Review: OtherEarth

OtherEarth by Jason Segel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OtherEarth is the second book in the Last Reality series by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller.  I definitely recommend reading the books in order.  I think this book will be more enjoyable if you understand the stakes set up by the first book.  

You don't have to be a gamer to enjoy these books, but it certainly helps!  I love a book about a video game or virtual reality.  This series is right in my wheelhouse.  OtherEarth starts to blur the lines between the "real" world and the "virtual" world as the characters are on the run from/trying to stop the nefarious Company from its evil agenda.  And even though I know it is terribly wrong, I can't help but want to try this tech that augments "reality" and makes VR indistinguishable from "reality."  What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, right?  

Why do I keep putting "reality" in quotes?  My fellow Cartesian skeptics know why.  

Bonus points for the Dame Judi Dench cameos.  

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Review: Bewitched

Bewitched by Darynda Jones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bewitched is the second book in the Betwixt & Between series by Darynda Jones.  You will want to start with book one.  The books are fast-paced enough that it is worth the investment to start at the beginning.  While I think anyone could enjoy these books, they may be especially relevant to women in my age-range, born in the 70s.  I say that because the humor and pop culture references are definitely geared toward my demographic.  When Defiance and her best friend, Annette, have a conversation in song lyrics, it was not only clever but totally something I would do.

In book two, we learn more about Defiance's background and her powers.  There are some real heart-touching moments.  Overall though, the books are a little bit spooky, a little bit mystery, a little bit spicy, and a lot bit funny. If you like witches, ghosts, and other paranormal things, this is a fun series.    

Bonus points for a spunky cat, a talking bird, and a man in a kilt!

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Review: Static Ruin

Static Ruin by Corey J. White
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Static Ruin is the third and final novella in the Voidwitch Saga series by Corey J. White.  I have waited so long to read it because I couldn't stand the thought of not having another one of these books to look forward to.  So of course, I am going to tell you to read all three in order.  They're novellas for crying out loud.  Just do it already.  

Following Mars on her journey has been a...pleasure is probably not the right word...She's been through hell.  She's killed a lot of people.  Yet, she is loyal to those she cares about.  I'm going to miss her.  

All the bonus points for Ocho.  I love Ocho so much!  I don't know why I envision Ocho as a cross between a sugar glider and a cat, but I do.  I think it is the gliding membranes even though Ocho is very feline in behavior.  This is also the first time that I realized Mars calls Ocho by making a kissing noise.  This is exactly how I call my cat, Izzy.  She's the only cat I know that answers to that sound.  Does that make me a voidwitch? You don't want to find out.

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Review: Hollywood Z: A Hollywood Alphabet Series Thriller

Hollywood Z: A Hollywood Alphabet Series Thriller by M.Z. Kelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hollywood Z is the 26th and final book in the Hollywood Alphabet series by M.Z. Kelly.  You could read this as a standalone book if you are one of those people that reads the last page of a book first.  For those of you who have read all the others, congratulations on making it to the end!  Kelly answers the outstanding questions and gives all the characters you've met some form of resolution.  Not without a few surprises along the way though!  There will also be some laughs and tears too.  Overall, it was a good way to finish off the series.

Bonus points for Bernie who will always be my favorite character in this series.  

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Review: Serpentine

Serpentine by Philip Pullman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Serpentine is a between the His Dark Materials series and the Book of Dust series by Philip Pullman.  It is so short I read it in one devouring.  This is a story for those of use who can never get enough of Lyra and Pan and love any excuse to spend some time with them.  We learn a few things we may have suspected but were never confirmed in the other books.  I also enjoyed the illustrations by Tom Duxbury.

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Review: Bloodless

Bloodless by Douglas Preston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bloodless is the 20th book in the Pendergast series by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.  You probably could read this as a standalone, but I would recommend at least reading the other ones with Agent Coldmoon first to give you some context of the Pendergast universe.  Also, I recommend reading some of the others first because this one is really different from its predecessors.  If this is your first book, you might think the others are like this.  Nope.  I like the Pendergast series because Agent Pendergast is very Sherlockian, but the stories often have a tinge of supernatural to them.  But Bloodless veers right into science fiction/fantasy territory with the investigation into the Savannah Vampire killings.  I was totally shocked and not sure what this means for the future of the series.  I don't want to spoil anything, so I will just say there was another storyline in the book that was totally in my wheelhouse.  The only thing I didn't like about it is it led to saying goodbye (forever?) to a beloved character.  

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Review: 21st Birthday

21st Birthday by James Patterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

21st Birthday is the 21st book in the Women's Murder Club series by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro.  While I recommend starting at the beginning of the series, you could read this as a standalone.  The story doesn't require any previous knowledge of the characters to be enjoyable.  

The plot at the center of 21st Birthday is one all too familiar.  A woman and her child disappear after a fight with her husband.  The husband, who happens to be cheating on his wife with someone else, claims to have nothing to do with it.  How it unravels may make even the most seasoned professional question themselves.    

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