I鈥檝e read a lot of books and generally I find most of them enjoyable it takes a lot for me to rate someone鈥檚 hard work low. I was eI鈥檓 just confused鈥�
I鈥檝e read a lot of books and generally I find most of them enjoyable it takes a lot for me to rate someone鈥檚 hard work low. I was excited by the concept of this book but the execution was not great.
Within the first few chapters I already was confused about who the main character was and what was going on. They kept saying Thomas and I was genuinely like鈥� who is Thomas!?
I kept going and it just felt like the story was jumping around so much I never had any idea what was happening, where we were, who the characters were. I think there was simultaneously too much going on and not enough. There seemed to be a lack of journey and connection between parts.
There were a lot of references without explanation. Perhaps of the time period? They are just thrown out in conversation and I found myself questioning 鈥� what does that mean, or why would they have done that? Also the Captain is written as a truly terrible man鈥� with zero redeeming qualities, or comes across that way鈥� and yet we鈥檙e expected to believe everyone is so concerned about him?
I understand that maybe it鈥檚 meant to portray the main character as someone who is just no matter the person etc but for everyone else to go along despite their treatment just felt unlikely.
It also is not made clear the precise time period, or if it was, I missed it entirely.
*SPOILERS*
They set it up to seem like one person so obviously committed the murder鈥� then it goes on where it becomes clear that oh this person was guided to do all these things by this other guy who is really the one behind all this.
Then it actually ends up being someone else entirely and then you鈥檙e like what!?! Then why would the men have even done any of those things if neither of them were actually involved.
I enjoyed it. I did find however there were certain parts of it that felt rather mature for the intended audience. It was short like a children's noveI enjoyed it. I did find however there were certain parts of it that felt rather mature for the intended audience. It was short like a children's novel with typically younger protagonists, at 12 and 14, but it read more like a young adult novel, in language, references etc.
I do feel you have to have some understanding of Sherlock Holmes stories to get the full picture and really young readers may not have that exposure yet.
It was a very quick read but I thought everything went too quickly. I felt like things jumped around too fast and the story could have been elaborated on a bit more. I was only beginning to feel like I'd begun to be immersed in the story and then it was done.
I don't know who to recommend it to though... as it felt too short for the average young adult, perhaps well-read pre-teens?
I was a fan of Nancy Springer's I am Morgan le Fay, and I read that at around 10 or 11 years and remember it seeming mature to me. Perhaps 11-13 would be the ideal range.
I feel I would have REALLY loved this as a longer more in-depth story....more
I love anything Sherlock Holmes and it is quite fun to read reimaginings or alternate universes so I was excited for this.
While I do enjoy the mysteriI love anything Sherlock Holmes and it is quite fun to read reimaginings or alternate universes so I was excited for this.
While I do enjoy the mysteries in the books (I continued reading on to see if things would change), and the concept in general, I do not enjoy how overly explained everything is. Simple, and rather obvious things are being over-explained to characters who thus far, have seemed smart enough to have figured it out without having it broken down as though they are an infant.
At first, I let it slide by as it keeps in line with Holmes' condescending manner but as the book goes on it begins to feel condescending to the reader as though the Author is implying we cannot understand.
Plotlines that could have carried on for intrigue are just suddenly resolved. Also, why is everyone named John? John Watson, John Watson Jr, Joanna ... which is basically a female John, her first husband was John her son is Johnny. It just feels really lazy. I'm disappointed. ...more
I admittedly started reading this book with apprehension. Now usually when an author does this it either goes really well or terribly. I'm happy to saI admittedly started reading this book with apprehension. Now usually when an author does this it either goes really well or terribly. I'm happy to say, at least in my humble opinion, this one went really well. If you have not read the Mara Dyer series do not even pick up this book, you'll be confused and won't be able to enjoy the storyline.
I'm extremely sorry to say that I did not love this book. I wanted to, I thought from the sound of the description that I would enjoy but reading it fI'm extremely sorry to say that I did not love this book. I wanted to, I thought from the sound of the description that I would enjoy but reading it from start to finish, proved me wrong.
It had the perfect Young Adult formula. Regular, successful kid who unwillingly becomes involved in something extraordinary and has to find a way to overcome it. It should have worked, but it just didn't.
I first read this book a long time ago as a school assignment and novel study where we read it as a class and broke it down in depth. I re-read it morI first read this book a long time ago as a school assignment and novel study where we read it as a class and broke it down in depth. I re-read it more recently and found that I still liked this book, but what I hate is how it's portrayed in popular culture.
To me, it is not a love story.
This is a dark, sad and downright depressing story. It is a well-written timeless tale of missed opportunity and the psychological effects of abuse and neglect and the consequences of our choices. There is nothing romantic about it, it's not a romance.
Catherine is a selfish opportunist who at the heart of things is nothing more than a mean girl who not only wants her cake, but everyone else's too.
Heathcliff is a sad man bent on revenge and cruelty towards others even though it will never make up for the things he has suffered.
Picking up precisely where you hoped it might, The Swan Riders explores more of the story we began in Erin Bow's The Scorpion Rules.
I loved this bookPicking up precisely where you hoped it might, The Swan Riders explores more of the story we began in Erin Bow's The Scorpion Rules.
I loved this book. I'm not sure how else to really express that sentiment other than to just say it. Beautifully written, engaging and utterly unique, The Swan Riders continues to play on one of our biggest fears as a society; What happens when our creations turn on us? Worse, what happens when we become our creations?
I loved this book. I'm not sure how else to really express that sentiment other than to just say it. Beautifully written, engaging and utterly un*4.5
I loved this book. I'm not sure how else to really express that sentiment other than to just say it. Beautifully written, engaging and utterly unique, The Swan Riders continues to play on one of our biggest fears as a society; What happens when our creations turn on us? Worse, what happens when we become our creations?
This story was a unique blend of dystopia and science fiction. The world was painted beautifully and I could see the story coming to life around me riThis story was a unique blend of dystopia and science fiction. The world was painted beautifully and I could see the story coming to life around me right from the first page. It is addictive. Once you start, you won't want to put it down.
Read the full review:
*Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada for an ARC of this title. ...more
I really loved this book, it was a journey into the past without actually having to detail with the complex and often controversial concept of time t I really loved this book, it was a journey into the past without actually having to detail with the complex and often controversial concept of time travel. It's been a while since I've had a good paranormal read and this was definitely one! I was fascinated by the concept and both loved the characters as well as the plot. It was well paced and managed to keep my attention throughout.
As a big fan of The Mortal Instruments series, it was no surprise that I found myself enjoying these stories. Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy, broAs a big fan of The Mortal Instruments series, it was no surprise that I found myself enjoying these stories. Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy, brought so many characters to life that we never really had the opportunity to get to know previously.
The plague of human error. This Zombie apocalypse book is not quite what you would expect. In the attempts to create a miracle drug, scientists insteaThe plague of human error. This Zombie apocalypse book is not quite what you would expect. In the attempts to create a miracle drug, scientists instead, by default created an uncontrollable zombie virus. Talk about bad side effects, wonder if that was in the commercial?
Now these infected humans are infecting those around them and the epidemic has spread. If that wasn't bad enough to deal with, there are more monsters coming out of nowhere and suddenly the Army base where the story takes place seems to be the last place unaffected by it all.
The story is incredibly well written and intriguing. The book is well paced, slow but not boring and all the characters are incredibly developed. It is hard to find yourself navigating which characters will become the focus of the story, but eventually, it becomes clear. I am not generally a fan of 'horror' but the truth is this is more of an action book.
Really good. I would recommend this if you're already a fan of Zombie literature. It definitely throws a new twist on it all.
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