connorjdaley's reviews
1159 reviews

Symbiote by Michael Nayak

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Thanks to the publisher for this one! This is an Antarctic contagion thriller that was actually written on the continent! That’s so sick. 

A team of scientists and engineers have begun to hunker down for the winter season on the ice of Antarctica. The author does a good job of letting the reader know right off the bat that these two groups don’t really get along, foreshadowing future tensions. He also does an incredible job of juggling quite a large cast of characters, which was something I initially worried about—but no need. 

When a trio of Chinese scientists make an incredible trek across the frozen wasteland, with quite a heinous scene on display in the back of the truck, you know this is not your normal winter on the ice. One of their team had been brutalized, completely unrecognizable, and no one knows why. And even worse, the station’s Dr. Wei now thinks that all those that stepped foot on the truck after may now be infected. 

What follows is a truly high octane, nightmare fueled battle from start to finish. Where the author brings us scientific reasoning just as often as shockingly brutal violence. This is a well paced, and intricately organized thriller, and the author does not let off the pedal until it’s over. It’s a unique take, where the infestation is fighting just as hard (if not harder) for its survival as the humans. 

The novel takes place during WWIII, where its near-future take on politics extrapolated to their almost inevitable conclusion, is almost more frightening than the violence itself. But it also gives the novel this truly grounded feeling, that even without stepping foot on that ice, you can know it’s actually happening. 

To touch on this quick, the back cover says Contagion meets The Walking Dead. While I have not seen Contagion, this really is nothing like TWD, and while there are some zombie-ish descriptions it’s more like a rage-fueled illness. It felt kind of like they grabbed the biggest IP they could think of and rolled with it, even though it’s not a perfect fit. Maybe to further itself from The Thing? Now, this really in no way marred my enjoyment of this novel, I was definitely looking for it though because they put it there. Maybe more I Am Legend, fresh-turned Z Nation zombies, Days Gone even. Coincidentally the use of worms and infestation did go hand in hand with Angela Sylvaine’s Frost Bite, which I read right after, or even The Troop by Nick Cutter and Infected by Scott Sigler. 

Stone & Sky by Z.S. Diamanti

adventurous hopeful medium-paced

4.0

I have a physical copy of this somewhere, so I know I was already interested, but as I’m mostly doing audio lately, and had the chance to listen to judge for the Indie Ink Awards, I couldn’t resist. 

I’m sure you’ve seen this around the internet. The author is just a real nice guy, talking about his clean and classic fantasy series, and showing off a nice green library. It’s probably on your TBR, and I’m here now to tell you you should read it. The narration by Peter Leppard is real solid too!

This has the classical feel he’s aiming for. It’s clean, with nothing gratuitous in its fighting or language. There’s emotion, understanding, and heart, with loving parents and displays of affection. It felt almost like the cast of The Lord of the Rings thrown into the earlier, lighter world of The Hobbit, but the orcs have been fleshed out and they’re not mindless, evil things. And while there is originality within for sure, I do warn you of the similarities. If that’s a feel you know and love, but are open to something new, this is exactly for you. 

Earlier in the story I struggled slightly with conflict. The author is telling you why things are important, why the characters must do something, but I just didn’t feel it yet. I struggled with being drawn into their tale past just the words spoken, and while I understand the choice with the author showing both sides of the conflict, it made it hard to feel pull to side with someone. Later, this gets entirely erased though, as the author does an incredible job of building a climax with action that doesn’t even need violence to feel in your face. He somehow balances stakes while keeping it clean for readers. I cared for the survival of the characters, and each of them is well balanced with their own skills and areas of expertise. This emotional connection ensured I was ready for anything, and hoping for everyone’s survival. 

The author’s take on elves had me thinking of Adam R. Bishop’s A Sea of Cinders, though of course with less violence. I really enjoyed this, and I’m still feeling somewhat concerned for anyone making me feel for an orc. 

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

informative

5.0

I received this as a gift, but ended up doing the audio for it due to time. 

Strangely enough, I’ve seen handfuls of people talk about this book with the warning “just don’t treat it like scripture!” I’ve had it said to me personally and I’ve seen it said online, and honestly, I’ve not actually seen anyone treat it like that. Could it be because of all of our well meaning warners, or is it just a strange attachment it’s gotten over time? 

Anyway, this is a strange little mix of memoir and writing instructional. For someone that claims they don’t really remember their childhood (or maybe he just meant that in relation to the other book he mentioned) this is a pretty detailed recounting. Doctor’s visits, school mishaps, and even somethings with quoted dialogue. I’m not sure I could recount as much! It’s interesting, well paced, and short enough to be entertaining as well as it is informative. I can’t say I’m the biggest fan of King, not by any stretch, but it is interesting to learn more about someone that so many consider a master. 

Now for the instructions, habits, and necessities of writing, there are some things in this that I took away as fantastic, and there were things I really disagreed with. On one hand, King’s opinions on adjectives, dialogue, and characters were things I will focus and think over in the future. He is another firmly set in the department of “said” being all that’s needed. And he states that your dialogue and characters actions will dictate how they’re speaking, not a simple word attached to said. Are your characters fighting? Readers will assume they may be getting loud. Are you characters hidden in a closet while a madman hunts them? Readers will assume they are whispering. That doesn’t mean that a well placed word can’t help, but to do it often is just fluff. 

King is a big reader, and he spent a lot of his time growing up writing. But he then says that he firmly believes that a bad writer cannot become good, and a good writer cannot become great. And it feels as if we’re just supposed to believe that by him writing and reading as a teen that he was just miraculously chosen as one of the greats (of the three options given, I figured this one is the one people would label him as, he certainly does not do so himself)? I do believe in natural talent, but with something so obviously learned like writing skills, I can’t believe someone like him could believe that these people are simply made, or somehow chosen? Furthermore, when he goes into his best “practices” (his daily routines) he mentions needing to continually write, always working on the craft, and to read voraciously. Both things I’d personally consider to be PRACTICE. It almost seems like what he said and what he does are at odds there… 

Regardless of if you agree with him or me, this is short on being a masterclass in writing technique, and frankly, he wasn’t trying to make it one. He remarks on how many of these exist, what he could possibly add, and who is he to even do so. And in that sense, as well as the personal tidbits, this remains an informative, enjoyable and grounded read. I am getting into more reads by the author, and I can see he’s a fantastic writer, so it was also nice to see that he doesn’t have a big head. And the narration by the author is always a nice touch. 

The Forsaken Planet by Bryan Wilson

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

5.0

I originally received this as an e-ARC read. On a personal note, I was reading this when I went through a really serious breakup. The author saw, and messaged me to say it was okay to be late or even drop the read altogether. It meant a lot and it just so happened that I did need to step away. I have since purchased the book (and all his others though!).

I stopped reading the book right around the same time I picked it back up this year. I was about 50% in, and it had been a slow burn. Other than the impetus that set up the story’s drive, not much action had happened. I was wondering how and when it would finally pick up. But then strangely, I stepped away, and I have never continually thought about something I’ve read so much as this for the entire year I was away. 

The novel starts with a group of friends on earth the night their hometown is attacked by a group of invaders. They fight back, in defense of each other, and something extraordinary happens. Earth finds out overnight that they are not alone, never were, and are now actively being recruited into a space army. Colton and his friends sign up, charged up and looking for revenge. They ship off and get filtered into groups that are immediately sent to an accelerated schooling program. This is where I left off, and yet I continued to find my thoughts coming back to Colton and his friends time and again. 

The author does a great job of showing healthy male relationships, with empathy and understanding, and emotional scenes. And while they may not all learn at the same pace, they embody different strengths and they learn to come together and support each other. This book is a real journey too, it’s basically A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back in one. They have answered the call, and they have to pass the test and training to have any hope of facing the enemy and making it out in one piece. The combat simulations they are put through were riveting and really showed the reader their growth. 

The background political intrigue was just another layer that shows the author’s ability. Well sprinkled in, and I really enjoyed the use of keeping our lead informed as our way of finding out too. Oh, and it lead into one hell of a twist and climax! I gotta get into book two soon!

The Art of the Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien by J.R.R. Tolkien

5.0

Had this on my radar for a while and managed to grab one on a nice sale. The hardcover size is typically for art books, and I thought the quality was good. 

Can I start by just saying 5*, 10 out of 10, 100% just based off the Tolkien art alone? To be such a visionary, such a creative mind, and to also be an artist is just so crazy to me.  Now a lot of these are pencil sketches, and some are even a stretch to call them that, but there are also full color drawings and designs that were eventually used in the books. Even saying that, it’s crazy just to see how his mind was at work creating and then editing these descriptions with actual drawing. 

The book itself is organized pretty well. The only mix up is there are several parts where the writing goes on long past mentioning the referenced art, sometimes multiple references. So you’re either flipping back and forth over and over or not sure what they’re talking about. With that being said, I’ve had the same problem with some other art books, and I can’t really think of a fix, unless you really segment the writing to input the art. 

A particular favorite of mine was seeing all the iterations of the cover artworks Tolkien worked on and submitted. It feels like a different world where the author has so much control in their own process. They must have really trusted him, and clearly it worked! It’s also nice to see that someone regarded as great by so many people also didn’t always know the answer. He worked and worked and sometimes it seems he even fumbled his way there, and Middle-earth fans are luckier for it. 

Dark Bloom by Molly Macabre

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Had the perfect opportunity line up where I had just started this as an audio arc and I had the chance to grab a category for the Indie Ink Awards as well. I was so excited to get into this one. 

You may not know this, but I am a huge zombie fan. Since Shaun of the Dead and Dawn of the Dead (Snyder), I’ve been a fan of both the more comedic and the serious iterations. As a TWD Universe stan, I just finished a rewatch and a full watch through of all the spinoffs. So I was definitely ready to go when it came to picking this up. And while I’ve been a part of the reviewing community since 2020, there does seem to be a bit of a distance between zombies and readers—not necessarily in the sense of looking down on the genre, but there’s definitely a disconnect—especially when it comes to novel form. Luckily, the author grips you with compelling characterizations, making the zombies an obstacle in the story, rather than the whole plot. 

Now I will say there was some mild apprehension behind starting. Mostly as I am in the plotting/early writing phase of working on my own zombie thriller and I was worried about infecting (see what I did there) my own plot with things I loved from this one. And honestly, I know for a fact I’m not capable of being this concise. The prose are sharp and everything is to the point without appearing rushed in any way. So not only am I far too longwinded to appear like I’m pulling from this one, the author also went and made their own unique twist on the genre to take them a step further. These creatures, these infected, can laugh maniacally, can scheme, and when they turn without injury, they can remain awfully fast. 

The author is certainly playing within the tropes I know and love here, which for me made this a compulsive read. Although I will say, woah! zombie novel where they say zombie!! Each scene end is a chapter, whether short or long, and that made for a continuous “one more chapter” pull to every break away. Kate and Nick find each other through unusual means, in rather unusual times, and that makes them connect all the more immediately. They’ve both got loads of baggage to deal with, making them complex and compelling in a relatable way. While this novel touches on the depravity that humanity would sink to after the world’s ending, this is more about the idea of hope. Both characters have already seen the dark side of man, and unfortunately it came for them before the world turned over. Therefore they’ve come into the apocalypse already doing what it takes to carry on—surviving. They both could have given up, could have stopped, but they didn’t, and you know what, they found each other! A person can be a safe place even when the world is not one. 

Huge notes of abuse and mental health issues, as well as their coping mechanisms or lackthere of. This is a story about survival, but be warned it does not shy away from the reality that causes these issues. It’s deep and real and engaging, and it will leave you thinking when it’s done. And even though it’s dark, you’ll want even more. 

The Crimson Court by Brendan Noble

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I received an audiobook arc of this, sorry if I’m a little late, I lost my BookFunnel library and had to go through a couple hoops! 

So to start, I want to admit that I did myself a bit of a disservice. And that’s due to the fact that I read almost double the horror novels to fantasy last year. Fantasy has always been my top genre, but that’s just how it landed with arcs and stuff going on. So with some time away, jumping right into not only a large fantasy (19+hrs), but doing so in audio, left me kind of struggling. The sheer amount of names in this novel had me so confused. Every chapter for a while (longer than I care to admit) I thought it was always someone new, and I actually re-listened to quite a lot. It also has a lot of politics going on, with clandestine meetings, as well as parties featuring the elites, so dialogue when you’re confused is also way harder. With all of that being said, these are troubles based on my decision, not the author’s faults in any way. 

This is a dark fantasy, where magic is mostly held by the elite (or black market if you can afford it), and it slowly kills the wielder. This should make the magic finite, funneling users into a less powerful role, however those on top are pulling strings far deeper than anyone would imagine. The Crimson Court, a set of seemingly immortal elites, kind of a la Assassin’s Creed’s Templars, have unwittingly set themselves against a dangerous adversary. When Kasia’s father is murdered, she vows to avenge him, if only she can uncover the identity of those hiding in shadows. And although this is in part a revenge story, it is pulling at political strings as she tries to gather allies before making a move in a kind of slow burn build up. 

I enjoyed Kasia, as her death wielding allows for those she’s killed to haunt her, making her a complex character juggling guilt, frustration, and constant reminders of her shortcomings. This in a way allows for you to root for her to persevere, as the author has done well to make her struggle multifaceted. The other main POV, which ends up kind of allying themselves with her, I found to be less engaging, both the character and their side story. Although the idea of tainted spirits coming back as mindless enemies, kind of like spirit-zombies is awesome, so a more fleshed out group of fighters trained to stop them could be incredibly awesome (and there is a book two!). The glass swords that stop the spirits are a unique idea, and I kept wondering how many I would break! 

I enjoyed the novel, and I just felt myself wanting more. More immersion into the world, more understanding. There are flintlock pistols and rifles, which usually sets fantasy stories apart for me, but I felt like this was a fantasy world with guns, not a true flintlock fantasy world. Not necessarily a negative at all either, as it’s definitely a cool fantasy world! I also spent most of the novel wondering why the king would have a dragon coiled around his throne but only really use it as a giant-sized gavel, shutting up his meeting room. No spoilers though! The narration by Ellie Gossage is well done, and very fitting for the character of Kasia too.

Welcome to Cemetery by C.J. Daley

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Finished with my final (probably) proofread and you know what, I enjoyed my own novel! 

It was a pretty intense labor of love, filled with time away, imposter syndrome, loss, and hard work writing other things. 

I hope you’ll give it a shot, and I really hope you enjoy my debut full length, a detective horror. Thank you. 

https://books2read.com/u/b5Kn0l

Slashing Through the Snow by Jacqueline Frost

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

After listening to the first two books in this series, (both with great narration) which were included with audible, and really digging just how much Christmas was included in this ‘mystery’ and having a few other reads that didn’t click for me, yes I went ahead and purchased the third book. It was part of audible’s end of year sale though! 

Book three sees Holly White happily dating the Bostonian sheriff. Her family’s inn has officially opened, and she is working her hardest to balance her jewelry business as well as managing the site. Things in her life are going exceptionally well. Unfortunately, right around Christmas yet again, there’s another murder. And this time, it happened right outside where she works, with a nutcracker that was just gifted to her, and is covered in her best friend Cookie’s fingerprints. 

The novel gives Holly, and the reader, an unbelievable amount of reminders that investigating is NOT her job, but is her boyfriend’s. And how if she would just let him do is job, he wouldn’t have to worry about her not being safe. While again mentioning ‘amateur sleuth’ this is really just a combination of Holly’s incredible nosiness and her desire to prove her friend’s innocence and save her family’s brand new inn. And while she is nosy, it’s worth mentioning that it’s not done in a way that the trait is annoying or negative really. 

This mystery was another intriguing one. The author has offered up even more than she did in the previous book, where each gets a little bit more darkness with its violence. It makes for enjoyable reads as the majority of what’s within is sugary and sweet, and then bam, there’s a fully fledged crime here. And speaking of sugary…once again, I must applaud these people, as there is absolutely no real food in their diets. It’s all mentions of pancakes and muffins, cookies and pies, gumdrops and fudge, hot chocolate and whipped cream. Mistletoe, Maine must be the leading insulin using town in all of fictional America. 

Can’t wait for book four next holiday season. 

Jingle Hel by T. P. Theyson

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Grabbed this for one final Christmas horror. It delivers in an almost urban fantasy way. 

When Ada, Tor’s ex wife, shows up at The Black Bookmark—a novelty and collectible bookshop—with something from an estate sale, Tor has no choice but to dive right in. He begins translating a book, and right away, he can tell that this one is different. It’s retelling the tale of Hel and her battle with the dark elf for the underworld. But it’s anything but just a book, and anything but your typical Jul holiday. 

It’s hard to do much more than summarize this one without spoiling it, but this was a dark and enjoyable little read. I feel like since the inclusion of Hela in Thor: Ragnarok, things that include this mythology give me a real urban fantasy feel? Which isn’t a bad thing, this just came off as a mixture of UF and horror because of it. 

The unleashing, and subsequent retribution, was a take on going after those deemed “guilty” in a way that felt akin to Silent Night, Deadly Night or Krampus. The idea that during the holidays those deemed greedy, those unworthy, have reached the end of your allowance. Have reaped what they’ve sown. And this was a unique and dark way to show that. 

The split between husband and wife was a nice addition, for the addition tension in the beginning of the story, however it was a bit too short to really work itself out, although, maybe there’s more…?

I would suggest checking this one out! It works great as a winter read.