CJ Tudor is a very popular thriller author, but I have a love/hate relationship with a lot of her books. They're either just ok for me, or I love themCJ Tudor is a very popular thriller author, but I have a love/hate relationship with a lot of her books. They're either just ok for me, or I love them (The Hiding Place, which seems to be everyone's least favorite of hers, is my favorite). Her upcoming novel, THE DRIFT, is definitely one of my favorites, but it's not what you'd expect.
THE DRIFT is not a thriller, but more so a dystopian/post-apocalyptic horror novel. Taking place in a world ravaged by a deadly, highly contagious virus (cough cough), the world has been decimated and civilization is on the brink of extinction. The story focuses on three lead protagonists - Hannah, Meg, and Carter. Each of the three leads are struggling to escape certain doom (you'll find out what's going on in the story), but with this world in shambles, a virus isn't the only thing they have to worry about.
This book is kind of a mess at times, but I had so much fun. It's messy and chaotic, but a wild fast-paced ride. Is it the most exquisite piece of fiction literature ever? No. Are there some plot holes? Yes. Were there moments that didn't make sense because there needed more world building? Sure. Did I have a blast reading it? Absolutely. This is a perfect example of a bare bones locked-room mystery. I think people will either love or HATE this book, but honestly that makes the best discussions. I think CJ Tudor just sold me on reading her next book....more
Gretchen Felker-Martin's upcoming dystopian, science fiction novel, Manhunt is quite literally the most bizarre, yet ultimately gratifying journey Gretchen Felker-Martin's upcoming dystopian, science fiction novel, Manhunt is quite literally the most bizarre, yet ultimately gratifying journey I've ever taken with a book. Without giving too much away, the story focuses on a world in which men are turned feral. Beth and Fran are the two main characters and they work together to hunt feral men and harvest their organs. In doing so, this helps the duo survive. In this world, not only are feral men a danger to those who have survived this apocalypse so far, but there's also a group of murderous TERFs coming after them. Beth and Fran have a lot of hope, but they will need to organize and establish ways in which they can defeat the growing number of adversaries.
Manhunt is not sci-fi lite, aka the science fiction novels I like. It touches on the ridiculousness at times with some of the world building, but at the same time, doesn't most dystopian/apocalyptic novels do that? This book; however, touches on many types of societal issues that trans women and men face in today's current political and social climate through symbolism and metaphorical writing. While reading this book, although we aren't going through an apocalyptic world, I could understand and appreciate how the author was conveying this story. If you pick up this story, I urge you to also note that on 카지노싸이트, many transphobic readers are giving this book 1-star with zero review. I urge you to all keep that in consideration while reviewing to combat hate. This book probably was a 3 star read for me, but I am bumping it up to 4 to try and combat the hate shown in the feed. If you enjoy heavily sciencecy science fiction novels (wow, I'm such a way with words), definitely pick this one up!...more
Before I get started. To Paradise is not, and will never be, A Little Life. Do not even think to compare the two books before jumping into Hanya YBefore I get started. To Paradise is not, and will never be, A Little Life. Do not even think to compare the two books before jumping into Hanya Yanagihara's 2022 novel or you will be disappointed.
There's a new trend that I'm seeing lately—first with Anthony Doerr's Cloud Cuckoo Land and now with Hanya Yanagihara's To Paradise, where the story is an epic tale told across multiple timelines and characters, separate from each other, but providing major themes and takeaways for the reader. With To Paradise, we are given three stories, separate from each other, but provided in alternative universes from each other.
Book 1 takes place in 1893 and is ultimately my favorite section. In a world where the United States is broken into the "Free States" of the Northeast and "The Colonies" of the South, the story focuses in the North where gay and queer people are celebrated and able to marry whomever they want. We follow David Bingham and his family's legacy in the Free States. David is the only unwed Bingham out of his siblings, with his grandfather aggressively pushing for David to marry. David's dilemma in a world where marriage and love may feel free, he ultimately is given choices that say otherwise.
Book 2 takes place during the HIV crisis between a couple with a major age discrepancy. The younger partner, with a heritage and life that his partner and friends can't relate. I don't want to give up anything with this section, but I will say that this section felt most like the world in which we live in, but during the 1980s.
Book 3 is the biggest portion of the book, about half of the entire book takes place during this time. This world is in the future—their current day is 2093, with flashbacks from 50 years ago and so on. This section is a destitute place of totalitarian rule. A world in which climate change, pandemics, hunger, and the lack of freedoms have run rampant. This world is a dark perception of what may possibly come in our world's progression in time.
Without giving anything away, To Paradise is a book in which characters are hypothesized to be parts of different "universes" and in different versions of themselves with the worlds they are given. The book at times may seem like a work of fiction, but the topics in this book are very relatable (race, sexuality, family, financial security). I still am unsure quite honestly about what I read, but I read over 700 pages so I definitely think this book was ultimately a winner from me. You will not cry like you did in A Little Life, nor will you ever feel personally connected to the characters, but you will be hypnotized by Yanagihara's compelling storytelling. I did not expect this book to turn out the way it did, which is definitely a gripping way for anything I like to read. This book will have a lot of lovers and haters, and I can't wait for the conversations. ...more
Just like it's predecessor, I finished Malorie in one sitting. When I read Bird Box prior to the Netflix film release, I was stunned at it's atmosJust like it's predecessor, I finished Malorie in one sitting. When I read Bird Box prior to the Netflix film release, I was stunned at it's atmospheric, claustrophobic horror and couldn't put it down. To say that Malorie is similar would be an understatement. Taking place immediately following the end on the first book, we then flash-forward a decade into the apocalypse and see the world in different light. With Malorie, Tom, and Olympia working together as a family, they get peculiar, yet intriguing evidence about some findings that force the trio to investigate for themselves. I will not spoil anything for you, so that's what you get from me.
Once I turned to first page, I could not put Malorie down. Josh Malerman's level of psychological panic (as I'd like to describe it as) is deeply unsettling and yet, so cinematic in the best way possible. It's no wonder that Bird Box did so well, both as a book and as a movie. I just know horror fans' expectations will be fulfilled with Malorie. I couldn't recommend it enough. Let's hope they make a Netflix sequel, I'm going to be holding out hope!...more
When I stumbled across Kassandra Montag's debut novel, After the Flood, I was hesitant. I feel like 2019 is the year that killed thrillers, so autWhen I stumbled across Kassandra Montag's debut novel, After the Flood, I was hesitant. I feel like 2019 is the year that killed thrillers, so authors are branching out to other genres, and dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels are popping out all over. After being told by the lovely Chelsea that this book is unputdownable, I decided to give it a go. Folks, she has never been more right in her life. Montag's debut novel is dripping with action, but it's also a beautifully tragic character study about peoples' will to survive after a chaotic natural disaster.
With the Amazon Rainforest currently burning up in flames, it's no shocker to anyone that climate change is very real. Without diving too much into the past of how and why, After the Flood takes place in the future where a majority of the world is now decimated by intense water level rising. With only the highest points of mountains left as fertile and inhabitable land, many survivors live on boats or ships, trying to survive with the basic necessities. With all dystopian and post-apocalyptic novels, this new world is far from perfect, with crime and corruption running rampant. Our main character, Myra tries to take care of her young daughter Pearl, while also providing a life where the two can not just survive, but try to flourish. Years back, her husband and oldest daughter were taken from her and she's still not ready to give up the search. When she gets information about the possible whereabouts of her family, Myra will stop at nothing to find them. Will this new world allow Myra to reunite with her family or does she have to give up hope and just accept this reality?
After the Flood is the best dystopian/post-apocalyptic novel that I've ever read. There I said it. It's heartbreaking, real, dark, and truly mesmerizing. It's over 400 pages and I finished the entire book in less than 24 hours because I just couldn't put it down! If there's one book that I could tell you to put on your radar this fall, it's After the Flood. I can totally see this becoming a Netflix film and I see big things coming for Kassandra Montag!...more
Christina Henry is well-known in the publishing world for her dark, apocalyptic retellings of some of our favorite fairy tales. Her Chronicles of AlicChristina Henry is well-known in the publishing world for her dark, apocalyptic retellings of some of our favorite fairy tales. Her Chronicles of Alice duology was widely received and her other works have been enjoyed by many fans for years. I always think a good retelling, mixed with a little horror and fantasy could be fun, but I never seem to feel connected to them. Henry's The Girl in Red changed that for me.
Cordelia, nicknamed Red, is on an mission to get to her grandmother's remote cabin in the woods. Society has fallen, due to a mysterious viral outbreak that has decimated society. She's alone in this journey, but she is prepared to defend herself anyway possible. With society on the brink of extinction, survivors are desperate for survival, and Red's biggest threat isn't the virus—it's who's out there left.
The Girl in Red was a fun survival novel, and it wasn't as gruesomely dark at Alice, which was nice because it didn't have gratuitous rape or violence for no reason. I enjoyed following along with Red and her adventures, and the story ends on a note that could be interpreted in multiple ways. I did not love how the story ended, but I will probably be in the minority with that critique. As Red set out in her adventures, the characters crafted to keep the story going were enjoyable and personable—everyone served a purpose. The story has Before and After POV's, and I really enjoyed the After POV, but respected the author's choice to show how the outbreak crumbled society. If you enjoy dystopian novels, and want to read an interesting retelling, The Girl in Red may be your best bet. ...more
This will be a mini review from me, since Bird Box is a short, fast-paced read that packs a punch, and I don't think you need me to tell you that!This will be a mini review from me, since Bird Box is a short, fast-paced read that packs a punch, and I don't think you need me to tell you that! A mysterious force has arrived on Earth, and one look of it will forever ruin your mental state. You will become suicidal and homicidal—you will think irrationally, and will go mad. This force does not discriminate, and anyone in its path will be destroyed. As the world as we know it is decimated and left in destruction, a few survivors begin thinking of new ways to survive. All windows and anything in the outside world has been boarded up and covered, and people are blindfolded when walking outside. These creatures seem to only affect people while they are looking at them, but there hasn't been any other physical threat.
Majorie is pregnant, and is given shelter by this small militia, run by this man named Tom. Tom is nurturing, but a powerful force in the group, providing shelter and help for those who need it. Four years later, Marjorie is by herself with two children, and she's decided it's time to make a trip that she's been dreading since the children's births. Why'd Marjorie leave the militia? She must take them outside and travel to a new undisclosed location. Marjorie, and two four year olds will make a trip that could possibly end everything for them. Will they survive or will the path be led to destruction?
The reason why Bird Box is so intense and brutal (I mean this in the best way possible), is that it's supernatural enough to be original, but it doesn't go too into the story to make it a ridiculous plot ploy. We only touch the situation at surface level, which leads us to our own imaginations as to what is actually going on—and that, my friends, is what will scare us the most. This book was fun, and very binge worthy, so I recommend picking it up before the Netflix movie is released. We all know the adaption is never as good as the book!...more
LIFEL1K3 is one of those truly original books that I just know will make an epic movie someday #FirstInLine LIFEL1K3 is a dystopian futuristicLIFEL1K3 is one of those truly original books that I just know will make an epic movie someday #FirstInLine LIFEL1K3 is a dystopian futuristic novel taking place in a new era of pollution, civil unrest, technological advances, and conflict. We are given a world of cyborgs, machinas, automatas, and logikas. Each of these artificial intelligent bots have a different range of power, intellect, and sovereignty in this new world—living among the human race. The main character, Eve, battles robots in challenges, but is supported by her friends Lemon and robot Cricket. The trio are attached at the hip—doing everything together and protecting each other in a world that is more unsafe than ever before. After a victorious battle, Eve and team stumble across the ruins of an android boy. Quick on her feet, Eve decides to rescue this android in hopes of salvaging his life. When she brings this android back home to her grandpa's house, all hell breaks loose. Eve has just opened the pandora's box of secrets, and they aren't ready for what's to come.
LIFEL1K3 is so rich in it's atmospheric content that it's nearly impossible for anyone not to feel immersed into the story. This world is truly remarkable to read about! As everybody who follows me knows, I am viciously strict on my reviews for science-fiction/fantasy novels—LIFEL1K3 is a strong story, with a childlike banter. I understand that this novel was written for young readers in mind, but after getting immersed in the setting and time period, I wanted more. I wish the story was darker, with a sharper, deeper dialogue. The story felt a little campy to me, and I had definitely rolled my eyes several times throughout the story. However, this does not take away from the fact that Jay Kristoff has created a world in which people will love to read about, watch about (I'm telling you, this movie deal is coming folks!), and learn more about. I'm definitely going to continue on with this dystopian futuristic world, and I hope you will come along for the ride with me.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and Netgalley for the e-copy in exchange for my honest review....more
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