#47 Red Right Hand by Levi Black

Red Right Hand starts off fast and never lets the lead character catch her breath for most of the story.  This Lovecraft based horror pretty much tips it hat immediately to that fact with the Man in Black letting her know that she is a descendant of Lovecraft and he needs her for his acolyte. Granted she doesn’t have much of a choice in the matter and agrees to accept his mark and help him hunt down some other gods that will bring about the end of the world.  Overall I enjoyed the book and it was a very fast read.

I’m not a huge horror fan but this didn’t turn me off. Granted there are things in Charlie’s backstory that other readers may not care for. Charlie suffers for PTSD from a gang rape when she was a teen and some of that is dealt with during the story.  Also this isn’t a new author, Levi Black is a pen name for the writer’s first book with Tor.


Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Netgalley

#48 Ghost Talkers by Mary Robinette Kowal

Review to be posted on August 2nd per publisher request.

In this alternate World War One historical, the British are using mediums to speak to soldiers right after death so they can get up to date intelligence on troop movements.  With conditioning during boot camp and a small blood sample soldiers give report and pass along a final message.   Ginger is an American working as a medium and has a British fiancée. When she gets a report from a soldier that was murdered near their camp because he overheard something some spies were plotting to do away with the mediums her report is ignored since the soldier was discredited as someone trying to get out of going back to the front.  Being a woman and not in the direct chain of command she tries to do what she can to find out who is plotting to kill them.

This book had me crying several times while I was reading it. It was a great read and so far everything I have read from Mary Robinette Kowal has not disappointed.


Digital review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley

#49 Nightshades by Melissa F. Olson

A new take on vampires coming out of the shadows is the premise of the story. Alex is heading up a new division of the FBI in Chicago to investigate murders that they believe are caused by shades. Shades are the term used for vampires in the series.  Teens in the area have been going missing and the previous agents that have been investigating it have turned up murdered. A break in the case has an agent barely surviving the attack and some new data from the only shade in government control has Alex on the path of finding out who is taking the kids.

This is certainly the first book in a new series and the ending has you wondering how things will work out in the future. An enjoyable addition to the urban fantasy landscape.

Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Netgalley