Dance with the Devil (Mercenary Librarians, #3) by Kit Rocha – Review

Tags

4 stars, Atlanta, Book Review, Kit Rocha, librarian, Post Apocalyptic, scifi, scifi romance, series

Review of Dance with the Devil

The Mercenary Librarians series has rarely been about lending books.  Oh, there is the occasional acquiring of books and subsequent lending of them.  But what is really going on is all about the need for people like the mercenary librarians. 

In a futuristic post-apocalyptic Atlanta, those in power are obscenely wealthy and viciously powerful.  They hoard technology and use unscrupulous methods to control the masses.  The heroines and heroes of this series amass a book collection while they protect their community and strive to fight the good fight as they reset the balance of power. 

While all that is going on, there are romances blossoming.  Before Dance with the Devil begins, Dani and Rafe have already begun to hopelessly fall for each other.  You know.  I know it.  Their friends know.  It just takes the pair a while to give in to the idea.  While they infiltrate Atlanta power circles, they do the dance (with each other and the devil).  While under cover, they happen upon Rafe’s sister Tessa, who is in her own world of trouble.  The addition of Rafe’s family, along with Rainbow (from the last book) top off the story with a lovely layer of heartwarming emotion.

This third book in the series brings back almost every character from the first two books.  I’m not a fan of a crowded cast of characters, but in this case, one might argue it was necessary.  The story appears to build to a possible series ending showdown, but the last few pages tease the reader with a conceivable future storyline. 

Fans of post-apocalyptic fiction who like a little romance in their scifi should consider this series.  Dance with the Devil is best read after reading the first two books.

Through NetGalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book. My review is my honest opinion. 

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About Dance with the Devil by Kit Rocha

Tobias Richter, the fearsome VP of Security of the TechCorps is dead. The puppetmaster is gone and the organization is scrambling to maintain control by ruthlessly limiting Atlanta’s access to resources, hoping to quell rebellion. Our band of mercenary librarians have decided that the time for revolution has come.

Maya uses her wealth of secrets to weaken the TechCorps from within. Dani strikes from the shadows, picking off the chain of command one ambush at a time. And Nina is organizing their community—not just to survive, but to fight back. When Maya needs to make contact with a sympathetic insider, Dani and Rafe are the only ones with the skill-set and experience to infiltrate the highest levels of the TechCorps. They’ll go deep undercover in the decadent, luxury-soaked penthouses on the Hill.

Bringing Dani face-to-face with the man who turned her into a killer. And forcing Rafe to decide how far he’ll go to protect both of his families—the one he was born to, and the one he made for himself.

Victory will break the back of Power. Failure will destroy Atlanta.

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The Devil You Know (Mercenary Librarians, #2) by Kit Rocha – Review

Tags

5 stars, Atlanta, Book Review, Kit Rocha, librarian, Post Apocalyptic, scifi, scifi romance, series, supersoldiers

About The Devil You Know by Kit Rocha

Maya has had a price on her head from the day she escaped the TechCorps. Genetically engineered for genius and trained for revolution, there’s only one thing she can’t do―forget.

Gray has finally broken free of the Protectorate, but he can’t escape the time bomb in his head. His body is rejecting his modifications, and his months are numbered.

When Maya’s team uncovers an operation trading in genetically enhanced children, she’ll do anything to stop them. Even risk falling back into the hands of the TechCorps.

And Gray has found a purpose for his final days: keeping Maya safe.

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Review of The Devil You Know

In The Devil You Know, the Mercenary Librarians continue with their mission in a post-apocalyptic Atlanta.  A mission to make the world a better place for everyone, not just the elite in power.   Working in secret and against a powerful force, they will come up against one of the most powerful villains they can face. 

This story centers on Maya and Gray.  Maya is the one among the gang that does not have any enhanced physical abilities.  But what she does have is an eidetic memory.  Which can be a superpower.   It can also be a source of sensory overload.  Her former job as a data courier put her in a very dangerous and in demand position. 

Gray’s sniper background is not filled in as well as Maya, but he is one of the more interesting characters.  His extremely cool façade and nerves of steel may lead some to think he is sociopathic.  But Maya gets to know him and finds he is a quiet loner and much more.  His impending death due to the failure of his super soldier implant adds an emotional charge to the relationship.

Each chapter begins with a memo, log entry or part of a memoir.  They can be difficult to decipher since subjects are coded and names are left out.  I could do without them.

The ensemble is increased with the addition of outsider rebels who are going to stir things up.  Also, children who have been genetically-manipulated.  It is always hard for me not to adore cute kids, especially those that have had a tough time.

I thought book 2 was even better than the first book.  The first book was mostly action while the second book had a little more focus on character development.  The result is a story equally balanced between exciting missions, compelling characters and passionate romance.  There are also hints at things to come in a series that must be continued.  The Devil You Know can be read as a standalone but is part of a great series.

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The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson, Katie Schorr, Narrator – Audiobook Review

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5 stars, Appalachia, audiobook, Book Review, books, historical, Katie Schorr, Kentucky, librarian, Michele Richardson, Racism

About The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

The hardscrabble folks of Troublesome Creek have to scrap for everything—everything except books, that is. Thanks to Roosevelt’s Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project, Troublesome’s got its very own traveling librarian, Cussy Mary Carter.

Cussy’s not only a book woman, however, she’s also the last of her kind, her skin a shade of blue unlike most anyone else. Not everyone is keen on Cussy’s family or the Library Project, and a Blue is often blamed for any whiff of trouble. If Cussy wants to bring the joy of books to the hill folks, she’s going to have to confront prejudice as old as the Appalachias and suspicion as deep as the holler.

Inspired by the true blue-skinned people of Kentucky and the brave and dedicated Kentucky Pack Horse library service of the 1930s, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a story of raw courage, fierce strength, and one woman’s belief that books can carry us anywhere—even back home.

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Review of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

As a librarian, this story of the travelling librarian appealed to me even if it not typical of my usual fare.  This is such a good story and so relevant today with all the issues of racism.  While Cussy’s skin color is blue, the prejudices are the same.

The author’s research resulted in a rich tale of the blue-skinned people of Kentucky, the Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project and of the Appalachian life.  Coal miner mistreatment, very poor hill people and domestic violence are also part of the story.  Luckily along with tales of the bad behavior, there are plenty of good aspects of the book too.

I was especially charmed by the moonshiner who did not like it when his family read books instead of doing their chores.  Cussy managed to find books or magazines that would improve the families ability to hunt, fish, sew and cook.  So dad went along and eventually, encouraged his family to read.  Book Woman is a heroine!

The narrator, Katie Schorr, brought intelligence and emotion to Cussy’s voice.  There were many sad, teary moments.  But they were offset by the very good moments.  And a happy ending!

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