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empressreece

Hooked on Books

Avid Multi-Genre Reader. Lover of Books with Unique Settings. Audiobook Fanatic. Sweet Tea Addict. Mom of Two Boys & Mistress of Two Very Energetic Black Kittens.  -Empress Reece

Currently reading

Adrift: Seventy-Six Days Lost at Sea
Steven Callahan
Subhuman (A Unit 51 Novel)
Michael McBride
Despite Lupus: How to Live Well with a Chronic Illness (1)
Sara Gorman
A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie
Kathryn Harkup
Progress: 3 %

Words Can Not Express...

— feeling love
Obsidio (The Illuminae Files) - Jay Kristoff, Amie Kaufman

...how freaking fantastic this book was! It was so damn good! But man I hate that its over! I'm going to miss the crew, even AIDAN, especially AIDAN!! 

 

I thought Obsidio was way better then Gemina- and just as good if not better, then even Illuminae. Don't get me wrong Gemina was good but I honestly thought it had way too much of a teenage vibe to it. A lot of the dialogue and banter got on my nerves, so I was desperately hoping I would be spared in Obsidio. And thank the heavens Obsidio did not take on that tone at all! It was an amazing work of art! This is one series that I can actually see myself re-reading/listening to over and over again! 

 

 

The Faraday Files Book #3: The Heartreader's Secret

The Heartreader's Secret - Kate McIntyre The Timeseer's Gambit (The Faraday Files Book 2) - Kate McIntyre The Deathsniffer's Assistant - Kate McIntyre
— feeling love

Outstanding yet again! The Faraday Files is one of my most favorite series! The 1900s alternate steampunk London (Darrington City) and the diverse cast of characters found a place in my heart in Kate Mcintyre's debut, The Deathsniffer's Assistant, and I've been watching the characters struggle and cry, laugh and grow, sacrifice and persevere ever since. 


The Deathsniffer's Assistant - Kate McIntyre 

 

But before I get into my review of Kate's newest release, book three, The Heartreader's Secret, I'd like to give you a brief overview of the first two books.

 

In the first book, The Deathsniffer's Assistant, we're introduced to the very eccentric and hard-hearted Olivia Faraday, a Deathsniffer (someone who hunts murderers) and her overly sensitive assistant, Christopher Buckley, a WordWeaver (transcribes thoughts directly to page).

Chris and his sister, Rosemary recently lost both of their parents in the Floating Castle accident and Chris has had to take on the responsibility of not only raising Rosemary but trying to keep her safe and out of the hands of the enemy that want to harness her unique and very strong gifts. Chris and Rosemary have been living on the savings that their wealthy parents left them but the money is starting to run out so Chris has to find a job to support them. He's never had to work before so he has absolutely no experience doing anything and Olivia Faraday, who's in need of an assistant to help with her investigations, is the only employer willing to take him on. So there begins the start of an unexpected but fond and spirited comradeship...

 

The Timeseer's Gambit (The Faraday Files Book 2) - Kate McIntyre 


In book two, The Timeseer's Gambit, Olivia and Chris have their hands full hunting for someone using bound elementals to kill young priests and trying to find evidence to save Dr. Francis Livingstone who's been falsely accused and is now standing trial for the thousands of deaths caused by the falling of the Floating Castle. In his personal life Chris is struggling with his sexual identity and the mixed feelings he has for both Rachel Albany and his childhood friend, Will.

 


The Heartreader's Secret - Kate McIntyre 


Then we come to Kate's newest masterpiece, The Heartreader's Secret. Chris's attraction to both Rachel and Will come to a roaring head in this book. We get an in-depth view of how conflicted Chris is with his sexual identity. He really struggles with reconciling his real feelings with his need to conform to society's expectations. On top of that, Emilia, a very brilliant engineer, poc and girlfriend to one of Chris and Olivia's good friends, Maris, has gone missing. Maris, a police officer, is absolutely devastated and she's convinced that something bad has happened to Emilia. On Maris's request, Chris and Olivia travel to the last place Emilia was working which happens to be Olivia's childhood home, Miller's farm. They've traveled under the guise of investigating the suicide of one the stable hands so as not to alert potential suspects that they're on their trail. As Chris and Olivia search for clues to Emilia's dissapearance, we also get a front row seat to the discord between Olivia and her mother and we learn the real reason why Olivia has given up her family legacy to be a Deathsniffer.

So that's a little background on the series thus far. It'a a spectacular series and each book just gets better and better! If you like mysteries with a dash of steampunk, then you should really give this series a try. I guarantee Darrington City and its diverse and eccentric inhabitants will reel you in like they did me!

*I received this ARC from the publisher, Curiosity Quills Press, and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

 

 

AMAZON

 

 GOODREADS 

 

What Book Should You Read Next?

Trying to decide what book to read next? Click on the link above or click here to find out which book BookOutlet recommends. 

 

I took the quiz twice, changing my answers a little bit. The first time it said I should I read Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman which I've actually had on my TBR for a while and the second time it said I should read The Hatching by Ezekiel Boone. I've already read it but I thought the recommendations were pretty close to the type of books I like to read. I like taking quizzes like that so I know I'll probably end up taking it several more times just for curiosity's sake. : )

Reading progress update: I've read 135 out of 608 pages.

— feeling sleep
Obsidio (The Illuminae Files) - Jay Kristoff, Amie Kaufman

Oh lord it's 2:20 a.m. and I need to close this book and sleep for a bit but I can't. It's too good! 

Renegade Star: Renegade Star Series Book 1

Renegade Star - JN Chaney

I've read some of Chaney's other books and really enjoyed them but I'll be honest I've been hesitant to read this series because of the awful covers. I know, I know, you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but I think subconsciously I still do it. Anyways, I was in the mood for a light story last night so I said what the hell, lets go for it and it actually ended up being the perfect book. It was so much fun! It seriously reminded me of an Indiana Jones movie set in space with it's similar group of scholarly characters following a map, silly banter and the same non-stop, stay one-step ahead of your pursuers, action.

 

The main character, Jace, is a Renegade which is basically a thief that takes odd jobs stealing and transporting things for money. Jobs have been few and far between lately and he's in desperate need of quick cash to pay back the money he borrowed from a loan shark to buy a cloaking device for his ship. So against his better judgment, he takes on a job transporting a "nun," Sister Abigail, and her suspicious crate of supposed medical supplies. When he starts hearing sounds coming from the crate, he learns what it really contains and that the Union military and every Ravager in the system is hunting Abigail and her package. With no option to return home now, he decides to go all in with Abigail and her group, joining them on their ultimate quest to find the long lost planet Earth. 

 

If you're an Indiana Jones fan or really liked Revenger by Alistair Reynolds, I think you would enjoy this. It has the best of both worlds.  

Reading progress update: I've read 100%.

— feeling star
The Heartreader's Secret - Kate McIntyre

This series is soooo good! I hate that I finished the book already. Now I have to wait for book #4. : (  Review to Come...

Reading progress update: I've read 100%.

— feeling question
The Handmaid's Tale: Special Edition - Margaret Atwood, Claire Danes

I finished this book the other day and I'm still trying to decide how I feel about it. I have several reviews I need to write. Looks like tomorrow is going to be a review day for me...

Anyone watched SIREN?

 

Mermaids and Sirens seem to be one of the new latest book and TV trends. I had never read any books about mermaids/sirens until I read the Daughter of the Pirate King series and I loved that series and found the sirens and Siren Queen enchanting! I hardly ever watch TV because I'm too busy reading but I wouldn't mind watching this show if it's any good.

 

Has anyone tuned in to this yet or do you know of any other really good books, movies or TV shows featuring mermaids/sirens? 

 

Picture is also linked to FREEFORM

  

You're Killing Me!!...

— feeling doubt
Why Kill The Innocent (Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery) - C.S. Harris

I was very dissapointed when I finished this book. I felt like Harris just shortchanged me as a reader and her characters with this cut and pasted drivel. I normally love this series but I didn't get any warm fuzzy feelings from this book at all. The whole time I was reading it I was completely bored and it was painstakingly obvious how particular sections of writing were exactly the same and located in exactly the same places within chapters as in previous books. I know some authors like to use an outline which I don't mind in increments but when the rest of the story is so boring that, that's all I can focus on then something is not right. I just got the impression that Harris put very little time or effort into this book. If you're tired of writing about your own characters, then it's time to move on and it's time for me to move on too! Don't put out half-assed written books and expect your readers not to notice or care because we will and we do.

 

*I received this ARC from Penguin Random House First-to-Read program in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Reading progress update: I've read 100%.

— feeling sad
Why Kill The Innocent (Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery) - C.S. Harris

I'm kind of sad- this book just didn't do it for me like the rest of the series. Review to come..

Reading progress update: I've read 100%.

The Carrow Haunt - Darcy Coates

This is Darcy Coates new book. It was really good! Review to come...

The Shuddering....

The Shuddering - Ania Ahlborn
This was my first book by Ahlborn. It wasn't the best book I've ever read about a 'group of friends gathering during midwinter in a secluded cabin in the woods' but it was pretty good. The ending was probably my favorite part and I normally don't like open endings, left up to the imagination of the reader, but I loved the ending of this book! Oh man, it was perfect! I can't even imagine...

 

Just when you think you're finally safe and WHAM!- You're right back where you started!

 

(show spoiler)


Also, I listened to the audio version. It was a good performance if you like audiobooks.
 

Reading progress update: I've read 25%.

— feeling doubt
The Handmaid's Tale: Special Edition - Margaret Atwood, Claire Danes

I feel like I need to listen to the ending chapters first and then start from the beginning. 

Reading progress update: I've read 23%.

Why Kill The Innocent (Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery) - C.S. Harris

There were a couple of loose ends from the last book that I'm dying to learn more about - 

 

1) Hero's mom, who I'd bet money was poisoned by her cousin Victoria and 2) the second killer is still on the loose

 

(show spoiler)

so I'm really, really hoping those storylines get reintroduced at some point in this book. 

Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery #12

Where the Dead Lie (Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery) - C.S. Harris

I just love this series! C.S. Harris never disappoints! In this book, Sebastian has his hands full searching for a sadistic psycho that enjoys raping, torturing and murdering young boys and girls for pure pleasure. It was pretty riveting and by the end, I was just as anxious to find the murdering sickos just as much as Sebastian was. 

 

Kill Your Darlings - Yellow Team (Wrap-Up)

Team Yellow
Hooked on Books = 180
Witty Little Knitter = 100
Emerjas = 215
Isanythingopen = 170
Darth Pony = 105
Broken Tune = 155

Team Yellow Total = 925 
Team Yellow Individual = 154

 

 

Some Fun Stats about the Yellow Team...

Total Books Read = 93

Total Incorrect Guesses = 26

Number of Guesses/ Played Cards = 39

Number of Collected Cards = 48

Total Number of Played & Collected Cards = 87

 

 

**Special Thanks to Moonlight Reader for hosting another fantastic and fun-filled game! 

 

 

 

 

 

**Please forgive me if any of my 'Fun Stats' are incorrect. I compiled purely for fun using the KYD Round Play and Tracking threads.  I know I ended up with more books then cards played some how & I'm still trying to figure that one out. Lol : )