Now I know why I haven't seen it in bookstores

Seven Point Eight by Marie Harbon sounded like it was going to be a book that was out of this world. Now I know to stay away from books that say written like its a TV series because it was all telling and no showing.
I got so frustrated that I had to give up 10% into the book. Don't get me wrong a lot happened in that 10% but do not ask me to explain it. There were odd sex scenes in it that had me going wtf am I reading, the characters became too many and the transitions between their POVs may work in television where people can see the characters, not so much when reading.

2 out of 5 stars.

Too dramatic writing

Alive in the Shadows by Hope Waters sounded incredible and I did not think it would be one of those books that would disappoint, but I never made it past the second page. The writing was a little too dramatic for me and reminded me of things that I wrote when I was fourteen.
I'm sure it is probably a fascinating book, but it was not what I needed at the moment.

2.5 out of 5 stars

Halfer

Night Spinner by Addie Thorley could have been incredible if the first half of the book did not exist. It's not like one missed much in the first half anyways unless you missed Enebish's complaint about what she wasn't the first 500 times.
The characters had little characterization and the first half of the book I felt like they were caricatures and not characters. I persevered though and the second half paid off. It was what I thought the book was about and started to display evidence of being a Hunchback of Notre Dame retelling. Enebish slowly began to believe in herself (although it was questionable sometimes). The worldbuilding was incredible in the second half, and I fell in love with the book.
Although, I find it funny that the main love interest was a major part of the book yet is not mentioned in the blurb at all.

The first half of the book was soooooo slow that I almost fell asleep a couple of times, and I was questioning why I was reading this book until 50% into the story when Temujin tried to open her eyes like all the characters have tried doing.

I love the ending though and am curious to read the second book when it comes out.

Rating based on the second half of the book: 4 out of 5 ⭐
Rated based on the entire book: 1.5 out of 5 ⭐

Creature, creature: where are you?

Join or Die by J. Adrian Ruth has so much potential, but two things brought it down a star. The first thing is the prologue because it needs to be clarified, especially since it is from the same point of view. Is it Alex or the other scion that was murdered before Alex came to the school? If it is the first, then it spoils everything, and when I first read it, I thought that was what had happened. However, as I took a couple of days to think it over, the more, I feel like the author was aiming for the latter, but forgot that people are not privy to that kind of knowledge. Also, if you are doing creatures, feel free to play around with it like I love how this one guy was expected not to have any abilities because the magic only goes onto females. And another thing, if a person dresses in black, it does not entirely make them depressed. I kept waiting for a sad vampire, but it lacked in that department. He had the identity crisis down pat.
I devoured it in one and a half days and would have finished it in a day if I didn't have to work in between.
If the author fixed those things, then there would be nothing holding this novel back, but I cannot help feeling like this book could be so much more.

4 out of 5 stars.

A Good Christian Story

Hold Me Still by Britaini Armitage is one of those stories that I wish there were more Christain books like this. It does not preach to the choir, and I think having Elliott Quinn question his faith was an excellent way to get both sides of it. Also, Ella does not respond with the typical God says it response or thinks because it has to do with God. The answer doesn't need to clarify anything. She takes the time to think through her answers, and this is where it becomes hard.
I fell in love with all the characters and know that at least two other books are already published, but I am really hoping Ella and Elliott stay together because they are so perfect together.
This is one of those novels where everything ties in with each other, and even the cover makes sense. The orchid playing a considerable part in their story was a beautiful touch to the overall romantic feeling. There were a couple of sections where I started laughing because if they got taken out of context would be a completely different novel.
The ending had me thinking of the movie The Vow, where I cried as well. I devoured this in a day and eagerly await to see where Ella and Elliott's journey goes from here.

4.5 out of 5 stars.