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Olivia (102 KP) rated Infinite Blue in Books

Aug 13, 2018  
Infinite Blue
Infinite Blue
Darren Groth, Simon Groth | 2018 | Contemporary, Young Adult (YA)
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.


What I expected from Infinite Blue was a story about two teens trying to make love work and last. Instead, what I got was a contemporary, magical-realism book about life, love, passion and just how eternal they are.

Infinite Blue is a mystical read that I highly enjoyed. The relationship between our two main characters, Ash and Clayton, was incredibly sweet, the concept of this book felt highly original, and it was quick and easy to read. So, with all that praise, why have I given it a relatively low rating?

Infinite Blue left me wanting more. Unfortunately, not in the traditional "I loved this book and never want it to end! Give me twenty spin-offs of it!" way. The book is only 178 pages long. In that time a lot happens. But so much of it is skimmed over to an extreme extent where I felt I'd only read a third of a book. Yes, all the details a reader need to know are disclosed on paper, but there is practically no build up toward these events. That alone is why I don't feel I can give it a higher rating. The book feels incomplete.

With that being said, Orca Publishing specializes in publishing books for reluctant readers. This is a book I would recommend to reluctant readers ages 12-15. It's very straight to the point so it leaves little room to get distracted and the concept is extremely interesting.

But ultimately, as an avid reader, I found myself a bit let down by how incomplete the book felt as a whole.
  
The Harrowing of Doom
The Harrowing of Doom
David Annandale | 2020 | Comics & Graphic Novels, Science Fiction/Fantasy
7
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Good book, but no real insight to Doom
As I am currently wading my way through the early 90s Infinity Gauntlet/War saga and all the crossover issues of comics, I was intrigued at the sometime villain, complex character that is Victor Von Doom. This book seemed to be the perfect chance to put some meat on the bones of this intriguing powerful character.
The book starts on Walpurgis night, as Doom looks towards the coming midsummer and his annual battle with Mephisto's forces of Hell as he tries to reclaim his mother's soul. Beaten once more, Doom hits on a plan to take the fight to Hell on his own terms.
Meanwhile, Doom's mother's previously defeated foe, a prince, seeks to take back control of the country, using terror attacks while Doom is distracted with his Hellish fight.
The story has some good characters, in the few people trusted with helping Doom to accomplish his plan (his mother's former ally and now recluse, a priest with heretical powers and his security chief) which help to tell the story. However, throughout the book we are treated to the same sense of mystery of the insides of Doom's mind that we see in the comics.
The book is good, an interesting one where an over-powered character is undone by refusing to delegate or being too egotistical, and it is something of a page-turner. But as a Doom-focused book, it left me wanting more.

I received an advance eARC of this book from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
  
MM
Modern Monsters
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review when I signed up to host the book tour. I made no guarantee of a favorable review.

A truly emotional ride that left me in total shock as the revelation of who truly committed the heinous crime.

Vic is a quiet young man who is a loner with just one friend. Brett is popular, outgoing and going places and Vic's best friend. One night they attend a party and from that night on actions that are put in motion quickly change everyone's lives. the story line and characters are well developed and once you start to read this book you won't want to put it down. I was so invested in the story that I read it in one day. I applaud Kelley York's writing abilities and look forward to reading more from such an outstanding and gifted writer.
  
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Ross (3284 KP) rated Of Gods and Men in Books

Jan 31, 2018  
Of Gods and Men
Of Gods and Men
Stephen Aryan | 2018 | Paranormal
10
9.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Enough hints to anticipate twists and reveals (1 more)
Short and concise
Fantastic taster of Aryan's writing and world
*** I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***


This novella serves as an excellent taster of Stephen Aryan's writing style and the world in which his other books take place. I haven't read any of his other work yet, but as this is a prequel I didn't feel I was missing out on any inside knowledge. If anything, this book serves as an expanded backstory to one of the main characters of the first series, Vargus.
I really enjoyed the entry into the world, Aryan's easy-flowing narrative and the short, concise self-contained story which contains some good, well described action scenes, good dialogue and hints at a larger world to be explored and does lead you to want to read more.
  
Georgia and Scott are back to compete on a second reality show, this one a race across Europe with challenges along the way. But the night before the race even begins, Scott disappears and a woman is murdered. With the police certain that Scott is a killer, Georgia must find him and prove his innocence. Can she do it?

This was a wonderfully creative cozy. The mystery kept me guessing until the end, and the disappearance added a nice element to the story. The characters were strong as well. The race aspect was kept as a sub-plot, and the location in Spain was brought to life so much that I now want to visit.

NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/01/book-review-second-chance-at-murder-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Investigative reporter Lucy Resnick has bought the farm – that is her grandparent’s farm outside the small town of Buttercup, Texas. However, just days after learning that the previous owner, Nettie Kocurek, retained the mineral rights in the sale and intends to drill for oil, Nettie is stabbed. With the police focusing on the outsider – Lucy – she has to act find to find the real killer.

This is a fun series debut filled with great characters and a fun small town that I really grew to love. The plot did blog down a little in the second quarter, but it soon started back up with plenty of twists and surprises to keep me confused until the end.

NOTE: I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/07/book-review-killer-jam-by-karen.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
FF
Finding Fraser
K.C. Dyer | 2015
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was a fun read, even for someone who has never read any of the Outlander series.

The book alternates between chapters telling us the story, and blog posts that Emma writes as she goes along. The blog posts are short and sweet, and sometimes provide a little insight into things that have not yet been fully disclosed in the story.

I did feel that the heroine was a bit naive for 29. I often wanted to yell into the book at her, and to point out how blind she was being, or how ridiculous some of her choices were. Even so, Emma is a likable character, and I couldn’t help but root for her and wish her success in her quest to find love.

NOTE: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
  
Beauty, Beast, and Belladonna is the 3rd book in the Fairy Tale Fatal series, set in 1867. I love cozies and historical fiction, and this story was a wonderful mix of the two. Variety hall actress Ophelia Flax finds herself at a hunting party in France, pretending to be someone she is not, and trying to figure out how to avoid getting herself married to the Compte de Griffe. When an unexpected guest turns up dead after a string of petty thefts, she must try to find both the thief and the killer to get herself out of more than one entanglement. I absolutely loved the colorful characters, the time period, and the setting in this story. I plan on going back soon to read this series from the start!

NOTE: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review