Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. First of all, I love the Hawaiian Islands and I appreciate their culture and mysticism. This book should have been right up my alley. The premise was a young boy, who was drowning, was saved by a shark. The shark scooped him up out of the ocean and put him back in the boat he had fallen out of. The boy, Nainoa (aka Noa), who was 7 years old at that time, was believed to have special healing powers as a result of this miraculous event. He became a "legend" on the big island of Hawaii, where his family lived in poverty. At some point they moved to Oahu though, thinking they could have a better life there with better jobs. His older brother, Dean, and younger sister, Kaui, were pretty much forced to live in Noa's shadow. Their parents welcomed the sick at their home (for money) so that Noa could heal them. This impacted all three of them profoundly - and in negative ways.

Dean was a star basketball player and ended up attending college and playing basketball on the mainland. He ended up dropping out of school and failing at basketball. Noa struggled from the age of 7 (the shark event) just trying to figure out who and what he was. He hid his gift from everyone but his family. Again, his siblings resented him for his "specialness". Noa follows Dean to the mainland and becomes an EMT/paramedic. This way he can legitimately save people's lives. Except when he can't. And then it destroys him. Finally there is Kaui, who also ends up on the mainland (they all end up living on the west coast). She is brilliant and is excelling in college when she falls in love with someone who can't love her back the way she needs. This is her undoing. One of the siblings goes missing (I won't mention who at this point) and this greatly impacts their parents, especially their father, who is no longer able to function as a result.

The writing is lyrical and the book is well written. But I just couldn't get into it. I had to force myself to keep picking it back up. It's not a difficult read, but it's not a cheerful read by any means. I don't particularly like to read about a family that falls apart, one at a time. Do they support each other? Yes, at times. But often it's too little too late.

Wendy's Rating: ***

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley

This was a unique story. It was a page-turner, and I certainly didn't know what was going to happen. Most of the main characters had double identities, which made it confusing at first (trying to remember who everyone is/was), but after awhile I was able to keep the people and former relationships straight. This is a story where each of the main characters had their own motive for the events that unfolded. Some of the motives were not what they originally appeared to be.

This story included murder and mayhem, like any good mystery should have. Francesca Meadows returns to her homestead 15 years after she left. She opens up a very posh resort, The Manor, no expense spared. She is beautiful, kind, gentle and passes out crystals in bags to each guest to promote healing. Everyone dresses in white linen. The environment is intended to bring a sense of peace and calm. The story takes place on the opening weekend of this new resort. It's very expensive to stay there, so it's only the wealthy who have reserved a spot (with one exception).

The townspeople from Tome (many of them poor) are not at all happy with this "invasion" as they see it. There are a few people in particular who create chaos over the weekend. There are also "The Birds". Are The Birds (who roam the woods and bring justice to those who deserve it) real, or simply folklore? That's the question. Enough of the characters see one or more in the woods, however, so the sightings bring a sense of reality to those individuals. But, most of the guests drink plenty of the specialty drink, the Manor Mule (which includes CBD oil, along with a number of other things), so people also think they are hallucinating.

The other main characters include Owen, Francesca's husband, who absolutely adores her; Francesca's manager of The Manor, Michelle, who she depends on with complete totality; Eddie, who works as a dishwasher in The Manor and does other odd jobs when requested; and Bella, a guest in one of the cabins on the estate. Bella is the only "solo" guest. These people are all connected in one way or another, but they don't know it.

There are certainly some strange parts of the book, but I honestly didn't know how it would end. There are lots of surprises, twists and turns. I wasn't even sure who had all died until the end.

Wendy's Rating: ****

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

I actually don't read much from the fantasy genre, but I really loved this book. Since I also loved the Harry Potter series, the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, and the Dragon Heart Legacy series, maybe I should read more fantasy! I really admire authors who can create an entire world with such specificity that I can envision it in detail in my mind and it feels "real".

This is the story of Violet Sorrengail, the 20 year old youngest daughter of the commanding general of Navarre. Violet's older sister, Mira, is a star rider in the Dragon Riders Quadrant. Their older brother, Brennan, was also a talented dragon rider (with a very rare gift) who was killed in battle. Violet has studied for years to enter the Scribe Quadrant. Her father was a Scribe and she was a lot like him: very intelligent with a gentler nature. Violet also had a physical disadvantage since she was born with brittle bones. She was not born to be a fighter. With her father dead, her mother forces Violet to become a candidate for the Riders Quadrant. Nothing will deter the general/"mom" from this decision. Not even Mira could convince her to change her mind.

The candidates who live through the grueling and dangerous "tests" of the Rider's Quadrant, will be presented to the Navarre dragons that are willing to be bonded to a human. The dragons choose. If a candidate is not chosen, they have a few weeks to try to kill the bonded candidates (in order to potentially bond with the dragon wanting to bond but now don't have a rider). This Quadrant is not for the faint of heart! The candidates are absolutely brutal. Once a dragon and candidate are bonded, the candidate becomes a rider. If the dragon dies in battle, so does the rider.

Against all odds, and with a lot of training and injuries and creative thinking, Violet becomes a rider. The king of all dragons, Tairn, chooses Violet to bond with him. He is so huge, and she is so small, that she can't even keep herself on his back in flight, which is obviously a necessity for survival. (Eventually, another creative solution solves this problem.) The dragon riders are key to Navarre's survival. They are constantly battling their enemies from entering and taking over Navarre at their borders. 

Years previously, a rebel group tried to take over Navarre. The general, aka Violet's mother, had all the leaders of the rebellion executed and their children "marked" (large tattoos indicating their rebel parents). These "children", who are now of age to enter a Quadrant, are forced to becomes candidates of the Riders Quadrant. That's their only path. They are despised by the others. Violet is warned many, many times to watch her back. The children of the rebels want nothing more than to see her dead. One of the strongest and bravest is Xaden, a third year and her Wingleader. He is also drop dead gorgeous. ;)

This is a very complex story. I have only touched on the basics. It is very well written and there are a lot of complex layers within the story. I laughed. I cried. I sincerely loved this book! I already went out and bought the whole series.

Wendy's Rating: *****

Lost Light by Michael Connelly

Harry Bosch #9. I think this is my favorite detective/mystery/murder series right now. I think I could just keep reading them one after the other. That is usually not the case with me. It's not like I can identify with Harry or anything, because I really don't. The writing is excellent, however,  and the stories have twists and turns I don't expect. For one thing, Harry is no longer a police officer. He resigned at the end of Book #7. He did get his PI certification, but in this book he doesn't present himself that way. He just presents himself as a "former police officer" who was on the job for 25 years.

After a several-month break, Harry decides he needs to solve the murder of Angella Benton, after a call from a former cop (Cross). Harry was initially put on the case (four years previously) but was abruptly taken off when her death seemed connected to an armed robbery. So, the case was given to the Robbery Homicide Division. There were two cops (Cross and Dorsey) assigned to the case from RHD, but during their investigation they were both shot in a bar one night. Dorsey died and Cross was paralyzed. These cases are always complex, which is what makes them so intriguing. There is an additional piece of this puzzle. The female cop (Marty Gessler), who noticed a discrepancy in the number of the stolen bills from the armed robbery, had called Dorsey to notify him, and then suddenly disappeared. This happened about a half year after the bank robbery. (So over three years ago.) Anyway, after Cross & Dorsey were shot, no one really actively followed up on who killed Angella Benton or figured out what happened to Marty Gessler. Enter Harry. As usual, he is bound and determined to figure it all out - no matter how much trouble he causes in the process.

So here is what I don't get! I don't understand why Harry is so obsessed with Eleanor Wish! Even though they are divorced, he wants to be with her. She is so secretive and she definitely seems to have moved on from Harry. This is something else I don't really understand. I don't think it was explained very well. One day they are married. Then a year later she is gone. She gambles for a living. She seems like a gambling addict to me. Now she is bankrolled by other people to gamble for their profit, and hers of course. Harry just can't let her go. So he goes to her two-three times in this book alone. I really don't understand their relationship, even though some clarity (and I mean that in an obscure kind of way) presents itself in the end of the book.

Wendy's Rating: ****