LIST: June's Rants and Raves

 No cool meme this time around. I am however contemplating a mid year 'Best of' LIST since it is July.

I'll make a decision come July LISTs.

This month we see a new Golden RAVE owner (other than the obvious) crowned and I am happy to give them their flowers. Without more to say.

21. A Phoenix First Must Burn by Various: 7 - OKAY

       I so badly wanted to like this anthology of stories. It had a lot of elements I like, black culture, mixture of genres and a very cool cover. Unfortunately this book is the definition of a mixed bag it swayed more towards meh then good. Sure, I found some new authors I would like to look into and I was surprised to see R'n'B singer Amerie is also a good writer as well as a singer. Some other stories did hit but as stated above, most of them were misses.

    I feel some of the authors took the subtitle of  'black girl magic, resistance and hope' and had some good ideas but in the end, a lot of the stories became very samey with little variation. In this tale a girl is in love with vampires, now a girl is a mermaid, now a girl wants to be the sun (no lie, that one was cool). I understand embracing the theme but I did wish for some better execution and some surprises. As it stands, it was good enough to read the whole collection but I can't recommend it.

20. Predator Vs Black Panther: 7.5 - OKAY

    After a promising start with Predator vs Wolverine, writer Benjamin Percy is back with another versus. This book takes a great concept (two of the universes biggest hunters of their respective universes colliding) and makes it... boring. Granted I read this book at the beginning of the month but I can not recall anything really memorable happening in this book. Maybe one or two scenes but nothing worth the price of admission. It is disappointing because as I said, Percy did great previously but that book also embraced the concept that Wolverine is also age-less so their war was able to be drawn out. This book embraced a tired, aliens invade Wakanda and BP is able to send them on their way. This story was done so much better, in Jason Aaron's Black Panther 'Secret Invasion' tie-in.

    Also a personal gripe is the artwork really did not work for me at all. The predators looked okay but all the Wakandan scenes looked very basic and deserved better. The artwork is actually what brought this books final score down a full point.

19. Run on Red by Noelle W. Ihli: 8 - Rave

    After killing it with Ask for Andrea (see my April's LIST), I decided to dive back into the dark world of Noelle W. Ihli. However this book didn't resonate as well as Ask for Andrea did for me. It is titled a thriller and it definitely was but weirdly I actually wished that the pace was always so fast and insane ALL the time. 50 chapters of non-stop action was a bit much and I wished this books pacing gave some scenes more time then it got.

    The main characters were like-able enough to be worth cheering for, the plot was good and the execution was there if a bit by the numbers. It also had a surprisingly good ending despite all the insanity to get to that point. I enjoyed this book and I'll keep reading Noelle's work but I did wish this book gave me the same highs Ask for Andrea did.

18.  Spring Fever (Kdrama): 8.5 - Rave

After the intensity of Bloodhounds season one and two, me and wife need a chaser from all that craziness. We found it in the form of Spring Fever. This was a very cute k-drama filled with some funny moments. Ah Bo Hyun and Lee Joo Bin have a warm chemistry that makes them worth cheering for. The secondary couple which in this show was a young couple also had some ups and down and fun to follow. Also the main couple early adoption of a cute dog called Bom-Shik and Bom-Shik becoming a reoccurring character sold me as well. He was so dang cute.

My only gripes was when the drama focused on some boring side characters and what I felt was the main conflict got resolved a bit quicker then I wanted. Also Bom's father being a non-character was a bit disappointing too when he could have been much more and help his 'beloved' daughter. However the show was still worth watching and it had a very good conclusion with a cute happy ending.

17. Water, Mirror, Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America by Jeff Chang: 8.5 - Rave

    Picking up this book I was expecting a nice Bruce Lee biography mixed with some social commentary about being Asian American. What I was not expecting was it was more than just a little. It ended up being 70% Bruce's story, 30%  commentary and as I got deeper and deeper into the book I realized what I really wanted from this book was a Bruce biography and the asides became less exciting to read and lessened my enjoyment of the book. Now I know, the title plainly states it not just a Bruce Lee biography but still I just wished I went in knowing it'll have so many non-sequiturs with loose connections to Mr. Lee. This book was also very large (400 pages plus) and I felt it was a bit bloated because of afore-mentioned constant additions.

The book itself was written well and well researched, I enjoyed the insights and it was filled with a lot of BTS personal pictures (from the BL family archive). I especially enjoyed learning more about Bruce's struggles in Hollywood and his drive to become the first major Asian movie star and how despite the walls put up in front of him, he was able to rise above.

16. Shadow Force: 8.5 - Rave

    

    It is funny, as mentioned in the previous entry, Bom-Shik stole the show for me in Spring Fever and in Shadow Force, it was the son of the main couple. Not saying Omar Sy and Kerry Washington were not draws, they also did a great job. I appreciate the movie allowing Omar to occasionally go back and forth into his natural French language, it made it more realistic.

This movie was fun, action packed (tho some of the fight scenes relied too heavily on editing and weird angles) and filled with the right amount of genre tropes but enough to keep watchers on their toes. It was cool seeing the role reversed with who was looking after the kid versus who was hunting the bad guys. A good popcorn flick worthy of your time if you want a fun spy flick.

15. A Pslam of Storms and Silence by Roseanne A. Brown: 8.5 - Rave

       Concluding Roseanne A. Brown's duology, A Pslam of Storms and Silence was just as compelling as the first book, A Song of Wraiths and Ruin. I still enjoyed the setting, magic systems and the characters. The characters especially are the biggest draw because they are so real and relatable, flaws and all.

    I have a few gripes with this book tho. I did not like the need to add more worldbuilding when this was the last book in the series, adding more characters just to have more bodies didn't seem necessary when I felt it should have just focus on finishing strong and the finish is why Pslam is at 15 and not higher despite my earlier praise. The ending for this book was just okay. Ms. Brown decided to go with a 'the story is not over' and I understand it plays into the theme that is a story that is being re-told and most stories like that seldom have neatly tied up endings but I won't lie, I wanted more. Neverless I still enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in a African inspired fantasy epic.

14. Mr. Church: 8.5 - Rave

I remember seeing this trailer ages ago and I was always interested in it. This was around the time where Eddie Murphy had semi-retired from the industry and his first comeback film after 4 years away. He also decided to take a serious role and definitely not his normal type of role. This film was good y'all. Eddie kills it as Mr. Church, perfectly playing the role like it was written for him (which surprisingly it was not). His co-lead Britt Robertson also brought her A game and combined with Mckenna Grace, who already shows a lot of promise even at such a young age, made the entire cast have an easy chemistry which was enjoyable to watch.

The story was a bit clique but it had a good heart and I did tear up at one point. I wish we got a bit more understanding about who Mr. Church was but I understand it was part of his mystery. Learning that the film is based on the film writer's real history was also heart-warming and you could tell this film was made with love.

13. The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass by Stephen King: 8.5 - Rave

 Continuing my path towards the Dark Tower (audio books this time) has been an interesting one. I recall reading Wizard & Glass when I was much younger and it is interesting to re-read it again. One of King's more divisive books, this book really resonates with you if you wanted more information on Roland because the main ka-tet (his destined companions) takes a big break during this book.

Me personally, after reading the whole series, to go back now and learn more about Roland felt different this time around. I enjoy getting more insight into what made the gunslinger as harden as he is. I also enjoyed how the original ka-tet truly became a real unit this book and really getting 'The Stand' references this time around was a treat as well.

12. Accomplice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer: 8.5 - Rave

 After a first book that caught me interest and a second one that really pulled me in, the third book in the Assistant series was more of what I liked. It still has the quirky humor, the characters as well as the unique setting. I have also enjoyed that over time, more POVs have been added and the story is getting much more intriguing.

However, I won't lie, this book was good but I lost my interest a couple times and only really picked up for me near the end and that's when I was all-in again. This book suffers a bit from the sagging middle book syndrome for me and it felt long just to be long. I still enjoyed it and I am very invested how the story concludes.

11. Predator Versus Spider-man: 8.5 - Rave

Compared to Predator vs BP this was a much better showing. A much more clearer conflict, feeling like it was pulled straight out of a Predator movie, shady government types included. There was one additional character, a police officer who's story never really went anywhere but on the other hand, I appreciate the inclusion of Kraven and his arc. The action was also pretty nuts and I surprised how much blood and gore Marvel/ Fox was able to get away with.

The art was hit and miss for me, some good scenes, the violence was suitable over the top and the predators look much better again compared to Predator vs BP. However some of the main character models, Peter and MJ for example left a bit to be desired. On an end note I am now actually looking forward to finishing out this quartet of Predator versus series by Benjamin Percy which I can say I was not after Predator Vs BP.

10. Run Away (Netflix): 9 - RAVE

After loving the book by Harlan, (see my January's LIST for my review) me and wife was very excited to see the TV adaption of Run Away. This film had all the hallmarks of a Harlan show but somehow it still pushed the enveloped much better than some of the recent adaptations we have seen. The source material helps but the actors were also on point, especially James Nesbitt  who showed a father's desperation and rage with such nuance you had to feel for him.

My only real gripe with this show was the need to add extra elements originally not in the book (Elena's side story which painted her in a much less sympatric light and was added for no real reason because the book already had enough twists and turns). However the show was still able to handle the deep subject matter and that twist was still amazing even though we knew it was coming.

9. Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning: 9 - RAVE

Wow. Now I have been a fan of the MI movies for awhile and every since the 4th one me and my

wife have watched them pretty faithfully if we have the chance to watch them. However I do not recall a MI movie being as action packed, plot driven but with as much heart as this one.

This film was long but I did not want the ride to end. The train sequence alone is worth the price of admission. Maybe it was because they were writing with an endgame in mind but they pulled out all the spots for this one and I loved it. I am actually looking forward to how they will wrap this up and hopefully they don't drop the ball.

8. The Uncanny X-Men/ Marvel Masterworks Vol. 1: 9 - RAVE

As a big fan of the X-Men, I can honestly say I have never explored the classics. Now when I say the

classics I mean the Claremont/ Cockrum era, one of the most influential X-Men eras ever. Like I know the stories but I have never read them. Thanks to the Masterworks series. I have now experience them first hand and man, it truly was a different time but what a time. Seeing the next generation of X-Men, the ones I grew up loving getting their sea legs and coming together as a team is a sight to see. Claremont really understands these characters as he has proven over many years.

Speaking of characters, Cockrum's costumes established in this era were also amazing and their is good reason why they have stuck around for so long (Nightcrawler for example has not changed much from his initial design because it is that dang good). The art is also clean and storytelling was perfect. Seeing this art compared to some of the artwork I previously bemoaned in the Predator Versus series is a breath of fresh air. I have the second volume of this era ready to go and I won't lie, I am excited to read it.

7. XO Kitty Season 1: 9 - RAVE

A surprise for sure is how high XO Kitty places on this LIST. After hearing about this show for ages we 

decided to give it a try. A classic story, girl falls in love, travels to be with him and all the chaos that ensues however it is not formulaic at all and XO Kitty nails the Western influence but Korean setting that so many shows are trying to obtain (and normally not doing as well).

XO Kitty feels like a kdrama but at the same time, it is its own thing and I like that about it. The cast is like-able, the story and the twists and turns it took was interesting and it had the right amount of sweet without it being too much. The soundtrack is amazing, especially as Kpop fans with lots of popular artist contributing to it. Sure, the show did the original main couple Kitty and Dae dirty and Kitty doesn't did as many entanglements as they put on her in this ONE season but it was still an enjoyable show which we will keep watching.

6. The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros: 9 - RAVE

    This book was amazing and Rebecca continues to grow as one of my favorite romance authors but man can the woman write heartache. In fear of spoiling it I won't say much but when I say this book will pull and tear out your heart I am not lying.

    I pre-write some of my thoughts before putting them on this LIST and no lie, The Last Letter's pre-write has been blank up until now because I still can not process the insanity Ms. Yarros put us readers through. Just be prepared to cry, yell but also at the same time, feel the healing power of love. That is all I am going to say.

5. Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson: 9 - RAVE

    Okay, the endless armies of Sanderson's fan were right. This book is amazing and worth the hype. Everything about this book hit for me, understandable detailed magic systems? Yep. A dark but also very lively setting. Got it. Amazing, deep characters who make you cheer for their wins. Yessir. I really enjoyed this book and what added to the enjoyment is how this book can be read as a standalone and you'll still get a completed story which is a rare feat in fantasy.

    Needless to say, I am all in for Cosmere universe now and I will definitely keep exploring his worlds. I am legit excited to what other stories are in it.

4. Darkglass Mountain # 3: The Infinity Gate by Sara Douglass: 9.5 - RAVE

I love Sara but man I wished she stuck the landing better with this one. I am happy we got a conclusion but this stings because of the lost potential. Our main characters finally get their Happy Ever After and we got to see an epic showdown and a lot of threads finally paid off. However it is sad that we are introduced to a lot of characters who are important for a while and then just become background characters, Salome and Zeobrath come to mind. Also SPOILERS: What was the point behind Hereward and her eventual death? Also after hating the big bad's sidekick Elannon and all the evil he has done, we don't get a scene where his nemesis Axis gets his revenge? I wanted much more pay-offs and I went away a bit disappointed. END SPOILERS

However, I did enjoy this book immensely and I consumed it in record time and loved being back in the world of Tencendor. It is sad but I am stuck with a 'what if'. I think Sara wrote the ending this way to create future trilogies/ stories but she never got the chance which is a real shame.

3. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E Schwab: 9.5 - RAVE

    

    As I mentioned above, I sometimes pre-write my thoughts for these LISTs so I am not overwhelmed when it comes to writing it all up, I also want to make sure I do not forget any great moments as well. I, however have not been able to perfectly verbalize how much I enjoyed this book until now and I can recall so many moments without needing to write it down, it was that memorable. Knowing its booktok history and its importance to V.E, I went in with high expectations and if anything this book was able to exceed them in the best way.

    This book is not just a book, it is an experience. V.E takes an amazing concept and delivers with thrills, chills and complex nuance. The main characters feel like real people, with real problems and how V.E effortlessly destroys our emotions and rebuild us needs to be studied. Her prose is poetic and at the same time hypnotic and that ending? That ending is so satisfying. I had no idea how she would write herself out of the hole she put us in but the way she did it? Chef kiss. This book is highly recommend even if you don't like fantastical realism books. I love her Shades of Magic series but so far, this is V.E best book for me.

2. Darkglass Mountain # 1: The Serpent Bride by Sara Douglass: 9.5 - RAVE

I was so ready to start this trilogy and I am so happy I did. After doing my homework and reading the

prequels previously (Threshold and Beyond the Hanging Wall respectively) I was ready to dive back into Sara's Wayfarer Redemption setting (one of my favorite fantasy settings growing up) again. For her to effortlessly combine all her universes and even introduce new pieces to the tapestry was amazing. I was always a bit bummed that both Threshold and Beyond... just 'ended' and it was nice to see the direct continuation of their stories.

When I say this book had me hooked, it had me hooked. I consumed this massive book within days and this trilogy is the only trilogy where I wanted to read the whole story within one month (hence all the reviews in this LIST). Outside of Ken Liu's Dandelion Dynasty I have never wanted to be consumed by a book as much as this one and to believe, she even upped the ante even more with its sequel. This book is a masterclass in the fantasy I love.

1. Darkglass Mountain # 2: The Twisted Citadel by Sara Douglass: 10 - RAVE

    Man am I happy I can finally give this honor to one of my favorite authors and my favorite Australian

author of all time. The Twisted Citadel was a rollercoaster ride and I love every moment of it. I consumed this big book (500 + words) within days and I regret nothing. Everything I enjoyed about The Serpent Bride is enhanced in this book. The battles are more epic, the betrayals more heart-rendering, the victories more sweeter because we know the characters and their motivations now. This book's description of the raising of Elcho Falling castle still exists in my mind as one of the best 'Wow' moments I have read in recent memory and our main characters Isabel's revenge against the people who betrayed her husband and the aftermath? Those scenes was amazing and lives rent-free in my mind.

I always knew when I started re-reading Sara that she would get a moment like this. I felt a bit of it in Threshold and Beyond the Hanging Wall had potential but this... this was epic in all the right ways. So many fantasy epics experience the sagging middle syndrome but not Darkglass Mountain. This book effortlessly has risen to the same level I viewed Wall of Storms by Ken Liu in how an author takes something amazing and just takes up even more notches.

In a month where the 9's started in the Top 10. Where Brandon Sanderson planted his claim as a new fave, Rebecca broke my heart and V.E delivers what might be her best book yet, to claim the number one spot is a lofty height but Ms. Sara Douglass, the queen of Australian fantasy, deserves it. Cheers to you.

    What a month eh? So next up we have July and a possible middle of the year round up? I guess we shall see. Till then.

AV

LIST: April's Rants & Raves

     As promised, April's Rants & Raves is up much earlier than the previous month. With my shoulder issue hopefully in the past I should be able to get back to not only LISTs like this but writing as well. This month's list has some surprises too. One of our normal heavy hitters disappoints immensely and our biggest winner is a new writer. Also this month we will be using our new modified Rating system, 8.5 used to be capital RAVEs but now 8.5 going forward will be lower case Rave to make the capital RAVE more worthwhile and prestigious. Without more to say, let's do this.

19. Tonight, Again by Clive Barker: 6.5 - Okay

    Oh man... This was disappointing. As regular readers of my blog know, Clive Barker is my favorite novelist of all time so for one of his writing works to be this low really shows how bad it is. This loose collection of illustrations, erotic poems and erotic short fiction was so pedestrian and un-inspired I felt none of the 'spice' or 'heat' it was supposed to invoke. If this book was written in modern days I would be convinced someone type 'write some erotic fiction in the vein of Clive Barker in ChatGPT' and then published it.

    This was so bad, I DNF'ed it before I even knew what DNF was. I decided to go back and finish reading because it was at the tail-end of Clive Barker month I was having but I am happy I did so I leave it in the rear-view and never think about it again. A big disappointment.

18. Gone for Good (Netflix): 7.5 - OKAY

    So it looks like this month was a month of misfires even by people I normally enjoy. Harlan Coben's shows are always great thrill rides but I will not lie, out of all his shows, this one doesn't rank that high when I compare it to the others. The final twist was pretty great tho and raised this shows rank up slightly and the story was not bad, it was just formulaic.

    This show also had a very strange filler episode dedicated to one of the main cast that kind of had nothing to do with the main plot. It was a good story, no doubt but at the end of the show I was thinking back if there was a true point to it and I could not come up with one. The cast is commendable but Coben has much better adaptions out there so this falls on the backend of this LIST and gets an OKAY.

17. The Innocents (Netflix): 8 - Rave

    This show had such potential to be a really good one but unfortunately some really bad writing and a very convoluted ending to eked out another season ruined it. The cliffhanger was un-necessary and similar to my thoughts on Butterfly (Amazon) this show could have concluded so much better.

    One of the reasons why I love K-dramas is because 'most' of the time they write with endings in mind. They don't write like they need more seasons. I thought most UK shows had the same principal but it appears not when its on Netflix. This season ended with an obvious cliffhanger to bait another season and Netflix did not bite. It is a shame because the cast was great with some nice chemistry between our leads and a compelling, unique unexplored story. If the ending was better, this could have been a 9 or a 8.5  at least.

16. Punisher Warzone: 8 - Rave

    After two previous attempts (the horrible Dolph Lundgren one and the Thomas Jane lead one in 2004), Lionsgate Studios gave the Punisher one more attempt before eventually handing the license back to Marvel. Getting Lexi Alexander, a female director and a person who didn't really know who the Punisher was, why did this go so hard? This maybe one of the most faithful renditions of Frank Castle and yes I am even including Marvel's Jon Bernthal's version. Lexi just understood what made Frank, Frank. The brutality, the stoicism, the thirst for justice and vengeance and just the general bad ass-ness (the scene where he breaks his own broken nose back into place with a pencil? Chef Kiss).

    Sure, this isn't the greatest film and you can tell they were working with a budget but when it comes to faithfulness to the source? This movie gets a Hell yeah from me. I am only removing some points because I felt his main enemies (Jigsaw and his brother) were kind of hokey and over the top and some small pacing issues but overall, this movie was amazing. Also rest in peace to the lead actor, Ray Stevenson, he did an amazing job and sits tall as my definitive Punisher.

15. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates: 8 - Rave

    A great companion piece to Ta-Nehisi's memoir 'The Beautiful Struggle' which we previous loved and reviewed, Between the World and Me is another intimate look into Ta-Nehisi's mind. Filled with great observations that asks the hard questions, this book (written as a letter to his son) reads just as well as his memoir. I however did not enjoy it as much. It still has Coates' signature amazing prose and storytelling skills are un-matched but I also felt this book was not as focused as I would have liked. Still a good read, for anthropologists (like myself) or if you have any interest in the ever evolving race relations in the United States.

14. Flight and Glory # 1: Full Measures by Rebecca Yarros: 8 - Rave

    

    This one was a good read. I have become a big fan of Rebecca since discovering her through her contemporary novels and The Empyrean series. I really enjoy her character work and how she handles spice as well with nothing getting too risquè but filled with passion. This book starts amazingly with some of the most well-written depictions of grief I have ever read. I really thought I was onto a winner so when it flattened out and turned into a more standard romance with a will they/ won't they trope I was a bit disappointed.

    Sadly, I never really felt the Main Female Characters motivations to not be with the Main Male character. Her reasoning got less and less rational as time went on and it was a bit frustrating to see her go back and forth on. It at least ended well and I am looking forward to continuing the rest of the series and as a lead book, it is not bad but I do feel this book lost me a bit hence its lower placement on this LIST.

13. Magisterium # 5: The Golden Tower by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare: 8 - Rave

    After a strong penultimate book, I walked into The Golden Tower expecting some good things. I was sadly disappointed. This book did the cardinal sin of writing of showing transition of one scene to another (aka driving from one location to another) and not having a real reason other then to fill up space. On top of that we have a climatic showdown which really lack oomph for me and an ending that just... ends. When I turned the last page on this book, I was hoping there was a hidden epilogue or something but no, Holly and Cassandra decided to just end it the way it did and I could not be more disappointed.

    Because I read them both around the same time and they are both 5 book series, I was always mentally pitting the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning versus this one and 99.9% of the times, Magisterium won, until the end. Karen's Fever series ended very satisfactory and Magisterium ends like there is another story coming... and it is not. I originally gave this book a 8.5  during my initial thoughts but I have now scaled it down to a 8. I think I'll adjust my Goodreads rating as well.

12. Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson: 8.5 - Rave

    My first Brandon Sanderson  novel (I had a  quick dalliance with his graphic novel White Sands but that one is not 'written' by Sanderson) and I liked it. I actually enjoyed this a lot and I can see how people can become fans of his writing. I enjoy his detailed explanations about the magic systems (I'm a Ken Liu fan, I enjoy good detailed explanations now) and his character work was also very strong. I enjoyed learning about the complex histories of these worlds however sadly just as I was really getting into it, it ended.

    Now this isn't as bad as The Golden Tower above but it was abrupt and I was left disappointed that just when it got good, this particular story was over. I would have enjoyed to see some of the characters achieved their dreamed of goals, some relationships develop and some more action but nope. I feel this may have affected its final rating slightly. However, this foray into Sanderson did end well and I think I'll continue exploring his Cosmere universe in other stories. Next up, the Stormlight Archives.

11. The Ultimates Vol. 2: Power to the People: 8.5 - Rave

    Deniz Camp continues to write some of the most compelling alternate world history since Jonathan Hickman. I can see why Hickman picked him to continue the Ultimate universe and also to end it. They share similar 'big moments' mixed in with quiet character studies so well. However sadly, I do have one issue with this volume and it probably is why it is not in the top 10 for this month.

    I don't remember much of what happened in this volume. I recall enjoying myself while reading it and I remember being excited for the next volume but ask me now, gun to my head, my favorite moment from this volume, I'll draw a serious blank. I think I low-key created the new rating system for moments like this. I really enjoyed it but does it deserve a capital RAVE? I do not think so. The capital RAVE should be saved for things that blew me away or got me thinking about it long after I close the book or the credits roll and this volume did not do it for me.

10. Gone before Goodbye by Harlan Coben and Reese Witherspoon: 8.5 - Rave

    Harlan and Reese write a compelling stories with a great hook. I really enjoyed this book's pace and at times I felt like I was reading a screenplay (which does not surprise me that it was written with a TV series in mind). The characters are compelling, our lead character is flawed, believable but also some one you can cheer for and screw the haters, Porkchop is amazing and everyone needs someone like him in their fictional lives.

    This book really reads like Coben, Reese might have contributed some ideas and scenarios but it definitely reads like a Coben thriller and I have no issues with that. Also as always, that trademark final twist (once I understood it, it was written a bit strange for me and others) was a another jaw dropping moment. My only down marks for this book are some pacing issues and the villains, why heinous were also kind of one dimensional. Still, a great read and worthy of cracking this month's top 10.

9. The Housemaid (Film): 8.5 - Rave

    Now this was a surprise. My wife actually read the book but I just watched the film and for my first Freida McFadden experience it was a good one. This film had it all, a good cast, a unique storyline that kept you on your toes and some nice twists.

    Amanda Seyfried played crazy a bit too well lol. My wife also said the book does not end like the film does so that was a nice twist for people who read the book. Overall, this was a good popcorn film, something you can watch after turning your brain off and going for the wild ride it took you on.

8. The Passing of the Dragon by Ken Liu: 8.5 - Rave

    A nice, impactful short story by one of my new favorite authors Ken Liu. Ken examines the nature of art and who it truly belongs too. Is it the artist or the people who interpret it. This reads like one of the great short stories I previously read in The Paper Menagerie or The Hidden Girl collections and it is cool, he has made it free to read on his website as well. As always Ken's prose is near flawless and hooks you and even tho the story is short, the ending is very satisfying for me... something authors in this LIST can learn from.

7. Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer: 8.5 - Rave

    Okay, now we are getting to the really good stuff on this LIST. Compared to the first novel, I really enjoyed Apprentice. I think now I am used to the characters, the cozy setting and the basic set-up of how this world works, I am buying more into it and enjoying it because of that.

    This book had some good twists, some nice reveals and I enjoyed getting more perspectives too instead of just Evie and the Villains. I still feel the main true villain is a bit weak and he does exude menace like how the book is describing him (at least for me) but that is a small mark on something I read pretty quickly and enjoyed. I will definitely continue with the series.

6.  A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown: 8.5 - Rave

        I am so happy when I take a chance on a new artist and they surprise me like Roseanne A. Brown does. Funny story, I found this book not through Booktok or Youtube recommendations, no I found her on my own because I was shopping at Ollies for books and her second book in this duology was on sale so I picked it up due to striking cover art. After reading the blurb I decided to borrow the first book and boy did it not disappoint.

    A Song... is a unique fantasy with African influences which really drew me in. The characters are flawed, the storyline is compelling and does not play it safe and I really enjoyed every moment of reading this. Roseanne's writing is nice and easy to read which always a plus and this first volume gives me  the good feeling I got when I was reading A Darker Shade of Magic which is a good news because I really like that series. I will definitely finish out this duology and see what else she has written.

5.  Now You See Me, Now You Don't: 9 - RAVE

    

    Our first legit RAVE for this month and it deserves it. This movie hit all the right marks for me and I really enjoyed how they were able to bring the OGs together with the Next Generation. The special effects as always were amazing, with some really cool effects (especially in the castle) and the cast, new and old, did a great job. I especially enjoyed how the rivalry between the old cast and the new.

    Also it was nice to Isla Fisher back (Ozzie! Ozzie! Ozzie!) especially after her sitting out the sequel and still fitting into the narrative. The story was compelling, especially being the third time around, they did something that made sense and did not feel like a rehash like so many sequels. I kind of saw the big twist coming but it was still cool to see as well. Yes, I still believe in magic.

4. Invincible Season 4: 9 - RAVE

    If this was a review based on episodes, Episode 7 of this season of Invincible would break the ratings scale and score a 12. However, as it stands, this is a review of the entire season and I loved it but at the same time, I do have some issues with it. From the first couple episodes I did not get the same feelings I always got when I watched this show. As a show that's quickly becoming one of my favorite animated series of all time, the first two episodes were just good to me. Episode 3 was better but then we had Invincible's side-quest into Hell and well, things fell apart there. I did not hate the episode like some people do and boy do some folks hate it but it is the epitome of a filler episode.

    Thankfully the show then dove tails into the Viltrumite Wall and that is when I got invested again. Overall I like the new additions like Tech Jacket, the rip off Star Trek crew being the biggest idiots known to man and seeing Nolan really grow as a character as he asks for forgiveness was good TV. However those last couple of episodes (including the very low-key but also ominous finale) really hard carried this show to a 9. The voice cast continues to be amazing and yes, the animation only really improves during certain scenes but boy when they do go all in, it is a sight. No lie, I can watch episode 7 on repeat and not be upset. It is that damn good.

3. Ask for Andrea by Noelle W. Ihli: 9 - RAVE

    Continuing this month's tread of finding new authors I really enjoy is Noelle's Ask for Andrea. This dark thriller had me hooked from jump and I really enjoyed how the premise allowed the author to explore 3 different perspective and capture your attention with each person. Seeing your murder from the your eyes is definitely something I knew I needed to read but here we are and Noelle does a great job at it.

    My only really gripe is near the end, this novel does lose a bit of its unique-ness by combining all three perspectives into one. It of course makes sense but the three different POVs is what really made me like this book. The ending was also good but not great but that does not detract that Noelle is definitely a writer I'll be paying attention to going forward, hence the # 3 spot.

2. Bloodhounds Season 1 (Netflix): 9 - RAVE

    Wow, this is the type of K-drama that is perfect for Netflix. Similar to how Squid Games took advantage of the freedom Netflix provided, Bloodhounds does not pull any punches (pun intended) and has some of the most intense action sequences I have seen in awhile. Woo Do-hwan shines as a boxer with a heart of gold and trying to keep his friends and family safe. He gives so much in his performance and you can see his growth as an actor. Lee Sang-yi is not mis-casted either, being a perfect wingman to Do-hwan and the two combined make a duo worth cheering for.

    This show also loved to spike my blood pressure with some crazy cliffhangers and what I feel was the k-drama equivalent of Game of Thrones infamous Red Wedding where nothing goes right, IYKYK. Also the show sadly had to deal with a massive real life scandal with the tragedy involving their lead actress, Kim Sae-ron but the show was able to pivot and still give us a good ending despite that. That there is something you really got to commend them for as well.

1. Vanessa Jared's Got a Man by LaQuette: 9.5 - RAVE

    To everyone surprise, including myself, my Golden Rave and # 1 this month goes to not only a brand new author but also a romance novel? In a month packed with my favorite author of all time (Barker), his modern equivalent (Liu) , a skilled writer with a lot of good books under her name (Yarros) and one of my new favorite thriller writers (Coben), the winner is a Black Woman writing a spicy, slice of life romance.

    I don't know how to describe why I like this book so much but I'll try. I love the cover, it just pops and caught my eye. I love the premise and related very heavily to it, a Black Woman and a Asian man, both older which is nice to see, wiser and needing a fresh approach to love. I love how easy it was to read. I read 70% of this book in one night while I was laid up in bed with a bad shoulder and in immense pain and this book was one of the only things that kept me sane. I even, after finishing it, went back and re-read some of my favorite chapters and immediately looked up what else LaQuette has written and purchased the one that stood out to me the most (it'll show up high in next month's LIST I promise) and purchase this very novel through Book Outlet first chance I had.

    I love the characters, Vanessa and Michael feel like real people with real problems. I love their chemistry and how they are there for each other and how their attraction just felt real. I like the side cast and happy two of them will get their own books and own stories. There is just many reasons why I like this book and I am happily bestowing on it the highest honor of this month. The Golden RAVE.

    Well, wasn't that a surprise. Truly this was the month of amazing episodes, enjoyable movies, explosive action packed dramas and amazing new (to me) talents. It was not all good tho, I noticed a pattern of some folks not sticking landings and that always disappoints me.

    However the future is bright with authors like Brandon Sanderson, Noelle W. Ihli, Roseanne W. Brown and especially LaQuette blowing my mind and filling up my TBRs.

Until next time.

AV