Book Review: The Dark Beneath the Ice by Amelinda Bérubé

It took The Dark Beneath the Ice a while to get going, but once it did, it brought all the chills.

Marianne's life is falling apart.  Her mother and father are splitting up, her mother has been hospitalized, and she must go live with her aunt.  Additionally, Marianne is having weird dreamlike episodes where she feels she's being dragged under the water.  And she's breaking things during lapses of consciousness. These episodes are getting worse and worse.

She makes a new friend, Rhiannon (Ron), whose mother is a psychic.  When she finally convinces Ron's mother to help her get rid of what is after her, she only makes things worse.  Now Marianne feels like everyone she loves or cares about is in danger.  The creature tells her she's stolen something and wants her to give it back, but Marianne has no idea what it wants.

I liked that Marianne has a support system, and she does get counseling.  She's pretty honest with the counselor too. The tension during the second half of the book is palpable at times and genuinely creepy. It just takes too long to get to this part.  The back story and setup is drawn out and a bit too detailed.

However, fans of creepiness will enjoy The Dark Beneath the Ice. I was not surprised by the ending, but that doesn't really matter if you just want to feel the thrills and chills.

Published by Sourcebooks Fire, August 7, 2018
ARC Copy obtained from School Library Connection Magazine
327 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: Iron Gold by Pierce Brown

Iron Gold is the unexpected fourth installment of the Red Rising "Trilogy." I'm so glad Brown decided to continue this series because I really enjoy these characters and this world.

*spoilers if you haven't read the first three books*

So, the revolution ended, right?  But apparently, for the past ten years, war continued to ravage this world.  Darrow is determined to end the war -- no matter what he has to give up.

His story is entwined with a few other points-of-view. There is a thief, Ephraim, who ends up working for someone he never wanted to be associated with.  There is Lyria who lives on Mars.  But Mars is even worse than when Darrow was born there -- even though they are supposed to be free now.  She ends up escaping after losing almost everything. And there is Lysander and Cassius who travel together and end up fighting for their lives like never before.

And Darrow, who is a fugitive from justice, is working to overthrow Venus.  All these people come together in unexpected ways in a devastating battle. That is really only the tip of the iceberg plot-wise, but I don't want to give too much away.  Suffice it to say, Iron Gold is exciting and action-packed as usual.

Something about the writing just draws me into these books.  At 600 pages, I was surprised how fast I finished it. There are a lot of characters, and this is a complex story.  Episodes from the first three books are referred to for context, but we don't get a summary.  There is a list of characters at the beginning of the book that was very helpful to me.

This series is worth the investment. I'm so glad I've been able to enjoy it.  At the end of Iron Gold, we are pretty much left hanging, so I can't wait until the fifth book, Dark Age, is released in February.

Published by Del Ray, January 16, 2018
Copy obtained from the library
601 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

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Book Review: Game of Secrets by Kim Foster

Game of Secrets is a magic book, but the historical setting is what really amped up the appeal.

Felicity is doing her best in Victorian London to keep herself and her little brother surviving. It isn't easy.  Her brother must stay hidden since he is Tainted. His special abilities, if found out, will get him caught by the Huntsmen, and he will surely be killed.

As Felicity herself is in danger of being taken by a Huntsman, a mysterious man, Hawksmoor, rescues her and takes her to a special school to be trained to serve Queen Victoria as a spy and assassin. You see, Felicity was unaware that she is also Tainted. Her magic powers are very desired by this organization.

The training is difficult, and it's a competition between these youth to be the next official spy.  In the meantime, Felicity is worried about her brother.  But she can communicate telepathically with him, and he is safe, taken by the same organization and being pampered until he is old enough to attend the school. Felicity doesn't trust Hawksmoor and continues to plot her escape, but soon she becomes a very successful spy and may be in the running to win the competition.

Game of Secrets was an enjoyable mix of a historical setting, spying, and magical abilities. There is plenty of adventures and danger, as the trainees are sent on small missions. The plot moves quickly, and I was surprised more than once. I did tire a bit of Felicity's subterfuge.  She keeps putting herself and others in danger by going rogue during their missions. You would think she would learn after almost being captured by the Huntsmen once (or even twice), but she keeps on risking it.

Game of Secrets is a quick read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a bit of sleuthing in the Victorian Era.

Published by Sky Pony, July 3, 2018
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
368 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: Bring Me Back by B. A. Paris

Bring Me Back is the second novel I've read by Paris, and I enjoyed this one as much as Behind Closed Doors.

Ten years ago Finn and Layla stopped at a rest stop and when Finn returned from the restroom, Layla had disappeared.  There is more to that story--but you have to read the book to find out. Finn has recently become engaged to Layla's sister, Ellen.

First, someone from the town where Finn and Layla used to live says they spotted Layla. Then, Russian dolls begin to appear in strange places where Finn or Ellen will find them.  Only Finn and Ellen and one other friend know the significance of the Russian doll. Finn begins to get emails from someone claiming to know where Layla is.

All of this turmoil makes Finn wonder just how much he really loves Ellen.  It puts a strain on their relationship.  And as the clues pile up and Finn becomes convinced that Layla is still alive, the couple is driven to the breaking point.

Just who is behind these mysterious events?  Is it Layla?  Or is someone else trying to break Finn and Ellen up, or even worse.

The tension builds nicely throughout the entire story.  The pace is fast--there is always something happening.  I did feel that this second book is a bit formulaic, nevertheless, my heart pounded a bit at times.

Paris has the talent for ramping up suspense, and I can recommend this one easily to those who enjoy that type of story.

Published by St. Martin's, June 19, 2018
eARC obtained from NetGalley
304 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: Eden Conquered, by Joelle Charbonneau @jcharbonneau

It doesn't often happen that I enjoy the second book in a series more than the first. but Eden Conquered was more compelling than Dividing Eden.

Dividing Eden just took a long time to get going, but in Eden Conquered, the excitement starts at page one and continues to ramp up until the exciting conclusion.  If you haven't read Dividing Eden, you should probably quit reading this now and go check it out.

For most of the book, we get two perspectives.  One is Carys who has left Eden after faking her death.  She's trying to figure out who she can trust (pretty much no one) and what the almost constant whispering in her head is about.  She is no longer addicted to the drugs her mother provided, so things are much clearer.  She is sure she is being betrayed by people who are really loyal, and she is being betrayed by those she thinks she can trust.  It is a constant struggle as she tries to find answers.

Meanwhile, the other perspective is her brother, Andreus, who is now king of Eden. He has much the same problem as Carys--trying to figure out who he can trust.  And also, it doesn't seem like there are many people he can. The Elders who are serving him are all suspect.  And the wind, which keeps the lights on and keeps the kingdom safe from the zombie-like creatures called Xhelozi, has died. He has a lot to worry about and doesn't have much support.

As Carys finally returns to Eden (I don't think that is too much of a spoiler) the two points-of-view become merged. Will Carys and Andreus be able to work together to save Eden?  Or will Eden be conquered?

You'll want to find all that out for yourself.  If you've read Dividing Eden, you will definitely want to get your hands on Eden Conquered.  If not, start with that one.  It will be worth it, I promise.

Published by HarperTeen, June 5, 2018
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
320 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

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Book Review: The Word is Murder, by Anthony Horowitz @AnthonyHorowitz

I'm not sure I've ever read a novel where the author is a character in the story, but I really enjoyed The Word is Murder.

Diana Cowper goes to the funeral home one morning to plan her own funeral.  Later the same day she is murdered in her home.  Coincidence?  I think not.  Daniel Hawthorne has been called in to help the police investigate the crime.  He's an excentric ex-detective, who left the police under mysterious circumstances.

Daniel needs money and decides to hire an author to write about his life and this case.  He asks Anthony Horowitz, and the book you are reading is the result of this collaboration.

Hawthorne is Sherlock Holmes, Horowitz is Watson, and it plays very well. Hawthorne is secretive and unconventional.  Horowitz is frustrated but intrigued. The clues in the investigation are doled out steadily, so it is easy to keep turning the pages. There are lots of real-life references to Horowitz's books and contemporaries. I kept going to look up what and who was real, and who wasn't. Perhaps the mystery will be solved by some readers, but I was in the dark and very much enjoyed the resolution.

I don't pay too much attention to the details of a book blurb (don't want to know too much ahead of time).  I had read House of Silk and thought this was another Sherlock Holmes adventure written by Horowitz. It isn't, but I wasn't at all disappointed.

Fans of a Sherlock Holmes type mystery will enjoy The Word is Murder.

Published by Harper, June 5, 2018
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
400 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

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