I had Square³ by Mira Grant in my TBR pile, but jumped at the chance to listen to the novella narrated by Rachel F. Hirsch. Grant shares a science fiction tale that will grab you from the first chapter.

Square³
by Mira Grant
Narrator: Rachel F. Hirsch
Length: 3 hours and 25 mins
Genres: Science Fiction
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate

Rating:
Narration: 4 cups Speed: 1.4x

We think we understand the laws of physics.

We think a lot of things. It was perhaps inevitable that some of them would turn out to be wrong.

When the great incursion occurred, no one was prepared. Of all the things physicists had predicted, “the fabric of reality might rip open and giant monsters could come pouring through” had not made the list. But somehow, that was precisely what happened.

For sisters Susan and Katharine Black, the day of the incursion was the day they lost everything. Their home, their parents, their sense of normalcy . . . and each other, because when the rift opened, each sister was stranded in a separate form of reality. For Susan, it was science and study and the struggle to solve the mystery of the altered physics inside the zones transformed by the incursion. For Katharine, it was monsters and mayhem and the fight to stay alive in a world unlike the world of her birth.

The world has changed. The laws of physics have changed. The girls have changed. And the one universal truth of all states of changed matter is that nothing can be completely restored to what it was originally, no matter how much you might wish it could be.

Nothing goes back.

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A great incursion occurred, ripping the fabric of our existence. From those rips monsters broke through. Now the areas are quarantined and heavily guarded. Anything that comes out dies, as does anything that goes in. When the incursion occurred, Susan and Katharine Black were separated. Susan made it out, but their home & parents did not. Now Susan works for the government, studying the altered physics of these zones. Humans live within the zone, but are also altered. Susan has never given up hope that her sister, Katherine is among them.

The tale that unfolds held me captive from the beginning. Grant is a master at world-building and creating a reality that feels grounded in science. When a camera picks up a signal, Susan races to the containment area and what she discovers will forever change her. I found myself invested in the characters, and curious for more of this world.

Of course mankind tries to use this incurion to their advantage against world powers. Will we ever learn? I did not want the story to end and image there are more stories to be told. In truth, I would have enjoyed a full-length version of this tale.

An exciting and riveting tale, perfect for a snowy weekend or day trip. Rachel F. Hirsch did a wonderful job setting the tone and bringing the characters to life.

Amazon | Audible

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2022 Audiobook Challenge

Source

Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2023/01/square%c2%b3-by-mira-grant.html

In The Shoemaker’s Splendid Lamp by Tuula Pere and Georgia Stylou, we follow a sickly young boy named Aron whose tenacity and determination keep his spirits high when all hope seems lost. The Shoemaker, Aron’s father, is deeply devastated by the fact that his son may not make it through the freezing winter. Until Aron spots, an oil lamp that he knows will help aid in his recovery so that he and his father can go fishing next summer, but also allow his father to work more hours into the night to sell more shoes to help feed his family.

At the story’s beginning, we become overwhelmingly sympathetic to the woes of the Shoemaker and his family. Knowing the burdens that come with having a large family grounds us as readers to connect to the characters. The message of never losing hope is self-evident whenever Aron speaks. He may have been deathly ill, with significantly low odds of surviving, but he kept positive and would speak of the future, which is a difficult task to accomplish, yet he does it with grace and maturity. It shows how resilient children are and gives power to them for what could only be seen as a vulnerable, sick child. This story also speaks to the community, where the rich man comes to help by giving lamp oil to the family, ultimately allowing Aron’s recovery. Showing how small acts of kindness can truly change lives and proving that sticking together is all for the greater good.

The Shoemaker’s Splendid Lamp is an inspirational children’s book that shows how positive thoughts and kindness can impact the world around you. I would highly recommend this story to young readers as it is skillfully descriptive in writing and keeps readers enraptured throughout the story.

Pages: | ASIN : B07HYX3385

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/23/the-shoemakers-splendid-lamp/

T.N. Baldwin is back along with Logan, Carla, Junior, and his full cast of beloved characters in the second book of the Magicium series, Disruptions. Having survived their excursion to Shanghai, the group finds themselves going their separate ways in this action-packed adventure. As each character digs deeper into the world’s mysteries, they’re forced to come face to face with who they are and who they’ll have to be to survive. Loyalties are tested and sometimes betrayed when not everything is as it seems.

Disruptions is an incredible addition to the already fantastical series. Baldwin does a superb job of building off the world and magic systems already established in Discoveries. Where he truly shines through is his willingness to experiment with everything we thought we knew before. Logan and Carla, as magi, are constantly interacting with the world around them in new, engaging, and creative ways while staying within the bounds of what Discoveries built. Just like predecessors, Disruptions isn’t overbearing in its worldbuilding, either. Instead, Baldwin has a way of gently easing his readers into his realm without overwhelming them with information – a skill I’m sure plenty of fantasy readers can appreciate. The one thing I did struggle with was keeping track of the characters. Because Logan, Junior, and Carla are on such different paths, it becomes hard to keep track of everything happening and who everyone is. Other than that, I truly enjoyed reading Disruptions.

Disruptions is a gripping epic fantasy novel with exciting characters and world-building. Like in Discoveries, each character is well thought out and, most importantly, well-written. This series will keep science fiction readers engaged and excited for the next book, as the action and adventure are unpredictable. I can’t wait to see what Baldwin has in store for us in the third installment.

Pages: 671 | ASIN : B08CRKGN35

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/23/disruptions/

Have you been searching for your place in this world all your life? Are you feeling lost or perhaps misunderstood? Do you feel like you’ve had to hide behind a mask to be accepted and accomplish certain things? Author Ray LeCara Jr. in his new book Who Are You, Really?: The Search for Authenticity charts a path that will give readers a solution to these questions and help them to find their true purpose and turn their lives into meaningful ones.

Life is difficult and complex, and so are we. From the beginning we are surrounded by people. We are influenced by them. We share with them. But along the way many of us forget who we are, we follow other people’s paths and never get to discover our true selves and our full potential. This enlightening book serves as a genuine reminder to people that our uniqueness not only matters, but it’s of utter importance to ourselves and to those around us. Inspirational, spiritual, thoughtful and deep, the teachings in this thought-provoking book will stay in your consciousness and help you overcome the obstacles that don’t allow you to become who you are truly meant to be.

From the start author Ray LeCara Jr. makes sure to relate to the human experience. Through quotes, he makes sense of our deepest longing and motivates us to reach for authenticity, to become our authentic selves. Concisely, he explains what happens inside of us when we choose fear over vulnerability and transparency, and makes us understand that betraying ourselves is never a viable option. Deep inside, we all want to know who we really are and who we are meant to be, what our potential is and in which direction we are supposed to reach.

The journey to finding authenticity is a worthwhile one, and there is some intellectually-invigorating material in this book that will get you started in your search. With recommendations and motivation, each chapter brings readers a step closer into this needed journey, and gives them actionable guidance that can put them on the right track to discovering themselves. The book covers the most important areas of an authentic humanity: living, loving, leading and learning. The right course of action hides in plain sight in each chapter of this book.

Who Are You, Really? can be a powerful tool in the hands of many readers. This illuminating book will help readers understand their standing in this world and will inspire them to fulfill what their soul truly needs and yearns for.

Pages: 158 | ASIN: B0BDSQVPRK

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/23/who-are-you-really/

Perception is an enjoyable collection of poetry written by multiple authors, which includes different forms and styles for every reader’s preference. Each author has their own section with a dedication page that precedes their poetry. A collection of drawings and photographs from different artists are scattered throughout its pages incorporating the different ways poets and artists perceive life. Its concluding pages contain a meet the authors and artists section. Written from a college-age perspective, this poetic and artistic compilation makes for a pleasurable read.

The collection of poems contains a variety of styles of poetry which is perfect for those looking for an unpredictable read. The writing differs in style, which is a pleasant surprise as no two poems are identical. Each author has several intriguing poems that are worth reading, especially for those who have a great appreciation for art. I appreciated that the compilation of poems contains the perspectives of both male and female writers making this a diverse read.  

One of my favorite poems is titled Euphoria, I felt that the author perfectly described what it means to be in a state of euphoria, and I felt at peace while reading this poem. I appreciated that at the end of each poem, the author’s name was placed so that we know who the writer of a specific poem is. In the introduction, the author shares with the reader, “Our work is meant to be seen, collected, discarded, diagnosed, broken down, analyzed, criticized, admired, hated, discussed, etc.” This sentence stood out to me because I can feel each author’s sense of pride and accomplishment for their work. The images included in the poems are an excellent touch, as some were humorous, and others were a piece of art. At the end of the collection is a Meet the Poets/Artists section which I felt was an excellent way to connect with the authors, and I enjoyed reading a little about them.

Perception is a creative collection of distinct pieces of work from authors who are humble, creative, and unique. I highly recommend this book to those studying art or poetry or who want to enjoy a fantastic art collection.

Pages: 288 | ISBN : 1456763016

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/23/perception/

Lynden Hoover is unhappy. He’s a rising star computer programmer placed in a position where he feels he must escape. Bullied by his new boss, Lynden packs a backpack of supplies and disappears the only way he knows how– an empty boxcar on an eastbound train.

The Last Professional by Ed Davis follows Lynden as he escapes his life as a computer programmer and goes in search of The Tramp, who kidnapped and abused him on the rails as a child. Lynden meets The Duke, who shows him the ropes of riding in boxcars across the country, though The Duke has his own problems to deal with. A former friend and fellow hobo named Short Arm is after The Duke. Together, Lynden and The Duke traverse the rails to try and stay one step ahead of Short Arm.

Davis takes the reader into the gritty, unpredictable world of hobos, hiding in boxcars and spending nights in jungles, where they could get a bite to eat and maybe a shave. As the old days die away, these hobos must adjust to a world of bulls protecting train yards and fewer and fewer empty boxcars. Professionals, or Profesh, as they call themselves, are a dying breed, and The Duke and a few of his friends are the last of their kind.

Davis masterfully creates a world of train hobos, filling the book with small details without going overboard. These details bring the reader closer to the story and can leave the reader dreaming about riding the rails. With as many twists as the railroads that crisscross the nation, The Last Professional will keep you reading page after page until the very end. I would recommend this riveting novel to anyone who enjoys a good travel and survival story, history buffs, and readers who want to be whisked away to a world frequently romanticized in American pop culture.

Pages: 279 | ASIN: B09GGXLTYK

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/23/the-last-professional/

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