Raptor Red by Robert T. Bakker

Raptor Red by Robert T. Bakker, 246 pages

From the MARC: "The life of a dinosaur in the prehistoric swamps of Utah. When her mate is killed on a hunting expedition she teams up with her sister, a mother of three, and the novels follows their struggle to eat and survive in a dangerous world."

This book is written from Raptor Red's perspective, and Bakker did a solid job of making it feel realistic and not too anthropomorphic. Raptor Red's world is harsh and unyielding, feeling all at once familiar and alien. Which of course it is, given how much our planet has changed between epochs. Very interesting book, would recommend if you're looking for something a little different. 

 

The Boy Wonder by Juni Ba

The Boy Wonder by Juni Ba

The Boy Wonder (2024) #1-5, 184 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

The young prince Damian Wayne was raised to be the heir to the fearsome League of Assassins--to follow in the footsteps of his deadly mother, Talia, and the Demon's Head himself, his grandfather Ra's al Ghul. But everything changed when his father, the Batman, reclaimed him and brought him back to Gotham City.

As Robin, young Damian suddenly discovered he was merely one of a number of princes, preceded in the role by his brothers Nightwing, Red Hood, and Red Robin...and Damian doesn't care to be merely anything.

But when his father is forced to leave the city on urgent business, and a rash of abductions is accompanied by whispers of a demon stalking Gotham's dark alleys, Damian will find himself battling alongside his adoptive brothers--and in the process, learning what the mantle of Robin really means!

Absolute Batman Vol. 3: Devil's Workshop by Scott Snyder, et al.

 Absolute Batman Vol. 3: Devil's Workshop by Scott Snyder, et al.-208 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta's Absolute Batman continues to gain momentum, as The Joker, Poison Ivy, and the Court of Owls join the New York Times bestselling series!

Batman won his explosive battle with Bane, but his friends will never be the same—and he might not be able to help them, even if he crosses worlds and enlists the help of a god to do it.

Meanwhile, another of Ark M's residents will be unleashed on Gotham. And the biggest question of all still remains…what is the true identity of the man behind everything? Legendary artist Jock reunites with writer Scott Snyder to tell one version of the story Alfred’s been chasing for years, and a one-shot explores the origins of Ark M!

Volume 3 collects the Absolute Batman 2025 Annual, Absolute Batman: Ark M, and Absolute Batman #15-18.

Thoughts: This was a good read. I continue to enjoy reading this series (and all the "Absolute" DC series so far). An alternate Poison Ivy is introduced in this volume and Wonder Woman makes an appearance. The ultimate villain/supervillain is Jack Grimm, though, and that's who Batman is ultimately after. I look forward to the next volume. 

Clown in a Cornfield 4: Lights! Camera! Frendo! by Adam Cesare

 Clown in a Cornfield 4: Lights! Camera! Frendo! by Adam Cesare-384 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Let the killing continue in Lights! Camera! Frendo! It’s the fourth installment of Adam Cesare’s Bram Stoker Award-winning series, and this time Frendo goes Hollywood – with all the blood, guts, and mayhem you’d expect from the series that spawned the blockbuster motion picture.

Sabrina Alvarez is pretty much a nobody—until she lands the starring role in the big budget film based on the Kettle Springs Massacre. Sabrina knows she should be on top of the world. She’s going to be THE Quinn Maybrook, Final Girl of Final Girls, national hero and certified badass. But as soon as Sabrina gets to Kettle Springs, she just can’t quite shake the feeling that something’s off. A spate of deaths, an out-of-control director, a town decimated by loss and divided by anger, and a movie designed to glorify it all. Something bad is brewing, and this time, it’s all on film.

A meditation on the villains inside us all, it’s the latest installment of Adam Cesare’s Bram Stoker Award-winning series, Clown in a Cornfield.

Thoughts: This was a pretty good read. I've liked all of them in the series so far (although the third one has been my least favorite). It took a little bit for this to pick up, but when it did the action was heart-pounding. I liked the central idea (a book about making a movie of the first book) of this book, also. This might be my favorite series of horror books. There may be a fifth one coming at some point and I would welcome that, especially if a certain character returns. 

Pig Wife by Abbey Luck

Pig Wife by Abbey Luck

540 pages

⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Mary had a bad feeling even before they arrived at dead Aunt Pearl’s house. Dragged to a remote mining town so her mom and stepdad can settle Pearl’s estate, Mary can't wait to escape from her wreck of a family—but she’s stuck with them in the middle of nowhere. After a vicious fight, Mary runs off to hide in an abandoned gold mine. Her escape plan backfires when she realizes she’s trapped inside. Even more terrifying… she’s not alone.

Loving a Vampire Is Total Chaos by Aura Hayes

Loving a Vampire Is Total Chaos by Aura Hayes -- 376 pages

Celine Brennan should be riding the high of her recent promotion to detective, but instead she’s been saddled with a case no one can seem to solve with murders so gruesome others before her have quit. Not to mention, there’s something suspicious with a new club in town and her focus keeps being pulled from the case she should be devoting her attention to.

Zavier Lockwood is old. Three-hundred-years old to be precise and he’s bored because of it. Killing the scum of Chicago and cleaning up the streets since the cops can’t seem to do it is his favorite pastime. Until he lays eyes on Celine. Soon, he finds his obsession with her far more tempting than murder. After all, no vampire can resist the allure of their mate.

As their paths cross thanks to Zavier’s uncanny ability to be wherever Celine is they both come to realize there’s something far more nefarious going on in the city they both love. They’ll have to work together to get to the bottom of it, but what happens when Celine realizes the man she’s falling for isn’t only not human, but he’s the same one committing the crimes she’s supposed to solve?

Who Is Dolly Parton? by True Kelley

Who Is Dolly Parton? by True Kelley -- 105 pages

I listened to the audio version of this book.  I enjoy these short biographies for kids and usually learn some new information about the subject.  This book was interesting.  However, I found it confusing as it kept jumping around through time.  It would flit between from the 60s to the 80s and then back to the 70s.  I also didn't realize when I started listening that it was written back in 2014 so there was quite a bit left out.  Overall, not the best book in the series but still interesting for those who like Dolly Parton.