It’s hard to believe that Spooky Season Week Three is already over with and in the books! I got a bit less reading done this week than my average has been as of late. Both my kid and I got sick, and I ended up with an unexpected workload in addition to all my usual responsibilities. Nonetheless, after finishing The Devil in the White City at the end of last week, I did manage to read one great (and rather large) book from cover to cover and I started in on a second.

1. Boneshaker – Cherie Priest

I have no idea why it took me so long to find this book. I have been craving something like this for a long time. When I saw it on the shelf at the store and read the synopsis, my initial thought was “this is so over the top. I need it.”

As I said in the video, it was extremely refreshing to read about a middle-aged female protagonist taking care of business and not have the author force her into a romantic storyline that makes no sense for the context. The woman is searching for her son in a very dangerous place; she’s not going to slow down to flirt, but a lot of authors out there treat it as necessary. Not Priest.

The character also had realistic trauma and responses to triggers she’s encountering sixteen years after the traumatic event. Her trauma never makes her pitiful. She’s able to have weaknesses without being weak – that’s a nuance I have seen many, many authors fail to portray. In truth, all of the characters have realistic personalities and interactions. Stupid decisions are treated as such. Arguments have reasonable points on all sides. Even those only briefly encountered jump off the page enough for readers to recognize them instantly when meeting them again through the other primary POV before ever getting their name.

This was my introduction to Cherie Priest’s work, but I will definitely be checking out more of her books, especially the rest of the Clockwork Century Series. Boneshaker was a thrilling ride and so satisfying to read. I wouldn’t even rule out writing fanfiction about this one because the world and characters alike were so much fun. Highly recommended.

2. Dead Man’s Fugue – Casey Neumiller

I don’t have much to say about this one yet. I’m not even 50 pages in yet, so it still has time to grab me and pull me in more before I make my decision about whether I’ll finish it or not. That decision happens around page 100. If it’s a really short book, I usually end up pushing through however I feel about it. This one clocks in at 250 pages, so it’s not a huge commitment, but longer than I’ll want to sit through if I’m not having fun. I wouldn’t say that it’s bad so far, but a few sci-fi clichés have begun to stack up and I foresee a risk of getting bored if there isn’t a fresh twist soon.

There is a good chance that this book is getting overshadowed by Boneshaker. It’s a tough act to follow, I’ll admit.

That’s My Spooky Season Week Three!

That’s the recap for Spooky Season Week Three! We’re starting to get close to the end of the month and Halloween. I’ve got a few more books queued up that I’m excited for, and I’ll be keeping y’all updated as I go.

As always, I want to hear from you! What have you been reading lately? Are you having fun with it? Have you read any of these titles, and if so, what did you think of them? Tell me everything, and follow along for more!