The Book of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves and China Miéville

DESCRIPTION
She said, We needed a tool. So I asked the gods.

There have always been whispers. Legends. The warrior who cannot be killed. Who’s seen a thousand civilizations rise and fall. He has had many names: Unute, Child of Lightning, Death himself. These days, he’s known simply as “B.”

And he wants to be able to die.

In the present day, a U.S. black-ops group has promised him they can help with that. And all he needs to do is help them in return. But when an all-too-mortal soldier comes back to life, the impossible event ultimately points toward a force even more mysterious than B himself. One at least as strong. And one with a plan all its own.

In a collaboration that combines Miéville’s singular style and creativity with Reeves’s haunting and soul-stirring narrative, these two inimitable artists have created something utterly unique, sure to delight existing fans and to create scores of new ones.

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine
ISBN: 9780593446591
Pub Date: 23 Jul 2024


REVIEW
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was thoroughly intrigued by this book, and it was truly unlike anything I have ever read. The writing style is such that you are reading a graphic novel. That is, your mind processes and narrates the illustrations in real time while simultaneously reading and interpreting the dialogue and onomatopoeias. The Book of Elsewhere is written in this manner, and it took some time for me to acclimate.

This is a fast-paced, action-packed, violent thriller involving themes of military, mythology immortality/mortality, time shifting, and questioning the meaning of life.

If you enjoy graphic novels and thrilling, mind-bending comic books like BRZRKR, definitely move this unique collaboration between two great artists to the top of your TBR list.

#TheBookofElsewhere #KeanuReeves #ChinaMiéville # RandomHousePublishing #Ballantine #NetGalley #Thriller #Action #SuspenseThriller #AdultFiction #SciFi #Fantasy

Definitely Better Now by Ava Robinson - eARC Review

 

DESCRIPTION
A touching and deeply funny debut about starting over sober only to discover life’s biggest messes are still waiting right where you left them.

The very last person anyone should worry about is Emma. Yes, hi, she’s an alcoholic. But she’s officially been sober for one entire year. That’s twelve months of better health. Fifty-two whole weeks of focusing on nothing but her nine-to-five office job, group meetings, and avoiding the kind of bad decisions that previously left her awash in shame and regret. It’s also been 365 days of not dating. And with her new dating profile, Emma, 26, of New York is ready to put herself back out there.

Except—was dating always this complicated? And did Emma’s mother really have to choose now to move in with her new boyfriend? Being assigned to plan her office’s holiday party feels like icing on the suddenly very overwhelming cake until her estranged father reappears with devastating news. Icing, meet cherry on top. But then there’s Ben, the charming IT guy who, despite Emma’s awkwardness and shortcomings, seems to maybe actually get her? Sobriety is turning out to be far from the flawless future Emma had once envisioned for herself, but as she allows herself to open up to Ben and confront difficult past relationships, she’s beginning to realize that taking things one day at a time might just be the perfectly imperfect path she’s meant to be on.

Bittersweet and darkly hilarious, Ava Robinson’s debut novel about navigating sobriety and complicated family dynamics is witty, heartbreaking and profoundly relatable.

Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing - MIRA
ISBN: 9780778310594
Pub Date: 31 Dec 2024


REVIEW
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I knew this book was going to have an underlying darkness to it, given that the FMC Emma is an alcoholic. I was mentally prepared to be emotionally ripped to shreds, but that didn’t really happen (which was perfectly fine to be honest), as Emma’s story of life and exploration of dating after one year of sobriety begins after the majority of the ugliness of alcoholism has subsided for her. Based on the book description, I was expecting more romance and then her alcoholism possibly causing serious issues with that. All’s well, though, I still enjoyed the book. Emma takes things one day at a time and slowly allows herself to open up again at work, and she even takes interest in the IT guy, Ben. I liked the relatability of the complexity of it all. Navigating relationships, being vulnerable, and learning to trust again is so hard in her situation. I think the author did a great job with it. There were moments of humor as well, a welcome reprieve when things are just intense. Overall, I was pleased with Definitely Better Now and look forward to other books by this author.


#DefinitelyBetterNow #AvaRobinson #Harlequin #NetGalley #NewAdult #WomensFiction #AdultFiction #ContemporaryRomance #ComingofAge