MASK OF THE DEER WOMAN by Laurie L. Dove

This is a story about a woman named Carrie Starr who is struggling to deal with the passing of her daughter, as well as her actions before and after. She is also learning about her own Indigenous identity and past as she takes a job as a BIA officer in the fictional Saliquaw Nation. A place where the community is often overlooked and many from the nearby town are looking forward to an oil company coming in to profit off the land. Starr's first case is about a young Indigenous woman who is missing and her mother is frustrated with no one wanting to help. Starr must work through her own prejudices and grief to figure out what's going on and hope she's not too late. While I quite enjoyed this story after going through a bunch of books I wasn't in the mood for, it is important to note that the main character is messy with plenty of drug and alcohol use and doesn't experience a lot growth by the end of the book. There is a happy ending for some characters, but not really for the MC.

ARRIVAL by Veronica Scott

When I first learned Veronica Scott was writing about zombies, I knew I had to read this book. And I found it interesting how it's a new series while also being set in her Sectors Universe. Arrival is a suspenseful story about a newly licensed doctor returning to her home planet to practice medicine there. She arrives at the same time as a "retired" military team, but nothing on the planet is anything like they expected. The planet has been decimated by a virus, killing some and turning others into mindless versions of their former selves, craving human flesh. Being the first book in the series, it introduces Melly, Jeff, Cody, Zach, Samms, and Trent. Plus some others they find on their journey. While there is a bigger mission for the series, Arrival takes us from the moment everyone reaches Randal Four through the journey to Melly's childhood home. Of course, the journey isn't easy with hoards of zombies and raiders along the way, but it does also give us some more intimate moments between Melly and Jeff as they fall in love.

GHOST STATION by S.A. Barnes

I never expected to love space horror as much as I do, and it's thanks to S.A. Barnes. After reading and loving Dead Silence, I bought Ghost Station and pre-ordered Cold Eternity (now out). Ghost Station is about Psychologist, Dr. Ophelia Bray, who is trying to escape her family name while also helping people deal with ERS, a psychological disorder that has a very personal connection to her. It is more prevalent in those who spend a lot of time in space, away from their families, so she joins a crew that are set to explore an abandoned planet. But the crew are not very accepting of her help and guidance. When they reach the planet, there's something off about the station they are staying in and they discover things about the planet never mentioned in the reports from years beforehand. As the secrets of what really happened to the last crew on the planet are discovered, the new crew must deal with the brutal murder of one of their own along with figuring out who did it. Because of the MC's past and genetics, she's not sure she's entirely innocent in all of it. Yet, she's also key to figuring out what is going on. Ghost Station is a space horror, but also explores the definition of life along with how our family shapes us into who we are and whether we have a choice in that. There are some commonalities between Dead Silence and Ghost Station, but much of that relates to having a woman main character who is doubted by the crew as well as by herself, something many women can relate to. I really enjoyed Ghost Station, and I look forward to reading Cold Eternity and more by S.A. Barnes. 

EXTINCTION by Douglas Preston

I have been reading books by Douglas Preston for many years now, both on his own and with Lincoln Child, and this book did not disappoint. Extinction starts with the murder of a young couple and their unborn child at a type of elite resort where wooly mammoths and other once extinct creatures from the same time period have been brought back to life. Cash, from the CBI, and Colcord, the county sheriff, investigate the case, believing it to be the work of an environmental group who objects to the idea of de-extincting creatures for the elite to enjoy and profit from. But there is so much more going on in the labs in the Erebus mountains. And the truth ends up costing many their lives. This was an exciting read with many character point of views, some being great and others loathsome. Karma seemed to get many in the end. It is recognizably reminiscent of Jurassic Park with the ethical dilemma as to whether we should bring back extinct creatures as all, but takes it a step further, which isn't revealed until near the end. My only issue with this story was Cash's internal thoughts. It would be nice if the author had a woman help him edit them to be more realistic to a woman in law enforcement and all the misogyny she would deal with on a daily basis. There's some there, but it's very glossed over. I do look forward to reading the next book in the series when it releases.

EXIT, PURSUED BY A BEAR by E.K. Johnston

Though Exit, Pursued by a Bear deals with the serious subject matters of sexual assault and abortion, I enjoyed this story and believe it to be an essential book for any teenager and older to read. Hermione is not just a cheerleader, but the co-captain of the team, and she's getting ready for her last year of high school before her life changes. But everything changes before she reaches her last year of high school when she is drugged, raped, and left to die at a summer cheer camp. How she deals with the traumatic event and the fallout from it all is what this book is about. Because of Hermione's memory loss from that night and her amazing support system, the story shows her struggles, but also her push to not let herself be seen as a victim. Without those things, this story could have gone much differently, and the author does make note of that in their author's note at the end. I must also say that I have felt a strong connection to both of E.K. Johnston's contemporary YAs, because I grew up and live in the same area, so I can relate to it, and the characters could easily be people I know. I will definitely be reading more from this author!

BUILT OF SECRETS by Jemi Fraser

This book was a wild ride! From the burgeoning heat between Tansy and Sam to the arms dealer after Tansy's top secret project, there was never a dull moment in Built of Secrets. Like the average person, the MCs did have their share of secrets and communication issues, but nothing they couldn't work out. And Sam was determined to keep their communication open in order to keep Tansy safe. I loved the characters, the setting, the story, and how Jemi Fraser set up the entire series in the first book. I'm definitely excited to read more!

​KNOWN TO THE VICTIM by K.L. Armstrong

Wow, this book had me going around and around trying to figure out who the main character, Amy, could trust. After the murder of her mother, Amy struggles with her grief, and it's her half-brother who helps her through it. But then he gets framed for attempted murder of his girlfriend, and Amy isn't sure if he's guilty or not. Her podcast about intimate partner violence tells people how to spot red flags in relationships before things become violent, so surely she would see the signs in her brother, right? Or maybe someone set him up. But who? Known to the Victim has so many twists and turns throughout, especially in the second half, right up to the last chapter. I really didn't know what was going to happen, and I'm still a bit shocked, even if the "monster" was hinted at all along. I will definitely read more by this author under this pseudonym and the other one I've enjoyed books written by.