Audio review. Deadly Abyss

Narrated by: Carly Robins

Series: Mist and Mirrors, Book 3

Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins

Release date: 07-26-22

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Fantasy romance / to review

This is the final part of the trilogy, and it had me worried that there would be no conclusion. But when   then end grew close all pieces came together.

Agoth, well previous books sure threw me for a spin. Agoth/Belle, yes it does get confusing, and these truly has to be read in order. There are some real twists and turns.

The world is being engulfed by the mist. There are dark things in the mist. One kingdom holds on, but that kingdom is pretty messed up as we found out in the last book.

As for Agoth, she went into the mist and sees that the "monsters" are not monsters after all.

I enjoyed the series.  It was fantasy, action, romance, and some hot times.

Good narration. I have enjoyed listening to this series by her and she does a great job

The stunning conclusion to Mist and Mirrors featuring betrayal and discovery on the journey to triumph.

Entering the Abyss with its tainted mist is terrifying but there is no other choice. The Valley is in danger and the only hope lies in the hands of the enemy. But are Zanir and his people the real problem? A great crime was committed and the repercussions are finally coming to a head.

As the past continues to reveal itself, the one known as the orphan of the night wonders who she is. What is she capable of? If prophecy can be believed, the fate of the world rests on her. Failure isn't an option. Now if only she knew who to trust.

She'll travel deep into the deadly Abyss seeking answers. She'll find more than she ever expected. But will it be enough?

TMST

 

 

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

8/9/2022 Do you read middle grade books? Why or why not?

When a fun looking audio comes up then yes then I might accept. Mostly it seems to be fantasy cos those are cute. MG fantasy also tends to be less angsty and you name it.

But I do not go looking. Still I hope when my kid grows older maybe we could read some together, or out loud. That sounds fun

8/16/2022 What do your family and friends think of your blogging?

8/23/2022 Does length of series matter for you when you are picking out books to read? 

8/30/2022 Which books are you looking forward to reading this fall? (Sept-Nov)

9/6/2022 Tell us about your library (photos welcomed) 

9/13/2022 Do you ever read out of your comfort zone? And if yes, does it work for you?

9/20/2022 For audiobook listeners: what hobby do you enjoy while listening?

9/27/2022 Do you follow your favourite authors on social media? Do you interact with them?

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

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Carole's Monday: The book of accidents

 

Author: Chuck Wendig

Title: The Book of Accidents

Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal, SCI-FI, Thriller

Format: ebook

Pages: 528

Published: July 20th 2021

Where I Got It: My Shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

Long ago, Nathan lived in a house in the country with his abusive father—and has never told his family what happened there.

Long ago, Maddie was a little girl making dolls in her bedroom when she saw something she shouldn’t have—and is trying to remember that lost trauma by making haunting sculptures.

Long ago, something sinister, something hungry, walked in the tunnels and the mountains and the coal mines of their hometown in rural Pennsylvania.

Now, Nate and Maddie Graves are married, and they have moved back to their hometown with their son, Oliver.

And now what happened long ago is happening again . . . and it is happening to Oliver. He meets a strange boy who becomes his best friend, a boy with secrets of his own and a taste for dark magic.

This dark magic puts them at the heart of a battle of good versus evil and a fight for the soul of the family—and perhaps for all of the world. But the Graves family has a secret weapon in this battle: their love for one another.

Review:

This is one of our books for book club. Finally getting back to the book club joys now that the wedding is over!!

We follow Nate and his family. Nate had a terrible childhood and was horribly abused by his father. After his father passes, they decide to move into that house in the country. After moving in things seem to get weird. Maddie, his wife, starts having old memories resurface. Nate seems to be haunted by his father. And then there is Oliver, the son, who makes some normal friends but there is one older boy that is...off. There is something sinister in the tunnels and the mountains. There is also dark magic that will put them at the heart of a battle of good versus evil. They will have to fight for the soul of the family and the world.

I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I thought this would be an a-typical dark book with ghosts or demons or something....boy....I was partially wrong. There is such a deep complexity that starts to unfurl the further along you get. Much like that sinister tunnel. *shudders*

This was creepy and a little bit scary. At some points, I would put the book down and say, "Damn" and then I would try to explain to my hubby what was going on. There were so many twists and turns...I literally had zero ideas what was going to happen next. 

I will say there is a trigger warning to go along with this. This does talk about abuse quite a bit. Nate had been horribly abused and so was another character(s). There is also a serial killer we run into. Along with some other dark things. I can't spoil it. But yes, there is a touch of gore but not TOO much where it took away from the plot. 

I won't explain it...but I will say that I ended up feeling a little bad for Jake. I get why he was the way he was.

Loved Fig! 

Loved Nate, Maddie, and Oliver. I just wanted them to have the best life. They really deserved it. That poor family. 

Okay. Now...the ending? I have a love-hate with. I cheered about one scene at the very end. But then it was over. I hoping for something for someone, but it didn't come to be and then I felt myself get really, really sad. Sobs!!!! Again...trying not to spoil anything. But yes. It was a cool ending scene, but then it was over and I felt sad. I even waited a whole day before writing this review to see how I ended up feeling. I wanted more. I wanted something for someone and I don't think it'll happen. Unless we get some sort of sequel? However, a sequel would ruin things I think. I loved how everything else ended but one character deserved more.  

Overall, this was a kickass book. It was dark and creepy, but there was a sprinkle of hope throughout. You can't help but root for this family! They really deserve the sun and more. The ending left me...with complicated emotions. Hate and love and all of it in between.  I highly recommend this book to those looking for a thriller with some paranormal/SCI-FI twists and turns. Oof. A rating? Mmmmm......I've been contemplating for over a day about what I want to rate this.....mmmm.....4 stars. I would give it a 5, BUT I am still very conflicted on my feelings for the ending. 

Audio review: For Butter or worse

Narrated by: Mela Lee

Length: 10 hrs and 20 mins

Release date: 07-26-22

Publisher: Harlequin Audio

Contemporary romance /to review

Enemies to lovers. They are hosts for a popular cooking show and sparks fly, but all the wrong sparks.  Leo gets all the love, Nina gets all the distaste as she is the tough one.

There was some real drama and trauma in this one. Leo has issues when he feels the whole world rest on his shoulders. Nina has issues because of internet hate and trolls, and Leo does not make it better. He does make a real asshat move.

To save their images they fake date, pr stunt. And he learns she is more than the fancy chef, and she learns he is more than the pretty face. But those underlying issues does come bubbling up and threaten to destroy everything.

I liked it, it was funny, cute, and it did have a real impact in showing how their psychological scars can be overwhelming.

I think this was my first time listening to this narrator, but I enjoyed her voice and I felt she did the characters justice.

Chef Nina Lyon dreams of cooking her way to culinary stardom and becoming a household name. She thought hosting The Next Cooking Champ! was her golden ticket, but she and her cohost/arch-nemesis, Leo O'Donnell, go together like water and oil, and he undercuts her at every turn.

So when Nina unexpectedly quits the show - on live TV, no less - to focus on her restaurant, she doesn't anticipate the he-devil himself showing up at her door begging her to come back. Nor does she expect the paparazzi to catch them in what looks like a passionate kiss, but is actually Leo tripping into her. When the fans go crazy over Nina and Leo's "secret romance", keeping the ruse going might be the only way to save both their careers. That is, if they don't kill each other first....