Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

A fantastic magic system weighed down by an unnecessary narrative structure

The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

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Tea (pronounced “tee-uh”) is a young girl who, up until her older brother’s funeral, was largely unremarkable. But, in a moment of grief, she raised her brother from the dead. This marked her a bone witch, a witch who can work with dark magic to not only raise the dead but command daeva, monsters that roam the world wreaking havoc on innocent civilians. Upon demonstrating her abilities, she is located by an established and powerful bone witch named Lady Mykaela who takes her under her […]

Dark and Light and Lots of Greys

Spontaneous Human Combustion by Richard Thomas

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In this collection, Thomas presents fourteen short works of speculative fiction which blend science fiction, fantasy, and horror together in intriguing ways. It’s hard to write this review because of the diversity of the tales. The stories touch upon a plethora of genres and themes, including familial relationships, transformation, and atonement. A common device the author uses is cyclical time loops, which often lends a dream-like quality to the story that is enhanced by his deft prose. One thing I really liked about the collection […]

“Maybe she is reaching out because she has sent another man to his grave prematurely. Or maybe she wants to know if I can buy eggs on the way home. Either way, I’m not picking up.”

My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

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30 Books in 30 Days, Vol. 2 Book 15/30 Objectively, this should be getting a higher rating, but I found it rather agonizing to listen to, just because of personal preference. It’s actually really smart and really well done, and I think it accomplishes exactly what it’s trying to do. I should have figured this might happen, though. Satires are love them or hate them for me. And, really, I didn’t hate this! I just sort of hated listening to it. It made me feel […]

Not up to standards

The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley

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I love Flavia De Luce, Dogger, Mrs. M, all of them. What I don’t love? This book. Sure, it was interesting (sort of). But the plot got crazy. I won’t spoil it, but it is way too weird and I’m not talking about Flavia’s chemical plans. The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches is the 6th, and in my opinion the most disappointing, increment of the Flavia De Luce series. THIS SUMMARY MAY HAVE SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN’T READ SPEAKING FROM AMONG THE BONES! Harriet has […]

Theres more and I love it!!

Speaking From Among the Bones by Alan Bradley

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I LOVED THIS BOOK. It had everything. EVERYTHING. It was interesting, unique, witty, 100% Flavia, new, old, EVERYTHING. It had the old characters, new characters, a new plot, and the same old Flavia. Unique, witty, quirky, and fun, Flavia is back yet again. Will this series ever end? I hope not! Warning – this is the weirdest book so far. The plot is a little far-fetched, but I loved it just the same. Speaking From Among the Bones is the 5th Flavia De Luce book. […]

There’s Even More Still!

I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley

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There’s even more still! Flavia De Luce is back to solving crimes in this fourth increment of the series. “Excuse me,’ I said. ‘I’ve just remembered something.’ It was true. What I’d remembered was this: While I was not in the least afraid of the dead, there were those among the living who gave me the creeping hooly-goolies…” I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley takes place at Christmas time. Flavia, with her chemical analysis and experiments, is trying to catch Saint Nick. But, […]



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