The Infinity Particle by Wendy Xu

The Infinity Particle by Wendy Xu

My Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy from Quill Tree Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When Clementine Change moves to Mars for the fresh start she’s waited a long time for, she’s even more excited that she gets to work with Dr. Marcella Lin. Marcella is one of the major pioneers of the Artificial Intelligence field. It’s been Clem’s dream to meet and work with her idol for a long time, so she’s more than excited to get started. Things seem to be going smoothly, but there’s something strange about the office because everyone but Clem is tip-toeing around Marcella. Even Kye, a humanoid AI who was personally built by Marcella, is wary and seems lonely and miserable. When Clem and Kye form a friendship that slowly starts to become something more, it reveals the truth about Marcella, leading Clem, Kye, and SENA down a little known path about AI.

I’ve enjoyed the other books I’ve read from the author, so I was extremely excited to pick this up. We follow Clem and her best friend and personally built robot, SENA, as they restart their lives on Mars. Along the way, we learn a lot about Clem as well as SENA and their views on AI. They both believe that robots are their own beings, Artificial Intelligence or not, and should be treated with respect as well as able to have their own views and interests. It’s why Clem is so excited to work with Marcella, she seems to have the same beliefs as Clem and her best friend. It’s clear that Clem and SENA have been friends for a long time and that SENA is free to do what she wants and pursue her own interests. It’s also clear that Clem left Earth to escape her horrible upbringing, which is why Mars is a fresh start where she and SENA can finally bloom.

I found this book really interesting, both because I’ve always been fascinated by books and movies that include AI characters, but also because we’re currently seeing new advancements with AI in reality. It’s obviously not the same as a walking and talking sentient robot, but it’s easy to see how it will be possible some day in the very distant future with how AI has been advancing. Here we’re left to question how sentient AI are. Clem is among those who believe that, AI or not, robots are their own people who should be treated with respect and allowed to have their own thoughts and interests. Then we have people like Marcella, who portrays herself one way in public, but treats Kye absolutely terribly behind closed doors. We quickly learn that she’s an entirely different person when she’s alone with Kye over how she is with him around others, though her employees quickly become aware of the truth.

There is also a great cast of characters, though we don’t get to know most of them well. However, it didn’t feel that way while I was reading it. The supporting characters feel very lively and well characterized, so it never feels like anyone is one dimensional or superficially visited. There’s enough information given that each of the supporting characters feel well rounded no matter how much or how little they appear in the story. I also really like how the truth behind Marcella is slowly revealed to Clem. In my own experience growing up with an abusive narcissist, they really do know how to put on a show in front of people and suck them in before who they really are eventually gets revealed, so I found Marcella’s characterization to be very true to that.

All in all, this is an excellent story full of many layers. I think it’s a powerful story told with beautiful artwork through every panel with a cute love story in the mix. The author’s works seem to get stronger and stronger with each publication, which makes me very excited for whatever they publish next.

The Nice House on the Lake, Vol. 2 James Tynion IV

 
The Nice House on the Lake, Vol. 2 James Tynion IV

My Rating: ★★★★★

Just when the survivors trapped at the lake house thought the floor under their feet was done falling, they quickly learn that is not the case. Walter is trying different ways to make his friends happy by erasing their memories and trying to guide them. Instead, they are worried, frustrated, and occasionally a little suspicious. It’s okay, since Walter finally got the puzzle pieces in place… or did he?

I was so excited that the second volume was available because the opening volume was spectacular. It took a few seconds to realize that Walter had played with everyone’s memories again, which is when I settled in and followed along. This time around, we watch as Walter tries to manipulate everyone into settling down in their new reality now that they think they’re just trapped at the lake house. The only problem is that no one wants to settle in long-term because they think there’s a world that still exists outside of the lake house. However, it is going much smoother since they’re no longer angry and upset knowing what happened to everyone they’ve ever known.

It was great to see more of the character’s personalities come out. However, we continued to mainly view them through Walter, who is desperately trying to make things work. As the volume continues, we also learn more about Walter, and I think that he really does care about and love each of his friends in his own way. He’s not human, so he doesn’t exactly understand why everyone is so obsessed with making contact with their friends and family outside of the lake house, especially when he knows they’re all dead. We also see him trying extremely hard with Norah, who is the person he cares about most and the only one able to remember the recent events he erased from everyone else’s memories. We learn a lot about Norah as well as see how she continues to struggle with what he’s done and the reality of this new world and prison that’s been created for them all.

The reactions of the characters could be seen as a little bit of a study on human nature, which makes it even more interesting. It was a truly wild read and I honestly don’t know what I would do or how I would react if I found myself in the shoes of any one of Walter’s friends stuck at the lake house. What I do know is that I’d like to know more about Walter and his people, like where they came from and what the point of these experiments are since they’ve destroyed everything on our planet in this fictional story. I would be very upset and blindsided of course, but I would want to know more about the reality of this situation and whose hands my life was in as well as what their plans were since they decided we were going to survive as part of an experiment.

The ending appears to both wrap up the series while clearly not being the end, so I’m a little confused about whether or not this is indeed where it ends. If it does continue, I’d love to learn more about the other characters outside of how Walter views and experiences them. Since we learned a little more about how the lake house works and the “controls” of its ecosystem, which reminds me of The Sims in a way, it’ll be interesting to see how much of it is truly as it seems. It’ll also be interesting to see where the story would go from this point on, especially after the ominous ending that sets up the future of the series, assuming it continues.

Crochet Ragdolls: 30 Animals and Friends to Snuggle by Sascha Blase-van Wagtendonk

 
Crochet Ragdolls: 30 Animals and Friends to Snuggle by Sascha Blase-van Wagtendonk

My Rating: ★★★★

If you’re looking for pattern books for crochet ragdolls and clothing, this is the book for you! Inside you will find 31 ragdoll patterns and six clothing patterns that consist of dresses and sweaters. Some of the patterns are miniature versions of the previous pattern. For example, the bunny and baby bunny patterns are close but one is a miniature version with some slight changes since they’re a baby bunny. You will also find tips and tricks as well as diagrams with directions on how to do the stitches and techniques required for these patterns. The diagrams are more for people who may need a quick refresher for any stitches over teaching a beginner the stitches.

There is also a skill level scale showing readers if the pattern falls under one of these five skill levels: beginner, advanced beginner, intermediate, advanced intermediate, and advanced. I wouldn’t say that this is a book for people who are just starting out on crocheting because it may be overwhelming between the techniques, such as the magic ring, and the different pieces one will be sewing together to complete the projects. Unless you are someone like me who takes on a pattern a little bit more advanced for a first project because you are determined and like the challenge of the techniques you wouldn’t normally take on at first, this is not for you. However, I can see this being a good book for someone who is getting ready to start their third or fourth project and is more familiar with the stitches, how to turn rows, and how to avoid accidentally adding stitches in each row. There are patterns that are beginner friendly in this book, but not a first or second project kind beginner level for most people.

One of the things I like is that the book introduces the magic ring technique for anyone who hasn’t heard about it before. It truly is magical! I remember feeling like it was life changing when I first learned about it many years ago. I also like that there is a section on putting the pieces together to complete the ragdolls because I know that seaming can be difficult for people at any level. I know that even I still have some trouble getting the placement just right and then keeping it that way as I’m seaming in regards to arms and legs from time to time, and I’ve been knitting and crocheting for many years!

All in all, I think it’s a great pattern book for anyone looking to make ragdolls and possibly a few clothing items for them. It’s beginner friendly, but not for early projects for new crocheters, while including a good amount of tips and tricks for crocheters of all skill levels. I especially like that there’s a small section that shows how different yarns can alter the overall size and appearance. A gauge isn’t provided for the patterns, so the size and overall appearance may be different based on the crocheter’s personal gauge even when using the same yarn and crochet hook as the author. Plus, different brands of yarn as well as different fibers drape and hold up differently, so I love that there’s a picture of ragdolls made using different yarns along with the yarn info and recommended crochet hook for each yarn. It’s a good thing to bring up for people who aren’t aware of this bit of fiber arts yet, and it helps make this book a good staple for anyone’s collection.

My Dearest Darkest by Kayla Cottingham

 
My Dearest Darkest by Kayla Cottingham

My Rating: ★★★★

When Finch Chamberlin auditioned in hopes of gaining a place at Ulalume Academy, she never expected that merely traveling there would change her life forever. Now the very stag that caused her family’s deadly accident haunts her while she feels a supernatural pull to the tunnels under Ulalume Academy. Finch is suspicious of the ghost waiting for her in the tunnels, and is shocked to learn that this ghost is granting wishes to the most popular girls at the school. It’s all fun and games until everyone learns that nothing is free. There’s a steep cost for the wishes being granted, and Nerosi doesn’t tolerate anyone questioning her fees.

I read a different book from the author and liked it, so I decided to check out what else they had out and here we are. We follow Finch, a teenager who is still reeling from a recent accident that left her orphaned. Not only that, but she died in the accident and made a miraculous recovery with a few notable changes: white hair, a very slow heartbeat, and a complexion that has seemingly never seen the sun. We also follow one of her classmates, Selena St. Clair, who is the most popular girl in school in addition to being Ulalume Academy’s resident mean girl.

I have to say that I enjoyed this much more than the author’s zombie book. It didn’t start off strong with the characters being very superficial and the story trying too hard to sell that Selena and her friends are oh-so-cool. Rather than actually being cool, it was more like a group of people trying way too hard to be a classic superficial movie version of very cool mean girls. Once the story was in full swing and wasn’t trying hard to sell them as “cool,” the four characters were actually really interesting to follow as they slowly got in way too deep with Nerosi. It was fun to see their dynamic and how some of their friendships were holding on by a thread, but also how their relationship with Nerosi brings them together, tears them apart, and then brings them back together all over again.

Speaking of Nerosi, she’s a really compelling character. It was easy to see how different generations got fooled by her. She appears to be a ghost at first, but it was clear she was something much more by the second time Finch meets with her. The fact that she’s offering to grant wishes, or favors as she calls them, sounds the alarm. I was so sure she was a demon of some sort that had been trapped in the tunnels, but it turns out that she’s much more than that. In fact, we find out who and what she is for sure and I wish that was fleshed out more. I think that not expanding on how Nerosi got to Rainwater and why she was trapped in the tunnels under the school was a missed opportunity. Instead, there are some major questions left unanswered, especially because of how powerful she is.

Finch sounds like she would be boring compared to the other characters, but she’s got a lot going on in her own regard. She’s newly orphaned and reeling from the loss of her parents as she starts her life over at a private school. Finch was previously homeschooled and always struggled making friends, so she’s feeling very alone and awkward, especially around Selena. In fact, Selena lights up her life in ways she never knew friends could until she realizes it’s because she’s attracted to her. Finch has a very interesting character arc because she’s figuring out friendships and realizing she’s a lesbian all while dealing with Nerosi, who is expecting payment for bringing her back to life in the lake. Unlike the other characters, Finch has a special connection to Nerosi due to this, and it opens her eyes to other supernatural happenings in Rainwater.

All in all, this was a great read. I do think the dialogue was strange at times, and I wish Nerosi’s backstory was expanded on because it impacts the overall story, but it was still a great read. It was such a page turner and something that I could see making an excellent movie someday. This is the book that makes me excited about the author’s future publications.

The Heart of the Mummy (Avery & Carter #3) by Shane Carrow

The Heart of the Mummy by Shane Carrow

My Rating: ★★

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Two years after Sam Carter and Lucas Avery last saw each other, the hilarious duo stumble into each other’s presence once again. Lucas just wants to escort his sister, Emily, away from Egypt and back to England where their father intends on pressuring her to marry. However, Emily has other plans and it involves Sam, a map, and a desert expedition. The only problem is that the map came at a cost, and Sam is keeping his lips sealed about the danger lurking behind the person who sold him the map.

I’ve been loving this series since it started with a novella and was excited when I learned a third installment was on the way. I was expecting more hilarious adventures with Sam and Lucas with a supernatural twist and perhaps some serious tones mixed in, given the previous book. This time around, we have a new character who may be a permanent fixture: Emily. She adds a strange dynamic as an archeologist who views herself as extremely ahead of the times. I can’t say whether or not Emily will add anything to the series other than a forced romance plot that has zero chemistry, but only time will tell.

This time around, we meet Sam and Lucas in Cairo right before they head out on an expedition. Lucas is not happy about it, of course, but he follows along since his sister is going. The team is looking for Nekharis, the City of the Damned, and stumble upon an ancient evil that could end the world. Sam and Lucas are at odds for half the book, which doesn’t make any sense because they didn’t have a huge blow out at the end of the previous book. It’s not even about Sam romancing his sister, but instead about being unable to trust each other because their camaraderie is suddenly non-existent. I could see if they had a falling out over Sam being a flake about keeping in touch, or having a huge falling out before they last parted ways, but instead we get this awkward not even ex-friends relationship for half the book. Once they warmed up to one another again, the two began to act more like themselves.

I think the story itself could’ve been interesting and entertaining. Instead, we spent a lot of time leading up to the main plot and then rushing through once it started to get rolling. There’s a lot of time spent on getting to the dig sight, setting up, digging, and debating in between all of this. When they unleashed Usarhet, I thought, okay. It’s going to get crazy right about now! And then it didn’t. We were still building up to a big moment. Once this huge moment finally happened, it cuts off and jumps straight to the aftermath. There was so much build up for a rather anticlimactic ending.

All in all, I’m disappointed by this one. I don’t think that this is the end of the series, nor will I stop reading the series. One installment that doesn’t fit in well with the rest isn’t enough to put me off! I think the series still has a lot going for it and one bum installment hasn’t wrecked that. We have some interesting characters, but two weren’t like themselves for a good portion of the book. Braxis was easily the most interesting character and he was underutilized. We got a ton of build up only for the climax to be cut off right as it was about to start. The ethics of the history of ancient Egyptian tombs being broken into and used to profit from is a topic that keeps jumping on and off the table, and Sam seems to jump on and off the table with it. I like that it’s inspired by the Mummy 1-2 movies, but unfortunately, it still missed the mark for me. However, I still have hope for the future of the series and look forward to seeing where Sam and Lucas go next.

Wicked Beauty (Dark Olympus #3) by Katee Robert

Wicked Beauty by Katee Robert

My Rating: ★★

Helen Kasios is ready to show Olympus that she means business when she throws her name in the mix for the role of Ares. Unfortunately for her, Zeus has declared that whoever gets in the ring and comes out as Ares will also gain Helen as their wife. It was a decision no one spoke to Helen about, and she is understandably furious. It’s why she still throws her name in the tournament: to piss her brother off and show Olympus that she’s not just a prize to win. The fact that Helen falls in love along the way is just a big surprise to everyone involved.

I picked this up excited that we were getting a throuple. I’ve seen a lot of love triangles in books but a throuple? Now that’s both exciting and different! We follow Helen, Achilles, and Patroclus through their rotating perspectives. I discovered I really liked Patroclus right at the start while I had a hard time getting behind Achilles and Helen. However, it really worked at first because Patroclus is sensitive and serious while Achilles and Helen are pure chaos who act before thinking.

By the time the tournament started, which gave me some Hunger Games vibes without the seriousness behind it, the three characters started to merge together. Their individual voices started to sound like the same voice and I just wasn’t digging the romance. It felt like something was missing while also going through the motions and details in a blow by blow fashion any time they hit the bedroom. The only one I can truly believe fell in love with Helen is Patroclus, but I’m not sure that I believe that Helen or Achilles fell for each other or that Helen truly returned Patroclus’s feelings. I like the concept of a throuple but it missed the mark for me here.

While I do think the overall concept and content was good, it just felt like something went missing along the way and the character’s voices blurred into one. I also would’ve loved it to have really leaned into the reality TV contest concept as well, but it was sort of there in name only since there was an audience and hidden cameras only at each arena. I think this was a miss for me while being something a few of my friends would love. That said, I’m still going to read the next book because I’ve been liking Katee’s modern retellings so far even though this one was a miss for me.

Garlic and the Witch (Garlic #2) by Bree Paulsen

 
Garlic and the Witch by Bree Paulsen

My Rating: ★★★★★

Garlic has been enjoying her life with Agnes and all her new friends, but now she’s experiencing a new change. It appears that she may be slowly becoming human, but Garlic isn’t ready for that. Change is scary and Garlic isn’t sure she’s ready for change when she’s content with things as they are. On top of everything, she is nervously getting ready to embark on her next adventure: flying to the Magic Market. The furthest Garlic has ever traveled is to the Count’s nearby castle, and now she’s about to travel quite a distance from the valley she calls home. What is Garlic to do?!

I was very excited to see where Garlic would go next, and I’m happy to see that she’s both happily and nervously traveling! This time around, Garlic is dealing with change and learning to embrace it. It was also exciting to see the Garlic and all her veggie friends be created with the help of magic. It was great to see how far they’ve come as well as realize that magical evolution from sentient veggies to magical humans is the next step for these characters. Though, it was rather confusing to see Garlic panic about changes since I didn’t notice much of a difference at first, but I don’t think the age group these books are aimed at will notice this.

We also watch Garlic get ready for her first big adventure, which is even bigger than confronting the valley’s resident vampire. This time around, she’s flying with Count all the way to the Magic Market to buy a special ingredient that Agnes needs to create a blood substitute for the Count. We get to see the pair fly off into the distance and watch Garlic experience the world outside of the Valley she’s always known. Of course, it wouldn’t be an adventure without a hiccup, which leaves Garlic wondering what possessed her to leave home!

Without spoiling how things turn out, I think this is a great and entertaining story for all readers, especially for kids. There are some important lessons here and it teaches readers that change is a part of life. We can be scared of it, but it’s usually not so bad and we may discover that we come to embrace the changes life throws our way. I’m not sure if there will be any more stories following Garlic and her friends after this installment, but if a third book comes out, I know I’ll be picking it up right away.

Garlic and the Vampire (Garlic #1) by Bree Paulsen

 
Garlic and the Vampire by Bree Paulsen

My Rating: ★★★★★

Garlic is convinced she makes mistakes left and right, angering the people around her. In fact, Celery is currently very angry with her for accidentally knocking over his stand! Her best friend, Carrot, always has her back and tries to lighten her worries by pointing out that accidents are just a part of life. In fact, Witch Agnes is starting to help her use a little bit of magic to help her plants grow and encouraging her to go on adventures! Then a vampire moves into the local castle and Celery, still angry with her, manages to volunteer Garlic to go check things out. What is Garlic to do?!

This cute book is absolutely perfect for kids! We follow Garlic, who suffers from anxiety and just wants to live happily where everyone remains friendly with each other. At the moment, she keeps oversleeping, and Celery is still mad at her for an accident she is extremely sorry about! Other than her day to day worries, things are going well, and she’s even learned that she’s capable of doing at least a little magic to help her plants grow! I love Garlic and how she has so many realistic qualities that will be easy for kids to spot parts of themselves in her.

In fact, Celery is really after her over a small mistake and has volunteered her to check out the vampire situation! Garlic should be safe since she is a sentient garlic, right? At least Garlic hopes so! I really felt for Garlic because she really doesn’t want to go on this adventure, but now she’s stuck. Between all her friends thinking she should save the day and the possibility that the vampire may hunt the townsfolk, even Garlic realizes she may have to do something or live with the guilt. Luckily for her, the vampire is full of surprises and teaches Garlic and her friends as well as the readers not to judge a book by its cover.

This is such a cute and fun book that’s perfect for kids as well as turning out to be a cute and heartwarming read for all ages. It’s a simple story with beautiful artwork and lessons for kids while serving as a cute pick-me-up for readers of all ages. It appears to be the first book in a series, so I’m looking forward to picking up the next book and seeing what Garlic and her friends will be up to next.

Gods of Inthya (Tales of Inthya #5.5) by Effie Calvin

 
Gods of Inthya by Effie Calvin

My Rating: ★★★★★

As a fan of the series, I was excited when I saw this collection of short stories was coming out. We usually follow two characters through their individual perspectives, but this time, we get a series of short stories following the different gods featured throughout the series. While fans of the series are familiar with many of these gods, we’ve only actually seen a small selection of them appear in real time throughout the books. It was exciting to get to see this universe through the perspective of the different gods, which also hints at what is to come should the series continue.

It was a little tricky figuring out the timeline at first, but I’ve gathered that the timeline is not important. As the book would say, it’s a human concern compared to the bigger picture! I had a lot of fun getting a glimpse at the lives of the different gods. I particularly liked Cyne’s chapter. Cyne is the God of Animals, because we got to see what happens to animals in the after life. As someone who has always loved animals and has a few pets that have passed away, I found this chapter particularly touching as well as comforting.

I also loved Nara, Thyana, Adalia, and Mesphine’s chapters. I enjoyed reading every chapter, these are the ones that fell into my favorites along with Cyne’s chapter. It was so neat to see their perspectives and how they interact with humans as well as with one another.  I doubt we’ll see the stories through most of the character’s perspectives again, but I would enjoy seeing a book that followed all the gods dealing with the danger that is to come should the series continue.

All in all, I think this is a great collection of short stories to go along with the series. It’s not a must read, at least at this point in time, but I do think they are worth reading. It’s also worth pointing out that some of the chapters include heavy content. When those chapters come up, there are content warnings detailing the heavy and sensitive subject matter so that readers can choose to skip the chapter in question. It’s nice to see more and more authors include trigger warnings or content warnings so that readers can either skip the chapter or prepare themselves before beginning.

Sirius: Twin Stars by Ana C. Sánchez

Sirius: Twin Stars by Ana C. Sánchez

My Rating: ★★★★★

It was always Dani’s dream to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a tennis star. Everything flies out the window when she has a heart attack during the tennis match that was supposed to launch her career. Now that Dani’s recovering, she’s been sent to her family’s vacation home to live with her cousin. Away from her home and her career, Dani feels lonelier than ever. She realizes that, at some point, she lost sight of her dream while under the extreme pressure that her mom placed on her. Dani feels like she lost her mom as well, since she feels like she disappointed her. Things start to change when she meets Blanca, a girl who lives with her head in the stars and dreams of becoming an astronomer. Through Blanca, Dani learns that her life isn’t over, and that her relationships can be repaired.

I read one of Sánchez’s other books and thought, hey. I wonder if anything has English translations since I last checked and discovered this book. I absolutely loved it. We follow Dani, a teenager whose life has been turned upside down, after she’s been sent to live with her cousin at the family vacation house. We see that Dani is crushed by multiple things, but the main ones being the loss of her tennis career and the sheer disappointment and loss of her mother.

One of the things I found interesting about this book is that we see Dani struggling with her family relationships. Her mom retreated into her own space after the heart attack, and Dani is struggling with the never ending feeling that she disappointed her mom. First, she disappointed her as a tennis player and now she disappointed her by having a heart attack. Dani believes she’s been sent to the vacation house not for herself, but because her mother can’t look at her, and that is a heavy burden for someone so young to go through. Her poor dad is trying to be the link between the two of them, but Dani isn’t interested in trying.

Things change when Dani meets Bianca. Of course, their first meeting is a disaster, but every meeting after that leaves Dani watching in awe. Bianca is full of life and is always talking and is very animated. She reignites that spark that Dani thought she lost long ago, and we watch Dani realize that she’s stumbled upon her first love at the worst time of her life. I loved the conversations the pair have that seem like just your average conversation on the surface while actually digging deep at times. It’s also nice to see Dani discover through Bianca that things aren’t over, and that sometimes you just need to look at things with fresh eyes.

The romance part of the book is cute. It’s fun to see the two fall in love and realize their feelings for one another. It’s even more fun to see the characters around them rooting for them even before they realize what anything means yet. It’s also nice to see both Dani and Bianca live in supportive spaces, especially since Dani already has a lot of doom and gloom in her life when the story starts.

All in all, it’s a beautiful story with wonderful artwork and a great cast of characters. I’m excited to see what Sánchez puts out next.