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Armstrong is a strong writer, with prose that's easy to immerse yourself in and characters crafted with nuance and care. Unfortunately, the subject of the story itself didn't do a whole lot for me; that's likely to do with my lacking interest in arcade games and the technological prowess required to analyze them. I believe this will appeal to a great deal of readers, it just wasn't a good fit for me.

Part One was not enough to grip me. Scenes of intrigue were written in such a way that I cared little for the characters or the strange but poorly described happenings. Not worth the slog when I have so many other books to read.

Mapping the Interior is my introduction to Stephen Graham Jones's work. The story is short, odd, and full of Native American mythologies and beliefs that are introduced through the lens of a twelve-year-old protagonist. When Junior's father comes back from the dead, he struggles to explain the phenomenon, grasping at theories only a child would. The mechanics of his father's reappearance is strange, ominous, and unique—a facet that kept me engaged and theorizing 'til the end. Mapping the Interior is a solid novella full of voice, character, and heart.

I recommend this to anyone seeking a quick supernatural read.

*Thank you to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for the reprint ARC.

If you've ever had the displeasure of using Slack or Discord to converse with your coworkers, this book's for you. It's equal parts hilarious and thought provoking. Well worth the short read!

So far so mediocre. I'm reading this for my book club and intend to push through, but damn is the prose all over the place in terms of descriptions, tone, and pacing. If I hadn't already DNF'd our January read, this one would be destined for the "abandoned" shelf.

So far, not at all impressed. I loved Harry Potter as a kid but always enjoyed the movie adaptations more. Now that I'm reading the illustrated version to my son, I understand why I never reread the books. Disappointing.

As someone who already knows that characters and their internal struggles and arcs make great stories, this is a chunky book with little to offer. If you didn't enjoy Save the Cat, I don't recommend this one. While some of the initial tips might help if you're struggling to write compelling characters that propel the plot, the latter half is all about incorporating the author's outlining system. If you want another formula to follow, go ahead and give this a whirl. If you'd rather learn about how to incorporate your character's internal conflict with the big-picture turmoil of the plot, I'd sooner point you to Brandon Sanderson's lectures (free on the Tube).

Note: I read straight through page 111 and skimmed the rest.

Across the Winding River centers around three narrators who become intertwined as the story progresses. Both a story of love and war, this novel has something for every historical fiction reader.

Though the story is captivating and a breeze to get through, I didn't appreciate the two main coincidences of the plot. Some of the plot points were far too convenient, resulting in a four-star rating instead of a five.

Make Me Disappear is an intriguing take on obsessive and controlling relationships. Noelle, a nurse in her twenties, realizes she needs to break away from her doctor boyfriend and plans her own kidnapping. I appreciated the dual narrative, and the prose was written well; it kept me engaged the whole way through.

My only criticism is that there were far too many coincidentals and/or unbelievable plot points. I also saw the twist coming a mile away, though that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Overall, this was a solid debut, and I look forward to reading more by Jessica Payne. I'd recommend this novel if you enjoyed the You series.