Maya's Reviews

I find it very difficult to review this novel because I am not quite sure how I feel about it. There were many intriguing aspects that I loved but there were also many things that I didn’t enjoy about Wake the Bones.  Wake the Bones follows the story of Laurel Early, who just came back from college looking forward to returning to her normal life.  Unfortunately, she is thrust into a world of darkness when her late mother's past becomes entangled with her own and a devil comes to haunt her and her friends. Laurel must use the magic she has to protect all she has known from a villainous shadow that lurks just around the corner.

---

A huge thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

// Content Warnings: mental and physical abuse, violence, suicide, dental trauma, guns, postpartum depression, drug usage, animal death, blood, and abuse by an alcoholic parent //

Please educate yourself on the content warnings for this novel before reading, as I may have missed some in my review.

---

Read my review of Wake the Bones: https://mayagreviews.wordpress.com/2022/07/20/wake-the-bones-by-elizabeth-kilcoyne-review/

Visit Elizabeth Kilcoyne's website: https://www.elizabethkilcoyne.com/

Purchase Wake the Bones: https://amzn.to/3zymKiR

Add Wake the Bones to your Goodreads shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53291574-wake-the-bones

---

View all of my links: https://beacons.ai/mayareviews 

Help others (Social resources): https://bit.ly/maya-social-resources 

Follow me @mayathebookworm on Twitter, BookBub, and BookSirens; and @mayareviews on Tumblr.

Email me: [email protected]

Didn't I tell ya I'd try my best to put out new content? Well, lookee here... a new review!

This time I review a new book by Kiersten White, a horror novel taking place in an abandoned amusement park where 14 competitors must hide or else something sinister might find them. A brilliantly written horror novel that kept me interested from start to finish, Hide exhibits a broad and unique cast of characters, each trying their best to survive the horrifying circumstances they unknowingly introduced themselves to.

---

huge thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

// Content warnings: child abuse, suicide, murder, murder of a child, attempted murder, gore //

Please educate yourself on the content warnings for this novel before reading, as I may have missed some in my review.

---

Read my review of Hide: https://mayagreviews.wordpress.com/2022/07/09/hide-by-kiersten-white-review/

Visit Kiersten White's website: https://www.kierstenwhite.com/

Purchase Hide: https://amzn.to/3RphqVR

Add Hide to your Goodreads shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56199880-hide

---

View all of my links: https://beacons.ai/mayareviews 

Help others (Social resources): https://bit.ly/maya-social-resources 

Follow me @mayathebookworm on Twitter, BookBub, and BookSirens; and @mayareviews on Tumblr.

Email me: [email protected]

It has been an insanely long time since the last episode... January? Crazy.  Alas, I am back with a review of Dean Koontz's upcoming novel, The Big Dark Sky!

The Big Dark Sky is a brilliantly written novel following the stories of various characters all connected to a mystery at the center of the spiderweb they’ve been caught in. Full of suspense and showcasing Koontz’s excellent writing style, The Big Dark Sky maintains Koontz as one of the best thriller writers.

ON SALE JULY 19, 2022

---

A huge thank you to Amazon Publishing and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

// Content warnings: animal attacks, cult, death, mature content, mention of cannibalism, mention of incest, mention of teen pregnancy, mentions of child abuse, mentions of self-mutilation, mentions of sexual assault, murder //

Please educate yourself on the content warnings for this novel before reading, as I may have missed some in my review. This novel contains many dark themes that can be disturbing to some.

---

Read my review of The Big Dark Sky: https://mayagreviews.wordpress.com/2022/07/03/the-big-dark-sky-by-dean-koontz-review/

Visit Dean Koontz's website: https://www.deankoontz.com/

Purchase The Big Dark Sky: https://amzn.to/3a9IGXq

Add The Big Dark Sky to your Goodreads shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58955775-the-big-dark-sky

---

View all of my links: https://beacons.ai/mayareviews 

Help others (Social resources): https://bit.ly/maya-social-resources 

Follow me @mayathebookworm on Twitter, BookBub, and BookSirens; and @mayareviews on Tumblr.

Email me: [email protected]

Daughter is the chilling story of a teen thrown into a world of pain and depravity upon the discovery that her previously unknown father is actually an infamous serial killer. Thrilling at every turn, McLaughlin’s upcoming novel boasts a disturbing parallel to our world’s most notorious killers, told through the eyes of a brave teen willing to do whatever it takes to bring any possible ounce of closure to the families of her father’s victims. 

ON SALE MARCH 8, 2022 

--- 

A huge thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. 

// Book Content Warnings: death, mentions of violence, mentions of murder, mentions of sexual assault, mentions of necrophilia, sexual content, drug use // – Please educate yourself on the content warnings for this book before reading, as I may have missed some here.

--- 

Read my review of Daughter: https://mayagreviews.wordpress.com/2022/01/28/daughter-by-kate-mclaughlin-review/ 

Visit Kate McLaughlin's website: https://www.alterkate.com/ 

Purchase Daughter (Affiliate link): https://amzn.to/32Xtxo3 

Add Daughter to your Goodreads shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57693419-daughter 

--- 

View all of my links: https://beacons.ai/mayareviews  

Help others (Social resources): https://bit.ly/maya-social-resources 

Follow me @mayathebookworm on Twitter, BookBub, and BookSirens; and @mayareviews on Tumblr. 

Email me: [email protected]

I had the lovely opportunity to chat with Benjamin Ryan about Beckoning of the Gate, the first novel in his series The Vāyilian Threads.

"The only life Santha Lathagin has ever known has become her prison. Vicious gossip is everywhere. Whispers of a scandal have turned to accusations of murder, and fingers are pointing her way. Feeling powerless and alone, she yearns for escape. When Santha stumbles upon a small, rusted key in the forest near her home, it seems her silent pleas have been answered. Awakened by her touch, the key demands to be heard—and she is not the only one to heed its call. Thrust into a world only glimpsed in the stories of her childhood—of faeries and princes and eldritch magick— Santha sets out to unlock its secrets. But uncovering the truth has its own perils, and as the key’s influence grows, she will be left with a choice: survival or sacrifice. But will it truly be hers to make? … All the while, in the north, something ancient stirs. A great power that could unravel the very threads of existence."

Thank you so much to Benjamin Ryan for coming on the podcast!

---

// Book Content Warnings: violence, death, sexual assault, harassment // – Please educate yourself on the potential content warnings for this novel before reading, as I may have missed some here.

---

Visit Benjamin Ryan's website: https://www.thevayilianthreads.com/

Follow Benjamin Ryan on Twitter @Fallowblade777 and on Instagram @fallowblade

Follow Benjamin Ryan on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fallowblade

Purchase Beckoning of the Gate (Affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3Gv3m6E

Add Beckoning of the Gate to your Goodreads shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58839671-beckoning-of-the-gate

Read my review of Beckoning of the Gate: https://mayagreviews.wordpress.com/2021/12/11/beckoning-of-the-gate-the-vayilian-threads-1-by-benjamin-j-ryan-review/

Listen to my review of Beckoning of the Gate: https://anchor.fm/maya-reviews/episodes/31--Fantasy--Beckoning-of-the-Gate-by-Benjamin-J--Ryan--Review-e1bn6hn

---

View all of my links: https://beacons.ai/mayareviews 

Help others (Social resources): https://bit.ly/maya-social-resources 

Follow me @mayathebookworm on Twitter, BookBub, and BookSirens; and @mayareviews on Tumblr.

Email me: [email protected]

Because I had never read a novel by Paul Vidich before, I started reading this novel with no idea of what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised by the brilliant mystery within The Matchmaker: A Spy in Berlin‘s pages that ended with an epic demonstration of a woman’s determination.

ON SALE FEBRUARY 1, 2022

---

Thank you to Pegasus Crime for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

// Book Content Warning: death, murder, mentions of suicide, mentions of drowning, violence, sexual content // – Please educate yourself on the content warnings for this book before reading, as I may have missed some here.

---

Read my review of The Matchmaker: A Spy in Berlin: https://mayagreviews.wordpress.com/2022/01/14/the-matchmaker-a-spy-in-berlin-by-paul-vidich-review/

Visit Paul Vidich's website: http://www.paulvidich.com/

Purchase The Matchmaker: A Spy in Berlin (Affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3HgBQdF

Add The Matchmaker: A Spy in Berlin to your Goodreads shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58437916-the-matchmaker

---

View all of my links: https://beacons.ai/mayareviews 

Help others (Social resources): https://bit.ly/maya-social-resources

Follow me @mayathebookworm on Twitter, BookBub, and BookSirens; and @mayareviews on Tumblr.

Email me: [email protected]

I would wish you all a happy new year in the show notes, but I physically cannot due to the passing of Betty White.  Rest in peace Betty. I found out right after editing this episode. 

Such a Pretty Smile is a chill-inducing novel that examines the patriarchy and sexism through a terrifying tale of death and mystery. Oozing horror at every flip of the page, I could not put this electrifying novel down until I read it cover to cover. Filled with relatable characters and emotion, Such a Pretty Smile was overtly thrilling, blood-curdling, and above all, powerful.

ON SALE JANUARY 18, 2022

A quote from Such a Pretty Smile: “Those pure, innocent girls kept from anything that defined them in the name of protection, while their brothers carried on as if there was nothing to fear. But for them, there wasn’t. They would never understand the inherent trepidation that came as a result of being wrapped in girl flesh.”

---

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

// Book Content Warnings: alcohol, blood, gore, mention of homophobia, mental illness, panic attacks, violence, disassociation, implied sexual content, sexual content, mention of sexual harassment, insanity, intrusive thoughts, disturbing scenes, death, death of an animal, graphic violence, sexism, pedophilia, sexual assault, sexual harassment, murder // – As always, please educate yourself on the content warnings for this novel before reading. This novel is especially heavy and contains many disturbing and dark scenes/themes that can make one very uncomfortable.

---

Read my review of Such a Pretty Smile: https://mayagreviews.wordpress.com/2021/12/31/such-a-pretty-smile-by-kristi-demeester-review/

Visit Kristi DeMeester's website: https://www.kristidemeester.com/

Purchase Such a Pretty Smile (Affiliate link): https://amzn.to/32stDEj

Add Such a Pretty Smile to your Goodreads shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57328756-such-a-pretty-smile

---

View all of my links: https://beacons.ai/mayareviews 

Help others (Social resources): https://bit.ly/maya-social-resources

Follow me @mayathebookworm on Twitter, BookBub, and BookSirens; and @mayareviews on Tumblr.

Email me: [email protected]

Happy Holidays, everyone! Merry Christmas if you celebrate! Enjoy the AD FREE episode, in the spirit of the holidays. Sorry about the construction... and the trains!

Thrilling and adventurous, Meg Long’s debut novel is a solid sci-fi with compelling characters and obstacles set upon an icy planet that welcomes peril at every turn.

ON SALE JANUARY 11, 2022

---

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

// Book Content Warnings: animal cruelty, death, murder, violence // – Please educate yourself on the content warnings for this novel before reading, as I may have missed some in my review.

---

Read my review of Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves: https://mayagreviews.wordpress.com/2021/12/22/cold-the-night-fast-the-wolves-by-meg-long-review/

Visit Meg Long's website: https://www.meglongbooks.com/

Purchase Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves (Affiliate link): https://amzn.to/32r5az9

Add Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves to your Goodreads shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52819959-cold-the-night-fast-the-wolves

---

View all of my links: https://beacons.ai/mayareviews 

Follow me @mayathebookworm on Twitter, BookBub, and BookSirens; and @mayareviews on Tumblr.

Email me: [email protected]

A beautifully written and magical tale, the first novel in The Vāyilian Threads series is a masterpiece full of adventure, danger, and high stakes. Unlike any fantasy novel I have read before, Beckoning of the Gate was a fantastically thrilling and compelling journey that left me yearning for more.  Thanks to everyone for being so patient with the delay in this episode.

Rather than have a new review and episode every week, I feel I would have better quality reviews and episodes if I were to change my schedule to a review and episode every other week.  This schedule change will go into effect next week.  Thank you!

---

A huge thank you to Benjamin J. Ryan and Odyssey Books for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

// Book Content Warnings: violence, death, sexual assault, harassment // – Please educate yourself on the potential content warnings for this novel before reading, as I may have missed some here.

---

Read my review of Beckoning of the Gate: https://mayagreviews.wordpress.com/2021/12/11/beckoning-of-the-gate-the-vayilian-threads-1-by-benjamin-j-ryan-review/

Visit Benjamin J. Ryan's website: https://www.thevayilianthreads.com/

Purchase Beckoning of the Gate (Affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3Gv3m6E

Add Beckoning of the Gate to your Goodreads shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58839671-beckoning-of-the-gate

---

View all of my links: https://beacons.ai/mayareviews 

Follow me @mayathebookworm on Twitter, BookBub, and BookSirens; and @mayareviews on Tumblr.

Email me: [email protected]

How have we already made it to episode 30? I have no idea, but thank you so much for being here!  I hope everyone had an amazing and safe Thanksgiving with their family and stuffed their face with food. Today's episode is a review of Old Music for New People, a YA contemporary and coming-of-age story that features an amazing trans character and their horrible family.  Join me today while Poppy (my dog, for those of you new here) sneezes in the background from the amount of transphobia in this book!  Come along for the ride.

Make sure to subscribe and leave a rating/review wherever you listen!

---

I recorded this episode before the Oxford shooting but wanted to mention that my heart goes out to the families of those who were killed or injured due to the evilness and selfishness of Ethan Crumbley and his parents.

---

Thank you to David Biddle and The Story Plant for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

// Book Content Warnings: transphobia (deadnaming, harassment, etc.), harassment, assault // – Please be aware that I might have missed some potential content warnings. There is a great deal of transphobia and transphobic characters in this novel, so please keep that in mind before reading.

---

Read my review of Old Music for New People: https://mayagreviews.wordpress.com/2021/12/03/old-music-for-new-people-by-david-biddle-review/

Visit David Biddle's website: http://davidbiddle.net/

Follow David Biddle on Twitter @dcbiddle.

Purchase Old Music for New People (Affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3cTPrdS

Add Old Music for New People to your Goodreads shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58743760-old-music-for-new-people

---

View all of my links: https://beacons.ai/mayareviews 

Follow me @mayathebookworm on Twitter, BookBub, and BookSirens; and @mayareviews on Tumblr.

Email me: [email protected]