The Reckless Oath We Made by Bryn Greenwood

The Reckless Oath We Made

by Bryn Greenwood

Published: G.P. Putman's Sons, 2019

Pages: 436

Genre: Contemporary, Romance

Amazon, Goodreads

"I am well. This place be full of knaves and godless motherfuckers, but I fear them not."

About the book

Zee is nobody's fairy tale princess. Almost six-foot, with a redhead's temper and a shattered hip, she has a long list of worries: never-ending bills, her beautiful, gullible sister, her five-year-old nephew, her housebound mother, and her drug-dealing boss.

Zee may not be a princess, but Gentry is an actual knight, complete with sword, armor, and a code of honor. Two years ago the voices he hears called him to be Zee's champion. Both shy and autistic, he's barely spoken to her since, but he has kept watch, ready to come to her aid.

When an abduction tears Zee's family apart, she turns to the last person she ever imagined — Gentry — and sets in motion a chain of events that will not only change both of their lives, but bind them to one another forever. 

Review

Contemporary romances aren’t usually my jam, but there’s something I really love about stories like this: the normalization of the non-normal.

The Reckless Oath We Made follows the unlikely love story of Zee, a struggling young woman whose father died in prison for murder, and Gentry, a high-functioning autistic who speaks in only Old English and views himself as Zee’s “champion,” bound to protect her.

Zee and Gentry’s lives are brought together when Zee’s sister is kidnapped during an outbreak at the prison where she volunteers at. Zee grapples with taking care of her nephew, dealing with her disabled, hoarder mother, and trying to find out if her sister is OK. 

Since first meeting Gentry, Zee accepts Gentry for who is — I mean Gentry hears voices in his head and she still accepts him with all his flaws without trying to change him. Similarly, Zee is also messed up. She has deep trust issues, comes from a dysfunctional family, and has done a lot of shit she isn’t proud of to get by in life. 

Gentry is the unconventional hero to Zee’s distressing tale; no matter what, Gentry sticks by her and protects her, and she eventually learns to trust and hope again.

The Reckless Oath We Made is truly a beautiful story with raw characters and great writing. Strongly recommend for contemporary romance fans!

RATING (out of five puppies)

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

Ninth House 

by Leigh Bardugo
Published: Flatiron Books, 2019
Pages: 480
Genre: Fantasy
Amazon, Goodreads

That was what magic did. It revealed the heart of who you’d been before life took away your belief in the possible. It gave back the world all lonely children longed for.

About the book

Galaxy "Alex" Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale's freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug-dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. In fact, by age twenty, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she's thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world's most prestigious universities on a full ride. What's the catch, and why her?

Still searching for answers, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale's secret societies. Their eight windowless "tombs" are the well-known haunts of the rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street's biggest players. But their occult activities are more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive. They tamper with forbidden magic. They raise the dead. And, sometimes, they prey on the living.

Review

My reaction after finishing Ninth House can be summarized in eight letters: H-O-L-Y S-H-I-T.

Guys, this book is EXCELLENT. It’s Leigh Bardugo’s best work to date.

It follows Alex Stern, a Yale freshman who is recruited into a secret association called Lethe which oversees eight other ancient, magical societies.

Ninth House starts with a bang with a prologue scene of Alex very injured and hiding out in a safe house then dives into the storyline — Alex monitoring on a ritual involving the disembowelment of a mentally ill man. At that point, the reader slowly learns about the disappearance of Alex’s mentor, Darlington.

Bardugo cleverly jumps the timeline from winter, the present, to last fall, when all of Alex’s troubles began. The author does a great job of interweaving these two timelines while also jumping perspectives without leaving the reader confused. This also creates a ton of suspense and leaves readers guessing.

In addition to the terrific plot (and writing!), the characters are very raw. The glimpse into Alex and Darlington’s pasts provides a rich element to the story.

There’s a reason why there’s so much hype around Ninth House: it’s because it really is that good!

Ninth House will be a series, though I’m not sure how many books are planned, but I’m going to be anxiously awaiting the next installment!

RATING (out of five puppies)

Feed by Mira Grant

Feed

By Mira Grant
Published: Orbit, 2010
Pages: 608
Genre: Dystopian, Thriller
Amazon, Goodreads

Darwin was right. Death doesn’t play fair.

About the book

The year was 2014. We had cured cancer. We had beat the common cold. But in doing so we created something new, something terrible that no one could stop. The infection spread, virus blocks taking over bodies and minds with one, unstoppable command: FEED.

Now, twenty years after the Rising, Georgia and Shaun Mason are on the trail of the biggest story of their lives — the dark conspiracy behind the infected. The truth will out, even if it kills them.

Review

What better way to draw me into a book than zombies and journalists?

The plot of Feed is what really fascinates me. I’ve been a newspaper reporter for six years this post-apocalyptic story focused on a group of blogger journalists trailing a political campaign really sucked me in.

The most important aspect of this novel is that it’s not really a zombie book; it’s more of a thriller that just so happens to be set in the future where zombies run rampant.

The thing about the zombie franchise is that they never focus on a society whose government is actually functioning with clean water and internet access.

Author Mira Grant paints a thought-provoking setting: what would the world be like in today’s day and age but with the constant threat of zombies?

Personally, I did feel like the characters left something to be desired but this was a great read for those seeking a Dean Koontz/Michael Connelly type of book.

Filled with twists and turns and a shocking ending, I couldn’t put Feed down. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

RATING (out of five puppies)

Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys

Fountains of Silence

By Ruta Sepetys
Published: Philomel Books, 2019
Pages: 512
Genre: Historical fiction, Young adult
Amazon, Goodreads

"Truth breaks the chains of silence."
Puri puts a trembling hand to her chest. Her voice drops to a whisper.
"It sets us all free."

About the book

Madrid, 1957. Under the fascist dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, Spain is hiding a dark secret. Meanwhile, tourists and foreign businessmen flood into the country under the welcoming guise of sunshine and wine. Among them is eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson, the son of a Texas oil tycoon, who arrives in Madrid with his parents hoping to connect with the country of his mother's birth through the lens of his camera. Photography — and fate — introduce him to Ana, whose family's interweaving obstacles reveal the lingering grasp of the Spanish Civil War — as well as chilling definitions of fortune and fear. Daniel's photographs leave him with uncomfortable questions admidst shadows of danger. He is backed into a corner of decisions to protect those he loves. Lives and hearts collide, revealing an incredibly dark side to the sunny Spanish city.

Review

Fountains of Silence is one of the biggest page-turners of the year you won’t want to miss!

The story alternates between the viewpoints of Daniel, a young Texan man who aspires to be a photojournalist, and Ana, a poor Madrid maid who works at a hotel catered to rich Americans.

With the story revolving around a teenage boy who comes from a family of wealthy oil tycoons falling in love with a young woman from a poor family, the book is at risk of becoming a clique, but thanks to the rich dimensions of Daniel and Ana, the Fountains of Silence is actually very unique.

Daniel is given added depth by his mother, a transplanted Spanish native who instills in his son the importance of her heritage. This helps steer him away from the typical “rich boy” vibe. Ana is also an impressive character; she is a mature young woman who has to work hard to assist in supporting her family following the murder of her parents by Franco’s regime.

The setting of the book — Madrid in 1957 when it was under the fascist dictatorship is General Francisco Franco also makes this novel stand out among YA historical fiction. It’s clear that author Ruta Sepetys completed thorough research prior to writing this novel; Fountains of Silence shows a glimpse into the true post-war struggles of Spain at that time.

I devoured this book in an entire day, which is saying a lot since it’s over 500 pages. I really enjoyed this one!

RATING (out of five puppies)

October 2019 Wrap-up

I haven't been blogging because work has been CRAZY. But I'm finally getting back into the flow of things, and I decided to set aside some time for my October Wrap-up. I read seven books, which is really good considering how busy I was in October. Let's get to it!

Harvest Home by Thomas Tryon - This book is very eerie, in a Children of the Corn sort of way. Harvest Home is definitely a slow-burn type of writing style. I enjoyed it, but I prefer more action in my books. Harvest Home on Goodreads. My rating: ★★★★

Broken Harbour by Tana French - I love Tana French's novels! She writes so well; I always get completed submerged into her stories. If you're looking for a good detective novel, pick up one of her Dublin Murder Squad books! Broken Harbour on Goodreads. My rating: ★★★★★

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Mass - I've been late to the Court of Thorns and Roses party. I wasn't a fan of the first book, generally liked the second book and this one. I mean, I wouldn't be upset if I hadn't read it at all. It was just average. A Court of Thorns and Roses series on Goodreads. My rating: ★★★

The Black Coats by Colleen Oakes - I picked this up on a whim at my local library. The premise is really interesting; it's about a secret group of young women who right the wrongs that the justice system missed. Unfortunately, the writing didn't really capture my attention and I felt the story dragged. The Black Coats on Goodreads. My rating: ★★★

The Whisper Man by Alex North - This is another detective novel, but it's super creepy and has a paranormal vibe to it. I LOVED it! It was the perfect read for Halloween. The Whisper Man on Goodreads. My rating: ★★★★★

Fate of the Fallen by Kel Kade - The storyline was unique... usually in fantasy series there's a hero who goes on a journey and usually saves the world and whatever. In Fate of the Fallen, everything goes horribly wrong at the beginning and the hero's best friend attempts to take over his responsibility to defeat the antagonist. Though I did enjoy the story, I felt like the characters were a bit immature for what their ages were supposed to be, and the plot kind of faded away. I wouldn't really recommend it. Fate of the Fallen on Goodreads. My rating: ★★

The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks - I wasn't a fan of this book at the beginning, but the storyline picks up the pace towards the middle and certainly ends with a bang. I had a hard time deciding if I liked this book or not. I enjoyed it, but I wasn't a fan of how the story was structured. The Wife Between Us on Goodreads. My rating: ★★★

That's my October Wrap-up! How many books did you read for October? Let me know in the comments!

WWW Wednesday (10/23/19)

In this weekly meme, I will answer three questions:


What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish?

What do you think you'll read next?


This meme is held by samannelizabeth.wordpress.com. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit with other participants and see what others are reading.

What are you currently reading?

In honor of Halloween, I'm reading a classic horror novel I haven't read yet — Harvest Home by Thomas Tryon. It's set in the 1970s, and it's about a man and his family who move out to a remote country town that seems nice but they soon discover it's not what they dreamed of.

What did you recently finish?

Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson - Despite its popularity, I didn't HATE this book but I wasn't a fan and didn't even finish it. I probably would have finished it but my Book of the Month came in so I decided to read that instead. Dance of Thieves on Goodreads.

The Whisper Man by Alex North - I LOVED the Whisper Man! It's very creepy and mysterious and thrilling — perfect for the Halloween season. This is easily one of my favorite books of the year. I devoured it in two days. Check out my full review here. The Whisper Man on Goodreads. My rating: ★★★★★

Fate of the Fallen by Kel Kade - The premise of Fate of the Fallen is interesting because instead of the hero saving the day, everything goes wrong at the beginning. Though I finished the book, it wasn't my cup of tea. The biggest aspect I didn't like was the immaturity of the characters. They're supposed to be in their mid-20s but they act like young teenagers. Fate of the Fallen on Goodreads. My rating: ★★

What do you think you'll read next?

The Whisper Man by Alex North

The Whisper Man

By Alex North

Published: Celadon Books, 2019

Pages: 370

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Amazon, Goodreads

Over the years I've told you many times that there's no such thing as monsters.

I'm sorry that I lied.

About the book

After the sudden death of his wife, Tom Kennedy believes a fresh start will help him and his young son, Jake, heal. A new beginning, a new house, a new town, Featherback.

But the town has a dark past. Twenty years ago, a serial killer abducted and murdered five residents. Until Frank Carter was finally caught, he was nicknamed "The Whisper Man," for he would lure his victims out by whispering at their windows at night.

Just as Tom and Jake settle into their new home, a young boy vanishes. His disappearance bears an unnerving resemblance to Frank Carter's crimes, reigniting old rumors that he preyed with an accomplice. Now, Detectives Amanda Beck and Pete Willis must find the boy before it is too late, even if that means Pete has to revisit his great foe in prison: The Whisper Man.

And then Jake begins acting strangely. He hears a whispering at his window...

Review

I went into The Whisper Man wanting a spooky, thrilling mystery read, and I was not disappointed!

Told mostly through the perspective of Tom Kennedy, a writer struggling to raise his son Jake after the death of his wife, and Detective Pete Willis, whose investigating a missing child. Their stories weave together in surprising and heartfelt way that’s surprising in a creepy read such as this.

At its heart, The Whisper Man speaks volumes about forgiveness, family drama and grief. But it also has a scary, slightly paranormal feel to it.

This is a perfect read for the Halloween season!

MY RATING