Book Review: Radiants by David B. Coe

Dede has a secret that she’s been keeping her whole life. After a traumatizing event, she’s successfully pushed down the part of her that makes her unique, that is, until now. See, Dede can force her own consciousness out of her body and into others, essentially turning them into a puppet. And she’s going to be learning to use it a lot, apparently.

4/5 Stars 325 Pages Published October 15th 2021 by Bell Bridge Books

After using her power at school to protect and get revenge for her her friend Kyle from bullies, she comes home and tells her mom. Little does she know that her family will change forever, from that day on. Hunted down by the government, Dede and her little brother Miles are eventually separated from their mother and forced to work alone to save everyone involved, including themselves. They’re on the run, because if they stop, they’re facing incredible tests from the government to essentially map out every aspect of their unique abilities. At whatever the cost.

A good book, ,they story was more about finding yourself and staying strong in tough situations. From sticking up for your friends, to being blamed for murder and finding out your little brother’s powers, you have to do what you know what’s right, even if it’s scary and hard to achieve.

I enjoyed the book, but it’s not my new favourite. That being said, I would read more from the author in the future. It was written very smoothly, and suitable for readers fourteen an up, due to violence. Check it out if you think it would be something you’d like!

If you’d like to grab a copy, you can here!

And if you’d like to keep up with the author, you can here on Twitter!

Thanks for reading! Hope you’re doing well, and staying happy. What power would you want if you could choose?

Book Review: The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook for Beginners by Grace M. Williamson

4/5 Stars 123 pages Published June 11th 2021

Though I’ve never heard of this diet before, I was intrigued after reading all of the health benefit claims. After all, it’s mostly clean vegan eating but also with fish. Easy enough, right? I couldn’t wait to dive into it.

With tons of great recipes, the book also comes with an easy to follow meal plan. I picked eighteen interesting looking meals, including the banana bread smoothie, the spanikopita, and the ravioli and veggie soup, and I can’t wait to try them out on not only myself, but also share them with my family and friends.

With beautiful pictures, this book says that by following the recipes, cutting out processed food and drinks, working out for thirty minutes a day and buying seasonal produce, you’ll be feeling, and eating, a lot healthier. Check it out if you’re interested in a recipe book full of veggies!

If you’d like to grab a copy for yourself, you can here!

Thanks for reading! I hope you’re doing well, and if you live where there’s snow, that you’re keeping warm!

Book Review: Skin by Donna Jo Napoli

4/5 Stars 352 pages
Published August 6th 2013 by Skyscape

A beautiful and very memorable story of a teen girl who one day wakes up to find that her lips, and then more spots on her body, have turned white. She has vitiligo, and she just has to learn to live with her new skin condition, among everything else going on in her life.

A book about self acceptance over all, Giuseppina lives with a little brother who calls her a slut, and at school her friends and other kids judge her for wearing makeup to cover up her spots. Basically, this book is just a story of life on a day to day basis. She goes to school, she starts dating an old friend, and she struggles with her own body image, while trying to keep it secret. I loved how realistic it was, and I found that to be a really nice change of pace from the other books I’ve been reading lately. I recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a feel good story without all the bells and whistles, and anyone who’s 16+.

If you’d like to grab a copy, you can here.

Thanks for reading! And don’t be afraid to show your true self to the world! They’ll love you for it.

Book Review: Windchaser (Phantom Island #1) by Krissi Dallas

Switching it up a little bit with Windchaser, we have a book from an author unknown to me until now, about teens at a camp who stumble upon something more than a good vacation.

4/5 Stars 288 pages
Published December 13th 2011 by Tate Publishing

Whitnee lost her dad when she was young, and it’s something that still effects her to this day. But after going to a troubled youth camp when she was a child, she returned with two new best friends, Morgan and Caleb. But will they stay best fr5iends when they come back to the camp as teenage mentors to a whole new set of trouble kids?

The book begins with a lot of reminiscing about their previous camp experience as children, which really reminded me of my own school camp experience. Although Whitnee and Morgan are more interested in meeting cute guys than actual camping. Under no circumstances are they supposed to cross the river. However, after thinking she sees someone on the other side, Whitnee just has to go and check it out for herself.

A fair warning, this book contains a lot of teenage boy drama. Just the hard part of being friends with boys, I guess. But despite all of that, Whitnee is determined to go find out what’s really going on, on the other side of the river. With or without her friends. And what she finds will change her life forever.

Photo by Louis on Pexels.com

Overall I really enjoyed this unique story. I liked the characters, and the setting, and just the book in general. It’s something that I would love to continue reading, seeing as it’s a series. The story was just very different from the things that I’ve been reading lately, and it was needed. It’s not my new favourite, but not every book can be a new favourite, you know? Definitely check it out if you get the chance and you like teen books about camps with a fantastic twist!

If you’d like to grab a copy, you can here!

And if you’d like to keep up with the author on Twitter, you can here!

Thanks for reading! I hope you’re doing well, and remember, something as small as crossing a river could change your life!

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.ca and affiliated sites.

Book Review: Hummingbird Salamander by Jeff Vandermeer

After coming off the intense wild ride that is Annihilation, I was really excited to learn that I got a copy of Jeff Vandermeer’s newest book, Hummingbird Salamander. With a plot just as unique as the title and as beautiful and bright cover, this book was very mysterious, and nothing like I expected. Eco terrorists, murderous strangers, clown stalkers and taxidermy with numbers behind their eyes, I can safely say that I’ve never read anything like this before.

4/5 Stars 351 pages
Published April 6th 2021 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux

The story follows a woman who doesn’t want you to know her name. A badass bodybuilding and hardworking woman who we just know as Jane, who also has a husband and daughter and a great job. But unfortunately, she’s also a woman caught in the middle of a very dangerous conspiracy theory that has become a reality. And you’re right in there with her, seeing everything through her eyes.

Her life is pulled into a spiral the day the coffee shop barista hands her an envelope. Inside, a key to a strange locker and an address. In the letter, it claims that the writer is already gone, and that the main character is on her own now, but not completely alone. And that’s just the prequel. After arguing with herself about it, she decides to go check it out and finds a preserved hummingbird with a note that just says, simply, Hummingbird Salamander. Like that’s the answer to all the world’s questions. This, if you can believe it, sets the tone for the entire book. A mysterious confusing, and even maddening at times wild goose chase, this amazing book is unlike any other that I’ve read, and I never saw the ending coming.

The only thing that this book has in common with Annihilation aside from the same author, is that it’s just one of those books that are impossible to speed through. If you start skimming over stuff, you’re going to be lost, and it requires the entirety of your attention. A slow burn that has a lot of violence and just really unsettling scenes.

Photo by Cup of Couple on Pexels.com

Overall, this is a really great book, and it’s something I never could have imagined it would be. Better for more mature readers, I recommend it to anyone looking for a good mystery, but also someone with a strong stomach. And also someone who will stick through to the end no matter what. But that’s just coming from me, someone who would buy the book just to display the cover.

If you’d like to grab a copy, you can here!

And if you’d like to keep up with the author, he posts a ton of cute racoon content, you can here on twitter!

Thanks for reading! Hope you’re having a great day.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.ca and affiliated sites.

Book Review: Eden’s Serum (Eden Lost #1) by Angelique S. Anderson

4/5 Stars 310 pages
Published April 6th 2017 by Creative Angel Design and Publication

Encapsulated in a beautiful cover, ,this horrific story tells about a world where tech has advanced far beyond the need for identification and money, and even illness. Eden’s Serum is one that only the richest of the rich can afford, offering youth, health and above all, immortality. But as Adam is about to find out, not everything is as it seems, and his ultra rich bachelor life may not b as satisfying as it once was.

After developing a kind of super card that took the world by storm, dubbed simply the Identicoin, the book begins with an emergency. And Adam is headed head first into the bomb threat at his workplace to do whatever he can to save his life’s work. Interesting enough, this opening scene really sets the pace for the rest of the book, if you can believe it. Because two years later, the Indenticoin has completely taken over the world. And Adam has more money than he knows what to do with babies are now assigned an Identicoin at birth, holding all the important paperwork they could ever need for their upcoming lives, and are required to wear it at all times in public by law.

Photo by olia danilevich on Pexels.com

The next technological leap that Adam wants to take with his life is making himself immortal. Through injection and claimed to be made from plants, it seems safe enough, after all, Adam’s genius must stick around as long as possible so that he can continue to change the world with his inventions. But is it truly safe? Has it even been fully tested? And why do the doctors preparing him for this next part of his life seem so sketchy? What are they hiding?

Aside from these everyday problems; Adam’s work turns out to be spying deep into his personal life, which he’s obviously not happy about, but is willing to put up with it for a cushy promotion, new house, and a workplace he’s allowed to run, by himself. But not long after his injection, he goes to work hiring people for his new office, and begins experiencing horrible blackouts, accompanied by blinding pain.

Photo by Naveen Annam on Pexels.com

Honestly, I really enjoyed this book. I love things about tech and the future and everything like that, and this book fits that perfectly. It was mysterious and exciting, and all the characters were very realistic with their good and bad traits showing for everyone to be hyperaware of. I was very interested in uncovering everything that was hidden by the higher-ups in this story, and the big adventure that Adam and Evelyn have to o through to really get to know what’s really going on was extremely gripping and easy to get into. I think this was a really great take on the classic Adam ad Eve and the Garden of Eden story. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next in the series, and I think to put it simply, this is a great story about trusting y our gut and your own intuition. If you like science fiction and are sixteen plus years old, and also not squeamish about violence, I would say definitely give this book a shot!

If you’d like to grab a copy, you can here through my link!

Thanks for reading! Hope you’re doing well, and maybe don’t trust an injection that claims to make you immortal.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.ca and affiliated sites.

Review: Villainous by Stonie Williams, Jef Sadzinski, Giovanna T Orozco, & Chris Fernandez

A unique take on a superhero comic book, Villainous is an exciting and very interesting story to read. Following a girl who looks like a reptile, tail, scales, claws and all, she finds her way through the world as she works toward her goal, being a superhero. But she really doesn’t know what she’s in for, and honestly neither did I. A beautifully done book, I really enjoyed reading it from start to finish.

4/5 Stars 112 pages
Published May 4th 2021 by Mad Cave Studios

Matilda is a girl who’s excited to start her apprenticeship with the local superhero troop, The Coalition. But it’s not exactly what she expected. Mostly doing gopher errands, she feels like her new identity as Rep-Tilly is hidden in the shadows. But things turn around quickly for her when she finds out that they don’t just save people, they also kill the people that they deem bad enough to kill. And she’s not sure how she feels about that. She just wants to be a hero, and heroes don’t kill people, right? That’s until they set her up as a terrorist to the world for finding out their big secret.

This book was an exciting story of how things can go wrong at the worst time, and people aren’t always who you think they are. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters, and I feel like things wrapped up pretty well at the end of the book. I’d love to know more about them and their world, but you know, it’s just one graphic novel, and there’s only so much story that you can pack into it. I feel like the art really fit the storytelling as well. Definitely check it out if you get the chance, and if you like superheroes.

If you’d like to grab a copy, you can here.

And if you’d like to follow some of the creators on Twitter, you can here!

Stonie Williams

Giovanna T Orozco

Jef Sadzinski

Thanks for reading! Hope you’re doing well and reading comics.

Review: Come on Over! Southern Delicious for Everyday and Every Occasion by Elizabeth Heiskell

With beautiful pictures and very interesting food, this cookbook is a must have for anyone thinking of taking a deep dive into southern cooking. Or really just anyone who wants to try something new.

4/5 Stars  256 pages
Published May 4th 2021 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Full of colourful backgrounds on each of the recipes, this book was a joy to check out, and I’m sure a ton of people I would know would enjoy trying some of the food out. Things that really stuck out to me were chocolate pots de crème, fat lady soup, egg roll in a bowl,  spaghetti pie, and a drink simply called blue boy. I’m not a huge fan of gin, but with an entire container of blackberries in there, I just might change my mind! I can’t wait to make some of these for myself.

If you’re looking for a home style cookbook to add to your collection, than this might just be something you want to check out next! I loved the stories attached to each recipe, and I’m sure you will too. Definitely check it out if you get a chance.

If you’d like to grab a copy, you can here, through my Amazon Associates link.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.ca and affiliated sites.

Review: The Secret Ingredient Cookbook: 125 Family-Friendly Recipes with Surprisingly Tasty Twists by Kelly Senyei

I love cookbooks. And more importantly, I love reviewing cookbooks. And this was no exception. With a beautiful cover, this book offers delicious looking twists on old classics, as well as new and improved recipes that I never thought I would be interested in. I can’t wait to make some of these meals and snacks for myself.

4/5 Stars 304 pages
Published May 4th 2021 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

The whole kicker of this cookbook is using ingredients to spice things up that you wouldn’t think of. Or maybe you have thought of it, but you weren’t sure how to incorporate it completely. Fettucine Alfredo? Why not add lobster. A berry gin drink? Add some ginger beer! Fried chicken? Put marmalade in the marinade! And so o. Some of these things might sound a little weird, but if you know me, I’m willing to try almost anything once, food wise.

Some of the recipes that caught my eye were the blueberry french toast muffins, caramel apple cinnamon rolls, dinner party crème brulee, noni’s soft pretzel knots, and a drink called black and blue! I think they’d be just what I need to change up my food routine, and I’m excited to start in on them. If you’re looking for an exciting cookbook to try out some new recipes for yourself, your friends, and your family, then definitely give this one a try!

If you’d like do grab a copy, you can here, through my Amazon Associates link!

And if you’d like to keep up with the author, you can here on Twitter!

Thanks for reading! Hope you have a great day.

Review: Heavy Vol. 1 by Max Bemis, Eryk Donovan, & Adrian F. Wassel

Do you have a gory and hilarious comic book shaped hole in your life? What about one that’s full of alternate dimensions, purgatory, and a ton of nudity and blood? Than this might be something that you want to check out in the future.

4/5 Stars 160 pages
Published 2021 by Vault Comics

Bill is a man who’s been forced into the role of an assassin, across too many dimensions to count. All because of his diseased wife’s ex, who’s psycho brain decided to murder them one night. He doesn’t want to hurt people, especially kill them, but he does what he does because he has to. They say he’ll eventually be able to make his way up to heaven to see his wife. That is, until everything changes, and he gets a new partner. The man that killed him.

This book is a wild ride from start to finish. Filled with murder, blood, gore, nudity, and lots of funny jokes just tossed in there, the bright colours that the art brings really livens up the story and makes it a joy to read. I think it fits perfectly. I couldn’t ask for more. The story itself was engaging, exciting, and just something I didn’t want to put down. I couldn’t get enough, and I can’t wait for the next volume, that’s for sure. At only 111 pages, it was a breeze to read through. I definitely recommend checking it out if you like any of those things.

If you’d like to grab a copy, you can here.

And if you’d like to keep up with some of the creators, you can here on Twitter!

Max Bemis

Eryk Donovan

Adrian F. Wassel

Thanks for reading! Hope you’re having a great day.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.ca and affiliated sites.