SUNRISE ON THE REAPING by Suzanne Collins

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I LOVE The Hunger Games trilogy, and when I found out this was Haymitch's story, I had to read it. As soon as it arrived.

Haymitch Abernathy's sixteenth birthday also marks the reaping. And this year, it's the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, so there'll be two girls and two boys picked as tributes. When things go wrong in District 12, Haymitch ends up on a train and on his way to the Capitol...

Wow. OMG. Even though I loved every minute of this book, my heart is broken. 😫

You'd think that knowing how things turn out for Haymitch would make this story redundant. You'd think that knowing his future would make it easier to bear the pain. Well, that wasn't the case. Everything I already knew didn't ruin anything. Actually, it made the experience more interesting, and a lot sadder. I mean, who doesn't want to meet Katniss's parents when they were teens? Or catch a glimpse of so many other familiar characters, situations, and places that take place years before. Or find out how a hardworking, passionate man with so much love in his heart becomes a drunk loner.

I couldn't stop reading this amazing story because I was hooked from the beginning and wanted to know how everything would end. I mean, I knew it was bad because poor Haymitch was never in a good place, but reading his tale shed a lot of light on who he was before the awful Hunger Games ruined him. Before the Capitol edited his role, and the importance of everything he did. And why Snow targets him.

This book is brilliant and I loved every minute of it.


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SAGA #72 by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples

Saga #72 by Brian K. Vaughan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've been looking forward to reading this installment for ages, but have to admit that I was a little worried because Ghüs is on the cover and... well, you know how Saga can be sometimes.

Anyway, this is the season finale and starts off with a shocking announcement that sends serious ripples and consequences everywhere. And that leads to a bunch of characters, scattered all over the place, making an appearance.

I really enjoyed it, but I'm a little worried about where this is going to lead. 😫


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SAGA #71 by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples

Saga #71 by Brian K. Vaughan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Might as well start the week with the latest installment of this awesome series.

Yikes! There's SO much packed into this one, but everything feels like a preview/tease of more serious/important things to come. Like the bubble is building and very soon, it's going to burst.

As always, the art is beautiful in this issue. I absolutely love the aesthetic, style and colours in this world. It captures the wonder, danger and violence very well.

Apparently there's one issue left to end this current series and I can't wait to see what happens!


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SAGA #67 - #70 by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples

Saga #67 by Brian K. Vaughan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great way to start my 2025 Reading Challenge! I love this series and every time a new arc is released, I'm right there.

Great start to Hazel's story. It looks like the family is getting into the whole travelling circus thing and we're about to meet some new characters. Some old ones, too. The overall tone of the story already feels bleak, though, so I'm looking forward to finding out where it goes...

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Saga #68 by Brian K. Vaughan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well, I'm already getting a bad feeling about some of the new characters. As much fun as Hazel's new friend seems to be, I think Emesis is going to get her into a lot of trouble. And the emo kid is going down a dark path, too. 😳

Anyway, I'm really enjoying this. It's always great to catch up with Petrichor!

One final note: as usual, the artwork in this series is FANTASTIC! So colourful. Just stunning.

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Saga #69 by Brian K. Vaughan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Yikes! That cover is really something. 😳

This issue presented a whole bunch of new problems that will definitely affect or destroy Alana, Hazel and Squire in the future. I have to admit that makes me nervous because I can see a bunch of betrayal on the horizon.

Also, there was a page in this instalment that totally freaked me out. It's cool to see Lying Cat again, though.

Let's see where this leads...

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Saga #70 by Brian K. Vaughan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this volume, but now I have a new character to fret over. That precious corgi must stay safe at all costs.

Anyway, just like the previous issue, a lot of things are being set up that will come into play later on. I'm curious about Hazel's band, want to see where Petrichor is headed, hope that things work out for Squire, and I'm glad we finally found out who's leaking information out of the circus.

Looking forward to the next one.

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NOW OR NEVER by Janet Evanovich

Now or Never by Janet Evanovich
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A few weeks ago, we went to K-Mart and my husband found this book on the shelf. I was so excited and couldn't wait to get stuck into it, but I was busy writing a book of my own during November and decided this would be my reward.

Stephanie has managed to say yes to the two men in her life, and still can't decide which one she's going to marry. Luckily, she's got a lot on her plate at the moment. There's an influencer, a YouTube star, a wholesale criminal, and a vampire. That's before considering the new man trying to insert himself into her life...

OMG. As usual, I had a blast with Stephanie's latest adventure. In typical Plum style, the hilarious situations and zany characters are balanced out by some pretty serious and dangerous situations. And everything fits together seamlessly.

This instalment also had an added mystery that you don't find out until the very end: who does she choose as her husband? Is it the hot and dangerous Ranger? Or the hot and irresistible Morelli? Hard choice. No wonder she said yes to both. 😅

Anyway, Lula, Grandma Mazur, Connie, Bob, and Steph's family go along for the ride. Like I said before, SO MUCH FUN!!

One last thing: it was great to meet Mr. Big because you can never have too many cool doggies in the mix.

Can't wait for the next book!


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DIRTY THIRTY by Janet Evanovich

Dirty Thirty by Janet Evanovich
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I can't believe the Stephanie Plum series is up to book 30! Wow. It's such an incredible achievement to have written this many books featuring the same main character, plus the family, friends, bad guys, and other zany Trenton residents. But you know what's even better? That after THIS many books, the series is STILL interesting and fresh.

Seriously. An amazing achievement.

When Stephanie is hired by a local jeweller to locate the guy he's convinced stole his diamonds, she accepts. But she doesn't realise that nothing is what it seems, and as she follows the clues, it only leads to more mystery...

So, what can I say about this awesome book? Well, it's another intriguing installment that puts Stephanie in plenty of danger. Her car gets ruined. Her apartment suffers, due to a bunch of different reasons. And she's still having trouble deciding which guy she really wants. It's a tough choice between Morelli and Ranger, which only gets more complicated in this book. 😳

I just love how well Evanovich always manages to weave the dark and dangerous side of things, with the lighthearted fun. I mean, there are SO many hilarious things that happen here. Do I even need to mention Lula and Grendel? Too funny.

Oh, and there's extra Bob content. Who doesn't love that adorable dog? 😅

Anyway, there's a LOT of cool and fun, even dark and nasty, stuff packed into the pages of this novel and I enjoyed every exciting moment.


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SAGA # 65 & 66 by Brian K Vaughan & Fiona Staples

 

Saga #65 by Brian K. Vaughan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow! This was such an amazing issue!

We have three different stories happening at the same time. Alana is looking for her children to get the hell out of that place. Petrichor surprises The Will. Squire and Hazel find themselves in a bit of trouble. And the action never stops. Not until the very end.

I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.

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Saga #66 by Brian K. Vaughan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another solid issue that kept me on my toes because I feared the worst would happen. 😫 I mean, Ghüs is back and I didn't want anything to happen to him.

The plot thickens, and this one has a nice twist ending.

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SAGA #62 & #63: Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples

 

Saga #62 by Brian K. Vaughan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow. This might be a short issue but it sure packs a punch. Not only do we see a very interesting Alana and Petrichor flashback that puts things into perspective, but we also get a glimpse of what's currently going on with some of the other (more disturbing) characters. I fucking LOVE this series!

Also, this cover is stunning.

 

Saga #63 by Brian K. Vaughan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Holy shit! That's quite the unexpected ending!! 😳

This is another great issue that blends several POVs to move the story forward. I'm really enjoying Hazel's story arc and can't wait to see where the story takes her. I feel bad for Alana because she's trying really hard to raise both children while working shitty jobs and trying to outrun their past.

Like I said in my review of the previous issue: LOVE this series.

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SAGA #61 by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples

 

Saga #61 by Brian K. Vaughan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've been waiting for the return of Saga, and this issue didn't disappoint. OMFG! There was a bit of everything, and I can't wait to see where this particular storyline goes. Especially after that ENDING!! 😳

 

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LOST SOULS by Kelley Armstrong

 

Lost Souls by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love the Cainsville series, so I always look forward to checking out short stories/novellas set in this world.

The disappearing hitchhiker is an urban legend that's been around for years, but when Patrick brings the case to Gabriel, it takes an unexpected faerie twist...

I really enjoyed the mystery at the core of this awesome installment. Not just because urban legends never fail to intrigue me, but also because this provides a unique twist to a familiar tale. Adding Gabriel and Olivia to the mix made everything even better. Gabriel is so awkward he borders on cringe. And Olivia might be upset with him, but she still manages to make everything better.

Love these characters. Don't think I'll ever get sick of this fantastic series! 😍


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GOING ROGUE by Janet Evanovich

Monday mornings aren't supposed to be fun, but they should be predictable. However, on this particular Monday, Stephanie Plum knows that something is amiss when she turns up for work at Vinnie's Bail Bonds to find that longtime office manager Connie Rosolli, who is as reliable as the tides in Atlantic City, hasn't shown up.

Stephanie's worst fears are confirmed when she gets a call from Connie's abductor. He says he will only release her in exchange for a mysterious coin that a recently murdered man left as collateral for his bail. Unfortunately, this coin, which should be in the office--just like Connie--is nowhere to be found. 

The quest to discover the coin, learn its value, and save Connie will require the help of Stephanie's Grandma Mazur, her best pal Lula, her boyfriend Morelli, and hunky security expert Ranger. As they get closer to unravelling the reasons behind Connie's kidnapping, Connie's captor grows more threatening, and soon Stephanie has no choice but to throw caution to the wind, follow her instincts, and go rogue. She is more shocked by the results than anyone.

This is one of my favourite series. Not just because these books are a lot of fun, but also because the mystery is always intriguing and after almost thirty books, the characters have pretty much become old friends.

Connie is the backbone of Vinnie's bail bonds office. She's the receptionist, has the power to authorise bonds, and is the reason why his business stays afloat. So, the morning Stephanie and Lula arrive at the office and she isn't there, they both know something is very wrong...

Yikes! Stephanie's latest installment really throws you into the action from the start.

We quickly get stuck into the mystery of Connie being MIA, and meet a handful of bizarre FTAs determined to make Stephanie's life harder than it needs to be. And all because of a mysterious coin that really doesn't look very valuable. At least Lula gets the chance to be the temporary office manager, with hilarious results. We also get the chance to spend some time with Bella, Morelli's scary grandmother.

This one moves pretty quickly, but in the usual Plum way, all of the dread and danger is balanced out by two very sexy men, Grandma Mazur's hilarious ways, Lula's sassy attitude, and Stephanie second guessing herself. Even though she's a lot smarter, tougher and capable than she realises.

Going Rogue is another very entertaining addition to this fantastic series. Like every previous book before it, I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't put it down because I had to know what was going to happen next. And it didn't disappointing.

Also, when I finished reading, I was strangely craving cake. 😅

Looking forward to finding out what's next for Steph & Co.

Thank you Hachette Australia for sending me a copy.

Going Rogue, November 2022, ISBN 9781035401932, Headline Review

SAGA, Issue #60: Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples

 

Saga #60 by Brian K. Vaughan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the last issue for this season/volume. It starts out with an unexpected surprise, takes us to a nice and comfy place where Hazel's small family is finally having a stroke of luck. But after a nice night out, everything goes wrong.

The artwork in this series is amazing. The last page is so beautiful, yet so terrible. Also, quite heartbreaking. 😫

Looking forward to finding out what happens next.

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GWENDY'S FINAL TASK by Richard Chizmar & Stephen King

When Gwendy Peterson was twelve, a stranger named Richard Farris gave her a mysterious box for safekeeping. It offered treats and vintage coins, but it was dangerous. Pushing any of its seven coloured buttons promised death and destruction.

Years later, the button box re-entered Gwendy's life. A successful novelist and a rising political star, she was once more forced to deal with the temptations that the box represented - an amazing sense of wellbeing, balanced by a terrifyingly dark urge towards disaster.

With the passing of time, the box has grown ever stronger and evil forces are striving to possess it. Once again, it is up to Gwendy Peterson, now a United States Senator battling the early symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease, to keep it from them. At all costs. But where can you hide something from such powerful entities?

I've really enjoyed following Gwendy Peterson through the years. Watching her grow from a self-conscious young girl trying to get into shape, into an author and politician. And of course, seeing how the dreaded button box affected her life.

Many years have passed since Gwendy last had the displeasure of having the button box in her possession, but now it's come back into her life. And this time, she's got the impossible task of getting rid of it...

Wow. What a whirlwind conclusion this turned out to be! 😳

I have to admit that when I started reading, I was wondering why Gwendy would be anywhere near a spaceship. I mean, I know she's curious and adventurous, but what's she doing heading into space? Well, the book certainly explains all that and a whole lot more.

The story alternates between Gwendy in the present—battling to retain every piece of important information she can to complete her task—and Gwendy in the past—when Covid hits and she's running for the Senate. It provided a well-rounded explanation about the new catastrophe she's facing, and sheds some light on her personal struggle, introduces that creepy little town called Derry, and reveals some intriguing things about this magical box 

I got a kick out of all the Stephen King universe mentions, as well as how everything is woven into this new tapestry. While also throwing the reader into some Sci-fi trouble that proves evil isn't limited to Earth.

Watching Gwendy's gradual mental deterioration as she struggles to hold onto her memories and thoughts was so sad. And brave. Like everything else life has thrown her way, she does what she has to and never shies away from trouble or danger.

Gwendy's Final Task is as enthralling as the other two books in the trilogy. I couldn't wait to find out more as soon as I started. But this installment was really emotional, and the stakes are higher than ever.

I loved this book and this trilogy. Richard Chizmar took an amazing Stephen King idea and turned it into a wonderful, and memorable experience. 

Thank you Hachette Australia for sending me a copy!

Gwendy's Final Task, February 2022, ISBN 9781399702379, Hodder & Stoughton

SAGA, Issue #56 & 57 by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples

 

Saga #56 by Brian K. Vaughan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Although we 're introduced to a bunch of new characters and return to others, this kinda felt like a filler issue. I also did NOT like that shitty ending.

That pirate spaceship is super fucking cool, though. And the art in this series is still amazing, unique and so damn creative.

 

 


Saga #57 by Brian K. Vaughan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ah! That's more like it!

This issue takes us back and reveals a very important thing that Alana did, which will directly impact her interaction with these pirates. She accepts a job, has to leave the kids for a while, and in the meantime, the Will (aka, the asshole) has some shitty plans that are going to cause some serious problems for Alana and Hazel.

Wish there was more Lying Cat, but I enjoyed this one quite a bit!

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SAGA, Issue #55 by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples

 

Saga #55 by Brian K. Vaughan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Saga is one of my favourite comic book series, and after the heartbreaking Issue 54, I was devastated. 😭

And now: it's back!

Three years have passed and things are still pretty shitty in this world. But Hazel is a bit older, and a lot snarkier. She's also quite brazen, rebellious and cheeky. Yeah, she's definitely inherited a thing or two from her parents.

After the awful tragedy they suffered, Alana is trying to keep their small family going, and has resorted to some unsavoury ways of doing so...

The gang is back with quite a few new faces, and I'm hooked. The artwork is still awesome. The story is still outrageous, and doesn't shy away from violence, sex and the totally unexpected.

Looking forward to reading more!

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YOU LOVE ME by Caroline Kepnes

 

You Love Me by Caroline Kepnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Let me start by saying that Joe Goldberg is a delusional piece of crap, who casually blames the women he gets with (and anyone who orbits them) for his shitty luck. Like, I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that he's a fucking psycho who's attracted to unavailable women. 😐

The problem is, that I can't stop reading his books. Even though I hate him from start to finish. Even though I'm totally judging him all the way through. And, even though I cringe at pretty much every arrogant thought that enters his mind—and there are MANY.

Now that I got that out of the way, let's talk about the latest installment in this series.

This time, Joe ends up on an island in the Pacific Northwest, working as a volunteer because he's found his next target. Mary Kay is a librarian, his boss, and the new woman to obsess over. She's efficient, kind, and gets Joe hot under his cashmere sweaters. But the harder he tries to hook her in, the less he seems to achieve. So it doesn't take him long to resort to stalking. Ugh.

Yep. Joe once again convinces himself that this new woman is the one for him. And to make sure that happens, he slips back into his manipulative and stalkerish ways. While excusing every bad deed because after all, he's just a nice guy who is searching for love and wants to rescue the bored mother.

Mary Kay doesn't know what she's getting herself into by catching his attention, and then by offering friendship. With a few other perks. But she's no angel and her friends and family aren't perfect, either.

Something that I really like about these books is that although Joe is a shit person, he always manages to expose just how shitty other people are too. There are some really despicable characters in this book. Some actually rival Joe, because sociopaths are sure to attract others just like them.

Anyway, the moral of this story is: don't get involved with Joe, because he destroys everything and everyone he crosses paths with. Then lands on his feet.

Another awesome installment!

 

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GAME ON: TEMPTING TWENTY-EIGHT by Janet Evanovich

 

Game On: Tempting Twenty-Eight by Janet Evanovich
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's always great to catch up with Stephanie Plum, and this time I decided to start the year with the 28th book.

Stephanie's life is in constant havoc because of her dangerous job. This time she has to deal with a hacker who's got a target on his head, a duck-roasting homeless man, a professional mooner and another hacker who also happens to be a psychopath. And that's before considering Diesel's back in town...

These books continue to be SO MUCH FUN!

It didn't take long to get into the swing of things and get totally swept away by Steph's crazy cool life full of mishaps, surprises and danger. Oh, and hot guys. This installment was packed full of Morelli, Ranger and Diesel!

I also enjoy meeting the many zany people she picks up along the way. Love catching up with her family. Get a kick out of the snappy dialogue. Love Lula. And look forward to finding out how she'll destroy her current car. 😅

After so many books, I'm still enjoying the ride and look forward to reading more.

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CRUEL FATE by Kelley Armstrong

 

Cruel Fate by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I LOVED the Cainsville series and after really enjoying the first sequel novella, I was looking forward to checking this out.

Six months have passed since the last time we caught up with Olivia, Gabriel and Ricky. And now, her father is finally out of prison. But in Cainsville, there's always someone watching and waiting...

As soon as I started this novella, I knew I wasn't going to stop until I got to the end. And that's exactly what happened. I spent most of the day reading Liv's latest adventure and loved every minute of it.

This turned out to be another interesting mystery that puts our favourite trio in the thick of things because someone is trying to make sure that Todd Larsen's freedom doesn't last long. But they didn't count on his overprotective daughter and her tight network of friends and fae.

It was also awesome to see how Liv and Gabriel's relationship is going twelve months after they got together. I mean, Gabriel isn't the most affectionate person in the world and still struggles to deal/show emotion but he sure loves Liv, and really cares about Ricky. I just adore the way the connection between these three is portrayed.

Well, I'm really glad I decided to spend time in Cainsville because this mix of mysterious intrigue, mythology and horror is right up my alley. And since I've still got a collection full of stories, I can't wait to return. 😁

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THE IMMORTAL CONQUISTADOR by Carrie Vaughn

 

The Immortal Conquistador by Carrie Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I recently finished reading the Kitty Norville UF series, so I was very excited about reading this book.

Ricardo de Avila, also known as Rick the former Master of Denver and new member of the Order of Saint Lazarus of the Shadows, is one of those interesting characters that always stands out. He's different and a trusty ally, plus one of Kitty's good friends. Reading about his early life, how he became a vampire and the hardships he was forced to endure just to be left alone because he wanted to live his own vampiric life, was a truly awesome experience.

The book is broken up into four parts and each follows Ricardo through the centuries. Every single one is as good as the one before and helped me to get to know Rick in such intimate detail, that it confirmed he really is nothing like other vampires.

While he might be considered cursed and thought of as a monster, he kept his wits and is a kind-hearted being who never forgot his faith and saw humans as friends rather than slaves. He also stumbled into some pretty fantastic situations and never once realised how strong and powerful he really is. He's totally kick-ass, too.

He's a vampire who doesn't like other vamps and refuses to put up with their BS.

Yeah, I love Rick. He's such a lovely character.

Oh, and I a got a real kick out of the Doc Holliday tale. It was SO much cowboy fun! 🤠

I enjoyed this book A LOT. It's one of the best origin stories I've read. A lot of times I feel origin stories ruin secondary characters, but this one deepened and strengthened one of my favourite vampires.

One last thing, asides from how wonderful this book really is, I also thought the writing was fantastic!

 

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KITTY SAVES THE WORLD by Carrie Vaughn

 

Kitty Saves the World by Carrie Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well, there was no more putting it off. I've reached the fourteenth book in the very awesome Kitty Norville series, which also happens to be the FINAL BOOK! 😳

Kitty's feeling on edge and can't shake the darkness she feels closing in. But it looks like Cormac and Amelia have figured out a way to trap Roman before he gets started. Yet, it can't be this easy to defeat an ancient vampire determined to destroy the world...

Wow. Yep.

This is how you end a beloved series.

Starting the last book in one of my favourite series is always both exciting and sad. Exciting because I can't wait to see how everything turns out, but sad because I'll miss these characters and their world once it's over.

At least I still have two short story collections and a novella, set in Kitty's world, left to read.

The melancholy mood of this book is there from the get-go. As soon as Kitty's story starts, there's a blanket of darkness hanging over everything, threatening to overwhelm her. And this really sets the scene, makes sure the reader's instantly on edge. I kept waiting for Roman and/or his followers to storm in at any moment. Couldn't turn the page fast enough to find out what was going to happen next.

It was awesome to catch up with so many characters that were introduced in previous books and now turned up for the final battle! I also didn't realise how much I missed Rick until we caught up with him again.

This is the perfect ending to an outstanding series featuring an amazing cast of characters, and a fantastic heroine. I love Kitty. She's always been smart, brave, tough, kind and proved that some battles are won with brains rather than brawn. She's always let her heart lead the way and it was such a wonderful quality. Sure, sometimes it got her in trouble, but it was always worth it.

I couldn't wipe the smile off my face during the last few chapters because they were SO GREAT.

I seriously LOVED THIS BOOK.

Having said that, it's still bittersweet because now it's over. 😃+😫

 

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