Intergalactic Exterminators, Inc by Ash Bishop

 Thank you to #NetGalley, #AshBishop, and #VictoryEditing for letting me read and review #IntergalacticExterminatorInc. 

Russ and Nina are in need of some financial help and a break from the stress of just trying to live a regular life. Then one day, Russ finds a rare gem in his late grandfather’s book shop. He asks his grandmother about the stone, and she does not know anything about it. She tells Russ to take it to Nina, who might know what it is. Only, Nina has no clue, as well.

Thus begins a story unlike any Earthling could imagine. This story gave me many Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy vibes. There is planetary traveling, portals, humor, odd creatures, witty banter and a smidgeon of romance. 

If you enjoy the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and need something similar, I highly recommend Intergalactic Exterminators, Inc.

There is so much potential for more of this story, I am hoping for a series. I would love to learn more about the Intergalactic Exterminators crew. 

Golden Gold by Seita Horio

 Thank you to the publisher #Kodansha and  #NetGalley for letting me read and review #GoldenGold by Seita Horio.

Volume 1 review:

On the island of Neijima, Hayasaka Ruka is trying to figure out how to keep her friend, Oikawa, from moving off the island. She stumbled upon an idol who follows her home. This story is about the kind of luck this idol has brought to her family.

I think the artwork is nice and the story interesting. I will be looking for Volume 2. I would like to see what happens next.

From Below by Darcy Coates

 

Thank you #PoisonedPenPress and #NetGalley for giving me From Below by #DarcyCoates to read and review.

Overall, this story is fantastic. There is a lot of world building and character development all throughout the story. It is also eerie and dark. I imagine it would be hard to describe desolate scenes, but Coates manages to do that with ease. You can definitely tell that Coates did her research for this book.

There are so many memorable moments, times when I felt I was there with the team exploring the sunken Arcadia. I felt the tension, fears, and amazement. 

You know the old school game Myst? In the beginning you find two books, a red one and a blue one. In each, the brother is cutting in and out, there is static and they are trying to tell you something. You get just bits and pieces of what they need. 

There is a scene in From Below, about five percent in, Arcadia is sending out a “pan-pan”. Pan-pan is like an SOS but without the severity of imminent threat to life. I get the same emotional reaction from the pan-pan scene as I did from Myst. You need to hear more of what is happening. 

The mood of the book stays eerie and dark up to about seventy percent in. Then things start to go horribly wrong. There is something in the sunken ship with them. They are about to find out what it is.

The ending was a clean finish. I had hoped for more from the ending, but it definitely wrapped things up. It is almost as if Coates wanted the happy ending but not everyone is okay after the incidents exploring Arcadia. 

Definitely give this book a try. It is worth every minute of your time.

The Way Back Almanac 2023 by Melinda Salisbury

 Thank you @NetGalley, @WatkinsPublishing, and #Melinda Salisbury for allowing me to read and review The Way Back Almanac 2023.

This is a gorgeous book that helps you become close to nature. Whether you are on a new journey and revisiting this journey, it will have everything you need to reinvigorate your path to becoming one with nature. 

The book has an introduction on how and why the author, Melinda Salisbury chose each subject in each month.

Then, beginning in January 2023, you can follow along. There are food recipes, recommended books to read, ideas/recipes on how to care for yourself and lots of space to take notes.

This would be a fabulous Christmas gift!

101 Super Cute Cat Things to Draw: Draw, doodle, and color a plethora of purrfectly pawesome felines and quirky cat mash-ups by Lulu Mayo

 Thank you #NetGalley and author #LuluMayo for sending me a copy of this fantastic book 101 Super Cute Cat Things to Draw!!

This is such a cute book! Lulu Mayo teaches us how to draw some of the cutest little cat things.

It starts out with a section of using a color wheel. I love the title of one of them "Pawsitively Pretty Pastels". From there on, the author shows up 101 ways to draw a cat. Such as a cat dragon, a mushroom cat, a cat cabbage, and cats drawn as zodiac signs!

Even if you don't draw all of the cats, this is definitely a must-have for all cat lovers!

Brood X by Joshua Dysart

 Thank you #NetGalley and #TKOPresents for sending me Brood X by #Joshua Dysart to read and review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this fast paced story.
There are seven men hired to complete an underground bunker for an anonymous person. While working on the site, a swarm of cicadas are released into the area. One by one, all the men work against the mental strain of having thousands of cicadas flying, singing, and landing on them.

Each chapter has some exceptional artwork that portrays the event. This was a nice touch to the story.

I hope to read more by Joshua Dysart. He is a talented writer who weaves a fantastic story.