Fear and Fiction

This month has been exciting. I have actually increased my book count to 12 this month. I am hoping to read even more next month! I found that all the books I read dealt with the concept of fear, whether it was being scared of a person, place, or thing, or even the unknown. I live with that constantly with my disability. I have no idea how fast or how much it will progress or what state it would leave me in. Doctors don’t know either because the disease varies for each person. The unknown part of it keeps me up at night sometimes, but I know that I can’t let the fear consume me. When I get scared, I look for distractions, which the wonderful books below have provided me this month. 

Book Lovers by Emily Henry: 5 Stars

This book was my absolute favorite this month. After reading one of her clients’ books, Nora fears that a lot of people view her as cold, heartless, and don’t care about others. We watch through the novel as Nora battles this fear inside herself and discovers that what people thought of her didn’t matter and that she doesn’t have to pursue the small town romance trope in order to find her perfect match. I love that the book encourages people to follow their hearts instead of what a trope dictates is right. 

The Gate of the Feral Gods by Matt Dinniman: 4.5 Stars

The Dungeon Crawler Carl series has been a joy for me. I don’t think this book quite tops off the last three books, but I believe it did its purpose before starting the next arc: showing character growth. Carl is becoming more unhinged and reckless in his thinking and actions, which causes Princess Donut to worry about him. She cares for him deeply and doesn’t want to see him get hurt. It is hard to watch a person you care about begin to change because of bad circumstances, especially if you know there is nothing to do about it. 

Whistler by Ann Patchett: 4.5 Stars

I am always wary about reading a book that has been hyped up for months. However, Whistler put me at ease while reading. Two things stood out to me about this story. One is that kids internalized things differently than adults do. Daphne had thought it was her fault that her mother divorced Eddie and led her to the decision not to have kids because she didn’t want them to suffer the grief she suffered as a child about losing a loved one. However, Daphne finds out decades later from her mom that her divorce had nothing to do with her and that it was an issue between her and Eddie. It was interesting to see how Daphne was able to uncork that grief that she had bottled up once she realized that she wasn’t the cause of Eddie’s disappearance. 

I also liked that the book illustrates how much of a difference a person can make on others in a short period of time. Daphne and her sister were with Eddie for less than two years, but they remembered him decades later because he represented the qualities of what a father should be since they didn’t have that with their biological father or current stepdad. 

Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa: 4 Stars

I found myself relating to Shaka a lot (missing out on life in the outside world, holding books, intimacy in a relationship, mucus choking you at random, etc). Having a disability and/or chronic illness can be a lonely and isolating experience, especially in Shaka’s case since she doesn’t have any friends or family left to check on her. 

I was scared for Shaka when she found herself in a fearful situation with her attendant. The tense and inappropriate situation shows fear for both people because while the attendant has physical power over Shaka, she has money and influence over the attendant. It was uncomfortable seeing how the tense and uncomfortable dynamic between them comes to a conclusion. 

Detour by Rob Hart and Jeff Rake: 3.5 Stars

I felt that the book was more of a setup for the sequel that comes out next year. However, I did like the premise of astronauts returning from space to a world they don’t recognize. It is a scary experience because it not only makes you question reality, but makes you wonder whom you can turn to when your life is unsettled. 

The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix: 3.5 Stars

I couldn’t connect to the character Lynnette that much. However, I feel that her actions in the book teach a valuable lesson. Lynnette is so consumed with fear and paranoia that she lets it guide every waking moment of her life. However, she slowly realizes that way of thinking is unattainable in the long run. Being constantly afraid and wary of others not only makes you lose your peace of mind but also isolates you from everybody who cares about you. 

DNF

There is No Antimemetics Division by qntm

I loved the premise: How do you stop an enemy who is not only invisible, but can erase your memory without you even realizing it?

However, it was very confusing and hard to follow. 

ARC Reads

I had the wonderful opportunity to review two books by NetGalley:

Ungodly Rich by Katharine McGee: 4.5 Stars

I read it last month, but didn’t review it until this month. I loved how it has the Greek gods as powerful and wealthy beings, but having the same struggles as humanity. In particular, they let their fear guide their actions. Aphrodite tries to foil Ares’ relationship with Julia because she fears being displaced as a goddess to make room for Julia’s ascension. Hera is afraid that her family will fall apart, especially if they figure out a murderous secret that she has been keeping. Ares is fearful that Julia won’t have anything to do with him after finding out he is one of the Greek gods. Ares, Hera, and Aphrodite living in fear leads to disastrous results for their loved ones and family that they didn’t see coming. 

Time Travel For Beginners by Jaclyn Moriarty: 4.0 Stars

In the novel, we see people time travel for a variety of reasons: fear of missing out, scared of losing a loved one, wanting to correct a mistake, etc. It is important to learn from the past, but staying fixated on the past prevents us from moving forward. 

I was given three books to review from Book Sirens: 

Science, Magic, and Mayhem by Caz Lewis: 4.5 Stars

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Usually, we see people transported from the modern world to one of magic. However, we see the opposite: a wizard is transported to modern suburbia where magic is uncommon. I felt deeply for Adelfried when he slowly realizes that getting back to his own world won’t be easy and is scared of what happened to his family. It is hard to adapt to a new lifestyle, especially when there is no one around who knows you or could relate to you. 

The Extraordinary Dreams of Cynthia Peabody by Lynne Marshall: 4.0 Stars

While I was disappointed that there wasn’t as much magic as the book description promised, I found the book to still be an enjoyable read. We watch Cynthia gradually fill with despair while watching her husband die and being fearful about what comes next for the rest of her life. I like that the book explores what happens after grief. Cynthia sought meditation to help her feel better and gradually started to participate in the outside world again. Cynthia’s courage and strength show that you are never too old for a second act and that there is a life to be had after the grieving process is over. 

The End as it Begins by Aengie Scevity

I liked the premise: a woman trying to learn alchemy to save her grandmother before she succumbs to Alzheimer’s disease. However, I had a hard time relating to the character. She was so consumed by what she was trying to accomplish that she ignored her surroundings and did not question the things that were happening around her. I wasn’t a fan of the character's single-mindedness and stopped reading. 

Reviews Coming Soon

Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett

Yesteryear by Caro Clair Burke

Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher

TBR list August 

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky

The Butcher's Masquerade by Matt Dinniman

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Lovers XXX by Allie Rowbottom

The History of Bees by Maja Lunde

We Burned So Bright by TJ Klune

The Chemistry Test by Georgina Frankie

The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer

Moss'd in Space by Rebecca Thorne

Obstetrix by Naomi Kritzer

The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki

Make Me Better by Sarah Gailey

Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel

Social Animals by Camille Perri

If Books Could Kill by Kate Eberle

Which books am I excited about reading next month? 

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros: 

I found the romance between the main characters lacking. However, the world-building and mysteries the world holds were top-notch and leave me wanting more.

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

I know that I have read the book before, but I don’t remember much about it. I do remember the movie version of the book. I plan on watching the movie and reading the book to see how they compare. 

The Butcher’s Masquerade by Matt Dinniman

As a big fan of the series, I can’t wait to see what adventures and mischief that Carl and Princess Donut get into. 

The Chemistry Test by Georgina Frankie

I am eager to read a romance novel where the protagonist has a disability. I am curious to see how that fact plays out when the character interacts with others. 

If Books Could Kill by Kate Eberle

I am realizing when it comes to romance novels that I tend to drift to those that have a twist, and this one is no different. Romance mixed with Thriller. Sign me up, please!

That’s it for this month. I had a good time reading everything and look forward to the books for next month. If you have a book that you want me to review, let me know in the comments!