A Soul to Keep by Opal Reyne

Available Now

Spring is in full swing on the farm and finding time to read has been a struggle! One of my favorite things to do when I’m short on reading time and can’t seem to pick out a book from either my own stash or upcoming arcs, is to hit Kindle Unlimited and find the most bonkers cover and dive right in.

It works every time.

I really enjoyed this wonderfully wild and slightly chaotic book. I do, of course, say this with love. While I found the world building to be a little uneven, I loved the characters and found their journey to love to be sweet, super hot, and quite adventurous.

Reia has been shunned by her entire village. Forced to live alone and treated horribly for supposedly bringing on the deaths of her family, Reia has been offered by the village to be a virgin sacrifice to a Duskwalker. Faced with with a lifetime of imprisonment, Reia has no choice but to be the one who ensures the Duskwalker renews the ward that keeps the village safe from demons.

But, of course, our Duskwalker is not the soulless monster that everyone assumes. He is instead a kind, caring, and thoughtful (as much as he can be) individual who has been horribly hurt by a previous lover and has his own emotional issues to overcome.

This was a fun book. Reia doesn’t really fear Orpheus, our Duskwalker, and that really throws him off. Every time she shows him the slightest kindness he nearly loses his mind with joy and Orpheus expresses his emotions through the glowing orbs that are his eyes which leads to some really cute scenes. Just like the cover, our hero has a skull for a head. Just a bony skull. When Reia discovers the different colors signify emotions, she is determined to see his “happy” colors as often as possible. It’s really quite sweet.

This book is also super hot. It’s a slow burn but it’s definitely worth the wait. Reyne’s Duskwalkers are incredibly complex and unique in their anatomy and that made for some wild and creative sexual adventures. Reia was forced to remain a virgin until her sacrifice to Orpheus, but don’t worry, he pledged to never touch her without her permission, and she is quite confused about her feelings and desires towards him. If you love the microtrope of a human discovering she digs a “monster,” you’re going to love this.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and already started the second book in the series. I’ve been on a bit of a monster romance kick and this was definitely worth the read.

If you’d like to add this book to your collection, it’s included in Kindle Unlimited or you can click on the cover, or here, for ordering information.

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Holiday Book Gift Guide: Action and Adventure Books for Kids

If you have a kiddo who loves a bit of adventure, maybe with a dash of danger, here are some of the most popular books getting checked out at my Library. All of these books contain kids, and maybe a couple of dogs, that set out to see our big wide world or, even better, are tasked with saving it. Click on the covers for ordering information and more about each book. Happy Reading!

Holiday Book Gift Guide: 9 Spooky Middle Grade Books That I Love

Here’s a post from October with my favorite middle grade spooky books for your young spooky book fan!

It’s Spooky Reading Season! These are some of the most popular books going out at the Library right now, and, they also happen to be some of my favorite middle grade horror novels. I’ve done my best to add in any content warnings that I remember from my reading, but as always, you may want to preview before handing these off to kids. All are super spooky but some contain more humor than spook so there should be something for everyone.

CW: Parental death, grief, bullying, threats to children

Eleven year-old Ollie has been dealt a tragic blow that is affecting her relationships at home and at school. When a magical book finds it’s way to her through troubling means, Ollie becomes obsessed with the book and the characters found within. Ollie’s obsession becomes reality when a class field trip takes her to the graves of the very people she is reading about.

Now, Ollie and two of her classmates must battle unimaginable forces to save themselves and the lives of their classmates.

CW: Violence, Mild Violence, Discrimination, Disability

From the Publisher: When Ned and his identical twin brother tumble from their raft into a raging river, only Ned survives. Villagers are convinced the wrong boy lived. Across the forest that borders Ned’s village, Áine, the daughter of the Bandit King, is haunted by her mother’s last words: “The wrong boy will save your life, and you will save his.” When the Bandit King comes to steal the magic Ned’s mother, a witch, is meant to protect, Áine and Ned meet. Can they trust each other long enough to cross a dangerous enchanted forest and stop the war about to boil over between their two kingdoms?

Barnhill is an excellent writer and crafts beautifully written fantasy stories about family and friendship.

Charlie Hernández loves the myths and stories his abuela told him growing up. When he begins to turn into something similar to a creature from one his favorite stories, Charlie knows he’s in for an adventure. Charlie is quickly thrown into a world of brujas, magic, monsters, and danger!

This is a great pick for kids who are looking for action, adventure, and lots of magic!

CW: Cruelty to Animals, Mild Language, Mild Violence

When Mup’s father is kidnapped by witches, Mup and her mother must set off on a journey to rescue him from the evil queen who has outlawed magic. This evil queen also happens to be her grandmother…

For readers who love a character on a magical journey, as well as family and political drama.

CW: Parental death, majority of the book takes place in a funeral parlor, kid danger and peril

When Molly’s neglectful father passes away, Molly returns to her mother’s home to collect her inheritance. What she finds, is a brother who doesn’t want her around and his business partner who really wants her to leave. But Molly is persistent and she has a plan to get what she wants.

What she doesn’t anticipate is the business she so badly wants a stake in is a mortuary for monsters.

Yep. She’s about to find out the supernatural is all around her and she and her brother will have to work together to keep the monsters safe.

CW: death of a grandparent, racism, segregation, harassment, gun violence

After the death of their grandmother, eleven year-old twins Jezebel and Jay begin training in root work with their uncle. Their family has crafted small potions and charms for their community for generations but when a dark force begins to threaten their home and community, Jez and Jay discover their magic goes far deeper.

An excellent story that weaves history, culture, magic, and mystery seamlessly.

Portal fantasy! When her parents go missing after a series of mysterious letters are delivered to their home, Emily must gather her courage and clues to rescue them. Emily discovers a parallel London, full of magic, mystery, and the fae.

This is book 1 in a 3 book series so if your Reader loves it, there are more books!

A funnier take on the spooky tale

This is a much lighter and funnier take on the spooky story. Will Hunter is dealing with his parent’s divorce, a move to a new town, and a brand new school. On top of all that stress, he seems to be the only one who notices all the spooky stuff in his town. There are monsters where his teachers should be and weird stuff all over the town’s streets. Luckily for Will, he makes friends with the school outcasts and together, they work to solve the mystery of the super spooky shenanigans.

This book is a ton of fun and has a mysterious secret narrator!


This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.


9 Spooky Middle Grade Books That I Love

It’s Spooky Reading Season! These are some of the most popular books going out at the Library right now, and, they also happen to be some of my favorite middle grade horror novels. I’ve done my best to add in any content warnings that I remember from my reading, but as always, you may want to preview before handing these off to kids. All are super spooky but some contain more humor than spook so there should be something for everyone.

CW: Parental death, grief, bullying, threats to children

Eleven year-old Ollie has been dealt a tragic blow that is affecting her relationships at home and at school. When a magical book finds it’s way to her through troubling means, Ollie becomes obsessed with the book and the characters found within. Ollie’s obsession becomes reality when a class field trip takes her to the graves of the very people she is reading about.

Now, Ollie and two of her classmates must battle unimaginable forces to save themselves and the lives of their classmates.

CW: Violence, Mild Violence, Discrimination, Disability

From the Publisher: When Ned and his identical twin brother tumble from their raft into a raging river, only Ned survives. Villagers are convinced the wrong boy lived. Across the forest that borders Ned’s village, Áine, the daughter of the Bandit King, is haunted by her mother’s last words: “The wrong boy will save your life, and you will save his.” When the Bandit King comes to steal the magic Ned’s mother, a witch, is meant to protect, Áine and Ned meet. Can they trust each other long enough to cross a dangerous enchanted forest and stop the war about to boil over between their two kingdoms?

Barnhill is an excellent writer and crafts beautifully written fantasy stories about family and friendship.

Charlie Hernández loves the myths and stories his abuela told him growing up. When he begins to turn into something similar to a creature from one his favorite stories, Charlie knows he’s in for an adventure. Charlie is quickly thrown into a world of brujas, magic, monsters, and danger!

This is a great pick for kids who are looking for action, adventure, and lots of magic!

CW: Cruelty to Animals, Mild Language, Mild Violence

When Mup’s father is kidnapped by witches, Mup and her mother must set off on a journey to rescue him from the evil queen who has outlawed magic. This evil queen also happens to be her grandmother…

For readers who love a character on a magical journey, as well as family and political drama.

CW: Parental death, majority of the book takes place in a funeral parlor, kid danger and peril

When Molly’s neglectful father passes away, Molly returns to her mother’s home to collect her inheritance. What she finds, is a brother who doesn’t want her around and his business partner who really wants her to leave. But Molly is persistent and she has a plan to get what she wants.

What she doesn’t anticipate is the business she so badly wants a stake in is a mortuary for monsters.

Yep. She’s about to find out the supernatural is all around her and she and her brother will have to work together to keep the monsters safe.

CW: death of a grandparent, racism, segregation, harassment, gun violence

After the death of their grandmother, eleven year-old twins Jezebel and Jay begin training in root work with their uncle. Their family has crafted small potions and charms for their community for generations but when a dark force begins to threaten their home and community, Jez and Jay discover their magic goes far deeper.

An excellent story that weaves history, culture, magic, and mystery seamlessly.

Portal fantasy! When her parents go missing after a series of mysterious letters are delivered to their home, Emily must gather her courage and clues to rescue them. Emily discovers a parallel London, full of magic, mystery, and the fae.

This is book 1 in a 3 book series so if your Reader loves it, there are more books!

A funnier take on the spooky tale

This is a much lighter and funnier take on the spooky story. Will Hunter is dealing with his parent’s divorce, a move to a new town, and a brand new school. On top of all that stress, he seems to be the only one who notices all the spooky stuff in his town. There are monsters where his teachers should be and weird stuff all over the town’s streets. Luckily for Will, he makes friends with the school outcasts and together, they work to solve the mystery of the super spooky shenanigans.

This book is a ton of fun and has a mysterious secret narrator!


This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.


The Devil You Know by Kit Rocha

Available Now

The Mercenary Librarians and the Silver Devils are back in The Devil You Know, the next installment of USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Kit Rocha’s post-apocalyptic Action/Romance, with hints of Orphan Black and the Avengers

Maya has had a price on her head from the day she escaped the TechCorps. Genetically engineered for genius and trained for revolution, there’s only one thing she can’t do—forget.

Gray has finally broken free of the Protectorate, but he can’t escape the time bomb in his head. His body is rejecting his modifications, and his months are numbered.

When Maya’s team uncovers an operation trading in genetically enhanced children, she’ll do anything to stop them. Even risk falling back into the hands of the TechCorps.

And Gray has found a purpose for his final days: keeping Maya safe.


I absolutely adore this series! Kit Rocha has created a thrilling and dark world for their characters to navigate through as they continue their quest to save the people around them in a post-apocalyptic Atlanta. Maya is a technological genius who has used her skills to maintain their precious Library and provide those around her with the knowledge necessary to keep the community fed and safe. Of all the Mercenary Librarians, Maya is definitely my favorite. She doesn’t have the typical super strength and fighting skills the other Librarians and Silver Devils have, but what she does have is a perfect memory and a level of empathy that makes her the perfect addition to their crew and community. She’s also a gorgeously curvy and soft heroine who finds herself obsessed with book scanners. 

Her relationship with Gray develops in such a gentle and respectful way and is at complete odds with their surroundings. They have both been treated horribly in the past, and yes, horribly is a vast understatement, but are still able to overcome that abuse to develop a true level of trust. Also, these two show us that there is nothing sexier than consent. 

The Devil You Know also gives us a truly cathartic story of a really bad guy who gets all the consequences coming their way. There is some true justice served that is incredibly satisfying. 

This fast-paced, thrilling adventure is a perfect balance of dark and light. There is a true sense of community between the Mercenary Librarians and the Silver Devils that really shines in this novel. A little something that is much needed in our current climate. 

Intrigued? Want to add this amazing series to your collection? You can find ordering information here:

 
Mercenary Librarians Book 1

Mercenary Librarians Book 1

Mercenary Librarians Book 2

Mercenary Librarians Book 2



Thank you so much to Netgalley and Tor Books for the advanced copy of this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. 

This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

Paper & Blood by Kevin Hearne

Book 2 in the Ink & Sigil Series

Available Now

Al, Buck, and Nadia are back and this time, they are battling supernatural beings in the wildly beautiful Australia. 

When the local sigil agent goes missing in Australia, Al and Buck immediately prepare for a search and rescue mission. Armed with sigils and the sharp wit of a hobgoblin, Al and Buck find themselves embroiled in a much larger conspiracy involving the Iron Druid, a God, and finally let us in on a few secrets about our mythical monsters. 

*Spoiler!* It’s Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster! We finally get her secrets! 

Hearne has delivered another action-packed joy ride full of humor and sharp dialogue. In this latest installment, we get even more insight into the lives and lore of Celtic legends and discover that there may be more to Al’s secretary, Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite, than previously known. One thing I love about Hearne’s writing is how his characters are not annoying all-knowing creatures who can come across as talking down to readers. Al truly doesn’t know what’s going on with Gladys and the missing sigil agents' curious connections to the Iron Druid. As Al learns about the connections, the reader does as well. I dig that. 

This book is absolutely laugh-out-loud hilarious. Buck is one of my favorite characters, and his ability to bring levity to some pretty dire situations was quite a feat. His love of stolen whiskey and cheese and powers of spicy peppers bring so much fun and joy to the story. I also really enjoyed how Nadia gets to showcase her amazing fighting skills and all-around kick-buttness as she helps save the day again.  Also, with Atticus entering the scene, now known as Conner, we get to spend some time with our favorite good dugs Oberon and Starbuck, and as always, they are an absolute delight.

This is a solid second book in the series and I can’t wait to see what happens next. I’m hoping Gladys is the focus of the next book but I completely understand if she remains a mystery forever. 

If you would like to add this book to your collection, you can find ordering information here:

 




Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. 




This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualified purchases.




Blog Tour! We Could be Heroes by Mike Chen

I am so happy to share this amazing novel with all of you! This is one of the many books that I devoured while hiding out in the forest over Christmas and I tell you what, it made for a wonderful present to me! As someone who loves superheroes and superhero movies, I already knew I would love it, but I think this book is perfect for all readers who enjoy mystery, complicated friendships, and excellent storytelling.

From the Publisher:

$27.99 USD, $34.99 CAD

336 pages

ABOUT THE BOOK:

An emotional adventure about two misfits who have extraordinary powers, but have forgotten who they were before. The vigilante and the villain must team up to stop a mad scientist who threatens the city, while trying to figure out who they really are.

Jamie woke up two years ago in an empty apartment with no memory and only a few clues to who he might be, and also with the power to read other people's memories. In the meantime, he's become the Mind Robber, holding up banks for quick cash. Similarly, Zoe is searching for her past, and using her new extraordinary abilities of speed and strength...to deliver fast food. And occasionally beat up bad guys, if she feels like it.

When the two meet in a memory-loss support group, they realize they are each other's best chance at discovering what happened to them. The quest will take them deep into a medical conspiracy that is threatening to spill out and wreak havoc on their city, and maybe the country. As the two get past their respective barriers, they'll realize that their friendship is the thing that gives them the greatest power.

BUY LINKS:

Bookshop.org

Barnes & Noble 

Amazon

IndieBound

Google Books

Apple Books

Kobo

We Could be Heroes is funny, full of action, and compelling. It’s not every day that you read a superhero story that has the superheroes trying to make rent by delivering take-out instead of coming from great generational wealth. The mystery around Jamie and Zoe’s memory loss drives the story, but it’s their friendship that really holds it all together. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Jamie and Zoe and their easy banter. There’s a great cat that Jamie can’t stop spoiling, a secret organization that wants to do evil, and enough hijinks to keep it light and delightful. I absolutely loved it and can’t recommend it enough.
Want to check this out for yourself? Read on for an excerpt:

 
 

Chapter 3

Jamie stopped, catching himself. He’d gone too far this time. Close eyes, deep breaths, count to five, and then open eyes to see the damage.

Damn it. He’d really done it. He looked at the grout brush, then the lines between the countertop’s tiles, then back at the brush. Yes, he’d gotten the coffee stain out, but he’d also scrubbed too hard, wearing away some of the grout.

Twenty minutes ago, he’d arrived home, throwing his cashfilled backpack on the futon cushion. It landed with a thump, startling Normal out of her cat tuffet next to the window. And though he stopped to give Normal a calming pet, his instincts took over, starting with a meticulous cleaning of the litter box, then a complete vacuum of the small apartment. Then organizing his stack of library books into a preferred reading order, putting away the neatly folded clothes in the laundry basket, cleaning the pour-over coffee carafe and kettle before brewing a fresh cup. As it settled, he noticed some drips of coffee had absorbed into the grout lines adjacent to his row of ceramic mugs, thus kicking off his quest for a completely clean and reset kitchen. All of the fear and concern and guilt from the day funneled into his end-to-end cleaning spree even though it wasn’t Sunday, the day he typically reserved for getting his home in order.

But this. Flecks of dried grout stuck to the brush bristles, and Jamie squinted, examining them as if he tried to break into the memory of the synthetic fibers. He blinked when Normal mewed at him, snapping him back into the present. He had to slow down. He had to regroup. He’d gone too far this time, and though the counter looked clean, a closer examination showed a tiny degradation in the grout.

Damn it. Jamie blew out a sigh and surveyed the room.

So neat. So organized. In fact, it was nearly identical to when he’d woken up here, standing in the middle of a barely furnished apartment two years ago. On that morning, he had blinked as he came to, his eyes adjusting from blurry to focused, taking in the sun shining through the cheap tan drapes onto the futon in the middle of the living space. Once he’d realized where he was, it had dawned on him that he didn’t know who he was. He’d walked methodically through the semifurnished apartment, looking for triggers. Coffee table, bread, water, sink, bed, toothbrush. He knew what those were, their purpose, but none offered clues about himself. Even the mirror produced zero recognition; he didn’t know what history lay behind those eyes, what the story was behind the scar on his palm.

So neat. So organized. In fact, it was nearly identical to when he’d woken up here, standing in the middle of a barely furnished apartment two years ago. On that morning, he had blinked as he came to, his eyes adjusting from blurry to focused, taking in the sun shining through the cheap tan drapes onto the futon in the middle of the living space. Once he’d realized where he was, it had dawned on him that he didn’t know who he was. He’d walked methodically through the semifurnished apartment, looking for triggers. Coffee table, bread, water, sink, bed, toothbrush. He knew what those were, their purpose, but none offered clues about himself. Even the mirror produced zero recognition; he didn’t know what history lay behind those eyes, what the story was behind the scar on his palm.

And now? What he wouldn’t give for that blissful ignorance, free from knowing that the injured woman from today was all his fault.

How could he have been so stupid, so reckless?

As with each of his bank robberies, he’d taken his time, planned a strategy, even wrote out his script beforehand and memorized it. He still lacked in execution, but that was why he had checked out some acting books from the library. The whole goal, the entire focus was to get in and out as quickly, as cleanly as possible. That meant brain-stunning the people in the building in a very specific order under a very specific time frame, all while cackling like a cartoon character and reciting over-the-top lines in a not-quite-there American accent.

If he controlled the entire situation, then no one got hurt and he did his job.

Except when one of them had a medical condition.

Jamie cursed at himself, cursed his fake-it-till-you-make-it attitude, cursed the whole damn situation. Not once, not a single time had he ever considered the possibility of a medical issue.

He finally broke, forcing himself to move. A click on the remote control brought his small TV to life, flashing a news report about electrical surges throughout the city before turning to the bank heist. His fingers fumbled to hit the power button again, taking several tries before the screen thankfully went to black, leaving only the sounds of a hungry cat meowing to remind him that he hadn’t given her dinner or her nightly treat of coconut water yet. Jamie set the grout brush in the sink, and obliged the demanding cat.

Seconds later, the room filled with a content rumbling of purrs.

But even Normal’s happy noises failed to remove the trauma of the day. The sound of the woman’s head hitting the tile. The sight of the blood pooling. The desperate cries of her coworker.

Don’t think about it don’t think about it don’t think about it.

Onward. Next task: the money. He grabbed the backpack and headed to the bedroom. The backpack’s large top zipper got caught as he tugged on it, and the stress of the day gnawed at his patience, skipping past his normal mode of meticulously fixing it and jumping right to forcing it free. On the underside of the zipper, the corner of a hundred-dollar bill clung in between the metal clasps.

Jamie sighed, a sound soon mimicked by Normal yawning at his feet. “You have no idea,” he told the cat before reaching in and starting his post-robbery sorting process for cash.

A buzzing sound rattled the room, causing a handful of loose coins on the end table to dance; it broke his focus, jolting his shoulders and neck in surprise. From the hallway, he heard Normal’s claws catch in the thin carpeting before dashing off to find a hiding spot from the abrupt noise.

He picked up the phone, heart pounding that it might be someone on his trail. But a glance at his screen caused a sigh of relief. Reminder: Support Group. San Delgado East Side YMCA. Six o’clock.

Right. The weekly support group—more specifically, San Delgado Memory Loss & Dementia Support Group.

Not that Jamie cared about the giant gap in his personal life, the big cloud of nothing stemming from the moment he awoke in this apartment all the way back to, well, his birth. Something pulled him away from those thoughts whenever he even approached the matter, like staring into a bright beam of light until the intensity forced his eyes away. Every time. That avoidance happened so frequently it felt instinctive at this point, skirting whatever that was and whoever truly stood behind the impenetrable fog.

It didn’t matter. No, the support group was for learning more about memory loss in general, to guard himself from any further memories vanishing.

The irony of the Mind Robber dealing with all that didn’t escape him.

He resumed unloading the cash, first putting the stacks by denomination from left to right, then counting and rubber-banding any loose ones complete with a Post-it note with the total on each makeshift bundle. In the closet sat a safe—something that had been absolutely terrible to get into his apartment. He pulled off the blanket hiding it and turned the dial. Left with click click clicks. Then right. Then left again.

It opened up, revealing a larger version of the stacks assembled on his bed. Jamie took new bundles, two at a time, and neatly set them in the appropriate spots, making each tower of cash grow until the backpack and the bed were clear of evidence. A notebook leaned on the cash; Jamie pulled it out and opened it to the ledger he’d crafted, filling out the columns with the latest tally of earnings, anticipated expenses, safety-net cash and overall savings.

At the top of that column was a little drawing he’d made of a palm tree and a beach. Based on today’s earnings, he was nearly 80 percent to his goal. Depending on the size of each haul, a few more robberies—especially if he remembered to ask for the stacks of hundreds specifically—would provide enough financial comfort to retire on a tropical beach at a much lower cost of living. He’d read that the coffee in the Caribbean was excellent.

A comfortable permanence, as long as the Throwing Star didn’t track him down. That further complicated things, and Jamie wondered if he’d jinxed it all by invoking her during his bank performance. He gritted his teeth.

So close to a fresh start. For him and Normal, and he wouldn’t let the Throwing Star jeopardize that.

Normal gave an urgent meow, which translated in cat speak to “Where is my bed?” Jamie folded the blanket exactly and draped it over the safe, then put a small cat tuffet back on top of it. A gray-and-orange blur zipped by, and in one leap, landed on the tuffet, turning his trail of crime and/or source of income into the world’s most valuable cat bed.

Jamie exhaled, and his mattress bounced as he flopped on his back, eyes glued to the ceiling but brain refusing to shut off. One blink and he saw the woman fall again. Every time he closed his eyes, the image reappeared, except each instance seemed to intensify in its color and sound, the sheer vibrancy of his mind seemingly taunting him.

He could lift the memory out. He’d done it before as an experiment, including writing a note with steps and details as proof that he’d removed his immediate recall of the moment. It left him with what he presumed to be the same nausea that his victims experienced, and other than a few follow-up trials, he hadn’t done it for any practical purpose.

A small price to pay to be relieved of the guilt.

Jamie raised his hand, this time pointed at himself, and he closed his eyes, digging deep to flip through his own memories. Bright and fresh, full volume and movement, no haziness or missing pockets of moments. One wipe and it’d be gone.

But what would that make him? A possible murderer without a conscience? He treated his villain persona and robberies as a job, an income. Not to hurt people, not with malevolence or sociopathic apathy.

No.

This memory had to stay.

Jamie lowered his hand.

There was a knock at the door, jolting him to his feet.

He closed his eyes and stretched out with his mind, sensing the ghostly silhouette of a single form at his door.

No one ever came to his door.

“San Delgado police. Is anyone home?”

The very idea of having law enforcement at his door caused Jamie’s hands to tremble and a thin layer of sweat to form on his forehead. He could brain-stun the officer and run. He could dive into the officer’s memories, see what happened, why he was here—maybe it was just a fundraiser for the Police Athletic League.

Another knock rattled the door.

If he brain-stunned the officer, that wouldn’t exactly be inconspicuous. You couldn’t just leave gawking, unresponsive police on your doorstep. And the officer’s location was probably tracked by SDPD, which meant that lifting memories and sending him on his way would only lead to more trouble.

No, the only way out of this was through it.

Jamie took a deep breath, put on a baseball cap with a logo of the local San Delgado Barons hockey team, then marched to the door. He opened it halfway to find the very serious, very professional face of a plainclothes officer. Despite the fact that he stood shorter than Jamie, his sturdy build made him far more intimidating.

“May I help you?” Jamie held the door ajar. “Sorry,” he said, native English accent in full display, “I have a cat that tries to get out if I open the door all the way.” As if on cue, mews came from behind him and Jamie scooped up the pudgy feline. Mental note: she deserved extra coconut water tonight. “Be nice, Normal.”

The detective tilted his head at the name, then chuckled, sunlight gleaming off the light brown skin of his shaven bald dome. “No problem. Sorry to bother you this evening. Detective Patrick Chesterton. I’m the lead on the Mind Robber case.”

No reaction rippled through Jamie. Which was probably a reaction in itself. He waited, seconds stretching into vast chunks of time, and though he somehow managed to keep a polite expression on his face, the pounding in his chest might have given him away.

“We get anonymous tips all the time about the Mind Robber. Some people even claim to be him. But this one was very specific. And since we know he left on a train heading eastbound about ninety minutes ago, I thought I’d check it out.” He glanced over his shoulder, eyes tracking past the courtyard and toward the parking lot. “Traffic is going to be hell getting back to the station.”

Jamie told himself to laugh, though in a completely different way from the forced maniacal display of the Mind Robber. Calm, quiet, a little nervous—the natural kind of nervous anyone got when questioned by law enforcement. Normal must have agreed, as she continued mewing in his arms.

“Well, aren’t you a nice cat?” the detective said, his voice softening. He reached up to pet Normal’s round head, but the cat replied with a hiss. Before Jamie could stop her, she swatted at Chesterton. The cat kicked out of his arms, and Jamie turned to see a streak of pudgy fur dashing for the bedroom.

“Oh, I’m so—” Jamie stopped himself at the realization that the detective nursed a fresh scratch across the knuckles.

If they weren’t going to get him for being the Mind Robber, what about assault via cat scratch?

“I’m so, so sorry. Normal usually loves strangers.” That was a lie, or it might have been a lie. Normal never met anyone, regular or stranger, so the sample size on that remained small. “But she gets weird occasionally.” That part was true. Jamie held up his hand, palm out. “See this scar across my palm? Normal got me good one time.”

Flat-out lie: Jamie had no idea where that scar came from, though whenever he focused on it for too long, a strange mix of nausea and embarrassment would flood over him.

“It’s okay,” Chesterton said. “I had a cat growing up. They can be temperamental. I should know better than to do that. Anyway, the tip said that someone who fit the build and look of the Mind Robber was in this area. This block, actually.” He looked Jamie up and down. If Jamie decided to risk it, he probably could have poked into the detective’s memories and seen specifically what he was thinking, even the source of the tip. “Have you seen anyone who fits that profile?”

In the courtyard, Jamie caught sight of the old couple across the way trying to get their mini schnauzer puppy to obey commands. They looked over at Chesterton, then Jamie, and Jamie offered a reassuring wave. Despite being a theoretical villain, he still wanted to be a good neighbor. “I, um, actually don’t watch the news much. I find it triggering.”

“Ah, got it. He’s Caucasian. Around six feet tall. Thin build. Strong chin. That’s about it, really, though. His hood and mask obscure everything else.”

“Well,” Jamie said. A response came to mind, and he debated whether or not he was being too clever. His arms extended and a wry smile came over his face a little too easily. Maybe learning to play a villain had turned the gesture into muscle memory. “That sounds like me.” The words came out smooth, just enough of a joking lilt that they threaded the needle between bullshit and levity. It came naturally, almost uncannily so.

For a moment, nothing happened. Neither man blinked, and even Normal stayed quiet. The only noise came from squeaking brakes as a car pulled into the adjacent parking lot.

Then the detective burst out laughing. “I like you,” he said, before reaching into his back pocket. Jamie’s hand moved into position, a subtle gesture that only he could detect should he need to brain-stun. His fingers raised ever so slightly in preparation when a buzz in his back pocket caused both men to stand at attention.

“Sorry, just my reminder,” Jamie said after pulling out his phone. The device’s blinking screen gave him an idea. “My weekly support group. I, uh, need to get going.”

“Oh, of course. Good for you,” he said. “It takes a strong person to seek out help.” Jamie’s head bobbed at the compliment, and the detective finished reaching in his back pocket. He held up a business card. “Do me a favor and call if you see or hear anything that strikes you as suspicious. About him or the Throwing Star. We’re no fan of vigilantes, extraordinary or not. You can’t just run around in a suit beating up people. I don’t care if they’re good or bad. You know, if either of them just called us first and said, ‘Hey, we’ve got these abilities,’ you can bet we’d have found a job for them.” Chesterton glanced at the cat scratch on his hand before letting out a short laugh. “I heard she tripped in the Metro station and let the Mind Robber get away,” he said with a headshake. “I guess ‘extraordinary’ comes in many forms.”

All forms. That skepticism, if not admirable, at least provided some cover. “Right,” Jamie said, taking the card. “I’ll keep an eye out.”

“Even if you hear anything about weird crimes in Hartnell City. Their PD asked us about the Mind Robber. Guess they’re seeing some strange activity too.”

“Of course, Detective.”

Jamie’s exhale was nearly as loud as the slamming of the door. He’d never been that close to getting caught before.

Who could have possibly tipped the police? He’d wiped the memories of any OmegaCars driver that took him close by, and even then, he’d always walked the last few blocks, taking different routes each time. Could the Throwing Star have tracked him? Possibly, but she seemed more like the “punch in the teeth” than “call the cops” type.

Questions circled as Jamie heard the roar of the detective’s car coming to life. Through the blinds, Jamie watched a dark blue sedan pull halfway across the parking lot before pausing for a handful of seconds and then finally rolling away. Chesterton was gone for now, but if he suspected anything, the best course of action would be for Jamie to act as any normal civilian would. In this case, it meant going exactly where the detective expected him to be.

Normal meowed a farewell as Jamie grabbed a jacket—not his black hoodie—and locked the door behind him.

It was almost time for the support group. Even if he didn’t want to go.

Excerpted from We Could Be Heroes by Mike Chen, Copyright © 2021 by Mike Chen. Published by MIRA Books.


Mike Chen_Credit Amanda Chen.jpg

Mike Chen is a lifelong writer, from crafting fan fiction as a child to somehow getting paid for words as an adult. He has contributed to major geek websites (The Mary Sue, The Portalist, Tor) and covered the NHL for mainstream media outlets. A member of SFWA and Codex Writers, Mike lives in the Bay Area, where he can be found playing video games and watching Doctor Who with his wife, daughter, and rescue animals. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram: @mikechenwriter

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Author website: https://www.mikechenbooks.com/ 

Twitter: @mikechenwriter

Instagram: @mikechenwriter




Thank you to Netgalley and MIRA for the opportunity to share this title with you! I received an ARC of this title and all opinions and mistakes are my own. This post also contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.





City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda

Available January 12, 2021

This is an incredible magical adventure for all fantasy lovers. Set in New York City, Sikander Aziz discovers there is more to the stories his family has been telling him his whole childhood. Spending his days split between school and his family’s deli, Sik wants more out of life, but his brother’s accidental discovery of an ancient flower leads to his brother’s even more accidental immortality. Now, ancient gods have waged war between each other and Sik, along with all of NYC, is caught up in the middle. With an uncontrollable plague taking over the city. Sik and his new ally Belet must discover a way to bring back peace and stop the plague. 

This is a fast paced adventure full of action that will keep younger readers riveted. Sik is not only smart and quick-witted, but he’s also a bit mouthy and tells it like it is. He misses his older brother fiercely and young readers will easily relate to his expressions of grief, especially with the current events taking place. I really liked Belet and her ability to be so loyal to her cause but also so prickly! She doesn’t take any nonsense from anyone and when paired with Sik and the talking sword, Kasusu, the three have a great dynamic.  That’s right, a talking sword. And, Gilgamesh makes an appearance in the most unlikely of ways.

This story is centered around a plague god that spreads a horrible and disgusting disease around the city and that may be a bit too on the nose for some readers right now, however, I think the theme of protecting and fighting for family and our community will win over reluctant readers. Knowing that Sik will overcome and defeat a plague god, when we are currently living through our own pandemic and watching scientists and medical professionals fight to overcome this virus, keeps the tone hopeful.   

I’m very glad that a novel based on ancient Mesopotamian myth is now out in the world and you can feel the author's love for the story and characters. This book is full of interesting historical and mythological facts and characters that will grab the reader's attention and keep them enthralled until the very end. This will be great for readers that have loved other books in the Rick Riordan Presents series and for the readers just getting into the fantasy genre. 

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Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.





Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

Available October 6, 2020

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Black Sun is an absorbing new novel set in a magical world inspired by ancient civilizations. Told from multiple points of view, we are thrown into the world of a future god, a ship's captain, and a man intent on seeing their paths cross.

Ever since his birth, Serapio was raised to believe he would one day ascend to become a god. Enduring painful rituals and life of intense training, Serapio begins the next phase of his journey with the help of the strong and fierce Xiala, a Teek sailing captain. Using her unique gifts, she is tasked with providing him safe passage to Tova, a Holy City, in time for the winter solstice. Along the way, we learn of the complex societies that make up a beautiful and richly developed world.

Roanhorse has created an incredible world for her characters. The descriptions of the Sky Made clans and the Sun Priest and their religions was beautiful. The attention to detail on the expansive world filled with incredible cities, diverse people with extraordinary gifts, and the ability to live in harmony with the animals that were closest to their clans. Full of political intrigue, spectacular world building and complex characters, Black Sun sets a new standard for fantasy.

This book is amazing! Absolutely amazing. It's the start of a new series so it ends a pretty hefty cliff hanger but it's worth it. Roanhorse's writing is so detailed and rich that you can picture every home built into the cliffs, the ship on the sea, and the crowded city streets. The beginning of this story is really rough but it shapes so much of Serapio's character and explains the deeply held beliefs of his mother.  The weaving together of this complex society with their different clans and beliefs was masterful. I was just as invested in learning more about the clans and their beliefs as I was about the political machinations going on behind the scenes. Xiala was an equally intriguing character. Her people, the Teek, have a beautiful story of their creation that I can't wait to hear more about in future books. Xiala has a special ability that allows her to guide the ship safely and swiftly across the sea that causes her crews to be both highly suspicious and in awe of her.  Both Serapio and Xiala are outsiders-she has been banished from her homeland and he has lived his whole life with little interaction from others outside of his tutors. Both are feared for their differences and ostracized for it. Another interesting and important character is Okoa, the son of a high ranking clan matron. Choosing to live his life at the military training school instead of fulfilling more political duties puts him at odds with his family and when his mother dies, the guilt is nearly overwhelming.

The politics that weave these three characters together are intense. Strict protocols that guide religious officials combined with the impending winter solstice create for a tense and urgent atmosphere. There are some great discussions about the different social classes and what is and isn't allowed within them. The darker side of the priesthood comes to light through discussions of poverty, the denial of education, and how placing people in debt creates a cycle that will always leave people in forced subjugation and vulnerability.

This book is a lot. There is a ton of action, lots of characters, and a whole world to learn and I loved every single page. There were even a few parts that I knew what way over my heard and I didn't care because I was so invested in keeping my favorite characters alive. It's an incredible ride from start to finish and I can't wait to read more books set in this glorious world.

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Thank you to Netgalley and Saga Press for the opportunity to read and review this title.  All opinions and mistakes are my own.

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The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson

Available August 4, 2020

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This book was fascinating! Set in a future where we have discovered the existence of the multiverse, a group of scientists and explorers travel between the worlds documenting the similarities and differences between the worlds. Scientists quickly discovered that people could only travel to alternate worlds where their alternate has died. Within the 380 worlds that scientists can travel to, Cara has died on 373 of them, making her the perfect traverser. Those who grow up privileged in one world, tend to live privileged lives amongst all the alternate worlds. The same goes for the poor and impoverished, making poor people of color perfect for the program. 

Cara has worked hard to establish her place within the city. She is on the path to citizenship, has an apartment, and is willing to work double shifts, even when it threatens her health. Her handler Dell keeps her at arm’s length, no matter how much flirting Cara throws her way. 

It’s during a standard data pull on an alternate world that Cara realizes she’s been sent to a world where she still lives. Violating protocol, she struggles to stay alive long enough for someone to rescue her and allow Cara to further investigate the world. Meeting her doppelganger is a mind-bending experience and leads to Cara having to reckon with her deepest and darkest secrets. Secrets so big, they could tear her world apart. 

This book was so good! It’s such a tightly written story that too much discussion will lead to spoilers. I loved the world-building and the way that Cara has to balance between two very different societies. Her family lives out in the desert where many of the poor live, and where Cara never felt like she fit in. But, Cara doesn’t feel like she belongs within the wealthy, walled city either. She has to change her language, her wardrobe, the way she holds herself when she is around her family. When she returns to the city, she has to again change her persona to match societal expectations. Neither persona feels real to Cara and that duality plagues her throughout the book.  

The relationship between Dell and Cara is fraught with high emotions and cold responses. Dell, her handler and woman of her dreams, is way out of her league and Cara is constantly flirting and teasing her, almost she can’t help herself. Dell never responds in kind, in fact, she acts almost insulted everytime Cara flirts with her. Their relationship was fascinating to watch develop over the course of the story. 

I loved how fast paced this story was. It’s a deeply woven story-there’s government conspiracies, corruption, societal unrest, personal secrets, and a slow burn romance. Cara has to constantly decide how her past and alternate selves will shape her future, all while trying to figure out who the person she wants to be now. The fact that Cara knows how her other selves have died on other worlds-what a weight to carry. The writing is just fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. 

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Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this story. All opinions and mistakes are my own. 

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Shadow Blade by Seressia Glass

Available Now

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I found this book while scrolling through Twitter and I’m not going to lie, an author who not only includes a cover, description, and a buy link will almost always get my money. This was a smoking good deal, and one I wasn’t going to pass up. I’ve been in the mood for a good magical adventure full of secret organizations, demigods, and some serious smooching.

Kira Solomon has been a part of Gilead ever since a childhood tragedy left her orphaned. Unable to touch anyone without draining off their life force, Kira uses her extrasense gifts to fight the Shadow and help preserve the balance between Light and Shadow as a Shadowchaser. A highly trained and deadly fighter, Kira spends her days as an antiquities specialist, cataloging and preserving magical artifacts. When a close friend and business associate suddenly dies, Kira knows the ancient dagger they had recently discussed is at the heart of her friend’s killing.

Khefar, a four thousand year-old immortal warrior is the owner of the mysterious dagger and desperately wants it back. Khefar has been cursed to wander the mortal world until he saves the lives of enough mortals to allow him to finally rest with his family in the Field of Reeds. Discovering he has to save the life of Kira really throws him. She’s more likely to kill him than listen to him and with her life constantly in danger, it makes his job of protecting her extremely difficult.

But work together they do because a deadly Avatar is determined to possess the dagger and allow Chaos to take over the world.

I loved this book! The writing is fantastic with that perfect blend of character development and action-filled fight scenes. The best part, it includes my all-time favorite trope: He’s the only one she can touch! Only him! She can’t touch anyone without draining the literal life out of them, except for Khefar. It’s done so well. So well. I really loved the world Seressia Glass creates with the different demons and enemies, but it all set in modern day Atlanta. I’m a sucker for mystical artifacts, especially when they take the form of a four thousand year-old immortal. And a magic dagger, that was cool too. Anansi makes an appearance as Khefar’s sidekick/guide and his strategically told stories play an important part in the mission.

This is the first in a series, so if you loved it as much as I did, there’s more! I also picked up her book Seducing the Jackal that was published as a Harlequin Nocturne title and it was really good. I love shifters and this had both shifters and a witch. And more ancient Egypt. I’ll tell you more about that one later.

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Full disclosure: The links to IndieBound didn’t provide a direct ordering option, and it seemed weird to send you there for these. They are readily available from Amazon and the Harlequin titles can be purchased directly through Harlequin as ebooks for only $2.99. When you purchase through the links, I earn from qualifying purchases as an Amazon Associate. Ordering from Harlequin just makes me happy that you bought a new book!

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

There are a ton of twists and turns within the book and I don’t want to give any of it away, but please know that this book is dark.  It’s incredibly written and I loved it, but there were many times I had to put it down, walk away for a while, and come back to it. But it’s definitely worth reading.  It’s really good-just really dark.  

If you love dystopian female empowerment stories, this is perfect for you.  


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