Book Review - Shadow Service Vol. 3: Death To Spies by Cavan Scott + Giveaway

 

Shadow Service Death To Spies by Cavan Scott is the third graphic novel in the Shadow Service series. Gina Meyer is a new agent in the MI666 agency and she is still getting used to her new teammates. She is trying to master and control her magical powers.

Gina is working with her new colleagues to try and figure out who is murdering undercover agents all over the world. The secret agents are being killed by monsters that are inspired by folklore. No one seems to be safe, including Gina and her coworkers, as someone is using the monsters to do their dirty work.

While Gina is investigating the murders, she is also working with Quinn to find the truth behind her birth. Gina feels that her mother might not be her real mother and also suspects that she is hiding something from Gina. As Gina and Quinn probe into Gina’s childhood, they realize that someone in her past might be related to the recent string of deaths.

Gina is unsure who to trust after she’s been previously betrayed by her loved ones. This was shown in the previous novels. To add to her feelings of betrayal, one of her teammates switches sides and becomes the enemy. She fears that the person targeting the other secret agents might be someone Gina is close to.

I read the other two volumes of Shadow Service and enjoyed them. The latest installment was just as enjoyable and action packed as the previous two books. In this volume, we learn more about Gina’s background and see her grow into her role as a shadow agent. She also learns to trust her gut instincts and becomes more aware of her growing powers. The graphic novel does end on a cliff hanger and the books need to be read in order. The graphic novel does have scenes of graphic and violent deaths. Not recommended for really young readers due to this. 

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

 

About The Books:

Title: SHADOW SERVICE Vol. 1: Dark Arts

Authors: Cavan Scott & Corin Howell

Pub. Date: April 20, 2021

Publisher: Vault Comics

Formats:  Paperback, eBook

Pages: 128

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/SHADOW-SERVICE-Vol-1-Dark-Arts

 

Gina Meyers is a Private Investigator who makes her living in the underbelly of London. She's also a witch. Not the cutesy kind. The terrifying kind. Witchcraft meets spycraft, when a shadowy government organization abducts Gina.

BLACK MAGIC MEETS BLACK OPS.

Worried your partner is cheating? Need a missing person found?

Gina Meyers is the Private Investigator for you. Sure, she’s a witch who worries that her powers make her more of a monster than the crooks she’s trying to catch, but it’s not like London’s criminal underworld is literally going to hell… is it? Spy craft meets black magic in the shadowy world of MI666.

Collects issues #1 to #5 of the ten issue series.

 

Title: SHADOW SERVICE Vol. 2: Mission Infernal

Authors: Cavan Scott & Corin Howell

Pub. Date: September 28, 2021

Publisher: Vault Comics

Formats:  Paperback, eBook

Pages: 128

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/SHADOW-SERVICE-Vol-2

 

First Gina was a witch. Then she was a spy. Now she’s a traitor. Spycraft meets witchcraft in the world of MI666

BLACK MAGIC MEETS BLACK OPS.

Betrayed by one of their own, the Shadow Service takes to the dangerous streets of Rome. But can the traitor be brought back into the fold? The chase is on. Spycraft meets witchcraft in the world of MI666.

Collects #6 to #10 of the ongoing series.

 

Title: SHADOW SERVICE Vol. 3: Death to Spies

Authors: Cavan Scott & Corin Howell

Pub. Date: March 21, 2023

Publisher: Vault Comics

Formats:  Paperback, eBook

Pages: 128

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/SHADOW-SERVICE-Vol-3-Death-to-Spies

 

Black Magic woman meets Black Ops Bond in this supernatural spy saga from New York Times bestselling author, Cavan Scott!

From NewYork Times bestseller Cavan Scott (Star Wars: The High Republic) and artist Corin Howell (Wonder Woman) comes the start of a thrilling new chapter of the supernatural spy saga!

All over the world, secret agents are being murdered by monstrous folk horrors, and not even MI666 is safe. Gina Meyer faces tragedy as a teammate turns enemy. But what of the quest to find out the truth about her past and powers?

Shadow Service stands tall next to the likes of Criminal Macabre and Hellblazer in the world of supernatural detectives while still putting its own spin on it to stand apart.   – Horror DNA

For fans of Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan (The Hollows), The Department of Truth, Umbrella Academy, Doctor Who, Star Wars High Republic, Hellblazer, and James Bond.   

About Cavan Scott:

Cavan Scott is a UK number one bestseller who has written for such popular worlds as Star Wars, Doctor Who, Star Trek, Assassin's Creed, Judge Dredd, Pacific Rim, and Sherlock Holmes. He is the author of Star Wars Dooku: Jedi Lost, The Patchwork Devil, Shadow Service, and is one of the story architects for Lucasfilm's epic multi-media initiative, Star Wars: The High Republic. He has written comics for Vault, Marvel, DC Comics, IDW, Dark Horse, Vertigo, 2000 AD, and The Beano.

A former magazine editor, Cavan Scott lives in the United Kingdom with his wife and daughters. His lifelong passions include scary movies, folklore, the music of David Bowie, and LEGO.
He owns far too many action figures.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

About Corin Howell:

Corin Howell is a red head Comic Artist of spooky, scary, and sexy, and monsters, maidens, and robots.
I love cats too.
She is the artist for the supernatural detective series from Vault, SHADOW SERVICE, with bestselling author Cavan Scott.          Hometown:  Austin, TX

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

 

Giveaway Details:

2 winners will receive a finished copies of SHADOW SERVICE series, US Only.

Ends April 7th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/1/2023	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt/IG Post
3/2/2023	Mythical Books	Excerpt/IG Post
3/3/2023	Sadie's Spotlight	Excerpt/IG Post
3/4/2023	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt/IG Post

 Week Two:

3/5/2023	Jazzy Book Reviews	Excerpt/IG Post
3/6/2023	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt
3/7/2023	Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer	Review
3/8/2023	The Litt Librarian	Review/IG Post
3/9/2023	Cara North	Review/IG Post
3/10/2023	GryffindorBookishNerd	IG Review
3/11/2023	See Sadie Read	Review/IG Post

 Week Three:

3/12/2023	Nerdophiles	Review
3/13/2023	The Real World According To Sam	Review/IG Post
3/14/2023	Lifestyle of Me	Review
3/15/2023	OneMoreExclamation	Review/IG Post
3/16/2023	Kim"s Book Reviews and Writing Aha's	Review/IG Post
3/17/2023	The Girl Who Reads	Review/IG Post
3/18/2023	Emily Ashlyn	IG Review/FB Post

 Week Four:

3/19/2023	Brandi Danielle Davis	IG Review/TikTok Post
3/20/2023	Review Thick And Thin	Review/IG Post
3/21/2023	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic
3/22/2023	@by_hckilgour	IG Review
3/23/2023	The Book Countess	Review/IG Post
3/24/2023	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
3/25/2023	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post

 Week Five:

3/26/2023	Read Dog Reviews	IG Review
3/27/2023	Vamplit	IG Review
3/28/2023	@froggyreadteach	IG Review
3/29/2023	Two Points of Interest	Review
3/30/2023	@thebookishfoxwitch	Review/IG Post
3/31/2023	@just_another_mother_with_books	IG Review

Book Review - Black Girls Must Have It All by Jayne Allen

 

 

 

Black Girls Must Have It All by Jayne Allen is the final book in the Black Girls Must Die Exhausted trilogy. Tabitha Brown gives birth to a beautiful baby girl after being told in the previous book that she might not be able to have biological children. She is trying to juggle the demands of being a new parent, the needs of a newborn baby, her friends, her job, and her love life.

After experiencing a stressful year, Tabitha decides that this would be her year to achieve her goals and obtain the life she had always wanted. She plans on getting her career, home, and love life in order. Except, the demands of motherhood are draining and Tabitha feels that she barely has time nor energy to do anything.

Tabitha loves her daughter and finds motherhood fulfilling but she wants more from her life. When her beloved coworker mentions that she is planning to retire from the news studio, Tabitha is worried that she might return from maternity leave to a hostile work environment. Just before Tabitha takes her leave, she basically sets all of her ships on fire by going against the wishes of her producer. When she hears news that the station is planning to hire an outside candidate to fill her friend’s role, Tabby is afraid that she might lose her chance to the weekday anchor position that she has worked so hard for.  Tabitha is worried that she might also lose or not maintain her current position of the weekend anchor.  

She normally turns to her friends for support but they seem to be having their own issues to deal with and her relationship with her friends have been frayed since she became a mother. Alexis, her best friend, is still struggling with her marriage with her cheating husband, Rob. Her other friend, Laila, is trying to launch her own business after being fired from her last job.

Her relationship with Marc has also hit a standstill. She isn’t sure what she wants from their relationship anymore. In the previous books, she wanted to get married and settle down with him and start a family. After Marc gives her an ultimatum about their current relationship, she isn’t sure what she wants to do. To make matters worse, his overbearing and controlling mother comes to visit and has something to say about everything, including her ability to mother her daughter.

Tabitha is trying to navigate her life but finds herself failing in every aspect. She feels lonely and isolated from her family especially right now when she needs them the most. Tabitha knows that her friends and family will help her if she asks for it, but will Tabitha finally put herself first and ask for help?

I read the second book in the series and I was able to follow along with the story. However, I feel that the books should be read in order as it will help illuminate character nuances, relationships, and side story lines. This book addresses the cliffhangers that were left hanging from the previous book and wraps up most of the pending problems in the end.

I felt that the book didn’t flow as smoothly as the previous book in the series and was choppy in some places. I felt that this book was missing something, like the spark the previous book had.  The ending made me feel that Tabby still doesn’t know what she wants from Marc and her relationship with him.  The ending of the series felt underwhelming as I was expecting a lot more to happen but it didn’t. If you liked the other two books in the series then you might enjoy this book.

 

Book Spotlight - There Goes the Neighborhood by Jade Adia + Giveaway

 

About The Book:

Title: THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Author: Jade Adia

Pub. Date: March 7, 2023

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 432

Find it: Goodreads, https://mybook.to/jade-adia 

A raised fist against the destructive forces of gentrification and a love letter to communities of color everywhere, Jade Adia's unforgettable debut tells the darkly hilarious story of three best friends willing to do whatever it takes to stay together.

The gang is fake, but the fear is real.

Rhea’s neighborhood is fading away―the mom-and-pop shops of her childhood forced out to make space for an artisanal kombucha brewery here, a hot yoga studio there. And everywhere, the feeling that this place is no longer meant for her. Because while their little corner of South L.A. isn’t perfect, to Rhea and her two best friends, it’s something even more important―it’s home. And it’s worth protecting.

But as more white people flock to their latest edgy, urban paradise for its cheap rent and sparkling new Whole Foods, more of Rhea’s friends and family are pushed out. Until Rhea decides it’s time to push back. Armed with their cellphones and a bag of firecrackers, the friends manipulate social media to create the illusion of gang violence in their neighborhood. All Rhea wanted to do was protect her community. Her friends. Herself. No one was supposed to get hurt. No one was supposed to die.

But is anyone ever really safe when you’re fighting power with fear?

Reviews:

"Equally strong in its magnetic messiness and potent candor, the novel plunges into discussions of youth activism, capitalism-fueled displacement, and racism’s myriad forms with fierce vision and conviction. A robust cast of characters diverse across various dimensions gives voice to contemporary perspectives on community-oriented social justice and performative wokeness . . . this one’s a much-needed read. Plain terrific."――Kirkus Reviews

"In this riveting portrait of community care, debut author Adia paints the pain, danger, and consequences of gentrification with visceral clarity, highlighting changes such as displacement and fractured families via Rhea’s biting and witty voice and her unwavering loyalty to her hometown."――Publishers Weekly

About Jade Adia:

Born and raised in South LA, Jade Adia writes stories about gentrification, Black teen joy, and the sh*tshow that is capitalism.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Ethnicity, Race & Migration, and a certificate in Human Rights. She recently survived law school, graduating with a specialization in Critical Race Studies. There Goes the Neighborhood is her debut novel.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD, US Only.

Ends April 7th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/1/2023	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt/IG Post
3/2/2023	YA Books Central	Excerpt/IG Post
3/3/2023	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt/IG Post
3/4/2023	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt/IG Post

Week Two:

3/5/2023	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt
3/6/2023	@ugcbyabby	IG Review/TikTok Post
3/7/2023	Kim"s Book Reviews and Writing Aha's	Review/IG Post
3/8/2023	Lifestyle of Me	Review
3/9/2023	Lisa Loves Literature	Review/IG Post
3/10/2023	gsreadingspree	IG Review
3/11/2023	Emily Ashlyn	IG Review/Facebook Post

Week Three:

3/12/2023	Brandi Danielle Davis	IG Review/TikTok Post
3/13/2023	onemused	IG Spotlight
3/14/2023	Eli to the nth	Review/IG Post
3/15/2023	Review Thick And Thin	Review/IG Post
3/16/2023	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic
3/17/2023	Author Z. Knight's Guild	Review
3/18/2023	travelersguidetobooks	IG Review

Week Four:

3/19/2023	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
3/20/2023	@froggyreadteach	IG Review
3/21/2023	OneMoreExclamation	Review/IG Post
3/22/2023	@carlysunshinebooks	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic
3/23/2023	The Litt Librarian	Review/IG Post
3/24/2023	I'm Into Books	Excerpt
3/25/2023	popthebutterfly	Review/IG Post

Week Five:

3/26/2023	Cara North	Review/IG Post
3/27/2023	Two Points of Interest	Review
3/28/2023	@evergirl200	IG Review
3/29/2023	@drew_ambitious_reading	IG Review/TikTok Post
3/30/2023	More Books Please blog	Review/IG Post
3/31/2023	Books with Brandie Shanae	YouTube Review/IG Post

Book Review - No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister

No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister is a love story between writers and readers and their love and special bond with books. Alice loved reading and it was her lifeline when her family life became unbearable. Alice knew that she always wanted to be a writer as books were her only form of escape. She can create imaginary worlds where she can be disconnected from reality, and where everything could turn out okay.

Alice found joy in writing and creating stories but her stories always seemed to have held something back. She never fully immersed herself in her writing so while her stories were descriptive and engaging, it always felt detached like she was a spectator. When a distressing event occurs, a dam of emotions bursts open and becomes filled with overwhelming emotions. Alice needed a place to collect herself and something to pour her thoughts and feelings into.

She decides to write a debut novel to express herself and to help navigate her feelings. When Alice finishes her novel, she is unsure if she should publish the story, because then the story would no longer just be hers. In the end, she decides to go for it and as her novel reaches the hands of readers, it changes and evolves as they read the book just as how Alice evolves and grows while she writes the book.

The novel starts with Alice’s story and her reason for writing. Then the book is narrated by different people who read her book and they describe how their lives changed after reading the book. I enjoyed reading about each different character and their life story. I was usually disappointed when one character’s chapter was over and the book would move on to another. I would be so attached to that character and would want to read more about them. While the characters were all flawed and were searching for something, they were relatable and highly engaging to me. It was nice seeing how the characters were trying to overcome a situation and become the best version of themselves.

I did get a bit overwhelmed with the amount of different character stories that were being introduced. I was trying to remember each story and figure out what link would connect them all. There is a link that does connect the characters that is revealed towards the end. However, I would recommend just sitting back and enjoying each unique character story. I did like that bits and pieces of Alice’s book are uncovered during each character chapter and it shows which part of the book resonated with that character the most.

As an avid reader this book was inspiring to see how books can change a person’s life and dreams along with the joy one gets from reading. It was also interesting to read how writers might feel about their stories being published. I always assumed that writers would enjoy having their stories told and they do but, once a story is published it’s no longer just theirs and every reader has its own bond and meaning attached to that story. The book was a dazzling and stunning read that would inspire budding writers and warm the hearts of fellow readers.

 

Book Review - City of the Dead by James Ponti

  

 

City of the Dead by James Ponti is the fourth book in the City Spies series. The City Spies are a group of young spies that solve mysteries all over the world. In the latest installment, the spies head to Egypt in order to investigate an unknown person hacking into the computers of the British’s government and holding their data ransom.

Each child in the group takes turns acting as the Alpha during a mission. This allows them to test and hone their respective special ability. Kat (codename Kathmandu) is the Alpha for this book/mission. She loves logic and order, and prime numbers hold a special place in her heart. Kat’s special ability is being able to spot patterns in things that look completely random.

Kat and the team were requested by British Intelligence to test the security of the British Museum. The group thought it was a random mission until a string of cyber-attacks threatened to cripple the British government. As the team tries to solve puzzles and hidden messages left behind from the cyberattacks, they find a link between these attacks, Egypt, and the museum.

The team receives a decrypted message that hints that the person behind the hacks is located in Egypt. They follow the leads but something isn’t adding up. There is another layer to the mystery behind the attacks – Will the team be able to figure it out before it’s too late?

I read the first book in the series but not the second and third. I was able to follow along with most of the story, even with this being the fourth in the series. However, I feel that the books should be read in order because there is a larger mystery that is covered between the books and each book gives more clues to it. The book is packed with action, twists, and sprinkled with humor. I liked reading how each character brought their own unique ability and skill set to the table, and how they were open with each other about their own insecurities. I also liked that the author included a dossier on each character giving more details about their background and skill sets.

I liked that each book takes place in a different country and that the author includes tidbits of the culture. It was interesting to read about Egypt’s food, culture, and the pyramids.  The book is great for young readers who are interested in spy stories and love learning about new heritages. It also teaches young readers the importance of family, believing in yourself, and being a team player.

 

Book Review - Human Remains: The Complete Series by Dearbhla Kelly and Peter Milligan

 

Imagine living in a world where you can't express yourself unless you want to be devoured by an alien. In this new world, deadly alien invaders attack and kill humans who display emotions. The aliens hunt humans and everyday life for humans has become a nightmare. People are living on the edge and afraid of everything. 

The book has similarities to how people reacted during the pandemic in the early years. The graphic novel showed people acting hysterically, hiding behind their faith, or being just plain ignorant. It showed how scientists and the military were at odds with each other instead of coming together for the common good.

The graphic novel was a fun and interesting read. The artwork was beautifully done and had diverse characters. The story was engaging as it showed different character perspectives. It was interesting seeing how different characters reacted and adapted to the alien invaders. If you like horror graphic novels, then you might enjoy this one.