Book Review: The Incandescent

The Incandescent 

by Emily Tesh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Easily a top read for the year. I love how genuine and messy this book is. Emily Tesh takes us on a journey of a magical world from the eyes of a school headmaster in her late 30s. And while I was a little insulted she refers to herself as old at times (I’m 43, lol) I get the concept here that this is not a main character who is 19 or 21. What a breath of fresh air!!

Our leading lady is in a ‘real job’ situation. She works, a lot; has people relying on her (students and teachers) and while she knows her life is perhaps odd (living on site at a boarding school) she actually loves it. As someone who is content with their place in the world, in an unglamorous life (according to many) I totally get this. We can’t all be Taylor Swift after all. The one thing that kind of brings this around to fantasy (besides the awesome, elaborate magic system) is that our MC is still super special as she is one of only a few people with her power in the world (le sigh). Yes I know we want to read about powerful special people. So I will forgive Tesh for falling into one trope area (lol).

We have queer characters (including a bisexual one who actually describes being bi perfectly!!!), quirky teenagers, magic, demons, a Hogwarts like school, and more than enough drama to go around. At the end of the day there is a ‘big bad’ to fight, a lot of magic tossed around, and more than enough teen and adult angst/love to share. This is a fantasy story you cannot miss out on if you like academia stories, dark demonic magic, a (frustrating at times) love story, and a twist you won’t likely guess until just before the reveal.

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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Book Review: Victorian Psycho

Victorian Psycho

by Virginia Feito
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The word selection in Victorian Psycho is a lesson in being descriptive, concise, and whilst still creating major creepiness. The fewer words read might actually make it more gory and disturbing; as your imagination fills in this blanks during this Victorian gothic horror story. 

We follow the POV of our leading lady who is, clearly from the beginning, a psychopath. She starts beheading dolls as a child and escalates (quickly) from there. This is a case of knowing less is better going in. It will make the twists and turns more impactful. Just know you are in for a gruesome unravelling between the stories of her past, and the current narrative where she is newly hired Governess to two wealthy children. This line from the thoughts of our MC says it all for me: 

”It fascinates me, the fact that humans have the capacity to mortally wound one another at will, but for the most part, choose not to.”

Victorian Psycho is an engrossing, quiet yet horrific, quick yet stays with you read perfect for the spooky season; and any day you need a cold chill down your back. I’m hoping to convince my horror obsessed hubby to read it; and add a copy to my print library as it’s certain one I could reread just to remind myself that at least I’m a better person than our leading lady (which wouldn’t take much).

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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Book Review: Last Chance to Save the World

Last Chance to Save the World 

by Beth Revis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a decent little series. Although I’m not sure I’d call it a series; it’s really just one book split into three novella sized chunks. I would recommend reading all 3 three instalments in a row (something I rarely do). Unlike Murderbot it really is all a continuation in sequence of heavily related events.

If you are hoping for a lot of romance here you will get almost none. There is some light flirting, hoping, but otherwise do not expect any fireworks. As for actual fireworks, there are a couple of those in the end. This book focuses on a release of nanotechnology that is going to save original Earth from its polluted trashy existence. The actual heist/break-in part of the story is pretty good; which is also true through the first two books. The science fiction element is fine; the core of Chaotic Orbital series is really the heists that happen in order to get to our final event.

I really enjoyed our leading lady. She is both snarky and just sentimental/emotional enough. Reminded me a bit of myself (lol); although she’s much smarter than I am! The final reveals are very well done and worth the investment into the series. Beth Revis delivers on her endings; as I find she usually does.

My biggest reason for dropping this to four stars is because it should have been one continuous book. I’m not a fan of breaking up books into novella chunks just because (although it does help the reading challenge numbers) and find it too ‘cash grabby’ for my liking. That said, if I saw nice editions of this one out there I’d likely add them to my print collection. It’s certainly a fun enough read I could see revisiting them (and next time I’d read them continuously). If you want some fun heist stories with a sci-fi setting these are definitely a cozy choice.

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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