The Things Gods Break

 By:  Abigal Owen  

Location: FIC OWE

Genre:  Mythology

Series:  The Crucible #2

Number one in the series is:  The Games Gods Play

”Some things, no matter if they are destined to face imminent doom, are too precious not to be protected”

Lyra may have survived the Crucible, but now she faces an even more dangerous test - a deadly race against time begins in Tartarus.
You'd think I'd have learned by now:
Don't mouth off to deities.
Don't fall for the King of the Underworld.
And definitely don't get dragged into a divine death match where I'm the cursed mortal prize.
But here I am-trapped in Tartarus, humanity's worst pit stop, squaring off against monsters who make the gods look merciful. Titans, twisted by centuries of rage and ruin, are sealed behind seven ancient locks.
And guess what? I'm the key.
To escape, I'll have to survive every horrifying trial they throw at me.
To win, I might have to become something the gods never saw coming.
Oh, and Hades? He's about to break every rule the gods ever wrote.
Because to save me...the god of death will burn the world.
But if I break free? So do the Titans. And the world won't just suffer-it'll beg for the end.
The games continue in the thrilling and highly anticipated follow-up to the bestselling The Games Gods Play. Welcome to Tartarus!

The gods want her dead...Hades will bury them.

You’d think I’d have learned by now:
Don’t mouth off to deities.
Don’t fall for the King of the Underworld.
And definitely don’t get dragged into a divine death match where I’m the cursed mortal prize.

But here I am―trapped in Tartarus, humanity’s worst pit stop, squaring off against monsters who make the gods look merciful. Titans, twisted by centuries of rage and ruin, are sealed behind seven ancient locks.

And guess what?

I'm the key.

To escape, I’ll have to survive every horrifying trial they throw at me.

To win, I might have to become something the gods never saw coming.

Oh, and Hades?

He's about to break every rule the gods ever wrote.

Because to save me...the god of death will burn the world.

But if I break free? So do the Titans.

And the world won’t just suffer―it'll beg for the end.

The Crucible series is best enjoyed in order.
Reading Order:
Book #1 The Games Gods Play
Book #2 The Things Gods Break
Book #3 The Wrath Gods Reap

Bite Risk Series

 By: S.J.Wills  

Location: FIC WIL

Genre:Horror

A blockbuster teen horror series for fans of Skuduggery Pleasant,

What a fantastic read! And such a refreshing new take on the age old ‘whatwolf’ sorry I mean ‘werewolf’ story! Filled with intriguing characters, suspense and heart this was a brilliant read from start to finish. Kirsty

The Last Kids on Earth gets a lupine twist by way of Margaret Peterson Haddix in this eerie middle grade adventure set in a small town where all the adults are werewolves but the kids begin to suspect something else sinister is putting them at even greater risk.

When everyone’s a werewolf, it’s hard to spot the monster…

Thirteen-year-old Sel lives in the remote, isolated town of Tremorglade, where nothing interesting ever seems to happen. Well, unless you count the one night a month when the full moon rises and kids like him must lock up their parents while they transform into werewolves (though Tremorgladers prefer to call them Rippers). But that’s the whole world’s new normal since the Disruption changed everything well before Sel was born.

But when strange things begin happening in Tremorglade, like drones emitting sickening sounds and people behaving oddly, Sel and his friends begin asking questions about what’s really going on in their small town. And suspiciously soon
after they do, Rippers begin escaping on confinement nights, people start disappearing, and the kids suspect they’re being followed.

  Number Two: Caught Dead

In the dead of night, the Immortal rises . . . welcome to the Town of the Turned.

After Sel Archer and his friends uncover a conspiracy that turns the whole world upside down, it seems that the residents of Tremorglade are finally free. Adults can Turn at the full moon with no restrictions, no longer locked in cages and left to roam free. But the town's new found fame is at risk as attacks begin to happen on Howl Night. Rumours of a foul, unkillable beast begin to stir . . . someone or something is plotting to control the Turned once and for all.

A blockbuster teen horror series for fans of Skuduggery Pleasant, join Sel and his friends as they navigate a nail-biting horror story, dodging terrifying adults and even more terrifying beasts. Discover the first heart-pumping instalment with the multi award-shortlisted Bite Ris
Maybe there’s a reason no one ever seems to leave Tremorglade…and it’s up to Sel and his friends to figure out the truth someone doesn’t want them to know before another full moon puts them all at a bite risk.

Unlucky for Some

 By: Tom Wood  

Location: FIC WOO

Genre: Thriller

Malmö, Sweden. What should have been a simple job - to kill the heir of an organised crime family - spirals out of control when assassin-for-hire Victor is shot and wounded.

Forced to hide out in a hostile city while he recuperates, he doesn't realise that multiple enemies are circling to take advantage of his circumstances.

Faced with a vengeful criminal organisation, corrupt officials, ruthless bounty hunters, elite mercenaries, and the most dangerous assassin he's ever faced, Victor's luck has finally run out.

A review by Bodo:

An epic, mesmerising battle for survival

The assassin only known as Victor is currently doing what he does best – planning a hit. He sets a trap for a Swedish kingpin, accounting for every detail with meticulous perfection. He just can’t fathom the ultimate twist: Victor is not the one setting the trap, he is the one who is walking straight into it…

What follows is Tom Wood’s best work to date. A story so full of intrigue, epic battles of will and unforgettable characters that the reader can barely catch a breath in between.

The author expertly weaves a complex tale of real human stakes, betrayal and bloodshed, interspersed with some of the most epic action scenes the series has to offer so far.

The unique selling point of this story is its ability to manoeuvre Victor into a position of unprecedented vulnerability. One really has to wonder if he is going to make it out alive this time around, especially considering the unmatchable foe pitted against him.

The Swedish city of Malmö is the secret gem of this superlative thriller. The pages practically breathe the scandic-noir atmosphere. The city comes to life in all its contradictory beauty and it compliments the dark, morose tone of the story perfectly.

At the end, one can only marvel at Wood’s ability to construct a mesmerising story – and severely hope that the next Victor novel will arrive sooner rather than later!

Softly Calls the Devil

 By: Chris Blake

Location: FIC  BLA

Genre: A Kiwi Thriller

From NZ cop-turned-novelist Chris Blake comes a dark, gripping, intricate crime thriller set on the South Island's wild and remote West Coast


MEET THE AUTHOR: CHRIS BLAKE was born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand. He served briefly in the New Zealand Army's Reserve Force before joining the New Zealand Police. Softly Calls the Devil is his second novel.

Things are going well for Matt Buchanan. After some hard times, life is peaceful as sole-charge constable for the small, isolated settlement of Haast on New Zealand's wild West Coast. He's made friends among the locals, won their trust. He keeps their little world safe. And he's working in spectacular surroundings - the fierce Tasman Sea, the dense beech forest, the dark, cold swamps, the snowy Southern Alps.

But then his much-loved predecessor, Gus, is discovered beside a river with a bullet through his head. He'd been looking into a disturbing murder-suicide from 1978: the parents' bodies were found, but not their daughter's. Suspecting a darker truth, Matt is certain the answers can't be too far away in this close-knit community. How does former forest service ranger Liam, with his gang links, fit into the story? What about Joe, the alcoholic hermit whose knowledge and intelligence seem so at odds with his appearance and lifestyle?

Tensions rise, there are more deaths, people are threatened, memories surface of a cult that went horribly wrong ... Even when support arrives, Matt finds himself pursuing a case that's well outside his remit and is taking him to places he'd sooner not revisit. Also part of an increasingly terrifying situation are an over-curious journalist and a woman who could be someone special.

Matt has managed to shun his own demons, and is desperate not to face them again, but when confronted by the devil himself, he must take action, rediscover something of the person he was - for his own sake and to save those he loves.

This is the work of an award-winning master storyteller. Fast-moving, spare, compelling and rich in laconic humour, Softly Calls the Devil will grab you from the first page and refuse to let go.

Hope- The Autobiography

 By: Pope Francis  

Location: NF 920 FRA

Genre: Life story of Pope Francis

I am not a Catholic,  but this book truly inspired me, this man has honour, integrity and and genuine desire to impact our world for good.

It sprinkles history, football, Italy and Argentinian life and story throughout the pages of hope and meaning.

Really great, cool mix of his theology, worldview, and life story- it is readable is a good yarn!

The wish of Pope Francis was for HOPE, on which he has been working for six years, to be published posthumously. However, with the Jubilee Year of Hope coming in 2025 and the pressing needs of our times have urged Pope Francis to share this personal legacy now.

HOPE is the revelatory first-ever autobiography to be published by a sitting Pope. Beginning in the early years of the twentieth century, Pope Francis tells the story of his life from his childhood in Buenos Aires to his calling and the whole of his papacy to the present day, while reflecting on controversial questions from global conflicts to the future of the Church, and discussing his personal passions from football to tango.

HOPE is both powerful and intimate, inspiring and full of stories never told before. It is the story of a life and, at the same time, a touching moral and spiritual testament that will fascinate readers throughout the world and will represent his legacy of hope for future generations.

The Book Worm Crush

 By: Lisa Brown Roberts  

Location: FIC ROB

Genre: Romance

It can be read as a standalone

Surfer Boy + Bookish Girl = Cutest Story Ever!

Shy bookworm Amy McIntyre is about to compete for the chance to interview her favorite author, who hasn't spoken to the press in years. The only way to win is to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight, but that level of confidence has never come easy.

The solution? A competition coach. The problem? The best person for the job is the guy she's secretly crushing on…local surfer celebrity Toff Nichols.

He’s a player. He’s a heartthrob. He makes her forget basic things, like how to breathe. How can she feel any confidence around him?

To her surprise, Toff agrees to help. And he’s an excellent teacher. Amy feels braver—maybe even brave enough to admit her feelings for him. When their late night practices become less about coaching and more about making out, Amy’s newfound confidence wavers.

But does Toff really like her or is this just another lesson?

Leviathan

 By: Scott Wsterfeld   

Location: FIC WES

Genre: Fantasy- Steampunk

Prince Aleksander, would-be heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battletorn war machine and a loyal crew of men.

Deryn Sharp is a commoner, disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.

With World War I brewing, Alek and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way…taking them on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure that will change both their lives forever.

Recommended For.
People who are looking for a fast-paced, high-action book with great characters and fantastic potential for the rest of the books. People who live in places where they can’t get mobile reception but have an abundance of lizards who seem to listen to your conversations! People who think that the smell of fish and cow farts always lead to adventure. People who would look great in a bowler hat. People who actually use the words “boffin” and “ninny” in everyday conversations (I actually do, you know, when I’m not swearing like a lorry driver.) People who always take medicine when they go on their glacial hikes. Boys who couldn’t recognise a girl if she cut her hair short and wore pants. People who are suspicious of eggs. People who can’t wait to see what happens when what they think will happen happens.