100 Pages A Day.... Stephanie's Book Reviews - Blog Tours

The Porcelain Menagerie

11/4/2025

In 1732 Johann Kandler was apprenticed to a stone carver. His attention to detail caught the eye of King Augustus II who ordered Johann to his porcelain factory at Albrechtsburg. Johann is tasked with creating a lifesize porcelain menagerie for the King's pleasure. Twenty years prior, Fatima, a lady-in-waiting to Augustus' mistress, was called to be his next mistress. Knowing her future, Fatima boldly enters her role and does what she needs to gain favor. Fatima's favor from Augustus is her own living menagerie of animals she can care for.

The Porcelain Menagerie is an emotional story of power, desire and fate based on King Augustus' passion for white gold, or porcelain. The King's need drove him to enslave artists to decipher porcelain's secrets. Fatima's menagerie inspired him to create his own in porcelain. The historical context is well researched and meticulous. Augustus is a character of duality, his sweeping accomplishments for the arts contrasted with his overwhelming cruelty to those closest to him. Told through alternating points of view and timelines between Johann in 1732 and Fatima 20 years prior, we see Augustus' cruelty and passion grow and the impacts these have on those around him. I enjoyed watching Fatima grow stronger, interact with her animals and gain autonomy in her life, as well as watching Johann perfect his craft to create stunning works of art and build relationships. The story maintained a good pace, weaving mystery and intrigue as Johann tried to unravel the secrets of porcelain. Fatima's story began to collide with Johann's, revealing the many secrets Albrechtsburg holds.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

The Pond Beyond the Forest

10/22/2025

Shigeko Ito grew up in a neglectful home in Japan. Her mother was narcissistic and cared more about her appearance and shopping habit than raising children. Her father was a workaholic and rarely home. As a 16-year-old exchange student, Shigeko experiences a functional family in Napa, California, and forms a strong bond with her exchange mother, Joanne. After receiving a foundation in the US, Shigeko returns for college at Stanford, meets her husband Peter, and soon starts a family. However, Shigeko's traumatic past affects her ability to connect with her family and raise her teenage son. In trying not to repeat her parents' mistakes, Shigeko realizes her mindset has regressed to her childhood.

The Pond Beyond the Forest is an honest and emotional memoir. Shigeko's emotional journey through highs, lows, and deeply personal moments is told with an astonishingly open and direct manner, even the parts that cast her in a negative light. At times, I almost forgot that I was reading a memoir and not fiction. The chapters alternate between Shigeko's childhood and adulthood, showing the correlation between her experiences growing up and the decisions she made as a wife and mother. Shigeko's parents' hands-off attitude clearly contributed to her being overly involved in her son's life. Shigeko's institutionalization in a mental health unit was also insightful. While she desperately needed help, the hospital made some questionable choices that led to more trauma. Conversely, the hospital stay also allowed Shigeko to relax away from her parents and find the root cause of her distress. After sharing everything she went through with her parents, husband, and sons, I was amazed that Shigeko emerged ready to rebuild, grow, and fix relationships. Ultimately, a transformative story of trauma, growth, and acceptance.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

The Council Trilogy

9/22/2025

The Others

About the Book:
SAN FRANCISCO – In the pulsating heart of San Francisco lies a world hidden from ordinary eyes, a realm where supernatural forces shape the fate of humanity. This is the captivating backdrop of "The Others," (September 2024, SparkPress) a spellbinding urban fantasy novel by acclaimed author Evette Davis, which is set to enthrall readers with its potent blend of mystery, romance and magic.

Olivia Shepherd is a political consultant with a secret: She possesses empathic abilities, the power to sense the emotions of those around her. Keen to keep her supernatural gifts hidden, Olivia's world is upended when Elsa, an ancient time-walker, appears in her kitchen, unveiling a destiny she never knew she had. As Olivia delves deeper into the hidden world of the "Others" who lurk beneath San Francisco's foggy streets, she finds herself drawn into the clandestine organization, the Council, and Gabriel Laurent, the enigmatic leader of a realm where vampires, witches, fairies and demons navigate a delicate balance of power. Caught between her burgeoning abilities, her new role within the Council, and her blossoming romance with the centuries-old vampire William, Olivia must confront shocking revelations about her own past and embrace the true extent of her powers.

"The Others” is a tour de force, weaving together themes of self-discovery, empowerment and the timely issue of the dangers of political extremism. With its richly drawn characters, pulse-pounding plot twists, and atmospheric San Francisco setting, the novel promises a gripping ride from start to finish. With its darkly seductive tone, sophisticated storytelling, and cliffhanger ending, fans of urban fantasy and paranormal romance will be captivated and left eagerly awaiting the next installment.

“A rollicking supernatural jaunt through time that leaps out of the famous San Francisco fog and right onto our latest news pages. Davis combines her inside knowledge of Bay Area politics with a gripping tale of vampires and shape-shifters that leave us never quite looking at the city the same way again."
— David Callaway, former editor in chief, USA Today

Review:
Olivia Shepherd has always known that she has empath capabilities; however she has blocked her powers after watching them take a toll on her mother. Olivia has set herself up as a successful political consultant in San Francisco, lately things have not been going quite her way. With a visit from a time walker, Elsa, Olivia learns to open up to her powers and fight the demon that has been attacking her. With her newfound powers, Olivia also learns about the Others that live amongst humans, fairies, witches, vampires and more. Olivia is also introduced to the Others Council and offered a job that she is perfectly suited for, running a political campaign for a former boss. As Olivia is more involved with the Council, she learns of their involvement in human affairs and the dangers that come with it. On the other hand, Olivia has a hot new vampire boyfriend, William to keep her company and keep her safe.

The Others is a supernatural political thriller focusing on reaching your potential. Olivia's character is interesting in that she knew her mother had extra powers, but was unaware of the Others around her in San Francisco, including some of her friends. Olivia accepted the existence of the Others without hesitation and joined the Council readily. Once Olivia's senses were opened, her world became brighter and more dangerous all at once. I enjoyed experiencing all of the Others along with Olivia. It was interesting to learn the purpose of fairies, some vampire history and the different powers witches have in this world. While I loved all the supernatural elements, the plot really centered around the political campaign and the lengths some people and Others will go to in order to have influence. I enjoyed watching Olivia in her element writing campaign speeches, dealing with slip ups and unruly opposition. Olivia's supernatural friends added elements of fun, whimsy and magic. Olivia's and William's relationship was fast-paced, fun and deep adding another layer to the dangers Olivia faced with the campaign. With several twists at the end, I can't wait to see what the Council has in store next for Olivia.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

The Gift

About the Book:
Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Hunter and Charlaine Harris, The Gift picks up where The Others left off, pulling readers into yet another death-defying paranormal adventure as Olivia battles more secrets and lies inside the Council.

After a brutal act of terrorism shakes the Council to its core, they send supernaturally gifted Olivia Shepherd on assignment in Eastern Europe. What Olivia really wants is time to recover and process the stunning revelations she recently uncovered—secrets her parents have hidden from her all her life. But with a thousand-year-old vampire on her trail, rest is not in the cards for the reluctant witch, who is still discovering the extent of her powers.

When her nemesis makes the fight horribly personal, Olivia becomes blinded by her need for revenge. Pulled back into the Council’s treacherous politics, she finds herself separated from her lover, William, and thrust into an uncomfortable partnership with his beguiling brother, Josef. Meanwhile, danger lurks around every wintry corner in Eastern Europe.

As everything in Olivia’s life spins out of control, will she surrender to destiny—or forge her own path?

“A thrilling global mystery ... In the fantastical thriller The Gift, a woman in a rich paranormal world works to understand her mother’s death.”—Foreword Reviews

“…an immersive adventure filled with romance and supernatural intrigue from cover to cover. Davis's vibrant world is brimming with diverse and compelling characters… a captivating read that left me eagerly anticipating the next installment, and I’d certainly recommend it to fantasy fans seeking a new accomplished author.”—Readers Favorite, 5 STARS
Review:
Olivia Shepherd is now fully enmeshed within The Council, the governing body of supernatural beings of which she just recently discovered that she is part of. Olivia has been working on honing her gifts that her mother passed down as a witch along with her vampire boyfriend, William, timewalker mentor, Elsa and fairy friend, Lily. Now, Olivia is being put to the test to combine her human skill set in politics along with her abilities to bring down a thousand year old vampire who will stop at nothing to rule the Council. Nikola's dangerous tactics have caused deaths close to Olivia and her friends and have been seen as acts of terrorism within the Council. Now, Olivia is on a mission to Eastern Europe with William's brother, Josef to try and find evidence of Nikola's misdeeds. Meanwhile, William is on a separate mission to infiltrate Nikola's gangs that are actively hunting Olivia.

The Gift is a suspenseful supernatural fantasy filled with political intrigue. The Gift picks up right after book one, The Others, and I would highly recommend reading first. Olivia is thrown right into action and danger as she meets with Nikola and a tarot card reader who gives them both strong warnings. As in the first book, Olivia stays true to herself, finding her limits and doing what is best for both the human and supernatural communities. Olivia was tested in her relationship with WIlliam as they were unexpectedly separated for the mission and while her feelings for Josef came to the surface, Olivia decided that she needed to live for herself and make her own decisions in both her love life and work life. Through Olivia's adventures in Europe, different Others were seen and many different dangers were faced. Reading this book in the current political climate was interesting as I found many parallels to the current situation that the US is facing. Exciting to the very end, I'm glad that Olivia not only grew in her powers and as a person, but made decisions for herself and forged her own path. I can't wait to see what the third book has in store.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

The Campaign

Olivia Shepherd, now a full member of The Council and a trained witch, takes on a new role as a political consultant for presidential nominee Diana Chambers. This puts her head-to-head with Stoner Halbert, a political consultant she's defeated before. However, Stoner, who has delved into black magic and now has a demon attached to them, is far more prepared this time. Stoner launches vicious and frequent attacks, even publicly exposing Olivia as a witch. Thankfully, Olivia has also grown in strength and has the support of a powerful group of supernatural friends and companions.

In the third and final book of The Council Trilogy, Olivia transforms into the woman who can lead The Council and defeat a demon. Over the three books, Olivia has grown, accepted her powers and her position and now finally believes in who she is as a person and a witch. The Campaign begins right in with the action as Olivia accepts a place on Diana's team and must face Stoner again. This time Olivia readily accepts the help from her vampire lovers, witch family and other supernatural friends. I enjoyed watching Olivia come into her own, taking action when needed and calling the shots. It was wonderful to see her solidify her relationship with WIlliam and Josef and feel comfortable with the love she has. The writing blends the supernatural aspects expertly along with a political thriller. Amazingly, the vitriol of this fictional political race being led by demonic forces accurately mimics some of the discourse of politics today. The ending pulls together all of the forces that Olivia has worked on uniting in her life for an exciting and deadly confrontation between good and evil.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

About the Author
Evette Davis is a science-fiction and fantasy writer. She is most recently the author of “48 States,” which Kirkus named one of the Best Indie Books of 2022. The book was also a quarter-finalist for the BookLife Prize 2023 and longlisted in the 2023 Indie Book Awards.
Davis is also the author of “The Others,” the first installment of The Council Trilogy, which will be released in September 2024 by Spark Press.
Davis is a member of the Board of Directors for Litquake, San Francisco’s annual literary festival. In 2023 and 2017, Friends of the San Francisco Public Library honored Davis as a Library Laureate. Her work has also been published in the San Francisco Chronicle.
When she's not writing novels, Davis advises some of the country’s largest corporations, nonprofits and institutions as a consultant and co-owner of BergDavis Public Affairs, an award-winning San Francisco-based consulting firm. Before establishing her firm, Davis worked in Washington as a press secretary for a member of Congress. She previously was a reporter for daily newspapers in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Davis splits her time between San Francisco and Sun Valley, Idaho. For more information or to sign up for her newsletter, visit www.evettedavis.com.

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Follow Evette Davis on social media:
Facebook: @evette.davis.399 | Twitter: @SFEvette | Instagram: @evettedavis.author

The Golden Toad

6/23/2025

Trevor and Kyle Ritland grew up listening to their father's stories of the many magical animals of Costa Rica, including the striking Golden Toad which inhabits the cloud forests of Monteverde on the continental divide. The little toads, which only come out from underground a few weeks a year to mate, entranced the brothers. By the time the brothers make it to Costa Rica for themselves, the Golden Toad population has steadily decreased and they are now believed to be extinct. In The Golden Toad, the Ritland's dive into the natural history of the Golden Toads, the first known sightings to their last, detailing their personal journey to find the Golden Toads again and the factors that have contributed to their disappearance.

"The Golden Toad" is an ecological mystery that beautifully captures the unique emotions of hope and grief associated with species endangerment and extinction. Despite being a scientific nonfiction book, it reads like an adventure, complete with travel, danger, and intriguing characters. The book highlights how some of the first people to observe the Golden Toads were Quaker settlers in Costa Rica. Word then spread among scientists, drawing them to the cloud forests. By the time a dedicated team of scientists began researching the Golden Toads, their numbers were already shrinking. The Ritlands embark on several treks to locate the toads 30 years after their last reported sighting. The vivid descriptions of Costa Rica's cloud forests truly made me wish I could experience them firsthand. These distinctive micro-ecosystems are biodiversity hotspots, with Costa Rica's cloud forests potentially harboring up to 25% of Earth's biodiversity. The Ritlands skillfully integrate local and Indigenous knowledge in their quest to rediscover this species, which was lost to science but not always to local communities. I particularly enjoyed Eladio's insights into the search for the Golden Toad and what its rediscovery would mean for the forest, as well as his perspective on the forest without the toad. A significant portion of the book focuses on the chytrid fungus, *Batrachochytrium dedrobatidis*, which has devastated amphibian populations globally. While chytrid has been found in Costa Rica, the book explores whether it was truly the sole cause of the Golden Toads' disappearance. Although Kyle and Trevor's expeditions may not have uncovered the Golden Toads, their efforts, combined with those of other scientists and citizen scientists worldwide, have significantly contributed to amphibian conservation and the rediscovery of several other species once thought to be lost forever.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Skin

4/22/2025

About the Book:

SKIN by Kathe Koja
With a new intro by Eric LaRocca
RELEASE DATE: April 22, 2025
GENRE: Horror / LGBTQ
BOOK PAGE: Skin – Meerkat Press
SUMMARY:
Thirty years ago, SKIN changed the landscape of dark fiction forever. And now this classic of queer body horror is back in print, with a brand new introduction from Eric LaRocca
Tess burns. Bibi cuts. Together they create chaos, love, pain, and unstoppable art, in SKIN, the story of a partnership that sparks like flying metal and bleeds like a breaking heart.
BUY LINKS: Meerkat Press | Bookshop.org | Amazon

Review:
When Tess, a struggling metal artist and welder meets Bibi, an eclectic dancer, sparks fly. They combine their talents into a unique performance art, metal and bodies twisting together for a new underground experience. Their group gains momentum and a following, finding new ways to push boundaries and create something unseen. Tess learns to make machines that interact with the dancers and Bibi's choreography moves toward stretching the limits of the body. After a tragic performance, the group splits and Tess and Bibi each have separate artistic groups; although neither seems whole without the other. Tess' sculpture becomes more obscure and grotesque while Bibi's performance art turns to self-mutilation as a gateway to transcendence.

"Skin" delves into themes of pain, obsession, and compulsion, using a distinctive writing style that mirrors the rawness of the characters' experiences. The intense and often unsettling relationship between Tess and Bibi is central to the narrative, portraying two individuals grappling with profound hurt and seeking solace in extreme ways. Bibi's descent into increasingly disturbing performances creates a palpable tension, blurring the lines between art and personal crisis, as highlighted by a show reviewer's observation of something profoundly "wrong" beneath the surface. "Skin" is a compelling, albeit disturbing, exploration of body horror and the depths of human pain. It is a story that is likely to evoke strong reactions in readers, potentially intriguing some while repelling others with its unflinching portrayal of its themes.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kathe Koja writes novels and short fiction, and creates and produces immersive fiction performances, both solo and with a rotating ensemble of artists. Her work crosses and combines genres, and her books have won awards, been multiply translated, and optioned for film and performance. She is based in Detroit and thinks globally. She can be found at kathekoja.com.

GIVEAWAY: $25 Meerkat Press Giftcard
GIVEAWAY LINK: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7f291bd845/?

Read an Excerpt:
Crane was six feet tall and all in black, steel-rimmed glasses with tinted lenses round as the little juice bottles she bought downstairs. He started talking as soon as the door opened and worse yet had not come alone: a woman with him, behind him, hanging a little back in the hall but not shy; waiting. Waiting, Tess saw, for her and not Crane to say it was okay.
“Come on in,” she said, and the woman stepped forward, past Crane; not quite as tall as him, not quite as tall as Tess: younger but more muscled, athlete’s legs, or dancer’s, smooth bare skin like Teflon over steel. Her handshake was very strong but she did not squeeze the way a man might.
“I’m Bibi Bloss,” she said.
Foxface bones, pale bright hair and eyes the same: incandescent, less broken glass than the sheer act of breaking. When she smiled Tess saw her teeth were very small, milk teeth, strange childish grin.
“You do all your own welding, don’t you?” Crane was looking around the room, moving to the pieces she had pushed in a corner, sculpture forestry about his legs and waist. “This one’s kind of interesting,” he said, careless hand above the razored ribs of Mater Intrinsecus, fierce her crown of sheared bearings and Tess pushed his hand brusquely away.
“That’s really sharp,” she said. “Listen, why don’t you tell me what you need.”
“Fine,” he said. “I don’t even know if you can help me at all. What I need primarily,” and Bibi now to where the toilet was, the green wall of the shower, moving as if through a particular silence of which no one but she was aware, “is information. I have a special piece in mind,” and off on some weird impossible tangent, he worked with aluminum, he should know better. Maybe he didn’t. She tried to explain why there was no doing what he wanted to do but he wasn’t listening, he was talking about layers of metal mimicking layers of meaning, talking about metallurgy as metaphor and the intrinsic barbarism of iron in such a way that she felt like striking an arc off his steel-rimmed glasses; and looking past him to see Bibi beside another piece, Dolores Regina and her fingers loose and deft on half-deliberate spatter, the flat fillet weld, streetlight from behind less halo than warning light and chicken-wire shadows on her face like the solemn etching of tattoo. Standing there she was sculpture, strong iron bones and solder muscles, the tilt of her head a construct so subtle that Tess stared, the flat appraising stare of the scrapyard as with the grace of gears meeting Bibi’s head turned, to watch Tess watching her.
Crane just noise in the background now and Bibi’s gaze calm and calmly thorough, Tess and the room and the sculpture both harbored, everything plain to those eyes. Tess still as metal in her own silence and Crane finishing up, so what did she think? How long would it take to do?
Shaking her head, can’t be done and his irritation immediate, “Why not? It seems easy enough to me.”
Then go do it, asshole. “Look, all I can tell you is I can’t do it. All right?”
“Well, then,” a busy man in pursuit of his art, “can you recommend anybody? I have to get—”
From across the room, still in that posture: “Tess. Why haven’t I seen your stuff before?”
Glance down, reluctant now to meet those eyes straight on. “I don’t show much.”
“Why not?” Nodding inclusion, the sculpture, the worktable. “It’s brilliant work. Don’t you have an agent or anything? Are you represented by a gallery?”
Tess’s smile involuntary, and Crane again, excluded and annoyed, “She’s showing right now at the Isis,” and again Bibi ignored him, or rather accepted the information as if it had dropped like a pearl from the bodiless air: “The Isis? You don’t belong there.”
“I don’t belong anywhere,” and wondering as she said it why she had, it sounded so sophomoric, so moronically proud. “I just, I don’t really show much.”
“Listen,” Crane louder, dragging back attention, one hand full of keys impatient, “can you help me or not?”
“No. I can’t.”
Before his answer, Bibi’s smile: “Thanks,” as if it had been on her errand they had come. “I’ll see you.” And gone that moment, out the door and Crane pausing to watch as she did Bibi’s silhouette, one long-stepping muscle in tension and his irony, “Well thanks,” and graceless down the stairs. Tess watched for a moment longer, to see if she would come back. Nothing. Closing the door, slowly, strange strange eyes and then forgetting it all in the turn and step, back to the workspace and taking up her mask, flipping the grounded switch to start the final burn.
--
Sleeping in to wake sweaty and muscle-sore; the piece was done. Scrap steel and Lexan, glass and the warped plastic throat, it was better than she had expected though still not where she wanted to be; where was that? who knew? She would know when she got there. Still the piece was good: textures all a-mesh and it almost seemed to move, to twitch when not watched, calm semblance of silence in the moment of attention. Smiling a little to think of it creeping loose around the room, trying the windows, trying the door, peering eyeless to clear its plastic throat; dry in self-mockery: anthropomorphizing; watch it. She knew people, artists, who liked to gurgle about their “babies,” their “children”: “Every one of my pieces is a child of mine,” who had said that to her? Horseshit. Children were children and work was work and people were assholes when they started believing their own arty bullshit. They should all work with metal, get burned once in a while: keep them grounded.
In the shower, the last of the soap in her eyes and somebody knocking, not banging but hard, Tess heard it plainly over the water. Determined. “Shit,” hissed between her teeth, eyes burning. Loud: “Who is it?”
Indistinct.
“Who is it!”
“Bibi Bloss.”
Dripping on a T-shirt, the towel around her head, shooting back the dead bolt: “Come on in.”
Alone, smile and ripped leggings, slipping off her black sunglasses to hook them in the stretched neck of her T-shirt. “Hi,” closing the door. “If this isn’t a good time, please say so.”
“No, it’s okay.” Stringy wet bangs, dripping onto her cheekbones. Crane’s errand? or her own?
Unerring toward the worktable, she had little feet, Bibi, bony ankles above disintegrating sneakers, she cocked her head like a listening animal and said nothing at all. Examining the new piece for literal minutes, a long time to stand staring but her eyes were busy as a bird’s, she left nothing out. Finally: “It’s ready to move, isn’t it,” not a question and Tess nodded, pleased with more than the pleasure of surprise.
Glancing at the metal rack, tools still in last night’s orderly scatter; sun through the chicken wire, endless burn holes and dust. “Tess. Why do you live here?”
Surprised, “It’s cheap. Why?”
“I just wondered.” There was definitely more to it than that but no more was coming now. Silence; Bibi’s dirty finger on the piece’s throat.
“What?” wiping at her wet neck, water in her eyes. She felt no footing here, was unsure what to say until she did. Bibi saw, or seemed to; seemed to understand because she nodded, once and brisk.
“I know; what do I want. Listen, today I made a pilgrimage to that creepy Isis Gallery. —Without Crane, incidentally, who’s back at his place with two other guys trying to figure out what you told him last night.”
“Doesn’t he do his own welding?”
“Crane doesn’t know shit about welding. Why else do you think he came to you?” A pause. “I’m glad I came with him.”
It sounded rude; she said it anyway. “Why?”
“Because of your work.” Full stare, her eyes washed marble light and fingers unconscious on the piece before her. “I wanted to talk to you last night, but not in front of Crane. You must have noticed he’s a size-eleven asshole, once he gets started you can’t shut him up. And besides, it’s none of his business.”
“Are you, is he your—’
“I used to live with him, if that’s what you’re asking. He’s part-time in a dance group I’m in—he’s a much better dancer than he is a sculptor. Which still isn’t saying a whole hell of a lot,” and that strange little grin again, dry as the curve of a bone. “No, what’s mostly wrong with Crane is that he doesn’t have anything I want.”
Tess smiled, as much in surprise as discomfort; at least she was honest. “Do I?”
“Yes. I want to see all your stuff.”
“Why?”
“Show me,” shark’s grin, “and I’ll tell you.”
She ended up showing everything, all the way back to Mother of Sorrows, the oldest piece she still had. Beginner’s work, not even good enough to be called crude but Bibi inspected it as she did all the others, attention severe and severely focused, all of her there in her eyes. Hot crouch in the endless turn of the fan, windows empty of any breeze and both of them sweaty, spotted with the floating grime from moving between pieces, moving the pieces themselves. Some were painfully heavy, but Bibi was strong as she looked, and stronger; she held up her end with ease. The afternoon passing in a running catalog of material, place, title, then on to method and juice drunk standing, cookies eaten crumbling from the box. The theory and practice of welding, her own experiences, dreary and not, keno accompaniment a chatter and grind to the rod-tip-in-the-shoe story and Bibi’s shut-eyed laugh, really funny.
More talk, Bibi’s questions and they were good ones, ancient to modern history now and asking why this place, why not more shows; why the Isis? One dirty hand light on the swollen iron back of Lay Figure, its hideous humps like bones distorted, the face one howling O of blackened wire: “And this is one of the pieces you were going to show there?”
“That, and Delta of Silver,” nodding to the riverine figure of solder and charred iron bone, melancholy line of shine beneath the overhead fluorescents. Night coming on and this day gone purely in talk, when had she done that last? Past memory, loner weeks and months, plenty to do; still did; always did. But no one to talk about it with since, what? All the way back to Peter? Sweet ugly Peter, last lover, almost-best friend with his found sculpture, plastic milk jugs and detergent bottles, and sidewalk paintings that took him finally where it was warmer, where, he said, the sidewalks stayed dry all year. Two letters, one long awkward phone call, already long gone but she was stubborn, she had to be hurt hard to let go. He ended by obliging her, poor Peter, she had not meant to cause such pain to either of them; he was not a monster, he did not want to wound her so. What would he think of her work now? What would he think of her? Strange to think of Peter, now; she had not in so long.
A sigh, and back all at once to Bibi’s quizzical gaze, there was something she should be saying, explaining. The Isis show, right, the pieces they wanted and didn’t want. “They only took one,” sitting up straighter. “The one you saw, Archangel.”
Impossible to read those eyes, washed to nothing but light. “Why didn’t you show them all?”
“They didn’t want them all.” The painstaking slides rejected, half an explanation half a month late but she had not wasted time with anger, she had been through this before. Leaning on the toilet wall, pinch of green plastic against her sweaty back. “You were there, you saw what they show. They don’t want stuff like mine, that’s not what they’re interested in.”
The exposed tines of Lay Figure’s bones denting the bare skin of Bibi’s arm, she did not seem to feel or notice. “What are you interested in?”
“Metal.”
At once, like a teacher, a cop: “What else?”
“Making it . . . work.” Her hand moving in half a circle: frustration’s symbol, the answer incomplete. “Making it do what I want.”
“What do you want?”
“I don’t know,” flat and honest, out before she could think or rethink to call it back. “I guess I’ll know it when I see it. If I see it.”
“You won’t. Unless you build it yourself.” And trapdoor sudden, little meat-eating grin and “Hey: come on. Come see what I do, now,” keys without looking, open door and on the landing to stop: and wait for Tess.
Who stood, waiting herself. “You never said,” scarred hand poised on the light switch, the light from the stairway a greasy yellow, cloudy with the tiny blunderings of flies trapped by false eternal daylight, around and around. Downstairs the sounds of big kids yelling, the dumpy thump of a loaded handcart over the uneven threshold.
“Said what?”
Hitting the switch, sudden black and Bibi clear, then shadowed as she moved closer, half-back across the threshold. “What you want.” Want to give. Or share. Or take.
Very close in the dark, one hand on the jamb and a smell to Tess like sugar, like sweat, distinct and oddly nameless, your own secret scent found inexplicable on the flesh of another. Her eyes could have been marbles, or bearings, or Lexan chipped cold with scavenged glass, eyes that wait and see in any dark, the eyes of sculpture ready to move when no one watches, ready to crawl and buck and scratch slow paint from the shivering walls like skin from the shrinking lines of tender bone.
“I don’t think I need to tell you,” Bibi said. Voices up the stairwell, the jitter of empty bottles like tumbling coins, somebody’s curse and her closeness, close enough to touch, her stare to Tess as vivid as taste in the mouth. “I really think you already know.”

Let's Call Her Barbie

1/27/2025

About the Book:
She was only eleven-and-a-half inches tall, but she would change the world. Barbie is born in this bold new novel by USA Today bestselling author Renée Rosen.

When Ruth Handler walks into the boardroom of the toy company she co-founded and pitches her idea for a doll unlike any other, she knows what she’s setting in motion. It might just take the world a moment to catch up.

In 1956, the only dolls on the market for little girls let them pretend to be mothers. Ruth’s vision for a doll shaped like a grown woman and outfitted in an enviable wardrobe will let them dream they can be anything.

As Ruth assembles her team of creative rebels—head engineer Jack Ryan who hides his deepest secrets behind his genius and designers Charlotte Johnson and Stevie Klein, whose hopes and dreams rest on the success of Barbie’s fashion—she knows they’re working against a ticking clock to get this wild idea off the ground.

In the decades to come—through soaring heights and devastating personal lows, public scandals and private tensions— each of them will have to decide how tightly to hold on to their creation. Because Barbie has never been just a doll—she’s a legacy.

Review:
After an overseas vacation in 1956, Ruth Handler returns to her burgeoning toy company with a new idea; a new doll for children that isn't a baby doll, but is an adult woman. Ruth's team isn't exactly on board with the idea, but she persists, wanting to give young girls a play option other than pretending to be a mother. Ruth's team of engineers including head engineer, Jack Ryan, get started on the multitude of problems that need be solved in building the doll including types of plastic, hair placement and proportions. Ruth then sets out to find someone who can design fashion forward clothes for the doll. Ruth finds Charlotte Johnson and Stevie Klein who set out on dealing with issues of fabric thickness, patterns, closures and proportions for the doll. As things progress with the doll, Ruth still has the matter of the name. Finally deciding on Barbie, after Ruth's daughter and Jack's wife, Barbie debuts at the Toy Fair to lackluster reactions. However, once Barbie hits the toy shelves, she is a sensation. Now, Ruth must deal with a rapidly growing business, new staff members, growing tensions within her team and fallout from financial woes.

Let's Call Her Barbie is a fictionalized, behind the scenes look at the business, design and engineering of the Barbie Doll. Focused mostly on Ruth Handler, the story also incorporated the points of view of Ruth's husband, Elliot, their lead engineer, Jack Ryan, Barbie's clothing designer, Charlotte Johnson and fictional clothing designer, Stevie Klein. I was intrigued by Ruth and her fiery attitude, determined to lead, push boundaries, forge a new path for women and girls and not back down when things were difficult. Going into Ruth's childhood, I felt a connection to Ruth's feelings of needing to be useful or productive to be loved and how that translated into her business savvy. Ruth's role as a mother was also surprising, feeling ineffective at home and impactful in the workplace. Jack Ryan is an enigmatic character, boundless intelligence paired with magnetic charisma and an addictive personality making him a womanizer, alcoholic and drug user. It also caused tension between himself and Ruth as he claimed to be the sole inventor of Barbie, leading to a series of downfalls for Jack, Ruth and Mattel. The business side of Mattel was intriguing dealing with patents, acquisitions, board members and intra-staff relationships. Let's Call Her Barbie brings together the human and business elements of a doll that revolutionized the way we play.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

About Renée Rosen: Renée Rosen is the USA Today bestselling author of Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl, The Social Graces, Park Avenue Summer, Windy City Blues, White Collar Girl, What the Lady Wants, and Dollface. Renée lives in Chicago.

The Nightman's Odyssey

10/25/2024

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE NIGHTMAN'S ODYSSEY by Tony-Paul de Vissage Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:

Title: THE NIGHTMAN'S ODYSSEY

Author: Tony-Paul de Vissage

Pub. Date: December 19, 2023

Publisher: Epic Publishing

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 397

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/u/m26e6G

â€œHe wanted to continue his existence . . . to be with his Antoinette . . . to live and love with her . . .â€

Sacrifice. Love. Loyalty. Damien is willing to sacrifice anything to save his love, Antoinette. He makes a deal with the undead, and while he gains immortality, he is rejected by Antoinette. He swears off humans and dives into the adventure of the New World. Damien is at a crossroads, he wants to write off humanity, but that was all before he metâ€¦her. She makes him want to love again, to belong. Damien must decide, will he risk it all again?

â€œPerhaps itâ€™s true we have to suffer to deserve what we receive.â€

â€œIn that moment, I understood why my search was never successful. I had been looking for love in the wrong places.â€

Excerpt:

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About Tony-Paul de Vissage:

A Southerner of French Huguenot extraction, one of Tony-Paul de Vissage's first movie memory is of being six years old, viewing the old Universal horror flick, Dracula's Daughter on television, and being scared sleepless. That may explain his lifelong interest in vampires and why he's now paying back his too-permissive parents by writing about those who walk the night.

Twitter (X) | Goodreads | Amazon

Limousin, France in the year 1249, the Plague arrived. Damien La Croix learns that his beloved, Antoinette, is stricken and takes fate into his own hands. A chance meeting with a sans mort gives Damien the opportunity to escape the effects of the Plague and save Antoinette and her brother from certain death. Just as Damien is settling in with his new eternal existence, he is betrayed by his love and evicted by his town. Traveling the world, Damien looks for a purpose and love. Damien finds himself working for Dracula in Romania, in Paris and England before coming to the new world. Through thousands of years, Damien loves and loses, wondering if he'll ever find the person that he's meant to spend eternity with.

The Nightman's Odyssey is an epic vampire saga spanning thousands of years from past to the future. Told through Damien's point of view, he tells of his quest for love and meaning that keeps slipping through his fingers. Each section tells of a different love in Damien's life and how he has adapted to the changing times. I enjoyed learning about how vampires survived in each era and found their places. Each time Damien found a partner, fate seemed to intervene, showing the human side of Damien. Damien's friendships were another highlight of the story for me as he formed eternity long relationships. The writing carefully kept up the pacing as the time moved through the centuries, creating a new story and plot within section, yet carrying through Damien's need for companionship. The ending saw the vampires in the future, doing their best at survival. I enjoyed seeing Damien find his place and the love he deserved.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of THE NIGHTMAN'S ODYSSEY, US Only.

Ends October 29th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

10/14/2024	Lady Hawkeye	Excerpt/IG Post
10/15/2024	Deal sharing aunt	Excerpt/IG Post
10/16/2024	Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt/IG Post
10/16/2024	ilovebooksandstuffblog	Excerpt/IG Post
10/17/2024	Brandi Danielle Davis	IG Post
10/18/2024	@callistoscalling	IG Post

Week Two:

10/21/2024	Lifestyle of Me	Review
10/21/2024	Rajiv's reviews	Review/IG Post
10/22/2024	@heyashleyyreads	IG Review/TikTok Post
10/23/2024	Review Thick And Thin	Review/IG Post
10/23/2024	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post
10/24/2024	@thepagelady	IG Review
10/24/2024	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
10/25/2024	Shauna's Book Journal	Review/IG Post
10/25/2024	100 Pages A Day	Review

Hunterland Series

10/1/2024

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I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the HUNTERLORE by Dana Claire Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:

Title: HUNTERLORE (Hunterland #2)

Author: Dana Claire

Pub. Date: September 24, 2024

Publisher: CamCat Books

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 299

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/HUNTERLORE-Claire

Silver bullets arenâ€™t enough to protect your heart.

For Liam Hunter, monster hunting is a way of lifeâ€”a family tradition passed down for generations. But when campers are murdered in the woods, their hearts ripped from their chests, Liam finds himself facing his most terrifying adversary yetâ€”his own mother turned monster. Her pack of werewolves will test Liamâ€™s limits, and his connection with the girl who still has too large a claim on his heart.

Olivia Davis is determined to uncover her own place in Hunterland and hone her newfound abilities. But when Olivia has a terrifying vision, sheâ€™s faced with a much larger uncertainty: her feelings for the boy she let slip through her fingers.

Together, Olivia and Liam must survive the deadly game of cat and mouse, or else risk becoming victims in a world where the monsters are the hunters. The clock is ticking. The game is on. And the price of failure may be their humanity.

For readers who enjoy The Vampire Diaries by L. J. Smith, The Awakening by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, The Luminaries by Susan Denard, and the Teen Wolf and Supernatural TV series.

Hunterlore Review:

The Hunter and Davis families are thrown right back into another monster hunter case, and this time it's personal. Veronica Hunter, believed to be dead, has resurfaced as the Alpha of a werewolf pack. And it seems that there has been increased werewolf behavior around Falkview Falls. While Pepper and Olivia hone their new skills as hunters, Liam and his dad are on a hunt for the woman who was once their mother and wife.

Hunterlore jumps right into the action in book two of the Hunterland series. This time, the mission stays more focused as the Hunter and Davis teams are focused on a pack of werewolves and finding Veronica Hunter. I enjoyed the addition of the hunter twins, Jazzy and Nicki, and their abilities. Their presence added a layer of friction between Olivia and Liam as well. Told through alternating points of view between Liam and Olivia, their relationship woes take up some of the focus. I was happy to see Olivia work on honing her powers more in this book. I also enjoyed the one chapter from Pepper's point of view, I think she is very interesting, and I wish there were more chapters dedicated to her! I don't know how all these hunters with special abilities didn't put the clues together about the werewolves in their midsts; however, I loved Veronica's character and hope to see more of her. Hunterlore also begins to give some information about the creation of the Hunterlands as well as a change in mindset that the monsters they are hunting may not be the monsters at all.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Read Book 1, HUNTERLAND now!

Hunterland Review:

The Hunter family members have unique abilities that allow them to see and hunt monsters. They are part of the Hunterland network, trained agents sent to protect people and kill monsters. Liam and Jacqueline along with their dad, Jack, have been sent to Falkview Falls, Wisconsin on their latest assignment, a string a apparent suicides among high school nurses. Upon entering the Falkview Falls High School to see the latest death, Liam immediately clashes with Olivia Davis, the local sheriff's daughter. The Hunter's don't have any good leads for the string of suicides, but as soon as they get to the sheriff's house, they begin to see signs of the supernatural. Younger daughter, Pepper has been hiding her ability to talk to the dead and Olivia has premonitions. Bringing the Davis family into the Hunter fold, they solve the strange string of nurse suicides as well as get involved in a strange vampire incident that is somehow connected to the Hunter's dead mother.

Hunterland is a fun young adult supernatural mystery. Told through Liam and Olivia's alternating points of view, there is a younger focus as well as an emphasis on their budding romance. The mystery of the high school nurses was intriguing, although I figured out the connection pretty early on. I enjoyed learning about the Hunterland network and some of their history, especially how it has affected Liam and Jac's lives. The writing is very fast paced as the Hunter's integrate the Davis family and try to stop the killings while trying to figure out Pepper and Olivia's new skills. I do wish the book focused on just the one case instead of pulling in the vampire and werewolf storylines as well, there was a lot happening at once. Olivia and Liam's romance fit into the story, but Liam's character was a little too intense with the constant flirting and innuendo. With one case solved, but several more up in the air, the Hunter and Davis families have monsters to hunt and family connections on the line for book two.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Excerpt:

1

OLIVIA

There are terrors in the night that have nothing to do with monsters, and I was determined to become one. But first, apparently, I needed to learn to defend myself.

I shifted my weight on the hard wooden bench weâ€™d pushed against the wall, along with the rest of the furniture, to give Liam and Nikki space to spar in the center of the room. The basement had been meticulously transformed from a storage area into a small gym and studio apartment that played home to our Hunterland learning center, for all things monster related.

â€œWhoa!â€ My little sister Pepper covered her mouth, bouncing on the edge of the seat beside me as Liam ducked Nikkiâ€™s wild punch. Nikki staggered when her fist met air instead of bone but smirked anyway.

Our simple, small-town Wisconsin lives had changed a few months ago when Liam Hunter, his sister, Jacqueline, and their father, Jack Hunter, showed up to investigate a string of suspicious suicides in my high school. Well, there was also that bit about a vampire nest and my mother turning into a vengeful spirit. That had thrown us for an even bigger loop.

While the Hunter family helped sort it all out, Liam discovered my sister and I had some magical abilities of our own, and Pepper and I had been fast-tracked to join them as hunters of things that go bump in the night.

Which brought us here. Doc, Hunterlandâ€™s appointed leader and our current instructor, thought watching Liam and Nikki fight would make a good introduction to training. But each punch made me wonder if Iâ€™d withstand even a few seconds of a battle with either of them, despite my newfound healer abilities. All three of us were seniors in high school, but they felt years older than me, and watching them bob and weave only added to that experience gap.

Liam ducked again, and Nikki snarled as she regained her footing. Even when she missed, she did it with sex appeal, whereas Iâ€™d likely resemble a newborn baby deer discovering its legs. Nikkiâ€™s body language shifted from slinky feline to prowling lioness, and I saw the monster hunter within, brimming with the ferocity I knew I needed to find for myself if I planned to survive this new life Iâ€™d stumbled into.

â€œWow, look at them go.â€ Pepper elbowed me in the side. â€œThey look good out there.â€

Or they looked like two ex-lovers trying to show each other up, which for all intents and purposes they were. And of course, right after the twins showed up, Liam started to pull away. Instead of the budding romance I had thought we had started last month, now we felt like strangers passing each other in the halls of our shared living quarters. I asked for time to get to know each other, start with a friendship, with the assumption weâ€™d end up being more. But his response was silence and distance. My ego was too fragile to actually ask what in the hell changed. So here we were, acting as if nothing had happened and the last several months between us meant diddly-squat.

My stomach clenched as Nikki flipped her perfect, lithe body on the exercise mats. Liam wasnâ€™t mine, and probably never would be at this point, but seeing the kind of girl heâ€™d chosen in the past made me want to crawl into an oversized set of sweats and eat ice cream until I puked.

Nikki kicked Liam in the ribs and muttered something that sounded like â€œSorry, loveâ€ in her annoyingly sexy British accent.

Pepper snorted. Her blue hair flopped over one eye as she leaned in. â€œThatâ€™s gotta hurt.â€

I squirmed, unsure if she meant Nikkiâ€™s powerful blow to Liamâ€™s kidney or the powerhouse-couple image the pair projected. As Pepper liked to point out every time I made doe eyes in the presence of our lead hunter, Iâ€™d been the one to push Liam into the friend zone first, so I had no cause to turn around and throw a jealous fit now that his old girlfriend had shown up.

Still, only a month ago . . . heâ€™d been right there, sleeping next to me every other night, the two of us healing wounds we didnâ€™t want to talk about with anyone else after weâ€™d both lost our mothers in the worst possible ways. But maybe that was why Iâ€™d feared letting him in as more than an ally, someone who understood my odd abilities and who related to family trauma caused by the supernatural. If Iâ€™d let that relationship continue without a friendship first, Iâ€™d have risked Liamâ€™s nomadic, closed-off lifestyle tearing us in two.

The air, already cloyed with sweat, thickened with the heavy scent of melted butter as Jazzy, Nikkiâ€™s equally beautiful but less obnoxious twin, plopped next to Pepper on the black painted bench. Her slender fingers were wrapped around a large, red bowl filled with freshly popped popcorn. She motioned for us to help ourselves to the snack.

Pepper dove right into the buttery bowl. Jazzy smiled with bubble-gum pink lips, exposing her bright teeth. She bobbed her chin in the direction of Liam and Nikki. â€œThis is when the two of them are actually fun to be around. Hold on to your knickers, itâ€™s about to get very entertaining. Nikki always says a good spar is just as satisfying as sex.â€

I groaned loudly, and Liam looked up at the sound. Nikki took advantage, landing a quick jab to his chiseled jaw. His blue eyes sliced into me as if it were my fault sheâ€™d clipped him. Grimacing, he rounded back on her.

Her lips curled into an impish grin, and she threw her perfect curls over her shoulder. â€œIâ€™m going easy on you, mate. Itâ€™s been so long since youâ€™ve teamed up with real hunters, you seem a tad rusty.â€ She purredâ€”yes, purredâ€”the last few words.

Ugh, what is she even doing here?

Of course, I knew the answer. Her and Jazzyâ€™s uncle, Docâ€”our current houseguestâ€”had asked for their help in training my sister and me. But why couldnâ€™t Doc do it himself? Iâ€™d thought hunters worked in smaller packsâ€”the lonesome road of a supernatural assassin traveling on societyâ€™s knife edge. Why had so many congregated in my house? The vampire nest and vengeful spirits that had started this mess were gone.

I didnâ€™t have those answers yet. But I couldnâ€™t help but feel that with nothing to fight, the Hunterland gang were restless predatorsâ€”and as a newbie, I was still prey.

Liam sidestepped to the right, evading a roundhouse kick so high, I wondered if Nikki could take flight. Her uncle, who was basically a supercomputer database of monster-hunting knowledge and lore, had mentioned she possessed a supernatural ability. Whatever it was, it probably trumped my power of premonition and status as resident healer. Just one more thing she had that I didnâ€™t.

Including Liam Hunterâ€™s attention.

Okay, yeah, pity party for one here. I didnâ€™t say I was above sulking, did I?

â€œAre you sure youâ€™re taking it easy on me?â€ Sarcasm soaked Liamâ€™s words. â€œFrom the way youâ€™re panting, Iâ€™d guess youâ€™re either in heat or out of shape.â€

Liamâ€™s dig didnâ€™t faze Nikkiâ€™s performance. Her leg kicked out and swiped Liamâ€™s, sending him to the ground. She drove her fist toward his gut, but Liam rolled and scissored a leg around her neck, pinning her. Within seconds she tapped out, and not a moment too soon. My throat had dried, and my angst was elevated to gag-reflex level.

Liam extended his hand, and Nikki accepted, rising with his assistance. His full lips were drawn upward. He rarely allowed peeks behind his hardened badass exterior, but when he did, that smile was so beautiful, it landed a gut punch to the heart.

I stood to excuse myself and end the torment, but the thunder of barreling boots on the stairs made me pause.

â€œLiam.â€ Doc appeared, his wide-eyed gaze landing on each of us as he descended, fixing upon Liam last. He adjusted the maroon turban that matched his sweater. â€œThere you are. Youâ€™re needed. We have a situation.â€

My eyes trailed above him to my father, who followed. He stood dressed in full police uniformâ€”odd considering this was his day off.

â€œWhatâ€™s going on?â€ My gaze darted back and forth between Doc and my father.

Dadâ€™s tired eyes found mine beneath lowered lashes. â€œWe have a murder case. A Hunterland murder case.â€

About Dana Claire:

Dana Claire is an award-winning author whose stories explore identity, fate, and destiny in the crossroads of romance and adventure. But her writing career didnâ€™t begin when she published her first book, The Connection, in 2020. It started as a young girl when her mother, an elementary school teacher, inspired her to create imaginary worlds between the pages.

Danaâ€™s love of romantic tension, the supernatural, and non-stop action has elicited positive feedback from many readers, as their online reviews reveal her flair for spine-tingling action and unforgettable characters. But itâ€™s not just readers who love her; literary critics have also taken note, and Dana was given the Childrenâ€™s Moonbeam award for The Connection in 2021, and the PenCraft Award in 2023 for War of the Sea.

Dana is now sharing her stories through speaking events and book signings, introducing more readers to the worlds she created. She lives in Los Angeles, CA with her adoring husband living her dream: writing books, telling stories, and changing the world, one reader at a time.

Website | Twitter(X) | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Goodreads | Pinterest | Amazon | BookBub

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of HUNTERLORE, US Only.

Ends October 22nd, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/23/2024	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt/IG Post
9/24/2024	Fire and Ice Reads	Excerpt/IG Post
9/25/2024	Lady Hawkeye	Excerpt/IG Post
9/26/2024	Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt/IG Post
9/27/2024	a GREAT read	Review/IG Post

Week Two:

9/30/2024	Shauna's Book Journal	Review/IG Post
10/1/2024	100 Pages A Day	Review
10/2/2024	Lifestyle of Me	Review
10/3/2024	@evergirl200	IG Review
10/4/2024	@thepagelady	IG Review

Week Three:

10/7/2024	jlreadstoperpetuity	IG Review/TikTok Post
10/8/2024	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
10/9/2024	ilovebooksandstuffblog	Review/IG Post
10/10/2024	@heyashleyyreads	IG Review/TikTok Post
10/11/2024	Deal sharing aunt	Review/IG Post

Week Four:

10/13/2024	@enthuse_reader	IG Review/TikTok Post
10/14/2024	@amysbookshelf82	IG Review
10/15/2024	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post
10/16/2024	Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer	Review/IG Post
10/17/2024	thefashionistfiles	Review/IG Post
10/18/2024	@callistoscalling	IG Review

The Demon

9/28/2024

About the Book:
The Demon is now in full possession of the Girl's body, and she is starting her journey in Berkeley, California. She should be thrilled and ecstatic—the plan worked!

Except she doesn't remember the plan. The Demon has memories of the Girl's life and vague impressions of a deal made with the Filipino warrior LapuLapu. She reconnects with her former master, Death, and discovers that her bargain went against his will.

Death's punishment is beyond her comprehension - enduring the cruelties of mortality and leaving her imprisoned in the former Girl's university life. Life experiences, toxic friendships, emotional and physical attachments, and finally, heartbreak prove sadistic even for a Demon.

Can a demon have an identity crisis? What happens when the Demon shows more independence of thought and understanding of the cycle of dependency?

Death isn't the only one waiting to find out...

Review:
The demon has now fully taken control of the girl's body; however, the demon is being punished by it's master, Death. The demon has no memories of their plan to control the girl, but does have brief memories of the girl's life. Death says the demon must continue with the girl's plans of attending college at Berkeley. As the demon attempts to navigate the human world, it slowly regains memories of it's name, Hukloban, and history while trying to maintain their magic. The classes are no problem for the demon, but friendships, relationships and the girl's awful family prove troublesome. Hukloban's memories return, but so does her humanity.

Picking up right after book one, The Girl, The Demon, jumps right in with Hukloban taking over the girl's body. I was surprised by Death's punishment, thinking that the girl would now be a powerful and dangerous force. It was an interesting turn of events to find the demon near powerless having to deal with college, friends and relationships. It was fun to see Hukloban dealing with friends and romantic partners, although I did feel that this dragged on for a while with no real plot development. The best parts of the story for me were Hukloban's memory flashbacks to their time as a human, their creation and their time as Death's right hand. This helped to answer a lot of questions from the first book about the curse and the demon's purpose. I also liked the setting of Hukloban's origins of the early Austronesian people exploring new lands. The ending was unexpected and leaves room for the possibility of another book in the series.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Find the Review of Book One, The Girl here.

About the Author:
Victory Witherkeigh is a female Filipino/PI author originally from Los Angeles, CA, currently living in the Las Vegas area. Victory was a finalist for Wingless Dreamer’s 2020 Overcoming Fear Short Story award and a 2021 winner of the Two Sisters Writing and Publishing Short Story Contest. She has print publications in the horror anthologies Supernatural Drabbles of Dread through Macabre Ladies Publishing, Bodies Full of Burning through Sliced Up Press, and In Filth It Shall Be Found through OutCast Press. Her first novel, set to debut in December 2022 with Cinnabar Moth Publishing, has been a finalist for Killer Nashville’s 2020 Claymore Award, a 2020 Cinnamon Press Literature Award Honoree, and long-listed in the 2021 Voyage YA Book Pitch Contest.

Wildcat: An Appalachian Romance

6/17/2024

About Wildcat:
In this poignant narrative, our protagonist, a retired English teacher, returns to his roots, lured back to the once-shuttered Hotel Wildcat, now revitalized as a collective endeavor. As he ventures through this transformed community, a new world unfolds before his eyes. The former mine, once a symbol of tragedy, now thrives as a flourishing mushroom farm. The dairy emerges as a purveyor of wholesome organic milk products, while the mill stands as a vibrant hub for sustainable and artisanal creations.

Yet amidst this promising rebirth, Wildcat’s ominous history remains inescapable—the haunting era of explosions and closures. Similarly, our protagonist’s own dark past resurfaces, entwined with memories of his working-class girlfriend, an indomitable spirit adorned in the trappings of a resilient hippie chic. As he embarks on the ambitious endeavor of penning his memoir—an intimate chronicle you now hold in your hands—he captures both the triumphs and tragedies of those who grappled with the devastating changes that swept through their lives.

Review:

A retired English teacher returns to the small Appalachian mining town of Wildcat where he lived for a year of high school. During that year, he found friendship, love and witnessed a series of traumatizing events that shook the town and its inhabitants. The mine that the townspeople relied on for their economy blew up, killing three. Leaving soon after for college, the narrator misses the fallout and rebuilding after the explosion. Upon his return, he learns that everything has changed and yet nothing has changed. He falls back in with his friend Dominic and explores the town's new businesses, honey, mushroom ink and leather as well as produce. However, he still must confront the real reason for his return, Carolyn, his high school girlfriend and the ghosts he left in Wildcat.

Wildcat: An Appalachian Romance is an ode to an Appalachian town, it's people and their resilience. The writing is very natural, poetic, and shows a flow of thought as the narrator creates a story that you are experiencing along with him at the moment. It took me a little bit to get into this flow with the writing, but once I was in it, the story moved very quickly. The writing felt very cathartic as the narrator observed the changes to Wildcat since he left and simultaneously reflected on the past of the characters and how Wildcat has sculpted them. I loved the addition of the shadows as characters, an element of magical realism that everyone acknowledged and added to the ambiance of the area. Overall, a beautiful, fast paced story of change and redemption.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

About the Author:
Jeffrey Dunn, a literary luminary renowned for his cultural fiction, has mesmerized readers with captivating works like the magical Wildcat, An Appalachian Romance, the critically acclaimed Radio Free Olympia, the enchanting Dream Fishing the Little Spokane, and his mesmerizing collection of poems titled Hubcap Collection Plate. Overcoming dyslexia, Dunn earned a Ph.D. in Culture Studies and English literature, leaving an indelible mark on the literary world during his illustrious forty-one-year teaching and writing career.