Book Review – Night of Madness by Ryan Douglass

  

 

Night of Madness by Ryan Douglass is about five teen influencers competing in a horror-themed overnight competition with a dark and twisted motive.

Mara loves horror movies, and her only fond memories of her dad involve bonding over movies made by horror maestro Jack Stanley. Stanley was known for his campy slasher movies in the 1980s, but he has since faded from the public eye. That changes when he announces a contest centered around his most popular and terrifying film, Asylum. Five influencers are invited to spend the night on a fully constructed set, and whoever survives until morning wins $100,000.

Mara is stuck in a dead-end job, so when she hears about the grand prize, she is excited about how much the money could change her life. She isn’t a famous influencer, so she has to find a way to manipulate the contest in her favor and capture Stanley’s attention.

When Mara’s efforts pay off and she is chosen, she is excited to discover that her best friend, Storm, will be joining her in the competition. However, as the night wears on, Mara realizes that something is wrong. She begins to fear that the competition might be much more deadly than she expected. Will Mara be able to survive the night?

I love horror movies, so I was excited to read this book. However, I ended up being on the fence about it. While the story was interesting, I found the writing and storyline convoluted and choppy. I felt like the author hinted at a lot of things but never fully explored them. For example, there were mentions of Jack’s odd appearance, his history with Mara’s father, her parents’ drama, and a script she discovered. I felt like parts of the story were left out, or the author introduced too many plot threads without fully exploring or explaining them.

I also felt like the story had an unrealistic feel. Some of the things Jack did didn’t feel believable or explained. I never really felt like we got enough time to bond with or care about the other contestants. I also found some of the descriptions of the competition confusing, particularly the scenes involving the props Jack used to target specific contestants, such as the photographs of the contestants and the bedroom furniture setup. I found my eyes glazing over and getting confused. 

I think this book would have benefited from additional editing and more time spent developing some of the plot threads that were introduced. I had a hard time connecting with the story, which was disappointing because I thought the premise had a lot of potential.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author. 

Book Review - Adventure in the City of Stories by Emma Otheguy

 

Adventure in the City of Stories by Emma Otheguy is about three cousins who must help prove their aunt’s innocence after she is falsely accused of stealing an artifact.

While hanging out at their aunt’s house, cousins Jorge, Camila, and Siggy discover dusty old puppets and a book. They soon discover that the book and puppets once belonged to Pura Belpré, a trailblazing Latina librarian and storyteller. Their aunt has been accused of stealing the artifacts, so the cousins must travel back to 1930s New York to return the puppets and book and prove that their aunt didn’t steal them.

As the trio travels back in time, they realize that danger is lurking around every corner. A powerful woman wants to steal the book, while their nosy neighbor is hot on their heels. While trying to find a safe place to hide the artifacts, the trio meets Antonia, a young Puerto Rican girl who is fighting against the injustice and stigma faced by her community.

This is the second book in the series. Like the previous book, I thought this was an okay read. I felt like it was missing something that would have gotten me truly invested in the story. The writing felt a bit dry, and the characters seemed wooden. I wasn’t able to connect with any of them.

I did like that the author showcases different aspects of Latin culture and history that might not be well known. I also liked that the book includes a glossary and additional information at the end. However, I would have liked to see translations for the Spanish words. I think this would have been a great way for young readers who aren’t familiar with Spanish to learn some new words.

While this is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. I did like that the book introduces a larger mystery that could continue throughout the series. I was feeling a bit lackluster about the series, but I might give the third book a chance before deciding whether to continue with future installments.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.

Book Review – These Healing Hills by Ann H. Gabhart

 

These Healing Hills by Ann H. Gabhart is about a woman, Francine Howard, who moves to the Appalachian Mountains after the man she loves leaves her for another woman.

Francine Howard had her life mapped out until everything comes crashing down when her fiancé returns home in love with another woman he met during the war. Hurt and devastated, Francine decides to seek a fresh start and answers the call to become a midwife for the Frontier Nursing Service in the Appalachian Mountains.

Ben Locke has never thought much beyond returning home after experiencing the horrors of war. He has spent most of his life in the mountains and doesn’t know what to do now that he has returned. When Francine and Ben meet, it is clear that they come from very different worlds, but there seems to be a spark between them. Will they be able to put aside their differences?

The novel was an okay read. It was a clean Christian romance with no steamy moments. I enjoyed learning about the Frontier Nursing Service and life in the Appalachian Mountains. My favorite parts were Francine’s encounters with the townspeople. The book was a bit longer than it needed to be, though.

Overall, if you like clean Christian historical romances, you might enjoy this one.

Book Review – Survival Show (Survival Show, #1) by Juno Dawson

 

Survival Show by Juno Dawson is about a young woman, Taryn Beck, who joins a deadly singing competition to get medication for her sick brother.

Life has been tough for Taryn Beck and her family. She feels like they can never catch a break. The only refuge she has from reality is singing. She and her family live in a Scottish refugee camp after the war and devastating floods. Taryn, her sister, and their father are constantly trying to find ways to get enough money and medication to help her brother.

Taryn realizes that the only way out is to join a singing competition. She enters the popular television program Starmarker, where kids from the New Peace Global Alliance compete for the chance to join a pop group. The winners will live a life of luxury, fame, and money. However, entering the competition comes with deadly consequences. The lowest-ranking contestants after each round face public execution. Will Taryn have what it takes to win?

The book was an entertaining read, although it took me a little while to get into it. I didn't like the dystopian portion of the story or how the author changed basic, everyday things to make them seem more futuristic. I felt like some of these changes were unnecessary just to make things fit the post-apocalyptic setting. It would take me out of the reading experience because I would have to stop and figure out what the author was referring to.

I also felt like the world-building was confusing and not very well explained. I wasn't sure if everyone was struggling or if only a handful of people were living in poverty like Taryn and her family while others were marginally better off. It was hard to understand how the economy and class system worked and why some people would risk death when it seemed like they already had money and influence.

I felt like the game show was designed for people who had no other option but to risk their lives for money. The social class and power structure could have been explained better. For example, during the competition, Taryn mentions having a surplus of food and never having tasted a mango, but it didn't seem like the other contestants had the same experience. Some of the characters' motivations for joining the competition were eventually revealed, but some of them still felt superficial. If joining wasn't a matter of survival, why would they risk being killed?

Once I stopped thinking so much about those details, and the author moved away from focusing heavily on the world-building, it became easier for me to get into the story.

I was rooting for Taryn until the end. I felt like she went off the rails toward the end and kept making decisions without considering the consequences. It was frustrating that other people had to pay for her actions. Despite my issues with the book, I did enjoy it and thought it was a good read.

I was surprised to learn that this is the first book in a series, and I'm curious about what the second book will be about. I'm torn because while I enjoyed this book, I'm not sure I'm invested enough to continue with the series.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.

Book Review – We Are the Keystones: Animals That Hold Habitats Together by Katy S. Duffield

 

We Are the Keystones: Animals That Hold Habitats Together by Katy S. Duffield is a picture book that introduces readers to different keystone animals and explains the important impact they have on other animals and their environments.

The book features beautiful, watercolor-style illustrations. It is very colorful, although it leans toward a darker palette that fits the natural subject matter. Each keystone animal is introduced with a short poem that describes the animal and explains the benefits it provides to its environment. In addition to the poem, there is a smaller, more detailed section that provides technical information about the animal, including why it is considered a keystone species.

I like that the book includes both the poems and the more detailed explanations because it allows young readers to grow with the book. Younger readers can enjoy the poems and illustrations, while older readers can explore the more detailed information. I think this gives the book lasting value and can help keep readers engaged with both the book and the environment.

I also liked that the book highlights animals that readers may not be familiar with. It can introduce children to species they might not otherwise encounter and encourage them to learn more about the role these animals play in their ecosystems.

At the end of the book, the author includes additional animals and plants for readers to research on their own or with an adult. I liked this addition, but I would have also liked to see some age-appropriate, environmentally friendly activities that children could do with adults to help protect their local environment.

Since I wasn't familiar with some of the animals featured in the book, I also would have liked to see resources where readers could learn more about keystone animals and plants in their own communities. I think children may feel more connected to environmental issues when they can see how they directly affect the places where they live.

I enjoyed the book. It is beautifully illustrated and educational, offering something for multiple generations. I think it would be a great way for children and adults to learn together about the important role keystone species play in keeping ecosystems healthy.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.