Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

What was the point?

The Book That Held Her Heart by Mark Lawrence

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I was dreading this book. I found this series last summer, and the first one was so magical and creative. The second one, though, was already a bit of a struggle, focusing on the darkness of the story being explored, losing the magic that made it so interesting even while exploring dark themes. So was I worried about whether this would get the story back on track? Of course. Then I saw this novel was around 360 pages – while the length surprised me since […]

A Historical Fantasy, A “Neon-Noir” Horror, and Litfic with Magical Realism

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett

Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa

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Emily’s Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales I loved being back in the world of Emily Wilde, so I had such a warm feeling reading this book, even though the stakes in this book are higher in some ways compared to the first two in the trilogy. In this one, Emily and Wendell go to Wendell’s home realm in Faerie to reclaim the throne and are met with some challenges along the way. Just as we did in the first two books, we get occasional reminders […]

My 2025 Robin Hobb journey continues

Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb

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This was my beach vacation read and I have to say I’m on the fence about it. That’s not to say that  I did not stay up way past bedtime to finish this (I did) or that I’m disenchanted with Hobb (not in the least).  I just felt that it wasn’t quite as strong as the second book and not as enchanting and well-paced as the Liveship Trilogy. A high bar, to be sure, but there we are. I have some notes! I will try […]

“No. I can survive well enough on my own— if given the proper reading material.”

Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas

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You did it. You have defeated my contrarian nature and coerced me into reading Maas. It was fine l guess. Plot: Today’s Very Special Girl is a ruthless infamous assassin but don’t worry, she’s only ever killed for good people – you know, the kind that can pay for fancy assassins. Our Very Special Girl is coerced into a competition (to the death, of course) to decide who will be the Evil King’s blade by his super hot and not at all evil son who […]

Back to a life of crime

The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon

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After the events of the last novel, Paige is back in her old life in the Syndicate, London’s Underground crime ring of clairvoyants. She wants to fight back and do something about what she witnessed in Oxford and expose the oppressive authoritarian government but she doesn’t know what to do next: no one would believe her if she just told the truth as it sounds too fantastical, and the leaders of the Syndicate, who could make a difference, don’t want to hear her – too […]

I Could Kill Stephen King

The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King

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I spent all day reading the second book of Stephen King’s Dark Tower series The Drawing of the Three and I am so furious I could spit nails. The second book picks up hours from when the last one ended. Roland, the Gunslinger, has reached the sea, having sacrificed his young companion and confronted the man in black. Before he knows what’s happening, he is attacked by a lobster-like sea monster whose eyes perch on stalks. He is badly injured, which leads to a growing […]



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