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ABC BOOK CHALLENGE – L
This seems like a fun challenge to participate it. Let’s see how many letters I can get.
L is life, love and lies.
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MANGA: Beta Kare
What would you do if the person you like said he already likes someone else? Yoshikawa-kun decided to confess his feelings to Akito-san, but…
You’ll get there, Yoshikawa!
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REVIEW: Transposition by Gregory Ashe
Emery Hazard and his partner, John-Henry Somerset, have solved their first case together. The brutal murders that rocked the quiet town of Wahredua have been put to rest. Hazard, however, finds his life has only grown more complicated as he adjusts to his new home. Living with Somers, whom he has been drawn to since high school, makes ‘complicated’ the understatement of the year.
The turmoil of living together spills over when Hazard and Somers find themselves trapped by the weather in an old mansion and, against Hazard’s better judgment, sharing a bed. Strictly as friends, of course. Just when things can’t get any more confusing, the next morning brings a worsening storm–and a murder.
Cut off from the outside world, Hazard and Somers must face a clever, determined killer who is hiding among the mansion’s guests. Without backup, they can only rely on their wits–and on each other–to survive. And as the snow falls and the mansion’s guests continue to die one by one, solving the string of murders becomes secondary. First, Hazard and Somers have to survive
OMG, Emery Hazard is a giant tsundere!
“Go to sleep,” Somers said absently, his eyes fixed on the door.
“Cold.”
“I’m fine.”
“No,” Hazard said, struggling to enunciate. “I’m cold.”
Somers’s eyes darted towards Hazard and then back to the door. “You’re fine.”
Hazard squeezed Somers’s arm. Sleep was still rolling in, maybe a quartermile out, and Hazard was surprised at how easy it was to find the words he wanted to say, as if he really were going to board a train and this were goodbye, and you could say anything you wanted at a goodbye. “Please?
Never change, Ree!
Meanwhile, John-Henry Somerset is a miserable drunk…
“No,” Hazard said.
“You told me to make a choice,” Somers said, and that storm, that goddamn storm in his eyes had to be whipping at three hundred miles an hour. “Here it is: you.” He settled his weight against Hazard’s hand, pressing forward for the kiss.
“No.”
“What the fuck do you mean, no? You want this, right? Well, here it is. All those fucking teenage wet dreams come to life. How many times have you jerked off to me? Five hundred? A thousand? God, how many gallons of cum have you dumped for me?”
You’re an ass, Somers!
Hazard & Somerset is a very character-driven series and the volatile relationships between the two MCs and also all the well-written secondary characters provided more than enough impetus to keep me coming back for more.
Like the first book, Transposition also comes with a chockful of trigger warnings: abuse, transphobia, misogynist language, cheating, etc. The murder victim was a vile man who treated people like shit, especially the transwoman, Columbia. In addition, there were so much hurt in this book and no uplifting resolutions for most characters and especially for Hazard and Somers, who, as always, ignored the ginormous neon elephant in the room. There is also an even bigger conspiracy afoot. People in high places wanted the two detectives dead, along with the rest of the people in the house. This part constitutes one of the overarching threads of the series and creates more trouble for our MCs to deal with.
The two detectives were stuck in a big house in the middle of a snow storm with a bunch of unlikable people who were all suspects. Tensions ran high as the forced proximity and murders brought out the worst in everybody. The mystery wasn’t very exciting, just convoluted but with Gregory Ashe’s deft hand and lyrical imagery, I hardly felt the drag. I was riveted, not only because of Hazard and Somers’ dynamics but also the author’s way with words that just flowed beautifully. The writing works well with the distinct cadence and timbre of Tristan James’ voice, who did a great job in bringing the book to life.
That ending tho…
Breaks the heart and leaves me cold. It’s frustrating as hell that I wanted to hurl the book but it got me where it wants me because I’m picking up that third book ASAP.
P.S.
I have no idea why the title is Transposition. This is not a standalone so it’s best to start with Pretty Pretty Boys, review here
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: A Million Ways
Artist: Ok Go
Album: Oh No -
SOUNDTRACK: A Million Ways by Ok Go
Soundtrack to Hazard & Somerset: Transposition by Gregory Ashe
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Sit back,
Matter of fact,
Teasing, toying, turning, chatting,
Charming, hissing, playing the crowd
Play that song again
Another couple Klonopin,
A nod, a glance, a half-hearted bowOh such grace,
Oh such beauty,
And lipstick and callous and fishnets and malice
Oh darling,
You’re a million ways to be cruel
You’re a million ways to be cruel
You’re a million ways to be cruelI should,
I wish I could
Maybe if you were, I would
A list of standard issue regretsOne last eighty proof,
Slouching in the corner booth,
Baby it’s as good as it getsOh such grace,
Oh such beauty,
So precious, suspicious, and charming and vicious,
Oh darling,
You’re a million ways,
Oh darling,
You’re a million ways to be cruel
You’re a million ways to be cruel
You’re a million ways to be cruelOh darling,
Oh darling, you’re a million ways
Oh darling,
Oh darling you’re a million ways,
Oh
Oh darling,
Oh darling you’re a million ways to be
Oh oh oh oh
You’re a million ways to be cruel
You’re a million ways to be cruel
You’re a million ways to be cruel
You’re a million ways to be
Cruel
You’re a million ways to be cruel
You’re a million ways to be
Oh darling, you’re a million ways to be cruel -
MOVIE FEATURE: Aleksandr’s Price
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MANGA: Midnight Radio
Midnight Radio – Iolanda Zanfardino
An intriguingly interwoven tale of four lives changed by a mysterious late-night radio broadcast that wakes them up from their mundane existences. Each tale speaks to different social issues without pandering to a political agenda: LGBT+ rights, racism, social network addiction, and the difficult decision between settling down versus following your dreams. Each tale is told in a vivid, polychromatic illustration style that flows from one character to another and back again in a uniquely identifiable fashion
Midnight Radio tackled social issues and tried to be meaningful but does not really say anything new. The delivery was flat. It was kind of predictable. I was bored.
On the upside, loved the polychromatic illustrations! It helped me follow the 4 interconnected stories and it’s nice to look at.
P.S.
I received a copy of Midnight Radio from Lion Forge via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rating:
2 Stars – it’s a struggle to finish the damn book -
REVIEW: Dark Rivers by Morgan Brice
Witchbane: Dark Rivers – Morgan Brice
One hundred years ago, a sheriff’s posse killed dark warlock Rhyfel Gremory, but his witch-disciples escaped, and their magic made them nearly immortal. To keep their power, each year one of the witch-disciples kills a descendant of one of the men in the posse, a twelve-year cycle that has cost dozens of lives, including that of Seth Tanner’s brother, Jesse.
Seth Tanner uncovers the cycle of ritual killings that feeds the power of the witch-disciples, and he’s hell bent on getting vengeance for Jesse and stopping the murders. His fledgling romantic relationship with Evan Malone complicates his mission, but Seth can’t walk away. Seth and Evan are learning to navigate their partnership—as lovers and monster hunters—while they chase down the next witch-disciple and avoid attracting the wrong kind of attention.
When the hunt takes Seth and Evan to Pittsburgh on the trail of the next killer, they’ll have to save the intended victim and take down the powerful witch. If the skills they possess and the bond between them isn’t enough, the evil will remain unchallenged, and more people will die…
Note: Includes mention of past domestic violence and stalking.
While Witchbane, book one, left me unimpressed, Dark Rivers, the second book went a long way into convincing me about this series. Enough to earn an extra star.
One of the best things about it was that Evan definitely improved a lot. He is now far from the TSTL character I tagged him in the first book. Now he can do magic spells using sigils and martial arts. He and Seth still has to deal with PTSD but he was able to keep his cool during his abduction. And saved himself. Attaboy!
I also complained previously about the first book trying too hard to be steamy. Here, the horny thoughts and sex scenes were less distracting and mesh more naturally into the story. The developments between Seth and Evan was more believable and I’m now sold on their romance.
The POV switched between Evan and Seth which generally worked throughout the story, although I would have wanted Evan’s POV when he was fighting with Mike, the psycho ex, instead of having it relayed through Seth’s eyes.
The writing is still straightforward and no frills but the suspense is tighter and the story is more action packed. A big plus is the introduction of the other monster hunter team, ex-priest Travis and former special ops Brent, characters from the author’s other series, Night Vigil. I know Seth and Evan could hold their own in a fight but it’s comforting to know there are other people who can watch their backs.
Overall, this is a good sequel to Witchbane and though still far from perfect, is definitely much better written. The author was able to address some issues from the first book and also gave our heroes time to grow and catch a break. And most importantly, Dark Rivers succeeded in changing my mind about this series. I’m definitely into this now so good job, Morgan Brice!
P.S.
review of Witchbane here
other Morgan Brice books hereI received a copy of Dark Rivers from Darkwind Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: Where The River Flows
Artist: Collective Soul
Album: Collective Soul -
SOUNDTRACK: Where The River Flows by Collective Soul
Soundtrack to Witchbane: Dark Rivers by Morgan Brice
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Give me a moment
Got to get this weight up off my chest
Don’t feed me sorrow
Pain is a poison I digestFind yourself another soul to hold
You think you thought I know
Off upon my journey I must go
To where the river flows
I’ll give you answersTo the questions you have yet to ask
Silence is beautyWords they only complicate the task
Make no more wishesAll of my patience has been spent
Gods of the seasonLead me to my next incident
