Stella Maris by Jeffrey Matucha – 4 stars

 

Stella Maris, by Jeffrey Matucha, is not in my genre wheelhouse, and it took me by surprise. It follows the life Skye Wright, a crust punker facing her 30th birthday while still navigating the world of Punk/Metal/New Wave/My-God-what-did-we-do-last-night? and all that goes with it. Matucha does an excellent job of painting a vivid picture of this world while making you care about Skye even when she’s making bad choices. The plot includes fallout from her wild past, the struggles of the present, including the emotional toll of losing people, her addictions, her closest friend has gone missing, and, in general, wondering what life is all about.

 Matucha does a great job of creating a deeply layered female protagonist. She loves cats, is friends with the older lady in the apartment next door, but is also a former gang member of the Crusties who still flies into a hot-headed rage. Her drinking doesn’t help anything. This book offers a look into the world of addiction and the heartbreak it brings as it follows Skye into biker bars, raves, and hanging out with people traveling the same path to nowhere. The plot feels like a mindless (but not boring) wandering through life consistent with those living with addictions, but Matucha fits the pieces together to form a complete picture by the end of the book.

The one thing I didn’t love about the book is the language, but it fits the culture. Many of the characters can’t formulate a sentence without using the F-bomb. On the plus side, while sex is often talked about and even put into practice, it takes place “off-camera.” Overall, I give the book a solid 4-stars and think anyone who has someone they care about living with addiction or those who have come out of that trap would probably enjoy reading this character-driven story of love, loss, struggle, and hope.

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The Purple Haze by Andrew Einspruch - Solid 5 Stars

 

The story of The Purple Haze by Andrew Einspruch is set in a fantastical realm constructed of subtle lighthearted puns, vivid imagery, animals that talk and function alongside humans, and a suspense-filled plot. Its fairytale-like tone lured me in not knowing what to expect. I was more than pleasantly surprised. I couldn’t put the book down and now am a fan who plans to read the rest of the series.

 The story centers on the Royal family of Brouge and, in particular, the twin princesses Eloise and Joanna. Eloise is the heir to the throne, and a rivalry exists between the two. Following the Thorning Ceremony, a root of bitterness sets in and Joanna makes it clear she is unhappy. She leaves with her uncle to visit his kingdom and no one thinks anything of it until a seer brings about a dire prediction regarding Princess Joanna’s wellbeing. Princess Eloise is the logical choice to navigate protocols, find her sister, and bring her home. The quest quickly turns into a rescue mission filled with unlikely allies, dangers, and of course complications.

The only thing I didn’t love about the book is that it ended too soon. I want to know what happens next. I give this book a solid 5-star rating and plan to read the next book in the series, The Star of Whatever, in the near future. It offers strong female protagonists, plenty of humor woven into the plot and dialog, and a plot that keeps the pages turning. It’s a perfect choice for fantasy readers looking for a captivating page-turner that’s also light and funny. If you enjoy stories like The Princess Bride, this is a book for you.

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What If Jesus Meant What He Said by Nate Bramsen - 5 stars

If you are looking for a book that challenges you to become more of the person Jesus wants you to be, What If Jesus Meant What He Said by Nate Bramsen is such a book. In my case, I read it as part of a small group. Each week we read through a chapter out loud and talked through the discussion questions at the end of the chapter. The book points out, through Scripture, that following Christ is never about how prepared we feel. Rather, it is about an invitation—an ultimatum--echoed in Christ’s words. “Follow Me.”

 

Each chapter builds on the truth of what this means. In chapter 2, Bramsen states that trusting Christ isn’t about a profession of faith but rather a life of faith in Him. It’s not about trying harder but about knowing Jesus. Chapter 3 discusses the ultimate invitation, “If anyone desires to come after Me…” and how it is an inclusive
invitation that isn’t about permission to follow Him but about the path of following Him. Chapter 4 shines a light on our response to the invitation as one of complete surrender. When we answer the call to follow Him, the starting point is Christ. Not us. Either we deny self, or we deny Christ. Chapter 5 builds on this and talks about laying aside every weight that entangles our walk with Christ. This includes dreams, passions, and pursuits. With each of the 27 chapters, Bramsen uses Christ’s words and real-life examples to shine a thought-provoking light on what it means to follow Him. The handful of "reflect and respond" questions at the end of each chapter guide the reader to see the reality of their walk with Christ and how it complies with His invitation to follow Him or how it does not.

Author Nate Bramsen

I give this book 5 stars. Its easy conversational tone and short chapters hold the interest and leave time for reflection. It centers on Christ’s words and obedience to those words.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to become more obedient in their walk with Christ. It is a book you can read individually, but it also makes a perfect choice to be read together as a small group. The chapters are short, and the few questions found at the end of each chapter offer thought-provoking insights. In our small group setting, the questions generated meaningful, honest discussion.

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The Green Girl and The Serum by S.T.L. Armstrong 4 stars

 The Green Girl and the Serum by S.T.L. Armstrong is a SFF novel that features young adults who have transformed into Mega Humans after being injected with a serum by the British Military. This transformation gives them a whole new look including unusual skin colors as well as a variety of unnatural and unpredictable abilities. The military’s goal is to use these Mega Humans in warfare, but things don't go according to plan.

Green Girl and the Serum centers on Mega Human, Green Girl, a.k.a. Stacey Roberts who was injected with the serum as a young woman. She escapes from the military and lives on the run. As the story opens, she has hooked up with her former boyfriend, Ben Fox, who is a powerful Mega Human who leads a group of Mega Humans known as Haven. Haven hopes to make peace with the humans and show them that they can coexist, but a second group of Mega Humans, the Outcasts, wants to take over the world. This group is led by a Mega Human known as Surge, who was once a friend of Ben Fox’s.

The plot follows an intricate web of relationships as these two groups clash. Friendships forged before the serum stir up complicated issues among these Mega Humans as well as humans involved in the Mega Human program including Green Girl’s scientist father. The plot grows ever more involved because the Mega Humans continue to evolve into something other than what they once were. Learning to control this power is central to the story. Some seem to go mad and become evil with no conscience. Green Girl struggles with a growing anger that often causes fierce outbursts. She reacts without weighing the consequences which often leads to regrets.

I enjoyed the story. The characters are interesting and the plot intriguing. For that, I’d rate the story 5 out of 5 stars, but the author’s passive writing waters down the action at times and hinders engagement as a reader. The plot also had one incongruity I found distracting near the end of the story. Taking these elements into consideration, I recommend Green Girl and the Serum as a 4-star read.

With Haven Mega Humans, the Outcasts, regular humans, and the military involved, this plot offers plenty of action and unexpected twists and turns. I recommend this book to those who enjoy science fiction set in a dystopian society with elements of advanced technology that generates mythical-type mutants with unnatural powers and I look forward to the next book in the series.

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