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Sarah (7798 KP) rated The Colour of Bee Larkham's Murder in Books
Nov 8, 2018
Well written but drags on
When I first started this book, I found it unusual but in a good way. Having a story unfold from the point of view of a autistic teenage boy with synaesthesia and face blindness is definitely unique and very interesting. Especially when as the reader you're as much in the dark as Jasper himself is. And as a crime book too, this is actually fairly unpredictable and I hadn't guessed the ending.
My problem with this book is that it drags and is far too drawn out. Whilst I found Jasper's story interesting and it was well written to a point, after a while it got a little boring because it dragged on for too long and I started to care a little less about the outcome. Which also wasn't helped by immensely disliking the character of Bee Larkham. It's a shame really, as this could have been a very good book if it had just been a bit shorter.
My problem with this book is that it drags and is far too drawn out. Whilst I found Jasper's story interesting and it was well written to a point, after a while it got a little boring because it dragged on for too long and I started to care a little less about the outcome. Which also wasn't helped by immensely disliking the character of Bee Larkham. It's a shame really, as this could have been a very good book if it had just been a bit shorter.
Roxanne (13 KP) rated What Suki Wants in Books
Nov 14, 2018
I would say more of a 2.5 rating. It took me a long time to finish this novel as I couldn't get into it at all, I couldn't relate to the characters as I found them to be quite shallow and whiny. (If I had a quid for every time the name Magdalen was mentioned...I'd be rich!)The reasons why I actually gave it any stars was because some of the twists and turns were good, in the sense that they stopped me from just giving up on the book (I was very close)I found some parts very out of place and unrealistic yet I have to say those parts just about interested me as the smut scenes (although some very out of place) were for the most part quite well written. It was good to see Suki's character develop more towards the end of the book (and I mean RIGHT at the end) but for me she was just too annoying and whiny.
Roxanne (13 KP) rated You Are So Undead to Me (Megan Berry, #1) in Books
Nov 14, 2018
<b>2 Star Rating</b>
I picked this one up from the library because it sounded good and I love books about zombies.
The idea is fantastic! It's original in the sense that it's about zombies crying out for help and needing assistance with their unfinished business rather than trying to eat your brains...I liked that.
Unfortunately for me the idea just didn't come together. I found the MC to be very annoying and the plot was continuously battered due to her wanting to be popular...it was just one big popularity contest. I found the other characters rather shallow and were immensely over shadowed by the MC. Just by looking at the front cover I should of expected that whole American high school princess drama but I guess I didn't expect it to be that bad.
So much could of been done with such a fantastic idea, it just wasn't for me.
I picked this one up from the library because it sounded good and I love books about zombies.
The idea is fantastic! It's original in the sense that it's about zombies crying out for help and needing assistance with their unfinished business rather than trying to eat your brains...I liked that.
Unfortunately for me the idea just didn't come together. I found the MC to be very annoying and the plot was continuously battered due to her wanting to be popular...it was just one big popularity contest. I found the other characters rather shallow and were immensely over shadowed by the MC. Just by looking at the front cover I should of expected that whole American high school princess drama but I guess I didn't expect it to be that bad.
So much could of been done with such a fantastic idea, it just wasn't for me.
David McK (3372 KP) rated Last Argument of Kings in Books
Jan 28, 2019
The final part in [a:Joe Abercrombie|276660|Joe Abercrombie|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1421267339p2/276660.jpg]'s 'The First Law' series, I have to say that I found this one pretty heavy going at times, at times almost a chore to read through.
The title, apparently, comes from an inscription made on his cannons by Louis XIV and is pretty apt for this novel, dealing (as it does) pretty much with all-out war (even if it does take about halfway throught the book before that actually happens). Once again following it's protaganists more-or-less chapter about, I can understand where this is coming from in showing that life isn't fair, but since I found none of those protaganists not really all that engaging, and with the only one who even seems to show any redeeming qualities being the one that doesn't make it all the way to the end ...
Not that impressed (sorry).
The title, apparently, comes from an inscription made on his cannons by Louis XIV and is pretty apt for this novel, dealing (as it does) pretty much with all-out war (even if it does take about halfway throught the book before that actually happens). Once again following it's protaganists more-or-less chapter about, I can understand where this is coming from in showing that life isn't fair, but since I found none of those protaganists not really all that engaging, and with the only one who even seems to show any redeeming qualities being the one that doesn't make it all the way to the end ...
Not that impressed (sorry).
David McK (3372 KP) rated Windfall (Weather Warden, #4) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
The fourth book in Rachel Caine's 'Weather Warden' series, this picks up not long after the events of the previous book ("Chill Factor").
While I found both the first and the second book in the series hit the ground running and barely let up, I also felt that the third novel fumbled the ball a bit: a trend that, unfortunately, continues in this. Like the afore-mentioned previous book, this suffers from a some-what slower pace than the first two, with one plot twist (in particular) I found couldn't be any more obvious than if the blurb on the back of the book gave it away (which I have seen that happen ...)
That's not to say I didn't enjoy this book - I did - but that, compared to previous entries, I felt this was a bit of a let-down. It is possible, however, that those two books constitute the calm before the storm, so I will probably read on ...
While I found both the first and the second book in the series hit the ground running and barely let up, I also felt that the third novel fumbled the ball a bit: a trend that, unfortunately, continues in this. Like the afore-mentioned previous book, this suffers from a some-what slower pace than the first two, with one plot twist (in particular) I found couldn't be any more obvious than if the blurb on the back of the book gave it away (which I have seen that happen ...)
That's not to say I didn't enjoy this book - I did - but that, compared to previous entries, I felt this was a bit of a let-down. It is possible, however, that those two books constitute the calm before the storm, so I will probably read on ...
Deborah (162 KP) rated The Loveday Secrets (Loveday, #9) in Books
Dec 21, 2018
I realised when I got this book that it was part of a series, only for some reason I thought it was the first part. When I started reading I found there appeared to be an awful lot of back story and when I checked I found it was something like the 9th book in the series!
That aside, I didn't have any difficulty following the plot and even saw some of the 'secrets' and plot developments coming a mile off. I'm only giving 3 stars as, although it was well enough written, even by the end I didn't find I cared enough about any of the character to wonder what would happen to them next. Even those that I think were supposed to be sympathetic to the reader I really couldn't care about; the book inspired no sense of empathy.
From other reviews on Amazon some people are really enjoying this series, but for me it was lacking in emotional engagement.
That aside, I didn't have any difficulty following the plot and even saw some of the 'secrets' and plot developments coming a mile off. I'm only giving 3 stars as, although it was well enough written, even by the end I didn't find I cared enough about any of the character to wonder what would happen to them next. Even those that I think were supposed to be sympathetic to the reader I really couldn't care about; the book inspired no sense of empathy.
From other reviews on Amazon some people are really enjoying this series, but for me it was lacking in emotional engagement.
Sarah Betts (103 KP) rated The Stars Now Unclaimed (The Universe After #1) in Books
Dec 31, 2019
I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book has three things I adore:
Snarky characters
Space battles
A group who becomes a family despite the odds.
Needless to say I LOVED this book.
It starts out with a soldier looking for one of many children who can stop the evil hypocritical fascists called the Pax.
There was an incident called the pulse that knocked out most of this verse's technology.
There are some really cool characters and some things that surprised me, which I found delightful!
There are only two complaints about this book I have:
I felt there could have been more cool alien species
This book comes out in about a week, which means it will probably take a year for the next one to come out.
Bummer.
(A more in-depth review can be found at
on August 14th at 6am pst)
This book has three things I adore:
Snarky characters
Space battles
A group who becomes a family despite the odds.
Needless to say I LOVED this book.
It starts out with a soldier looking for one of many children who can stop the evil hypocritical fascists called the Pax.
There was an incident called the pulse that knocked out most of this verse's technology.
There are some really cool characters and some things that surprised me, which I found delightful!
There are only two complaints about this book I have:
I felt there could have been more cool alien species
This book comes out in about a week, which means it will probably take a year for the next one to come out.
Bummer.
(A more in-depth review can be found at
on August 14th at 6am pst)
Sam (228 KP) rated Stranger Things - Season 1 in TV
Aug 8, 2019 (Updated Aug 17, 2019)
Slow Development (1 more)
Next to No Character Development
Overly Popular for What it is
I find that as reminiscent as this show makes me for the many scifi fantasy films of days past the idea in of itself is original. Rather instead it pulls from all these old films to create something new and as intrigued as I was with the plot itself I found myself unable to pay attention. The story follows a group of two dimensional characters as they try to figure out what happened to their friend who disappeared. The charm of the film died within the first two episodes however as the show dragged on and on, never really getting anywhere until the last few episodes. I watched this because everyone had told me how wonderful it was but I found no wonder here, just another over popularized show that is no more than a copy of films from the past.
Skwchance (13 KP) rated The Afterlife of Walter Augustus in Books
Nov 12, 2019
Theory of afterlife (4 more)
Comedy
Love
Uplifting
Supernatural
Ghosts, love and cake
Walter is stick in limbo in the interim, a period of afterlife where you remain until everyone who knew him dies. All his loved ones have moved to yhe final stage of afterlife and he wants to go with them but a book of poems he wrote has been found by a stranger. Now she knows his name he is stuck for longer.
The story follows him and the women who found the book, Letty. She is a sad character who you want things to turn out good for.
The theory of the afterlife is fabulous and made me question whether I would want to stay there forever and be remembered or if I would want to risk moving into the final afterlife.
The characters made me want to shake them into being braver at times but are endearing. The plot is a bit crazy but there are lots of laughs and it is very creative.
The story follows him and the women who found the book, Letty. She is a sad character who you want things to turn out good for.
The theory of the afterlife is fabulous and made me question whether I would want to stay there forever and be remembered or if I would want to risk moving into the final afterlife.
The characters made me want to shake them into being braver at times but are endearing. The plot is a bit crazy but there are lots of laughs and it is very creative.
Lorraine Christine Robson (1 KP) rated Devil's Cry : Shade of Devil Book 2 in Books
Dec 6, 2019
The Devil of New York is back!
Contains spoilers, click to show
Sooo many things to love about this book. I mean. Shayne Silvers has found a way to bring Jekyll and Hyde into it. So, we have Olympian forces, Victoria Helsing, Dracula, Doctor F.Stein and Jekyll and Hyde! Some of the most memorable characters from literary history given new life! (He is the Doctor Frankenstein of story writing).
What can I say about Devil's Cry? - I didn't see that coming! Shayne has outdone himself as I found myself immersed in the story to the point I could feel the dirt beneath my fingernails as I read a particular scene in Central Park. As with most vampire stories, things get a little heated. Things get sexy. And there is blood. And magic. I still can't get over how much I am enjoying a Vampire story!
Sorin Ambrogio is no ordinary vampire.
He is the Devil, and he has enraptured me.
What can I say about Devil's Cry? - I didn't see that coming! Shayne has outdone himself as I found myself immersed in the story to the point I could feel the dirt beneath my fingernails as I read a particular scene in Central Park. As with most vampire stories, things get a little heated. Things get sexy. And there is blood. And magic. I still can't get over how much I am enjoying a Vampire story!
Sorin Ambrogio is no ordinary vampire.
He is the Devil, and he has enraptured me.