REVIEW: Dogs of War by Jonathan Maberry

*Thanks to Netgalley & St. Martin's Griffin for an ARC in exchange for a fair review*

Robots are no longer science fiction. Autonomous, programmed to react like animals: fast, relentless, deadly. From microscopic nanobots to massive self-guided aircraft. This technology is here, it’s accessible, and it’s dangerous. What’s even scarier is that almost anyone can get their hands on it.

A freelance terrorist uses the latest generation of robot dogs to deliver WMDs into cities across America. Sophisticated military weapons systems turn on their human masters. A technological apocalypse is coming and we may be too late to stop it.

Joe Ledger and a newly rebuilt Department of Military Sciences square off against this new and terrible threat.

Dogs of War is another pulse pounding, action packed bio-terrorism thriller in the Joe Ledger series. What is not to love:

NANOBOTS!

RABIES TURNED BIO-WEAPON!

EXPLOSIONS!

FIGHT SCENES!

DARK, SARCASTIC HUMOR!

CREEPY VILLAINS!

I loved everything about the book, both in print and in audio (seriously Ray Porter is a narrative genius!). Predator One and Kill  Switch were heavy and the fallout for the characters is still very real. None of them are on their game when this new threat comes into play.

Maberry is a fantastic action writer and excels at pacing, character building, dark humor and just general great storytelling. His villains are legendary as are his heroes. My only problem now is that I've gobbled up this new release and have to wait for another!

Final rating: ALL THE STARS!!!

REVIEW: A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

Elias and Laia are running for their lives. After the events of An Ember in the Ashes, soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire.

Laia remains determined to break into Kauf—the Empire’s most secure and dangerous prison—to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars’ survival. And Elias is determined to help Laia succeed, even if it means giving up his last chance at freedom.

But dark forces, human and otherworldly, work against them. The pair must fight to outsmart their enemies: the bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus, the merciless Commandant, the sadistic Warden of Kauf, and, most heartbreaking of all, Helene—Elias’s former friend and the Empire’s newest Blood Shrike.

I enjoyed this second book. Tahir seems to hit a narrative stride with the pacing and multiple stories developing.  The characters show depth not always found in YA fiction. I particularly found the addition of Helene's voice as Blood Shrike compelling. 

What is most interesting to me is the artful blend of ancient Roman and Middle Eastern influence. I am very intrigued by where the series will go for the third book in 2018.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza

*Thank you to Netgalley and Imprint for an ARC in exchange for a fair review*

The only surviving heir to an ancient Kalusian dynasty, Rhee has spent her life training to destroy the people who killed her family. Now, on the eve of her coronation, the time has finally come for Rhee to claim her throne - and her revenge.

Alyosha is a Wraetan who has risen above his war refugee origins to find fame as the dashing star of a DroneVision show. Despite his popularity, Aly struggles with anti-Wraetan prejudices and the pressure of being perfect in the public eye.

Their paths collide with one brutal act of violence: Rhee is attacked, barely escaping with her life. Aly is blamed for her presumed murder.

The princess and her accused killer are forced to go into hiding - even as a war between planets is waged in Rhee's name. But soon, Rhee and Aly discover that the assassination attempt is just one part of a sinister plot.

Empress of a Thousand Skies will appeal to readers who've enjoyed the Lunar Chronicles as well as the space-adventure/romance trend of the Starbound trilogy, Starflight and the Illuminae files.  This is a fast paced adventure with just enough romance. I enjoyed the alternative POV. The characters have layers and kept me interested. I did find some of the plot a bit predictable, but I'm not always the average readers since I do so much.

Certain points reminded me a lot of Cinder, but that's okay because that is one of my favorites. Rebecca Soler reads the audio--she does the Lunar Chronicles too!  Excellent job!

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane explores the lives of a Chinese mother and her daughter, who has been adopted by an American couple from California.

Li-yan and her family align their lives around the seasons and the farming of tea as well as strict Akha traditions and superstitions. There is ritual and routine, and it has been ever this way for generations. Then one day a jeep appears at the village gate—the first automobile any of them have seen—and a stranger arrives.

Li-yan, one of the few educated girls on her mountain, translates for the stranger. When she has a baby outside of wedlock, rather than stand by tradition, she wraps her daughter in a blanket, with a tea cake hidden in her swaddling, and abandons her in the nearest city.

This is the defining moment of Li-yan's life. While she attempts to adhere to tradition and some semblance of 'normal' happiness, fate intervenes and leads her on a dynamic journey beyond her village and into the modern world.  Her narrative is intertwined with vignettes regarding the adolescence of her daughter and the beautifully written way in which tea binds them together.

I was mesmerized by the story, especially the harshness of the traditional rituals observed by the Akha and Li-yan's slow metamorphosis as she attempts to honor her origins but embrace the modern world and many of its practices. This is a compelling story not only of culture but of love, family, identity and responsibility.

While the ending is beautiful and more than fulfilling, I found myself not wanting the story of these two women to end.  I wholeheartedly recommend the audio as narrated by Ruthie Ann Miles and Kimiko Glenn. Their performances are truly engaging.

Final rating: 5 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: Euphrates Dance by Hussein Hussein

Expected publication: May 15, 2017

The narrative follows the life of a young Iraqi man in his search for peace, faith and the pursuit to live a happy and fulfilling life despite a significant series of challenges. The story balances itself in the real while steering toward the mystical with deeply psychological roots.

I originally received a copy to review as a possible book with YA appeal. As contemporary fiction, the narrative, themes, and sometimes sexual content don't lend this to be a teen read. That being said, this is a well written and thought provoking read about a region and culture that I'm not all that familiar with.

Recommended for those seeking a deeply psychological and philosophical coming of age exploring culture, religion and finding meaning when life brings extraordinary challenges.

Final rating: 3 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: Dragonmark by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Centuries ago, Illarion was betrayed– a dragon made human against his will, then forced to serve humanity as a dragonmount in their army, and to fight for them in wars, hating everything about them. He's enslaved and separated from all family, even forced into a fey realm. Illarion's life will change when he meets his mate; however, lies, betrayal and more loss will plague their lives before they can find a chance at happiness.

I'm torn with Dragonmark. I enjoyed it so much as a good chunk of it is a POV retelling of Dragonbane. I will always admire Kenyon for her creativity and imagination to create such a detailed and connected world of characters; however, the narrative is becoming to complicated and at the same time formulaic.

Illarion is another tortured hero who has faced unimaginable heartache.  Enter the woman who will change all that. 

But wait!  Something horrific happens and they're separated :(

Time passes....

Then all is well!

I know this is the format for typical romances but the past few Dark Hunter books lack the umph of earlier titles in the series.  And at least for me, these aren't the page turners that I loved back in the day.  I still love to see appearances by favorite characters but I want a return to more focus. 

My complaint is that readers should have to have a chart to keep characters unraveled.  That Dragonmark is #27 of Dark Hunters, #1 in Dragon's Rising, and #5 in the Avalon series is just too confusing.

Final rating: 3 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

Tea is different from the other witches in her family. Her affinity for necromancy labels her a bone witch, who are feared and ostracized in the kingdom. For theirs is a powerful, elemental magic that can reach beyond the boundaries of the living—and of the human.

Great power comes at a price. At a young age, Tea accidentally raises her recently deceased older brother from the dead, nearly killing herself in the process.  Tea is then forced to leave her homeland to train under the guidance of an older, wiser bone witch. Tea puts all of her energy into becoming an asha, learning to control her elemental magic and those beasts who will submit by no other force. Tea must show strength and resilience since a war is brewing in the eight kingdoms, war that will threaten the sovereignty of her homeland…and threaten the very survival of those she loves.

Overall, the audiobook was hit or miss for me; however, I enjoyed the general story, world-building, mythology and character development. There is a lot going on with this narrative and The Bone Witch is just a stepping stone for the series. I can't wait to see what happens because the visual image of Tea at the end is pretty powerful and has some exciting implications for the next book.  

Readers who've enjoyed authors like Leigh Bardugo, Sarah J Maas, and Laini Taylor as well as some of the newer released delving into Indian and Middle Eastern mythology like Roshani Chokshi's Star-Touched Queen and A Crown of Wishes or works by Renee Ahdieh.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars