Xepherus Reads

  Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,   Secret of Secrets had its official release last Tuesday. To celebrate, let's visit books one through five.      Angels and Demons is the first novel chronologically in the Robert Langdon series of adventure novels written by Dan Brown. The edition that I read was published by Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. In it, we are introduced to Professor Robert Langdon. A  famous symbologist, his work researching the Illuminati in the past drew him into the academic spotlight. Comfortable in his position as a Harvard professor, Langdon has led a quiet life; t his changes when Langdon travels to Geneva, Switzerland. There, he meets with  Maximillian  Kohler at his CERN research facility.  A fellow scientist named Leonardo Vetra has been murdered. On the dead man's chest is branded the name Illuminati.    Upon in...

  Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,       The final girl. She can be anyone strong enough to break through the chaos that surrounds her and defeat her adversary. Sidney Prescott, Laurie Strode, and Kirsty Cotton come to mind when I think of a strong final girl from the movies. But who are my top 5 heroines in books that overcame the odds?   Here is my list of the Top 5 Final Girls in books. My book reviews are linked below. 5) Quincy Carpenter from  Final Girls by Riley Sager . After her friends are butchered at a cabin, Quincy is found wandering the woods by authorities. Years later, her recovery has led to a popular blog and television notoriety as a survivor. But a serial killer has resurfaced, murdering those the news labels as Final Girls. Can she survive a second time, or will this killer finish what he started?  4) Flora Dane from  Lisa Gardner's Find Her  was kidnapped by notorious serial killer, Jacob Ness. For over four hun...

  Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,      It's my turn! Let's see what books I picked to complete my Spooky Season Book Tag. My review links are added to each choice. Pumpkin Spice  (a book that you loved curling up with)-  Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson . I used an entire Sunday in bed with this book. Set during the Gold Rush of the 1800s, it is the story of a young woman with supernatural abilities she uses to find gold. It is a fantastic journey through history.  Ghoulish  (a book villain that was so scary, you doubted they were human)- Mr. Dinchara from  Lisa Gardner's Say Goodbye . A demented serial killer, Dinchara hangs his victims cocooned from trees. And he has a few hundred spiders as pets.  Bump in the Night  (a book that had you scared of noises in the night)-  The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty . This one had me jumpy the first time I read it, and it continues to creep me out. The spider walk scen...

  Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,      Halloween is my favorite holiday. And when September rolls around, it's time to celebrate Spooky Season.    Get ready for the 2025 Spooky Season Book Tag in no particular order: Pumpkin Spice  (a book that you loved curling up with)- Ghoulish  (a book villain that was so scary, you doubted they were human)- Bump in the Night  (a book that had you scared of noises in the night)- Creatures of the Night  (a book featuring scary beasts)- This House for Sale  (a book featuring a terrifying haunted house)- Poor Unfortunate Souls  (a book featuring a tragic character)- Final Destination  (a book featuring the craziest death)- She Went Bad  (a character that turns from good to bad) Underneath the Bed  (a villain you would never want underneath your bed)- Trick or Treat  (a book that takes place on Halloween)-      I will follow up with my picks soon. L...

  Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,          Research was the name of the game in July as I began writing my second novel. Utilizing feedback from my Beta Readers, I also reformatted and worked on the final edits of Days to Die.     In August, I decided to take a break and finally read a new book. Sarah Pearse's follow-up to The Sanitorium , The Retreat, was an excellent distraction. It was fast-paced and featured a cliff-hanger ending that had me excited to continue the series. It was another four-star read in the DC Elin Warner series.    Heading into Spooky Season, I am excited for Pumpkin Spice everything, Autumn, and Halloween. I have many thrillers on my TBR. Let's see how many I can read as I continue to write my second novel. My September aspirations include: A Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown The Butcher and the Wren b y Alaina Urquhart The Wilds by Sarah Pearse With a Vengeance ...

  Hello, Fellow Bookworms and Book Dragons,       Exciting things have been happening in June.    My debut novel has been in the hands of Beta Readers for a month, and the feedback has been positive. It is exciting, many thanks to them for their part in my publishing journey.   June also included a 2-day trip to New York City, a graduation, and some fun road trips to get me away from my keyboard. It was a much-needed break.  Reading started again, as I began researching for my second novel. I also added some awesome books to my TBR.      July TBR: A Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh Holly by Stephen King Sorcery and Small Magics by   Maiga Doocy Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner The Butcher and the Wren b y   Alaina Urquhart      Let me know  what you are reading  in the comments below. Follow me on social media by visiting my  Linktree . I am preparing my debut novel for publi...