Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death by Maria Vale - Book Review

Publication Date: 04th April 2023

Genre: Urban Fantasy (Romance)

2.7 Stars 

One Liner: A commendable attempt 

***

Azrael, aka The Death Agent, Grim Reaper, et al., has made a mistake. He was supposed to take Molly Molloy’s soul but ended up saving her from death due to chicken wings. Of course, the boss up there isn’t pleased and ordered him to set things right. 

Molly may have had a hard life, but she isn’t going to let a bumbling Agent of Death take her life. Now that she can see and talk to him, she is determined to stay alive for as long as possible. 

Interacting with Molly makes Azrael question a lot of assumptions… and he is falling in love with a human! But how will it end for them? 

The story comes in the third person POV of the two main characters (with an occasional insight by another character). 

What I Like: 

The premise is intriguing, and so is the cover. In fact, I requested the book for the cover. So good!

Death, aka Azreal, is quite a delightful character. Not someone confident and rude but more like an enthusiastic young kid who needs constant supervision. This is rather fun to read, even if it gets exasperating in the second half. 

Molly is a strong-willed character with a tragic past. She still retains her cheerfulness and loves bossing around Dee (Death). There are a few things I didn’t like about her, though these make her more ‘real’, I suppose. 

The first 40% of the book is super cool. Yeah, the writing is a bit different (complex). Still, it has some laughs and weird stuff going on. Entertaining too. 

The setting isn’t explained, but that shouldn’t be a problem if you go with the flow. Sometimes, it’s easier to not wait for explanations and let the story go where it wants to. Yet… 

The book sure has some introspective points about life, choices, changes, etc. However… (more in the next section). 

What Could Have Been Better for Me: 

Though a majority of the story is set in NYC, the setting up there and the role of other people (so many have names, but only a couple of them are recurring characters) isn’t fully explored. As someone who likes world-building, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed by the lack of details.

The last 30% of the book is boring. It takes the story forward at 8x speed to cover a huge timeline. However, I couldn’t stay invested in the plot and stop bothering. I just wanted the book to end.  

The climax should have been powerful. It is set up to be. Though, for me, it ended up confusing. I read it twice to understand what happens. Somehow, the impact isn’t there. 

In a way, the book should have been a novella. I didn’t like the preggs trope and the subsequent track. That’s where my interest started to dip. Since the concept isn’t explained much, this would have been more entertaining as a novella. 

I like dark humor. I enjoy it in most books. Here too, I like it in some places. Yet, some of it (again in the second half) gets stressful. I sure don’t want to laugh when a woman literally has to run the household because her partner is not suited for pretty much anything. The said guy being ‘Dee’ doesn’t change things. Not really. 

To summarize, Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death has an entertaining first half and a heavier second half with some weird stuff and dark humor thrown in. It has a bit of steam. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Wild and Ashe, LLC, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #MollyMolloyandtheAngelofDeath

***

TW: A reference to child rape and death. It can be triggering even if the incident isn’t detailed at all. 

Her Deadly Game by Robert Dugoni - Book Review

Publication Date: 28th March 2023

Genre: Contemporary Legal Thriller 

4.5 Stars 

One Liner: Super entertaining; Love it 

Keera Duggan, the daughter of the reputed defense attorney Patsy Duggan, is making a name for herself as a prosecution lawyer in Seattle. However, she is back at her father’s law firm after ending a toxic relationship with her former boss. Things aren’t great with her family either, and Keera finds comfort in playing anonymous online chess and sharpening her skills. 

Vince LaRussa, an investment advisor, hires Keera’s family law firm when he is suspected of his wealthy wife’s murder. Keera sees this as a chance to establish herself but soon realizes she has to use all her chess strategies to stay one step ahead and win the case. What’s more, Keera may have to make some tough decisions that could affect her family, the law firm, and her career. 

With her former boss and lover as the prosecution attorney, Keera knows the stakes are higher than ever, and there may not be a second chance. 

What I Like: 

The book takes time to set the stage but does it very well. We already know how Keera’s mind works by the time the actual case is introduced. This makes it easy to read fast and enjoy the developments too. 

As a legal thriller, the focus is on courtroom scenes and the backend work lawyers do. The police work complements the case instead of overshadowing it. And I got strong Adaalat vibes (one of the crime shows I binged on telly). Am I right or am I right? ;)

I really like how the author writes women. I was impressed by Tracy Crosswhite’s character though I read only one book in the series. Keera Duggan is also etched to be real and relatable. 

The family dynamics also get some importance in the book. Given how the law firm is run by Patsy and his daughter, this move to present them as a dysfunctional yet loving family enriches the plot and characterization. 

Chess is an integral part of the book (I skimmed the scenes as my knowledge of the game is the bare minimum) and shows the importance of using one’s mind and wits to fight a case in court. Turns out the author doesn’t even play chess. Very impressive! 

Patsy’s alcoholism, its impact on the family, and the subsequent changes in the family dynamics during the case have a natural arc. Patsy isn’t just an alcoholic lawyer. He is a father who loves his children. Never did I expect to like an alcoholic character this much. He made me root for him. 

Despite being a legal thriller, it doesn’t get heavy on the jargon. Only the necessary terminology is used, and some of them are explained in a natural flow. There’s even a Powerpoint presentation in one of the scenes. Nothing more fun than reading about a systematic approach to things (I love lists). 

Miller Ambrose may seem like a stereotype, but he nails it on the head. He’s a character readers would love to hate. I wish Keera beats him in more cases. 

I could guess the murder case and the connection halfway through. However, I enjoy the process of logically revealing the information to readers. I also think the author didn’t try to prevent the reader from connecting the dots b deliberately misleading them or ‘pulling the rug’.  

What Could Have Been Better for Me:

Well… nothing much for me to rant about. But I still got a couple of issues to talk about… 

While repetition is expected in courtroom scenes, the same seems unnecessary during the climax reveal. The conversation gets a bit too long, with one character repeating information that has been already presented multiple times. Since I figured out almost all of it, I just wanted to get to the ‘how’ and ‘what next’ part of the story.

A certain diagnosis (for the lack of a better word) doesn’t seem to be necessary. The character has already been established. This didn’t add anything to it. In fact, I like it when characters can be who they are without some sort of medical diagnosis to support it (trying hard not to reveal spoilers). 

To summarize, Her Deadly Game is easily one of the best legal thrillers. It is entertaining, intriguing, and fun to read. I hope the author turns this into a series. All main characters have the potential to star in multiple books, especially Keera, Rossi, and Patsy. 

Oh, the author’s note is one of my favorites. It’s a letter from the author to the readers, and that’s how it is written. Beautiful! 

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #HerDeadlyGame 

The Amethyst Dusk

Not a flutter or a ripple in sight

Neither a bird’s song nor a frog’s call

No rustling leaves and no gushing winds

A thin spread of grey clouds

Mild and gentle, unmoving; suspended in motion 

Is there anything more tranquil than an amethyst dusk?

PC: Cleverpix/ Pixabay 

Deep violet, blending with soft lavender 

The purple shades easing into soothing golds 

As the line between the earth and heaven blurs into nothingness

A lone tree stands proud, with its scattered branches and onyx leaves 

A broken piece of its former self lay beside, resting in peace 

Oh, the glory! Who else but nature can make the end feel soulful and complete? 

***

This post is a part of Blogchatter Blog Hop. 

#BlogchatterBlogHop 

Down the Hatch by Lina Hansen - Book Review

Series: Magical Misfits Mystery #2

Publication Date: 01st April 2023

Genre: Contemporary Small Town Cozy Mystery 

3.5 Stars 

One Liner: Slow start but gets better in the second half 

***

Myrtle has her hands full with the Witch’s Retreat B&B, unpredictable magic, and constant pressure to lead a new-found coven with (over) enthusiastic members. She doesn’t even have the time to indulge in her budding romance with Chris, a software developer and witch hunter. 

As if things aren’t hard enough, a body turns up in the local pub, followed by another death. Sergeant Sarah Widdlethorpe is trying hard to structure the cases as her pig-headed boss complicates matters. Myrtle is happy to help, of course. 

However, it’s not long before Myrtle realizes something is terribly wrong, and magic is way too involved in the process. Can she get to the bottom of the truth without risking her neck? 

The story comes in Myrtle’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

I read the first book in the series some 2.5 years ago. It was one of my first NetGalley ARCs. I lost track and worried I missed the subsequent books but turns out that the second book is here and releasing next month. 

Though I hardly remember anything, I could recollect a few bits and pieces as I continued with this one. It helped get into the plot. This one can still be read as a standalone, but only if you want to go with the flow instead of wondering what terms like skyelles mean. You’ll figure it out soon. 

The beginning is super slow, and the first-person narration doesn’t help. Myrtle’s POV takes time to get used to (I remember struggling with it even in the first book). She is still not happy being a witch and having magic (duh, give it to me!). 

The second half is where many things happen, so the story does get better once we settle in. In fact, there’s some noteworthy character development in the climax, which makes me hopeful about book three (I’m sure there will be one, given how this ends). 

As a typical small-town cozy mystery, the book has enough characters that come and go. That’s not an issue. The problem lies with the lack of depth in the main characters. We don’t get much to connect with either of them (and Chris should have had a better role given his background). 

So what made the book better for me? Petty, of course! 

Petty is a magical primula (Primrose) Myrtle creates (or brings to life in book one). And guess what? Petty is a familiar… yep, we have cats, rabbits, and animals as familiars, but a plant is something new and super cool. Moreover, Petty is a treat to read about. I so wish she has a POV of her own. I loved all scenes involving this darling plant. There’s a pet cat, too, but almost overshadowed by Petty (can’t say I object). 

To summarize, Down the Hatch is a decent cozy mystery with some magic, murder, and mayhem during the summer solstice. Pick it up if want to meet an adorable plant familiar. There are bits of humor that keep the story lighthearted most of the time.

Thank you, NetGalley and Literary Wanderlust, for the eARC.  

#DowntheHatch #NetGalley

***

P.S.: Myrtle has a vast collection of shower gels in multiple scents. She chooses a different scent each time to go with her mood. I’m so envious of her! 

The cover is well-done without feeling crowded. Each element in it is significant in the book. 

The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner - Book Review

Publication Date: 22nd March 2023

Genre: Historical Paranormal Mystery, Romance

3.3 Stars 

One Liner: An entertainer; atmospheric but nothing deep 

***

1873, Paris and London 

Vaudeline D’Allaire is an acclaimed spiritualist known to conduct séances for murder victims and help find their killers. She is in Paris after escaping London due to unknown reasons.

Lenna Wickes is her apprentice intent on learning more about the process to find her sister’s killer. She is also struggling to accept the existence of the paranormal since her logical mind refuses to believe in anything she cannot see. However, Evie, her sister, was a firm believer, and Lenna is willing to try anything to discover the truth. 

When Vaudeline is requested to visit London and help solve the crime of the founder of The London Séance Society, things turn dangerous quickly. Soon, the two ladies may have only each other and the paranormal to rely on if they want to stay alive. 

The story comes in the limited third-person POV of Lenna and the first-person POV of Mr. Morley. 

What I Like: 

The beginning is a little slow but picks up pace in the second half (after a weak middle part). It’s easy to read and doesn’t require your grey cells to function. In fact, don’t let them be active. 

The séances are atmospheric. The book almost carries a dark moody vibe throughout. However, it doesn’t get heavy at any point. 

The seven-step process to conduct a séance is among the highlights of the book. I always enjoy such information. You never know when it may come in handy (shh!). 

The Victorian setting enhances the plot. The common bias against women and a man’s role in society comes across clearly. I have to mention the author’s notes at the end. Informative, interesting, and useful (it has recipes!). 

The climax begins on shaky ground but ends well. I like how it’s done. The epilogue is also well done. 

What Could Have Been Better for Me: 

Well, I don’t think the combination of Lenna’s and Morley’s POVs did anything to enhance the plot. Morley is a weak character with a wobbly arc. I’m not sure if it is deliberate (makes sense in a way), but it should have been better established. 

Lenna… well… she started strong until she turned whiny, stupid, and silly as the story progressed. It’s only in the climax that she redeems herself. I can see the allure of having a logical character ace paranormal interaction. It could have been better, though. A character jumping to conclusions is hard to empathize with. 

Vaudeline is probably the steadiest character in the book. However, not having her POV didn’t help the story. She should have been one of the narrators. In fact, if you think about it, Evie and other women are also intriguing (too bad they don’t get enough space). 

The dual POV also means that information is repeated in consecutive chapters. This makes the plot boring and slow. We don’t need to know the same thing from both POVs and go around in circles. 

A few developments don’t make sense, especially when they should. This is where you have to turn off your logical side and consider it an entertainer (or a Bwood film). If the issues were handled better, I think the plot would have been enriched with more drama and tension. A wasted chance, TBH.

I don’t know if I should call this a romance. It’s supposed to be slow-burn (maybe) but doesn’t get enough space to grow organically. While I like the darkish touch to the track, I’m not happy with the overall development. It could have been achieved with some care. Removing the repeated content would have created space for this track. 

To summarize, The London Séance Society is an atmospheric entertainer and a light mystery with some good and not-so good points. Read it for fun and don't worry about things that don't make sense.

Thank you, NetGalley, Harlequin Australia, and HQ (Fiction, Non-Fiction, YA) & MIRA, for the eARC. 

#TheLondonSéanceSociety #NetGalley

***

Confession: I rated the book 3.7 stars immediately after finishing it. After drafting the review, I brought it down to 3.3 stars. Somehow, I had more things I disliked despite enjoying the book. Sigh! 

A Broken People’s Playlist by Chimeka Garricks - Book Review

Publication Date: 21st March 2023

Genre: Short Story Anthology, Music

4.3 Stars

One Liner: A wonderful collection of short stories

A Broken People’s Playlist is a collection of twelve short stories set in Port Harcourt. The stories deal with various life stages, situations, moments, memories, and more. The characters are varied (though a few appear in more than one story, which doesn’t affect the readability) in personalities, professions, and age groups.

The common theme is that the stories are inspired by songs. I don’t know a single song mentioned in the book, but it didn’t make any difference. The stories are independent. Some have music as the central theme, while others don’t.

An interesting point is that many stories come in the second-person POV and read very well (not an easy thing to achieve). That said, an anthology cannot have all hits, and this one is no exception. However, the quality of writing and execution is top-class. The character arcs are subtle yet perfect. It’s not common to have such layered characters in short stories.

The setting is an integral part of all stories and just enough to visualize everything. There are a few native words that can make it a little difficult, but it’s easy to go with the flow (as always, I winged it).

Here’s a list of stories in the book:

Lost Stars – 4.5 stars

Oh, my! The story starts out quite casually, but soon we see the layers peeling off, revealing the depth of emotions. The climax and the ending made me teary-eyed (not an easy task). The writing is almost off-handed and distanced, which is a perfect choice for the plotline. A solid start to the collection.

Music – 4 stars

A story about a boy growing up in a broken family and the role of music in his life. The story looks like it is limited to one phase of his life, but gives us the entire picture of the past and the future. The characterization is top-class. It’s not often that short stories have such strong characters.

Hurt – 4.5 stars

A dying man decides to arrange his funeral when he’s alive. The story isn’t about the funeral, though. It is about people, their actions, flaws, regrets, repentance, and more. The second-person POV is impactful in this one and hits the reader with strong emotions when you least expect it. Wonderful!

Song for Someone – 4.5 stars

Another story in the second person POV, and just as impactful as the previous one. How does a woman break the toxic cycles in her life? Can she even do it? The story goes back and forth, giving snippets of information to build her character arc. I love that this one has the kind of endings I enjoy.

In the City – 3.5 stars

A policeman fighting demons, a drug peddler, and an innocent young man looking for a chance to get a decent job. How does a chase gone wrong change their lives? This theme is familiar to me (we have enough movies with it). The story is structured to continue the suspense, and the ending is blunt. However, I knew what would happen and didn’t feel as emotional as I thought I would.

I Put a Spell on You – 4.5 stars

The title says it all! The lives of three friends are changing, and they can’t stop it. Given the tone of the stories until now, I didn’t expect something lighthearted and funny. This steals deals with toxic relationships, but the overall tone is a touch humorous and teasing.

I’d Die Without You – 4 stars

What breaks a broken man who can’t cry even though he wants to? The story is written in the second person POV and has a distanced narration to suit the character. It is compact and contained with just enough ease at the end. The ending rounds up the theme and offers a different perspective.

Beautiful War – 4 stars

What happens when a husband confesses to cheating on his wife, especially when he was considered the faithful kind? The story comes in the second-person POV of the husband and the first-person POV of the wife. Knowing both sides makes the ending even better.

River – 3 stars

This is a story about an unlikely but strong friendship between two young boys and how their lives change when they join confra (something like a local rowdy gang). I can see why this is an important story, but somehow I couldn’t connect with the main character despite the story being in the second person POV. The ending is good, though.

Love’s Divine – 3.5 stars

What happens when a young teenage boy with dreams about becoming a football star gets a chance of a lifetime? This one has great potential and almost hits the mark. However, the main plot is predictable, which dims the overall impact. Like the previous story, the ending is very good, in fact, just right for the main character.

Desperado – 4 stars

A womanizer tries to get his wife back and finds something more precious. Yet another story in the second person POV. It starts almost like every other piece, but the writing and character development are strong. The ending is half hopeful, though the readers can guess it could go either way. The relationship between the two is beautifully presented.

You Suppose Know – 4.5 Stars

Oh, my heart! This is such a tender and touching story. I don’t want to say anything except that it is the best of the collection. Stories with loving and bickering older couples are a favorite of mine. This one does full justice to the theme.

To summarize, A Broken People’s Playlist is a bitter-sweet and heart-touching collection of stories about people we find around us.

Don’t forget to read the author’s note. It’s heartfelt and informative. As a writer, I can understand the struggle with novels (one reason I prefer to write short stories). Nevertheless, I hope the author will not give up and finish his second novel. I sure want to read it.

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperVia, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

#NetGalley #ABrokenPeoplesPlaylist