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ClareR (6067 KP) rated One Year Later in Books

Aug 18, 2019  
One Year Later
One Year Later
Sanjida Kay | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Thriller
9
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
One Year Later by Sanjida Kay is a psychological thriller that had my heart in my mouth from the first page. It starts with an emotive subject: the death of a child - 3 year old Ruby. The family becomes fractured, no one deals well with Ruby’s death, and so Nick, her uncle, convinces his sister and her husband that it would be a good idea for the whole family to celebrate or mark the anniversary of Ruby’s death abroad and away from the bad memories. So they all go to a small island off the coast of Italy. But instead of this being the healing holiday that everyone needs and hopes for, secrets are revealed and it looks as though fractures within the family will become even worse.

I really think that Sanjida Kay has the voices of the characters just right: the mother who is barely able to function and hides alcohol around the house, just to get by and to be able to function for her two living children; the father who distances himself from everyone; the uncle who constantly thinks about his dead niece, and blames himself even though he couldn’t possibly be to blame; the sister who seems completely wrapped up in her own world of TV and her looks; and the grandfather who is responsible for the death of his granddaughter, but can’t remember what happened.

It’s such an emotional subject and so well written. I found myself very involved with these characters, and I couldn’t help but empathise with them. I was never quite sure if the person they all thought was responsible for Ruby’s death actually was, but I have to admit that I changed my mind a few times. The twist revealing the actual culprit came as a total shock and surprise.

A really very impressive book, in my opinion, and I’ll be telling everyone to read it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
  
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Merissa (13770 KP) rated Heart of Outcasts in Books

Dec 11, 2023  
Heart of Outcasts
Heart of Outcasts
Nicole Silver | 2023 | LGBTQ+, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
HEART OF OUTCASTS is part of the Wolves of Autumn series, but I have no idea how many stories have gone before, or if this is a spinoff. And do you know what? It didn't matter one bit as I was thoroughly taken with this story.

Justin has had it hard, tougher than most people can contend with. He is still standing - just - and thinks a run will do him good, and put his problems on the back burner for at least a little while. What he doesn't expect is to be attacked by a werewolf and changed. Bjarni is the one who finds him and takes him back to their pack. The connection between the two is instantaneous but Bjarni is straight... isn't he?

Oh, man. I loved these two. I loved how everyone was with Justin, who so desperately needed that affection. And I really really loved how it provided him the strength to make Bjarni court him. Too many times, I've read where one of the MCs is hurt, the other says 'sorry', and that's all. All forgiven. Justin's behaviour was completely believable, and I loved it all.

Justin was healing from years of abuse, and Bjarni, the same but in different ways. Their past was very different, but hopefully, their future will be bright. There is a dark moment where Justin dreams and then remembers something that was done to him when he was turned. This was incredibly horrible and I adored how it was written and everyone's reactions to it.

This was a fantastic story that I loved and would love to return to this world. And catch up with Justin, Bjarni, Magne and Su, Thorstein and Raina, plus all the others. Absolutely brilliant and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

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

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Dec 11, 2023