Symphony for Walpurgis: A Collection by Remi Ungar

This book was a collection of horror themed stories, some longer than others, but all entertaining. Each one was unique. And while not all were designed to be extremely scary, there was at least a mildly frightening aspect to the ones that were not meant to terrify readers. I enjoyed reading each of these tales, enjoying the uniqueness of each story. Personally, I think I enjoyed the ones that were both frightening and sweet the most, though I think my favorite in this collection was one that felt more like a slow build to the outcome. The scariest parts of it did not come until the end.

I read a review copy of this book and very much enjoyed it. As mentioned above, not all of the stories were meant to be terrifying, and I enjoyed that change to what many have come to expect a horror story to be. Just because the ending of a horror tale might be a happy one, it doesn’t need to mean that a “bad guy” was killed in order for the victims to escape. And seeing that possibility portrayed in at least one of these tales was a very nice change of pace. Yes, it had frightening aspects to the story, but that made the ending all the more unexpected and a delightful change of pace.

I also enjoyed the author’s addition at the end of the book explaining where he came up with the ideas for each of his stories. For me, learning about where he got his ideas from, and learning that many of them came from actual places, events, or things that he had seen in various parts of the country was eye opening. For example, I didn’t know that there were homes in one state that often had jail cells in the basement of the house. And that definitely lends itself to story ideas for a number of genres. I do need to mention, however, that there were some adult themes in a few of these stories. (Suicide, being one of the topics that might be triggering for some readers, though that was a necessary part of that story.)

I think that anyone who enjoys horror stories, both the ones that are terrifying and ones that aren’t as scary, would enjoy this book. And if the author ever decides to develop any of the stories from this collection into a full novel, I would greatly enjoy reading it. As I said above, I enjoyed reading these tales, and I believe that others would as well. Recommended.

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The Cat Caper by Molly Fitz

Octo-Cat has gone missing at the same time that Angie receives a notice in the mail notifying her that the will giving him a rather large trust fund is being disputed. Unless Octo-Cat appears before the judge, it will be assumed that he agrees to arbitration moving forward. And if it does, he may lose the trust fund that allows for him to be kept in the manner to which he has been accustomed. Without that trust fund, Angie, her mom, and Octo-Cat will not be able to afford to remain in his home. Fortunately, Angie is now able to understand other animals as well as Octo-Cat, and with the help of a squirrel and a raccoon, the search is on to rescue him from whoever catnapped him.

I enjoyed reading this story, even though Octo-Cat did not appear until fairly close to the end of this story. I was highly amused by the peanut butter obsessed squirrel, and the raccoon who was Octo-cat’s biggest fan. I am looking forward to seeing how these new characters will assist in Angie and Octo-Cat’s future endeavors as private investigators. The expected human cast of characters from the previous books were also an integral part of this story, and seeing how their own lives intertwined with both Angie and Octo-Cat was always entertaining. Life going forward for all of these characters, and Angie’s mom’s newly adopted (at the end of the book) pet, promises to bring more fun and chaos into all of their lives.

This was a very fun cozy mystery that was a quick read. I have enjoyed other books from Ms. Fitz, and expect to continue enjoying reading other books in both this series and her others as well. I believe that anyone who enjoys reading cozy mysteries, enjoys stories where animals are among the main characters,  or who has enjoyed any of Ms. Fitz’ other books would also enjoy reading this one.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Her Amish Farm by Samantha Price

Cherish is finally able to once again visit the farm that her Aunt Dagmar had left to her. She dreams of the day that she will be able to live there full time, but until she comes of age, the farm is being cared for by a hired farm manager. Cherish, and the two adults, who visit the farm with her have a wonderful time at the farm, and the visit helps to relieve some of the stress and worry that Cherish has been feeling lately. There is nothing she can do about the situation with the reporter Daniel, or the possibility of either him or Krystal publishing tales that would embarrass her family. The brief time away from her daily worries was exactly what she needed. While she is gone, there is still a fair amount of drama happening at the Baker / Bruner home and apple orchard, but the ime away helps Cherish to find a new perspective and to look at things in a new light.

This was book number 18 in the Bonnet sisters series, and as with the previous books, this one does contain a fair amount of family drama. It also shows how the family comes together to help protect and help each other as well as others in their community. I enjoy it, just as I have the previous book in the series. While there are serious and worrisome moments in the book, it is essentially a relaxing and quick read that will take your mind off of any of your own daily troubles or worries. This is a series that I have enjoyed reading from the start, and it is one that I often return to when I am looking for a quick book to read, one that won’t require a lot of concentration to get through. I find this series a nice relaxing break from many of life’s big worries.

I believe that anyone who is looking for a quick, easy read, has enjoyed any of Ms. Price’s other books or series, or who enjoys reading Amish Romance novels, even the ones that do not focus on a new or existing romance, but instead seem to be a bit more about the daily lives of a family would enjoy reading this book. I know I did.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Binary by CR Buchanan & John Lewis

Having just completed earning another degree from The Institute, Alexis receives an unexpected job offer from someone who can’t identify themselves and will only identify what she would be working on as “The Project.” And though the man that raised her is very suspicious of the job offer, when she speaks with the woman in charge, Alexis cannot pass up the opportunity they offer her. Even with the secrecy and mysterious conditions surrounding the position, it is too good of an offer for her to pass up, regardless of the danger taking the job seems to place her in. The promises of answers to a forgotten past is more than she can turn down.

I read a review copy of this science fiction novel and very much enjoyed it. This book has the main character working with an AI held within a robot body. But this AI seems different. It appears to be self aware. One of the things that Alexis is tasked with is to determine if it actually is self aware, or is it simply an extremely advanced form of AI that can imitate life better than any that have been developed so far. This was an extremely interesting book with quite a few twists and turns along the way. I read a large number of books every year, and while I often can figure out the ending before I reach it, this one surprised me. I came close to guessing what was going on, but did not completely figure the entire twist out. And with the number of books I read and review, that fact alone impresses me.

I did enjoy reading this book, though I was left with one unanswered question. But I’m not going to ask it here as my question does not actually have anything to do with the plot of the story itself. It was simply something that caught my attention and that I wonder about. (Perhaps if I ever meet the authors in person, I will get the chance to ask them someday.)

Overall, I truly enjoyed reading this book. It is a fascinating look at what actually makes someone or something alive and sentient. Can an AI ever truly be sentient, and if so, does that make it a living creature as we understand them to be or something completely new? I think that anyone who enjoys science fiction with some philosophical questions thrown in will enjoy it. I also think that anyone with an interest in artificial intelligence, robots, and novels with a fair amount of action will enjoy this book.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookie Murder by Trixie Silvertale.

Cindy Claus is back in another new Christmas Catastrophe novel. The Christmas Carnival has not been held in Silver Shoals in many years, not since a collapse of the ice castle had caused the death of a young girl. This year, the city council voted to once again hold the carnival and added a number of additional security precautions and inspections before opening the event to the full public. But during the trial “soft opening” event, there is a collapse of the ice castle, killing the councilwoman who cast the deciding vote that allowed the festival to be held once again.

I read a review copy of this book and very much enjoyed it. One of the most amusing aspects for me about this book was the fact that not only do we get to enjoy Cindy Claus and her arctic fox Artikoa, but this book is a crossover story in which Mitzy Moon and her husband Sheriff Erick Harper happen to be vacationing in town and visiting the festival when everything happens, so we get to see a team-up of Cindy and Mitzy as they work together to solve this mystery, using all their special skills and abilities to do so. And as a fan of the Mitzy Moon books as well as the Christmas Catastrophe series this book was even more fun than either series on their own has been so far.

I really enjoyed seeing familiar characters from both series working together in this book. And getting to learn a bit more about the backgrounds of their furry companions (Artikoa and Pyewacket as well as Pyewacket’s association with Mitzy’s mentor, Silas) was a nice bonus for me. I hope that we will get to see another crossover between these two series at some point.

As with Ms. Silvertale’s other books, this one was a very fun read. I actually finished it in two days, barely being able to put it down so that I could sleep at night. (In other words, I really enjoyed reading this one.) It was fun, with enough twists and appearances of characters from both series to keep me curled up and reading long past my usual bedtime. And one of the best parts was the delicious sounding cookie recipes that were included at the end of the book. I have not yet tried making any of them, but they sound absolutely delicious and easy to make.

This is a book that I believe anyone who has read any of Ms. Silvertale’s other books, and especially either the Mitzy Moon books or the Christmas Catastrophe books will enjoy. I know I absolutely loved reading this one, and am looking forward to whatever this author writes next.  I would strongly recommend this book, especially during the holiday season so you can try baking the cookies to share with your friends and family.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

The Dawn Chorus by Karen Menezes

The Lightbender has survived the events that took place in the borderlands of Capherayna, though the trauma he experienced during that time remains. He has avoided dealing with his own pain, though he continues to travel and help the sick or injured wherever his journey takes him. This time, it has taken him to one of the cities that he has usually avoided. And in this book, he makes new friends, lovers, and even attempts to see what life might be like if he were to stay in one place. But staying put or even forming a long-lasting romantic relationship seems to be against his nature.

I read a review copy of this book, and while I enjoyed it more than I did the first book in this series—now that the worldbuilding was completed in the first book, it was easier for me to get into the story—I still feel that it lacks something. The writing and editing were good, but there was no rise or fall of action within the plot. And as near as I can tell, this book seems to be about The Lightbender helping others who are hurting, sick, or traumatized, yet when it comes to his own emotional pain and trauma, he appears to simply push it aside and try to ignore it. Or maybe he is simply trying to pretend it is not there at all?

While the tales told during this story are interesting, it feels like everyone other than the Lightbender, with his help, manages to grow and improve, though he is the central character of this book and what ties everything together. He does not seem to allow himself to heal or seek out or find someone who can help him through his own trauma. He simply seems to keep on as he always has … helping those around him and not allowing himself to truly become tied to any person or place. I did at one point think that I had run across a subplot that would allow him to confront the parts of himself that he kept seeking to hide or avoid, but that tidbit seemed to go nowhere, or maybe simply fell to the wayside. (And no, it doesn’t involve the temporary romances he has in this story.)

I have hope that it will come about in the next book and be resolved there, but with nothing changing and him not appearing to grow/heal in any way, for me it made the book feel rather flat. There was no rise and fall of action, and though he did seem to help those around him, more than once I wondered, where this story was going. Yes, we learn more about what happened from the king about what he suspects was going on during the events of the first book, but that was more stories being told without anything actually happening. As interesting as what I read was, I wanted to know what the point of it all was. As I mentioned, The Lightbender was clearly the central figure that drew everyone else around himself together, but for what purpose? Was it so that he could heal them while still avoiding dealing with his own pain? I’m still not certain I know the answer to those questions.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Civil Unrest by C.R. Buchanan and Jason Diamond

This third book in the WolfStar series begins with tension growing between the Armada humans who have befriended the Dah’Sel and the Vee’Sal who view humans as demons. It’s hard to blame the Vee’Sal for this opinion, given that the Uprisers from Kep Four managed to steal one of the interstellar ships that brought humans to this world and proceeded to attack everyone they could. The Uprisers desire to destroy the members of the Armada and any intelligent life on this planet in order to claim it for themselves. But unlike the Dah’Sel, the Vee’Sal view all of humanity as one. And as far as they are concerned, if the friendships and the growing ties between the Dah’Sel and the Armada are not broken, war between not only the humans on this planet will be inevitable, but also between the two native clans will break out for the first time in generations. The Vee’Sal want all humans gone from their lands.

I read a review copy of this book and enjoyed it just as much as I did the previous two books in the series. It says a lot about the members of the Armada who have befriended the Dah’Sel and have sought not only their help, but to help them wherever they can as well. The Armada has not sought to force the Dah’Sel to submit to them, nor have they tried to change them. Rather, they have sought to learn the ways of this new world and to try and live accordingly. But with the interference of the Uprisers, it has become clear that not all of humanity seeks to change and belong. Too many seek to dominate and rule. And this is causing a great deal of conflict and damage to this once peaceful world. It makes one wonder if the nature of humanity is conflict? And if so, can that be changed somehow?

There is a lot happening in this book. And not all of it is about conflict, for one member of the Dah’Sel and one member of the Armada have been growing closer. So a secondary theme in this book seems to be about the power of love and friendship. But is a relationship between the two even possible if the other clan is so determined to see the humans---all of them---gone?

This is a book that is both entertaining and gives one a lot to think about when it comes to the nature of humans. The characters were very interesting, and the differences between the two native clans was clear. Yes, there were similarities between the clans, but when I think about it, I can see that it isn’t solely humanity that can have a combative nature. It’s more about how each individual chooses to live, peacefully and in harmony with those around us, or against those who are different, whether or not those same people may seek to befriend and help others. And of course, there is the issue of trust. And that might be at the heart of at least some of what happens in this story.

While this book does bring a potential conclusion to this part of the story, I expect that there will be more to follow. The ending of this book leaves us with the perfect setup for a new or continuing part of the characters’ stories. And I, for one, am looking forward to learning what is next for the humans, the Dah’Sel, and the Vee’Sel who live on Wahlor. I believe that anyone who enjoys reading science fiction, stories involving multiple cultures trying to coexist near each other, stories involving fighting for not only survival but what the fate of those living on the planet will be, or who has read and enjoyed the previous two books in the WolfStar series will likely enjoy this book as much as I did.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.