Book Review - The Last Book You'll Ever Read: Complete Series by Cullen Bunn + Giveaway

 

Olivia Kade wrote the book that could bring about the end of the world. She needs someone to protect her who hasn't read the book. Her book, Satyr, is being blamed for the violence and bloodshed all over the world. Olivia's own life is in danger when her readers are attacking her. However, she is still determine to do a book tour for her book.

I thought the graphic novel was gorgeously rendered but, it did have some adult themes. However, I felt that the graphic novel didn't really have much of a story and everything was being repeated several times. I also don't understand why Olivia was so persistent in spreading her book when her life was in danger and so many violent things were happening. The book was a collection of all eight comics but, nothing was answered and I was left with more questions. I felt that this entire book was rather pointless. 

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion**

 

About The Book:

Title: THE LAST BOOK YOU'LL EVER READ: The Complete Series

Author: Cullen Bunn, Vlad Popov, Leila Leiz (Illustrations), Adrian F. Wassel (Editor), AndWorld Design

Pub. Date: September 20, 2022

Publisher: Vault Comics

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 192

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

A supernatural horror thriller for readers of Chuck Palahniuk (Lullaby and Haunted: A Novel),  Marisha Pessl,(Night Film), and Scarlett Thomas (The End of Mr. Y), The Last Book You’ll Ever Read tells the terrifying story of a woman who knows the horrific truth about the past – and future - of humankind, and, when captured in her book SATYR, it becomes the catalyst for worldwide, mind-numbing violence.

Read this book at your own peril.
Olivia Kade wrote the book that ended the world. Now she needs someone who won't read it.

Civilization is a lie. Hidden deep in our genes is the truth. And it is slowly clawing its way to the surface. Olivia Kade knows the truth, and she has become the prophet of the coming collapse. Her book, SATYR, is an international bestseller, and it is being blamed for acts of senseless violence and bloodshed all over the world. Olivia's own life is in danger from those who have read her work. Determined to conduct a book tour, she hires security professional Connor Wilson to act as her bodyguard. She only has one requirement: he cannot read her work.

John Carpenter’s In the Mouth of Madness meets Chuck Palahniuk’s Lullaby in this terrifyingly dangerous tale of the descent of humankind where reality and fantasy collide.

Collects the entire smash 8-issue series.

Reviews:

"I truly hope this terrific horror comic is in no way prescient or timely."  - Patton Oswalt

“…perfectly disturbing and mysterious.” – The Beat

“It’s creepy stuff… you won’t want to miss it.”  - Kurt Busiek (Eisner Award and Harvey Award-winning comics writer of Astro City, The Avengers, Thor, Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, and more)

 

About Cullen Bunn:

Cullen Bunn is a New York Times bestselling author and prolific writer of horror/supernatural comics series and graphic novels including THE SIXTH GUN, HARROW COUNTY, BONE PARISH, THE DAMNED, THE EMPTY MAN, THE GHOUL NEXT DOOR, BASILISK, SHADOWMAN, and many other titles including The Last Book You'll Ever Read for Vault Comics. He has fought for his life against mountain lions and performed on stage as the World’s Youngest Hypnotist.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon  | BookBub

 

About Leila Leiz:

Born and raised in France now living in Italy, Leila Leiz is a self-taught artist who worked for several years at European publishers including Soleil and Sergio Bonelli before fulfilling her lifelong dream of making the leap to American comics. Best known for her work on Paul Jenkins’ ALTERS for AfterShock and Horde with Marguerite Bennet, she has also worked on 451 Media’s NVRLND and was a contributor to AfterShock’s SHOCK anthology. She is working on M.O.M with Emila Clark (from Game of Thrones) and Marguerite Bennet for Image Comics and The Last Book You’ll Ever Read with Cullen Bunn for Vault Comics.

Leila has a HUGE Instagram following: 77,200 followers (!) and 9.2K Facebook followers

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads

 

Giveaway Details:

2 winners will receive a finished copy of THE LAST BOOK YOU'LL EVER READ, US Only.

Ends October 7th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/1/2022	Two Chicks on Books	Guest Post
9/2/2022	@jaimerockstarbooktours	IG Post
9/3/2022	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Guest Post

Week Two:

9/4/2022	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post
9/5/2022	@bookstagramofmin	Review/IG Post
9/6/2022	Review Thick And Thin	Review/IG Post
9/7/2022	@allyluvsbooksalatte	IG Post
9/8/2022	Brandi Danielle Davis	Excerpt/IG Post
9/9/2022	Sadie's Spotlight	Guest Post/IG Post
9/10/2022	BookHounds	Guest Post/IG Post

Week Three:

9/11/2022	@just_another_mother_with_books	IG Review
9/12/2022	Fire & Ice	Review/IG Post
9/13/2022	RavenzReviewz	Review/IG Post
9/14/2022	Lifestyle of Me	Review/IG Post
9/15/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
9/16/2022	Forthenovellovers	Review/IG Post
9/17/2022	@lexijava	Review/IG Post

Week Four:

9/18/2022	Lady Hawkeye	Guest Post/IG Post
9/19/2022	Laurenreads._	Review/IG Post
9/20/2022	GryffindorBookishNerd	Review/IG Post
9/21/2022	A Dream Within A Dream	Guest Post/IG Post
9/22/2022	@enjoyingbooksagain	IG Review
9/23/2022	The Real World According to Sam	Review/IG Post
9/24/2022	@thebookishfoxwitch	IG Review

Week Five:

9/25/2022	See Sadie Read	Review/IG Post
9/26/2022	Wanderingwitchreads	Tik Tok Review/IG Post
9/27/2022	Two Points of Interest	Review/IG Post
9/28/2022	Nerdophiles	Review/IG Post
9/29/2022	brittyoreads	Review/IG Post
9/30/2022	hodophile_z	Review/IG Post

Book Review - The French House by Helen Fripp

 

In 1805, Reims, France Nicole Clicquot is grieving her beloved husband. He left behind a vineyard and a little girl. Nicole must work hard to support her daughter and secure their future even if it means ignoring the gossip about her. As Nicole tries to ignore them, she hears a rumor about her husband and that he died with a terrible secret. His secret can cause the entire town to turn against her.

Nicole is heartbroken and her reputation is in tatters. She turns to her husband's oldest friend, Louis. He is eager to help with a warm smile and advice that eases her troubled heart. After a good harvest season and her first wine has been produced, Nicole feels her that her luck has  finally turned. She feels that she will be welcomed back into the local community and her future will be secure.

The ongoing war has caused complications and some of Nicole's friends are hiding secrets from her. She doesn't know who she can trust. Nicole is torn between trusting her head and her heart. She knows that she will have to pour her entire life into her business otherwise, she will face ruin.

I thought this was an interesting read about a person I never knew about. I assumed that the champagne house was actually owned by a man. It was interesting to read about Nicole's struggles to follow her heart while everyone was doubting her. However, I did find that the book was rather lengthy and slowly moved along at times. If the book was a bit shorter, I would have found it a lot more entertaining.

Book Review - Ghostcloud by Michael Mann + Giveaway

 

Twelve year old Luke Smith-Sharma was kidnapped and forced to shovel coal underground. He feels that if he keeps his head down, he can win his freedom from Tabitha Margate. Everything changes when he realizes that one day he is able to see things others can't. He is able to see spirits and other otherworldly things. He befriends a ghost girl named Alma, who can bend clouds according to her will and ride them through the night sky. Luke discovers his innate powers with Alma's help. However, he discovers a darker truth behind his kidnapping. Luke is desperate to escape but, will they be able to find a way out?

The novel was an entertaining read and it remind me of one of my favorite childhood author, Roald Dahl. The book had delightful world building details. The characters were all well developed albeit quirky.  The more we learn about Tabitha's nefarious plot, the more we worry for our beloved characters. The book does wrap up the story but, the author left a potential thread for a second book.

 

**Disclosure - I received a free unedited copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion. **

 

About The Book:

Title: GHOSTCLOUD

Author: Michael Mann

Pub. Date: September 27, 2022

Publisher: Peachtree

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 320

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

 

A riveting, magical escapade about finding friendship and the courage to set yourself free against all odds.

Kidnapped and forced to shovel coal underground, in a half-bombed power station, 12-year-old Luke Smith-Sharma keeps his head down and hopes he can earn his freedom from the evil Tabitha Margate. Then one day he discovers he can see things that others can’t. Ghostly things. A ghostly girl named Alma, who can bend the shape of clouds to her will and rides them through the night sky. With Alma’s help, Luke discovers his own innate powers and uncovers the terrible truth of why Tabatha is kidnapping children and forcing them to shovel coal. Desperate to escape, Luke teams up with Alma, his best friend Ravi, and new girl Jess. Can Luke and his friends get away before they each become victims to a cruel and sinister scheme?
 
Debut author Michael Mann delivers a wildly imaginative middle grade fantasy set in a smoke-stained world that’s sure to entertain readers who are eager for an adventure with paranormal superpowers.

 

About Michael Mann:

Michael’s first writing success was for a poem about potatoes - in a competition run by a Yorkshire school catering company. As a ‘reward’, he had to shake hands with a giant potato mascot in front of his entire school. It would be many years before he dared write again.

These days, Michael is a teacher by day, dad by night, and mostly writes when he should be sleeping. He owes the idea for his middle grade novel, Ghostcloud, to his coal-mining grandad and a lifelong love of cloudspotting. He’s half-Indian and passionate about diversity in children’s literature, and loves books that keeps kids turning the page.

He has a first-class degree in anthropology, lives in East London with his (very patient) partner and their (less patient) toddler, and can be found playing board games when he’s not busy losing his wallet. Michael was an Undiscovered Voices 2020 finalist, and his debut middle grade novel Ghostcloud will publish with Hachette in October 2021.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of GHOSTCLOUD, US Only.

Ends October 4th, midnight EST.

 

Rafflecopter Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba21520/?

 

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/19/2022	Eye-Rolling Demigod's Book Blog	Review/IG Post
9/19/2022	laura's bookish corner	Review/IG Post
9/20/2022	Nerdophiles	Review
9/20/2022	Beers Books Boos	Review/IG Post
9/21/2022	More Books Please blog	Review/IG Post
9/21/2022	@jael_and_jenessa_reads	Review/IG Post
9/22/2022	Two Points of Interest	Review
9/22/2022	Lisa-Queen of Random	Excerpt/IG Post
9/23/2022	@ablueboxfullofbooks	IG Review
9/23/2022	onemused	IG Spotlight

 

Week Two:

9/26/2022

Eli to the nth

Review/IG Post

 

 

Book Review - The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

 

At forty years old, Linus Baker leads a quiet and solitary life. He lives in a tiny house with a mischievous cat and listens to old records. He works as a case worker for the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth. He inspects the government-sanctioned orphanages and checks on the well-being of children. Day in and day out, Linus follows the same routine and he has dreamed of visiting the ocean.

Everything changes when Linus is unexpectedly summoned by the Extremely Upper Management. He is given a highly classified assignment to travel to a remote island where six dangerous magical children reside. Linus must set aside his fears and determine if the orphanage is a safe place for the children. As Linus conducts his investigation he realizes that the children are not the only secret the island keeps.

The book was an enchanting and magical read. While I could predict most of the "secrets", the novel still kept me entertained. The characters were all well-developed and loveable. You couldn't help root for each of them. The only thing I didn't like was the epilogue seemed rushed and a bit out of place. Otherwise, if you like reading about acceptance, having a place to call home and finding yourself, then you will enjoy this book.

Book Review - The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont

 

In 1925, Miss Nan O'Dea is apart of a world that she always felt was out of her grasp before. She has become friends with Agatha Christie and the mistress of Archie Christie. Nan devises a way to lure Archie from his devoted wife and she is desperate for Archie to marry her.

Nan has been working on her plans for years. It all started a few decades ago when she was just a young girl. She loved a man and felt they were destined to be together. After a brief tryst, the War torn them apart and their secrets kept them apart.

I was torn on this novel. It had an interesting plot and it was told from a different point of view but, I still couldn't really sympathize with Nan. I also thought the novel was a bit long and boring at times. I felt like the book included a lot of unnecessary detail that just dragged on. At times, a character would be mentioned and little tidbits and then they will tie in later but, by then I forgot about them. However, I did like that there was a murder mystery story line tied in. If you are interested in reading about the Archie Christie affair from the mistress point of view, then you might enjoy this book.

Book Review - The Haunting of Leigh Harker by Darcy Coates

 

Leigh Harker considers her suburban home to be her sanctuary for more than a decade, until she starts to notice things. Things around her house keeps moving around and then there is a dark figure looming around in the dark. The figure is watching her sleep at night. Leigh refuses to abandoned her home to the mysterious figure even if she unable to sleep or feel comfortable in her own home. As Leigh tries to investigate the dark figure, she realizes that she is trapped within the walls of her home.

I usually love reading Darcy Coates' novels but, this one was a huge disappointment. The entire first half of the novel was boring, repetitive, and felt disjointed. It felt like the author spent majority of time building the mood and ambience. The entire novel was so boring and just dragged on. It was only towards the end did the novel pick up but, the ending seemed so unbelievable and far-fetched to me. After reading this lackluster book, I think I might take a break from the author's books for awhile.

Book Review - The Truth About Ben and June by Alex Kiester

 

 

 

 

**May contain spoilers**

Ben and June always felt that they were destined to meet since, the moment they met in a hospital waiting room on New Year's Eve. They knew that their chance encounter and subsequent relationship was special because of all the unlikely decisions that bought them together. After a few years of marriage, June is struggling as a new mom. She wonders about the her life before the birth of her son and if she didn't give up the lead role in a famous ballet company to become a mother. June feels like she is a bad mom and feels alone when she is betrayed by someone close to her. She decides to write to her deceased mother in hopes that her mother would guide her.

One morning, Ben wakes up to the sound of his son crying. He tries to locate June but, quickly realizes June is gone along with her suitcase. Ben is desperate to find June and tries to piece together why she left. As he talks with her friends, he realizes that there were things June were keeping a secret from him.  As Ben continues to dig into June's daily life, he starts to realize that he might know his wife as well as he thought.

I thought that the book had an interesting premise and was excited to read it. The first third of the book kept me intrigued but, when the cause of her disappearance becomes clearer, I started disconnecting from the book. I thought that the cause would have been something different. Personally, I am not a mother so, I couldn't connect with June on that level and that seemed to the main driver for her wanting to disappear. I even found that the connection between June and her friends a bit trivial at times. For example, when June was so upset that she plucked bananas  from her friend's bag and dropped it on the floor. Then her friend called her a psychopath or something like that. Perhaps, as mentioned maybe I just couldn't relate to any of the characters. I believe readers who have children might be able to connect better with the characters and would find this book more enjoyable than I did.