Maya's Reviews

Walruses... are they our friend or foe? It's October, everybody, so buckle up for some horror movie reviews. This time, I have my friend Rory—who is terrified of walruses—review Tusk with me!

Beware... there are spoilers ahead. ---

I've been meaning to put this episode out for a while, but life happens. Here are my thoughts on the entirety of the Insidious franchise—my reviews, my rankings, and my recommendations.

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// Franchise Information //

Genre: Horror

Studio: Blumhouse

Budget: $42.5 million

Box Office: $728.6 million

MPA Rating: PG-13

- Insidious (2010): directed by James Wan

- Insidious 2 (2013): directed by James Wan

- Insidious 3 (2015): directed by Leigh Whannell

- Insidious 4: The Last Key (2018): directed by Adam Robitel

- Insidious 5: The Red Door (2023): directed by Patrick Wilson

Recurring Cast/Characters:

- Josh Lambert played by Patrick Wilson

- Renai Lambert played by Rose Byrne

- Dalton Lambert played by Ty Simpkins

- Elise Rainier played by Lin Shaye

- Steven "Specs" played by Leigh Whannell

- Tucker played by Angus Sampson

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I've seen this movie twice now, and I cried both times. I have been looking forward to this movie since it was announced—it exceeded expectations.

*I am currently in the process of trying to repair my camera/get a new one, so please be patient with me, as the next few episodes will be audio-only. Thank you!*

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// Barbie Information //

Director: Greta Gerwig

Studio(s): Mattel

Genre(s): Fantasy, Comedy, Adventure

Release Date: July 21, 2023

Average Rating on Letterboxd (out of 5): 4.1

MPA Rating: PG-13

Length: 114 minutes

Budget: $128–145 million

Box Office Earnings: $1.076 billion

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Cillian Murphy? Emily Blunt? Florence Pugh? Robert Downey Jr.? Rami Malek? I mean... what more could you ask for in a cast?

Long time, no see! I am (hopefully) back for more regularly posted episodes. *I am currently in the process of trying to repair my camera/get a new one, so please be patient with me, as the next few episodes will be audio-only. Thank you!*

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// Movie Information //

Director: Christopher Nolan

Studio(s): Universal Pictures

Genre(s): Drama, History

Release Date: July 21, 2023

Average Rating on Letterboxd (out of 5): 4.3

MPA Rating: R

Length: 180 minutes

Budget: $100 million

Box Office Earnings: $590.3 million

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I went and saw M3GAN for my birthday on Friday the 13th. Was it worth it? 100%

Does Megan listen to punk rock? Is she truly a horse girl at heart? You decide. I apologize for what sounds like an airplane taking off constantly in the background. My microphone decided to pick up my 16 year old laptop trying not to overheat and explode. 

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// Movie Information //

Director: Gerard Johnstone

Studio(s): Blumhouse Productions

Genre(s): Comedy, Horror

Release Date: January 6, 2023

Average Rating on Letterboxd (out of 5): 3.3

MPA Rating: PG-13

Length: 102 minutes

Budget: $12 million

Box Office Earnings: $61.2 million

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The Menu is a movie I have been anticipating for a while, and today I'm delving into my thoughts. Happy Thanksgiving, if you celebrate!

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// Movie Information //

Director: Mark Mylod

Studio(s): Searchlight Pictures  

Genre(s): Comedy, Thriller, Horror

Release Date: November 18, 2022

Average Rating on Letterboxd (out of 5): 3.8

MPA Rating: R

Length: 107 minutes

Budget: $30 million

Box Office Earnings: $16.2 million

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I was lucky enough to have the chance to interview Joyce Chopra, director of Smooth Talk, and author of Lady Director. Lady Director is set to be published NOVEMBER 22, 2022.

“Joyce Chopra’s career spanned six decades, and her perspectives are thoughtful and broad, including stories about how she navigated monumental shifts in her craft and in the culture at large. She has wonderful anecdotes about working with Laura Dern and Treat Williams, as well as her deep friendships with Gene Wilder and Arthur Miller, plus bruising encounters with Harvey Weinstein and Sydney Pollack”.

Happy Halloween! I hope your October was fantastic and spooky.  For me, I'm sad its almost over. Join me for a special Halloween episode where I go over my top 10 horror movies! 

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I had a lot of anticipation for Smile. The combination of the advertising and reviews was enough to make me see this movie as soon as I could. Want to know whether Smile is worth seeing in theaters? Buckle up and listen to hear my opinions of this movie.

Please be aware that this movie deals heavily with suicide!

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JUSTICE FOR DEE WARNER - Resources Below

Go into watching Barbarian knowing as little as possible... though, please be aware that there are some prevalent issues in this movie that require content warnings—I go over them in the episode. 

"SOME STAY FOR A NIGHT. SOME STAY FOR A WEEK. SOME NEVER LEAVE.  In town for a job interview, a young woman arrives at her Airbnb late at night only to find that it has been mistakenly double-booked and a strange man is already staying there. Against her better judgement, she decides to stay the night anyway, but soon discovers that there is much more to be afraid of in the house than the other house guest."

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// Movie Information //

Director: Zach Cregger

Studio(s): 20th Century Studios

Genre(s): Horror 

Release Date: September 9, 2022

Average Rating on Letterboxd (out of 5): 3.8

MPA Rating: R

Length: 102 minutes

Budget: $10.5 Million

Box Office Earnings: $17.1 Million

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Happy October, everybody! It's officially Halloween season, y'all.  Join me while I go over my list of 31 days worth of movies that I hope to watch this October leading up to and on Halloween!  Stay tuned for some exciting things this October regarding my blog and podcast.

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If you have not seen Don't Worry Darling yet... go watch it!!! It's best to know as little as possible before watching, this movie is phenomenal!  I was hesitating to review this movie til later in October, but I could not wait.

// Content Warnings: death, violence, alcohol usage, suicide // 

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// Movie Information //

Director: Olivia Wilde

Studio(s): Warner Bros. Pictures

Genre(s): Thriller, Mystery, Drama

Release Date: September 23, 2022

Average Rating on Letterboxd (out of 5): 

MPA Rating: R

Length: 123 minutes

Budget: $35 Million

Box Office Earnings: $30.2 Million

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After putting off reading the Shadow and Bone trilogy for years, I finally read the fantastic series and am so excited to be able to review the entire trilogy today!  Just a fair warning that there will most likely be spoilers for the series as the episode progresses since the books build off one another.

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SURPRISE! An extra episode in between my review of They/Them and the Shadow and Bone series. SPOILER AND AD FREE!

Prey (2022) is a prequel to Predator (1987). "On the Great Plains in 1719, Naru, a fierce and highly skilled Comanche warrior, sets out to protect her people when an unknown danger threatens them. But the prey she’s stalking turns out to be a highly evolved alien predator with a technically advanced arsenal."

// Content Warnings: abduction, death, death of animals, gore, violence //

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// Movie Information //

Director: Dan Trachtenberg

Studio(s): 20th Century Studios

Genre(s): Thriller, Action

Release Date: August 5, 2022

Average Rating on Letterboxd (out of 5): 3.7

MPA Rating: R

Length: 100 minutes

Budget: $65 million

Box Office Earnings: N/A - streaming on Hulu

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They/Them is getting some less than exciting reviews, and so I thought to myself... why not watch it and see for myself? I was fairly excited for this movie and decided to watch it in a tent in the pitch-black nighttime to immerse myself in the horror movie vibe.  Let's just say I definitely have some thoughts about this slasher film.

Content Warnings: death, homophobia, transphobia, physical and psychological torture, pedophilia, animal abuse, animal death, mention of animal torture, sexism, violence

Please be aware that there will be spoilers later in this review, thank you!

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// Movie Information //

Director: John Logan 

Studio(s): Blumhouse Productions

Genre(s): Thriller, Horror

Release Date: August 5, 2022

Average Rating on Letterboxd (out of 5): 1.6

MPA Rating: TV-MA

Length: 101 minutes

Budget: N/A

Box Office Earnings: N/A

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As promised, I am starting to branch out my podcast to include reviews of movies.  First on my list, since I was able to see it recently in theaters, is 'Nope'! Directed by Jordan Peele, creator of 'Get Out' and 'Us', the movie follows two siblings whose horse ranch is shadowed by a strange phenomenon.

Bear with me as I get a hang of reviewing movies... it is very different from reviewing books, haha.

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// Movie Information //

Director: Jordan Peele

Studio(s): Universal Pictures, Monkeypaw Productions

Genre(s): Horror, Thriller, Science fiction, Mystery

Release Date: July 22, 2022

Average Rating on Letterboxd: 4.0

MPA Rating: R

Length: 131 minutes

Budget: $68 million

Box Office Earnings: $98 million

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This is the second novel I have read by Kiersten White, and though it is a stark difference from Hide, I absolutely loved Padawan. This is the perfect novel for those wanting to read about Obi-Wan Kenobi’s journey of self-discovery on his way to becoming a better padawan.  "Obi-Wan Kenobi struggles with his place in the Force as a young Padawan in this coming-of-age adventure!"

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JUSTICE FOR DEE WARNER - Resources Below

I find it very difficult to review this novel because I am not quite sure how I feel about it. There were many intriguing aspects that I loved but there were also many things that I didn’t enjoy about Wake the Bones.  Wake the Bones follows the story of Laurel Early, who just came back from college looking forward to returning to her normal life.  Unfortunately, she is thrust into a world of darkness when her late mother's past becomes entangled with her own and a devil comes to haunt her and her friends. Laurel must use the magic she has to protect all she has known from a villainous shadow that lurks just around the corner.

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A huge thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

// Content Warnings: mental and physical abuse, violence, suicide, dental trauma, guns, postpartum depression, drug usage, animal death, blood, and abuse by an alcoholic parent //

Please educate yourself on the content warnings for this novel before reading, as I may have missed some in my review.

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Didn't I tell ya I'd try my best to put out new content? Well, lookee here... a new review!

This time I review a new book by Kiersten White, a horror novel taking place in an abandoned amusement park where 14 competitors must hide or else something sinister might find them. A brilliantly written horror novel that kept me interested from start to finish, Hide exhibits a broad and unique cast of characters, each trying their best to survive the horrifying circumstances they unknowingly introduced themselves to.

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huge thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

// Content warnings: child abuse, suicide, murder, murder of a child, attempted murder, gore //

Please educate yourself on the content warnings for this novel before reading, as I may have missed some in my review.

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It has been an insanely long time since the last episode... January? Crazy.  Alas, I am back with a review of Dean Koontz's upcoming novel, The Big Dark Sky!

The Big Dark Sky is a brilliantly written novel following the stories of various characters all connected to a mystery at the center of the spiderweb they’ve been caught in. Full of suspense and showcasing Koontz’s excellent writing style, The Big Dark Sky maintains Koontz as one of the best thriller writers.

ON SALE JULY 19, 2022

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A huge thank you to Amazon Publishing and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

// Content warnings: animal attacks, cult, death, mature content, mention of cannibalism, mention of incest, mention of teen pregnancy, mentions of child abuse, mentions of self-mutilation, mentions of sexual assault, murder //

Please educate yourself on the content warnings for this novel before reading, as I may have missed some in my review. This novel contains many dark themes that can be disturbing to some.

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Daughter is the chilling story of a teen thrown into a world of pain and depravity upon the discovery that her previously unknown father is actually an infamous serial killer. Thrilling at every turn, McLaughlin’s upcoming novel boasts a disturbing parallel to our world’s most notorious killers, told through the eyes of a brave teen willing to do whatever it takes to bring any possible ounce of closure to the families of her father’s victims. 

ON SALE MARCH 8, 2022 

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A huge thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. 

// Book Content Warnings: death, mentions of violence, mentions of murder, mentions of sexual assault, mentions of necrophilia, sexual content, drug use // – Please educate yourself on the content warnings for this book before reading, as I may have missed some here.

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I had the lovely opportunity to chat with Benjamin Ryan about Beckoning of the Gate, the first novel in his series The Vāyilian Threads.

"The only life Santha Lathagin has ever known has become her prison. Vicious gossip is everywhere. Whispers of a scandal have turned to accusations of murder, and fingers are pointing her way. Feeling powerless and alone, she yearns for escape. When Santha stumbles upon a small, rusted key in the forest near her home, it seems her silent pleas have been answered. Awakened by her touch, the key demands to be heard—and she is not the only one to heed its call. Thrust into a world only glimpsed in the stories of her childhood—of faeries and princes and eldritch magick— Santha sets out to unlock its secrets. But uncovering the truth has its own perils, and as the key’s influence grows, she will be left with a choice: survival or sacrifice. But will it truly be hers to make? … All the while, in the north, something ancient stirs. A great power that could unravel the very threads of existence."

Thank you so much to Benjamin Ryan for coming on the podcast!

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// Book Content Warnings: violence, death, sexual assault, harassment // – Please educate yourself on the potential content warnings for this novel before reading, as I may have missed some here.

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Because I had never read a novel by Paul Vidich before, I started reading this novel with no idea of what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised by the brilliant mystery within The Matchmaker: A Spy in Berlin‘s pages that ended with an epic demonstration of a woman’s determination.

ON SALE FEBRUARY 1, 2022

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Thank you to Pegasus Crime for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

// Book Content Warning: death, murder, mentions of suicide, mentions of drowning, violence, sexual content // – Please educate yourself on the content warnings for this book before reading, as I may have missed some here.

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I would wish you all a happy new year in the show notes, but I physically cannot due to the passing of Betty White.  Rest in peace Betty. I found out right after editing this episode. 

Such a Pretty Smile is a chill-inducing novel that examines the patriarchy and sexism through a terrifying tale of death and mystery. Oozing horror at every flip of the page, I could not put this electrifying novel down until I read it cover to cover. Filled with relatable characters and emotion, Such a Pretty Smile was overtly thrilling, blood-curdling, and above all, powerful.

ON SALE JANUARY 18, 2022

A quote from Such a Pretty Smile: “Those pure, innocent girls kept from anything that defined them in the name of protection, while their brothers carried on as if there was nothing to fear. But for them, there wasn’t. They would never understand the inherent trepidation that came as a result of being wrapped in girl flesh.”

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Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

// Book Content Warnings: alcohol, blood, gore, mention of homophobia, mental illness, panic attacks, violence, disassociation, implied sexual content, sexual content, mention of sexual harassment, insanity, intrusive thoughts, disturbing scenes, death, death of an animal, graphic violence, sexism, pedophilia, sexual assault, sexual harassment, murder // – As always, please educate yourself on the content warnings for this novel before reading. This novel is especially heavy and contains many disturbing and dark scenes/themes that can make one very uncomfortable.

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Happy Holidays, everyone! Merry Christmas if you celebrate! Enjoy the AD FREE episode, in the spirit of the holidays. Sorry about the construction... and the trains!

Thrilling and adventurous, Meg Long’s debut novel is a solid sci-fi with compelling characters and obstacles set upon an icy planet that welcomes peril at every turn.

ON SALE JANUARY 11, 2022

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Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

// Book Content Warnings: animal cruelty, death, murder, violence // – Please educate yourself on the content warnings for this novel before reading, as I may have missed some in my review.

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A beautifully written and magical tale, the first novel in The Vāyilian Threads series is a masterpiece full of adventure, danger, and high stakes. Unlike any fantasy novel I have read before, Beckoning of the Gate was a fantastically thrilling and compelling journey that left me yearning for more.  Thanks to everyone for being so patient with the delay in this episode.

Rather than have a new review and episode every week, I feel I would have better quality reviews and episodes if I were to change my schedule to a review and episode every other week.  This schedule change will go into effect next week.  Thank you!

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A huge thank you to Benjamin J. Ryan and Odyssey Books for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

// Book Content Warnings: violence, death, sexual assault, harassment // – Please educate yourself on the potential content warnings for this novel before reading, as I may have missed some here.

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How have we already made it to episode 30? I have no idea, but thank you so much for being here!  I hope everyone had an amazing and safe Thanksgiving with their family and stuffed their face with food. Today's episode is a review of Old Music for New People, a YA contemporary and coming-of-age story that features an amazing trans character and their horrible family.  Join me today while Poppy (my dog, for those of you new here) sneezes in the background from the amount of transphobia in this book!  Come along for the ride.

Make sure to subscribe and leave a rating/review wherever you listen!

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I recorded this episode before the Oxford shooting but wanted to mention that my heart goes out to the families of those who were killed or injured due to the evilness and selfishness of Ethan Crumbley and his parents.

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Thank you to David Biddle and The Story Plant for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

// Book Content Warnings: transphobia (deadnaming, harassment, etc.), harassment, assault // – Please be aware that I might have missed some potential content warnings. There is a great deal of transphobia and transphobic characters in this novel, so please keep that in mind before reading.

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Taking its rightful spot as my favorite book this year (and maybe of all time), Winterset Hollow is an immaculate mixture of good, evil, darkness, and light that had me hooked from beginning to end. Twisted and unexpected, I could not put this novel down until I knew the outcome of the horrific events that took place in this wonderfully mysterious and suspenseful novel.

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!!!PLEASE SHARE ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA!!!

Dee Warner, 52, went missing on April 24 or early 25. If you have any info, call Detective Greca with the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office at 517-264-5364.  More information about Dee's disappearance is available in the two articles I have linked below.

I had the opportunity to interview Carly Heath, author of The Reckless Kind.  "Set in 1904, on an island just west of Norway, the novel follows a trio of queer teens—two boys and their best friend, Asta—who decide to defy the expectations of their rural Scandinavian village by leaving their families, living on their own, and challenging the town's patriarch in the region's annual winter horse race."  A huge thank you to Carly Heath for coming on the podcast!

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// Book Content Warnings: a scene of violence, bodily harm, suicidal ideation, mention of child abuse, alcoholism //

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Lies in Bone is a curiosity-inducing novel that examines the fragility of humanity and truth through the lens of a teen in the 80’s. Full of family secrets, lies, and discoveries, Natalie Symons' thrilling novel took me on an electrifying ride with its vulnerable and realistic characters.

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A huge thank you to Boyle & Dalton and Natalie Symons for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

// Book Content Warnings: death, murder, kidnapping, pedophilia, alcoholism, mental illness, self-harm, eating disorder, attempted drowning, homophobia (slurs), racism, sexual harassment, sexual assault, violence // – There are some graphic and disturbing scenes in this novel, so please educate yourself on the content warnings before reading, as I might have missed some.

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I started reading Dark Clouds Over Montana for its intriguing plot but was severely disappointed. Although I tried to keep reading, I could not look past how the story was carried out and how boring the characters were. Unfortunately, I ended up DNFing (DNF=did not finish) the book because I couldn’t look past its faults.

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Thank you to Austin Macauley Publishers LLC for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I am unable to provide a full list of content warnings since I was unable to finish reading this novel.

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Happy Halloween, everyone!

The Cities in Dust series follows Halley Clarke as she tries to navigate a post-pandemic world; a world where—supposedly—no one else exists anymore.  This sci-fi adult/young adult series is one that keeps getting better.  Rather than waiting for a third novel in the series, I've decided to review the first two, As The World Falls Down and The Last Place on Earth.  Just a heads up, there will be spoilers for the first novel during my review of the second novel, as it is practically unavoidable.

I am beyond excited to share my review of Quicksilver by Dean Koontz with all of you lovely listeners!  From start to finish, Quicksilver is unpredictable. Full of lovable characters, constant peril, and a plethora of mystery, Koontz’s newest novel is dark, addictive, and thrilling. With every novel released, Dean Koontz proves that he is a master of storytelling. Quicksilver is the latest in a line of masterpieces.  Mysterious from the start, Quicksilver sucked me in and didn’t spit me out until I had been thoroughly ingrained in the world of Quinn Quicksilver.

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And... I'm back everyone!  Thank you so much for your time and patience while I was on a break from the blog and podcast.  Episode 23 is a review of the fantastic YA contemporary romance novel, You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson.  Listen to hear my thoughts on Liz Lighty and Mack's relationship, the idea of running for prom queen for a scholarship, and finding yourself in a town that rejects you.

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// Content warning: death of a parent, homophobia, racism, bullying, panic attacks, being outed, medical emergency //

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Part 2 of my unofficial Marieke Nijkamp book review week?  Today I will be reviewing Nijkamp's upcoming novel, At The End of Everything, a story about troubled teens in a treatment center having to attempt to survive a mutation of the Black Plague.

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Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

// Content warnings: death, disease, guns, violence // – I am unable to provide a full list of content warnings since I did not finish reading this novel.

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Surprise! Two episodes this week? Huh. This week is sort of a Marieke Nijkamp appreciation(?) week.  Today, I'll be reviewing This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp, but later this week I will be reviewing their upcoming novel, At The End Of Everything.  So, buckle up for this crazy ride and let's get into the review! 

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// Content warning: death, mass shooting, sexual assault, physical abuse, suicide, homophobia // 

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Recently I have had some of you amazing people fill out the Q&A form that I've been talking about!  I've never really discussed anything about me personally, only books.  So I've decided that for the 20th episode of Maya's Reviews: The Podcast, I would conduct a Q&A!

Thank you so much to everyone who asked me questions, it is so very appreciated.

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I am so beyond excited for this review today.  I didn't really know what to expect when I started to read The Origins of Iris by Beth Lewis.  But OMG this novel is a literal masterpiece and one of my favorite books.  I'll be gushing over this novel the entire episode, so just be prepared.  But for REAL, The Origins of Iris is a beyond unique and super important novel that deals with abuse in LGBTQ+ relationships, guilt, self-worth, and finding yourself.

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Thank you to Hodder Studio and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

All quotes are taken from The Origins of Iris by Beth Lewis.

// Content warnings: suicide, abuse (emotional and physical), sexual assault, insanity, language, homophobia, misogyny, and violence //

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I have been wanting to read The Last Namsara, the first in the Iskari series by Kristen Ciccarelli, for a long time.  It has been one of my highest anticipated reads, so I am so glad that it lived up to my expectations!  If you are a fan of the enemies to lovers trope, dragons, and high fantasy, then this one's for you!

I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of the first novel in the Crowns of Croswald series, 'The Crowns of Croswald' by D. E. Night!  I was totally sucked back into my childhood of reading Harry Potter and PJO.  Think those series but with a female MC and a plot that will leave you wanting to read more.

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Thank you so much to Stories Untold Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

// Content warning: mentions of death, violence //

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The Silvertree series is one of my favorite mystery series, with a tinge of romance involved.  It is perfect for those looking for a fairly paced, romantic mystery that involves dark family secrets and dangerous antagonists.  Today, I am reviewing The Patient from Silvertree and The Scientist's Daughter.

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Thank you so much to Marian Dribus for providing me with copies of The Patient from Silvertree and The Scientist's Daughter.

// Content warning: death, murder, mention of suicide, violence, kidnapping //

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It's an understatement to say that I was excited when I had the chance to have a conversation with Charles Wachter, an Emmy-winning television Executive Producer and the author of one of my favorite novels, The Twin Paradox.  I actually reviewed The Twin Paradox here on the pod and on my blog (links below), so I am so happy to be able to share with you this author chat today.

Make sure that you check out Wachter's website and his novel, The Twin Paradox, whose sequel Divine Paradox will be released January 31, 2021.

And a humongous thank you to Charles Wachter for reaching out and chatting with me about his novel!

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I got into reading Dean Koontz novels when my mom gave me a bunch of her Dean Koontz novels from when she was a teenager.  Since then, my love for thrillers and suspense novels has skyrocketed.  I was so excited when I actually received an ARC of Elsewhere by Dean Koontz in the mail that fateful day on January 22, 2021.  I cannot tell you how fast I rushed to read the novel and review it.  So, today I am so excited to be talking about it.

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Thank you so much to Dean Koontz, Thomas & Mercer, and Amazon Publishing for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

// Content warning: death, murder, and violence //

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I am so glad to have been able to read A Call for Brighter Days soon after I read the first novel in The Aeriel Chronicles, A Flight of Broken Wings.  So today, I am reviewing the fabulous sequel.

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Thank you so much to Nupur Chowdhury for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

All quotes are taken from A Call for Brighter Days by Nupur Chowdhury.

// Content warning: death, violence, torture, mentions of sexual assault, mature content //

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I first read A Corner of the Universe as a child for required reading.  However, recently, my friend Mackie and I decided to reread the novel and discuss it on the pod!  I was actually able to fix the audio and make Mackie's audio louder, so ignore the disclaimer at the beginning!

// Content warning: suicide, implied mature content, ableism //

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Sorry that this was not uploaded in time for my livestream, which crashed because of my slow internet anyways so you didn't really miss anything.

Since the last episode was late, here's another one for today!  Nupur Chowdhury reached out to me about reviewing her series, the Aeriel Chronicles, and of course, I was ecstatic!  Before I review the second novel in the series, A Call for Brighter Days, I obviously wanted to review the first.  Today's review is of A Flight of Broken Wings by Nupur Chowdhury.

Thank you to Nupur Chowdhury for reaching out to me about reviewing this novel.

All quotes are taken from A Flight of Broken Wings by Nupur Chowdhury.

//Content warning: death, violence, blood, murder, kidnapping//

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I am a huge fan of Star Wars, and to have been able to receive E. K. Johnston's Queen's Peril before its release was amazing.  I hope you have fun hearing me gush about Padme.

Thank you to Disney Lucasfilm Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel.

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Here's to the start of another amazing week.  This week you'll be getting three episodes, and here is the first!  Today I am reviewing We Take Care of Our Own by Christopher Clancy.

Thank you to Christopher Clancy and Montag Press for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

All quotes are taken from We Take Care of Our Own by Christopher Clancy.

//Content warning: mature content, death, alcohol, violence (guns), mentions of abortion, self-harm, war, suicide, animal cruelty, abuse//

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!!!!AD FREE!!!!

While today's episode is far shorter than others, I hope you enjoy my mini-review of Under Another Sun by D. M. Siciliano.

Thank you to D. M. Siciliano for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

//CW: death, alcohol//