Nowhere on Earth by Nick Lake is one of those books where you need to stop and reflect on it for months on end. It is a beautiful sci-fi, and there were moments in the book where I forgot I was reading a book. However, there was also a lot of suspension of disbelief in the novel that I let slide because it is supposed to be a sci-fi, maybe those things work in that world?
It took me until we meet Emily's parents in the mountain to like Emily because that's when you got to see the depth of Emily and how she changes as a character. I would have loved it more if the pilot had maybe questioned why they were stowed away on his plane a bit more, but it could have been because he was still traumatized from the crash?
I finished it in two days and am still thinking about it over a month later, so it did make an impact on me. I yet don't know which one.
4 out of 5 stars.
Friday, December 27, 2019
Not for me
Shade of Night by Stephen R. Deppermann sounded interesting from the blurb:
"A medical thriller that will leave you guessing all the way to the end.
"A medical thriller that will leave you guessing all the way to the end.
Dr. Daniel Ross has invented a cure for glaucoma—a debilitating, blinding disorder. He's ecstatic - until his psychopathic boss steals his breakthrough.
Daniel is then framed for stealing secret Department of Defense documents from a server and is now being blackmailed. If he wants his discovery back, he must return what he has not stolen.
Then he has to face deranged assassins (controlled by a mind-altering vaccine), hostile FBI agents, and the possibility of permanent brain damage with only Zina, the exotic granddaughter of a critical patient to help him. Soon a romance develops between them, but is it real?
Will he recover his invention? Will their romance survive? The answer lies, as the doctor always suspected, in the Shade of Night!
Shade of Night is loaded with surprises, real twists, and comes with an ending you won't see coming."
However, what it does not describe is how conceited and arrogant Dr. Ross is, not to mention the fact that he cannot tell a broken neck when he sees one. This has nothing to do with the author, it is only that I cannot stand those kinds of characters as main characters. I am particular in the main character males that I read. The writing was good; however, I could not get into it, and kind of wished it started off with him being blackmailed because that's what got my attention, not his trying to get 15 minutes of fame.
I am not trying to discourage other people from reading it, but I had to DNF this one about 5 percent in. If you love arrogant, conceited men, then this is the book for you.
1 out of 5 stars.
Starborn
Starborn by Katie Macalister is one of those sagas where it is so bad, and yet somehow, it is so good. I could not put this book down even with those few moments that made me want to. Do not ask me to describe the book because its hard to put into words. There are a lot of horny moments, and honestly, mos,t of the time, it felt like watching a train wreck in slow motion. I loved the characters even as they all started to blur together, there was not a lot to distinguish between the characters. The only thing I did not enjoy was the prologue because the main character in that blurb was so annoying, and I have no clue if it takes place before or after the story. Although I loved the ending where one of the characters is now a wanted fugitive. I'm curious to see where it goes because somehow everything worked together, and I cannot imagine the book any other way.
4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5 out of 5 stars.
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Where Do We Begin?
No seriously where do we begin when discussing These Wicked Waters by Emily Layne? Do we start with the fact the first half of the book was so slow that I almost cried because it was like pulling teeth trying to connect to the characters? Or how about there are so many technicalities in the story? Or how about the fact that this is yet another book where once again the writer forgets that the reader is not privy to the author's head?
This book has left me with so many questions and hardly any of them have been answered. Why do some sirens have two tails and others have only one? How does it work? What is the hierarchy for the sirens?
It took me forever to realize that Loreali (I probably misspelled this) her perspective was way in the past even with reading other people's reviews. I mean kudos to the author for doing that and it made the story more interesting when you finally realized that this is happening over a century ago and not like a week before or something like that.
I have a serious question or comment depending on which way a person reads this, but how is it possible for almost every single guy to be considered hot in this book. I was having a hard time picturing what characters looked like half the time because of they all kind of blended together, not to mention that they were all very flat.
The romance between Victor and Annie felt very left field with their kiss in siren infested waters. I wish that the romance had either started earlier or they had stayed as friends because the romance as it stood felt off. Don't get me wrong the hopeless romantic side of me really wanted them to get together, but like most things, in this book, it took too long to get to that point.
Halfway through the story I had to ask myself what was the point of this story.
I am giving this book 3.5 out of 5 stars because the author at least had an original take on sirens. I actually liked that the sirens were bloodthirsty.
This book has left me with so many questions and hardly any of them have been answered. Why do some sirens have two tails and others have only one? How does it work? What is the hierarchy for the sirens?
It took me forever to realize that Loreali (I probably misspelled this) her perspective was way in the past even with reading other people's reviews. I mean kudos to the author for doing that and it made the story more interesting when you finally realized that this is happening over a century ago and not like a week before or something like that.
I have a serious question or comment depending on which way a person reads this, but how is it possible for almost every single guy to be considered hot in this book. I was having a hard time picturing what characters looked like half the time because of they all kind of blended together, not to mention that they were all very flat.
The romance between Victor and Annie felt very left field with their kiss in siren infested waters. I wish that the romance had either started earlier or they had stayed as friends because the romance as it stood felt off. Don't get me wrong the hopeless romantic side of me really wanted them to get together, but like most things, in this book, it took too long to get to that point.
Halfway through the story I had to ask myself what was the point of this story.
I am giving this book 3.5 out of 5 stars because the author at least had an original take on sirens. I actually liked that the sirens were bloodthirsty.
Sunday, November 10, 2019
West of Sin (Big Time)
West of Sin by Wesley S. Lewis has got to be one of the best books I have read from a male author this year. The main female did not have bouncing boobs or a giant ass and she felt like a real person like I have known people that look and act like that character.
The love interest was spot on and I loved every moment of the book and I was so sad when it ended because I wanted to keep reading it.
This is a definite reread.
5 out of 5 stars (13 out of 5)
Beyond the Longcase Clock
Beyond the Longcase Clock by Hayley Patton is not the worst time-traveling book I have ever read, but it was not the best either.
It was interesting the places they went to and it felt like the author did some research on it, but there were a lot of slow parts in it. It made me wish I was reading the Ruby Red trilogies because that is the best time-traveling story I have ever read.
There is something about the novel Beyond the Longcase Clock that bugged me, but I cannot put my finger on it.
2.5 out of 5 stars.
An Interesting Siren Story
Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada for allowing me to read an arc of Songs from the Deep by Kelly Powell.
This book is incredible with the characters, and I loved the chemistry between Jude and Moira. However, I would have liked more worldbuilding in the story as I had no clue if this was supposed to be on Earth or a made-up world. Why are the tourists coming to this island to see sirens? Why are the sirens on that island? Has it always been like that, or did something happen to make the relationship between mermaids and humans? How did the sirens come to be?
I always am probably going to sound like a horrible person for this, but I wish it did not start with the death of a little kid because I would much rather be torn about by a kid being killed after I know about him. It began to feel like the author did it because it was a shock factor and a kid, how could someone kill a kid?
I totally forgot I had preordered a copy of the book, but I'm glad I did because now I don't have to repurchase it.
If you like mythical stories, I will recommend reading this book.
4.5 out of 5 stars.
This book is incredible with the characters, and I loved the chemistry between Jude and Moira. However, I would have liked more worldbuilding in the story as I had no clue if this was supposed to be on Earth or a made-up world. Why are the tourists coming to this island to see sirens? Why are the sirens on that island? Has it always been like that, or did something happen to make the relationship between mermaids and humans? How did the sirens come to be?
I always am probably going to sound like a horrible person for this, but I wish it did not start with the death of a little kid because I would much rather be torn about by a kid being killed after I know about him. It began to feel like the author did it because it was a shock factor and a kid, how could someone kill a kid?
I totally forgot I had preordered a copy of the book, but I'm glad I did because now I don't have to repurchase it.
If you like mythical stories, I will recommend reading this book.
4.5 out of 5 stars.
Cold Falling White
First off I would like to thank Simon & Schuster Canada for sending me a copy of this on NetGalley.
Cold Falling White by G.S. Pendergast is one of those books where you need to have read the first book in order to understand what is going on.
The writing is interesting, but I have not read the first book so had no clue what was going on, so I had to stop after the first chapter.
If you have read the first book you will most likely like this book.
3 out of 5 stars.
Cold Falling White by G.S. Pendergast is one of those books where you need to have read the first book in order to understand what is going on.
The writing is interesting, but I have not read the first book so had no clue what was going on, so I had to stop after the first chapter.
If you have read the first book you will most likely like this book.
3 out of 5 stars.
Monday, October 14, 2019
Blood Magic
All Bleeds Through by Bartholomew Lander is an exciting ten-story collection on hemomancy and is a kind of alternative reality with a look at what the world would be shaped like if people could do blood magic. What I love is that some of the characters overlap in the stories. What I don't like is that some of the stories like the first ones were a little hard to follow along with as I am entirely new to this world and do not understand the importance of anything.
3.5 out of 5 stars.
3.5 out of 5 stars.
A mystery of mysteries
On The Edge Of Darkness by C.L. Avery is a unique story because I have not read many books that involve the LGBTQ community, especially having the victims were all gay. However, it kind of got redundant with the whole daughter being gay and Ransom not being able to accept it (although spoiler, he does at the end of the book), and I was like okay we get it can we move on, please.
The mystery was well done because even I could not figure out who it was because I had an inkling that it was not male, but I still kept trying to guess who was the killer. Congrats to the author for doing that because, typically, it is easy to figure out who is the killer within the last half of the book, but this I did not know until near the end.
If you are looking for a good mystery and a diverse book, then this is a book I would highly recommend.
My only complaint about this book is that I thought the daughter would get kidnapped earlier because that's was the impression I got from the blurb.
4 out of 5 stars.
The mystery was well done because even I could not figure out who it was because I had an inkling that it was not male, but I still kept trying to guess who was the killer. Congrats to the author for doing that because, typically, it is easy to figure out who is the killer within the last half of the book, but this I did not know until near the end.
If you are looking for a good mystery and a diverse book, then this is a book I would highly recommend.
My only complaint about this book is that I thought the daughter would get kidnapped earlier because that's was the impression I got from the blurb.
4 out of 5 stars.
The Best Book I have Read this Fall
Blaize and the Maven by Ellen Bard is OMG! First off, thank you, NetGalley for letting me read this book and the publishing company for auto approving me for this book because this book is beyond words. Secondly, thank you to the author for not having Canada being steadily snowing like so many authors do because it always bugs me being in BC (and yes a massive thank you for doing it close to my home town) and people seem to forget that my country is like every other country and has this miraculous thing called weather.
I was hooked from the first page and devoured it in one day. This novel got in my head, and I was so annoyed whenever I got interrupted from reading it because I needed to know what was happening.
The characters and worldbuilding are incredible. I have no complaints about this book except that it ended. I love that the author had Blaize try to say Cuinn's name because I was saying it wrong up until that point (and it's pronounced Quinn, not how I was saying it. I was calling him Coo-inn don't ask why). I could gush on and on about this book because there is no end of praise for this book. It has a gorgeous cover, the blurb is precisely what happens, and the characters are someone I can see as being real (in fact, I want them to be real). I need to read the second book ASAP.
Okay, I will stop gushing about this book, and you go read this book. Deal.
13 out of 5 stars.
I was hooked from the first page and devoured it in one day. This novel got in my head, and I was so annoyed whenever I got interrupted from reading it because I needed to know what was happening.
The characters and worldbuilding are incredible. I have no complaints about this book except that it ended. I love that the author had Blaize try to say Cuinn's name because I was saying it wrong up until that point (and it's pronounced Quinn, not how I was saying it. I was calling him Coo-inn don't ask why). I could gush on and on about this book because there is no end of praise for this book. It has a gorgeous cover, the blurb is precisely what happens, and the characters are someone I can see as being real (in fact, I want them to be real). I need to read the second book ASAP.
Okay, I will stop gushing about this book, and you go read this book. Deal.
13 out of 5 stars.
A book the writer knew a lot about
Immortal Roots by Velvet Davis is a fascinating book because the first half of the book is so slow, and the characters were so flat I almost gave up reading it, but I persevered and guess what? I am glad I did because the characters slowly started developing dimension to them, and they were not just paper dolls playing dress-up. Dassius was my favorite character because he changed the most during the book, and it must have killed him to not be in charge during their entire mission, but that is why I loved him because at least he tried.
As for the title of this post, you might be wondering what I meant by that, but it is quite simple. It is incredible worldbuilding; however, it leaves out a lot of details of how the world came to be. Why are the councils opposed to each other and can never agree to anything? Why do people go into a particular role and stay in that role? How do they get chosen for that role? How did the world get like that? Is the planet supposed to be Earth after some massive catastrophe that hit? Why did they create a program where they have humans that are trained to know every possible scenario? Why are there mystics in this world, and how did they come to be? The divine elemental beings were they human before, or were they always like that? How did they happen to be like that? These are but a few questions I thought of when I read this book, but I am sure when you read this, you will come up with your own. The best part is that the characters are just as clueless as to the readers, yet the readers get the sense that the writer knows every little answer to the questions being posed but forgot that readers are not privy to the writer's mind.
I will love to read the second book if one does come out because the ending did get me curious. Also, I am hoping maybe more things will be explained.
4 out of 5 stars.
As for the title of this post, you might be wondering what I meant by that, but it is quite simple. It is incredible worldbuilding; however, it leaves out a lot of details of how the world came to be. Why are the councils opposed to each other and can never agree to anything? Why do people go into a particular role and stay in that role? How do they get chosen for that role? How did the world get like that? Is the planet supposed to be Earth after some massive catastrophe that hit? Why did they create a program where they have humans that are trained to know every possible scenario? Why are there mystics in this world, and how did they come to be? The divine elemental beings were they human before, or were they always like that? How did they happen to be like that? These are but a few questions I thought of when I read this book, but I am sure when you read this, you will come up with your own. The best part is that the characters are just as clueless as to the readers, yet the readers get the sense that the writer knows every little answer to the questions being posed but forgot that readers are not privy to the writer's mind.
I will love to read the second book if one does come out because the ending did get me curious. Also, I am hoping maybe more things will be explained.
4 out of 5 stars.
Magic and Betrayal
Under My Skin by Shawntelle Madison is an interesting read as it leads right into characterization and does not let go. I would love to say it had me from the first page, but I could only read it online as a book for Apple on my Mac, and I tend to get so distracted when reading things on a computer no matter how good the book is. But the first page was riveting, and it makes the reader want to know every little thing about what is going on.
4 out of 5 stars.
4 out of 5 stars.
Easy Read
Womby's School for Wayward Witches Series Book 1-5 by Sarina Dorie is one of those books that I cannot quite figure out. First off, I would like to thank the author for emailing me copies of the books when I did not realize that you could read the book in any order, and it will not make a difference. Also, I would like to thank NetGalley for letting me review this book set.
Indeed, you do not need to read these books in any order because it is so redundant that you can figure things out within the first five pages of whatever book you are reading.
I tried, I really did, but I had so many issues with the book that I had to DNF halfway through the second book because the characters felt so unrealistic like I know nobody who acts like any of the characters.
Here's the thing, it is okay to not be perfect all the time, and yet Clarissa cannot seem to fathom this concept. As soon as she does anything, somebody, whether it is an adult, a friend, or herself, from doing anything, and it got annoying fast.
I wanted to read the book for the magic and this potential boarding school for wayward witches that I still have not gotten to. If you wish to read a numb, mindless read, then this is the book series for you.
1.5 out of 5 stars.
Indeed, you do not need to read these books in any order because it is so redundant that you can figure things out within the first five pages of whatever book you are reading.
I tried, I really did, but I had so many issues with the book that I had to DNF halfway through the second book because the characters felt so unrealistic like I know nobody who acts like any of the characters.
Here's the thing, it is okay to not be perfect all the time, and yet Clarissa cannot seem to fathom this concept. As soon as she does anything, somebody, whether it is an adult, a friend, or herself, from doing anything, and it got annoying fast.
I wanted to read the book for the magic and this potential boarding school for wayward witches that I still have not gotten to. If you wish to read a numb, mindless read, then this is the book series for you.
1.5 out of 5 stars.
This Book Broke Me
The Living God by Kaytalin Platt killed me. I finished this book a couple of months ago, and it took me this long to figure out how to write a coherent review.
Just ugh, why did you have to do that to my feels? Like Saran and Keiler slew me with their characterization and their relationship. It makes me wonder how much was real and how much was fake? I won't say what I mean about that because you should read it to find out because it was a twist I didn't see coming even though I saw every other twist coming.
The reason why this book is still killing me is that everything the characters did, they did it out of love, and the end results are just devastating.
Yup, nope, still cannot come up with a coherent review for this book.
5 out of 5 stars.
Just ugh, why did you have to do that to my feels? Like Saran and Keiler slew me with their characterization and their relationship. It makes me wonder how much was real and how much was fake? I won't say what I mean about that because you should read it to find out because it was a twist I didn't see coming even though I saw every other twist coming.
The reason why this book is still killing me is that everything the characters did, they did it out of love, and the end results are just devastating.
Yup, nope, still cannot come up with a coherent review for this book.
5 out of 5 stars.
Sunday, June 2, 2019
INCREDIBLE BOOK
The Lovely and the Lost by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is phenomenal. I need the second book because if that twist is true then the reunion is going to be interesting because that person has been presumed dead for the past 18 to 20 years. Oh, how to talk about this book without much spoilers. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book because it is like the book to read if you are in a slump. I cannot stop singing praises about this book it needs to be on any mystery/thriller fanatics shelf.
Kira, Cady, Jude, Mac (sweet, sweet Mac and his K9... his cadaver dog), Gabriel, Free, Cady's father, all of the characters work so well together and I cried when Silver died. This is not a spoiler, it becomes obvious the dog will die at some point because she is like 13 years old. it is just how the dog died... nope, when the dog died that had me doing ugly silently crying unless I want my family to wonder why I'm blubbering over a fictional dog, but Silver is not just a fictional dog.
Ugh, it is too fantastic to put into words. It felt so real like everything that was happening to Kira was happening to you as well. The setting is spectacular and have you seen that cover? It is one of those books that I cannot wait for the rest of the books to come out (if there are any more?) and have no regrets reading this book.
I learned a lot about search and rescue and dogs roles in them. Also, the twists in this book are killer like finding out who Jude's father is and who rescued Kira from a hunter's trap has me on the edge of my seat.
As Oliver Twist would say "Please, sir, I want some more" (Charles Dickens 30).
5 out of 5 stars.
Works Cited
Dickens, Charles. Oliver Twist, 1838. London, CRW Publishing Limited, 2003, 30. Accessed on Google Books on June 2, 2019. https://books.google.ca/books?id=ZjR8AzhkmYwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=oliver+twist&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjrnMya1cviAhVTnp4KHVt-BjAQ6AEIMDAB#v=onepage&q=oliver%20twist&f=false
Kira, Cady, Jude, Mac (sweet, sweet Mac and his K9... his cadaver dog), Gabriel, Free, Cady's father, all of the characters work so well together and I cried when Silver died. This is not a spoiler, it becomes obvious the dog will die at some point because she is like 13 years old. it is just how the dog died... nope, when the dog died that had me doing ugly silently crying unless I want my family to wonder why I'm blubbering over a fictional dog, but Silver is not just a fictional dog.
Ugh, it is too fantastic to put into words. It felt so real like everything that was happening to Kira was happening to you as well. The setting is spectacular and have you seen that cover? It is one of those books that I cannot wait for the rest of the books to come out (if there are any more?) and have no regrets reading this book.
I learned a lot about search and rescue and dogs roles in them. Also, the twists in this book are killer like finding out who Jude's father is and who rescued Kira from a hunter's trap has me on the edge of my seat.
As Oliver Twist would say "Please, sir, I want some more" (Charles Dickens 30).
5 out of 5 stars.
Works Cited
Dickens, Charles. Oliver Twist, 1838. London, CRW Publishing Limited, 2003, 30. Accessed on Google Books on June 2, 2019. https://books.google.ca/books?id=ZjR8AzhkmYwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=oliver+twist&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjrnMya1cviAhVTnp4KHVt-BjAQ6AEIMDAB#v=onepage&q=oliver%20twist&f=false
Kingdom Cold by Brittni Chenelle
Kingdom Cold by Brittni Chenelle has incredible representation of characters, settings, and an gorgeous cover. I read it just for the cover and the description sounded intriguing. However, I had to DNF it because the characters were all so whiny and annoying. It was getting hard to tell who each character was anymore. Plus, there was some instalove going on which ruined the book for me.
I think the best part of the book is when Charlotte shot the arrow at the prince and he thought it was an ambush. I laughed so hard at that when I discovered it was just her no one else...
2 out of 5 stars.
I think the best part of the book is when Charlotte shot the arrow at the prince and he thought it was an ambush. I laughed so hard at that when I discovered it was just her no one else...
2 out of 5 stars.
End of the World= No Hope
Spoilers in this review read at your own discretion.
The Thirteenth Guardian by KM Lewis is beyond depressing. It is an excellent book even though the beginning was slow, it was just way too sad for me. First off, the character that we get told about in the description is rarely in there it is mostly the other four. Secondly, it is so nonchalant about all the deaths like oh over a million people died in about twenty minutes due to a tidal wave, let's go on to other people dying. Who cares about all the people dying when you can be told about more people dying. Oh, and let's not forget that almost all the marine life is most likely dead, but hey they can go fishing for fish. Umm, the red dust poisoned most of the waters, and the waters that were not poisoned are forming new landmasses unless I missed something. Thirdly, it wasn't as religious or biblical as I thought it would be and what was biblical was explained through science. Also, most of the description of the summary of the book did not happen until 98% of the book was done.
Spoilers:
All of North America is either drowned by water or covered in lava, and yet the two things they need are in North America. Does anybody else not see the issues with that?
2.5 out of 5 stars.
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
Collect Kisses and Hearts
Spoiler Alerts: A couple of quotes and attempts to dissect some of the scenes in the book. Read at your own discretion.
Kiss Collector by Wendy Higgins is such an adorable, quirky read that left my heart feeling like it was a marshmallow over a campfire.
"I'm taking back my life, one kiss at a time" (Higgins 76). (For those unfamiliar with MLA formatting its the author's last name and the page number.)
It is astounding reading Zae's growth as a person throughout the novel, and in a way, she does take her life back while also having it spiral out of control at the same time. I just love that quote because it signifies what Zae thinks she needs to do to take back control after her boyfriend cheats and her parents' marriage unravels around her.
And y'all should read page 306 middle paragraph and try to not act all girly like I did upon reading it. There are so many significant parts in the novel that I cannot find at the time, but you should read this book.
I loved watching each character grow and reading them fall in love while Zae was still struggling with her male angst. Not like I begrudge Zae and her unfortunate moments, but it was fascinating seeing how they react, and I mean seeing because I could picture it so clearly in my head especially the country concert scene with the girls flirting with the cowboys from afar.
I wish my high school were like that, but I was lucky to keep any friends I made because it turns out girls can be really catty with each other sometimes, and I wound up being the one who got the short end of the stick.
This novel is phenomenal, and I am jealous of Zae's and her friends' relationships with each other and how they always found a way back to each other. I also adore that it is not a vast book where the cheerleader gets everything handed to her in the story and Zae had to work for everything she got, in the end, no matter how terrified it made her.
My only critique was that there was a lot of crying going on in the novel.
But y'all should read it and trust me when I say that it is worthy of every read because I cannot stand contemporary novels and this was one of those I need it for the cover book.
I could have finished it in one day if I had not tried to make it my going to the college travel book.
5 out of 5 stars.
Kiss Collector by Wendy Higgins is such an adorable, quirky read that left my heart feeling like it was a marshmallow over a campfire.
"I'm taking back my life, one kiss at a time" (Higgins 76). (For those unfamiliar with MLA formatting its the author's last name and the page number.)
It is astounding reading Zae's growth as a person throughout the novel, and in a way, she does take her life back while also having it spiral out of control at the same time. I just love that quote because it signifies what Zae thinks she needs to do to take back control after her boyfriend cheats and her parents' marriage unravels around her.
And y'all should read page 306 middle paragraph and try to not act all girly like I did upon reading it. There are so many significant parts in the novel that I cannot find at the time, but you should read this book.
I loved watching each character grow and reading them fall in love while Zae was still struggling with her male angst. Not like I begrudge Zae and her unfortunate moments, but it was fascinating seeing how they react, and I mean seeing because I could picture it so clearly in my head especially the country concert scene with the girls flirting with the cowboys from afar.
I wish my high school were like that, but I was lucky to keep any friends I made because it turns out girls can be really catty with each other sometimes, and I wound up being the one who got the short end of the stick.
This novel is phenomenal, and I am jealous of Zae's and her friends' relationships with each other and how they always found a way back to each other. I also adore that it is not a vast book where the cheerleader gets everything handed to her in the story and Zae had to work for everything she got, in the end, no matter how terrified it made her.
My only critique was that there was a lot of crying going on in the novel.
But y'all should read it and trust me when I say that it is worthy of every read because I cannot stand contemporary novels and this was one of those I need it for the cover book.
I could have finished it in one day if I had not tried to make it my going to the college travel book.
5 out of 5 stars.
Sunday, May 5, 2019
Bloodleaf: Phantasmic Magic
Bloodleaf by Crystal Smith is so fantastic I finished it at the end of March and it took me this long to figure out how to write a review that was not this: askjfefnerighj...
Oh my word, how do I explain the feels this book gave me? Even now I am still gushing over all the twists and turns in that novel. It is the best fantasy novel I have read in a long time and I adored the phantasmic aspects to it and how when someone dies bloodleaves grow.
I am in love with Zan because he does not let his weaknesses define who he is and Aurelia, damn that girl, she tries so hard to fix everything and I dare you to not fall in love with those two. They are my book couple for early 2019 and I cannot wait for the second book.
You should read this book if you like fantasy, ghosts, blood magic, young love, and learning self-sacrifice.
5 out of 5 stars
(13 out of 5 stars).
Oh my word, how do I explain the feels this book gave me? Even now I am still gushing over all the twists and turns in that novel. It is the best fantasy novel I have read in a long time and I adored the phantasmic aspects to it and how when someone dies bloodleaves grow.
I am in love with Zan because he does not let his weaknesses define who he is and Aurelia, damn that girl, she tries so hard to fix everything and I dare you to not fall in love with those two. They are my book couple for early 2019 and I cannot wait for the second book.
You should read this book if you like fantasy, ghosts, blood magic, young love, and learning self-sacrifice.
5 out of 5 stars
(13 out of 5 stars).
Ink Magic
Ink by Jobie Baldwin is an intriguing read, and I thouroughly enjoyed reading it. The characters are cute and quirky that will have you falling in love with them in no time. The plot is well paced and has enough twists and turns to make readers want to keep reading.
My only problem with this story is it felt a little too preachy about the environment, and I could tell it is something the author felt strongly about before I even read her author profile. At some times it felt like the story was following something the author was addressing and not something that was needed to be focused on the story.
I loved how people hated the Settlers because they thought they were something else, but it turns out to be a lot more complicated than that. I can't wait to read the second book and get my Raven fix. Also, I really want to know what happens to Ben and his stupidity of trying to be one of the Tribe.
It is obvious the writer did a lot of research in her story and I love the fact that it could be any type of religion or belief that could be a tattoo. I wonder what kind of tattoo would chose us?
4.5 out of 5 stars.
Highly recommend you read this.
My only problem with this story is it felt a little too preachy about the environment, and I could tell it is something the author felt strongly about before I even read her author profile. At some times it felt like the story was following something the author was addressing and not something that was needed to be focused on the story.
I loved how people hated the Settlers because they thought they were something else, but it turns out to be a lot more complicated than that. I can't wait to read the second book and get my Raven fix. Also, I really want to know what happens to Ben and his stupidity of trying to be one of the Tribe.
It is obvious the writer did a lot of research in her story and I love the fact that it could be any type of religion or belief that could be a tattoo. I wonder what kind of tattoo would chose us?
4.5 out of 5 stars.
Highly recommend you read this.
No Damsel-in-distress Here
Swords, Sorcery & Self-Rescuing Damsels by Lee French and other authors certainly lives up to it's name.
I will not say much because you all should read this, but there is no damsels-in-distress here, and it was refreshing to read.
I actually enjoyed reading all the stories in this collection and found some of the stories hilarious with how they portrayed females helping themselves. I mean there are no words for how epic it was reading stories where a woman does not need a man unless she needs to use him for something.
Ladies take notes when reading these stories because it feels empowering, and maybe we don't always have to let the men save us.
5 out of 5 stars.
I will not say much because you all should read this, but there is no damsels-in-distress here, and it was refreshing to read.
I actually enjoyed reading all the stories in this collection and found some of the stories hilarious with how they portrayed females helping themselves. I mean there are no words for how epic it was reading stories where a woman does not need a man unless she needs to use him for something.
Ladies take notes when reading these stories because it feels empowering, and maybe we don't always have to let the men save us.
5 out of 5 stars.
Arcana: an Escapism?
I am a firm believer that books should allow readers the chance to escape reality and their troubles. Where they can feel like their problems aren't so bad and if these characters can handle their situations then so can we. However, Arcana by Paul Kane did not give me that feeling.
I feel like the story could be so much better without the prologue because it did not drag me in and make me hold my breath wanting to know why the world is the way it is. Instead, it had me asking why I was reading this story.
I still don't get why the group bombed a shopping mall or why magic is the way it is or what the heck they used to take out a bit of the mall? Or even why it went from a mall bombing to a blind man reading tarot cards? Then it went to something completely different with who I am guessing was supposed to be the main guy. I kind of gave up reading after that point because like I said earlier the prologue turned me off.
1.5 out of 5 stars.
I'm giving it an extra half star because it was great detail just not enough to really wow me.
I feel like the story could be so much better without the prologue because it did not drag me in and make me hold my breath wanting to know why the world is the way it is. Instead, it had me asking why I was reading this story.
I still don't get why the group bombed a shopping mall or why magic is the way it is or what the heck they used to take out a bit of the mall? Or even why it went from a mall bombing to a blind man reading tarot cards? Then it went to something completely different with who I am guessing was supposed to be the main guy. I kind of gave up reading after that point because like I said earlier the prologue turned me off.
1.5 out of 5 stars.
I'm giving it an extra half star because it was great detail just not enough to really wow me.
Almost Harry Potter like
The Oath by Michael L. Lewis reminded me too much of Harry Potter and so many other books that are set in the UK. I ended up stopping reading it because I just could not get into the story like I wanted to do.
The prologue was interesting, but confusing and I had no clue why it would be relevant to the story or why the character acted the way he did. I feel like I would have needed more backstory before being told that seeing a dead boy meant they were both going to die. Then it moves onto the first chapter with a boy on a train going to a boarding school and trying to act all cool in front of his mum while hoping no one would enter his compartment. I kind of lost interest once a group of older kids joined him and started to talk to each other. I know it was done to build more into the world, but I started predicting things that would happen especially when they start naming names.
Maybe I'm just being weird or too picky on stories, but the train had me feeling like I was going to start reading a Harry Potter book and the prologue had me feel like I was watching the show The Alieniest (I think I spelled it wrong, but the one that starts with a boy is dead. and he helps people that tend to be alienated from society because they don't fit into society's norms).
2 out of 5 stars.
The prologue was interesting, but confusing and I had no clue why it would be relevant to the story or why the character acted the way he did. I feel like I would have needed more backstory before being told that seeing a dead boy meant they were both going to die. Then it moves onto the first chapter with a boy on a train going to a boarding school and trying to act all cool in front of his mum while hoping no one would enter his compartment. I kind of lost interest once a group of older kids joined him and started to talk to each other. I know it was done to build more into the world, but I started predicting things that would happen especially when they start naming names.
Maybe I'm just being weird or too picky on stories, but the train had me feeling like I was going to start reading a Harry Potter book and the prologue had me feel like I was watching the show The Alieniest (I think I spelled it wrong, but the one that starts with a boy is dead. and he helps people that tend to be alienated from society because they don't fit into society's norms).
2 out of 5 stars.
A Book with not much light
Sky Without Stars by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell is one of those books that give me conflicting emotions. In the beginning, I loved certain characters and could not stand some (Allouette), but at the end of the book I ended up despising all the characters because their arcs just downgraded for me. Sure they did what they thought was best at the time, but as a reader I wanted certain aspects to be together, and people told me that if you have read or seen Les Miserables then you know it does not end the way you want it.
I think my main issue was being told it's a Les Miserables retelling because the beginning first six chapters were incredible and even if you are like me and have no clue about what's going on having never seen or read the entirety of Les Miserables you will feel like you are there. However, I could not stand Allouette or more accurately when she met Marcellus. I kind of lost respect for Marcellus after that because there is more to a girl than looks. I don't give a damn that you think she looks beautiful and is too blindsided and pigheaded to see anything else.
Chataine (I hope I spelled her name right) started to annoy me at the end because she chose to dress like a boy, so don't go throwing yourself a pity party when no one recognizes you as a girl.
I can go into length about my thoughts on the characters, but I will let others decide what they think without coloring over the lines.
4 out of 5 stars.
Feel free to let me know what you think of this book in the comments and whether you agree or disagree with me. I would love to start a book discussion with people.
I think my main issue was being told it's a Les Miserables retelling because the beginning first six chapters were incredible and even if you are like me and have no clue about what's going on having never seen or read the entirety of Les Miserables you will feel like you are there. However, I could not stand Allouette or more accurately when she met Marcellus. I kind of lost respect for Marcellus after that because there is more to a girl than looks. I don't give a damn that you think she looks beautiful and is too blindsided and pigheaded to see anything else.
Chataine (I hope I spelled her name right) started to annoy me at the end because she chose to dress like a boy, so don't go throwing yourself a pity party when no one recognizes you as a girl.
I can go into length about my thoughts on the characters, but I will let others decide what they think without coloring over the lines.
4 out of 5 stars.
Feel free to let me know what you think of this book in the comments and whether you agree or disagree with me. I would love to start a book discussion with people.
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
And another Alpha Mate Book
If you love books where the girl falls for alpha, then this is the book for you. Blood & Magic Series (Books 1-3) by Danielle Annett held a lot of promise to be original and not become the typical strong girl winds up being the Alpha's mate. In fact, I was hoping it would continue because I loved the chemistry between James and Aria (James was not the Alpha, but a Hunter an equally dominant position in the Pack. Points for the book). However, after the first book, it went downhill pretty fast, and I was starting to get tired of Aria's sh*t pretty quickly.
Don't get me wrong the first book was terrific although I wound up hating who Aria wound up with because his character came on a little too loud and I know he is supposed to be an Alpha who has never been challenged in 9 years, I wanted him dead the moment I met him. The chemistry between them felt false especially at the end of the first book where he is thinking about how his beast acts when Aria is around. That is when the "oh no, it's going to be one of those books" kicked in and here I was hoping I had finally picked a book where a strong female ends up with someone who is not the Alpha *ahem* like with James *cough, cough*.
To make it even more fun, I don't think the author remembered what she wrote in the first book, and you want to know how I know? In the first book, the Compound -the home of the shifters- is ten stories from the roof to the ground and Declan the Alpha has snowy white hair. However, in book two, the Compound is eight stories high, and Declan has blond eyebrows all of a sudden. Oh, and he looked like he was in his fifties and should be in his fifties in the first book, but the other two books Declan looks like he's in his thirties. There might be other more discrepancies that can be passed off as magical, but I gave up caring about the book at around that time.
What made me quit the book was the magical two words in chapter 65: "Alpha's mate". Eff you. I mean, why? Does it somehow validate females as being strong if they are with the alphas or something? Why must females always be with the alphas or the betas? Does it demean them in some way if they do not become the mate of someone influential in the pack?
It got old pretty quickly especially when Aria is all "oh, I must resist my attraction" to almost every guy she met. When she is with Declan, it felt forced because she is all I must not let him know I am attracted to him. I must show him how strong and tough I am. When she is with Inarus it was an instant attraction until lo and behold, he turns out to be working for the "enemy," and that makes him the enemy. So, you always know when Inarus is showing up because she is always chucking her daggers at him while being all I cannot let him know I still find him attractive because he betrayed me. As for the chemistry with James, well, it is all but forgotten.
So, can I please kill Declan and Inarus? Those two annoyed the hell out of me. Heck, the only reason I read as far as I did was that I really liked James and Aria together because their relationship felt natural and not forced like all the other relationships except for when she was with Mike or Marion.
2.5 out of 5 stars
Don't get me wrong the first book was terrific although I wound up hating who Aria wound up with because his character came on a little too loud and I know he is supposed to be an Alpha who has never been challenged in 9 years, I wanted him dead the moment I met him. The chemistry between them felt false especially at the end of the first book where he is thinking about how his beast acts when Aria is around. That is when the "oh no, it's going to be one of those books" kicked in and here I was hoping I had finally picked a book where a strong female ends up with someone who is not the Alpha *ahem* like with James *cough, cough*.
To make it even more fun, I don't think the author remembered what she wrote in the first book, and you want to know how I know? In the first book, the Compound -the home of the shifters- is ten stories from the roof to the ground and Declan the Alpha has snowy white hair. However, in book two, the Compound is eight stories high, and Declan has blond eyebrows all of a sudden. Oh, and he looked like he was in his fifties and should be in his fifties in the first book, but the other two books Declan looks like he's in his thirties. There might be other more discrepancies that can be passed off as magical, but I gave up caring about the book at around that time.
What made me quit the book was the magical two words in chapter 65: "Alpha's mate". Eff you. I mean, why? Does it somehow validate females as being strong if they are with the alphas or something? Why must females always be with the alphas or the betas? Does it demean them in some way if they do not become the mate of someone influential in the pack?
It got old pretty quickly especially when Aria is all "oh, I must resist my attraction" to almost every guy she met. When she is with Declan, it felt forced because she is all I must not let him know I am attracted to him. I must show him how strong and tough I am. When she is with Inarus it was an instant attraction until lo and behold, he turns out to be working for the "enemy," and that makes him the enemy. So, you always know when Inarus is showing up because she is always chucking her daggers at him while being all I cannot let him know I still find him attractive because he betrayed me. As for the chemistry with James, well, it is all but forgotten.
So, can I please kill Declan and Inarus? Those two annoyed the hell out of me. Heck, the only reason I read as far as I did was that I really liked James and Aria together because their relationship felt natural and not forced like all the other relationships except for when she was with Mike or Marion.
2.5 out of 5 stars
Friday, March 1, 2019
Darkly Disappointing
Pale Wolves by Thomas Hulse sounded so intriguing and dark. The cover was spectacular, and it had armies of the dead that grew claws and fangs. I so wanted to read this, but the publishers approving my request on NetGalley not even five minutes after I requested it should have been my first clue of disappointment.
Don't ask me what the opening sentence was because even though I just read it three hours ago, I could not tell you. There were so many fragmented sentences and no varieties to the sentence structure. I wanted to give up on this book after the first page but decided to give it a chance. Maybe there will be more showing and less telling later on, but no. The on;y reason I DNFed this at 14% instead of 1% was that my Kindle refused to let me read any other book.
If the author had just varied the sentences and showed me more of what the characters were doing maybe I could have loved the story. However, I could not connect to any of the characters, and suddenly two of the main characters are having sex with each other, and he is married to a pregnant wife that is when I was like "yeah no."
1 star.
Don't ask me what the opening sentence was because even though I just read it three hours ago, I could not tell you. There were so many fragmented sentences and no varieties to the sentence structure. I wanted to give up on this book after the first page but decided to give it a chance. Maybe there will be more showing and less telling later on, but no. The on;y reason I DNFed this at 14% instead of 1% was that my Kindle refused to let me read any other book.
If the author had just varied the sentences and showed me more of what the characters were doing maybe I could have loved the story. However, I could not connect to any of the characters, and suddenly two of the main characters are having sex with each other, and he is married to a pregnant wife that is when I was like "yeah no."
1 star.
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Feyly Pleased
Never-Contented Things by Sarah Porter is a creepy, brilliant, masterpiece. The book reminds me of And the Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich because of the eerie environment the main characters seem to find themselves in, and the way the characters act around each other with the bizarre things.
To be honest, I loved the characters and the fact that the author wrote the fey correctly. That fey is not afraid to cause mayhem like most fey books I have read. It is obvious the author did her homework when she wrote this novel. However, I kind of wish it was mentioned that they were fey because not once does any character acknowledge what they are or what their world is. If it were not in the title, I would not think that they were fey. It was so well done that they could have been brand new creatures no one has ever discovered.
There are only three things that brought it down from being five stars:
To be honest, I loved the characters and the fact that the author wrote the fey correctly. That fey is not afraid to cause mayhem like most fey books I have read. It is obvious the author did her homework when she wrote this novel. However, I kind of wish it was mentioned that they were fey because not once does any character acknowledge what they are or what their world is. If it were not in the title, I would not think that they were fey. It was so well done that they could have been brand new creatures no one has ever discovered.
There are only three things that brought it down from being five stars:
- The fey does not get mentioned by name.
- How on earth did two straight girls suddenly fall in love with each other? I feel like I needed a bit more of a clue that that was going to be a thing because it kind of felt like it got thrown into the book for a more diversified approach.
- What happened to Josh? We spend so much time investing in Ksenzia and Josh being madly in love with each other to all of a sudden she does not get to even see him. If he is her heart then why did that ending happen?
I would definitely recommend reading it, and I will most likely buy it. If anyone knows the answers to those question, please let me know. I would like to understand, so I can really appreciate the beauty. I am not blaming Ksenzia because she is emotionally uninvolved most the time, but when did Lexi decide she loves girls? I am so confused.
4 out of 5 stars.
Sunday, February 24, 2019
A magical book
Vivatera by Candace J. Thomas is an intriguing read, but it is one of those instalove books where Reynolds and Naomi fall in love with each other the moment they see each other clearly. However, she does not realize it until later when he leaves which is what I love about this story because yes it is an instalove novel, but the two love interests are not near each other for long. Most of the book are separate from each other.
I will not lie; I did not see half of the twists coming, and some of them I really had to figure out what was happening like the imposter Louving. It made sense later, and it felt like I should have seen it coming.
I loved Naomi and the gang while Reynolds will hold a place in my heart that he can take once he stops beating himself up for something Reyn did when he was nine. I feel like it ended abruptly without giving any clues as to what Zander and the group he was with was going to do. I am curious to see what will happen in the second book.
If anyone is looking for a new magic book to read for teens and young adults then I would recommend reading this book.
4.5 stars
I will not lie; I did not see half of the twists coming, and some of them I really had to figure out what was happening like the imposter Louving. It made sense later, and it felt like I should have seen it coming.
I loved Naomi and the gang while Reynolds will hold a place in my heart that he can take once he stops beating himself up for something Reyn did when he was nine. I feel like it ended abruptly without giving any clues as to what Zander and the group he was with was going to do. I am curious to see what will happen in the second book.
If anyone is looking for a new magic book to read for teens and young adults then I would recommend reading this book.
4.5 stars
Sunday, February 17, 2019
A Bloody Battle
* I am aware of the situation with this book and that this copy will not be the final copy to address these issues*
First off, I would like to thank NetGalley for the glitch that allowed me to read this book because it is fantastic. It reminded me of Hunger Games and Red Queen with just enough of an Anastasia story to it.
I don't see why people had issues with this book or why some people say that it is racist and distasteful. I'd read this over Throne of Glass any day.
I loved Ramson, and I think he was the best character because he is a character you can root for. Since Ramson wants to be redeemed but does not want to be redeemed or thinks he is worthy of it. Ana is a sweet little monster that will have people rooting for her from the first to last page.
May *sigh* talk about a Hunger Games moment all I could think of was Rue because they are both children and both die for a cause with the older person they look up to being unable to save them. Talk about a tug on the heartstrings.
I loved the different Affinities and the lengths the people will go to keep it hidden. Honestly, I think the world was perfect and an excellent reflection on the world today. Probably why some people could not like it because it forces them to see the world as it is: a cruel, horrible place full of despicable people and some people that are trying to do right through questionable means.
The only thing I would change in the book would be to clarify a couple of scenes like the beginning of the book. I read it as Ana was a prisoner, not her walking freely through the prison and following the guard she bribed with coins. Also, a clarification on what the money looks like because for the goldleaves I imagined currency shaped like leaves that were gold, but I don't think that is the case. Finally, how they entered the palace was unclear to me because at first I thought it was a cave and then the further I read it I started to think they were climbing straight up in a hole except all of a sudden there is a door and they enter it like they were standing the whole time. If those got clarified it would be a five-star book in my opinion.
I only have one more thing to say, and that is that those people that had issues with the book and ruined it for the rest of us, "Shame on you, it is a story, and that is the way the story was supposed to be written. It is what happens in Ana's and Ramson's world if you do not like it then you should have kept your mouth shut and let those that understand that enjoy a masterpiece."
Thank you and apologizes if I offended anyone I just don't like people that pull sh*t like that.
4.5 stars
First off, I would like to thank NetGalley for the glitch that allowed me to read this book because it is fantastic. It reminded me of Hunger Games and Red Queen with just enough of an Anastasia story to it.
I don't see why people had issues with this book or why some people say that it is racist and distasteful. I'd read this over Throne of Glass any day.
I loved Ramson, and I think he was the best character because he is a character you can root for. Since Ramson wants to be redeemed but does not want to be redeemed or thinks he is worthy of it. Ana is a sweet little monster that will have people rooting for her from the first to last page.
May *sigh* talk about a Hunger Games moment all I could think of was Rue because they are both children and both die for a cause with the older person they look up to being unable to save them. Talk about a tug on the heartstrings.
I loved the different Affinities and the lengths the people will go to keep it hidden. Honestly, I think the world was perfect and an excellent reflection on the world today. Probably why some people could not like it because it forces them to see the world as it is: a cruel, horrible place full of despicable people and some people that are trying to do right through questionable means.
The only thing I would change in the book would be to clarify a couple of scenes like the beginning of the book. I read it as Ana was a prisoner, not her walking freely through the prison and following the guard she bribed with coins. Also, a clarification on what the money looks like because for the goldleaves I imagined currency shaped like leaves that were gold, but I don't think that is the case. Finally, how they entered the palace was unclear to me because at first I thought it was a cave and then the further I read it I started to think they were climbing straight up in a hole except all of a sudden there is a door and they enter it like they were standing the whole time. If those got clarified it would be a five-star book in my opinion.
I only have one more thing to say, and that is that those people that had issues with the book and ruined it for the rest of us, "Shame on you, it is a story, and that is the way the story was supposed to be written. It is what happens in Ana's and Ramson's world if you do not like it then you should have kept your mouth shut and let those that understand that enjoy a masterpiece."
Thank you and apologizes if I offended anyone I just don't like people that pull sh*t like that.
4.5 stars
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Sandman Comes with Nightmares
Be prepared to lose sleep over this book because it is hard to put down Dream Keeper by Amber R. Duell. My heart has been ripped from its chest and stomped on before being placed back, and I want the feeling all over again.
I called all of the plot twists, but I still took delight in all of them. Oh, be still my beating heart Sandman/Ben are so dreamy and the love interest with Nora was perfect.
I will not say much for fear of spoiling even a second of the book, but if you love heroines that are not afraid to hide their emotions to get the job done, nightmares that freaked even me out especially the clown, and a swoon-worthy love interest, then this is the book for you. Even if it is not your thing, you should still read this book and share it with as many people as possible.
I'm doing my part to help the Sandman and Nora. Now it's your turn. Share, like, request it on NetGalley just get that book in your hands.
5/5 stars...
I called all of the plot twists, but I still took delight in all of them. Oh, be still my beating heart Sandman/Ben are so dreamy and the love interest with Nora was perfect.
I will not say much for fear of spoiling even a second of the book, but if you love heroines that are not afraid to hide their emotions to get the job done, nightmares that freaked even me out especially the clown, and a swoon-worthy love interest, then this is the book for you. Even if it is not your thing, you should still read this book and share it with as many people as possible.
I'm doing my part to help the Sandman and Nora. Now it's your turn. Share, like, request it on NetGalley just get that book in your hands.
5/5 stars...
Monday, January 7, 2019
Enlightenment Reader's Rant Edition
Warning: you are about to read a Reader's rant, and there will be swearing and spoilers. Read at your own risk.
Casanova, Romeo, Promiscuous man, womanizer, wolf, Don Juan, philanderer, mongrel, as*shole, jackass, dunce, dolt, eggheaded fool, arrogant, bastard... (deep breaths, deep breaths. Keep it together, but if anyone has any insults feel free to add them to the list that is the main male character, Adrian).
But I am getting ahead of myself. Enlightenment by Reno Ursal was terrific in the beginning, and I loved the characters and the setting. In fact, I devoured the story and could not wait to read more. It was a five out of five in mind, and then came the ending (keep it together.)
That ending is the whole reason for this rant, and my new deep found hatred for Adrian and all the names which I feel are not enough to express how I feel about him and what he did to Dorothy. The fucking asshole basically made her completely nonexistent and all because Stella reached "enlightenment," and he bounded with her. What the effing hell Adrian? Confess you have feelings for Dorothy and do all these romantic things that you never did with Stella and amazing how you never thought of Stella that way when she was not royalty and how you cannot be with Dorothy because she might be royalty.
Spoiler alert:
They both are, but it's okay to have feelings with Stella and completely string Dorothy along. There is not a word strong enough to describe what a jerk he is. In fact, it felt like reading Jacob in Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer. Bella vs. Reneesme (forgive me if I spelled her name wrong it has been a long time since I read the series) except it is Stella vs. Dorothy who is guess what half-sisters. That's right folks. Fucking Adrian went for the half-sister after she died.
No offense to Stella I still love her, and it is not her fault with what happened. Nope, I am placing sole blame on Adrian (and I'm so mad I am ignoring my pet peeve of wondering if I spelled his name wrong. That jerk does not even deserve it.)
What is the equivalency to hell in the Philippines? Adrian deserves to rot in there for the shit that he does.
Okay, I swear I am done. I loved the history of the Phillippines, and that is what attracted me to the story in the first place. Plus, the cover is gorgeous, and I want to marry that cover.
The ending not at all.
3/5 stars.
Casanova, Romeo, Promiscuous man, womanizer, wolf, Don Juan, philanderer, mongrel, as*shole, jackass, dunce, dolt, eggheaded fool, arrogant, bastard... (deep breaths, deep breaths. Keep it together, but if anyone has any insults feel free to add them to the list that is the main male character, Adrian).
But I am getting ahead of myself. Enlightenment by Reno Ursal was terrific in the beginning, and I loved the characters and the setting. In fact, I devoured the story and could not wait to read more. It was a five out of five in mind, and then came the ending (keep it together.)
That ending is the whole reason for this rant, and my new deep found hatred for Adrian and all the names which I feel are not enough to express how I feel about him and what he did to Dorothy. The fucking asshole basically made her completely nonexistent and all because Stella reached "enlightenment," and he bounded with her. What the effing hell Adrian? Confess you have feelings for Dorothy and do all these romantic things that you never did with Stella and amazing how you never thought of Stella that way when she was not royalty and how you cannot be with Dorothy because she might be royalty.
Spoiler alert:
They both are, but it's okay to have feelings with Stella and completely string Dorothy along. There is not a word strong enough to describe what a jerk he is. In fact, it felt like reading Jacob in Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer. Bella vs. Reneesme (forgive me if I spelled her name wrong it has been a long time since I read the series) except it is Stella vs. Dorothy who is guess what half-sisters. That's right folks. Fucking Adrian went for the half-sister after she died.
No offense to Stella I still love her, and it is not her fault with what happened. Nope, I am placing sole blame on Adrian (and I'm so mad I am ignoring my pet peeve of wondering if I spelled his name wrong. That jerk does not even deserve it.)
What is the equivalency to hell in the Philippines? Adrian deserves to rot in there for the shit that he does.
Okay, I swear I am done. I loved the history of the Phillippines, and that is what attracted me to the story in the first place. Plus, the cover is gorgeous, and I want to marry that cover.
The ending not at all.
3/5 stars.
Thursday, January 3, 2019
Boundary Issues
Boundary by Mary Victoria Johnson has so much potential, but it is one of those stories where she should have sat on it for a few more years and rewritten it, so the plot flows better. Also, getting a good editor that will actually edit, might have improved the author's chances because the grammar and spelling took me out of the story to often to enjoy it. I understand the author was fourteen when she wrote this and while it is commendable, I feel like the story suffered slightly from it.
The first chapter was amazing, but it quickly ran out of steam as the story progressed. I am so confused about the trials and was hoping for more danger and excitement to take place. As it stands, I have no clue what the heck mind monsters and whatnot have to do with anything. It felt like the author wanted to get the story over with and it was a bit disconcerting when it stayed in the first person but was an entirely different character. Also, when writing in the first person, it is only what the character sees that should be described and it went into things that were the third person for a moment before switching back.
The cover is gorgeous, and the premise is intriguing while the ending does create an excellent bridge for the second book. However, I have been told by multiple people that the second book is even worse than the first one, so I am not sure if I will want to continue with this trilogy.
3/5 stars
The first chapter was amazing, but it quickly ran out of steam as the story progressed. I am so confused about the trials and was hoping for more danger and excitement to take place. As it stands, I have no clue what the heck mind monsters and whatnot have to do with anything. It felt like the author wanted to get the story over with and it was a bit disconcerting when it stayed in the first person but was an entirely different character. Also, when writing in the first person, it is only what the character sees that should be described and it went into things that were the third person for a moment before switching back.
The cover is gorgeous, and the premise is intriguing while the ending does create an excellent bridge for the second book. However, I have been told by multiple people that the second book is even worse than the first one, so I am not sure if I will want to continue with this trilogy.
3/5 stars
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