Review: Suicide Squad, Vol. 3

Suicide Squad: Burning Down The House | Rob Williams

Published by: DC Comics, September 12th 2017

Genre: Comics, Superheroes, Supervillains

Pages: 160

Format: Ebook

Source: DC, via Netgalley

Amanda Waller is used to getting what she wants—but this time, what Waller wants is something only Lex Luthor has. Striking a deal won’t be easy—or cheap! It’s a war on two fronts as Waller leads a smoldering charm offensive in Luthor’s penthouse while her Suicide Squad tries to open the most heavily guarded safe in all of LexCorp.

In SUICIDE SQUAD VOL. 3, writer Rob Williams is joined by superstar, and new series artist, Tony S. Daniel (BATMAN, JUSTICE LEAGUE)! Collects SUICIDE SQUAD #16-20.

This volume was basically Suicide Squad but with all my favourite bits removed. No cameraderie, barely any Killer Croc and June (why??), and they did something pretty awesome (killed someone off but I won't spoil) but then went back on it by bringing her back to life (meh.) It's not that I didn't like this, because I really enjoyed parts (mostly Harley and Flag) but ... it felt lacking for me. Didn't enjoy it half as much as I expected to.

Characters ★★☆☆☆

Setting/world ★★★☆☆

Writing ★★☆☆☆

Review: Bayou Born

The Foundling Series: Bayou Born | Hailey Edwards

Published by: Piatkus, October 17th 2017

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Pages: 336

Format: Ebook

Source: Piatkus, via Netgalley

Her beginning may be our end...

Deep in the humid swamps of the Mississippi bayou, a mysterious, half-wild child is dragged just in time from the murky waters. She has no memories, no family and is covered in strange markings, the meaning of which no one is able to decipher. Adopted by the policeman who rescued her, Lucy Boudrou follows him into the force, determined to prove herself in the eyes of those who are still suspicious. 

However, there's more of a battle ahead than Luce could possibly imagine. She may be an orphan without a past, but no one - including Luce herself - could ever be prepared for the truth of her dark, powerful destiny...

Brand new urban fantasy series by Hailey Edwards, bestselling author of the Gemini and Black Dog series. Perfect for fans of Jennifer Estep, Darynda Jones and Ilona Andrews.

Oh my God this was SO GOOD. This is by all means not my first Hailey Edwards book but this blew me away. Every little thing, from character, to dialogue, to relationships, to plot twists had me holding my breath and flying through the pages. This is my favourite book of Hailey's since the Black Dog series, and I'd say it ties for favourite with Dog With A Bone, which is really saying something.

Everything about Bayou Born is epic and mysterious and dark, and I LOVE IT. So many secrets surrounding the swamp, a group of characters masquerading as a security firm, and around the main character herself, whose own history is shrouded in secret. Her actual secret, her history, BLEW MY MIND. I didn't predict anything anywhere near that immense Freaking Plot Twist, and I'm still reeling from it. This book hurt me so badly near the end and my heart still hurts when I think about it. But that ending has me so excited for the next book, which I need ASAP. I want to find out who Ezra is, where he ties into all this, and see where the story goes. I can't wait for book two!

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world ★★★★★

Writing ★★★★★

Review: Daughter Of The Burning City

Daughter of The Burning City | Amanda Foody

Published by: HQ, September 7th 2017

Genre: Fantasy, LGBT+

Pages: 416

Format: Paperback

Source: Purchased

Sixteen-year-old Sorina has spent most of her life within the smoldering borders of the Gomorrah Festival. Yet even among the many unusual members of the traveling circus-city, Sorina stands apart as the only illusion-worker born in hundreds of years. This rare talent allows her to create illusions that others can see, feel and touch, with personalities all their own. Her creations are her family, and together they make up the cast of the Festival’s Freak Show.

But no matter how lifelike they may seem, her illusions are still just that—illusions, and not truly real. Or so she always believed…until one of them is murdered.

Desperate to protect her family, Sorina must track down the culprit and determine how they killed a person who doesn’t actually exist. Her search for answers leads her to the self-proclaimed gossip-worker Luca, and their investigation sends them through a haze of political turmoil and forbidden romance, and into the most sinister corners of the Festival. But as the killer continues murdering Sorina’s illusions one by one, she must unravel the horrifying truth before all of her loved ones disappear.

Illusions that can be killed? Heck yes.

This book's concept is awesome. I love the plot, the illusions themselves, and I especially love Gomorrah. What a cool, unique circus (a travelling CITY that's ON FIRE.) While sharing many traits with other circus books, this manages to stand out too. It's dramatic and dangerous and so magical, and even has political elements which I always like. I just didn't fall for the characters at all, even if I found them interesting. What I really liked about this book was the illustrations and character profiles throughout; they are so creepy. And I only predicted the killer towards the end, so I consider that a plot twist well done. Speaking of ... there's a pretty shocking plot twist about one of the characters I did NOT see coming at all, and it's so cool (and tragic, really.)

There's nothing to not like about this book.

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★★☆

Review: Titans, Volume Two

Titans: Volume Two | Dan Abnett, Brett Booth

Published by: DC Comics, September 26th 2017

Genre: Comics, Superheroes

Pages: 152

Format: Ebook

Source: DC, via Netgalley

The classic team of former superhero sidekicks continue their adventures in TITANS VOL. 2, as a part of DC Rebirth!

As Kid Flash Wally West and the Titans adjust to their new lives in New York City and investigate a new threat, a mysterious company called Meta Solutions comes to the forefront. Who are they? And what stunning discovery will the Titans make about their new foe?

Writer Dan Abnett (AQUAMAN) and artist Brett Booth (NIGHTWING) continue their critically acclaimed run with TITANS VOL. 2! Collects issues #7-10, TITANS ANNUAL #1 and stories from DC REBIRTH HOLIDAY SPECIAL.

This was even better than volume one!! And that plot twist at the end?? Holy crap!! I need to read the next volume for sure.

Action and friendship and snark and angsty romantic longing, AKA everything I love. I enjoyed the threats, the villains, the appearance of some bigger superheroes, and I especially loved the characterisation of Lilith in this.  I came to appreciate her a whole lot, but to be fair, I love everything in this gang.

I can't recommend this series enough.

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★★☆

Review: The Changer's Key

A Riddle in Ruby: The Changer's Key | Kent Davis

Published by: Greenwillow Books, September 27th 2016

Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy

Pages: 384

Format: Ebook

Source: Greenwillow Books, via Edelweiss

The second book in the fantasy-adventure trilogy. In an alternate colonial America, young thief Ruby Teach trains to become the greatest weapon in the coming war.

To save her friends and family, apprentice thief Ruby Teach bargained with the man who chased her across the sea and through an alternate version of colonial Philadelphia. Now she’s training to become a soldier in the war he foresees and being experimented on by the army’s scientists. Ruby’s blood holds a secret, if only someone can unlock it.

Meanwhile, Captain Teach and Ruby’s friends—a motley crew made up of a young aristocrat, a servant, an alchemist, and mysterious woodswoman—are racing against time to find and liberate Ruby.

Kent Davis’s imagining of a colonial America powered by alchemy is fascinating and wholly original. The heroes are swept through cities and unsettled territories with imagination, humor, and magic.

I remember really liking the first book, but I just did connect with this at all. The Ruby plot, I liked but I didn't really care about it, and the other plot didn't interest me at all. But I still like Athena a whole lot, and kinda wish the book was all from her POV. By the end of this, I was just reading so I could finish it, and I'm not sure why because I really loved the first book.

Characters ★★★☆☆

Setting/world ★★★☆☆

Writing ★★★☆☆