Tag: Survival

Book Review

Immortal Consequences

TheShelfLife

Immortal Consequences by I.V. Marie

Publication Date: July 2025 |Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: Unique fantasy world filled with memorable characters and survival.

5/5 Stars

Book Summary: Blackwood Academy is located on the outskirts of the afterlife. Students here are living in a purgatory of sorts, helping lost souls find their way to move on. Every decade Blackwood hosts an opportunity for one lucky student to showcase their skills and win the choice to either live among the Ascended with a permanent place in society with full access to magic, or to cross to The Other Side. This year, students become a part of a competition, pitting friends against one another to win the coveted chance to choose their fate. When this celebration becomes a competition, survival becomes paramount and relationships are tested.

My Analysis: Now THIS is a book! Any synopsis of this novel doesn’t do it justice. This is so much more than a book about a competition – that element just adds to what is an amazing story. I thoroughly enjoyed the concept of these characters in a purgatory, and thought that the author did a great job developing this entity. The plot was continually interesting, kept me wondering what was going to happen and wanting to read more. The characters were well-developed and I adored their relationships with one another. This is the first in a series (or perhaps a duology?) and I cannot wait to see what happens next after a cliff hanger ending. If you enjoy a unique fantasy world that combines together friendships, romance and survival…then you need to read this one. I can see a wide audience of YA fantasy readers liking this one. I highly recommend it!

Book Review

Best of All Worlds

TheShelfLife

Best of All Worlds by Kenneth Oppel

Publication Date: June 2025 | Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: An incredibly thought-provoking concept with unique characters who bring with them individual personalities in a difficult situation.

4/5 Stars

Book Summary: Xavier reluctantly goes away with his Dad and pregnant stepmother to their cabin for the week.  Upon waking after their first night there, Xavier quickly realizes that their cabin is now surrounded by a farm, and not in its proper location.  As Xavier, his Dad and Nia explore the area, it becomes clear that they are trapped in a dome with no one else around.  Three years later, another family arrives with the hope of escaping their circumstances.  As the families adjust to living in the dome together and consider how they could get out, tensions rise.  

My Analysis: This is one of the most unique books I have ever read.  The concept of these characters all stuck together for some unknown reason in a dome was very well thought out.  It brings to light a lot of ideas on how circumstances, environment and family all intertwine to create an individual’s personality and beliefs.  It was interesting to see how characters with such different outlooks could interact with one another.  I think it was the author’s intention to be purposeful when pitting characters opposing beliefs against one another, and I thought it was well written.  I could see how some may think it was a bit mundane, as a lot of it is the day-to-day living of these families,  but I was still invested throughout.  Oppel does a nice job of depicting Xavier as a teenage boy and how one would react to being found in such circumstances.  This novel would make a great book club choice as it would have some great discussion points.  Overall, if you like Sci-Fi, want something that is going to make you think, and don’t mind a story that is more character development than plot, you should give this one a read.  

Book Review

How Bad Things Can Get

TheShelfLife

How Bad Things Can Get by Darcy Coates

Publication Date: August 2025 | Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: Extremely descriptive and gory but underwhelming and forced in terms of plot and character development.

3/5 Stars

Book Summary: Online influencer Eton creates a lavish atmosphere on his own island and invites hundreds of his fans and fellow influencers to take part in a 5-day series of games.  Wanting to actually have some fun and put away the memories of her past life in a notorious cult, Ruth joins her friends on the island.  As she holds on to her secret of being the sole survivor of the cult, she begins to question the motivations and actions of those around her.  As people start to go missing or are found dead, Ruth must face the truth that she has not completely escaped her past.

My Analysis:  I have to start this off by saying I really adore Darcy Coates’s works, and this is the first of hers that I have read that I did not enjoy.  I found the pacing to be incredibly slow and drawn-out way too much, so much so that I almost chose to DNF.  There was one thing that kept me going and piqued my curiosity, but ultimately, I don’t feel it was worth it.  I get where Coates was trying to come from with how her story unfolded, but to me it seemed like she was unnecessarily trying to put two completely separate stories together in a way that seemed to be way too much of a stretch.  I will give a warning that this novel is filled with very descriptive gore scenes and murder, and if you are into that, those were very well written.  They definitely aren’t for everyone though.  I read this to see if it could be an adult title that could crossover to YA readers, and aside from the fact I didn’t care for the story, I would probably avoid putting it in the hands of general YA readers with how intense some of the descriptions were.  Ruth’s character was interesting some of the time and it was compelling to hear of her past experiences in the cult she grew up in.  But again, everything about this story felt very forced to me.  I gave it as high of a rating as I did simply because the writing itself was good, even though the plot was severely lacking and characters other than Ruth were under-developed.  If you really want to read some gore, give this one a try, but otherwise I’d recommend reading any of the other titles by this author instead.

Book Review

Wandering Wild

TheShelfLife

By Lynette Noni, Narrated by Nikki Thomas and Heath Miller

Publication Date: May 2025| Thanks NetGalley for an ARC | Audiobook Version

Overall Verdict: Fantastic and engaging from start to finish, this title will keep you rooting for romance as well as survival.

5/5 Stars

5/5 Stars for Narration

Book Summary: Zander is a Hollywood star, but his reputation of late has been problematic.  Attempting to quickly fix his public image, he agrees to go on a wilderness show with a fan.   Charlie, thanks to her best friend, finds herself the winner of the competition and alongside Zander on a wilderness journey.  This proves to be challenging, as Charlie has come to resent Zander and his newfound image.  Everything starts to fall apart when Zander and Charlie separate from TV show star Rykon, and have to continue their adventure together.  As they battle real danger Zander and Charlie must learn to trust one another and open up about their pasts.

My Analysis: If you’re looking for a realistic fiction that has a solid romance story but takes it a step further and provides some compelling but serious topics, this one is for you.  I absolutely loved this from start to finish.  The characters are interesting, well developed and you will find yourself rooting for them.  Even though Zander is a movie star, you get to see the real emotions and experiences he has faced in his past.  Is it unlikely that Charlie will end up on a reality show with a celebrity? Yes, but it honestly worked for this novel without it seeming too far-fetched.  The plot is entertaining and suspenseful with the inclusion of perilous nature encounters.  I highly recommend this one and if you have the option for an audiobook, the narrators were absolutely perfect.

Book Review

The Last Bookstore on Earth

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The Last Bookstore on Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold

Publication Date: January 2025| Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A well-written but one dimensional, post-apocalyptic debut novel.

3.5/5 Stars

Book Summary: Ever since The Storm devastated civilization, Liz has secluded herself in the bookstore she used to work at. The Storm caused weather-related damage, including body melting acid rain. Liz has gotten used to her time alone since her only companion left to find out what else was left of the world, until she finds herself with an unexpected intruder turned guest. When Maeve comes into Liz’s life, she pushes her beyond her comfort zone as they continue to survive and prepare for yet another coming Storm.

My Analysis: For a debut novel, I really enjoyed the authors writing style. I felt very connected to the main character Liz and her emotions and experiences both past and present. I however did not care for Maeve’s character at all. I found her to be very annoying and I’m not sure what Liz saw in her really other than the fact that she was simply there. I liked the concept of this novel and of course was intrigued by the idea of her being in a bookstore in an end of the world situation. The novel is all from Liz’s perspective, but does share a past timeline as well. There are also some mini journal entries throughout of others peoples stories. I liked how those all came together to share the overall story. I did find the novel to be a bit one dimensional, I wish there was a little more substance or another subplot to compliment the rest of the main story. Maybe more of the romance between Maeve and Liz as well? It all felt very surface level. I am glad though that there’s another new decent YA dystopian out, it is something lacking right now! If you’re into post-apocalyptic scenarios, give this one a try.

Book Review

Under the Surface

TheShelfLife

Under the Surface by Diana Urban

Publication Date: August 2024 | Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A gripping thriller that will keep you guessing from start to finish. Teens lost and fighting for survival and each other.

5/5 Stars

Book Summary: A group of high school students are on a trip to France. Ruby is an emerging travel vlogger, and is excited to see what the city has to offer. Plus, spending a week in Paris with her best friend and crush sounds like a dream. When Ruby’s friend Val sneaks off to meet a French boy though, Ruby tries to stop her from making a bad choice. However, she and a couple others from the trip get swept up into the idea of an exclusive party in the underground Paris catacombs. As they make their way through the catacombs, it becomes clear that they are never making it to the party. Flooding, cave-ins, and wrong turns aren’t the only things they need to survive from, there is also someone or something chasing them as they continue to try and find the surface.

My Analysis: This is Urban’s best work yet. I’ll admit I’m a bit skeptical because she tends to be very hit (and mostly) miss with me but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It was very suspenseful throughout and she did a nice job of letting you really get to know the characters on a deeper level. The friendships (both current and former) are very well done. It’s a dual POV with Ruby and someone above ground, so you really get to see what is happening on both sides of things which was interesting and makes you really invested. It is a story of survival, friendship, love and the belief of doing what you believe is right. I liked learning about the Paris catacombs from a historical perspective as well, and through this heart pounding story it made them come alive as the reader. I feel like I can’t say much more without giving away too many spoilers, so let’s just say that I didn’t want to stop reading this one. If you like thrillers then you definitely need to give this one a read!

Book Review

The Bitter End

TheShelfLife

The Bitter End by Alexa Donne

Publication Date: October 2024 |Thanks Netgalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A closed circle mystery that is not at all plausible or strongly written, but provides an entertaining series of events that make you question each character.

3/5 Stars

Book Summary: Eight teens get stuck with a last minute change to their Senior trip, and find themselves in a remote ski cabin for a long weekend. With the intend of being a ‘digital detox’ retreat, they are cut-off from the outside world, and when a blizzard strikes they become even more isolated. Survival becomes paramount when not only are they trapped, but people start dying. With secrets revealed and constant betrayals, everyone becomes suspect.

My Analysis: I enjoy a closed circle mystery, and wanted to give this one a try. The premise of teens trapped in a snow storm always has merit. This book is based on Agatha Christies And Then There Were None, which was interesting and overall it does keep you guessing on who is responsible. It is told in dual time lines and multiple POV’s which can get a bit tricky to understand but still works. And ultimately is very necessary to the plot. You can definitely tell though that this is an adult writing what they think teens talk and act like. I didn’t find it to be very realistic, based on my experiences. I do think Donne is getting stronger with her writing, but to me she’s just not quite there yet. If you can look past that though it is a decent thriller. There is casual alcohol and drug use throughout, in case you need to be aware of that. Ultimately it’s a quick thriller that I can see some YA readers get into if they enjoy a murder/survival story.

Book Review

Stay Dead

TheShelfLife

Stay Dead by April Henry

Publication Date: April 2024 |Thanks Edelweiss for an ARC

Overall Verdict: More survival suspense than a traditional murder mystery, but will keep you on the edge of your seat nonetheless.

3/5 Stars

Book Summary: After her Senator fathers car accident six months ago, Milan is still trying to find her place in the world, while also getting expelled from yet another boarding school. Her mother, who has taken over as Senator, picks her up in her private plane. While flying over remote mountains, a bomb goes off and their plane crashes. In her final moments, Milan’s mother tells her that she had uncovered a secret and that people have died for, and gives her her fathers keys that hold answers. Milan must survive the wilderness and get back to civilization, all while on the run from those who want to silence her to keep this information secret.

My Analysis: This was a super quick read, as most of Henry’s works are. It is definitely heavy on survival suspense even though it was marketed as a murder mystery. It was still very thrilling however, through the plane crash, Milan’s survival, and those who are chasing her down. If anyone has any aversion to plane crashes, they may want to steer clear of this one. The writing of the crash and its aftermath was very well done and extremely tense. I honestly think that was the most well written part of this novel. I also appreciated the different POVs that were presented. I hadn’t expected that, but getting some background into the characters and the story through this way really added to the plot overall. I don’t want to spoil any other aspects of the secrets, but I thought it was a pretty original topic. The one thing that was a little less appealing was the fact that everything worked out perfectly and all the loose ends were tied up. This again is typical of Henry’s style, but everything was just a little too convenient. Overall though it did not take away from the entertainment in reading it. If you like survival stories, I recommend this one!