yeah, you're in for some pretty awesome treats in this particular tale.

As a conclusion to this trilogy (finally, though still faster than that "Game" / "Song" dude), this works on many, many levels. You get the callback to using a particular name that Robinson used a few times in his earlier books, though in a completely different character here. (For those who don't know, that name happens to be Robinson's long time editor, assistant, and occasional co-author, and while those who *do* know now know he shows up, that's all I'm saying here.) You get some of the more metaphysical discussions that Robinson has packed into a few of his books over the years to great affect (at least in my opinion, and hey, this is my damn review :D). You get the humor and action and heart that has defined Robinson's career from the earliest books through now and presumably for as long as he is writing. And you get a conclusion for all of these characters that works within the story told to this point, without going all "Return Of The King" and ending hours after it should have.

The *one* issue I have with this book, and I told Robinson this personally shortly after finishing in a more direct way (as it involves spoilers to get *too* specific here), is that where the metaphysical discussion is happening, Robinson reaches to what I told him seems to have become a bit of a crutch these last few years, and that I hope he ditches that particular device in the next few books. At least for a few books. So we'll see what happens there, but even still, it absolutely worked within the story told within this trilogy, so it isn't like it was *completely* out there - just a personal preference that I told the author, whom I've known for many, many years, directly and am expressing in this review. Feel free to tell me to go to hell over this and that you *love* that particular crutch and hope Robinson uses it in *every* book. :) As long as you're reading and reviewing books, I'm happy. :D

Ultimately, again, this really was a pretty damn perfect conclusion to this particular trilogy.

Very much recommended.

And with three "Very much recommended" ratings on three books in this completed trilogy... yes, the trilogy as a whole is thus very much recommended.

Second Book In Series Picks Up Weeks After First Book And Raises Stakes. This is one of those second books where we get direct (if a few weeks later) follow-up to the story from the first book - so absolutely read The Sentinel first, or wait until March 2025 when The Sentinel: The Complete Jane Harper Trilogy will be available, as you absolutely need that context to understand much of any of the insanity happening in this book. As has always been the case in a Robinson book, the New God of Science Fiction - a moniker I gave Robinson long after the original release of this book over a decade ago - takes a somewhat common concept in scifi (zombies, here) and makes it 100% his own while creating utterly wild action sequences that you'll never see anywhere else. And boy do this book have a lot of those. Wow.

The one issue with this particular book - soon to *finally* be rectified - is that it very clearly sets up a sequel and likely conclusion to the trilogy... that Robinson then waited *over a decade* to deliver on. Though he's still faster in concluding his stories than a certain famous "Game" / "Song" writer. ;)  

So read this one now if you haven't, to get ready for THE HOST, available in the aforementioned THE SENTINEL: THE COMPLETE JANE HARPER TRILOGY in just about 3 months as I write this review. Or pick up that book when it comes out in March, because I guarantee you that by the time you finish this book, you'll be glad THE HOST begins on the next page.

Very much recommended.

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Secret Dead Men is an engagingly quirky fantasy/mystery by Duane Swierczynski. Originally released in 2005, this reformat and re-release from Titan Books came out 1st Oct 2024, is 320 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. 

Instead of a seedy walk up office downtown, PI Del has a hotel inside his brain which houses a collection of conscious souls which he's collected. His main purpose at the moment is to chase down and dismantle The Association which was responsible for his own trip into discorporeal inconvenience. 

The writing is, frankly, solid. It's action driven, but also full of well rendered three dimensional characters (including a stoner thief who comes out to hotwire the occasional getaway car, lots of criminals, and a few psychopaths). The plot is well constructed with a nice mystery which works very well given the intricate and creative world building.

It's not at all derivative, but there are glimpses of Philip K. Dick, Chuck Wendig, Stross, and even a bit of Joe Lansdale in the mix. There are moments of levity, although it's not primarily a humorous book, and there's over the top violence throughout. 

Four stars. Well written, workable plot, nice mystery, solid characters. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

Book Summary:

Cordelia is used to being punished - or controlled - by her mother. All Cordelia wants is to be out from under the control of her mother - a feeling more literal than usual. Her mother’s latest scheme further proves that Cordelia needs to find a way to free herself.

Hester is wise in many ways. So when a marriageable woman shows up to woo her brother, she knows exactly what is up. What Hester doesn’t understand is this woman’s method. She’ll have to find a way to save her brother and the young woman this monster has brought with her.

My Review:

T. Kingfisher is back with another magical retelling! This time, her focus is on the Goose Girl, and I was immediately hooked on the premise. A Sorceress Comes to Call is everything I hoped it could be - rich, dark, compelling, and so very magical.

The story is told through two perfectives, Cordelia and Hester. One is young, timid, and gunshy; the old is bold, wise, and quite determined. They’re not the most likely team around, but their unique perspectives combine to create a compelling narrative.

As for the narrative itself, it is everything a fractured fable should be: magical, dangerous, high stakes, and a touch of romance. Naturally, all of these elements come about in slightly unexpected ways, but that’s what makes it so good.

As a major fan of retellings and fractured fables, my review may be slightly biased. I just can’t get enough of them. That said, I feel like A Sorceress Comes to Call stands independently, even without the label. So be sure to check it out!

Highlights:
Magic & Witches
Horror & Fantasy
Goose Girl Retelling
Fairy Tales

Trigger Warnings:
Controlling & Abusive Behaviors
Violence & Death
Animal Death

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Book Summary:

Marlow Briggs has many talents - the biggest of which is her ability to get into all sorts of trouble. She may be a curse-breaker professional, but sticking her nose into everything is more of a passion.

That’s probably how she got into this situation. The Five Families want her imprisoned (or dead); two different magical gangs are out for her head, and that’s just the beginning. Worse, the whole city may be in danger if Marlow can’t sort things out.

My Review:

I don’t know why, but I’ve been garbage about reading the second halves of duologies lately. Diving into Masquerade of the Heart is my attempt to correct that mistake. This is the second novel in the Garden of the Cursed series, and I’ve been dying to know how it ends.

Masquerade of the Heart did an excellent job of maintaining, if not raising, the stakes in this world. Marlow kept finding herself in bigger and bigger disasters; it was highly entertaining, to say the least.

That said, I didn’t love the conclusion as much as I had hoped. For one thing, I found myself lukewarm on the romance here. There is too much drama and insufficient emotional development or attachment, you know?

My other problem is the pacing. The first half is fine, but some scenes get rushed somewhere during the second half to ensure the book concludes. This results in some twists/turns that are left unexplained, and it bugged the heck out of me. (One of the biggest mysteries in Harlow’s life, and it’s changed in a paragraph without explaining how? Seriously?).

After everything has been said and done, I’m thrilled to have finished this series. I got to see it through, and while I would have liked to see some bits changed, it was a solid conclusion for this world.

Highlights:
YA Fantasy
Cursbreaking
Complex Magical Society/Politics
Stubborn character who knows everything
LGBTQ+

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Book Summary:

The Lady Macbeth knows more than she lets on. For example, she knows all the politics of the land, what her people are doing behind her back, and what her husband is up to. More importantly, she knows about the occult.

What she doesn’t know is that her husband also knows about the occult and has managed to keep these secrets from her. She also doesn’t know how these two natures will clash, throwing everything into chaos.

My Review:

Sigggh. I’m sorry, but if you promise me a more feminist retelling of Macbeth, you better deliver. Lady Macbeth was, on the whole, an okay read. However, it fell short of its promise and, overall, was not my favorite read of the year.

Let’s start with the good first. The prose is perfection. It’s beautiful and lyrical in all the ways I expected. Ava Reid did not disappoint there. The overall foundation of this retelling was solid - delving into Lady Macbeth’s backstory a bit more to showcase her intelligence and perspective.

What baffles me is how we took the primary source of agency and action in Macbeth (come on, Lady Macbeth is the person behind all the motivation in that play) and somehow turned her into a character defined by the men around her. It’s…disappointing. I expected better.

There are many other elements I didn’t enjoy, such as the xenophobia and overall lack of female characters (again, odd choice). I’m torn on how to rate this book, so I will likely give it a three-star (the prose being the major saving grace).

Highlights:
Retelling
Historical Fiction
Power & Transformation

Trigger Warnings:
Sexual Assault & Domestic Abuse
War & Violence
Self-Harm & Dissociation
Child Death
Animal Sacrifice

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