Book Review: Alchemy and a Cup of Tea

Alchemy and a Cup of Tea 

by Rebecca Thorne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This final installation of a four book cozy series is pretty good. I enjoyed the dragon storyline and the alchemy mystery for the most part. The ending was a little too ‘perfect’ for me and I didn’t like that I feel our leading ladies are shirking their main responsibilities. I’m just not convinced you can be the queen of a realm and mage of ages but live in a small town or have unassuming lives even half the time. But sure why not in a fantasy book. I’d have loved to see Pirate Dregg come back. Him and his fabulous boobs were awesome last we saw him. But the dragon story might have sufficiently made up for it. Plus Ponder teaching friendship and growing up a little was very sweet.

The magical system across both elemental magic and alchemy was quite good and I’m a little sad it was ‘wasted’ on simple series like this. It was good enough to be a part of a much more robust and epic fantasy storyline. Not that it needs to be, just that it could have been. I hope Rebecca Thorne will keep at her world building and perhaps bring us something a little less cozy next time.

I don’t read books like this for literary excellence. Just to have some light, fun breaks amongst some of the heavier fantasy, sci-fi, and horror I usually find myself reading.
Did Rebecca Thorne write the best book ever? No.
Was it sufficient that I’d recommend it if someone wanted some cozy fantasy? Absolutely.

So long as you know what you’re getting into this is a solid four book series and I was pleased to spend some time with it over the last couple of years. The narrator is a pleasant consistent reader with excellent voices to add for the dragons and other characters. This is a sufficient ending to a series and I do like when series don’t continue on forever. So while I’m a little sad to say goodbye to our ladies and their friends; I’m also glad it’s not being drawn out past where it should be.

Pick this series up if you want some cute lesbian romance with a side of fantasy. If you enjoy Travis Baldree you’re sure to love Rebecca Thorne. Just make sure you start with book 1 as they are definitely meant to be read in order.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

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Comic Review: Blink and You’ll Miss It

Blink and You'll Miss It 

by Ethan S. Parker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Weird, a bit macabre, aliens or beings of some sort, time travel, a prehistoric pelican, two in love lesbians, and a lot of cult activity… all this and more happens across this short series of five issues of Blink and You’ll Miss It. I am familiar with previous works by these writers and felt confident I’d enjoy the story; but wasn’t sure about the art. Thankfully, the illustrations by debut artist Keith Browning matched up nicely with the characters and peculiar setting. This BOOM! Studios story has twists and turns in places you may not expect; and by the end I was sad yet smiling… a bittersweet melancholy ending is perfect for an odd little mini series like this.

I’d love to see this as a short mini series, or movie. I think it’s very unique and could transfer really well to the screen. That said, I love the comic treatment here and will definitely be watching for more from everyone involved. BOOM! studios really is bringing us some of the most engaging and vivid horror comics that perfectly match the end of the world apocalypse attitude that seems to permeate everything right now.

”Please note: I received an eARC of this comic volume from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.”

Book Review: The Vengeful Valley of Ghosts

The Valley of Vengeful Ghosts 

by Kim Fu
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.5 stars. I’m rounding to 3 stars out of respect for Kim Fu and her prior short stories. The Valley of Vengeful Ghosts might have made a good short story or novella. But as a full fledged novel it was a bit frustrating. Not only is the ending not a real ending! But the entire book is like a bad fever dream that just never resolves or gives you the reveal moment.

It was obvious to me from the opening couple of chapters what some might consider the reveal in this book. So maybe that jaded the whole experience for me? I’m even afraid of water, oceans, flooding, etc and I will didn’t find this to be at all scary or concerned. So perhaps the largest fail of the novel is poor marketing as this is not horror. Having a ghost does not make your book horror!

Instead, this is a psychological thriller. A contemporary, non-gothic, boring thriller. The kind I would normally avoid. Nothing about The Vengeful Valley of Ghosts would put it in the horror section for me. Mere ghosts or apparitions is not inherently horrific to me. Far from the horror vibes or descriptions we get from Nick Cutter, Grady Hendrix, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, or Mira Grant. All of whom are sure to thrill you or cause you chills in some way. Not with body horror but just descriptions and overall creepiness. I got none of that here from Fu.

One of the weakest points for me is our leading lady is a very unlikeable character. I get it, she’s a coddled, Mama’s girl who had one (recent) rough go of things. Yet she has a masters degree in psychology!! Obtained before she ever had a truly horrific day in her own life?! I just struggled to imagine someone giving advice to others who has had everything done for them their whole life. She doesn’t even know how to use a washing machine and yet she is telling others how to manage their lives! That doesn’t work for me and continued to make me question her authenticity as a character.

I finished The Vengeful Valley of Ghosts in utter frustration, yet with relief. Glad it was over; yet annoyed I’d wasted my time. It’s just not a satisfying read. Neither the reveals, ending, or struggle of our leading lady are in any way the style of read that I tend to enjoy. I want to be scared, surprised, impressed, or motivated. I want to feel sympathy, hatred, or compassion for characters; not utter disgust at how pathetic I think they are.

Unfortunately this was not a win for me. I will still read Kim Fu as I know she has written some really good stories over the years. But I might wait on her novels in the future to see what other reviewers think. She’s certainly slid down the giant waterfall of my ‘must read’ list and landed in some flooding pools of waters where a book may or may not be recovered from.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

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