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Book Review: Scythe

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Scythe
Arc of a Scythe #1
by Neal Shusterman

My rating: 5 / 5
Genre: YA dystopian

When mankind discovers the secret to immortality, it might seem like utopia—no more disease, war, or corruption. Most of the world is now governed by a neutral AI cloud called the Thunderhead, and peace reigns. Though natural death may be a thing of the past, a global group of people called scythes are tasked with keeping the population from growing to an unsustainable level. Two teens, Citra and Rowan, are tapped to be scythe apprentices and learn the craft of killing. This is a task that neither of them wants, which is what makes them the perfect candidates.

Even though I’m giving this book a 5-star rating, I want to start this review with a couple of things that I didn’t like about it. I am not a big fan of violence and killing, especially when it is presented as a good thing, as it is here. Yes, it’s way more complicated than “killing is good/necessary,” but some of the people that we are rooting for become completely desensitized to the horror of murder, and I feel that consuming a lot of fiction like this can potentially do the same to the reader. The second thing is the way the author so cavalierly disregards God. Of course a book where immortality is the basis of the worldbuilding is going to eschew the reality of the Creator God, but it felt a little more intentional and biased in this book, which rubbed me the wrong way. None of the things I said here affected my rating, though, or kept me from enjoying the book.

And I did enjoy it, as much as you can enjoy a book like this. I think it was Scythe Faraday, even before I had any idea who he would become to the story, that drew me in right away. Rowan and Citra as co-apprentices are good foils for each other, which makes the dynamic between the three the heart of the story. There are a couple of other characters that I really liked as well, one of which surprised me and would be a spoiler to name.

The book kept me guessing—just when I think I’ve settled into a routine with Scythe Faraday, Citra, and Rowan, everything changes. And then changes again. When I think I know what is going to happen with someone, that person surprises me. And one of my favorite things about the story is that, even though it’s dystopian and there are terrible things happening, there’s a lot of hope, too. At the end of the book, I was excited to read more and hopeful for what’s to come. This book was recommended to me by my 16-year-old daughter, and I feel comfortable recommending it to teens and adults alike.

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Book Review: Mandie and the Charleston Phantom

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Mandie and the Charleston Phantom
Mandie #7
by Lois Gladys Leppard

My rating: 3 / 5
Genre: Children’s Christian historical fiction

I read a lot of this series when I was a kid/pre-teen, and I read some of them to my now-teen daughter when she was younger. Nostalgia definitely affects my reviews for this series, and I’m okay with that.

Most of my issues with the previous books in the series have to do with Mandie’s attitude or actions and sketchy theology (there was a bit of that here too). This time, my biggest issue is just the super weak plot. It’s obvious the entire time who’s behind the “ghost,” and the reasoning for it ends up being so flimsy, it’s easier to believe that the culprit only agreed with the suggested reason because it was at least a little better than just the real motive—plain mean-heartedness. There’s also too much focus on boys liking Mandie, thinking she’s pretty, even wanting to marry her someday, for a book about a 12-year-old girl. I’m sure I thought it was sweet or even romantic when I was a pre-teen, but it could definitely have at least been toned down. While I think these books can still be good for younger people to read, especially if you’re looking for something with Christian content, I strongly recommend discussing what’s good and bad in them with your kid(s) after they read it.

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Book Review: Flop Dead Gorgeous

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Flop Dead Gorgeous
Andy Carpenter #27
by David Rosenfelt
read by Grover Gardner

My rating: 5 / 5
Genre: Mystery

Though semi-retired defense attorney Andy Carpenter dated famous actress Jenny Nichols in high school, his real connection to her is from her adopting a miniature French poodle from Andy’s dog rescue foundation. Still, when she’s accused of murdering her co-star after an encounter at dinner the night before, Andy is less reluctant to take her case than he usually is.

This book brings a whole new angle to the series, and I really enjoyed it. Twists and turns, running gags, and Andy’s signature snarky humor made this a fun, engaging book. The K-Team gets a lot of use in this book, and I have to admit that, though I like them, I much prefer them on the sidelines than starring in their own series. For a series like this that is so formulaic, deviations in the formula are usually very welcome, and this definitely has one that just added to my enjoyment of the book and the series as a whole. Grover Gardner is wonderful as narrator, and if it’s not clear, I recommend this book (especially the audio) for fans of mystery, crime fiction, and courtroom dramas, as well as the books that precede it in the series.

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Book Review: Boy-Crazy Stacey

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Boy-Crazy Stacey
The Baby-Sitters Club #8
by Ann M. Martin

My rating: 2 / 5
Genre: Children’s classic

I am so disappointed in this book. Stacey has been tasked with helping babysit a large group of kids when the family goes on vacation. She ends up spending the entire time distracted by a guy she has a crush on, leaving the other babysitter to do all of the work. Yes, she apologizes in the end, but only because she spots the guy making out with another girl. Mary Anne, the other babysitter on the trip, lets her off really easily, and then Stacey proceeds to find another guy to crush on and spend time with. She doesn’t act as badly that time, but mostly due to different circumstances, not because she’s really learned her lesson.

It reminded me so much of when I was younger—my family used to go on camping trips every summer, and my oldest sister would basically end up with a “boyfriend” at every campground. It’s entirely possible that younger me was a little jealous of her, but I also remember knowing that the whole thing was weird, ridiculous, and pointless—they’d never see each other again after everyone went home anyway! And let’s not forget that these girls are only 13 years old (my sister was older than that), which is way too young for this storyline anyway. On top of all of that, Stacey is very proud of her skimpy (make that “very skimpy”) bikini. That is just too much!

Now let’s address for a moment the tendency of publishing companies to “update” and re-release some of these older books. I don’t know why kids can’t just read about the actual time the book was written in, but whatever. The issue, though, is that until I realize I’m reading an updated version, I’m just confused, like when cell phones are mentioned in a book originally published in the 1980s. And more specifically in this book, apparently the guy that Stacey crushes on (who does flirt with her as well) is college age in the original version! So when they re-released it, they made him 15. But she and Mary Anne still talk a lot about how he’s too old for her (2 years isn’t remotely enough to be worth all that discussion), and he still checks out a college-age girl himself, so…frankly, they didn’t do very well with the updating.

This was my least favorite book in the series so far and in general is just not a book I’d recommend for kids.

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Book Review: Out of Darkness

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Out of Darkness
The Lightseeker Series #1
by Daniel J. Atkins

My rating: 4 / 5
Genre: Middle grade Christian fantasy

When your entire civilization is underground, sources of light are important. Many of the inhabitants of the underground world are stone hunters, digging for increasingly more rare glowstones, which provide a safer, more efficient means of light than fire does. Fin and Sky, both 12-year-old stone hunters, begin to hear more and more about forgotten, forbidden mysteries and are compelled to seek the answers and the light. This leads them on a wild and dangerous adventure as they unravel the truth that some people want to stay hidden.

I think Fin is meant to be the main character in this book, but Sky really drives the plot. She’s the one who first has a reason to go on this adventure, and though Fin is not exactly dragged along reluctantly, his motivations aren’t as clear. Fin, though, is the one who is more dynamic in this book, growing up a bit throughout the journey. I really like the Christian allegory that’s present in this book; it’s not exactly subtle, but it’s also not over-the-top or preachy. I found myself looking forward to the next way that the “All Mighty” would clearly work in the story. In a book like this meant for older kids and young teens, a clear hand of guidance is a good way to introduce them to the very real, but not always so easily discerned, providence that God can provide in real life. I feel the need to mention that Fin and Sky do defy adults and authorities a bit, since I know parents can be bothered by that, especially if there are no consequences, but my hope is that as Fin and Sky come to learn more about the All Mighty and the light they’re seeking, maybe their actions will be less questionable. And this can be something for parents to discuss with younger readers.

The author’s writing style is…”unusual” is the best way I can think to describe it. He tends to pause the story to share background info with the reader in a very conversational tone. I never had an issue with this, but I wonder if some others might. (I don’t think the target audience would be bothered by it at all.) At least one of these interjections even provides a little humor. There are a few things that did bother me a little, though, like the confusion I had about the fact that the powers that be claim that people have just always lived underground, yet comparisons are often made to “normal” life (like underground goats have larger eyes than normal goats, and it’s mentioned at least once that undergrounders have adapted to living underground). For people who don’t really know their history or origins, it’s strange that they seem to know plenty about how life above ground might be different. I also wish that the author had interjected one less giant snake encounter, maybe including a different peril; it was just a little repetitive after a bit. That being said, the world that the author has set up is rich and intriguing and makes me want to know more about what happens to Fin and Sky.

When I read a self-published book, it is my intention not to let things that a professional editor would help with affect my view too much. I’m not saying that there is no burden of responsibility here, but it’s harder for self-published authors. So while it did not affect my rating, I will at least mention that there are several issues throughout the text—mostly comma errors and formatting issues that I couldn’t help but be distracted by. (This might be as much because I’m self-published myself and have spent a lot of time looking for and correcting formatting issues in my own books before publishing them, so most others may not notice those at all.)

This was an overall fun read. I really think that things that made me stop and scratch my head would not be noticed at all by younger readers. It’s easy for me to recommend this for kids around age 10 and up, anyone that enjoys an adventure with a positive message or fantasy with a Christian worldview. I could also easily see it being a book that parents read with/to kids even younger than that.

I received a copy of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Book Review: Dead Men Don’t Play Fetch

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Dead Men Don’t Play Fetch
Andy Carpenter #33
by David Rosenfelt
read by Grover Gardner

My rating: 4.5 / 5
Genre: Mystery

Though Andy Carpenter dreams of one day removing the “semi” from his semi-retirement from his defense attorney career, he’s not as reluctant as usual to take on a new client when the favor is asked by a man that runs a rehab center and is viewed by all who know him as a lifesaver.

Rosenfelt hasn’t lost his touch 33 books into the series, as Andy is in prime sarcastic, mocking form in this story, and I loved every moment of it. Most of Andy’s team is as enjoyable as I’ve come to expect, though some are absent/extra quiet in this particular book. Since the team is a large part of what makes this series so fun, I’m starting to realize that Andy’s current 2nd-chair lawyer, Eddie Dowd, has almost no purpose. Andy’s always had an underling lawyer on this team who always had his own quirks, and when Hike left and Eddie joined up, I think that spot on the team mostly died. Not a big deal, just an observation I made.

My main gripe with the book, which is not uncommon for me as I listen to this series, is that I lost track of who some of the characters were. When the main culprit was revealed, my mind was completely blank on who that even was for a while, which is obviously not a moment you want that to happen. I don’t know if it would have been better if I’d been reading, rather than listening (and if so, that probably just means that my mind wandered, as it sometimes does when I’m listening to audiobooks, at just the right moments for this person to leave that blank spot). Still, the book was a lot of fun to listen to, and Grover Gardner continues to portray Andy perfectly. If it’s not clear, I recommend this book (especially the audio) for fans of mystery, crime fiction, and courtroom dramas, as well as the books that precede it in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for providing me a copy of this book to review.
Publication date: July 7, 2026

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Book Review: Mandie and the Medicine Man

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Mandie and the Medicine Man
Mandie #6
by Lois Gladys Leppard

My rating: 3.5 / 5
Genre: Children’s Christian historical fiction

I read a lot of this series when I was a kid/pre-teen, and I read some of them to my now-teen daughter when she was younger. Nostalgia definitely affects my reviews for this series, and I’m okay with that.

This book felt a like a rehash of book #2, Mandie and the Cherokee Legend, in several ways. Mandie and friends traipse around the Cherokee lands, some of the kids end up tied up by bad people, and Tsa’ni is a jerk. That last one is particularly odd, considering how he was suddenly kinder at the end of book #2. He actually has some POV scenes in this book, though, which I think could have been really good, if the author had delved just a little more into the reasonings behind his choices, rather than him just thinking about how he’d pretend to do nice things but not do them or lie about whatever he was asked but not ever really explaining his justifications for these things other than him not liking white people. Though I suppose that’s about as complicated as anything ever gets in this series meant for 9-12-year-old kids. Overall, though, this book is a decent one for the series. I didn’t care for Mandie’s continued disrespect for her mom, which she gets away with again and is probably something that kids who read the book should be made aware of as something they should not do. So while I think these books can still be good for younger people to read, especially if you’re looking for something with Christian content, I strongly recommend discussing what’s good and bad in them with your kid(s) after they read it.

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Book Review: The Rags of Time

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The Rags of Time
DC Smith #6
by Peter Grainger
read by Gildart Jackson

My rating: 3.5 / 5
Genre: Detective procedural, mystery

When DC Smith joins an investigation already underway, he approaches the case in a different way than the other investigators. This leads to him questioning the path the investigation is taking, suspects who are arrested, and avenues he feels are being ignored.

These books have always been pretty laid back, which also describes DC most of the time. Somehow this one seems even more so, with DC kind of wandering his way through the investigation, almost seemingly at random, yet there always ends up being a method to his randomness. Sometimes he reminds me a bit of Hercule Poirot in that regard. Unfortunately, because I was too busy to write a review until over 3 after I finished the book, I’m having a difficult time remembering much in the way of details or even how I felt about the book while I was reading it. I know I enjoyed Gildart Jackson’s narration, because I always do. And I do remember finding the metal-detectorist and badger-digging aspects of the book really interesting, though also quite horrible in the latter case, when I looked up what badger-digging even was. I think that this book wasn’t as good as the previous several installments overall, though. Still a good series, and I look forward to continuing it and also recommend the book/series for fans of procedural crime dramas, especially with a seasoned detective and set in a small-town area of England. Though it’s not strictly necessary to start at the beginning of the series, there are more references to past events and characters than I normally see in series like this, so keep that in mind.

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Book Review: Night Terror

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Night Terror
Bleak Haven #2
by Vincent Ralph

My rating: 2 / 5
Genre: YA paranormal horror

The town of Bleak Haven has had more than its share of serial killers, almost as if it’s under a curse. Though it’s been around 18 years since the last murders, the town still hosts remembrance ceremonies every 3 months. Some of the citizens think it’s time to move on, so they seek out the fabled Burning Book to try to convince everyone that this particular urban legend is nothing more than a fairy tale. But what will they do if it turns out that the book has powers they can’t imagine?

After enjoying the previous book in this series, which is a straight-up slasher story, I was not expecting the follow-up (which is set in the 80s, 40+ years before the first book) to involve supernatural elements. The official synopsis does hint at that, but I wasn’t sure what to expect exactly and simply wanted to read more about this town that has such a bloody history. I’m not a big fan of the zombie genre, and that’s all this basically is. There’s very little in the way of a plot, at least a plot that has any kind of cohesion, and the book is mostly just teenagers running from undead monsters and gruesome death scenes. By the end of the book, I still didn’t really understand much about the origins of the Burning Book or the legend surrounding it, if the book had anything to do with serial killers that came after the first ones in Bleak Haven, or any explanation for other supernatural elements. I’m left saying the same thing that I said in my review of the previous book—hopefully more explanation will come in later books in the series.

The main character was really hard to get a read on—his motivation for fighting, or at least not running away, seems to change randomly. Maybe that just means he’s confused, lying to himself, or even keeping things from the reader, but it mostly just left me feeling completely disconnected from him. Other characters weren’t much better in that regard. Also, I’ve read other reviews that talk about the 80s vibe in this book, even to the degree that the book relies too much on that vibe and not enough on the story itself, but I didn’t really get much nostalgia from this book at all. Other than Blockbuster and cassette tapes being mentioned, I don’t know where the 80s references really were. Not that I need them, but I actually did forget now and then that this book took place around 40 years ago.

There’s no mystery here, no big reveal. It’s really just violence and survival. There is a little bit of language, including the f-word several times, but not nearly as much as I’ve read in other books in the same genre. And there is no sexual content. But there is a lot of pus, bile, and blood. People who enjoy zombie stories and gory death scenes (in the teen/YA age range), and don’t mind there not being much plot might enjoy this book. At this point, I can’t really say whether this book is important to the rest of the series or not, so I can’t even say if it’s necessary to read it if you read the rest. I do plan to read the last 2 books, though, so maybe I’ll come back and edit this review later with more info about that.

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Book Review: Daican’s Heir

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Daican’s Heir
The Ilyon Chronicles #6
by Jaye L. Knight

My rating: 4 / 5
Genre: Christian fantasy

Spoiler notice: The following review may contain some spoilers for the previous books in the series, starting with Resistance.

This final book in the series hits the ground running, with a plan hatched between books put into action to try to recover Samara and then bring the fight to Davira, the ultimate goal being to restore two rightful kings to their thrones. I enjoyed returning to this world one last time, and I appreciated the way the author wrapped up the series, for the most part. I’m not a huge fan of all of the major characters, but I think Kyrin bugged me less in this book, at least. A story set in a fantasy world that still manages to present something of a gospel message can’t be easy to do, and I applaud Knight’s presentation here. I still feel like the gospel message is watered down a lot, though, and I don’t know if that was intentional or not.

The stakes never quite felt as high as I would have expected and might even have preferred for being the final book in a series full of persecution and war. It’s not necessarily a bad thing to avoid a lot of fighting, death, etc., but it felt a little off compared to the rest of the series to this point. The resolution was just too…easy, I guess. We also continue with the “everyone must be paired” trope that I started to notice in the previous book. I was able to skim over some of it, but it still slowed down the story for me now and then.

Here at the end of the series, I’d say that if you’re looking for clean fantasy, whether you specifically want the Christian angle or not, this is a good series to read (though it’s probably too Christian for those who can’t stand much of that in their books at all). It’s not super heavy on fantasy elements, either, so fans of clean books with a Christian worldview, fantasy or not, would probably enjoy this series as well. It does lean into the romance a lot more in the last few books, even with more physical interaction than some might prefer (nothing graphic, though). I did not enjoy the series as much as my 16-year-old daughter did; she loved it pretty much all the way through. I don’t think I’d choose to re-read any of this in the future, but I am glad I read the series once.

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