He Who Drowned The World by Shelley Parker-Chan

 

How much would you give to win the world?

Zhu Yuanzhang, the Radiant King, is riding high after her victory that tore southern China from its Mongol masters. Now she burns with a new desire: to seize the throne and crown herself emperor.

But Zhu isn’t the only one with imperial ambitions. Her neighbor in the south, the courtesan Madam Zhang, wants the throne for her husband—and she’s strong enough to wipe Zhu off the map. To stay in the game, Zhu will have to gamble everything on a risky alliance with an old enemy: the talented but unstable eunuch general Ouyang, who has already sacrificed everything for a chance at revenge on his father’s killer, the Great Khan.

Unbeknownst to the southerners, a new contender is even closer to the throne. The scorned scholar Wang Baoxiang has maneuvered his way into the capital, and his lethal court games threaten to bring the empire to its knees. For Baoxiang also desires revenge: to become the most degenerate Great Khan in history—and in so doing, make a mockery of every value his Mongol warrior family loved more than him.

All the contenders are determined to do whatever it takes

MY REVIEW: 2 Stars 

Triggers: rape, self-harm, violence, torture, etc 

I just didn’t love this one like the first book. It didn’t grab me and there were too many triggers for me. 

There are plenty of great reviews so try the book on for yourself 

*Thank you to Tor for the offer of this book and Netgalley for the digital. 

Mel 

This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer

 

Four ambitious climbers hike into the Kentucky wilderness. Seven months later, three mangled bodies are discovered. Were their deaths simple accidents or the result of something more sinister?

This nail-biting, bone-chilling survival horror novel is inspired by the infamous Dyatlov Pass incident, and is perfect for fans of Alma Katsu and Showtime's Yellowjackets.

This is going to be Dylan's big break. Her friend Clay, a geology student, has discovered an untouched cliff face in the Kentucky wilderness, and she is going to be the first person to climb it. Together with Clay, his research assistant Sylvia, and Dylan's boyfriend Luke, she is going to document her achievement on Instagram and finally cement her place as the next rising star in rock climbing. 

Seven months later, three bodies are discovered in the trees just off the highway. All are in various states of one body a stark, white skeleton; the second emptied of its organs; and the third a mutilated corpse with the tongue, eyes, ears, and fingers removed.

But Dylan is still missing. Followers of her Instagram account report seeing disturbing livestreams, and some even claim to have caught glimpses of her vanishing into the thick woods, but no trace of her—dead or alive—has been discovered. 

Were the climbers murdered? Did they succumb to cannibalism? Or are their impossible bodies the work of an even more sinister force? Is Dylan still alive, and does she hold the answers? 

This page-turning debut will have you racing towards the inevitable conclusion.

MY REVIEW: 3 Stars 

The cover of the book pulled me right it, I mean it’s awesome! Unfortunately, I didn’t love the book. I thought the premise sounded awesome and the creepy, gory, weirdness of the forest was awesome…BUT, what took it from a higher star rating from me were the characters. I didn’t really like any of the characters but the dog and Sylvia. Also, don’t bring your dog to places you’re working in the woods and second, if dog is freaked out you need to be freaked out and get out!! 

I’ve seen plenty of great reviews for the book so read it and decide how much you like/love it. 

**Thank you to Netgalley and Quirk Books for a digital copy of the book. 

Mel