My Book Reviews

Category: Anthologies

  • The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities: New Stories About Mythic Heroes

    The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities: New Stories About Mythic Heroes

    The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities

    The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities: New Stories About Mythic Heroes by Rick Riordan  

    Release: September 28th 2021
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents
    Source: Rockstar Book Tours
    Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

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    Best selling author Rick Riordan presents ten new stories–including one of his own, about beloved heroes that sprang from the imaginations of some of the best middle grade authors working today.

    A cave monster, an abandoned demon ,a ghost who wants to erase history, a killer commandant . . . These are just some of the challenges confronting the young heroes in this highly entertaining anthology.

    All but one of the heroes previously starred in a popular book from Rick Riordan Presents. You”ll be reunited with all the previous heroes. Who is the new hero? Read Rick Riordan”s short story to find out!

    Ten bestselling and award-winning middle grade authors contributed to this collection  and Rick Riordan, who also served as the editor.

    The cultures represented by these own voices stories are: Indian, Mesoamerican, Korean, Cuban, Black American, African, Navajo, Mexican, Mesopotamian, and Celtic.

    There’s something for everyone in this collection of fast-paced and funny adventure stories that show what it takes to be a hero in any time, setting, and universe.

    About the Author:

    Rick Riordan, dubbed “storyteller of the gods” by Publishers Weekly, is the author of five #1 New York Times best-selling middle grade series with millions of copies sold throughout the world. Among them, are Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Heroes of Olympus, and the Trials of Apollo, based on Greek and Roman mythology.  the Kane Chronicles, based on Ancient Egyptian mythology; and Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, based on Norse mythology.

    Rick collaborated with illustrator John Rocco on two #1 New York Times best-selling collections of Greek myths for the whole family viz Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods and Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes. His most recent book is Daughter of the Deep, a modern take on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. 

    Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

    The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities Review:

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    “The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities” is a creative collection of tales featuring some of our favorite characters!

    “Beware the Grove of True Love” was my favorite! I love the Aru Shah series, and this one was awesome! The author takes the classic Indian tale of Dushyanta and Shakuntala and weaves it into Aru’s world, and I loved it! My second favorite was “Bruto and the Freaky Flower,” as I love Paola Santiago, and it was exciting to see her fight the scary chupacabras and save Bruto with Dante. My third favorite story was “The Demon Drum.” Even though I haven’t read “Race to the Sun,” I loved the plot surrounding the curse and how it connected with the drums. Davery and Nizhoni also made a nice pair. “The Loneliest Demon” and “My Life as a Child Outlaw” was also memorable.

    “Calamity Juice” was a mixed bag because I have not read the Sal and Gabi series. However, I did find the story very creative as Sal and Gabi search for Gladis, and we meet characters like Norberto and Yasmany along the way. Similarly, even “The Cave of Doom” was fun as Brooke and Zane encounter a demon even though I have not read the Storm Runner series.

    However, there were stories that I had not read the original books of, like Dragon Pearl, and still enjoyed “The Initiation.” This story was entertaining as Min starts her assignment on the Thousand Worlds Domestic Security Ministry. I loved Duri in the story. Similarly, Gum Baby was hilarious, and I laughed at the scene where the room gets covered with spoiled honey.

    Overall, this book would be perfect if you are already familiar with the characters before reading the tale. Else, it might be a hit or miss with some readers.

    Giveaway Details:

    3 winners will win a finished copy of THE CURSED CARNIVAL AND OTHER CALAMITIES, US Only.

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Book Tour Schedule

    The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities

    I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities: New Stories About Mythic Heroes by Rick Riordan  Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

    Week One:>
    YA Books Central-Excerpt-9-1-2021
    Kait Plus Books-Excerpt-9-2-2021
    Rajiv’s Reviews-Review-9-3-2021
    @Curlygrannylovestoread -Review-9-4-2021

    Week Two:
    #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog-Review-9-5-2021
    A Dream Within A Dream-Review-9-6-2021
    Nonbinary Knight Reads-Review-9-7-2021
    The Bookwyrm’s Den-Review-9-8-2021
    Log Cabin Library-Review-9-9-2021
    Lifestyle of Me-Review-9-10-2021
    Emelie’s Books-Review-9-11-2021

    Week Three:
    @pagesofyellow-Review-9-12-2021
    Locks, Hooks and Books-Review-9-13-2021
    More Books Please blog -Review-9-14-2021
    Little Red Reads-Review-9-15-2021
    Don’t Judge, Read-Review-9-16-2021
    Fyrekatz Blog-Review-9-17-2021
    booksaremagictoo-Review-9-18-2021

    Week Four:
    The Phantom Paragrapher-Review-9-19-2021
    BookHounds YA-Excerpt-9-20-2021
    Cindy’s Love of Books-Review-9-21-2021
    dinipandareads-Review-9-22-2021
    hauntedbybooks-Review-9-23-2021
    Books a Plenty Book Reviews-Review-9-24-2021
    Books and Zebras @jypsylynn -Review-9-25-2021

    Week Five:
    The Momma Spot-Review-9-26-2021
    Zainey Laney-Review-9-27-2021
    @fictitious.fox-Review-9-28-2021
    Two Points of Interest-Review-9-29-2021
    PopTheButterfly Reads-Review-9-30-2021

  • When a Stranger Comes to Town by Michael Koryta

    When a Stranger Comes to Town by Michael Koryta

    When a Stranger Comes to Town

    When a Stranger Comes to Town by Michael Koryta

    Release: April 20th, 2021
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Hanover Square Press
    Source: Amazon
    Find it at Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, Kobo.

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    The latest Mystery Writers of America story collection, featuring terrifying tales of encounters with strangers from some of the top bestsellers and award winners in crime fiction 

    It’s been said that all great literature boils down to one of two stories. A man takes a journey, or a stranger comes to town. Always mystery writers have been successfully using both approaches for generations. However, there’s something undeniably alluring like a stranger either as an uninvited guest, the unacquainted neighbor, or the fish out of water.

    No matter how or where they appear, strangers are walking mysteries.  They are complete unknowns in once familiar territories who disrupt our lives with unease and wonder. In the Mystery Writers of America’s newest collection of stories, each author weaves a fresh tale. An eerie feeling comes when a stranger enters our midst—these feature stories by prolific mystery writers such as Michael Connelly, Dean Koontz, and Joe Hill.

    About the Author:

    Michael Koryta is the New York Times-bestselling author of 14 suspense novels. Stephen King and many others have praised his work.  They have been translated into more than 20 languages. His books have won nominations for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize etc.  Various publications as diverse as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal have selected  them as “best books of the year.”

    His recent thriller Those Who Wish Me Dead was the summer’s best thriller in Amazon and Entertainment Weekly.

    Before turning to write full-time, Michael worked as a private investigator and as a newspaper reporter. And he taught at the Indiana University School of Journalism. As a journalist, he won numerous awards from the Society of Professional Journalists.

    Michael was from Bloomington, Indiana, and graduated from Bloomington North High School in 2001.  Later he graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

    Michael’s passions outside of writing and reading involve various outdoor pursuits like hiking, camping, boating, and fishing when he’s not working on a new book. Some of his favorite spots in the world are the Beartooth Mountains, the setting of Those Who Wish Me Dead, and a place to which he returns at least twice a year.

    Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

    When a Stranger Comes to Town Review:

    “When a Stranger Comes to Town” was such a treat to read. 

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    I enjoyed reading this anthology of mystery and thrillers. The book contains an eclectic selection of stories that kept me entertained. This book has a wide variety of stories, from assassins to U.F.O.s. Moreover, the tone of each level is different from one another. You have tales like “Assignment: Sheepshead Bay,” “Avalon,” and “Exit Now” that fills with adventure. Then, there were stories like “Kohinoor,” which I appreciated for its brutal depiction of Indian exotic club dancers. Similarly, even “Tokyo Stranger” moved my heart as it came across as an emotional tale. However, while I enjoyed all the stories, the below topped my list and made the book memorable.

    A Six-Letter Word for Neighbor: I loved the slow burn mystery and Jay as the main character. The author wrote it in a thrilling, cozy mystery fashion glued to the pages (particularly when they get in the basement). 

    Here’s to New Friends: Probably one of my favorites! A simple tale with just three people on a train. But, I was at the edge of my seat throughout, and the ending shocked me!

    A Different Kind of Healing/Solomon Wept: I loved both these stories for their tale of revenge and justice, and it reminded me of “Kill Bill.”

    P.F.A.: Janice made this story memorable and had me laughing. I loved her snarky attitude towards the new neighbors, and it had a delightfully twisted ending too. 

    The remaining stories were also fun, like “Seat 2C” and “Room for one more,” but felt short and light compared to the others. Nevertheless, this is a beautiful selection of novellas which I highly recommend if you are a fan of mysteries and thrillers!