My First Amazon First Read WOW-- So Good!

 

I usually forget to check out the free Amazon First Reads, but this month I remembered and I chose this book based on the cover. It looked interesting.  I read it in three sittings it was so good. This is the first book in what will hopefully be a nice series. As such it has several things going for it:

1. I was easily able to keep track of the characters.

2. A big bad problem was solved at the end of the book, so there's nice closure while plenty of other plates are in the air to make me want to read what happens next. 

3. Both POV characters are women. This seems like a rarity and I'd like to read more of it. 

The world-building is strong and the magic system is well thought out.  Some of what happens is really creepy and I would say this book has elements of Horror.  In total coincidence, part of the magic in this book involves people becoming stone statues, an element that is also in the KDrama Alchemy of Souls that I just finished watching.  

What do you think? Have you read anything else by Beth Cato or are you looking for a new fantasy book to read? 

5 Stars

I Need 8 Days in a Week to Read All These Books-

I don't have a review today because I spent most of my free time the past few days watching Alchemy of Souls on Netflix. It is a very good show- I recommend it if you like fantasy with romantic elements. I am almost done listening to: 

In The Possibility of Life,  Jaime Green ties in discussion of how the universe works through a lens of science fiction, so she talks about Star Trek,  as well as Darwin and books such as The Golden Compass.  I will talk about that more later. 

Additionally, I picked up Charlie Donlea's latest release which was  on hold at my library:

And then I have two romances on Net Galley:

And then a friend recommended Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score and that looks amazing so I had to download it to read.

I am very tempted to read more and sleep less. I love that my current 'problem' is so many good books I get to read! Living the dream!  I am also working on the prep work to do my own writing. I have been reading and doing the homework assignments in the book Romance the Brand by Zoe York. This book is a guidebook on how to create not just one romance book but build a series of books that people will want to read. That is what I love about romance books, most of the time if you like a book, you get to read more happily-ever-afters in the same universe, and all the side characters get their day in the sun. Currently, I'm making a map of my imaginary town.  It will have a train station because I love a town with a train station. But enough talking, I've go to get back to reading!