Musings of a Bookish Kitty

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Wishing for Wednesday: Only Human

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings to

spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read.

Only Human (Themis Files, #3) by Sylvain Neuvel
Release Date: May 1, 2018 by Del Rey Books

World War Z meets The Martian in the explosive follow-up to Sleeping Giants (“One of the most promising series kickoffs in recent memory”—NPR) and Waking Gods (“Pure, unadulterated literary escapism”—Kirkus Reviews).

In her childhood, Rose Franklin accidentally discovered a giant metal hand buried beneath the ground outside Deadwood, South Dakota. As an adult, Dr. Rose Franklin led the team that uncovered the rest of the body parts which together form Themis: a powerful robot of mysterious alien origin. She, along with linguist Vincent, pilot Kara, and the unnamed Interviewer, protected the Earth from geopolitical conflict and alien invasion alike. Now, after nearly ten years on another world, Rose returns to find her old alliances forfeit and the planet in shambles. And she must pick up the pieces of the Earth Defense Corps as her own friends turn against each other. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this one: First I have to read the first two books in the series, which I would really like to do. And then I can read this one. I have heard such great things about this series. I hope to get to it soon.

Have you read any of the books in this series?
What upcoming releases are you looking forward to?

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Monday, April 16, 2018

Bookish Thoughts: One Fell Sweep by Ilona Andrews

A faint chime tugged me out of sleep. ~ Opening of One Fell Sweep

One Fell Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles #3) by Ilona Andrews
NYLA, 2016
Science Fiction/Fantasy; 340 pgs

Source: I purchased a copy for my own reading pleasure.

Initially, I did not think I would like One Fell Sweep as much as I did the first two books in the series, but I was wrong. I loved this one just as much, if not more.

Dina is always on the lookout for her parents, innkeepers like herself who disappeared along with their inn years ago. Hers and her brother’s search for them has come up empty so far. She still waits and hopes that one day someone who comes by her inn will see her parents’ photo and give away some hint of what may have happened to them. Meanwhile, Dina has an inn to run, catering to other worldly beings humans wouldn’t believe really existed. She is also trying to help her friend, Sean, a werewolf, who has seen and been through too much. Post-Traumatic Stress of the variety only a soldier would truly understand.

When a messenger delivers word of a plea for help from Dina’s sister and niece, she drops everything to go to their rescue. Traveling to a planet where no respectable person (or alien) would go, Dina, Aided by Sean and her vampire friend, Dina might have a fighting chance of saving them.

On top of that, Dina has taken in a new guest, a very rare species on the verge of extinction called a Hiru. He asks Dina for help in getting his people safely to a new planet. It would mean her collecting certain individuals and bringing them all together in one place. In exchange, the guest offers Dina something she wants more than anything. An answer that might lead her to her parents.

Unfortunately, a tribe of religious mercenaries is hell-bent on killing every last member of the Hiru. They believe it is a direct way to reach Heaven. Dina, of course, can’t let that happen. Pitted against one of the worst enemies she has ever faced, Dina will need all of her strength and magic and the aid of her inn, Gertrude Hunt, along with the help of her friends to defeat them.

There were several moments of breath holding, a cry out loud or two (my daughter reassured me everything would be okay), and there would have been a lot of nail-biting if I were a nail biter. I even shed a few tears, especially near the end.

I continue to be in awe of all Dina can do. And I am definitely on team Dina and Sean. I enjoyed getting to know Dina’s sister and her niece, Helen. I wouldn’t want to go against that little girl! I appreciated how Arland, the vampire, stepped in for the girl and how he was willing to give Maud her space. I can understand Maud wanting nothing to do with the vampires ever again given what she’s been through. But I do hope she’ll give Arland a chance.

Can I just say how much I love Gertrude Hunt? I want to live there! I want to be able to shape the rooms just as I want them as well.

As with the previous books, there is humor mixed in with this high tension novel. It’s such a fun series and I am dying to read more.

Ilona Andrews is a husband and wife writing team. For more information about the authors and their books, visit their website.

Saturday, April 14, 2018

Weekly Mews: My New Kindle & April TBR Poll Winner!

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by the wonderful Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where participants recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about.

Today will be a busy day for us--lots of running around. I am looking forward to a lazy day tomorrow. Hopefully I can do some of that catching up on my blog (and commenting) that I keep saying I will do. It has been a crazy few weeks with no end yet in sight.

My mom got home safely and her surgery yesterday went well from all reports. I couldn't be there for her, but the waiting room was full of family and friends who could. She is home now and resting. We should hear from the doctor in a few days. From what I heard this morning from my brother, my mom is already up and trying to do things around her house. She isn't one to stay down for long--even when she should be resting! Thanks again for all your prayers and kind thoughts!

My back is still giving me a bit of trouble. I mostly am having to be careful with how I bend and how much I carry. I made the mistake last night of loading the laundry basket up too much with clean clothes and then carrying it up the stairs. It made for a rough night and little sleep.

My Oasis arrived in the mail early this week! I haven't actually used it yet, other than to set it up. I want to start with the "right" book. It's more compact than I imagined it to be, but I love the feel of it in my hands. I think I am going to like it quite a bit!

Front Cover

Back Cover

Inside

What I Am Reading: I really struggled early in the week with what to read next (too many choices!). I kept going with Les Misérables and War and Peace as a result. That isn't a bad thing, of course, but I don't want to get too far ahead. I am really enjoying both now, so it is not hard to do.

I started on Jean Johnson's Dawn of the Flame Sea and am now nearly done with it. I do not know what I expected, but it wasn't what I got. The jury is still out on this one. The book got off to an interesting start though. It is lagging right now though, so I hope something happens soon to pick things up.

What I Am Watching: I am caught up with The Walking Dead, but will likely not get to see the season finale until later next week (I do not watch television live very often). I missed all of last season of Fear of the Walking Dead, but do plan to watch the third season anyway. If only for Morgan. I also have been watching Timeless, which I kind of like, but am still on the fence about--just as I have been since the show first aired. Why do I keep watching, you ask? It has everything to do with the history aspect. I am not at all thrilled about the current turn of events in the show though.

This Week In Reading Mews:

Tell me about what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching? How was your week? Do you have anything planned for this coming week?

Thank you for helping me decide what book from my TBR collection I should read next:

My TBR List is a meme hosted by the awesome Michelle at Because Reading. It’s a fun way to choose a book from your TBR pile to read. The 1st Saturday of every month, I will list 3 books I am considering reading and take a poll as to which you think I should read. I will read the winner that month, and my review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise).

It was a close race, but it looks like The Girl From the Savoy by Hazel Gaynor won with 12 votes to The Girl Who Came Home's 11 votes. A Memory of Violets only received 4 votes in the end. I am really excited to be jumping into a Hazel Gaynor novel, and look forward to reading The Girl From the Savoy. It does sound good! Thank you to all who voted in this month's poll!

Thank you for voting! I hope you all have a wonderful April and Happy Reading!

What is good for a doll and a cat is good for a dog (my mom's) too.

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Bookish Thoughts: Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews

A man walked into a darkened room, moving on silent feet. ~ Opening of Sweep in Peace

Sweep in Peace (Innkeeper Chronicles #2) by Ilona Andrews

NYLA, 2015
Science Fiction/Fantasy; 257 pgs

Sweep in Peace is the second book in the Innkeeper Chronicles. For those who do not know, Dina is an Innkeeper, and Gertrude Hunt is her Inn. She takes in wayward travelers from other worlds, protecting human beings from knowing just how big their world really is—aliens, other planets and all. She is reluctant to say yes when approached by an Arbitrator who shows up on her doorstep, asking her to host a peace summit. She is desperate, however, with bills to pay and in need of the guests who will help keep Gertrude Hunt alive. All other inns have turned the Arbitrator down, a sign of just how dangerous and impossible peace between the three warring factions will be.

Opening her doors to the Hope-Crushing Horde, Vampires and the Merchants of Baha-char, Dina takes her chances. It is a big task that she is not sure she is up to, but feels as if she has no other choice. Hiring a disgraced but talented chef, Dina does what she can to prepare and hopes her guests will not murder each other.

Sweep the Peace offered an even closer look at the world Ilona Andrews’ has created in their series. The three factions are fighting over a planet, having been at war for years with no end in sight. The death toll on all sides is high. The Horde and Vampires want complete control over the planet and the merchants want to establish a colony of their own as well as set up trade. All seems rather hopeless, and Dina is at a loss of what to do.

Tension was even higher in Sweep in Peace than it had been in the first novel, and at times it got quite dark, given the subject of war and the strife. Some might suggest that fantasy or science fiction is too “out there” or not real enough, but it is often closer to reality than we may want to believe. Perhaps not in creature or character, but in overall message and conflict. And that would be true in this instance. I liked the “human” side that the authors provide in Sweep in Peace. A reminder of all that is lost in war.

True to form, the book was lightened with humor inserted here and there (and more literary references, which I adored). I liked the various twists in this one, unexpected most of them, and appreciated the bond between inn and innkeeper even more. And, yes, you guessed right. I immediately went on to read the third book in the series.

Ilona Andrews is a husband and wife writing team. For more information about the authors and their books, visit their website.

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Wishing for Wednesday: Before Mars

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. (Based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.)

Before Mars (Planetfall #3) by Emma Newman
Release Date: April 17, 2018 by Ace

After months of travel, Anna Kubrick finally arrives on Mars for her new job as a geologist and de facto artist-in-residence. Already she feels like she is losing the connection with her husband and baby at home on Earth--and she'll be on Mars for over a year. Throwing herself into her work, she tries her best to fit in with the team.

But in her new room on the base, Anna finds a mysterious note written in her own handwriting, warning her not to trust the colony psychologist. A note she can't remember writing. She unpacks her wedding ring, only to find it has been replaced by a fake.

Finding a footprint in a place the colony AI claims has never been visited by humans, Anna begins to suspect that her assignment isn't as simple as she was led to believe. Is she caught up in an elaborate corporate conspiracy, or is she actually losing her mind? Regardless of what horrors she might discover, or what they might do to her sanity, Anna has find the truth before her own mind destroys her. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: I am hooked on this world Emma Newman has created and am already pulled into this one just from the description. What is going on?! I am curious about Anna and the situation she finds herself in. I must find out.

Does this interest you too?
What upcoming releases are you looking forward to?