Narrated by Jennifer Pickens, Final Girls by Mira Grant takes us into a nightmarish dreamscape to treat patients. A brilliant tale from start to finish. Where Grant asks, “What if you could fix the worst parts of yourself by confronting your worst fears?” Would you do it?

Final Girls
by Mira Grant
Narrator: Jennifer Pickens
Length: 3 hours & 10 minutes
Genres: Science Fiction
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate

Rating:
Narration: 5 cups Speed: 1.3x

What if you could fix the worst parts of yourself by confronting your worst fears?

Dr. Jennifer Webb has invented proprietary virtual reality technology that purports to heal psychological wounds by running clients through scenarios straight out of horror movies and nightmares. In a carefully controlled environment, with a medical cocktail running through their veins, sisters might develop a bond they’ve been missing their whole lives—while running from the bogeyman through a simulated forest. But…can real change come so easily?

Esther Hoffman doubts it. Esther has spent her entire journalism career debunking pseudoscience, after phony regression therapy ruined her father’s life. She’s determined to unearth the truth about Dr. Webb’s budding company. Dr. Webb’s willing to let her, of course, for reasons of her own. What better advertisement could she get than that of a convinced skeptic? But Esther’s not the only one curious about how this technology works. Enter real-world threats just as frightening as those created in the lab. Dr. Webb and Esther are at odds, but they may also be each other’s only hope of survival.

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Dr. Jennifer Webb has developed a groundbreaking therapy using virtual reality. She places patients in pods with a psychedelic cocktail and sends them into a dreamscape created specifically to overcome whatever it is the patient or patients are trying to overcome. She helps restore familiar bonds and deals with anxiety, fears and more.

Journalist Esther Hoffman’s father was a victim of regression therapy gone wrong. She has systematically set out to disprove these therapies and the companies who run them.

Which has her at Webb’s institute. Her goal is to destroy them. Their goal is to prove it works and get a positive review. One thing leads to another and Esther agrees to enter a pod to experience the technology for herself.

The story that unfolds was fantastic. Grant has a way of pulling you in. Her characters have depth and are complex. Of course, things go wrong once Esther enters the pod and I couldn’t stop listening.

I have loved everything Grant has written and Final Girls was brilliant. Despite being a novella, she gave us a full, engaging tale that left me craving more. If you haven’t tried her Newsflesh series or sci-fi novels, I highly recommend them.

While I read the novella in 2017, the audiobook narration enhanced the tale. Jennifer Pickens brought these characters and the suspenseful, twisted moments to life.

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Final Girls by Mira Grant and narrated by Jennifer Pickens delivered a suspenseful, science fiction, horror that will hook you from the first chapter. #audiobook #TantorAudio #novella
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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/11/final-girls-by-mira-grant.html

Racism has been a sensitive subject for the longest time in America. While talking about racism, most people focus on racist whites who show intolerance towards minorities like black and brown people. Dr. Len Bergantino is here to enlighten readers on reverse racism, which is very much alive across the U.S. Dr. Len Bergantino tells it as it is. He does not mince words, and neither does he sugarcoat situations. He discusses instances where black people in power have been unjust to white people, who they perceive to be beneath them. This book can be overwhelming for some, but the author ensures that his point is made clearly and effectively.

The Denial of Reverse Racism in America is the kind of book you need if you enjoy following current events and watching the political space. Dr. Len Bergantino writes from experience and from observations. I appreciate the author for calling out what is wrong and for promoting unity even when talking about the cracks racism has caused in society. The author writes about the pros of working together as compared to forming separate groups of people. The writing is clear-cut, and the author writes about everything that concerns racism. I like that he also touches on unconventional topics or subjects considered to be taboo in modern society.

The many examples the author gives show that racism is deeply rooted in many parts of America. Dr. Len Bergantino gives multiple examples to support his views and shares tales where racism almost cost him his life. While some pages in this book may be difficult to read, the lessons shared by the author are remarkable. Victim mentality, manipulation, and being mean-spirited are other subjects that the author addresses. The biggest lesson in the book is a line from one of the author’s texts ‘There are only black and white individuals, do not treat individuals as races.’ This line is crucial as it reminds us not to judge others based on their race but rather on their character as individuals. Dr. Len Bergantino, despite having gone through the worst, advocates for harmony and decency.

When a child is born, they do not know color. The Denial of Reverse Racism in America will make you wish that everyone treated everyone like children do. Less judgment and more unity. This book is an interesting read, despite having some extreme takes.  I recommend The Denial of Reverse Racism in America to readers that previously denounced the existence of reverse racism, as the many examples shared by the author will convince you of its existence.

Pages: 61 | ASIN: B0861RZPZZ

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/11/08/the-denial-of-reverse-racism-in-america-2/

No Plaid suits: How not to have a Boring Normal Life is an intriguing self-help book that will not only give you a different perspective on certain things in life but also make you contemplate what to change to experience the best life can offer. The author wrote a collection of appealing essays, sharing tales about her life and her associates. Author Amrita Rose shares lessons about diverse issues in life in a friendly and conversational tone.

When reading the essays, the reader gets an impression of having known the author on a personal level. Amrita Rose is forthcoming, and you can feel the warmth in her writing throughout the book. She can connect with her readers by being open and leaving a substantial positive impact through the text.

No Plaid suits: How not to have a Boring Normal Life is not written like a typical self-help book. There is no condemnation from the author, and she rarely applies a grim tone, even when discussing topics of agony. Instead, Amrita Rose writes like she narrates a story to her friends. With valuable lessons and guidance, the author understands how to capture the reader’s attention through short tales. I liked the brevity of the essays as they made comprehension easy and the discussion more charming. Her engaging writing style is another incredible skill she has, as the words she uses to get one to entirely focus on the discussions. You will need this book to inspire, motivate, get out of your comfort zone, and achieve your goals quickly.

There are dozens of topics that the author composes about. Each topic was written with exceptionality, and the author shared helpful tips at the end of every topic. Some of the issues that stand out for me in the book revolved around having a job vs. a career, time management, financial planning, personal organization, housekeeping, cooking, relationships, romance, grief, and accepting compliments. The author’s choice of topic was astounding, and the discussions were well-balanced.

Reading this book was therapeutic and assuring. The author’s words and her sense of humor made No Plaid suits: How not to have a Boring Normal Life an extraordinary read. There is plenty of advice for almost every situation in life. I would recommend this well-written book to readers that enjoy self-help books. The author’s words give one a feeling of confidence and validation.

Pages: 292 | ISBN : 1639885889

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/11/08/no-plaid-suits/

Amanda Conway is a successful author enjoying a good night’s sleep in her Brooklyn apartment when her phone goes off. On the other side of the call is her cousin, Detective Pablo Conway, requesting assistance in solving two homicides that strongly link with Amanda’s worst childhood memories. That time in her childhood which she had put entirely behind her. That time was horrible not just to her but to several of her friends and other kids. The headmaster and the most despicable teacher at Winslow-Kent have been murdered, and Amanda has to face her past to help her cousin and her hometown, the quiet town of Carlisle, and get the killer to justice. 

The Final Comeuppance by Carolynn Summer Quinn is a classic whodunnit mystery full of irresponsible adults, criminals thriving amid children, and innocent kids suffering from emotional and physical abuse. A private school hiding under the banner of prestige, Winslow-Kent houses some of the most nefarious characters who enjoy abusing children and money-minded misers who care less for the children and more about the fees they brought in.

Quinn has successfully built a playground of felonies and characters who have sold their humanity for a small amount of money. With a riveting plot of multiple suspects, Quinn creates enough doubt in the reader’s mind to consume the entire mystery in one sitting. The protagonist’s fear and hate towards the adults who failed her are conveyed powerfully.

The Final Comeuppance is a riveting police procedural novel with an amateur sleuth as the protagonist. Readers that enjoy reading about the bad guys getting what they deserve will be drawn into this compelling mystery while trying to figure out who the murderer is along with the characters.

Pages: 351 | ASIN : B0B7ZHYSQ2

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/11/08/the-final-comeuppance/

Bertie lives at the most wonderful place possible–the beach. He is a beachball housed on a shelf in a shed full of toys and should have fun-filled days in the sun with one beach-going child after another. Bertie, however, is not so lucky. Day after day, he watches the other toys in the shed leave their spots on the shelves to enjoy the beach and bring smiles to children. All he wants is a chance to do the same. When Rosie and Esther enter the shed with their grandfather one day, Bertie’s luck begins to take a turn.

Bertie the Bouncy Beachball, written by Mandy Woolf and illustrated by Elmira Georgieva, is the sweet story of a beachball who desires nothing more than to feel wanted and useful. His sadness is palpable, and the touching illustrations clearly convey his emotions to young readers throughout the book. Children will be drawn immediately to Bertie and his plight.

Parents and teachers will be reminded of Corduroy as they introduce readers to Bertie and his struggle to be important to someone. Woolf includes lessons on patience and perseverance–both excellent lessons for young readers. The most important lesson conveyed by the author and one parents and teachers will more than appreciate is that we should give others a chance to shine.

As a teacher, I can see Bertie the Bouncy Beachball as an excellent resource for elementary teachers and guidance counselors. There are some truly wonderful opportunities within Woolf’s book to address feelings and how to cope with them. I highly recommend this delightful read!

Pages: 32 | ISBN: 1922670715

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/11/08/bertie-the-bouncy-beachball/

Rowan has always been different. Since the day he was born, he has battled a curse that brings death to those around him, the morbid result of his mother’s actions long ago. After Rowan’s curse kills his fourth Guardian-Mother, he is banished from his island and forced to sail off in search of somewhere he can belong. After finding family in Shandria, Rowan thinks he has found a place to call home. But, the stakes grow as he tries to navigate love while learning who to trust in this world of cunning, monsters, and dangerous magic.

The Conjurer’s Curse is a coming-of-age fantasy story written by Stephanie Cotta. It follows seventeen-year-old Rowan as he searches for a place to be accepted and break the curse that has plagued him his entire life. Set first in the deep jungle, then in the vast land of Shandria, this story opens an impressive fantasy world where the magic takes its toll, and people fall prey to the conniving Conjurers who wield it. Full of dynamic characters and nail-biting conflict, this story is an exciting ride from start to finish.

The Conjurer’s Curse is never dull and transports the reader to Rowan’s world through vivid descriptions and emotional impact. One thing that really grabs the reader’s attention is the excellent use of dialogue. Accents and different dialects are a big part of it, and there are times when the characters come across as very clever. Cotta also proved to be skilled with pacing, based on the plot progression and romance timing.

The Conjurer’s Curse is complex and exciting and has beautiful descriptions and dialogue. This would be an excellent read for middle schoolers and above or anyone who wants to experience the adventure in this young adult epic fantasy novel.

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/11/08/the-conjurers-curse/