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Samantha Reece (16 KP) rated The Great Balance (Beyond the Balance, #1) in Books
Nov 14, 2018
T.A. Davenport has created a wonderful and exciting world in her novel The Great Balance. This is a book about good and evil with just the right amount of romance.
The characters in the book are very well developed. My personal favorite is Briellyn. She is the heroine of the novel, and she seems so real! She is a strong and confident business woman who is also so kind and good. I would love to have her as my boss! Another character I love is Eric. He is just all sorts of amazing. He is the perfect guy.
Ms. Davenport's writing is very vivid and easy to follow. The pace of her work is not too fast nor too slow. It is just right and makes you want to just keep on reading!
Also, the plot in this novel is so fresh and new! I loved the twist on the creation story from the Bible. I have yet to read anything that took a spin on Adam and Eve before, and it was really interesting!
All in all, T.A. Davenport has a special gift, and I am sure there will be more greatness to come!
*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
The characters in the book are very well developed. My personal favorite is Briellyn. She is the heroine of the novel, and she seems so real! She is a strong and confident business woman who is also so kind and good. I would love to have her as my boss! Another character I love is Eric. He is just all sorts of amazing. He is the perfect guy.
Ms. Davenport's writing is very vivid and easy to follow. The pace of her work is not too fast nor too slow. It is just right and makes you want to just keep on reading!
Also, the plot in this novel is so fresh and new! I loved the twist on the creation story from the Bible. I have yet to read anything that took a spin on Adam and Eve before, and it was really interesting!
All in all, T.A. Davenport has a special gift, and I am sure there will be more greatness to come!
*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Eilidh G Clark (177 KP) rated Pigeon English in Books
Jul 2, 2019
This is a great first novel
This is a must read. Written in first person and from the point of view of Harry, an eleven year old boy (If my memory serves me well) is the most intelligent and convincing narration I have come across. The novel is funny yet disturbing and the reader is told of the young boys own world but through the innocence of a (not quite mature enough to understand the world) boy. Present tense with analepsis allows the reader into the distance between his old life and his new life. Kelman's terrific talent of show not tell, and the young protagonists inexperience creates a sense of irony, as the adult reader see's what the child is too young to notice himself.
I am not going to go into the plot as I feel that this is something I do not want to spoil but believe me, Kelman's characters are fully fleshed out and the world they live in as real as any run down council estate in the UK. This novel surprised me, made me laugh and brought me to tears and has left a tiny book shaped hole in my heart. Well done Stephen Kelman
I am not going to go into the plot as I feel that this is something I do not want to spoil but believe me, Kelman's characters are fully fleshed out and the world they live in as real as any run down council estate in the UK. This novel surprised me, made me laugh and brought me to tears and has left a tiny book shaped hole in my heart. Well done Stephen Kelman
Abandon
Sangeeta Bandyopadhyay and Arunava Sinha
Book
'India has found its Ferrante' - Niven Govinden ------ 'And I struggle to find my place in this dark...
"Camelot!"
"Camelot!"
"It's only a model"
"Shhh"
…
"On second thoughts, let's not go there. 'Tis a silly place"
With that out of the way, this is a sequel - or, as the author (Giles Kristian) himself puts it - more of a companion piece to his earlier (and originally conceived as being standalone) novel Lancelot, although I feel that he REALLY should have stuck with his original name for the novel: Galahad.
Calling it Camelot, to me, does the novel a bit of a disservice, with that location not really a key factor in the story. What is, however, is the central character (and first person narrator) of Galahad himself: Lancelot's son, raised by Christian monks following his fathers death in the climax of the previous, who (here) is not as pure and devout and, well, 'holy' as he is otherwise sometimes depicted, and who is still haunted by his legacy.
Various other characters from Arthurian legend themselves make an appearance, most notably (on the character front) Gawain, Merlin and Iselle whilst (on the 'Quest'/story front) we have a reimagining of The Green Knight, and the Search for The Holy Grail.
Like "Lancelot" before it, this is well worth a read.
"Camelot!"
"It's only a model"
"Shhh"
…
"On second thoughts, let's not go there. 'Tis a silly place"
With that out of the way, this is a sequel - or, as the author (Giles Kristian) himself puts it - more of a companion piece to his earlier (and originally conceived as being standalone) novel Lancelot, although I feel that he REALLY should have stuck with his original name for the novel: Galahad.
Calling it Camelot, to me, does the novel a bit of a disservice, with that location not really a key factor in the story. What is, however, is the central character (and first person narrator) of Galahad himself: Lancelot's son, raised by Christian monks following his fathers death in the climax of the previous, who (here) is not as pure and devout and, well, 'holy' as he is otherwise sometimes depicted, and who is still haunted by his legacy.
Various other characters from Arthurian legend themselves make an appearance, most notably (on the character front) Gawain, Merlin and Iselle whilst (on the 'Quest'/story front) we have a reimagining of The Green Knight, and the Search for The Holy Grail.
Like "Lancelot" before it, this is well worth a read.
A Passage to India
Book
A Passage to India (1924) is a novel by English author E. M. Forster set against the backdrop of the...
Red Clocks
6.5
Rate It
Book
FIVE WOMEN. ONE QUESTION: What is a woman for? In this ferociously imaginative novel, abortion is...
gender science fiction social issues
Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated Before I Saw You in Books
Feb 25, 2019
Wow! This is my first ever Amy K. Sorrells novel and it most definitely will not be my last one. This book, it's setting, it's characters, it's messages......all of it absolutely gripped me and took me on an emotional roller coaster ride. I was up, down, sideways, in and out while reading this novel, and it left me with a feeling I haven't had with a book in a long, long time.
As a former street drug abuser, I related with this book on so many levels, with it's work of opioid abuse weaved into the story line. It's a very real thing now a days, and so many people are dying from the use of it. Thankfully, with God's love and kind forgiveness, I was saved and have been drug free for more than 15 years now, and this novel brought with the flood of emotions. Watching Jaycee struggle with certain decisions, watching her and her faith grow stronger through the novel, really made me see myself in her.
Throughout these pages, Ms. Sorrells has woven a message of the utmost importance from our God.......true love. I love my children more than life itself, but my truest love of all comes from, and for, our God. I could feel that message unweaving with each page turn, felt it envelope me and keep me hooked to the story.
This is more than a 5 star book. This is one that I highly recommend to everyone. This book is emotional, gripping, and may not be an easy read for some, but it's one that will forever be on my shelf and one that I will turn to when I need a reminder that sometimes struggles are what are needed to over come the mountains that God puts in my life. Faith,hope, love and more make up this novel and I can't wait to dive into another amazingly chiseled creation from this talented author! Well done, Ms. Sorrell!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
As a former street drug abuser, I related with this book on so many levels, with it's work of opioid abuse weaved into the story line. It's a very real thing now a days, and so many people are dying from the use of it. Thankfully, with God's love and kind forgiveness, I was saved and have been drug free for more than 15 years now, and this novel brought with the flood of emotions. Watching Jaycee struggle with certain decisions, watching her and her faith grow stronger through the novel, really made me see myself in her.
Throughout these pages, Ms. Sorrells has woven a message of the utmost importance from our God.......true love. I love my children more than life itself, but my truest love of all comes from, and for, our God. I could feel that message unweaving with each page turn, felt it envelope me and keep me hooked to the story.
This is more than a 5 star book. This is one that I highly recommend to everyone. This book is emotional, gripping, and may not be an easy read for some, but it's one that will forever be on my shelf and one that I will turn to when I need a reminder that sometimes struggles are what are needed to over come the mountains that God puts in my life. Faith,hope, love and more make up this novel and I can't wait to dive into another amazingly chiseled creation from this talented author! Well done, Ms. Sorrell!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
ArecRain (8 KP) rated The Forest of Hands and Teeth (The Forest of Hands and Teeth, #1) in Books
Jan 18, 2018
This book was everything I though it would be and yet nothing like I expected.
Come on, it's a zombie movie. If you go into this novel expecting it to have a happy ending or that no one important will die, then you are going to be gravely disappointed. In fact, after reading the ending, I was such a storm of emotion that I had to go play Pokemon to make it go away. I don't know which was sadder now that I think about it.
First of all, you have to go into this novel realizing that it is in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by zombies. How many books have you read or movies have you watched about post-apocalyptic worlds overrun by zombies where everyone is happy and everything is sunshine and rainbows? That is what I thought. This book is dark and tense and filled with so many secrets that it boggles the mind. Like Mary, I felt frustrated because I knew there had to be more, there had to be something that was not being let out and I wanted to know what was really going down.
Second, do not get attached to any character. There is always a chance that they will die even if they are the main character. I should have remembered this rule, but, alas, I fell prey to people Ryan created. I should have known there would be no happy endings or fulfilled romance in this novel. But I had hope.
The only reason I am not giving this five is because I hate the way Ryan writes. I am sure the novel would not be the same if it was written differently. I just did not like. I often found myself confused as to what exactly just happened or what was happening, probably because I also often found myself skipping over sentences and paragraphs because that is how Ryan writes.
Despite this novel being dark and depressing, it is one of the greatest zombie novels I have ever read and I will definitely be reading the second two.
I mean the second one deals with an amusement park and zombies. How can I pass that up?
Come on, it's a zombie movie. If you go into this novel expecting it to have a happy ending or that no one important will die, then you are going to be gravely disappointed. In fact, after reading the ending, I was such a storm of emotion that I had to go play Pokemon to make it go away. I don't know which was sadder now that I think about it.
First of all, you have to go into this novel realizing that it is in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by zombies. How many books have you read or movies have you watched about post-apocalyptic worlds overrun by zombies where everyone is happy and everything is sunshine and rainbows? That is what I thought. This book is dark and tense and filled with so many secrets that it boggles the mind. Like Mary, I felt frustrated because I knew there had to be more, there had to be something that was not being let out and I wanted to know what was really going down.
Second, do not get attached to any character. There is always a chance that they will die even if they are the main character. I should have remembered this rule, but, alas, I fell prey to people Ryan created. I should have known there would be no happy endings or fulfilled romance in this novel. But I had hope.
The only reason I am not giving this five is because I hate the way Ryan writes. I am sure the novel would not be the same if it was written differently. I just did not like. I often found myself confused as to what exactly just happened or what was happening, probably because I also often found myself skipping over sentences and paragraphs because that is how Ryan writes.
Despite this novel being dark and depressing, it is one of the greatest zombie novels I have ever read and I will definitely be reading the second two.
I mean the second one deals with an amusement park and zombies. How can I pass that up?
ArecRain (8 KP) rated Haunted on Bourbon Street (Jade Calhoun, #1) in Books
Jan 18, 2018
I downloaded this novel free from Amazon because I was looking for a lighthearted paranormal romance to distract me. I assumed it was along the same vein as other paranormal romances I have made like Karen Chances Cassandra Palmer Series or Patricia Briggs Mercy Thompson series. I wasnt too far off.
My favorite part of this book had to be the diversity of characters. Each character had their own personality, that it felt like you were reading about real people instead of caricatures. It seemed to come naturally too. There were no page long paragraphs tediously describing each character. You picked up bits and pieces along the way.
The world and story that Chase created were also pretty interesting. I am partial to ghost stories, which is what drew me to the book in the first place, so that whole aspect and how they dealt with the ghost was fantastic. The rest of the Chases mythology, however, is what was really interesting. After looking at future novels in the series, however, I feel that the series will become way to complicated and in depth for me. I also dont enjoy reading about angels v. demons.
The novel has a couple twists. The one concerning the ghost didnt feel like a twist to me. I figured it out much earlier in the novel so when it was confirmed I really didnt even notice. The secret surrounding Kane, however, was pretty surprising. I wasnt expecting it even though I knew he had a secret.
All in all, Haunted on Bourbon Street is a well-rounded novel with engaging characters, an interesting world, and plot that keeps you reading til the very end. I cannot think of a single thing I didnt like about the novel. I am not sure I will read the rest of the series, however, after reading the synopsizes and seeing where the story is headed.
If you are looking for an enjoyable quick read, I highly recommend downloading it, especially since its currently free!
My favorite part of this book had to be the diversity of characters. Each character had their own personality, that it felt like you were reading about real people instead of caricatures. It seemed to come naturally too. There were no page long paragraphs tediously describing each character. You picked up bits and pieces along the way.
The world and story that Chase created were also pretty interesting. I am partial to ghost stories, which is what drew me to the book in the first place, so that whole aspect and how they dealt with the ghost was fantastic. The rest of the Chases mythology, however, is what was really interesting. After looking at future novels in the series, however, I feel that the series will become way to complicated and in depth for me. I also dont enjoy reading about angels v. demons.
The novel has a couple twists. The one concerning the ghost didnt feel like a twist to me. I figured it out much earlier in the novel so when it was confirmed I really didnt even notice. The secret surrounding Kane, however, was pretty surprising. I wasnt expecting it even though I knew he had a secret.
All in all, Haunted on Bourbon Street is a well-rounded novel with engaging characters, an interesting world, and plot that keeps you reading til the very end. I cannot think of a single thing I didnt like about the novel. I am not sure I will read the rest of the series, however, after reading the synopsizes and seeing where the story is headed.
If you are looking for an enjoyable quick read, I highly recommend downloading it, especially since its currently free!
<i>This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review</i>
The end of Lauren Kate’s fantasy novel <i>Teardrop</i> saw the beginning of the destruction of the earth after teenage Eureka Boudreaux shed a tear sparking off a devastating flood. <i>Waterfall</i> continues on from this point as Eureka goes on a journey to try and save the world. Readers are reunited with the lovable characters of the previous novel such as the twins and Cat as well as the mysterious Ander.
Three quarters of the novel is full of excitement with Eureka and family swimming to Turkey to locate a lost relative of Ander’s who they hope will be able to advise them on what to do next. Solon is a great character – comes across as mean but really has everyone’s best interests at heart. Solon instructs Eureka in the tasks ahead of her all the while the threat of Atlantis rising rests heavily upon her. Meanwhile Atlas, the evil one, who is determined to make Eureka produce one final tear, has possessed Eureka’s best friend Brooks.
Up until this point the novel was even better than the first. The lack of everyday life that <i>Teardrop</i> was composed of meant that the fantasy story line could quickly develop. However the remaining quarter of <i>Waterfall</i> was largely disappointing.
The setting for the finale of the book was a complete contrast to what the characters had been exposed to previously. Whilst there was nothing wrong with this, the story became confusing and difficult to grasp. It was hard to picture the scene and it felt like the personalities of some of the characters, Eureka in particular, had suddenly changed.
Initially <i>Waterfall</i> was working towards a four star review however after the frustrating changes in writing style the novel no longer feels like the fantastic story it promised to be.
As mentioned, this is a sequel to <i>Teardrop</i> and readers would greatly benefit from reading that first, but the beginning chapters of <i>Waterfall</i> contain enough information for new readers to catch up to speed.
The end of Lauren Kate’s fantasy novel <i>Teardrop</i> saw the beginning of the destruction of the earth after teenage Eureka Boudreaux shed a tear sparking off a devastating flood. <i>Waterfall</i> continues on from this point as Eureka goes on a journey to try and save the world. Readers are reunited with the lovable characters of the previous novel such as the twins and Cat as well as the mysterious Ander.
Three quarters of the novel is full of excitement with Eureka and family swimming to Turkey to locate a lost relative of Ander’s who they hope will be able to advise them on what to do next. Solon is a great character – comes across as mean but really has everyone’s best interests at heart. Solon instructs Eureka in the tasks ahead of her all the while the threat of Atlantis rising rests heavily upon her. Meanwhile Atlas, the evil one, who is determined to make Eureka produce one final tear, has possessed Eureka’s best friend Brooks.
Up until this point the novel was even better than the first. The lack of everyday life that <i>Teardrop</i> was composed of meant that the fantasy story line could quickly develop. However the remaining quarter of <i>Waterfall</i> was largely disappointing.
The setting for the finale of the book was a complete contrast to what the characters had been exposed to previously. Whilst there was nothing wrong with this, the story became confusing and difficult to grasp. It was hard to picture the scene and it felt like the personalities of some of the characters, Eureka in particular, had suddenly changed.
Initially <i>Waterfall</i> was working towards a four star review however after the frustrating changes in writing style the novel no longer feels like the fantastic story it promised to be.
As mentioned, this is a sequel to <i>Teardrop</i> and readers would greatly benefit from reading that first, but the beginning chapters of <i>Waterfall</i> contain enough information for new readers to catch up to speed.