Book Review – ‘Doomsday Match’ (#1 The Dresden Codex) by Jeff Wheeler

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Beware offers too good to be true – especially if it’s a free luxury holiday on a mysterious island that used to be the centre for human sacrifices…

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Science Fiction

No. of pages: 335

A vacationing family becomes pawns in an ancient ritual designed to bring about the apocalypse in a riveting thriller by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Jeff Wheeler. A prophecy has waited for five centuries to be fulfilled. That time has come. Sacrifices will be made. Let the games begin. When Jonathon Roth and his family are invited by their neighbors, the Beasleys, to join them at a luxury retreat in Cozumel, who can refuse? It’s the perfect winter getaway. Relaxing on the beach, gourmet food, sightseeing, and free accommodations. But if it sounds too good to be true, it is. Villa Sara de Calakmul, owned by mysterious tycoon Jacob Calakmul, is more isolated compound than private resort. Armed guards patrol the jungle perimeters. Pictures of previous guests―long disappeared―adorn the walls. And there are whispers of something coming called “the game.” Even in the sweltering heat, the Roths feel a chill―and the fear that they haven’t been invited to Villa Sara. They’ve been lured. But for what purpose? And to what end? From the ruins, a death cult is reborn. A prophecy to bring down Western civilization is being realized. As a legendary blood sport is engaged, the Roths themselves may need to call upon ancient powers if they’re to survive, escape, and save the world from annihilation.

A family facing a menacing threat, one that’s been waiting for hundreds of years… I really enjoyed ‘Doomsday Match‘ it’s steeped in Mayan culture and history, but does not stray away from the connections family brings.

‘Doomsday Match’ has a steady pace throughout and I was always keen to see what new twist or reveal came next. I will say though, closer to the end of the book, the pace dropped off a little because we kept being pulled aside with factoids, history, ponderings, and the like. They all added to the story, but it diffused some of the tension at the part of the narrative where it’s meant to be at its pinnacle. It was a small thing I noticed, but something I felt worth mentioning.

The biggest drawback for me was the serendipity of it all. There was a lot of coincidences and happenstance. It could be argued that this is intentional – part of the plot (you’ll understand once you read the book) but it was more than that for me. The boys, Lucas and Brilliante, seemed to have one enthusiastic note throughout the entire story. I think I wanted a bit more range from them. Their older sister Suki had some nuance, but still it fell a bit short for me. But given this is the first book of a trilogy, maybe we’ll start to see some great character development in the sequels.

Our protagonist, Roth, was an interesting one. An author and kind of jack-of-all-trades was fun to follow. But again, seemed to possess a bit too much knowledge and instinct specific to the situation for it to feel realistic. The family does struggle, but I feel like they could have been made to work harder. The narrative makes them the underdogs, underestimated, but it is clear quite early on that they are anything but… though it’s never quite explained. So in this sense I could feel the hand of Jeff Wheeler guiding the plot. It did not unravel entirely organically.

With that said, ‘Doomsday Match’ is one heck of a ride! I was instantly drawn into their fight for survival, the escape, their ingenuity. Plus all the culture mixed into the narrative was a delight. I’m already pumped for the sequels and will definitely be purchasing them once they are released. The next book is ‘Jaguar Prophecies.’ 

The antagonist of The Dresden Codex, Jacob, does feel a little two-dimensional. He’s just so narrowly focused and obsessed with only a few things. His personality seems to experience a limited range of emotions. So while suitably a great force to be reckoned with, did feel a bit cartoonish.

Jeff Wheeler has a great writing style, the worldbuilding was fantastic. I was easily able to imagine myself in the jungle, climbing the ziggurats, and all the peril the Roth family faced was front and centre. You do get a sense of the emotional bonds between the Roth family, but it all felt very descriptive, there was a sense of removal in the text. I am unsure if it was because of the omnipresent perspective or not. We don’t get a first-person account in ‘Doomsday Match’ while it aids in building the plot points of the story, it does limit the personal connection you are able to forge with the protagonist.

I’ll say the idea of ‘Doomsday Match’ is easily predicable – it’s the reason you pick up the book in the first place – but the execution was not. I never knew what the family was going to have to face next and it kept me guessing right up to the end. I loved the little surprises, the familial bond, the tone of perseverance and optimism.

Definitely a solid recommendation from me.

Overall feeling: Go Team!

© Casey Carlisle 2024. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Casey Carlisle with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Book Review – ‘Where the Drowned Girls Go’ (#7 Wayward Children) by Seanan McGuire

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A former mermaid tried to bury her past…

Genre: YA, Fantasy, LGBTQIA+

No. of pages: 160

Welcome to the Whitethorn Institute. The first step is always admitting you need help, and you’ve already taken that step by requesting a transfer into our company.

There is another school for children who fall through doors and fall back out again.
It isn’t as friendly as Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children.
And it isn’t as safe.

When Eleanor West decided to open her school, her sanctuary, her Home for Wayward Children, she knew from the beginning that there would be children she couldn’t save; when Cora decides she needs a different direction, a different fate, a different prophecy, Miss West reluctantly agrees to transfer her to the other school, where things are run very differently by Whitethorn, the Headmaster.

She will soon discover that not all doors are welcoming…

‘Where the Drowned Girls Go’ sees Cora reject the approach Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children and transfer to a school that does not indulge in such fancies… but will this erasure of the fantasy world also tamp out Cora’s spirit and tear her away from her found family?

This was cute, but also a little depressing. The ending does end on a high note and resolves much of the story, but for such a short story there felt like there was a lot of unnecessary detail in the narrative not driving the plot forward. So the pacing felt slow.

We follow Cora, as she tries to escape the haunting of The Drowned Gods from a world where she was a mermaid. She leaves Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children for Whitethorne, a more contemporary boarding school… only everything is not what it seems.

This plays on the themes of the worlds of where the doors send the children – and on the themes of the stories themselves. Which is clever. It sends Cora on an arc and character development. Sumi appears to help her along the way. The characters need to find themselves all over again. 

I guessed very early on where this tale was going. But did not predict the twist. I went to boarding school – it felt a lot like the Whitethorne School, so it was a little nostalgic. And not in a good way.

Seanan McGuire’s writing style is still melodic and lyrical, suiting the subject matter of this portal fantasy. I also love the found family aspect of this series, and how it keeps getting re-enforced.

I think maybe this story took too much time with Cora fighting before setting up the antagonist – and then ending too quickly. But maybe this is not the last time we’ve seen this character, and ‘Where Drowned Girls Go‘ has merely introduced a new character into the mix? I’m actually excited to see where this is all going to go.

There is a tone that the doors will break up the ‘family’ at Miss Eleanor’s… I hope not. But we can only wait and find out in the sequels. 

Another fun addition to the collection, but I wish it was a bit more punchier, and didn’t lament so much. Still I’d recommend it because I love this franchise as a whole, and it’s great with the representation it presents. Be assured I’ll be picking up the sequel ‘Lost in the Moment and Found’ momentarily.

Overall feeling: waffly…

© Casey Carlisle 2024. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Casey Carlisle with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Book Review – ‘Husband Material’ (#2 London Calling) by Alexis Hall

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A queer couple adulting…

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, LGBT

No. of pages: 424

Wanted:

One (very real) husband

Nowhere near perfect but desperately trying his best

In BOYFRIEND MATERIAL, Luc and Oliver met, pretended to fall in love, fell in love for real, dealt with heartbreak and disappointment and family and friends…and somehow figured out a way to make it work. Now it seems like everyone around them is getting married, and Luc’s feeling the social pressure to propose. But it’ll take more than four weddings, a funeral, and a bowl full of special curry to get these two from I don’t know what I’m doing to I do.

Good thing Oliver is such perfect HUSBAND MATERIAL.

‘Husband Material’ is the continuing story of Luc and Oliver, (and their colourful friends and family) where they realise their biological clock is ticking, and they need to decide once and for all if this is it together forever in an official capacity, or should they break up and move on? Do they know all of each other’s secrets? Can they take the good with the bad and declare whole-heartedly ‘I Do?’

It was lovely to visit Luc and Oliver again and their quirky relationship (and even quirkier friends.) This pair have a sort of dysfunctional functional way about them.

I really enjoyed the humour, the quaint nod to ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral,’ the angst. But I kept putting this book down. It felt over-written and I kept getting bored. The tension between the characters didn’t feel healthy. In the debut (‘Boyfriend Material’) you could feel like it was building to go somewhere, in ‘Husband Material‘ it felt like more of the dissolution of a relationship – even though that was not what it was. (I know makes total sense?!?)

I want to say there was a character arc – but it felt like both Luc and Oliver took this circuitous route to end up back where they started. I’m all for self-determination, but this did not move forward.

The pacing is slow – not only because of the over-writing, but also because it was simply a series of events where secondary characters would take the stage… and then disappear. It didn’t feel like much of anything was resolved. Not even the issues Luc and Oliver brought up in the beginning of the novel.

Alexis Hall’s writing style is as charming as ever, but I needed a bit more to drag me back into Luc and Oliver’s orbit. While I enjoyed reading ‘Husband Material‘ and revisiting these characters – I don’t think this story was as much fun as the nostalgia and the humour. It actually took me a few weeks to read this because I was putting it down so frequently. The narrative felt so scattered. But in all fairness, weddings are not a thing I personally enjoy – and reading about weddings, even less so.

I guess I was hoping to find that Luc and Oliver had come up against obstacles about being with each other that they needed to overcome – not such an existential crisis and a socio-political discussion on the queer relationship with the concept of marriage. It didn’t gel together for me: the flippant nature of the humour and such a deep observation of queer standards and culture against straight religious traditions.

More for fans of the franchise, I’m a little hesitant of recommending this one. I will continue on with the final of this trilogy to come out in the near future ‘Father Material,’ just because my OCD will not let me abandon Luc and Oliver. I just hope we get a tighter story and interesting plot instead of the pair meandering through life and naval gazing.

Overall feeling: What a letdown.

© Casey Carlisle 2024. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Casey Carlisle with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Book Review – ‘Almayer Station’ (#1.5 Admiral) by Sean Danker

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A space station inspection uncovers things that challenge your loyalty and beliefs…

Genre: Science Fiction

No. of pages: 256

Lieutenant Deilani already had trust issues.

Now she has an appalling new assignment to inspect an independent mining station in territory that’s been recently annexed. The Demenis System might have become Evagardian space, but it’s populated by the Free Traders who got there first, all chafing at suddenly having to comply with quaint things like laws and taxes.

Deilani’s a doctor, not a cop. She doesn’t care what these degenerates are doing as long as they’re doing it in compliance with Evagardian regulations, but it’s not that simple. She can handle dangerous people, but her training hasn’t prepared her to question the laws of physics or reality itself. The edge of space isn’t as lonely as she thought it would be; there’s something else out there with them, something no one understands. Time’s running out, and she’s on her own. There’s no one to trust, no rescue coming, and no way out.

‘Almayer Station’ is an action-packed fight for survival through a space station under the onslaught of technical problems and issues when all your crewmates are dead or insane.

It was fun following a new protagonist: Denali the medical cadet from the debut ‘Admiral,’ admittedly I was hoping for another adventure from the Admiral, but ‘Almayer Station’ brought all the things that I love from his previous fare and delivered it to Denali – and she is a remarkable adversary in her own right.

Granted the plot is mostly predictable, and easily given away. The twist at the end was seen a mile away. But the nature of the plot twist is the unique thing! I was totally entranced down to my little sci-fi girl heart. I loved everything about ‘Almayer Station.’ You could read this as a stand-alone: there are references and appearances from other characters in the series, but only peripherally. This is solely a tale about Denali using her skills to survive.

Things did get a little messy at the end, I was having trouble placing Denali with the world around her and what was happening. With the pace increasing, leading to the big finale, her mental faculties blurring from stress, strain, fatigue, and adrenaline (and maybe reality) it could have been intentional, but I had to re-read a number of paragraphs to try and figure out what was going on properly. But the tension is palpable along with moments of claustrophobia and body horror that paints visceral pictures. I have to admire Sean Danker’s skill in creating this atmosphere.

As much as I enjoyed ‘Almayer Station’ I feel like there was some element missing from the story. I think it might have been character development. Denali seemed relatively unchanged from the state she went into the start of the novel than how she came out of it (other than some unseen PTSD and consternation with her government.) I think I needed some emotional connection to how these series of events affected and changed her. Instead it felt like the powers-that-be simply brushed it under the rug and it was business as usual.

The concept of the novel – the theoretical science behind it – was extremely fun to play with. I’m hoping we get to see more of this for the series in the future. But I’m uncertain. The Admiral franchise seems to feel very episodic, where we see the protagonist navigate through one scenario or another to some over-arcing goal I’m yet to completely figure out. Sometimes it’s dealing with something alien, sometimes its warring factions in the galaxy, political, the obstacles are always different – which makes the reading very enticing – I’m just wanting to see a thread to pull it all together. But I’m trying to review ‘Almayer Station’ on its own merits, and how much I enjoyed it rather that the story mechanics of the series as a whole.

A raucous fast-paced adventure I’ll give a strong recommendation to, but feel like I need a glimpse or hint to where everything is headed. A goal of some sort for the Admiral other than dodging his arrest.

Overall feeling: My safe place…

© Casey Carlisle 2024. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Casey Carlisle with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

#bookporn #coverlove

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Could I call myself an Aussie and not read ‘Rebel Rising?’ My best Judy and phenomenal woman Rebel Wilson has released an autobiography with hilarious annecdotes, insights into Hollywood, and the struggles she’s had on her rise to fame. I remember near the start of her career on ‘The Wedge‘ sketch comedy show in Australia… she’s worked hard and achieved a lot!

Oh, and watch out for the new musical comedy film she’s directed called ‘The Deb.’

Squint and you’ll miss it… then I dropped the ball!

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A September and October 2024 wrap-up

I felt like I was on fire in September – not because of hot weather or post-menopausal flush, but because I was filled with energy and determination to make progress. In hindsight I’m really proud of my accomplishments, but if being totally honest, my writing progress wasn’t as much I I’d been hoping – mainly due to headaches and squinting at my computer screen. Turns out I needed to refresh my glasses prescription. Then just as October was about to hit, I had a flare up of sciatica and bursitis that lasted nearly three weeks (because I was moving furniture around and spring cleaning my house.) That meant I would get sharp stabbing pain if I sat upright in a chair. That’s also why I was missing some posts on the blog, as I was out of action and relying on all the stuff I had scheduled. It’s never taken me that long to recover from back issues, so I must have done a doozy. My spring cleaning remans half done, I’m not feeling brave enough to jump back into the fray, my memory of the torture is still fresh in my brain. The last week in October when I was feeling better was full of family legal matters and trust board meetings. I feel like the September and October have been a bit of a bust. For all my goals, I felt like I have dropped the ball.

READING

‘Return to the Lost World’ (#2 Primordia), ‘The Lost World – Re-evolution’ (#3 Primordia), To The Center of the Earth (#1 Center of the Earth), Extinction Plague (#4 Matt Kearns), Silurian Bridge (#11 Alex Hunter), Ash and Quill (#3 The Great Library), My Love Mix-up Vol. 1 (#1 My Love Mix-up), The Gay Teen’s Guide to Defeating a Siren – Sanctuary (#3 The Gay Teen’s Guide to Defeating a Siren), XOXO (#1 XOXO), ‘Occupied Earth’ (#2 Ascension Wars), Final Strike (#3 The Dresden Codex), System Collapse (#7 The Murderbot Diaries), Fractured Earth (#3 Ascension Wars),  and Second Encounter (#4 Ascension Wars).

What a fantastic reading month for September! I must admit I fell into the groove of mood reading this month, which is why there are a lot of science fiction/horror titles in the same franchises. I was greatful for the smattering of novels from other genres just to give my brain a break. With a total of 14 books completed I am delighted.

I completed 4 series, The Dresden Codex, Ascension Wars, Primordia and The Gay Teen’s Guide to Defeating a Siren and got further along in The Great Library franchise, and randomly started 3 new series:  My Love Mix-up (Graphic Novel series with 9 volumes), XOXO (duology), and Center of the Earth (trilogy). I’ve caught up to date with 3 series:  The Murderbot Diaries, Alex Hunter, and Matt Kearns franchises too, all of which are still ongoing. My Aussie author this month is Greig Beck. There’s no doubt this is the month of series – there’s not one standalone in this reading list.

Given my binge in mood reading, I didn’t get to most of the novels I had scheduled on my TBR for September… but I’m still happy.

There was only 1 novel for #BeatTheBacklist (Ash and Quill.) The remainder of the books that I read were purchases from my book haul (in August) to complete series I was in the middle of. Not ideally what I was aiming for, but still it’s bringing the TBR down, and I’m able to finally finish franchises that have been waiting for quite a while.

In the past, I went through a phase of buying the first book in a series to see if I liked it, and should know my OCD won’t let me abandon a franchise part way unless it’s really, REALLY bad. So now I’m simply buying completed trilogies and the like.

The end of September brought my TBR count down to 350. 

The Do-Over, Smoke and Iron (#4 The Great Library),My Love Mix-up Volume 2-5, Colony (#2 Final Days), Return to the Center of the Earth (#2 Center of the Earth), Escape From the Center of the Earth (#3 Center of the Earth), The Bewitching Hour, This Wonderful Season With You, and More Than We Can Tell (#2 Letters to the Lost).

I thought I would have read more since I was laid up with my back, but it turned out my new glasses prescription wasn’t correct, and I was tried a lot of the time with pain killers, but October wasn’t too bad of a month. The number of books is inflated a little due to the inclusion of some graphic novels. But I completed 13 novels for October.

Only managed to finish off one series; but furthered 4 franchises. I did start 1 new franchise, being More Than We Can Tell because I thought it was a standalone, but discovered at the end it was the second book in a duology – so now I have to pick up Letters to the Lost to finish it off. And only one e-book this month too – Colony and I will finish that sci-fi trilogy off in November.

I can only count one book for the #BeatTheBacklist challenge (‘Smoke and Iron’) all the other novels were recent purchases. This trend will more than likely continue for the rest of the year as there is only 10 books from my TBR shelf I have pulled to finish off 2024, the rest are new purchases to complete series, or a new release I couldn’t resist adding to the pile.

Sadly I also did not pick up a Non-Fiction title over these two months.

Final TBR count at the end of October stands at 337. Fingers crossed I can get below 300 by the end of 2024!

Do you buy completed series, or the first book to test the waters before committing to a new franchise?

How are your reading goals going? Let me know in the comments section.

WRITING

I managed a modest word count on the start of a science fiction episodic project this month. I was hoping to accomplish a lot more, but as I mentioned at the start of this post, my work glasses aren’t up to the task as they once were. (I have a different pair of glasses for reading.) So, after 15-20 minutes I was leaning forward to off-set the fuzzy edges of the letters… not the best ergonomic-wise. I abandoned my writing time more often than not until I managed to book an appointment with the Optometrist. Turns out I needed a new prescription. I delighted in the chance to get some new frames, and they should be ready for pick up in the last few days of September.

October turned out to be worse for my writing – despite having more time on my hands. My laptop is super old and the monitor is only propped up with a box on my desk, if I try to move it, the screen with dangle by a wire. (Don’t worry I’m getting a new laptop for Christmas – or before.) So it means, I can only use my laotop at the study desk… and because of the sciatica and bursitis that wasn’t going to happen. I did start hand writing a little, and even emailed myself scenes on my phone or tablet, but with my priority being work commitments, the free time I had available, and energy enough to write was few and far between. Constant pain meant a slower pace. Oh, I’m still waiting for my new glasses after picking them up at the beginning of the month and discovering they weren’t actually improving my vision. Hoping I get a call in the next few days so I can see again!

My technical writing – the day job bringing in my bread and butter (say that 10 times real fast) slowed for September. It might be why I had more spare time to read as well. I still haven’t gotten a start date for the laboratory work I managed to land. The pitch deck and script for a project submitted in August, despite a few discussions last month, has gone radio silent. A lot of the time in this industry is sitting and waiting. I don’t think the Union talks in the U.S.A are affecting my current workload, but nonetheless it has slowed. It’s giving me a bit of time to look into new and exciting projects!

News on this front was the same in October as well. I’ve been catching up with other professionals in the industry recently and they have all reported an industry slow-down of late. It’s a little concerning, it might mean I have to lean more into the technical writing side with the copywriting and screenwriting projects drying up a bit. Frankly with my back playing up, I was thankful I didn’t have a heavy workload. I also found out about the hold up with the laboratory work from September – the end of semester exams here in Australia were coming up and Professors and Technical Aids were assembling the material for the tests. I’ve been given a green light in the start of November.

WATCHING

There wasn’t a lot that enticed me to watch in September, but I got to escape for a few hours a week:

Shows: ‘Emily in Paris’ (Season 3), ‘The Mallorca Files’ (Season 3), and the start of ‘Agatha All Along’

I loved ‘The Mallorca Files’ and the start of ‘Agatha All Along,’ but ‘Emily in Paris’ felt like it was all over the place – it’s starting to have a bit of an identity crisis. I still enjoy the show, if not more for the overseas locations and culture represented.

Movie: ‘Wynonna Earp : Vengeance.’

Only one film this month, a nostalgic viewing because I enjoyed the television series so much. It was great to re-visit all the characters and wrap-up some of the storylines.

So all-in-all a teeny tiny viewing month for September.

Shows: ‘Sweetpea,’ ‘Agatha All Along,’ ‘Heartstopper’ (Season 3), ‘Teacup,’ ‘Time Bandits,’ ‘From’ (Season 3), ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ ‘9-1-1’ and ‘9-1-1 Lone Star,’ ‘Chicago Fire, Med and PD, ‘High Potential.’

I think most of October was populated with comfort watching and a lot of new seasons kicked off. Sadly no Australian-made television… I have to get on top of that.

Movies: ‘Alien: Romulus,’ ‘Never Let Go,’ ‘Bad Genius,’ ‘Amber Alert,’ ‘Deadpool and Wolverine,’ ‘Girl Haunts Boy,’ ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,’ and ‘Wolfs.’

I had a love of viewing fun in October – I thought I’d get into the horror being Halloween month, but the thought of twitching at a jumpscare with a crook back did not sound like a good idea. My favourites were the latest Alien flick, and Deadpool’s latest – so Disney for the win!

BLOGGING

I’ve been actively trying to blog hop and discover new content for September. Share the love. Though it’s getting more difficult to find the kind of content I enjoy. Lately I’m finding I’m connecting more with author blogs – less about reviewing and more about the experience of writing, editing, publishing and marketing. Maybe because of my mammoth TBR and wanting to spend more time writing my own projects.

I was absent from blogging or blog hopping pretty much for all of October. I spent very little time at the computer. Welp, the only way from here is up!

LIFE STUFF – FITNESS & SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

September has seen my health improve and I’ve been getting in a lot of great workouts – and even being able to get out and about now that the pollen count has decreased significantly. It feels like I’ve woken up from a really long sleep – or coming out of quarantine. Nothing really of note to mention, just regular life stuff. (Yawn.)

All that positivity and fire left for October being stuck in bed or on the recliner… but by the end of the month I’m getting enthusiastic again. I had to pass on a few family gatherings which was really disappointing. But I’m facing the oncoming Holiday period with zeal and good cheer! 

© Casey Carlisle 2024. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Casey Carlisle with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Book Review – ‘Admiral’ (#1 Admiral) by Sean Danker

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Secrets, a ghost spaceship, and you’re running out of air… time to fight for your life.

Genre: Science Fiction

No. of pages: 309

“I was on a dead ship on an unknown planet with three trainees freshly graduated into the Imperial Service. I tried to look on the bright side.”

He is the last to wake. The label on his sleeper pad identifies him as an admiral of the Evagardian Empire—a surprise as much to him as to the three recent recruits now under his command. He wears no uniform, and he is ignorant of military protocol, but the ship’s records confirm he is their superior officer.

Whether he is an Evagardian admiral or a spy will be of little consequence if the crew members all end up dead. They are marooned on a strange world, their ship’s systems are failing one by one—and they are not alone.

‘Admiral’ is like a locked door mystery set on an abandoned spaceship the Julian, on an alien planet, with unknown threats at every turn. A real fight for survival; but as the Admiral wakes, his three trainee companions Salmagard, Nils, and Deilani suspect him of being a spy. Can this disparate group trust each other enough to get back to civilization alive, or will they kill each other in the attempt to stay alive?

This was right up my alley: I love science fiction, characters attempting to overcome insurmountable odds, and tension between our small group (that isn’t caused through stupidity from any of the cast.) We jump into themes of trust and loyalty from the start, and it continues right to the end of the novel as the groups loyalties are tested again and again.

The story is told from the Admiral’s perspective – and we never get to find out his real name – and it’s clear he’s an unreliable narrator as even when questioned directly worms his way out of giving a straight answers. This is a man with secrets. So, ‘Admiral’ presents many mysteries that need to be answered: what is the Admiral’s real identity, how did they end up on a crashed spaceship with no crew present, and how were they going to get back home (without turning on each other?)

We get distinct personalities from our cast too, Nils is mostly co-operative, he just wants to get the heck out of there and is happy to believe the credentials that have been presented regarding the Admiral. Deilani is suspicious and intelligent, she analyses facts and makes her ow decisions and has strong loyalties to the Evagardian Empire. Salmagard lies somewhere in-between and seems more instinctual. She judges people on their actions… and maybe is a little attracted to the Admiral. These personalities build a melting-pot microcosm to fuel tension on top of life threatening situations the gang have to navigate their way out of.

I love the action in ‘Admiral,’ but there are some hilarious one-liners that got me laughing out loud. Sean Danker can write great dialogue, keep up the pace and tension with expert ease while not lagging on the world building. This was the perfect storm of a book for me. I devoured it in nearly one-sitting and became an instant fan.

We get some great reveals at the end, rather than a plot twist, that leaves the reader wondering ‘so what’s next?’ There is another seven sequels (to date) that pretty much follow real time events and build each of the characters backstories and futures. I was quick to jump into ‘Almayer Station’ not long after completing ‘Admiral.’

If you want a military science fiction story with political intrigue, danger around every corner in an unfamiliar environment that really tests the protagonists, I can’t recommend ‘Admiral’ enough. I was gripped from start to finish.

Overall feeling: Blockbuster!

© Casey Carlisle 2024. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Casey Carlisle with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Book Review – ‘All That’s Left in the World’ (#1 All That’s Left in the World) by Erik J. Brown

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Two queer teens go on a road trip to find a safe place in a dystopian world.

Genre: Y/A, Dystopia, Romance, LGTBQIA+

No. of pages: 354

When the Superflu wipes out most of the population, Jamie finds himself completely alone in a cabin in the woods – until an injured stranger crosses his path.

Life is dangerous now and, armed with a gun, Jamie goes to pull the trigger. But there’s something about Andrew … something that stops Jamie in his tracks. Jamie takes him in, and as Andrew heals and they eventually step out into the strange new world, their relationship starts to feel like more than just friendship …

But trouble isn’t far behind. As the boys make a perilous journey south, they’ll come face to face with a world torn apart and society in ruins. And who, or what, will they find waiting for them at the end of it all?

‘All That’s Left in this World’ is a dual point of view novel told from queer love interests, Jamie and Andrew who, after injury, need to find a safe place to land and escape threats in a lawless landscape after most of the population has been wiped out from a virus.

This was an epic tale of survival in a post-pandemic world. For a story so full of action, this is actually a slow burn. It takes a while for the protagonists to get to their goal, to develop their relationship… there was this coziness to the story that kept me coming back for more.

I think the coziness comes from the fact that our protagonists are two nice ‘soft boys’ in a world where most of the people they come across are not. Their morals, and world view are constantly tested. ‘All That’s Left in the World’ does not shy away from the difficult bits, grief, murder, survival, death, bodies… but it’s told with a writing style that helps to smooth out the rough edges without removing a haunting reality. I think there is an expert line that Erik J. Brown manages to tread in crafting the narrative.

Told in alternating perspectives with each chapter between Andrew and Jamie. Andrew, a gay teen who is the more adventurous, more combative of the pair – but who has a tendency to blunder through things more often than not, and opens the story by arriving at Jamie’s house after stepping in a bear trap and in need of help. Jamie in comparison is the quiet, calculated, and caring soul who helps Andrew recover; and there is something silently working away in the background that see this pair just click. It was like an instant bonded pair – only they are the last to realise.

My favourite part of the novel was their growing relationship. It was slow, realistic, and you could get a real sense of the depth these boys would go to support, and even save, one another. I wasn’t too sold on the plot though. It was fun to follow them on this post-apocalyptic road trip, but the premise felt a little flimsy, and well, impulsive. I feel like I wanted the pair to be grounded in the reality a bit more. As much as I loved the tone and writing style, I think that it also skipped, or glossed over other aspects of living in this dystopian world. But that’s because at the heart of ‘All That’s Left in the World’ it’s a love story first, and a survival story second.

There was some great social commentary slipped into the narrative – in a world with no rules, we glimpse communities that demonstrate some political beliefs, like white supremacism. That was scary in and of itself. As too were the racketeering some of the characters were doing. Andrew and Jamie seemed to meander through it all, with no real power, searching for somewhere safe to land.

I feel ‘All That’s Left in the World’ is easily predictable, I mean it’s all spelt out in the tag line “Find Shelter. Find Safety. Find Each Other.” So I didn’t really get any surprises as far as the plot goes. What did surprise me was how confronting parts were: the violence, the injuries the two have to deal with, the constant need for vigilance and caution, you really get a sense of how bad the world has gotten.

I don’t feel like the story was completely resolved. The concept or idea is formed to end all the plot points, but the reader does not get to see it come to fruition; so that bummed me out a little. The ending felt like it just trailed off… So you can imagine my glee when I discovered there is a sequel ‘The Only Light Left Burning!’

Overall this was a great book to get lost in, it felt like it took a minute to get its legs, but I quickly became invested in Andrew and Jamie and was eager to unravel the journey with them. A strong recommendation from me. I’ll definitely be picking up another release from Erik J. Brown, I know he has two other books on his roster at this moment: the sequel, ‘The Only Light Left Burning’ and a standalone ‘Lose You To Find Me,’ which I intend to check out in the very near future.

Overall feeling: Endearing!

© Casey Carlisle 2024. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Casey Carlisle with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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Another series I’ve been sleeping on. I know there’s another two books to complete the quartet, so I’ve got this moved to the top of the reading pile because my best friend keeps hounding me to read it.

What’s the one series your friends are always hounding you to read?

Book Review – ‘The Lost Book of White’ (#2 The Eldest Curses) by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu

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Magic, family, and a road trip to Shanghai to help out old friends.

Genre: YA, Urban Fantasy, LGBT+

No. of pages: 365

Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood are settling into domestic life with their son Max when the warlocks Ragnor Fell and Shinyun Jung break into their loft and steal a powerful spell book. Realizing that Ragnor and Shinyun are being controlled by a more sinister force, Magnus and Alec set out to stop them and recover the book before they can cause any more harm. With the help of Clary Fairchild, Jace Herondale, Isabelle Lightwood, and Simon Lovelace (who is fresh from the Shadowhunter Academy), they track the warlocks to Shanghai.

But nothing is as it seems. Ragnor and Shinyun are working at the behest of a Greater Demon. Their goal is to open a Portal from the demon realms to Earth, flooding the city of Shanghai with dangerous demons. When a violent encounter causes Magnus’s magic to grow increasingly unstable, Alec and Magnus rally their friends to strike at the heart of the demon’s power. But what they find there is far stranger and more nefarious than they ever could have expected…

A fantastic to read about the OG group of Shadowhunters that kicked off my love for this franchise/universe. But I have to say, ‘The Lost Book of the White’ did not have the same zing as the other Cassandra Clare novels I’ve read. This felt a bit… well, waffly. There was a fair bit of ‘telling’ and the usual snarky banter, funny and odd happenings, and Magnus’ over-the-top flare seemed to be lacking. The pace was even much slower than I’m used to with this franchise. I found myself putting ‘The Lost Book of the White’ down repeatedly due to disinterest. The familiarity of the characters, and nostalgia kept me coming back. It took a while for the story to get its legs, and I loved the last quarter of the novel. The imagination of realms and weaving of culture into the narrative was a stroke of genius.

It was lovely to see Alec, Magnus, and (adopted son) Max functioning as a little family and those bonds strong in the face of the adversity. I appreciated how the Clave/Shadowhunter organisation as a whole basically needs an overhaul as there is prejudice and dissent in the ranks. Another aspect I’m keen to see unfold in future novels.

I feel like we missed a huge opportunity to explore more of the warlock mythology/origins

Usually we get a lot of interpersonal dramas that really fuel the story in this universe, but ‘The Lost Book of the White’ felt more like a Dungeons and Dragons quest with objects and monsters. It was just the shift in tone of the narrative that had the characters and their relationships with each other feel a little off. I’m wondering how much of this Wesley Chu wrote, and how much Cassandra Clare… The plot points were all great in the Shadowhunter universe and I’m excited to see where it all leads, but the relationships felt lacklustre. I think this will be my lowest rated book in the franchise to date.

This is definitely one for the fans. I can’t say I don’t recommend it because there’s relevant information for the developing story of the universe as a whole. It was fun having the gang all back together again and see them suiting up for future roles, developing as characters. We get a lovely twist at the end which I’m excited to see where it will go in the next trilogy – The Dark Artifices.

‘The Lost Book of the White’ was pretty predictable, but the journey there was chaotic good – which kind of sums up Magnus to a tee. It feels like we are getting set up for a whole new slew of baddies which is really exciting. This was an okay read for me.

‘The Black Volume of the Dead’ has been announced, a volume 3 in The Eldest Curses, to take place during the time of The Wicked Powers trilogy, but no other updates besides that announcement. But I will be picking it up, so am keeping my eyes peeled in all the regular spots for a release date…

Overall feeling: ‘twas good

© Casey Carlisle 2024. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Casey Carlisle with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.