So, seriously, my only complaint is that I have to wait for book three for HOW LONG?? I need to know how this is all going to go! Novik throws you right back into the action, no deep breaths, no nice long summer break for the students to relax and build up their strength. El's growth is exponential in The Last Graduate. She's still the same snarky, sarcastic girl you know and love, but she's letting that tough exterior shell crack enough to let in her new friends and maybe boyfriend. I really like the additional background offered for the Enclaves and how the home politics rules over nearly every aspect of students' school experience. All the action and relationships are deeper in this sequel, at one point it's practically frantic. 

I did get a little bogged down about halfway through, I felt like there was maybe too much detail and exposition, but the further I got into the plot the more it all tied together. I needed all those details to truly appreciate the effort the seniors had to put forth and what ultimately was at stake.  I thoroughly enjoyed this continuation and look forward to being able to get my greedy hands on book three!

 

Oh, this was fun! What can you add to the college experience to make it more exciting? Seven psychopaths with full ride scholarships participating in a psychology study. They don't know who is in the program, but it becomes important to find out after two of them end up dead. I really enjoyed the dynamics between Chloe, Charles and Andre.  The varying ways of dealing with their diagnoses, the consequences not fully trusting each other (after all, who would trust a psychopath?). There were enough red herrings for me to not have guessed the ending, but it didn't come completely out of left field, which is always frustrating.  The plot clipped along nicely, I wasn't bored and may have stayed up passed my bedtime a night or two! I definitely recommend this as a great summer read.

The Storm of Echoes

 

I'm not sure what I was expecting when I started to read the final book in this series. I WANTED everything tied up in a nice bow, I WANTED to know exactly how every character I loved in the first 2 books ended up, I WANTED to love this book. What did I get? Not what I wanted, but sometimes that's ok! The majority of this book was Ophelia trying to figure out what the heck is going on, which makes me feel better since I wasn't sure what the heck was going on, either. Who exactly was destroying the arks and why? What turned God into God? Were Ophelia and Thorn going to get their happily ever after?? There were so many complexities in the story line, so many questions to be answered, I understand that the author had to let some things go.  But really, I wanted more about Ophelia's not so merry band of friends from the previous books.  

I also struggled with the vast amount of detail and side adventures that turned out to be completely not needed.  A good pruning would have made the story easier to follow.  I'm sad the series is finished, I feel like there could have been two books instead of this one cramming everything together.  Not perfect, but still a completely original fascinating concept and characters that I cared about.   

 

I've been reading this series from the very beginning, so my opinions are a blend of what I think about this particular book and how I feel it fits into the overall Pendergast world. I've missed the partnership between Pendergast and D'Agosta, his old friend from New York.  Pendergast needs someone from the "normal" world to play off of and to keep him from going too far off the deep end. Agent Coldmoon is a good substitute, I think his character adds to the dynamics of the story. I'm enjoying the discreet mysteries, there were so many books tied to the arc of Pendergast's past, his wife, that I missed the smaller cases where there was resolution. That being said, this mystery is a doozy! Mild spoilers here... having the antagonist be a vampire would have been less outlandish than what was really going on!

I was truly surprised and confounded by this mystery. Preston and Child really went out there this time. It's impossible to talk about what truly happened to the bloodless bodies without ruining it, but summer in the South has a whole new meaning! I'm going to be honest about what eventually happens to Constance, she has never been a character I liked or enjoyed having in the books. If she never comes back, I'd be just fine.  This was a great addition the world of weird, I'm so happy these books keep coming out year after year!

 

Something is seriously wrong with the world, but who's going to believe a part time day trader, game obsessed man with a penchant for seeing patterns in the world? Me, that's who. The main character, known simply as K, knows he's an unreliable narrator. He isn't sure he can believe his memories or even if they are memories. He's been on the periphery of an underground game nearly his whole life, his obsession has caused mental and physical breakdowns. When K is approached by a man who he believes has won the game in the past, who tells him the game is broken and the world is coming to an end, what is he supposed to do?

I really enjoyed the teasing out of clues and the "trust no one" vibe of the story. You may think you've already done the follow the clues, save the world game thing, but this is truly a new spin. I haven't listened to the pod cast the book is based on, so don't think you have to either to enjoy the story. Engrossing and fun, it was the perfect kick off to the summer read!

Oh, I loved this right off the mark.  It starts off strong, introducing serial killer Edmund Reese who inexplicable disappears from the electric chair as he's being executed.  Where did he go?  Was it real or was it made up to make the boogey man even scarier? What does this have to do with the family we are introduced to next?  There are so many threads tying everything together, when it all comes together it's so satisfying.

You KNOW the big bad is going to come, you just don't know who it going to happen to or when.  The style of Wendig's writing, jumping abruptly from character to character, jumping from past to present, the short chapters, it all keeps you unsettled and adds to the atmosphere.  I read this book in small bursts, I had to put it down fairly often to get some distance from it. I definitely thought about it while I wasn't reading it.  This book reminds me of the old school creepy horror novels I used to read, in the best way!  If you want something to keep you up at night, either because you are reading it or thinking about it, this is it.  

 

So, my first impression of this novel turned out to be wrong, I admit it.  I started out irritated with how the author was jamming the ambiance down my throat.  I lost count of how many times the words "ancient" and "ancestors" were used in the first few chapters.  I get it.  The house is old and has been in the family forever.  Once I got past that, the story began to pull me in.  I am a sucker for stories that take place on the Great Lakes, especially Lake Superior.  Superior is constantly bitter cold and killer storms actually happen, it's a great setting for creepy and strange.  

Once the plot began to fully form, I ripped through this book.  There was just enough of the supernatural to keep it spooky and the family dynamics added another spicy layer.  A wacky Mom, grumpy cousins, caretakers who flit in and out being all cryptic... there's something for everyone!  When the weird becomes dangerous, it's up to the twins, Anni and her brother to figure out what is really going on before someone ends up dead.  I always know a book has "gotten me" when I think about it in my non-reading times.  This one definitely showed up in my thoughts when I was supposed to be, I don't know, folding laundry or helping with math.  Give it a shot!

The Maid

 

I really wanted to get my hands on this book, and it did not disappoint!  I would classify this as a cozy mystery with a twist.  The twist is the main character/narrator.  What a refreshingly different voice.  Molly the maid knows she's different than everyone else.  She has difficulties reading social cues and has always relied on her grandmother to help interpret facial expressions and body language.  After her grandmother passes away, Molly soldiers on and attempts to keep her life as "normal" as possible.  The bright spot in her life is her job at the Regency Grand Hotel where she is capable of achieving perfection in at least one aspect of her life.  

As a maid in the hotel, she is invisible to almost everyone.  The biggest exception to this is a repeat guest, Mrs. Black.  This friendship is the highlight of Molly's life, but inevitably leads her into a sticky spot.  Reading Molly's interpretation of events and intentions, while understanding what it truly happening, was engrossing and fascinating.  There are plenty of twists and turns, some romance and redemption, and a very satisfying conclusion.  No spoilers here, but wow!  I did not see that coming!  Molly's growth and her path to self reliance is satisfying.  I was rooting for her the whole time.  I will recommend this to all my reader friends!

The Hollywood Spy

 

At this point, I feel like Maggie is an old friend of mine!  You know that question of what literary character you would most like to have dinner with?  I think Maggie would be an amazing choice!  She's smart, she's led an adventurous life, she's imperfect and complicated.  It would be an interesting dinner for sure!  This time around, Maggie is back in California meeting up with an old flame.  It's awkward, what with her investigating the murder of the old flame's fiancée, but things are never as they seem in a Maggie Hope mystery.  

The plot revolves around a difficult subject.  Racism was rampant during at that time, adding in the stresses of war and politics.  The more things change, the more they stay the same.  I thought the subject was handled well, it wasn't gratuitous and helped to move the plot.  This series continues to be one of my favorites, I don't get bored and it certainly isn't repetitive!  Another home run!

 

I've read books in this style before, using letters, e-mails, texts and other communications.  I find that although it's interesting, it can be disjointed and distracting.  I found it difficult to get a good feel for the characters so there wasn't as much connection as I'd have liked.  The concept is original and appealing, I really liked the build up and tension, but overall it was a bit of a slog for me.

Project Hail Mary

 

Oooh, baby was I excited to get my hands on this book!  Project Hail Mary goes back to the same feel as The Martian but with a whole new spin.  What should be a rather depressing premise (the end of the world as we know it) becomes an exciting, fascinating study of what it means to be a reluctant hero.  The main character isn't trying to survive the catastrophe.  He knows he's on a one way trip and won't ever make it back home.  What he doesn't expect is to find a whole new purpose within his original mandate.  

The scientific jargon and explanations are still over my head, as with the Martian, but somehow it works to add to the authenticity and general atmosphere of desperation and inspiration.  I can honestly say this is my favorite book so far this year and really kept my attention.  I cared about the characters.  I was invested in the plot and couldn't wait to read more about the "unexpected friend."  When will the movie come out, because this will be another home run!  Loved it!