Ricky Pine's Blog, page 2

Review: Three Bags Full

Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It’s a pretty dark story overall, with a bit of surprising blood, but it also feels cozy since it’s a mystery from the point of view of a very concerned flock of Irish sheep. They’re smarter than your average livestock, thanks to George the shepherd actually reading to them (and flying in the face of all the anti intellectuals these days who discount the power of reading.) I first saw the sequel to this book at the...

Review: A Steeping of Blood

A Steeping of Blood by Hafsah Faizal
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hafsah Faizal concludes her second duology in grand fashion, shifting away from the tea and the Six of Crows heistery in favor of saving Ceylan, among other nations, from the dreadful colonization efforts from the Ram and the East Jeevant Company. In that respect, this book plays out with a bit of inspiration from Pirates of the Caribbean, with vampires instead of undead sea monsters. And as the story wears on...

Review: A Dead Draw

A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Robert Dugoni’s latest Tracy Crosswhite story wouldn’t be out of place on Rizzoli & Isles, as it’s highly reminiscent of Rizzoli facing off against her age old nemesis the Surgeon and his Apprentice. Except this time, it’s largely the Apprentice analogue, Erik Schmidt, getting out of prison on a technicality, allowing him to pose a serious threat to Tracy’s family and her old hometown of Cedar Grove. Especially a sing...

Review: The Invisible Parade

The Invisible Parade by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

At this point, it’s safe to say that Bardugo has truly written for all ages, now that she’s collaborated with John Picacio on this lovely and moving picture book. I’d almost forgotten about it, however, until I popped into Powell’s in my new hometown of Beaverton and saw this book almost perfectly front and center on a display for Hispanic Heritage Month. And now that Día de Muertos approaches, this book’s ru...

Review: To Clutch a Razor

To Clutch a Razor by Veronica Roth
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

V-Roth returns with her second novella of dark Polish magick and monsters. I said after reading When Among Crows last year that that book was simply too short to really capture its full worldbuilding potential…well, be careful what you wish for and all that. Not that this book was bad - it was still a pretty good exploration of this extended family of creepery and Halloween appropriate chills, all in a bite size...

Review: This Inevitable Ruin

This Inevitable Ruin by Matt Dinniman
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Okay.

I’ve had enough.

I’ve had absolutely enough of this overblown, bloated, neverending nonsense.

This must be what it’s like when non-Marvel fans see the MCU continue to exist, because at this point all I’m seeing is a pile of stupid immature jokes, increasingly unlikable characters, the Random Events Plot to end all Random Events Plots…seriously, how the hell did this series get so fortunate to be plucked...

Review: The Executioners Three

The Executioners Three by Susan Dennard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Susan Dennard’s recent shift into modern YA fantasy and mystery didn’t really work for me with The Luminaries, but her newest novel, a standalone mystery novel set in 1999, works far better for me. Perhaps it’s the creepy atmosphere perfect for the Halloween season, helped by the fact that the book takes place somewhere in New England (well, it’s not for certain, but I’d guess that the French nature of the ...

Review: Lessons in Magic and Disaster

Lessons in Magic and Disaster by Charlie Jane Anders
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really wanted to like this one more. I’ve been reading and enjoying Charlie Jane Anders for years, and normally I really love her work, but this one was just a bit too messy for me. Though, to be fair, Jamie, her protagonist, does confess to being quite a messy person, but those around her are often just as messed up if not more so. And I’m not just talking about the post truth trolls feeding...

Review: Among the Burning Flowers

Among the Burning Flowers by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Samantha Shannon’s having a very prosperous year in 2025, with both this book and The Dark Mirror on tap. A new standalone story in the world of Roots of Chaos, this book is more of a deep dive into the Spanish- and Italian-inspired land of Yscalin, a lovely but volcanic place where Draconic threats are always lurking, and feeling a bit too close to home these days. I expect Shannon’s Italian research...

Review: The Secret of Secrets

The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It’s Robert Langdon.

I’m in.

Dan Brown hasn’t published a thriller since before Covid, but it’s clear, reading this book, that he’ll never change as a writer. And yet, that doesn’t make him any less compulsively readable than ever. Dipping into all his greatest hits from 20 or so years ago - oddly esoteric science, a killer with a warped personality (to the point of cultural appropriation, passing off as the G...