Trope-ical Readathon - Team Science Fiction/ Fantasy Wrap Up & Mini Reviews

Hello everyone!  Today, I'm sharing my wrap up and mini reviews for the Trope-ical Readathon which was hosted by @jenjenreviews and @bookrob13 and lasted for the entire month of March.  I participated on Team Science Fiction/ Fantasy.  Of the fifteen total challenges - three team challenges and twelve common challenges - I read completed ten of them (you can see my original tbr here).  Not bad, if I do say so myself!  Keep reading to see my mini reviews:

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Space Opera (Space Opera #1) by Catherynne M. Valente is trying very hard for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy but it never quite gets there.  It does have its moments though.  I have a feeling I would have preferred this in audiobook format.  That could have been interesting.

My review is also on Goodreads.

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Stain by A.G. Howard is a retelling of that I really wanted to like.  I can't say that I've ever read a retelling of The Princess and the Pea before so it would be a new experience to see where this author would take it.  Unfortunately, as much as I liked the idea of it, this story never quite worked for me.  I've read several other books by Howard and I liked her style, but for some reason it didn't in this case.  I felt far too removed from the cast and a little bored by it all.

My review is also on Goodreads.

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I didn't have particularly high expectations going into Promise of Blood (Powder Mage Trilogy #1) by Brian McClellan, but I really enjoyed it.  It's a little overly long, but it's definitely worth sticking with to see how it all ends up.  I can't wait to pick up The Crimson Campaign and more from the author soon.

My review is also on Goodreads.

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I just happened to find Necropolis by Michael Dempsey a few years ago and I finally decided to give it a try.  It was good, but not quite a what I was expecting or hoping for.  I did like the noir cyberpunk urban fantasy elements, though.  That was fun and very visual.  I was expecting Donner to be from the 1940s or 1950s before he comes back to life since he sounds like he just stepped out of a Raymond Chandler novel, but instead he was killed in the 2010s and resurrected decades later.  So that was kind of off putting when I remembered that.    

My review is also on Goodreads.

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The Trials of Koli (Rampart Trilogy #2) by M.R. Carey was an absolutely fantastic sequel.  I loved the first book, so my expectations for this dystopian post-apocalyptic sci-fi novel were through the roof.  Luckily, it really delivered.  I enjoyed every second of seeing Koli again and seeing more of his world.  Plus, this time around we get a second perspective character alongside and while I was nervous about this addition I quickly decided I shouldn't have been at all.  Character development is top notch especially when it comes to Ursula and Cup.  I don't want to go into a lot of detail so as to avoid spoilers, but I will say that I can't wait to read the final book in the trilogy, The Fall of Koli.  I'm just glad I won't have to wait for its release date.  If you haven't started this trilogy yet, what are you waiting for?

My review is also on Goodreads.

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The Secret History of Twin Peaks (Twin Peaks #1) by Mark Frost is a great little tie-in mixed media story.  I haven't watched all of the tv series and it's been along time since I've seen what I have.  I just know now that I need to get caught up on this tv series as soon as possible.

My review is also on Goodreads.

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Betrayals (Strange Angels #2) by Lili St. Crow was good, but I didn't like this sequel as much as I remember liking the first book. Then again, that was quite awhile back.  Dru seems different this time around and I could have done with out the love triangle.  I also could have done without a good chunk of all the angst - and the repetition as well.  I'm not sure if I'll be back for book three, Jealousy, any time soon.

My review is also on Goodreads.

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The Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett wasn't what I was expecting and it never managed to hook me.  I was intrigued when I heard it described as The Last Magician meets A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue with a dash of Indiana Jones and The Mummy and I've enjoyed what I've read of the author's YA contemporary.  Plus, historical fantasy is usually one of my favorite genres, but unfortunately this wasn't for me.  I knew the story was set in the 1930s, but while reading I always felt surprised that that was the case.  Finally, I never felt invested in the characters.  I was really looking forward to finding new favorite characters considering the characters of the novels and movies it has been compared to are some of my favorite, but the cast here never particularly interested me and didn't have the necessary chemistry with each other to keep me hanging on their every word.

My review is also on Goodreads.

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 DNF'd @ p. 58

I liked to sound of The Remaining (The Remaining #1) by D.J. Molles, but not the execution at all.  Most of that comes down to Captain Lee Harden himself.  I usually like leading characters to be at least a little bit clever.  Let's just say Lee is nearly as far from that as it gets.  At least in the first 58 pages and it didn't endear me to the character.  It grated on my nerves very quickly.

My review is also on Goodreads.

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Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff  is a great 1950s set horror novel of interconnected Lovecraftian stories.  I particularly enjoyed just how bookish it is and how it fuses together so many genres and styles so well.  The characters, especially Atticus, are well-drawn and Ruff's writing style kept me on the edge of my seat for more.  I also recommend giving the tv series a try - Jurnee Smollett as Leticia is fantastic.

My review is also on Goodreads.

Did you take part in the Trope-ical Readathon?  Have you read any of these books?  As always, thanks for visiting my blog and perhaps even commenting down below!