I still feel melty and now I am behind on reviews, too! Some good ones here though!

Under This Red Rock by Mindy McGinnis
Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis
Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson
Meet Me in the Fourth Dimension by Rita Feinstein
Toxxic by Jane Hennigan
The Revenant Games by Margie Fuston
The Day Tripper by James Goodhand

Under This Red Rock by Mindy McGinnis
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on March 19, 2024
Pages: 336
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Netgalley

Neely’s monsters don’t always follow her rules, so when the little girl under her bed, the man in her closet, and the disembodied voice that shadows her every move become louder, she knows she’s in trouble.

With a history of mental illness in her family, and the suicide of her older brother heavy on her mind, Neely takes a job as a tour guide in the one place her monsters can’t follow—the caverns. There she can find peace. There she can pretend to be normal. There . . . she meets Mila.

Mila is everything Neely isn’t—beautiful, strong, and confident. As the two become closer, Neely’s innocent crush grows into something more. When a midnight staff party exposes Neely to drugs, she follows Mila’s lead . . . only to have her hallucinations escalate.

When Mila is found brutally murdered in the caverns, Neely has to admit that her memories of that night are vague at best. With her monsters now out in the open, and her grip on reality slipping, Neely must figure out who killed Mila . . . and face the possibility that it might have been her.

Award-winning author Mindy McGinnis delivers a powerful psychological thriller, deftly exploring the dark places in the earth and the human mind, where what is real and imaginary isn’t so easily distinguishable.

TW at start: “This book contains depictions of suicide and suicidal ideation. Readers who struggle with these topics should proceed with caution.”

Sometimes, I wish Mindy McGinnis could publish multitudes of books per year, like some sort of Cyborg Author, but then I wonder if they would not hit as hard as when we were graced with our yearly offering. I digress, but man I love her books. Under This Red Rock is no exception. Since this is a mystery, I will keep it short and sweet!

Neely is a mess. You can’t help but feel for her. She lives with her grandparents after the deaths of her mother and brother (on two very different, very horrific occasions). She suffers from mental illness, but she has been told her whole life that she had to hide her inner demons, basically. And so, she tries, because she doesn’t want to put her grandparents through any more awfulness. But she still hears (and talks to) people and things that are not really there. Needless to say, she’s not particularly popular, and she finally finds some people to connect with when she gets a job at the local caverns, which happen to be a place she has always enjoyed.

But turns out, the staff get into some drug and alcohol infused hijinks after hours, which is bad enough for people who aren’t already suffering hallucinations. Neely reacts poorly, and when someone she deeply cares about winds up dead… well, Neely wants to know how this happened, even if she has to look closely at herself, too. There is a lot of mystery and excitement, but also a lot of character growth as Neely has to confront a lot of dark information about herself, her family, her past, and her present.

Bottom Line: Couldn’t put it down. Is it time for Mindy’s next book yet?

Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis
Published by DAW on March 19, 2024
Pages: 304
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Netgalley

This cozy debut science fiction novel tells a story of misfits, rebels, found family—and a mystery that spans the stars

Welcome to the Grand Abeona home of the finest food, the sweetest service, and the very best views the galaxy has to offer. All year round it moves from planet to planet, system to system, pampering guests across the furthest reaches of the milky way. The last word in sub-orbital luxury—and an absolute magnet for intrigue. Intrigues such Why are there love poems in the lobby inbox? How many Imperial spies are currently on board? What is the true purpose of the Problem Solver’s conference? And perhaps most pertinently— who is driving the ship?

Each guest has a secret, every member of staff a universe unto themselves. At the center of these interweaving lives and interlocking mysteries stands Carl, one time stowaway, longtime manager, devoted caretaker to the hotel. It’s the love of his life and the only place he’s ever called home. But as forces beyond Carl’s comprehension converge on the Abeona, he has to face one final when is it time to let go?

So Floating Hotel was a quiet, cozier sort of mystery, set in an interstellar space hotel. Cool, right? And it was all of those things! I liked the mystery, I adored the idea of the hotel itself, and I enjoyed the overall concept. Perhaps there were a few too many points of view for my liking, because it was harder to connect to the characters when we were constantly switching among them. That said, there were definitely some characters I enjoyed, so that was good!

There are, as the synopsis suggests, quite a few secrets to unfurl during the story, and mysteries to uncover. Still, it remains a quieter tale, even when the stakes are high. I wasn’t exactly on the edge of my seat, but I didn’t want to give up on it either. Obviously, the fact that this giant hotel is in space, in the middle of nowhere, ups the ante, so that certainly helped set the stage and the atmosphere, which was on point.

Bottom Line: Cozy and mysterious at once, this story featured a lot of characters and mysteries without being too dark, but appropriately atmospheric.

Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson
Series: The Space Between Worlds #2
Published by Del Rey on March 12, 2024
Pages: 384
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Netgalley

Faced with a coming apocalypse, a woman must reckon with her past to solve a series of sudden and inexplicable deaths in a searing sci-fi thriller from the Compton Crook Award–winning author of The Space Between Worlds.

Scales is the best at what she She is an enforcer who keeps the peace in Ashtown, a rough, climate-ravaged desert town. But that fragile peace is fractured when a woman is mangled and killed within Ash's borders, right in front of Scales's eyes. Even more incomprehensible is that there was seemingly no murderer.

When more mutilated bodies start to turn up, both in Ashtown and in the wealthier, walled-off Wiley City, Scales is tasked with finding the cause—and putting an end to it. She teams up with a frustratingly by-the-books partner and a brusque-but-brilliant scientist in order to uncover the truth, delving into both worlds to track down the invisible killer. But what they find points to something bigger and more corrupt than they could've ever foreseen—and it could spell doom for the entire world.

I next-level loved the author’s debut (and first book set in this world!), The Space Between Worlds. So needless to say, I was thrilled to hear there would be more coming from this world! Now, I did not love this one quite as much, I have to admit. But I did like it! My biggest complaint about this one is the lack of world jumping, really. We’re pretty grounded, and that is not a terrible thing, but I did love the concept of the many worlds!

Anyway, this has a very dystopian feeling to it, which I dug. Scales is a badass character, but also has a vulnerable side, which I loved. She’s very rough around the edges, but in this world, I guess you have to be. The first half dragged a bit for me at times, but by the second half, I was definitely invested. I was not sure at first what the character connection to the first book would be, but trust me, it is there, and will become evident in due time! The ending was also really solid, which for me made up for the slower pace of the start and the lack of world jumping shenanigans. Also, there were a lot of times that the story gave me a The 100 vibe, which I am obviously always here for. So while this one didn’t quite hit the same, it was still a solid story, and I eagerly await more from the author!

Bottom Line: A pretty solid sequel with a little less excitement, but still a world and characters I definitely grew to care about.

Meet Me in the Fourth Dimension by Rita Feinstein
Published by Page Street Kids on March 12, 2024
Pages: 320
Format:ARC, eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Netgalley

It’s easy to believe in the apocalypse when you’re losing your religion.

NASA has assured everyone the passage of rogue planet Malachite will be safe, but Crosby's been getting other messages―from a fortune teller and Malachite truther message boards. And now she believes that Malachite will kill everyone who doesn’t ascend to the fourth dimension―a higher plane that transcends physicality.

She tries to prepare her friends and family to leave their bodies behind and raise their frequency by changing their diets, wearing the right crystals, and moving into her friend’s bunker before it’s too late. But no one is listening.

The more time she spends trying to talk her roommate and her quirky friends into her apocalypse plans, the more Crosby is forced to face the cracks in everything she believes to be true.

This novel in verse explores the danger and humanity of conspiracy in a post-truth world through empathy, friendship, and forgiveness.

I was so excited for this one, and I think it ended up being… just not exactly what I thought it would be? That cover though, guys. She’s a beaut. Anyway, I have some mixed feelings about it, but let me tell you a bit about the book. It’s a novel in verse about Crosby, who is finishing high school and heading to college around the same time that NASA announces there is a planet heading close-ish to Earth, but it will probably be fine. Crosby does not think it will be fine. She thinks it will be the End of Days. I was kind of assuming this would be more apocalypse, less angsty poetry, but that one is probably on me.

What Worked For Me:

Obviously, the commentary about the messiness of society in terms of people believing absurd things with no scientific proof is important. Figuring out how people become susceptible to such things are likely the only way to try to lessen it, so that is a plus. I also love when characters are shown to be going through the transition from home to college, and all the upheaval that it entails. I certainly did empathize with Crosby on that front, because it is no easy task. There is also some character growth, but it is more alluded to than actually on-page.

What I Struggled With:

I’m sorry, but Crosby is wildly annoying. She’s very “I’m not like other people” in a way that seems very condescending and judgmental. Like- I kind of hoped that I’d at least be able to kind of understand how people end up falling for these Q-type ways of thinking, but in the end I still had no idea what Crosby’s issue was. For awhile I wondered if she was mentally ill, frankly, which I could have at least had empathy for. But that did not seem to be the case. She spends a large portion of the book pining after her friend Shannon, who has gone away to school and is distancing herself from Crosby. In fairness, I also wanted to distance myself from Crosby, so I understood the appeal.

Interestingly, Crosby finds a lot of people who want to be her friend when she goes to college. She is awful to them most of the time, but they keep coming back and trying with her. She has little empathy for what others may be dealing with, and it made me… almost mad, I guess, that these people kept trying with her. Because in fact, that is just not how the world operates for most of us. Friendships are hard to come by, and showing that people kept trying over and over with Crosby felt almost unrealistic.

Ultimately, had we seen more growth from Crosby, I may have been less annoyed. As it stood, she was overbearing and self-centered, and never really even thought about why her friend might be distancing herself. The world, quite literally, was apparently supposed to revolve around Crosby. Even the end of it, I guess.

Bottom Line: A lot of people liked this far more than I did, so check out their reviews, maybe it will work for you!

Toxxic by Jane Hennigan
Series: Moths #2
Published by Angry Robot on March 12, 2024
Pages: 320
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Netgalley

Forty years ago, the world changed. Men became crazed killers and threatened all humanity. Now the world might be about to change again, but will it be for the better?

Forty-four years ago, as any schoolgirl can tell you, the moth’s eggs hatched and an army of caterpillars spread their tiny toxic threads on every breath of wind. Since then, men have been cloistered, protected from birth against the deadly poison.

But now there’s a vaccine - a way that men can leave the facility without dying or suffering from psychosis. Emerging, into their new world, eyes wide with wonder at every new experience, the truth soon becomes clear.

This world was not made for men. And they are not safe.

Toxxic was such a solid sequel! For the majority of the book, I’d say I enjoyed it at least as much, if not more than, Moths. I think I was more invested in the characters in this one, and it was certainly just as thought provoking as its predecessor. The characters, both old and new, were wonderfully complex and showed us so many different perspectives on what life was like both now, and in the 40ish years from the start of the plague leading up to where we are now. It’s truly an impressive feat to cover both so much time and so many perspectives, and to do it in a way that feels cohesive and authentic.

All that to say… I did not love the ending.  And it wasn’t just like “eh not as strong as the rest of it”, but… I really did not like it. I want to say so much more about it, but that is spoilery. And hey look, you may love it! Also, if by chance there does end up being a third book someday, I’d rethink taking a star off. Just saying. Toxxic remains an incredibly strong follow-up despite my hesitation over the ending, and like I said, your mileage certainly may vary. The series is wonderfully thought out regardless, and I think it was because I grew to care so much about the characters and the world that I felt so strongly about how it ended.

Bottom Line: A very strong sequel, and one whose ending makes me want another book!

The Revenant Games by Margie Fuston
Series: The Revenant Games #1
Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books on March 19, 2024
Pages: 416
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Netgalley

All of Us Villains meets Kingdom of the Wicked in this action-packed fantasy following a teen determined to win the competition held by warring vampire and witch kingdoms, only to develop complicated feelings for the vampire she’s supposed to hand over.

Blood is survival for seventeen-year-old Bly, who lives in the poverty-stricken human villages caught between enemy vampire and witch kingdoms. Most of the time, vampires and witches live in uneasy truce, buying human blood for their food and spells. But for two weeks a year, the ceasefire dissolves, and they hold the Revenant Games.

Any human can play in the games for either the witches or the vampires. Alongside life-changing riches, the witches will raise one person from the dead for whoever captures the highest-ranking vampire. In turn, the vampires offer immortality to whoever captures the most powerful witch. For most humans, the games are a ticket out of poverty. For Bly, it’s a chance to get back her dead sister, Elise, and save the life of her dying best friend, Emerson.

Together, she and Emerson forge a dangerous plan to play both sides and win both resurrection for Elise and immortality for Emerson. But when the vampire they capture stirs a passion in Bly that she hasn’t felt in a long time, she’ll have to make a her sister or the boy who’s shown her there’s more to life than just survival.

Two things you need to know about this one right off the bat:

1. It starts off kind of slow, but it definitely gets better.
2. There is a place called “The Gap” and I kept thinking the characters were referring to the store and then I would get confused because it didn’t seem like the kind of world that would house mid-range preppy clothes, but alas.

So if you, like me, find yourself a bit underwhelmed at the start, it really does pick up. And if you, also like me, can’t remember that there can be more than one place referred to as “the Gap”, then let’s be weirdos together! Anyway, we meet Bly, who feels like crap because she got her sister killed. That’ll do it, right? And her bestie Emerson, who she’s kind of in love with has been a little distant. So she decides she is going to enter this vampire-witch game that will likely end up killing her but probably not because this is the start of a series.

Emerson, despite his insistence that this is a bad-bad idea, won’t let Bly do it alone, so they come together to try to win. They end up needing to play both sides, in order to save everyone’s lives (and reincarnate Bly’s sister) and end up getting themselves very involved in vampire and witch politics, and basically ending up in the midst of a war between the factions. They make some friends, some enemies, and some frenemies along the way. It is fun! It is an adventure! There are twists and turns galore! A few of them I saw coming (especially the “big” one) but there were plenty that I didn’t! I will be eagerly awaiting the sequel because this definitely got interesting!

Bottom Line: After a bit of a slow start, I became fully invested in this story, and I have a feeling you will too!

The Day Tripper by James Goodhand
Published by MIRA on March 19, 2024
Pages: 368
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Netgalley

The right guy, the right place, the wrong time.

It’s 1995, and Alex Dean has it a spot at Cambridge University next year, the love of an amazing woman named Holly and all the time in the world ahead of him. That is until a brutal encounter with a ghost from his past sees him beaten, battered and almost drowning in the Thames.

He wakes the next day to find he’s in a messy, derelict room he’s never seen before, in grimy clothes he doesn’t recognize, with no idea of how he got there. A glimpse in the mirror tells him he’s older—much older—and has been living a hard life, his features ravaged by time and poor decisions. He snatches a newspaper and finds it’s 2010—fifteen years since the fight.

After finally drifting off to sleep, Alex wakes the following morning to find it’s now 2019, another nine years later. But the next day, it’s 1999. Never knowing which day is coming, he begins to piece together what happens in his life after that fateful night by the river.

But what exactly is going on? Why does his life look nothing like he thought it would? What about Cambridge, and Holly? In this page-turning adventure, Alex must navigate his way through the years to learn that small actions have untold impact. And that might be all he needs to save the people he loves and, equally importantly, himself.

CW: Abuse, assault, slurs

While Day Tripper started out a *little* shaky for me, I ended up absolutely devouring it, and feeling so glad I stuck with it because it is incredibly worth the payout! When we meet Alex, he seems like a pretty typical guy, nothing crazy. But as we begin to jump around to various points in his life, we can see that as he aged, he kind of started to suck. It was depressing, and Alex was none too pleased with how he’d apparently chosen to live his life. Good news is, he keeps getting various chances to make differences.

I don’t want to say too much, because this is best experienced for yourself, but it is incredibly thought provoking. What little changes in our daily lives would or could change its trajectory? And what would you change if given the chance? The story was lovely, watching Alex grow and develop and try to figure out what kind of man he wanted to be. I was so, so glad I stuck with it, it was truly a heartfelt journey.

Bottom Line: This one got me right in the feels, and was entertaining to boot!

Have you read any of these books? Plan to? Let us chat about them!  

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