On June 24, 2022, hours after Roe v. Wade was overturned by the US Supreme Court, the Instagram account @medievalmarginalia posted a cheeky image from an illuminated manuscript. It shows a naked woman trying to pull a surprised though not uncurious man into her bed by his shirt, which, gathered into her eager fist, looks […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2022/10/17/creature-comforts/
I am always on the lookout for new urban fantasy series and was intrigued by Guardian of Chaos by Michelle Manus. Narrated by Desireé Ketchum, this first in the Nyx Fortuna series introduces us to Earth’s hub for the magical universe and its new guardian, Nyx Fortuna.
Guardian of Chaos
by Michelle Manus
Series: Nyx Fortuna #1
Narrator: Desireé Ketchum
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating: 
Narration: 5 cups Speed: 1.3x
Welcome to Earth Between. The inhabitants are magical, the fugitives dashing, and the new Guardian is having a seriously strange life.
It’s easy to feel forgettable. Nyx literally is, and the condition seems to be getting worse.
Homeless, alone, and with no memory of her past, she’s at the end of her rope when she stumbles into Earth Between. Here, a Waystation connects the planet to the rest of the inhabited universe, and magic and intergalactic travel are just the order of the day.
Becoming the Station’s Guardian seems too good to be true. It means a home and stability, surrounded by people who can actually remember she exists. But when an illegal traveler slips into Earth Between, she’s given an ultimatum: apprehend him or lose Guardianship of the Station.
Nyx will do whatever it takes to keep her new life, even if it means following the fugitive to one of the universe’s most dangerous planets. But that action has life-altering consequences, thrusting her into the middle of a conflict that started centuries before her birth.
Nyx is about to come face to face with the powers of the universe—and discover that being seen is even harder than being forgotten.
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I have to say; I love the world that Nyx Fortuna is thrust into. Nyx has no genuine memories and aside from the lover who gave her the necklace she wears, no one remembers or really sees her. It’s not just a figment of her imagination. When she loses her job and gets an eviction notice, she leaves town. On the bus, she gets a pounding migraine and blood runs from her nose and ears. She escapes the bus and in the terminal she stumbles upon Earth Between, a nexus between worlds.
Here Nyx becomes the Guardian of a Waystation between worlds, and our adventure begins. I loved Nyx from the onset, and you will too. Despite her shitty life, she is kind to all, kickass and wise beyond her years…well, sometimes.
Nyx has to tackle a difficult situation the moment her job begins. First, she has an influx of visitors to check in, then she is asked to deal with an illegal traveler. She needs to apprehend him or she’ll lose her new job.
I loved her avatar, a griffin she dubs Grif and the people of the village surrounding her waystation. The Waystation is magical and expands as needed. The author brought it life and explained the world while dangling knowledge that has me curious to know more.
We met quite a few characters, but each was unique enough that I easily kept track of them and look forward to learning more. We have a potential love interest, which is complicated by some past issues. Secondary characters added humor and suspense.
We traveled ley-lines, worked with magical objects, and did some creepy things with thorns. It was refreshing and original. The story left me excited about the next audiobook.
For a first in series, it was well paced, and I slipped into the audio narrated by Desireé Ketchum. She captured Nyx’s personality and helped set the tone for the series. I will definitely be listening. Currently, there are three books in the series, so I am hoping the audiobooks release quickly.
Fans of Ilona Andrews and her InnKeeper Chronicles will enjoy this one.
Amazon | Audible
Guardian of Chaos by Michelle Manus delivered an action-packed fantasy with colorful characters. #NyxFortuna #DesireeKetchum #Audiobook #audiobookreview
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Michelle lives in a desolate land with a dark wizard, a unicorn, and a feline overlord. Despite certain stereotypes you may be familiar with, the dark wizard is not holding her captive, nor does the unicorn require virgin riders. The feline overlord, however, may well be evil. She holds dual BAs in English and Philosophy, which has gotten her about as far as you would expect it to in life. Despite all evidence to the contrary, she’s still desperately holding out hope that in an alternate reality she’s a sword-wielding princess.
As a blogger, author, and narrator of the book world, Desiree Ketchum has run the full gamut, and knows the ins and outs of building a story from the ground up. With this wealth of experience, she can deliver a vocal performance that will delight authors and listeners alike. In a short span of time, Desiree has been able to build a brand and following dedicated to her love and passion for bringing an author’s characters and story to life with her meticulous approach of study, commitment, and enthusiasm for the industry. Desiree has narrated for top selling authors, including #1 internationally bestselling author L. J. Shen and #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Vi Keeland.
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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/10/guardian-of-chaos-by-michelle-manus.html
Childproof by Michael Noonan is a dark comedy about Rose and Will, a couple who love to throw parties; in fact, their lives revolve around them. They have, in fact, constructed the perfect party group composed of three other couples who fit their strict requirements. Life is a whirlwind being the center of attention, being praised for their parties, but one day that all ends when one of the couples announces their pregnancy. One by one, the other couples follow suit, leaving Rose and Will alone in their childless lives. Over time the pair comes to miss their old lives so much that they decide to go to great lengths to get their friends back, even if it involves murder.
The first thing I liked about this book was that it gave a definition of dark comedy, which I feel also serves as your warning that this book is a dark comedy, which is an excellent thing it did. Said comedy starts at the very beginning, as the couple contemplates ending their lives in a spectacular newsworthy fashion. Please don’t consider following in their footsteps. The book did contain a couple of memorable lines that’ll stick with me, which I always find a plus. It’s hilarious how Noonan also gives us the thoughts of animals and babies in this book; it’s great getting their input on each situation.
I found the backstories, and while informative and funny, they made me forget their original point. Then there are the backstories within the backstories that made for a disorienting reading experience. A couple of characters featured throughout the book were annoying, and while that was their point, I found they were so much so that their scenes grated on my nerves.
Childproof is a full-on dark comedy that will entertain and shock readers. It pulls no punches and leaves no insult unused. You’ll constantly be saying: “Did they really make a joke about that?” If you like your comedy extremely dark, then this is your book. While the darkness of the comedy could be a bit much for readers, it was a well-penned book.
Pages: 266 | ASIN : B0BF4PCBTW
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/17/childproof/
A Literary Study of the Book of Genesis by Wilma Brown-Foreman is an educational course that will help teachers and students gain and test their knowledge of the Hebrew Bible. The author opens the text with a pre-assessment so that the reader can measure their understanding of the Hebrew Bible. The author also provides the website links for the reader to go online and take the assessment. After the pre-assessment author Brown-Foreman dives right into the lesson about teaching the Bible in public schools. With around 35 lessons the author covers several topics in the Book of Genesis.
This is an enlightening and informative book that will help readers learn in a way that is comfortable for them. The information in this illuminating book is delivered in a straight-forward manner, as if in a classroom with a wise professor. The author successfully provides readers with the tools needed to learn and test their knowledge of the Hebrew Bible.
The teachings in the book may be controversial to some, but I think this book would be beneficial for those who are curious about how teaching the Bible in school can be beneficial. I appreciated that the author provides factual evidence rather than her personal opinion and she does not try to persuade the reader to convert or change their beliefs. I can see this book being used in Bible school as the author provides the reader with the information they need to learn, grow, and better understand their strengths and the subjects they need to focus more on. This can also be an interactive learning experience for readers that are serious about the subject because the author provides her contact information to reach out to her for clarification or more information.
I would recommend this book to students who want to learn more about the Hebrew Bible and to teachers who want to provide their students with an easy to use study guide.
Pages: 266 | ISBN: 1915165172
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/17/a-literary-study-of-the-book-of-genesis/
Fareed is an engineering student at the American University in Beirut. After breaking off from a toxic relationship, Fareed decides to leave for Bogazici University in Istanbul to escape from his stalker ex-girlfriend. On the plane to Turkey, Fareed meets Nadide, a fellow engineering student who happens to be the daughter of a powerful player in the Turkish government. It’s love at first sight. Friends and family have tried warning Fareed to stay away from Nadide. Rumors have spread that Nadide’s last “male friend” was brutally beaten by the order of Nadide’s father. However, this does not deter Fareed as he persuades Nadide, fully knowing that this may be one of the most dangerous relationships he’s ever been in.
Wagih Abu-Rish uses his new book, Nad of Nadide, to shed light on the culture, politics, and religion surrounding a few middle eastern countries. This book is a classic retelling of Romeo and Juliet, the troupe of forbidden love and political turmoil. Nad of Nadide is exceptionally unique in the retelling of this classic story. After reading the book and comparing the similarities between the original and the author’s version, the author recreates many major milestones/events that transpire in Shakespeare’s play. The biggest difference between Abu-Rish’s version and the classic is the lack of a longstanding feud between two families and more of a religious/cultural feud, with a discriminating, politically motivated marriage for General Hikmet’s daughter. This book is as enticing as the Shakespearian classic, maybe more.
The text throughout the book is kind of halting. Each sentence within the book forms its own idea but does not always correlate with the paragraph that it’s in. I would even say that this book reads more like a textbook or an article. The author states every sentence like a fact rather than creating an emotional, descriptive context. I know very little about middle eastern cultures and practices, so there were times when I felt baffled by the characters’ behaviors and feelings toward relationships outside their religion/culture. I know there are some religions where women can not do anything without their patriarch’s permission, but it was still a little bit of a shock to see how Hikmet treated his daughter.
Nad of Nadide is a riveting story about love, social constraints, and obstacles surrounding religion and politics. Can two young adults find a way to be together, or will their backgrounds and social standings forever keep them apart?
Pages: 214
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/17/nad-of-nadide/
Magnificent Mocha Monty by Holland Jordan is a heartwarming picture book about a little boy that is filled with self-confidence and self-love. He knows he is special and appreciates all his physical attributes without comparing himself to anyone else. Monty’s joy and pride are infectious when telling readers all about his magnificent parts. Children will love seeing another child, especially those with mocha skin, be proud of who they are and tell the whole world how wonderful it is to be yourself.
This emotional children’s book written for preschoolers and young elementary students is filled with positive messages. It is important to ensure all children have representation in literature so they can have someone to relate to. Monty is an amazing role model for young children that may be feeling self-conscious about looking different from friends and classmates.
The illustrations from Mosaku Ogooluwa and Illustrationpal/Sam are bright and engaging. Using the caricature style for Monty gives him a great personality and allows young readers to feel the excitement that he does with each page and declaration. Reading this story to kids will be fun as they look through the bold illustrations and point out each characteristic that Monty is proud of.
In addition to the important story in this picture book, several teaching resources are included. This makes it easy to incorporate the book into a lesson plan activity. There are also several worksheets included in the book that can be used in the classroom. The author even includes permission to copy the activities. It is clear that Holland Jordan has an educational background and knows what children and teachers need.
Magnificent Mocha Monty is an extraordinary picture book that children and teachers will love. Filled with positive thoughts and playful illustrations, this is sure to become a favorite book of children and adults.
Pages: 29 | ASIN : B0BH1DNZ2J
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/17/magnificent-mocha-monty/
The 5-Time Rejected Gamma and the Lycan King, written by Stina’s Pen, will have you sucked in in no time. Gamma Lucianne Freesia Paw has been rejected 5 times but ends up being bonded once more. This time to the lycan king. Lucianne wants to end the bond as quickly as possible to avoid any heartbreak, but King Xandar does not. He is hurt and confused about why she wants to end things immediately. He manages to convince her to give him a chance. Xandar does everything in his power to show her that he loves her and is afraid of losing her. Lucianne and Xandar get to know each other as the days go on during the collaboration. Lucianne being the top Gamma of her species, helps teach the wolves and lycans how to fight in both of their forms. She quickly wins the hearts of many lycans, but not all. Some are downright murderously jealous.
This novel was long but absolutely phenomenal! I loved that the story took place over the course of 4 weeks and didn’t jump timelines so much. The only time it moved forward in time was at the end, but that helped the book come to a fantastic conclusion. The plot of the story was fantastic, but that plot twist got me! I did not see that coming at all.
Pen has created excellent characters that are fully developed and interesting. At times Xandar did seem a little too possessive, but I reminded myself that he is a fictional character and the lycan king. Of course, he was going to be so possessive of Lucianne because he loved her so much and wanted to protect her and felt like a failure anytime she got hurt. Lucianne was a spectacular character. I loved that the author shows that size doesn’t matter. It is all about your actions and words that can show people who you really are. Christian was a great supporting character, and his back story with his wife, Annie, was so sweet. Greg’s character ended up surprising me in the end. He changed a lot. I would say he had the most personal growth, but I do have some suspicions about him.
I hope this will not be the last I have read about Lucianne and Xandar. The 5-Time Rejected Gamma and the Lycan King quickly became one of my favorite novels. I loved that it was so long and had so much information and details. It made me feel so many emotions. I caught myself feeling angry at the characters, as well as happy and sad. I even laughed out loud quite a few times! I hope to read more by Stina’s Pen.
Pages: 743 | ASIN : B0B9R2JY8W
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/17/the-5-time-rejected-gamma-the-lycan-king/