Author Archives: Bethlylou

Review: Starter Villain by John Scalzi

Posted on by
1

This book was so funny. I listened to the audible ebook narrated by Wil Wheaton and it’s just perfection. Charlie has had a string of bad luck. He was laid off from his journalist job and now working as a substitute teacher. He’s divorced and his father just recently died. He is living in his families home that his siblings want to sell. Things are not great. Then his estranged Uncle died and he’s thrown in the world of villains. He founds out that his Uncle may have had a legit business of owner parking lots but his real business was being a villain and messing up the plans of other villains. Charlie is now a head of his Uncle’s business and with cat spies and talking dolphins. He’s a bit over his head. Even more so when a group of other villains want him to join their group or he’ll lose everything.

This is book is ridiculous in all the best ways. His cats Hera and Persephone are spies that were sent to watch him and can communicate with specialize keyboards. The dolphins that guard his Uncle’s volcano island lair want to unionize. Charlie is funny and grounded. He takes everything with an awe and WTF reaction that is appropriate in situations like this. While everyone underestimates him, he outwits all of them with his knowledge and journalistic experience to dismantle his rivals in one fell swoop. To say this book was enjoyable that I was so sad when it was over and there isn’t a sequel. I forgot what it’s like to read a standalone book. Go read the book or listen to the Audible. You will not be disappointed.

Review: Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare

Posted on by
Reply

I’ll admit I was curious of what Cassandra Clare could do outside her Shadowhunter series. Sword Catcher is a good book. It actually is better than her last couple of Shadowhunter books. I think it was good for her to explore a different kind of world. This is a high fantasy that is set in the kingdom of Castellane and is narrated by Kel, the Sword Catcher or the body to the Prince and Lin, a physician outcast. An outcast because not only she a woman in a man’s field but she’s an Ashkar, who can’t live in the city but only in the Sault. Kel was an orphan who looks enough like the Prince that with a talisman he can look just like the Prince and stand for him if needs to. Kel was raised in the Palace, among the courtiers and wealthy but will never be one himself. Both Kel and Lin are outsiders to this world but they collide when he is stabbed and left for dead. Now they are caught up in the political intrigue that neither knows what to do with it. 

Now, it wasn’t the best book I’ve read but it was definitely entertaining. I really liked both of Kel and Lin’s voices as they navigated a world that needs them but doesn’t necessarily want them. This was a good set up novel. I am not sure how many books are in the series but it was a good introduction to the world. People and the upcoming trouble to come. It still leaves a lot to explore, like what is the madness the king suffers from? Is Lin really the returned Goddess to bring magic back to world? All and all a good start.

What I’m Reading Now: Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare

Posted on by
Reply

New Year New Books. With that in mind I have set my Goodreads reading challenge to 20 books. I read 35 last year but I do most of my reading on my commute to work but since I work more from home lately I don’t think I’ll be doing as much reading this year. I wasn’t sure if I was going to read this one from Cassandra Clare but it was on sale. It’s the first in a new series not based in the Shadowhunter world so I guess I’ll give it a go.

Quick Review: The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Posted on by
Reply

I thought at the end of The Final Gambit that this series wrapped up nicely. I didn’t know what else needed to be said. True, Avery’s journey was wrapped up nicely. She made it a year, inherited the Hawthorne fortune and figured out what she was going to do with that vast wealth. However, Grayson and Jameson’s stories has some work to do. True their relationship with each other have improved. They both still have some major daddy and granddaddy issues to work out. Both of them get intertwined with their father’s families. Jameson’s father shows up out of the blue and wants him to infiltrate a secret club to play a game to reclaim his ancestor’s home. Grayson, who’s father kidnapped Avery and died in the last book has been keeping tabs on his half sisters. He jumps into action when his sister Gigi gets arrested. At first, I wasn’t really all that interested in Grayson and Jameson’s troubles and wondered why that it was necessary but as it went along I started to go with it. Grayson’s sisters Gigi and Savannah are a welcome addition to the story and it’s good to see Grayson have a family that he always wanted whether he admits it or not. Jameson, to be honest, my least favorite of the Hawthorne’s and was a bit bummed that he ended up in Avery but there were moments, I really felt for him. The emotional abuse inflicted on all his brothers by their grandfather is tragic. I do think that Jameson ended in a better place at the end then Grayson did but guess what there is going to be more books. The journey of the Hawthorne brothers continue as Avery is creating a new game for anyone can play and change their fortunes. I do hope that Xander plays more of role in the next book.

Beth Favorite’s Books of 2023!

Posted on by
Reply

It’s that time of the year! Where we look back at all of the books we read this year and pick our favorites. These are my favorite books of 2023. They are in no particular order but in order that I read them.

  1. The Dangerous Damsels series by India Holton – The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels, The League of Gentlewoman Witches and The Secret Service of Tea and Treason were such a fun trilogy of books I loved all the prim and proper pirates and witches and their flying houses. It has the perfect mix of romance, hijinks and adventure.
  2. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty – Keeping with the pirate theme. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi is such a fun story of piracy, adventure and magic. Unlike most books where the protagonist is young and just starting out, Amina is in her 40’s and well established. She has to come out of retirement for this adventure and not only have battle the present but the past. So much fun.
  3. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros – This was the book of the year. I don’t remember the last time that people were excited about the release of a book. The sequel, Iron Flame got the full Midnight release party treatment. Violet has a chronic illness that makes her a poor candidate to be a dragon rider but she’s forced to join by her mom. In a mixture of Hunger Games and Harry Potter. Violet will become a rider if only she can survive, which in this school is not a given. Did I mention there are dragons?
  4. Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade – Spoiler Alert and it’s sequel All the Feels are delightful. This is such a nerd romance. It’s mixture of romance, fandoms and fan fics is irresistible. Who doesn’t dream of meeting a handsome actor and falling in love? Marcus and April are the perfect couple. It’s also so great to have a plus size romantic lead. To often we are forgotten about so it’s great to finally get the guy at the end.
  5. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood – This was another TikTok find. I am a sucker for enemies to lover trope and I guess also the relationship of convenience trope. It was was such a fun read and I was invested from the beginning. I can’t wait to read more from Ali Hazelwood.

Those were mine. I want to hear what books you loved this year! Maybe they will be mine in 2024!

Quick Review: Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

Posted on by
Reply

Do not get me wrong. I liked this book but it was a little be a let down from the Fourth Wing. It just didn’t have to same punch as the first book in the series. I couldn’t put the Fourth Wing down but Iron Flame I felt at times dragged on. I felt like it spent too much time at Basigiath and then also too much at Riorson House training. They spent so much time preparing for the battles that by the time we get the battles they are over too soon. That being said. I still am very much enjoying the dynamic between Violet, Tairn and Andarna. Andarna is really the superstar of this book. Who doesn’t love a sassy teenage dragon?! I kinda felt that Violet and Xaden’s relationship took a couple of steps back. What I loved about their relationship in the first book is how much faith and support Xaden gave Violet. Xaden in the first half book, spent hovering and being overprotective. They eventually worked it out but the obsessiveness they both have for each other is borderline creepy. My struggles with this book withstanding, it still is an excellent series and I’m very much invested in it and will be waiting for the next book to come out.