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katmullen's reviews
485 reviews
A Machine Divine by Derek Hackman
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
Don’t get too comfortable with the happy steampunk uni vibes, stuff goes DOWN. The story ends in a wildly different place it starts.
And it got me. I was so set on the bad guy being this one particular character, and then it wasn’t! And who the bad guy is makes so much sense! But that part of the story can’t be over. No body, no death.
I haven’t read a lot of steampunk type books and I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would initially. I needed to know what happened next.
I did not trust anyone in this book. Everyone was sus. And those who weren’t as sus ended up looking out just for their own in the end. The secret society reflected the corrupt elite of their and our world so well. They thought just because they had the power, they could defy literally the laws of nature.
Asher’s science talk completely went over my head. But kid’s smart and if he can fix this one thing with Cloud I’ll forgive him.
Callie was my fave of the main characters. “Callie had no interest in sports” - me. For the first part she didn’t really do much, but she became really involved in the second half and I’m so intrigued as to where her story will go next. Asher has an obvious path forward in how he can be helpful in the war, but Callie not so much. It will be interesting to see if they continue along their paths of Asher getting involved closely with things and trying to make a lot of friends and Callie keeping herself seperate from everyone else.
Samira was only in the story for a hot minute, but I’m very intrigued by her and where she comes from, so it will be interesting to see where the story goes from here.
Thank you Derek Paul and Book Influencers. com for the copy!
TW: Animal death
And it got me. I was so set on the bad guy being this one particular character, and then it wasn’t! And who the bad guy is makes so much sense! But that part of the story can’t be over. No body, no death.
I haven’t read a lot of steampunk type books and I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would initially. I needed to know what happened next.
I did not trust anyone in this book. Everyone was sus. And those who weren’t as sus ended up looking out just for their own in the end. The secret society reflected the corrupt elite of their and our world so well. They thought just because they had the power, they could defy literally the laws of nature.
Asher’s science talk completely went over my head. But kid’s smart and if he can fix this one thing with Cloud I’ll forgive him.
Callie was my fave of the main characters. “Callie had no interest in sports” - me. For the first part she didn’t really do much, but she became really involved in the second half and I’m so intrigued as to where her story will go next. Asher has an obvious path forward in how he can be helpful in the war, but Callie not so much. It will be interesting to see if they continue along their paths of Asher getting involved closely with things and trying to make a lot of friends and Callie keeping herself seperate from everyone else.
Samira was only in the story for a hot minute, but I’m very intrigued by her and where she comes from, so it will be interesting to see where the story goes from here.
Thank you Derek Paul and Book Influencers. com for the copy!
TW: Animal death
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 39 by L. Ron Hubbard
adventurous
mysterious
3.5
Two things about short story collections:
1. You get so invested in some stories and they just…end. I just got attached to those characters, I need more!
2. It’s hard to give a star rating because you like some stories more than others
This was my first time reading a Writers of the Future anthology and I was pleasantly surprised. I had no idea what to expect and was glad when I vibed with stories. Kitsune: “I was almost thirty and tired” - MOOD.
The anthology came spiriting out of the gate with my favourite stories being Kitsune and Moonlight and Funk. I enjoyed others, but those two resonated with me the most.
I loved the illustrations throughout, every piece was amazing!
The concept of the Writers of the Future competition is great and I love that there was a section in the end about the competition and community (bonus points for refusing the use of AI to create the content!)
Thank you Galaxy Press for the copy and opportunity to review!
1. You get so invested in some stories and they just…end. I just got attached to those characters, I need more!
2. It’s hard to give a star rating because you like some stories more than others
This was my first time reading a Writers of the Future anthology and I was pleasantly surprised. I had no idea what to expect and was glad when I vibed with stories. Kitsune: “I was almost thirty and tired” - MOOD.
The anthology came spiriting out of the gate with my favourite stories being Kitsune and Moonlight and Funk. I enjoyed others, but those two resonated with me the most.
I loved the illustrations throughout, every piece was amazing!
The concept of the Writers of the Future competition is great and I love that there was a section in the end about the competition and community (bonus points for refusing the use of AI to create the content!)
Thank you Galaxy Press for the copy and opportunity to review!
The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
3.5
I'm still having a really good time reading this series. I love Meghan!
I was so glad this book didn't fall into some classic trope traps that it easily could've. But we avoided two I was worried about and the story was much better off for it. I did sometimes get frustrated with the characters, but Meghan is 17, so I can forgive her for that. The boys on the other hand, they're thousands of years old, why they acting like teenagers?
I'm so sad to be leaving Meghan's POV in the next book. I love you, Ash, but I wanted to hold onto Meghan's POV for a little while longer.
Thinking about Meghan, Ash, and Puck kept me distracted from the stress of the upcoming Taylor Swift ticket sales, and for that I am so grateful!
Thank you Harlequin for the copy!
I was so glad this book didn't fall into some classic trope traps that it easily could've. But we avoided two I was worried about and the story was much better off for it. I did sometimes get frustrated with the characters, but Meghan is 17, so I can forgive her for that. The boys on the other hand, they're thousands of years old, why they acting like teenagers?
I'm so sad to be leaving Meghan's POV in the next book. I love you, Ash, but I wanted to hold onto Meghan's POV for a little while longer.
Thinking about Meghan, Ash, and Puck kept me distracted from the stress of the upcoming Taylor Swift ticket sales, and for that I am so grateful!
Thank you Harlequin for the copy!
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
4.0
I had such a good time reading this book! I never read it as a teenager, but it brought back the 2010’s nostalgia I needed. I did have to remind myself this was one of the OGs and so many came after this though with they’re own ‘I’m not special, I’m just a poor plain girl’ trope after this.
I actually had no idea what to really expect, so was shocked when there turned out to be tech-based fey. But I loved the mesh of those with our classic Midsummer Night Dream faeries.
Loved all the vibes and the different types of fey. I need a Jim Henson-type adaptation of this. I knew where we were gonna end up in the end, but I enjoyed the ride to get there.
“Do not lose your hear to a faery prince. It never ends well.”
Thank you Harlequin for the free copy!
I actually had no idea what to really expect, so was shocked when there turned out to be tech-based fey. But I loved the mesh of those with our classic Midsummer Night Dream faeries.
Loved all the vibes and the different types of fey. I need a Jim Henson-type adaptation of this. I knew where we were gonna end up in the end, but I enjoyed the ride to get there.
“Do not lose your hear to a faery prince. It never ends well.”
Thank you Harlequin for the free copy!
The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
4.0
I'm having a lot of fun reading this series!
Yes, it's very Insta-lovey, but Meghan's 16 - she wouldn't know any different if this isn't her true love. I'm enjoying exploring the world and learning about the history. One reveal did have me shook. I should've seen it coming, but I didn't!
A long haired fey named Rowan? He was different to the one I'm used to, but I'm very interested to see what happens next.
Thank you Harlequin for the copy!
Yes, it's very Insta-lovey, but Meghan's 16 - she wouldn't know any different if this isn't her true love. I'm enjoying exploring the world and learning about the history. One reveal did have me shook. I should've seen it coming, but I didn't!
A long haired fey named Rowan? He was different to the one I'm used to, but I'm very interested to see what happens next.
Thank you Harlequin for the copy!
A Song of Sorrow by C.E. Page
adventurous
mysterious
4.0
While you can read this without reading the original Sovereigns of Bright and Shadow series, I highly recommend going and reading them first as you’ll understand much more of A Song of Sorrow - and get excited when certain people show up.
I was so excited to continue exploring this world and seeing new parts of it. I found I understood the world much easier in this than the original series. I’m not sure if that’s because I have read the originals or if the world building was just easier to understood. The mages on the isles have different names for types of mages than the mainland does and I picked up on the new vocabulary quickly.
All the found family vibes!
We’ve met Bran, Varlan, and the ship’s crew before, but we were introduced to a whole new cast and I loved Deana and Agnes immediately. Bran’s all grown up now and saving the world himself!
Each of our four mains got a POV, but it felt cohesive as everyone was in the same place on the same storyline. The syndrome of jumping to a different character and slogging through their chapters just to get to who you actually cared about was not present here - I liked reading from everyone’s POV! I hope in the sequels we don’t get more POVs though, four is enough for me.
I’m excited to see where the rest of the series leads. I need answers and I need certain people to remember certain things!
Thanks C.E Page for the copy in exchange for a review!
I was so excited to continue exploring this world and seeing new parts of it. I found I understood the world much easier in this than the original series. I’m not sure if that’s because I have read the originals or if the world building was just easier to understood. The mages on the isles have different names for types of mages than the mainland does and I picked up on the new vocabulary quickly.
All the found family vibes!
We’ve met Bran, Varlan, and the ship’s crew before, but we were introduced to a whole new cast and I loved Deana and Agnes immediately. Bran’s all grown up now and saving the world himself!
Each of our four mains got a POV, but it felt cohesive as everyone was in the same place on the same storyline. The syndrome of jumping to a different character and slogging through their chapters just to get to who you actually cared about was not present here - I liked reading from everyone’s POV! I hope in the sequels we don’t get more POVs though, four is enough for me.
I’m excited to see where the rest of the series leads. I need answers and I need certain people to remember certain things!
Thanks C.E Page for the copy in exchange for a review!
Leave the Little Light On: Book One: Windsor by Sonia Palleck
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
Leave The Little Light on is a fictional memoir that shows how awkward, messy, and lonely growing up can be.
In book 1 we follow Athena from the age of 3 all the way through graduating high school. We follow her and her family’s highs and lows. The story is definitely hard to read at times when we come across the lows. Athena goes through a lot during her childhood, but pulls herself up each time and ends the first part of her story with resolve.
It was an interesting look into the world of Canada in the 70s and 80s and how people, especially young girls, were treated at the time. I hope things get better for Athena moving forward!
In book 1 we follow Athena from the age of 3 all the way through graduating high school. We follow her and her family’s highs and lows. The story is definitely hard to read at times when we come across the lows. Athena goes through a lot during her childhood, but pulls herself up each time and ends the first part of her story with resolve.
It was an interesting look into the world of Canada in the 70s and 80s and how people, especially young girls, were treated at the time. I hope things get better for Athena moving forward!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Alcoholism
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Drug use