Girl Minus X by Anne Stone Review

5/5 Stars 296 pages
Published October 6th 2020 by Wolsak and Wynn Publishers Ltd

If you’ve read one of my recent blog posts about the horror genre, you’ll know that I have an overactive imagination, whether that’s from anxiety or not, this book really dug it’s way into my brain because of that. The horrifying scenes in this book, just vaguely described as a past trauma, are things that have stuck with me, and I think are so much worse than could have been created in a horror movie. This is just one of the reasons why I loved this book so much. Though it’s torture to be able to imagine those scenes so vividly, I was helplessly addicted to this book, and I couldn’t put it down until it was finished.

Following two young girls, Dany (15) and Mac (5), we see their lives as they battle not only past trauma, but also present day trauma due to being removed from their only family, living in a house where they can’t keep up the bills and are forced to have them shut off, slowly starving to death on basic necessities from the depleted food bank, and a very interesting kind of virus plucking people away from them, and changing the world as they know it very quickly. Two very gifted girls, one mute, who have to keep quiet about their problems so that they’re not sent back to the very trauma they once escaped from.

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This book isn’t just about a virus that causes people to forget everything they know, even how to be a person, it’s about forcing old traumas up and out into the open where they don’t want to be seen. Though Dany just wants to forget about everything that’s happened to her sister, whether it’s their missing father, their mother who succumbed to the virus, their lives at both a bad foster home and a work farm, and now with their aunt being taken away to a prison camp to take care of the infected people, it’s very hard to when everything is being forced up. She has to learn to deal with it so that she can prepare for future traumas due to the virus that’s taking over her city.

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I don’t think there was a single part of this book I didn’t enjoy. Some of it I will admit was very hard to read, specifically the past trauma parts of Dany’s brain, but it was so addicting that I couldn’t stop. It was horrifying and scary and really sad all at the same time, but it also taught me a lot of things about her. Why she’s so shut off from the world, and why she’s so tough. Why she’s willing to do the things she must to protect her little sister. I wouldn’t change a single thing in this book, and I can’t wait to get myself a paper copy so I can re read it.

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If you love books about a different kind of infection induced apocalypse, like zombies but self destructive rather than the regular zombie kind of destructive, and you don’t mind pushing through the hard parts if it’ll teach you something, then this is the book for you. It’s horrifying and amazing and I’ll never forget it. I really can’t stress enough how much I loved this book, that’s why it took me some extra days to read through it because I could have easily just finished it quickly, but I wanted to drag it out so it wasn’t over so soon. This book makes me want to read more from the author.

If you’d like to grab a copy for yourself, I’ve added my Amazon Associates link here!

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

Thanks for reading! I hope you’re doing well and staying safe.

Shadow of the Coalition (The Omni Towers #2) by Jamie A. Waters Review

5/5 Stars 370 pages
Published September 13th 2018 by Hidden Realms Publishing

Though it’s been probably two years since I’ve read the first book in The Omni Towers series, I definitely haven’t forgotten about it. I was able to jump right back into the world without any problems, and that’s exactly what I love in a series. With all the books I have, I can’t always just sit and read a series through to the end and I like to space it out, and I’m thankful I can do so with these books, because I’ve really loved the three that I’ve read so far.

Following Kayla as usual, this book shows her life as she tries to cope with this new found power she has, her bond that was created with her fiance Alec in the towers, and still hold onto that Ruin Rat Brat she’s always been with her lover and Omni Trader, Carl. Only this time, it gets even more complicated than it already is. With word of a new group trying to hunt her down, we learn about the Russian based Coalition, The Omni Tower’s rival.

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Is there anything I have a problem with in this book? Honestly nothing I can think of. I loved every moment of it, and I just couldn’t get enough. I try to read a quarter of a book every day, and I had no problem with that goal for this book, even reading more everyday so that it was over way too quickly. I couldn’t get enough! It was so good in fact, I honestly thought about just starting the next book immediately after, but thought I should save it for another day.

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Overall, I think this is one of my favourite book series. I know I’m still new to it only having read three books so far, but It’s just one of those things that sticks with you, you know? I love the apocalyptic wasteland, the ruins, and the futuristic towers all mixed together with elemental magic. It’s everything I could ever want and more, and I can’t wait to start the next book.

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

Here’s a link to the author’s Twitter, if you’d like to keep up with them.

Thanks for reading! I’d love to chat about the series in the comments, if anyone feels up to it. Hope you have a great day, and stay safe!

Failsafe (Failsafe #1) by Anela Deen Review

5/5 Stars 200 pages
Published May 20th 2018 by Fine Fables Press

This book, unlike the last book, was something that was right up my alley, and something I knew I was going to love from the moment I started it. In a time where humans haven’t lived outside a computer for many, many generations, their world is claustrophobic and dangerous. Outside of their settlements live drones that shoot to kill on site, and although they can grow their own food, they can barely grow enough for everyone, especially now when the supplies have stopped being delivered.

 

Sol is different, however. Though she has epilepsy, she doesn’t let that stop her from changing the world that they know, and trying to save everyone she know, and more. She’s not afraid of going out into the Interspace, and her unique dreaming ability lets her know where and when the drones are going to be around, and where the supplies should be. But this comes with a cost to her health, both physical and mental.

 

Though she lives in a time where people aren’t able to chose their mates due to the very little genetic differences between everyone in their settlement, everything changes when she meets Echo one day while out on a supply run. Though he’s not like anyone she’s ever met, and she’s a little scared to trust him at first, he proves himself to be an

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amazing and very strong companion. The two will do whatever they need to do to change the world as they know it.

 

This book was exciting and interesting, and it was everything I wanted it to be and more. Though I wanted there to be a sequel, I think that it ended at such a place where I’m happy if there isn’t ever one. The characters and the story were both really easy to imagine and get sucked into, and though this doesn’t happen very often, I don’t have any questions or complaints or even thoughts leftover that I’m wondering about. In my eyes, this was a perfect book to get me out of my reading slump, and I think it’s something that I’d love to read again and again, that’s just how much I loved it.

 

If you love stories about young adults who want to change the world, no matter how different it is from out own, then you’re going to love this, and I hope you love it as much as I do. Definitely check it out if you get the chance, and it’ll make a beautiful addition to your collection! I’d love to check out other books by the author because of this one.

 

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

Here’s a link to the author’s Twitter, if you’d like to keep up with them!

 

Thanks for reading! I’d love to chat in the comments if you have anything you’d like to talk about, this book or any other topic! Hope you have a good day, and stay safe!

 

**I’ve been informed by the author that there will in fact be a sequel!** Patiently awaiting that.

Alexis vs. the Afterlife (The Alexis McRiott Jams, #1) by Marcus Alexander Hart Review

Ever wonder what happens to child stars of kids shows? Well this is one story. Alexis is a nineteen year old girl who has been squatting in various places since her stardom went down the drain. She’s in a one man metal band, and she’s going to rock the world one day. Or at least, that’s what she wants. She plays a set in a dive bar, and a man named Epic Tom gives her a recording deal under one condition: she joins a teen pop band. She would be crazy to say no, right?

 

4/5 Stars 311 pages
Published: July 9th 2019 by Canaby Press, LLC

Unfortunately, this is not the life that the universe has planned for her. That night, she decides not to celebrate, but to throw the expensive bottle of champagne off the roof to prove to herself that she’s going to change her ways. What she doesn’t see coming, however, is the cork.

 

This is a supernatural story of ghosts, grim reapers, poltergeists, and ancient magic. Though it’s not something I would usually pick up, the cover and the description really pulled me into it and forced me to give it a chance. Am I glad I did? Absolutely. Was it my new favourite book? No, but it was still a wild ride. If you’re looking for something hilarious and silly, grown up and yet still childish at the same time, than this is the book for you. Alexis is a strong female lead for the story, and I couldn’t have seen anyone else taking her place. The world that she lives in is a little out there at times, but I could easily imagine it. If this is something you think you’d like, I’d say definitely give it a shot!

 

The book is available here.

Here’s the author’s Twitter, if you’d like to keep up with them.

Thanks for reading!