Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Book Review - Granite Harbor by Peter Nichols

 


Granite Harbor by Peter Nichols is about a small Maine coastal town that is devastated when a local teenager is found brutally murdered. Granite Harbor was a quiet town where nothing much really went on. They have only one detective, Alex Brangwen, on the payroll as there was never any need for a larger detective team. That is, until one day a local found a dead teenager in the Settlement. The Settlement is the town’s historic archaeological site.

Alex is adjusting to life as a single father and his stalled writing career. This is his first murder case as a detective. The case is also personal for him because the murdered teenager was a friend of his teenage daughter, Sophie. Alex knows that the town residents will expect him to catch the killer and appease their fear after the tragic event.

Isabel is a single mother to Ethan. She was a teacher but was fired unexpectedly and has been working to support her family at the Settlement. She is trying to work on herself and is struggling with her own demons.  She finds herself in the middle of the case as her son was best friends with the victim. When another victim is found, both Alex and Isabel are worried that their child might be next. Will Alex be able to find out the truth behind the murders?

I thought the book was an okay read. I could guess the ending because there were clues given to the killer's identity. However, the motive and some elements of the book got me confused. I wasn’t sure if this was supposed to be a fantasy novel or if some of the characters just imagined animals talking to them or having special powers.

I didn’t care for any of the characters. I felt that they were quite dull. I was surprised that Alex as a detective would share some details of the investigation with select people.  However, with others, he would say that he is a detective and the case was a police matter, even though both groups of people were civilians. Readers who enjoy murder mystery with hints of fantasy elements might enjoy this book more than I did.

Saturday, April 27, 2024

Book Review - Like Happiness by Ursula Villarreal-Moura

 

Like Happiness by Ursula Villarreal-Moura is about a woman, Tatum Vega, whose life changes after writing a fan letter to a celebrity author. In 2015, Tatum feels that her life is finally falling into place. She is living in Chile with her partner, Vega, and has a job that she loves. She works in a museum and is surrounded by beautiful art. 

Tatum loves her new life and the easy pace that comes with it. The new change of pace helps her forget about the decade she spent devoting her life to the famous author, M. Domínguez. When Tatum was a young college student, she had a hard time connecting with other students. She spent most of her time reading but struggled when none of the books she read had characters portrayed like her. One day, she comes across a book written by M. Domínguez, and her life changes. She finally feels heard and understood. She decides to write a fan letter to Domínguez. What started as an innocent letter kick starts a decade-long hot and cold love affair.

Tatum’s new perfect life is threatened when a reporter calls Tatum and asks about her past with Domínguez. Tatum longs to forget that dark moment of her life but she realizes that she needs to come to terms with them if she wants to move on. The reporter asks about her experiences with Domínguez and if she was aware that he was accused of assaulting someone. Tatum is forced to review her relationship with Domínguez and evaluate how it made her feel.

The novel is told from an alternating timeline: one with a present-day Tatum and another in the past as Tatum is recounting it in a letter to Domínguez. The book was easy to read and get into. I was able to guess how the book was going to end but I still found it enjoyable to read. There were times when it was hard to connect with the main characters. It felt that the power dynamic between Tatum and Domínguez was off since the beginning and as an adult, I kind of question why Domínguez tried building a friendship with a younger Tatum.  Sometimes, I wonder why they both continued their friendship as it was clear each party was just using the other. Both Tatum and Domínguez were selfish and only concerned about their own needs.  When the reporter called to ask about her relationship with Domínguez, Tatum didn’t seem to care about the other person but more about her reckoning. At times, the story did move a bit slowly and I wondered what the entire point was for a few chapters. I would be open to reading more books by the author.

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Book Spotlight - The Equinox Test (School for Unusual Magic #1) by Liz Montague + Giveaway


About The Book:

Title: THE EQUINOX TEST

Author: Liz Montague

Pub. Date: April 2, 2024

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 240

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/THE-EQUINOX-TEST 

Three friends discover magic and mayhem around every corner of their school in this brand-new illustrated series from New Yorker cartoonist and NAACP Image Award nominee Liz Montague that's perfect for fans of Witchlings and The Wizards of Waverly Place.

Welcome to the Brooklyn School of Magic, where seeds of enchantment are planted and magic sprouts in every corner. And where each fall, fifth years must pass the Equinox Test if they want to move up to Middle Magic.

Rose is worried. She's never been the best student. And if she doesn't pass with flying colors, Principal Ivy says she may have to transfer to a boring, non-magical school. Amethyst knows she's got the skills to ace the test. But to really impress her mom, she's got her eye on the school's top prize. Lavender just wants to fit in. Even after a few years in the States, he still feels homesick. All. The. Time. Passing the test might just be his ticket back to the island.

But with best friend battles, a cheating scandal, and trouble brewing in the magical community, the Equinox Test may not even be the biggest challenge these Magic Bearers will face this year…

 

INSERT YOUR POST OR REVIEW HERE!

 

 

About Liz Montague:

Liz Montague began as a cartoonist for The New Yorker in 2019. She is the author-illustrator of the graphic novel Maybe an Artist, which was nominated for an NAACP Image Award, the picture book Jackie Ormes Draws the Future, and the middle grade series Magic for Beginners. Liz is passionate about nature and emotional literacy. She lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with her husband Pat.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon






Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of THE EQUINOX TEST, US Only.

Ends April 23rd, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/25/2024

YA Books Central

Interview/IG Post

3/26/2024

Comic Book Yeti

Guest Post/IG Post

3/27/2024

@darkfantasyreviews

Guest Post/IG Post

3/28/2024

@dharashahauthor

IG Post

3/29/2024

onemused

IG Post

3/30/2024

Review Thick AndThin

Review/IG Post

Week Two:

3/31/2024

avainbookland

IG Review

4/1/2024

Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's

Review/IG Post

4/2/2024

GryffindorBookishnerd

IG Review

4/3/2024

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Review/IG Post

4/4/2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

4/5/2024

nerdophiles

Review

4/6/2024

Paws.Read.Repeat

Review/IG Post

Week Three:

4/7/2024

@pickagoodbook

Review/IG Post

4/8/2024

@stargirls.magical.tale

IG Review

4/9/2024

Callisto’s calling

IG Review

4/10/2024

@dana.loves.books

IG Review/TikTok Post

4/11/2024

The Book Critic

Review/IG Post

4/12/2024

@evergirl200

IG Review

4/13/2024

avainbookland

IG Review

Week Four:

4/14/2024

@enthuse_reader

IG Review/TikTok Post

4/15/2024

FUONLYKNEW

Review

4/16/2024

One More Exclamation

Review/IG Post

4/17/2024

Karma Zee Readz

Review/IG Post

4/18/2024

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

4/19/2024

Two Points of Interest

Review


Sunday, April 14, 2024

Book Review - Resonant: The Complete Series by David DB Andry + Giveaway

 

 

Resonant: The Complete Series by David DB Andry is a post-apocalyptic horror graphic novel about fighting dark urges. It has been a decade since the first Wave hit. The Wave causes humans to succumb to their darkest impulses and they can’t control themselves. Paxton is a single father of three kids. He worries about leaving them alone in their secluded home in the forest but knows he needs to get medicine for his youngest son. When the routine trip takes a turn for the worse, Paxton and his children are separated and will have to find a way back to each other.

The graphic novel was a quick read. It was a bit predictable and felt like other post-apocalyptic graphic novels, but it was worth the read. I liked the dark and moody drawing style that kept me interested in seeing what happened to Paxton and his family. I enjoyed that the book discussed the different types of families and things we would do to protect them. I would have loved to learn more about these Waves and how they started! The book has a lot of action and world-building but doesn’t go into too much detail about how it all came about and what happens to Paxton and his family in the end after his realization about the Wave. I would be open to reading more books by the author.

*Disclaimer - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion*

 

About The Book:

Title: RESONANT: THE COMPLETE SERIES

Authors: David “DB” Andry, Ale Aragon (Illustrator), & Skylar Patridge (Illustrator)

Pub. Date: April 2, 2024

Publisher: Vault Comics

Formats:  Paperback, eBook

Pages: 264

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/RESONANT-THE-COMPLETE-SERIES 

In a terrifying dystopian world,true horror arises and chaos rules when humankind's moral defenses fall and our worst impulses run wild. RESONANT is a post-apocalyptic horror story where Cormac McCarthy's THE ROAD meets THE ODYSSEY, by way of THE WALKING DEAD - for fans and readers of Bird Box, Y: The Last Man, A Quiet Place, Road Warrior, and The Walking Dead.

NOW IN SERIES DEVELOPMENT FOR BET+ with Gerard McMurray as executive producer, director, and writer
Adapted for television by CBS Studios, Ridley Scott’s Scott Free Productions, and Gerard McMurray

RESONANT: The Complete Series FOREWORD BY GERARD McMURRAY!

OUR WORST IMPULSES UNLEASHED.
A decade has passed since the first Waves hit, unleashing humanity’s darkest impulses and plunging the world into chaos. Paxton, a single father of three, must venture from the secluded haven they’ve built to restock the medicine his chronically-ill youngest son needs to survive. When the somewhat routine trip goes awry, Paxton and his children—now separated—will battle everything in their path to reunite.

Can you resist the Call of the Void?

Collects the entire ten-issue series in a deluxe trade paperback omnibus with a foreword by Gerard McMurray (Director - The First Purge, Director, Executive Producer, and Writer - Burning Sands)

For fans of The Walking Dead, The RoadBird Box, A Quiet Place, Y:The Last Man, and Road Warrior.

"What stands out in RESONANT is how the real horror comes not from the waves, but the other people...The scary moments are amplified by the great character development."
Horror DNA

Top 25 Best Comics of 2021 -- Comics Bookcase

“…an odyssey even more terrifying than Bird Box.” -- The Beat

“…a firestorm of raw emotion, anxiety, and fear that any horror buff is going to appreciate.” – AIPT

“Pick this one up if you like apocalyptic stories and comics that speak to something dark and creepy in all the worst ways, even in the light.” – Black Nerd Problems

 

 

About David "DB" Andry:

David "DB" Andry is a physical therapist and comic book writer from Sacramento, CA. His works include RESONANT and END AFTER END from Vault Comics and the self-published graphic novel, THE WILD UNCERTAIN. Follow him on Twitter @dbandry for updates and excessive amount of chicken pictures

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

 





About Ale Aragon:

Alejandro is the co-creator of DEATH ORB, a sci-fi cyberpunk story, written by RYAN FERRIER and originally published by DARK HORSE in 2018. The same title is going to be translated to Spanish and published through MULTIVERSAL EDICIONES in Argentina along 2021.

Alejandro has been working around the industry over almost a decade, with credits at DARK HORSE COMICS (Death Orb, Eve: True Stories), BOOM! STUDIOS (28 Days Later, Robocop, The Expanse), IDW (Sons of Chaos), VAULT COMICS (Resonant), IMAGE COMICS (Overlook) and lots of other cool projects.

He lives in Rosario, Argentina.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

 

About Skylar Patridge:

Skylar Patridge: Comic artist, illustrator, and sometimes writer. Currently working on RESONANT from Vault Comics. Has done work for Image, Dark Horse (REVERSAL), Vault, Black Mask & Scout (VOLUME) as well as a variety illustrations and pinups for comics, anthologies & books.

Home location: New Mexico

Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

 


Giveaway Details:

2 winners will receive finished copies of RESONANT: THE COMPLETE SERIES, US Only.

Ends April 23rd, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/25/2024

Comic Book Yeti

Interview/IG Post

3/26/2024

jlreadstoperpetuity

IG Post

3/27/2024

@darkfantasyreviews

Excerpt

3/28/2024

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt/IG Post

3/29/2024

#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt

3/30/2024

The Momma Spot

Excerpt

Week Two:

3/31/2024

Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's

Review/IG Post

4/1/2024

GryffindorBookishnerd

IG Review

4/2/2024

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

4/3/2024

The Book Critic

Review/IG Post

4/4/2024

Callisto’s calling

IG Review

4/5/2024

Karma Zee Readz

Review/IG Post

4/6/2024

@evergirl200

IG Review

Week Three:

4/7/2024

@sparks_books

IG Review

4/8/2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

4/9/2024

@stargirls.magical.tale

IG Review

4/10/2024

nerdophiles

Review

4/11/2024

Lifestyle of Me

Review

4/12/2024

Books and Zebras

IG Review

4/13/2024

@enthuse_reader

IG Review/TikTok Post

Week Four:

4/14/2024

Two Points of Interest

Review/IG Post

4/15/2024

@shangread_la

IG Review

4/16/2024

Rajiv's Reviews

Review/IG Post

4/17/2024

@dana.loves.books

IG Review/TikTok Post

4/18/2024

FUONLYKNEW

Review

4/19/2024

Sadie's Spotlight

Excerpt/IG Post