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Kristin (149 KP) rated Forbidden (Arotas Trilogy, #1) in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
From the very first chapter, I was captured, hook, line, and sinker. The fate of Roseline's family/friends was just so raw, I could picture it in my head, and it made me shudder. I read as fast as I could to find out what happened to her as she started her new life in the U.S. as Rose. Her new-found friends, the strange connection she feels with the star quarterback, and her worries of being found definitely kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering how it would all come together for her, and if she could continue to evade her immortal family.
The ending was INCREDIBLY awesome, and I'll definitely be waiting on pins and needles for more of this story. I can't wait to see how it continues from here, and I'm sure it'll be fantastic.
5 stars
From the very first chapter, I was captured, hook, line, and sinker. The fate of Roseline's family/friends was just so raw, I could picture it in my head, and it made me shudder. I read as fast as I could to find out what happened to her as she started her new life in the U.S. as Rose. Her new-found friends, the strange connection she feels with the star quarterback, and her worries of being found definitely kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering how it would all come together for her, and if she could continue to evade her immortal family.
The ending was INCREDIBLY awesome, and I'll definitely be waiting on pins and needles for more of this story. I can't wait to see how it continues from here, and I'm sure it'll be fantastic.
5 stars

Caffeinated Fae (464 KP) rated Life of Pi in Books
Jul 10, 2018
The "Life of Pi" was a slow but semi interesting read. I went into this book knowing that it was about a boy stuck on a raft with a tiger. That was definitely the interesting part of the book. I found myself wanting this book to just end, or get to the "good" part.
The main take away from the book is that you need something to believe in when you face an "impossible" situation. I found Pi's struggle with religion insightful and his practicing of three religions a little different.
This was definitely not my typical read. I am one of those readers who likes fast reads. I want to finish a book in two days because I can't put it down, not because I want the book to end.
All in all, it was an okay book. It kept me semi entertained but it wasn't the "life changing" book that I was told about.
The main take away from the book is that you need something to believe in when you face an "impossible" situation. I found Pi's struggle with religion insightful and his practicing of three religions a little different.
This was definitely not my typical read. I am one of those readers who likes fast reads. I want to finish a book in two days because I can't put it down, not because I want the book to end.
All in all, it was an okay book. It kept me semi entertained but it wasn't the "life changing" book that I was told about.

Joelene Marie (28 KP) rated How to Murder Your Life in Books
Oct 1, 2018
Compulsively readable, feels more like a novel than an autobiography. At times I found myself able to relate to her or almost feeling sorry for her, at least in regards to her childhood, while other times I found her to be truly obnoxious and off-putting, especially in not accepting responsibility for her actions. However, I enjoyed her style of writing and I commend her bravery in putting her life and her struggles with addiction out there for the world to see, and judge. I imagine that every author dreads the bad reviews but when it's a book about your life that has to sting twice as hard. Hopefully her story will inspire others dealing with the same issues to turn things around. Curious to see if/how she will continue her literary career, perhaps a novel will be in her future (I certainly hope so!) *Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!*

MoMoBookDiary (20 KP) rated Finding Claire (Hill Country Secrets #1) in Books
Oct 1, 2018
MoMo’s Book Diary highly recommends this thrilling novel as a spellbinding 5 star read.
I loved this book. I knew I would as soon as I read the synopsis. I have a big to-be-read stack and this book didn’t sit well at the bottom so jumped to the top very quickly – even more so as the publication date was fast approaching.
I found it to be a gripping tale that had me repeatedly saying “one more chapter” and ended with another day of no housework and little sleep!
The author has given us two powerful lead characters and I felt a bond with both. I found myself rooting for them to find their way to happiness. It is a love story with a suspenseful mystery throughout.
Thank you to the author, Pamela Humphrey, for contacting me through my blog page and for providing me with a copy of this book prior to its publication date.
I loved this book. I knew I would as soon as I read the synopsis. I have a big to-be-read stack and this book didn’t sit well at the bottom so jumped to the top very quickly – even more so as the publication date was fast approaching.
I found it to be a gripping tale that had me repeatedly saying “one more chapter” and ended with another day of no housework and little sleep!
The author has given us two powerful lead characters and I felt a bond with both. I found myself rooting for them to find their way to happiness. It is a love story with a suspenseful mystery throughout.
Thank you to the author, Pamela Humphrey, for contacting me through my blog page and for providing me with a copy of this book prior to its publication date.

B (62 KP) rated The Handmaid's Tale - Season 1 in TV
Oct 6, 2018
Excellent adaptation
I really loved what the creators of this show have done with The Handmaid's Tale. The amount of relevancy that the social commentary still has on today's society blows my mind. I also really like how they've developed a lot of the characters. For example, in the book Serena Joy is mostly made out to be a villain, but her portrayal in the show is sympathetic. Much like in real life, the line between good and evil is blurred. I've found that while watching June is actually one of my least favorite characters. I've come to really love Nick although I feel intensely sorry for him in his predicament. I wish that they had put in some of the original narrative framing devices with the studying of the society of Gilead because I found that to be an interesting way of looking at it in the book and I hope they figure something out to keep it in the future.

Sarah (7800 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 (3562 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 (3562 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 ...