Another month, another 8 books to review!

Dragonlove by Marc Secchia: I talked about my love of the first book in this series last month, and the next book didn’t disappoint. Fantastic characters, a good plot line, and great writing make this a series that you will want to pick up. I can’t wait until the next books is out, because the cliffhanger was a killer.
   Rating 4.5 out of 5  

Vicious by V.E. Schwab, Victoria Schwab: This book was hyped up so much when it first came out, I knew I wanted to read it, but I just never got around to it. I’m glad I did. While it is follows two super smart guys that become extra-ordinaries (EO’s aka superheroes), it is more than that. It is more about human nature and things that people can do to others, including terrible things. I definitely recommend.
   Rating 4 out of 5  

End of Discussion by Mary Katharine Ham, Guy Benson: A bit of a different book than I normally read. This book is good in a kind of scary way, because you see how conversations are being shut down everywhere because the outrage circus (aka everyone that is offended by everything). It gets you thinking about how you self-censor yourself before you talk or post something online. We should be able to have discussions with people that have differing views. Just because it is different, doesn’t make it wrong.
   Rating 4 out of 5  
   c/o Blogging for Books

Altaica by Tracy M. Joyce: Eh, I feel like this book has potential. I mean, look at that cover! Except the main character spends most of the book hurt and sleeping. And then there was the high school-esque spreading of rumors and ridiculousness. The one thing that saves it is the magic system and the characters that we are introduced partway through the book. They were interesting and actually acted like adults, unlike the first group we meet.
   Rating 2.5 out of 5  
   c/o Netgalley

The Deathsniffer’s Assistant by Kate McIntyre: This was an enjoyable book. I’m a sucker for steampunk. It has a murder mystery, magic, a historical event that continues to haunt the main character, and several good female characters. Everyone has some sort of magic, and your job is dependent on what kind of magic you have. Christopher, the main character, takes a job as a magical note taker (he thinks the words, and they show up on paper) with Olivia, the deathsniffer, who solves murders. All the while, Chris has to try and protect his sister who is a wizard from getting taken by the state (more or less) since she is so powerful. This is another one that focuses on the characters, changes in prejudices and just how far people will go for power.
   Rating 3.5 out of 5  
   c/o Netgalley

The Cardinal’s Sin by Robert Lane:  This is a tough review for me to write. I didn’t like the book all that much, but I didn’t not like it. The writing was done relatively well. I think that is what saved it from a no. At the end, I just didn’t care about the characters. The story seemed to try and throw too many twists in and it took away from the actual telling of the story. I feel it all built up to the end payoff and for me it just didn’t pay out like I hoped. One thing I did take away? Bad guys don’t wear shorts. I’m serious. It came up multiple times throughout the book.
   Rating 3.5 out of 5  
   c/o Netgalley

Chimera by Vaun Murphrey: I wasn’t really impressed with this one. It sort of reminded me of House of Night series where all sorts of things happen in a very short time. I mean come on, there is only so much time in a day. The main character, Cassandra, spent 8 years in solitary confinement is magically rescued by her uncle right before the big bad guy was going to do something bad. Of course, the world outside isn’t bright and cheery either with a threat of civil “war.” Then all of a sudden, Cassandra realizes that her twin that died in utero actually lives in her head. The twin, Silver, had blocked her memories of her to keep her safe from the big bad guy. Cassandra takes in stride and all of a sudden, it is “we” and “their” body. Just weird. And then the end? Just no. Don’t pick this one up unless you want something mindless and will have you shaking your head in a bad way.
   Rating 2 out of 5  
   c/o Netgalley

Lightless by C.A. Higgins: This book reminded me of the Imperial Radch series, except not as good. All of the action is in the last 30% of the book. I use the word action lightly. While I’m not one that has to have all action all the time, the first 70% of the book seemed like the Althea running around trying to figure out what is wrong with her ship and an interrogation that goes nowhere. With a book that has multiple POVs, you usually are able to get bits and pieces of what is going on since you have more information than the single characters, but not Lightless. It could be that I just didn’t pick up on the clues, but when everything was figured out, I was sort of impressed with who the villain ended up being. I’m not sure I will read the next book in the series, but I’ll certainly leave the option open.
   Rating 3.5 out of 5  
   c/o Netgalley

Will you be picking up any of these books?