Almost three years have passed since the release of Revelations, the previous book in J. A. Souders� Elysium chronicles trilogy, but loyal fans haven�Almost three years have passed since the release of Revelations, the previous book in J. A. Souders� Elysium chronicles trilogy, but loyal fans haven’t forgotten Evie, Gavin or Asher. Renegade gave us a chance to explore a gorgeous underwater view with a very dark side, and Revelations really developed our three main characters and set them on a dangerous path.
In Rebellion, Evie, Gavin and Asher are back in Elysium, fighting Mother with the help of Father and his Underground. Mother is fighting back with all her considerable strength and she always seems to be one step ahead. It’s difficult to fight someone who is endlessly cruel. Whatever Evie does, Mother rewards with a public execution of someone the Underground cares for.
Evie’s still missing some of her memories, but her will to live and fight is back in full force. She struggles a bit in this book, mostly with being a symbol for the Underground, but she accepts her role and always does the best she can. She isn’t one to shy away from responsibility, and all her decisions in Rebellion are truly admirable.
After a rough patch in Revelations, the romance shines again. Gavin and Evie spend some of the time apart, as each of them has a different role to play, but when they’re together, the connection between them is palpable. What seemed like the beginning of a love triangle before isn’t one, and Asher plays an important, but non-romantic role.
The biggest problem remains Mother herself. She lacks nuance, any sort of characterization besides ‘evil sociopath�. This was my main struggle in the previous books, and it remained an issue till the end. As readers, we can’t really fear someone who is predictable, and Mother’s one track mind made it easy to guess what she would do next.
The ending of this book, of this trilogy in fact, is Souders� attempt to do something completely different, original and thought-provoking. I believe it was supposed to be a mind-bending finale that would leave us all reeling and thinking about it for days afterward. Unfortunately, the effect was quite opposite. With three books of build-up towards a logical ending, changing the game at the last second infuriated me. I was left confused, disappointed and unsure whether the journey was worth it.
Robyn Carr is famous for her two series, Virgin River and Thunder Point. With Thunder Point nearing its end, I was so very excited to see that she’s sRobyn Carr is famous for her two series, Virgin River and Thunder Point. With Thunder Point nearing its end, I was so very excited to see that she’s starting a new series, with yet another small town community at its center. It was clear from the start that Sullivan’s Crossing has a whole lot of potential, with so many interesting characters already prepared to take the spotlight.
What We Find, however, wasn’t quite up to Robyn Carr’s standards. Centered around Maggie and Cal, What We Find shows both of them during their most vulnerable time. They both have reasons to be a little bit lost and disillusioned. As a neurosurgeon, Maggie is being sued for malpractice, her practice is closed and her boyfriend of two years abandoned her after a miscarriage. She goes to regroup to the only place she feels completely safe � her father’s camping ground and store at Sullivan’s Crossing. There she meets Cal, a homeless hiker with secrets. She is distrustful at first even though Cal tries very hard to help her and her father. She is curious about his story and more than willing to pry, but Cal keeps his reasons for wandering very close to his chest.
Although Carr’s characters are very much alive, What We Find suffers from a serious lack of plot. Nothing actually happens in it. We follow these people as they slowly uncover each other’s secrets and admit their feelings for each other. I usually prefer romances with very little tension and angst, but there has to be something to keep me engaged. Aside from the secondary characters like Maggie’s father Sully or neighbor Tom, there was very little to keep me turning those pages.
I think I was mostly bothered by the lack of chemistry between Maggie and Cal. It didn’t seem like one of those romances that are meant to be, but rather a marriage of convenience for two wounded souls. Books with no tension and very little plot have to make up for it somehow, and a strong magnetic pull between characters is usually a way to do it. Unfortunately, What We Find was mostly unsuccessful in that, and almost every other department.
The book was saved, as so many books are, by Therese Plummer’s fantastic narration. Yes, she’s one of those narrators who could read grocery lists and make them interesting. She brings characters to life and ads something uniquely hers to every story she reads. I will read the next book in this series because I trust Carr to make it a whole lot better than this unfortunate beginning, and as always, I’ll choose Plummer to read it to me.
There’s an interesting story somewhere in What the Dead Want, although it’s so well hidden that you’ll have trouble finding it. Norah Olson’s sophomorThere’s an interesting story somewhere in What the Dead Want, although it’s so well hidden that you’ll have trouble finding it. Norah Olson’s sophomore novel requires a lot of patience and faith. The first part appears to be a confusing, unconnected series of chapters from several points of view, and this goes on long enough that even the most patient reader starts thinking about giving up. When things finally start to connect, they still feel distant and unemotional, and by the time things start to unravel, it’s very difficult to care at all.
It could be argued that Olson had far too many ideas, but fell short on following through. In order for a book like What the Dead Want to work, the writing needs to be immersive and atmospheric. Olson’s writing is far too simplistic to achieve the necessary depth. It’s almost like watching through a window as a fabulous meal is being cooked � you can see it happening, but none of your other senses are affected. I didn’t want to be told that Gretchen was feeling her skin crawl or that the hair on her arms and neck was rising. I wanted it to happen to me, to feel it all alongside her.
There is an excellent Civil War story in the background about saving slaves from the Ku Klux Klan, but it’s convoluted, confusing and not given nearly enough attention. The big reveal is foreshadowed a bit too strongly so it doesn’t come as a surprise at all. Even the extent of human cruelty doesn’t hurt or shock us, being written in a way that doesn’t quite reach our hearts. What the Dead Want could have been a far better story with some more careful writing and editing. As it is, it’s best to just skip it. ...more
For me, the summer always brings a craving for mysteries and thrillers. There’s something about these hot days that demands only the most exciting stoFor me, the summer always brings a craving for mysteries and thrillers. There’s something about these hot days that demands only the most exciting stories. Having missed The Bones of You, Debbie Howells� praised psychological thriller, I decided to start with her newest release and work my way backwards if I happen to enjoy it. Although she’s often compared to Gillian Flynn and other famous mystery writers, Howells� prose lacks the strength of books like Gone Girl. Despite its promising premise, The Beauty of the End is a colorless, uninspiring book that fails to grab attention or bring forth any real emotions.
The story is told from two seemingly unrelated points of view. Noah carries most of the narrative, but there are occasional interludes during which we follow a young girl named Ella. In addition, Noah’s story constantly jumps back and forth in time, from his early school days, to his days in college, to current events. Noah thoughts, and therefore his narration, are focused on one thing only � his childhood sweetheart and the only girl he’s ever loved, April. When he gets news that April is in a coma and that she’s accused of murdering her stepfather, Noah abandons the life he’s built and runs to her rescue, despite not seeing her for 16 years.
For a former lawyer and a crime writer, Noah is unbelievably clueless. His whole life he worshiped his idea of April, a girl that never really existed, while the actual person remained a mystery to him. There were so many things he should have read correctly, so many truths he should have seen. Watching him stumble about, being the very last person to know everything, was painful and not a little bit frustrating.
I imagine the story was meant to be complex and extremely suspenseful, but it lacked any real urgency. I wouldn’t call this story a thriller at all. If anything, it’s a tragedy of two people that were never meant to be. I had issues with the villain, too, seeing as he was both cartoonish and painfully obvious from the start.
The Beauty of the End is for those who enjoy dramas and tragedies, introspective stories with no HEA guaranteed. ...more
Down with the Shine, Kate Karyus Quinn’s third novel, starts with a prologue that promises a dark, twisted and very unusual book. The promise is strenDown with the Shine, Kate Karyus Quinn’s third novel, starts with a prologue that promises a dark, twisted and very unusual book. The promise is strengthened by our knowledge about Quinn’s previous works, which were always gritty and weird enough to stand out. In Down with the Shine, Quinn takes her unusual approach even further by mixing ideas and genres, albeit with questionable results. It is, it would appear, entirely possible to try a bit too hard to be innovative and fresh. In many ways, this book reminded me of Bad Taste in Boys, but while Bad Taste was purposely silly and hilarious, Down with the Shine failed to be even that.
‘Be careful what you wish for� is something we’ve all said many times in our lives, but rarely do we really stop to consider the possible consequences of our hidden desires coming true. Quinn explores the cost of wishes made haphazardly by a group of drunken teens, ranging from bat wings to love returned. Not a single wish turns out like the person wanted it to, and the results are often disastrous.
As the daughter of a famous criminal, Lennie always found it hard to fit in. In an effort to join the popular crowd, she brings some of her uncles� moonshine to a party and follows the tradition of granting wishes, not knowing they would actually come true. Lennie makes many mistakes from the start, but she’s actually the least to blame. The adults in her life failed her spectacularly, and her choice in friends and love interests left a lot to be desired. Her infatuation with her best friend’s brother made little sense from the start, and the more I witnessed their interactions, the more I wanted Lennie far, far away from Smith.
I suppose Quinn was aiming for a darkly humorous tone, but Down with the Shine was neither particularly dark (dismembered bodies notwithstanding), nor was it successful in being humorous. That’s the main difference between this book and Bad Taste in Boys � the latter was ridiculous, but also hilarious. It helped that the book is compulsively readable and entertaining, although never laugh-out-loud funny. Quinn’s prose isn’t thick or pretentious, which makes it very easy to absorb, and she does know how to surprise her readers on every turn. While Down with the Shine isn’t her best work, it can be an enjoyable way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Well researched YA historical fiction is somewhat of a rarity. These are the books that come with an author’s note and lengthy bibliographies which shWell researched YA historical fiction is somewhat of a rarity. These are the books that come with an author’s note and lengthy bibliographies which show us that they’re based in fact, with minimal artistic liberties taken. Ruta Sepetys could be considered the queen of the genre, but Anne Blankman appeared to be a serious contender after her Prisoner of Night and Fog duology.
Traitor Angels follows along the same path. Blankman did her homework extremely well. Her book is well researched and convincing in its factual aspects and those who are somewhat familiar with John Milton and his work might feel as though they’re truly meeting him in person and expanding their knowledge about his life and personality. Blankman merely added an extra daughter and gave her a bit more education that the rest of Milton’s children. The image she painted of England in 1666 is detailed and convincing. I feel that I learned quite a bit from this book, which is always a plus. Unfortunately, the parts that were purely fictional didn’t work quite as well.
Traitor Angels is reminiscent of The Da Vinci’s Code in a way. It follows the same premise � discovering buried secrets by following clues hidden in famous works. It could have worked better, but Blankman failed to build any real excitement and I found myself bored with the search pretty early on. The two main characters, Elizabeth Milton and Antonio Vivani, were sent on this quest by Milton himself, but even though they were both groomed for it from their early days, they made some pretty naïve and ridiculous mistakes along the way.
Although Blankman tried to give us a worthy heroine, Elizabeth never rang true as a girl she was meant to be, and especially a girl living in the 1660. Throughout the book, she was reconsidering her puritan beliefs and discovering new things about herself, but for me her journey completely missed the mark and I honestly didn’t care about any of it. Antonio’s story and actions weren’t any more convincing and I’m sorry to say I had to fight to remain focused.
Traitor Angels had enormous potential, but most of it was left unexplored. I had to struggle for more than 15 days with it and barely found the will to finish it. If you’re interested in the genre, I’d recommend a trip to Nazi Germany in Blankman’s debut or a long journey aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff during World War II in Ruta Sepetys� Salt to the Sea.
As a big fan of Amy Tintera’s debut duology, Reboot, I was beyond excited to read her first foray into the world of YA fantasy. It’s my preferred genrAs a big fan of Amy Tintera’s debut duology, Reboot, I was beyond excited to read her first foray into the world of YA fantasy. It’s my preferred genre and the one I’m most selective about, but I trusted Tintera to create something thrilling and never before seen. Sadly, while Ruined was exciting and pretty decently written, nothing about it was as original or daring as it should have been. If anything, Ruined is a collage of themes and tropes we’ve seen many times before with just enough novelty to make is seem better than it actually is.
Ruined is told alternately from Em’s and Cas’s points of view. The two belong to countries at war with each other, with much history and bloodshed already between them. Although the narration is fairly divided, it was clear from her first chapter that Em would be the one to carry the book. It was important to Tintera to make her the strong, merciless and isolated heroine, a girl considered useless by her people because she didn’t possess the magic like the rest of the Ruined. When it comes to creating heroines, Tintera clearly knows what she’s doing. I liked Em’s independence and bravery, I loved that she always expressed her opinion, even when it wasn’t prudent to do so. She never came across as whiny or incompetent as so many heroines often do.
The downside of her excellent characterization was the shadow she cast over Cas. In contrast, his character was poorly done, and while it could be argued that he was too young, he didn’t have the personality fit for a future king. Cas was almost too agreeable and forgiving, he let his family, and even Em, walk all over him, and when Em failed to warn him of danger and practically betrayed him, he just forgave her like it was nothing.
That brings me to romance, which was obviously somewhat disappointing. I felt very little chemistry between Cas and Em as his impostor wife and while I didn’t see it as instalove as some readers complained, I also saw no reason for their infatuation. I have no idea where the story will take them or how they might change and evolve, but as it is, there is nothing substantial between them.
I have to give credit to Tintera for her excellent dialogues. As a huge fan of dry humor and sarcastic remarks, I enjoyed all the banter between her characters. Em’s personality came through loud and clear in every random comment and especially those things she muttered to herself in response to something someone said. In addition, it’s clear that Tintera is a great writer with an excellent sense of pacing.
While I might not continue this series (I doubt I’ll even remember the details by the time the second book comes out), I’ll keep an eye out for Tintera’s next project, hoping it will be something I’ll enjoy just a bit more than I did Ruined.
The opening chapter of The Mystery of Hollow Places promises a story filled with paranormal mysteries and excitement. It’s one of the best
The opening chapter of The Mystery of Hollow Places promises a story filled with paranormal mysteries and excitement. It’s one of the best prologues I’ve read in a while and it easily made me want to read the rest in one sitting. I adore atmospheric, creepy mysteries, and I was hoping this would be one. The rest of the book, however, continued in a very different tone.
That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy what came after. Mostly I liked it because of Imogene Scott, a main character that carries the book easily with the depth of her personality. I wanted to know more about Imogene from the very beginning. She is an unusual girl, a bit of an outsider, with only one friend she seems to trust. After growing up with her father’s forensic mysteries and his struggles with bipolar disorder, she’s very mature and she can be a bit odd and closed off sometimes. When her father disappears, Immy has a single goal � to find him, no matter what it takes. Influenced by his mysteries and his main character, the forensic pathologist, she thinks it’s her job and hers alone to find out where her father has gone. But the mystery of his disappearance is wrapped up in her mother’s abandonment, so Imogen first has to find a woman she doesn’t even remember, and uncover the truth of her parents� relationship.
The Mystery of Hollow Places is in many ways a strange book. It goes in many different directions and it’s difficult to determine what it’s really about. There were several things I enjoyed thoroughly, starting with Rebecca Podos� subtle and beautiful writing. I loved how she weaved her story with seeming ease. Nothing about it seemed artificial or forced, and I admire the deep understanding behind each sentence. Characterization is what makes this book strong and memorable, starting (but not ending) with Immy Scott.
Aside from the characters and the writing, though, nothing about this book stood out. The mystery itself was mild and fairly uninteresting. I didn’t read to learn the truth, I read to learn about Imogen and her fascinating thought process. So if you take this book as a mystery of any kind, you might be disappointed, but if you appreciate a very well done coming of age story and mature, beautiful characters, this might just be the book for you....more
Dreamstrider is a romantic fantasy novel with a distinctly historical feel. It is Lindsey Smith’s third published full length novel, and to her creditDreamstrider is a romantic fantasy novel with a distinctly historical feel. It is Lindsey Smith’s third published full length novel, and to her credit, it’s practically bursting with diversity and fresh ideas. It is, however, a very flawed novel that required much more work on several aspects including composition.
Dreamstrider throws us straight into a complex world with very little in the way of explanation. It’s almost entirely up to us to figure out our way around, to understand the rules and limitations that apply to Barstadt and its inhabitants. I’ve had this same problem with Smith’s previous work, Sekret. She doesn’t pay too much attention to exposition and it always costs the reader (and consequently her) dearly.
I need to be very clear on the fact that Lindsey Smith’s imagination was put to very good use in this book. While I already mentioned that I found the exposition lacking, the complexity of the world, the social structure, the religious aspect and paranormal abilities were all on a very admirable level. It took a while to truly understand the world and its many intricacies and better explanations would have made the process less daunting and much more enjoyable, but that doesn’t change the fact that Smith has really outdone herself with the worldbuilding she offered.
The romance brought another disappointment, with the exasperating lack of honesty and communication between best friends. The idea of so much background between Livia and Brandt was stupendous, but I felt that it wasn’t used to its full potential. These two had years of history between them, all that work as partners for the Ministry, and yet they behaved like strangers, unable to read each other or talk about what’s most important.
While it gets huge points for originality and detail, Dreamstrider is a novel I would hesitate to recommend. There are just too many things that were left unclear and unexplained, too many characters that required more work and development and even the ending seemed a bit too rushed and well-rounded.
I’ve been a fan of Jenn Bennett ever since her first Arcadia Bell book (which seems like a million years ago), but I never expected her to try her hanI’ve been a fan of Jenn Bennett ever since her first Arcadia Bell book (which seems like a million years ago), but I never expected her to try her hand in young adult fiction. Foolish of me, I suppose. Why wouldn’t she, when she’s so good at everything else she puts her mind to writing? From the very first advanced reader’s copy that fell into a reviewer’s hand, The Anatomical Shape of a Heart (internationally titled Night Owls, which I prefer), has been getting nothing but rave reviews. And with good reason. Homework was done, a checklist was made, many YA books and reviews have been read and the result was a book designed to satisfy even the most demanding YA reader. At least that’s how it reads.
I’ve tried my best to nitpick and dissect in an attempt to pinpoint the exact thing that made me so uncomfortable, and I failed. Jenn’s writing is flawless and her characters are well rounded people with unique interest. The book offers diversity on more than one level and it even includes a positive, albeit unflinchingly honest representation of mental illness. So what the hell is wrong with me, you say? Likely the fact that my brain kept screaming too perfect too perfect too perfect!
While I loved several things about this book � in fact, my brain loved just about everything about it � my heart just refused to get with the program. It truly did feel as if Jenn had followed some well planned checklist. This is one of the rare few times when my rating won’t in any way reflect my true feelings. Objectively, this book is a dream and I would (and will) recommend it to teens wherever I turn. It includes the very things I stand for, it’s quirky and unobtrusively educational. While the perfection of this book clearly made me uncomfortable, I am more than capable of appreciating its worth. So read this, if you haven’t, and then come back to yell at me for being heartless. Or, you know, discuss. There’s nothing I’d enjoy more. ...more
After a fairly long absence, Seven Black Diamonds signifies Marr’s return to the fae world, albeit in a somewhat different setting. Her debut series WAfter a fairly long absence, Seven Black Diamonds signifies Marr’s return to the fae world, albeit in a somewhat different setting. Her debut series Wicked Lovely was about the fae and it was extremely successful. I can only assume it’s where she still feels most comfortable. Those who’ve read both Wicked Lovely and Diamonds claim that there are many parallels, which I can neither confirm nor deny. I can only say it wouldn’t bother me if both were successful, but Seven Black Diamonds is a far cry from Made For You, a paranormal thriller and the only one of Marr’s books I’ve truly enjoyed.
Seven Black Diamonds offers so many different points of view in such a brief time that it’s difficult to keep track of all of them and their stories. I felt so confused throughout the first half and I was forced to go back and look up some details just to confirm I wasn’t going crazy. It’s difficult to get attached to any of the characters when so many are pushed in front of you at once. To be honest, most of my focus was on trying to figure out who was who and what might be their agenda.
This was so obviously the first in a series, a ‘meet the characters� sort of deal. There really wasn’t much of a plot, nothing structured or tangible at least, and all of it was mostly about establishing complicated relationships. There was supposed to be one big revelation, but it was clearly visible from a mile away and it failed to bring any excitement into it. The weak love triangle that really wasn’t a love triangle at all (which made it all the more unnecessary) further complicated things.
I can’t really find much praise for Marr’s writing this time either. We could perhaps blame it on so many brief chapters told from different perspectives, but the narrative didn’t run smoothly and it lacked any real emotions. I wish I could have believed any of it, but it just wasn’t convincing. Seeing as I am a fan of at least one of her books, I can honestly say that Melissa Marr can do much, much better. Perhaps it would help to stick with one or two characters in the future, preferably Lilly and Eilidh (and just btw, it drives me crazy that they routinely call a heavily scarred girl Patches). Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll pick up the sequel and find out.
2.5 stars Having read several negative reviews back when The Here and Now was first released, I nevertheless decided to give it a fair chance hoping I 2.5 stars Having read several negative reviews back when The Here and Now was first released, I nevertheless decided to give it a fair chance hoping I would feel differently, as I sometimes do. The opening part seemed very promising, which allowed me to think my stubbornness would be rewarded, but it quickly became clear that my opinion would align with those of several trusted friends. The Here and Now is not a bad book as such, but I found it lacking in characterization, scientific background and sometimes, unfortunately, even common sense.
My main problem with Brashares� novel is that it completely neglects any scientific theories involving time travel. It addresses possible consequences superficially, choosing not to base them on one of many existing scientific debates. This lack of research, especially when there’s so much material to draw from, is truly the only thing I can’t overlook or forget.
Prenna starts out as an excellent character. She lives in a community of time travelers from the future under very strict rules. Her world was ruined by the plague and while those that traveled seem to be immune, they can nevertheless be extremely dangerous for the so called time natives. Unlike her peers, Prenna is no stranger to critical thinking and she’s ready to defy her elders when their many rules make little sense. Although I liked her at the start, I soon noticed that Prenna was a pretty generic character, with nothing that would make her stand out and be remembered. She was rebellious, but not convincingly so, and it didn’t take long for her to lose my affection.
After four years of living by the rules, Prenna breaks them because of a boy. Ethan was present when she first arrived to her new life, but she doesn’t actually remember him. Still, there’s an undeniable closeness and a strong friendship that develops despite all the lies. Despite genuinely liking him, I was a bit perplexed by Ethan’s character because he seemed to transform into anything the story (or Prenna) required. He had access to tiny tracker devices, he understood very advanced physics, was able to run away with Prenna and rescue her from a well-guarded facility. His many talents were so unlikely that they constantly challenged my suspension of disbelief.
The upside of this book is that it’s fairly short and very easy to read. Even though it’s severely flawed, it’s pretty entertaining while you’re actually reading it. The story may not be able to withstand close scrutiny, but parts of it are enjoyable nevertheless.
2.5 stars It is now abundantly clear that McGarry and I will never find common ground. I’ve read several of her books by now, and while I tried very ha2.5 stars It is now abundantly clear that McGarry and I will never find common ground. I’ve read several of her books by now, and while I tried very hard not to nitpick, I inevitably struggled to finish them. It needs to be said that I went into this book with the best of intentions. I was hoping that a new series would mean a clean slate, a new opportunity and a chance to build a very different opinion. Alas, it was not meant to be.
I have to say that I fully understand the appeal of Katie McGarry’s books. They’re passionate and clever and they rely on well proven formulas. McGarry always seems to know what she’s doing, why she’s doing it and how she should go about doing it, and the end result is always a YA contemporary romance built to please her readers.
There’s no denying the quality of Katie McGarry’s writing, though. She may re-write the same formulas, but she does it exceptionally well. Her style is clean, precise and capable of evoking just the right emotions at exactly the right time. It is, I dare say, her saving grace in my eyes and it’s why I kept trying with her books even after several disappointments.
It’s clear, however, that it’s time to give up. My aversion to contemporary YA is certainly to blame, but several authors like Melina Marchetta, Jandy Nelson, Kirsty Eagar, Cath Crowley or Laura Buzo have been able to temporarily cure me of it and yet Katie McGarry never did. I suppose that alone says all there’s left to say.
Delilah S. Dawson is an author whose previous work I thoroughly enjoyed. Her adult paranormal romance series fought through my PNR allergies thanks toDelilah S. Dawson is an author whose previous work I thoroughly enjoyed. Her adult paranormal romance series fought through my PNR allergies thanks to Ann Aguirre’s wholehearted recommendation, so when Delilah started writing in a genre I actually enjoy, I was over the moon. Her first YA book, Servants of the Storm, certainly had its problems, but it was delightfully creepy overall and I really enjoyed the tone. Hit is a very different book, with a very different dynamic, although no less spine-chilling.
Hit takes us to a near future, the very beginnings of a dystopian society, with most citizens still blissfully unaware. What was formerly known as Valor Savings bank (and now just Valor Savings) bought out the government and all institutions and is now, quite legally, the owner of America. They don’t actually need more money, but they want the debt reduced, so they send out collections agents free to kill people who can’t instantly return what they owe.
Each able-bodied person gets a choice: either work for Valor Savings as their agent for five days (which of course means becoming a cold-blooded killer), or forfeit your life to the bank. The fine print on people’s credit card contracts makes the blackmail and murder entirely legal � not that there’s anyone left to enforce the laws. Presented with the same choice due to her mother’s debt, Patsy makes the decision to spend five days working for Valor Savings. She gets a gun, a mail truck, and a list of ten names.
Patsy is the protagonist of this story, but she is by no means a heroine. She is a killer, and while she might be shaped by her circumstances, her constant claims that Valor Savings left her with no choice sounded like empty excuses. She chose to kill ten people in order to saver herself and her alcoholic mother, she chose to do what they told her to work off her mother’s debt. It was hard to follow her sometimes, seeing how she neatly convinced herself that things were completely out of her hands.
Rebekkah Ross is a fabulous narrator and she saved this book for me at times, especially when it became too hard to sympathize with Patsy. Her voice is well suited for a young character, and her characterization is excellent, even for male voices.
Although it poses many questions, Hit gives us very few answers. We still don’t know the true nature of Valor Savings or their plan, we know nothing of Patsy’s mother and especially her father, and we don’t know whether her plan actually worked. The answers will hopefully be revealed in Strike, but we’ll have to wait until March 2016 to get them.
3.5 stars End of Days is the conclusion we’ve all been anxiously waiting to read since early 2011, when Susan Ee first released what was to become a se3.5 stars End of Days is the conclusion we’ve all been anxiously waiting to read since early 2011, when Susan Ee first released what was to become a self-published sensation. Angelfall was quite a surprise for readers and publishers alike and luckily, the quality was recognized on all sides. But if Angelfall was a huge success, the book that followed, World After, was an even bigger hit. Not only did Ee manage to reach the same level of excellence, she somehow doubled the excitement and our own emotional investment.
It’s pretty clear that End of Days had some big shoes to fill, but unfortunately, the conclusion to Susan Ee’s trilogy was born with relatively small feet. All on its own, this book would have been something to talk about, but compared to the previous two, it doesn’t quite reach the same heights. From the beginning, it was extremely difficult to scrounge up the excitement we were left with in World After. While funny and filled with witty banter, this third book seemed rather aimless and poorly structured. Admittedly, I may be a bit harsh, but it’s only because my expectations were sky high.
The good news is that Penryn and Raffe spend most of this book together. We’ve seen them change from enemies to reluctant companions to trusted friends and eventually something more. And while the ‘something more� part still can’t be if Raffe is to rejoin his own kind, the bond between these two, the true friendship and companionship, is undeniable. Although his honor demands that he maintain his distance, it is only a physical distance he keeps, and even that with limited success.
The tension between them is delicious, perhaps not quite as exciting as before, but palpable nevertheless. That could be the source of my biggest disappointment � after all the build-up, the ending seemed rather anti-climactic on all fronts. It was fine, I suppose, but if ‘fine� is the best we can do right after ‘spectacular�, something obviously went wrong somewhere.
Be that as it may, it needs to be said that Caitlyn Davis did a spectacular job with her narration once again. I honestly didn’t like her in any of the other audiobooks she narrated, but hers is the perfect voice for Penryn and in this case, it adds a lot to the story itself. If you do decide to read this trilogy, and I definitely recommend it, then audio might be the better choice.
After her extremely successful Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi’s sophomore project is finally here, and I dare say it’s slightly differentAfter her extremely successful Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi’s sophomore project is finally here, and I dare say it’s slightly different from what her readers expected. Told from a male point of view, Riders is based on the New Testament story about the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse. In her story, Conquest, War, Famine and Death are reincarnated (or rather embodied) as four teenage boys, all of whom had to die in order to become what they are.
Our narrator is one of the Four Horsemen, War. Gideon tells his story retrospectively, to an interrogator in an unknown government facility. He is there after being arrested for a crime that has yet to be revealed and he begins his story with the moment of his untimely death. With Gideon narrating his story in such an odd way, some of the urgency is gone and we’re left merely trying to catch up. The pacing is rapid, but we already more or less know how things end, which takes away at least some of our tension.
Rossi was always very good with details, which is true in this book as well. Although we don’t get nearly enough information about Gideon (War) himself and the extent of his powers, the horsemen and their horses were very interesting to read about. There is so much potential here, endless possibilities for weapons, abilities and weaknesses. We’ll hopefully learn more in the upcoming sequel.
In an effort to make Gideon’s love interest Daryn appear more mysterious, Rossi made her compassionless and inaccessible. From the start, Gideon’s insta-attraction seemed superficial and made very little sense. The more he was deceived and outright lied to, the more he admired Daryn and claimed he understood her. That type of romance is fairly difficult to like, but it might turn into something more substantial in the next book, which will be told from Daryn’s perspective.
The next book, Seeker, will be told from Daryn’s perspective. I obviously didn’t much care for her in this book, but I trust Rossi to skillfully turn that around.
Hello, my name is Maja and I’m a Mary Calmes addict.
It’s clear by now that Mary Calmes sprinkles crack cocaine between the lines of her books. I’ve reHello, my name is Maja and I’m a Mary Calmes addict.
It’s clear by now that Mary Calmes sprinkles crack cocaine between the lines of her books. I’ve read countless M/M books by now, but none were as addictive and utterly captivating as hers. There’s just something about her over-the-top romances, her insanely possessive couples with eyes only for each other, that makes you want to reread her books until your brain rots or you drop dead from exhaustion.
To make matters even more strange, I rarely give her books more than 3 stars, but I’ve been known to sit by my laptop, impatiently waiting the stroke of midnight just so I could download her latest release. I don’t think I’ve ever been more addicted to an author and more embarrassed by it at the same time.
Lately, Calmes has been very fond of the friends-to-lovers trope, and she’s been using it well. This story is no exception. Two best friends, Boone and Scott, have been dancing around each other for several years. It’s obvious that they can’t find love with anyone but each other, but neither one of them dares to take the plunge. Boone has a painful past, linked to the Japanese mafia, and Scott has the worst luck in love as he always falls for the wrong people.
Mary Calmes always tells her story from a single perspective, in first person. This time, we see the events through Boone’s eyes. The romance is pretty light-hearted, but Boone’s past is there to make the story just a bit harder to handle. The thing about Boone’s past was that it’s more than a little over the top, which isn’t at all unusual for Calmes. One particular event made me especially uncomfortable because it changed how I saw the main character. Other than that, the story was typical Calmes, albeit one of her least memorable.
Generally speaking, Calmes may use and reuse the same tropes over and over again, but she does it extraordinarily well. Being addicted to her work is the best and worst feeling in the world. If I don't get my fix regularly, I frantically hide behind closed doors to reread her novellas and her full length novels. Of course, I would never admit to such a thing publicly. This must be my evil twin typing.
Just Dessert is one of five stories in Dreamspinner’s Tales of the Curious Cookbook anthology. The other stories were written by Amy Lane, Marie Sexton, Amber Kell and RJ Scott. Having read them all, I can tell you that Amy Lane’s story is the only one (besides this, of course) that’s actually worth reading.
2.5 stars Sarah Alderson is known for light, action-packed and swoon-worthy reads, and Out of Control is no different. She may have removed the paranor2.5 stars Sarah Alderson is known for light, action-packed and swoon-worthy reads, and Out of Control is no different. She may have removed the paranormal element, but the basic formula remains the same. If it works, why change it? And for the most part, if action is what yu’re after, it still works like a charm.
Out of Control is basically a movie on page. It definitely reads like one � it has a movie-like quality to it that is most certainly intentional. This is what Alderson does best. Her stories are never particularly deep, nor are they unforgettable, but they are, as a rule, endlessly entertaining and romantic.
Unfortunately, the extremely fast pacing leaves me with very little to say about the characters. There are no secondary characters to speak of as the story is centered very firmly around Liva and Jay. But even the two of them weren’t as developed as they should have been. After the very exciting and explosive beginning, with the two of them on the run, the book consisted mostly of them being discovered and somehow managing to evade their pursuers. It was repetitive and a tiny bit tedious, especially when both of them kept making stupid mistakes over and over again-.
If you’re someone who enjoys movies like The Terminator, with a whole lot of action and a delightful romance, Out of Control is simply perfect for you. I think I read somewhere that the opening scene was written in homage to the famous film, so it should come as no surprise that the overall mood reminds strongly of it as well.
As for Alderson herself, I haven’t given up completely. She will be back (read this in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s voice), hopefully with something more meaningful next time.
Maja (The Nocturnal Library)
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