Lost in Time by A. G. Riddle

 Thank you #NetGalley and #HeadofZeus for sending me an ARC of #LostInTime by #AGRiddle.

There is so much to digest with this book it is hard to know where to begin this review. This is an excellent story but it is long and arduous at times. To have the level of imagination that A. G. Riddle is quite impressive. I have read a few other of his stories and they are all like this. Captivating, thrilling, immersive and detailed.

Lost in Time is a time traveling, murder mystery and drama filled story. I have never read anything like this before. This is a four part story.

So much happened in Part One. Scientist Sam Anderson, widower, and his daughter, Adeline, are accused of murdering Sam’s co-worker, Nora. Who also happens to be in a relationship with Sam. Nora’s murder is the first murder in Absolom since the punishment of major crimes were introduced. The punishment…you are sent back in time to an unknown location and time. 

Part Two is a split between the lives of Sam and Adeline living with the aftermath of their choices made in part one. 

Part Three is an action packed and insightful section. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I thought I had it all figured out, but I so way off to the conclusion of this mystery!

Part Four is the wrap of everything that happened to a wonderful and perfect conclusion. There is no other ending that could satisfy this story. 

A.G. Riddle has once again written a story that is original and mesmerizing. I will always be on the lookout for his books.

He Who Fights Monsters by Francesco Artibani and Wether Dell'Edera

 Thank you #NetGalley and #DiamondBookDistributors for letting me read and review #HEWHOFIGHTSWITHMONSTERS by #FrancescoArtibani and #WetherDell'Edera

This is a magnificent story and the art is fantastic. Yossel is a golem built to help save those in trouble during the Nazi regime. But Yossel has a moral conscience and learns a hard lesson about mankind in this story. 

I am ready to read Issue 2 as soon as I can!

Cryptid Club by Sarah Andersen

 Thank you #NetGalley and #AndrewsMcMeelPublishing for sending me #CrytpidClub by #SarahAndersen for review.

This is probably one of the most adorable graphic novels I have ever read. It is hard to be a cryptid and Sarah Andersen shows us the hard life they live - in a cute way! The artwork is fantastic and the puns are a riot. 

This is definitely a book that everyone needs to add to their library. Especially for all the cryptid fans!

We Will Rise by Tim Waggoner

 

Thank you #NetGalley, #FlameTreePress for letting me review #WeWillRise by #TimWaggoner.

This is a book that will stay with me for a long time. It is so well written and kept my attention the entire time. I wish it had not ended, I wanted to keep reading more. 

At first, it is hard to keep up with all the characters. But as the story moves along, it gets easier. The world building, the Monad, and the evil people were so well described I got lost in the emotions and events happening. 

This is a story about fear, hatred, and revenge with a lot of hope, happiness and the will to survive. 

I hope to read many more books like this from Tim Waggoner. He is definitely an author to look out for. 

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.