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Station Eleven
Station Eleven
Emily St. John Mandel | 2015 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
7.9 (29 Ratings)
Book Rating
Beautifully written and just so human.
I had this book recommended quite a few times to me I even bought it almost a year ago and just never got around to picking it up and it kept popping up in one of my Facebook groups so I thought I'd finally give it a chance since all the comment were very positive and I cannot tell you how glad I am that I finally gave it a chance. The story in itself is really simple but it's absolutely beautifully written Mandel really has a way with words that I can't even describe her whole story just flow together so beautifully I love the back and forth between the time before and after the epidemic the characters flawed and honestly it's just so human and beautiful that I couldn't stop reading. One of the things that really stuck out to me most was that when it came to Station Eleven and when certain characters had to take a life it wasn't some proud moment like it is in most dystopian books it was a heartbreaking moment it was something that the characters didn't want to have to go through and I found it so beautiful and absolutely heartbreaking. As the story progresses and you find out more about certain characters and how everything connected it was just so beautifully done and I really could just go on forever praising this book definitely one of the best books I've read this year.
  
Ok... so I feel kind of bad giving this one a rating when I didn't read the whole book, however I believe it's justified in the sense that I didn't read it all because I didn't like it...therefore, a one star rating from me. Now, I must admit that I have never read the original Pride and Prejudice novel and I have never had any interest in doing so, it just doesn't appeal to me. When I saw there had been an addition of Zombies I was sold, I love a bit of Zombie mayhem...plus I was getting to read one of the 'classics' at the same time. Well...at about 50 to 60 pages in I am sadly bored stiff, the language is such an effort to decipher sometimes, I often don't know what's going on or why and really...why Zombies? I'm not complaining that there's Zombies but there's nothing to them. It's the original story with some random Zombies and martial arts thrown in, unexplained and lacking. They are slain so easily and with haste in order to get back on with the original story. I was, at least, hoping for equal measures of Zombie action and original story but unfortunately it just didn't deliver, more zombie action please! Maybe I will pick this up again in the future to give it another go but as it stands I just can't bring myself to struggle through something I'm not enjoying. Back to the library you go!
  
Wilder (Birds of a Feather #1)
Wilder (Birds of a Feather #1)
Lena North | 2016 | Contemporary, Paranormal, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Wilder (Birds of a Feather #1) by Lena North
Wilder is the first book in the Birds of a Feather series, and it starts many, MANY years after The Dreughan Trilogy. Wilder has just lost her beloved grandfather and also learns more about her family. Some surprises were in store for her, and she struggles to deal with them all. Funnily enough, the biggest surprise was easy for her. The hardest was dealing with people she thought she knew, and finding out they had a whole other life that didn't involve her. With a whole new family to contend with, plus a love interest, there is a lot going on for Wilder.

First of all, the thing that I ADORED in this book was the appearance of Vilda, Sannah, and Troy! I loved how they made their appearance, and their appearances after. For me, it helped to wrap up their trilogy, and I loved every single time they were mentioned.

There is plenty of action in this story, and it is different from The Dreughan Trilogy. For a start, it is set in a contemporary time, not medieval. A whole new bunch of characters and abilities light the way, giving this series a great introduction in a well written story. There are some editing and grammatical errors, but nothing that spoilt my enjoyment of the story.

A great beginning to the series, and I can't wait to continue. Definitely recommended by me.

* Verified Purchase ~ July 2018. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
Curses of Scale
Curses of Scale
S.D. Reeves | 2018 | Young Adult (YA)
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Curses of Scale
”Dreams starve and die if not fed by imagination.”

A uniquely designed plot, intriguing and different. I was so excited to read this book. The cover was mesmerising and the synopsis was promising. It made me eager to start the book and I couldn’t wait to dive into this fantasy world.

The first couple of chapters were very slow for me. I had to re-read chapters twice, and I didn’t quite understand what is happening. After a while, things became clearer, and I started to enjoy the story a bit more.

I loved Niena’s character. She was a typical being, where one part gasps with bravery, and the rest gasps with fear. I loved how realistic she was at moments, knowing to be scared when supposed to, and fierce when needed of her.

The story gasps with a lot of intense scenes, full of adventures, that I am sure you will all love and appreciate. From trying to fight a dragon, to running away, to the amazing plot twist right at the very end, this book made me restless, after I started enjoying it.

The only reason I am taking two stars away is because I had to read the first 60-ish pages two-three times, until I finally dived in and started enjoying the story.

”A fairy bargain can live no deeper than your lips, it always dies before reaching the heart.”

A beautiful tale, full of magic, adventure and time travel. And a cover that suits it so well.