J'avais des astres dans les yeux

Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant is an exciting survival horror story.

I borrowed it from the library because I kept seeing it on various "read these books" lists even thought it's a few years old already, and I've wanted to read more horror books lately.
Yet, I recall looking at the cover in my Kindle library and thinking "ugh okay let's get this one over with" since I have NOT been on a roll with picking books to read this year. Well, was I an absolute fool to put this one off because this book kicks ass.

Into the Drowning Deep reminds me so much of Crichton's Timeline in structure. (I adore Timeline too 💛) Both novels start out with a slow build-up—about 100 pages worth—before getting in to scenes packed with enough action to be movie worthy (don't watch the Timeline movie though, it's so botched) and peppered with iffy science throughout.
I WISH this book was a movie because I liked it so much I want to talk about it, but none of my friends and family read enough lmao. Ah, it could be so good as a movie because part of the story involves a mockumentary, imagine the sweet gimmicks you could pull off with that in a film. Anyway,

This novel is a fun thriller and I would love a sequel because I'm dying for more!

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir has got to be, hands down, my favorite read of the year. How could I find anything as good in the last four months of the year? Unless it's, you know, maybe Harrow the Ninth (but I have yet to get my hands on it).

( Cut for length )

( SPOILERS MAYBE )

In summary: this book was amazing. I love it dearly. And please take a very good look at the cover because it took me so long to realize in the kindle thumbnail that Gideon is wearing sunglasses. I love her so much. Muir's excellent, refreshing, writing style and the plethora of characters are not to be overlooked! Look at them!

The Falcon of Sparta by Conn Iggulden takes two things I love and melds them together flawlessly. A real historical account and a story about trust. It blends a part of Xenophon's own recounting ( Anabasis ) of the Persian civil war of 401BCE with a fantasy telling of the lives of the Greek mercenaries hired to fight in it.

( Review below )