Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

A Well-Realized World in a Small Package

The Black God's Drums by P. Djeli Clark

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I’m starting to really love P. Djèlí Clark’s writing. This is the second book I’ve read by him, and I liked it even more than Ring Shout, which is surprising because it’s rare for me to give a novella more than 4 stars (4.25 for this one). Often I find that characters don’t end up getting fleshed out enough for me, and while I would have loved more of The Black God’s Drums, Clark did a remarkable job considering the limited space he was working with. […]

Opposites attract

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

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I realize that Ali Hazelwood does not write perfect books, but I find them highly entertaining and I usually go out of my way to read them. However, I’ve never had much interest in paranormal romance novels with vampires, werewolves, and the like. So, when I first heard that Hazelwood was branching out of her normal STEM romance novels, I figured I would skip them. But then I ran out of things to read, and I decided they were worth a try after all. I […]

Read Me

Monsterlogica: A menagerie of monsters, beasts and magical beings by Martin Maudsley and Victoria Topping

The Big Book of Useless History Knowledge: 250 of the Coolest, Weirdest, and Most Unbelievable History Facts You Won't Be Taught in School by Kay Wolfersperger, Liz Kay, Lauren Radley, Neon Squid, and Vicky Armstrong

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It is that time of year when the publishers are promoting their future releases. Two of those books that were highlighted are below in this combined review. Neither had a finished online readers copy available, but what they did have made me terribly excited When I started Monsterlogica: A menagerie of monsters, beasts and magical beings by Martin Maudsley and illustrator Victoria Topping (due September 2026) I was not sure of it. Another monster book? Eh. I mean, sure monsters are fun, they could add […]

To Ride a Rising Storm- classic second book syndrome

To Ride a Rising Storm by Moniquill Blackgoose

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Anequs has not only survived her first year at Kuiper’s Academy but exceeded all of her professors’ admittedly low expectations—and passed all her courses with honors. Now, she and her dragon, Kasaqua, are headed home for the summer, along with Theod, the only other Native student at the Academy. But what should have been a relaxing break takes a darker turn. Thanks to Anequs’s notoriety, there is an Anglish presence on Masquapaug for the first time ever: a presence which Anequs hates. Anequs will always […]

So Erman and Beck… Can we talk?

Loving, Ohio by Matthew Erman and Sam Beck

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Did I like Loving, Ohio by Matthew Erman and Sam Beck (illustrator)? I really do not know. I was talking to a librarian at the local library and they asked me if I liked it. They had a copy and read it a while ago and since we have some similar tastes in books they were interested in my opinion. They said they liked it, I said I was not sure. It had a lot of emotions and we talked about pieces of it, the […]

Balance

The Tightrope Wanderer by Federica Ortolan and Marco Leoni

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Ironically, not feeling well while reading an online reader copy might have helped me love the story even more than I would have if I was in perfect health. You see, The Tightrope Wanderer by Federica Ortolan and illustrator Marco Leoni would have probably been just another story about a person who did what he loved, grew old and then moved on. And it would have been nice, but nothing special. Instead, I came away with an appreciation for it that I am not really […]



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