Sign up
Search
Advanced search settings

Search only in certain items:

Search results
All (4568)
Content
People
Apps
Books
Orbs
Movies
Music
Podcasts
Shows
Tabletop Games
Tech
TV
Video Games
YouTube Channels
Videos
40x40

Merissa (12943 KP) rated Healer (Havenhart Academy #1) in Books

Apr 27, 2020  
Healer (Havenhart Academy #1)
Healer (Havenhart Academy #1)
R.L. Merrill | 2020 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
HEALER is the first book in the Havenhart Academy series. Delaney is our main female and she is given bad news within the first few paragraphs of the first page! Things can only look up for her, surely? Serendipity, luck, whatever you want to call in ensures she applies for a job at Havenhart Academy. She is interviewed by Damien Preston and sparks fly.

This was a great start to the series, with characters and situations getting, and maintaining, your attention. These characters are written in such a way as you will care for them, and about what happens to them, in a very short space of time. Havenhart Academy itself is a great place with a real sense of family/community, where you can be accepted for just who you are. The connection between Delaney and Damien is there for all to see, even if they say they can't act upon it. I adored their story and how they bolster each other when needed.

With a contemporary setting, the world-building is just the amount you need without it being too much. Most of it is character-based which is absolutely spot-on for this story. The pacing is slow and smooth, meaning you get the most from this story. There are a multitude of characters here, most of whom I want to know more about, so I guess it goes without saying that I really can't wait for the next book to come out.

A stunner of a book and I can't wait to see who is up next! Absolutely recommended by me.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
  
40x40

Ivana A. | Diary of Difference (1171 KP) rated Cryptid in Books

Aug 21, 2018  
Cryptid
Cryptid
Michael Kott | 2018 | Young Adult (YA)
6
6.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
View my review on my blog: www.diaryofdifference.com/2018/06/08/cryptid-michael-kott-book-review/

Cryptid by Michael Kott is the second book of these series. It is a sequel to the Piasa, and you can find my review on that here. I have to admit and say that I didn’t enjoy Cryptid as much as I would like to, and you’ll find out why soon.

<b><i>About the book:</i></b>

Cryptid continues to tell the story of Sara, a girl that survives a car accident, when all her family dies. While in the first book she meets Mike, who gets her a job as his assistant in his adventures, in this book we will see Sara still maintaining that position, but a little bit from the background. When a few cats that look like leopards will appear at the museum, people start to get scared, and the police wants to shoot the animals. Then Mike and the team come to the rescue, to try and identify what the cats are, and save them from dying.

<img src="http://www.michaelkott.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/cryptid.wip_.jpg"/>;

<b><i>Review:</i></b>

In Cryptid, we will be introduced to a couple new characters, some of which I happened to be very fond of (Hi Xenia!). The good thing for me was, that I could get a bit of a break from all the Sara moments. The thing I didn’t like was the fact that their background was too short and untold, and they kept making decisions based on the past that we didn’t know (I will mention Shannon’s decision here).

My favourite moments of the book, were, of course, those where Sara wasn’t there. Followed by my previous review of the Piasa, I sometimes like the character of Sara. But I also couldn’t agree with her. I couldn’t understand her character, behaviour and decisions. Maybe it is because of my own childhood. I mean, luckily, I haven’t lost any of my family, but I have lived without both parents in those crucial years, raised by grandparents, while having a little sister to look after, and having an aunt similar to Pamela to guide me through my worst. But I was never this arrogant, self-centered and desperate for ME-ME-ME attention like Sara. Whoa, that lady really can push my limits sometimes.

The same goes with everyone around Sara that constantly tries to please her, and make sure she’s not upset.

And what is the reason that all of the characters are losing their shoes somewhere?

Unlike Piasa, in this book the focus is only on one big event, at two main places – the park and the museum. Apart from a few places in the introduction, the whole story keeps us around these places, which I particularly didn’t mind, but some people may or may not find it boring.

I was a bit sad because I really like Mike, and he wasn’t as present with his story as his was in the other book. I expected to see and learn a bit more of him.

Not to be all negative though, there were a few moments that I really enjoyed! I loved to read about the sisterhood of Pamela and Xenia, and the beginning of the book was fantastic. Xenia is also such an incredible character, and I really admired her. I also loved the explanations on the different kinds of cats and their latin names and meanings.

All in all, I am a bit sad to say that this will be a 3 out of 5 stars. Especially because the author, Michael Kott, is a dear friend of mine, and I greatly enjoyed the Piasa. I may have expected a bit too much of this book, that left me disappointed. But I do believe that some of you might greatly enjoy it! If you like Young-Adult fiction, and stories about mystery animals and cryptids, you will definitely enjoy this book!

Thank you Mike, for sending me a copy of the Cryptid, in exchange for an honest review.

<a href="https://diaryofdifference.com/">Blog</a>; | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/diaryofdifference/">Facebook</a>; | <a href="https://twitter.com/DiaryDifference">Twitter</a>; | <a href="http://innahcrazy.tumblr.com/">Tumblr</a>; | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/diaryofdifference/">Instagram</a>; | <a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/diaryofdifference/pins/">Pinterest</a>; |