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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Relativity in Books

Feb 8, 2018

Relativity

Antonia Hayes | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry

6.0

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

Twelve-year-old Ethan is a bright boy, who loves physics and science. His mom, Claire, loves him with a fierceness that she can barely fathom sometimes. It's just Ethan and Claire living happily together in Sydney. However, a sudden accident forces Claire to confront her past, especially what happened with Ethan's father, Mark. At the same time, Ethan must deal with his own emotions about his absent father.

Hayes' book is well-written, with strongly developed, complicated characters who jump off the page. It's a small cast of characters: Ethan, Mark, Claire, and a few others. I fell immediately for Ethan, who is lovable, sweet, and slightly nerdy. Claire and Mark are slightly more problematic. Mark especially is a very difficult character with whom it is hard to sympathize. Hayes does an excellent job of unfurling her plot in such a way that the reader is as perplexed as the characters. The storyline is tense and runs the gamut of emotions.

The book revolves a lot around science. While much of the storyline uses science and physics to its advantage--for instance, I found the idea of genetic memory fascinating--at times, I also found my eyes glazing over at the scientific passages. Sometimes the science overshadowed the actual plot. Still, overall this is a sharp, well-written novel with in-depth characters. A strong 3.5 stars.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in return for an unbiased review (thank you!); it is available everywhere on 5/3/2016.

Kudos

Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Try Not to Breathe in Books

Feb 19, 2018

Try Not to Breathe

Holly Seddon | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry

7.5

(4 Ratings)

Book Rating

Try Not to Breathe is a terrific thriller from a first time novelist, and I'm already looking forward to her next book. Touted as being "for fans of Paula Hawkins", I was expecting another unreliable narrator thriller, but this story is different. As it says in the description, it is told from both Amy and Alex's points of view, but also from Amy's childhood boyfriend's point of view. Two of the narrators are not unreliable. Alex and Jake / Jacob just don't have all of the answers yet, and we learn any new information right along with them. Amy is another story. In her dream-like state, sometimes she remembers things, and sometimes not. When she does have useful information she is unable to communicate it to anyone.

This book is a great mystery, but it is also a heartbreaking story of a girl left to live inside her own mind after a terrible attack left her in a near vegetative state, and the effect that her attack has on her family and those who love her. However much liberty the author may have taken in creating Amy's world, she did a great job of bringing life to a character who was seen as already dead by so many.

I would recommend this one to all mystery / thriller fans. Whether you are a fan of the unreliable narrator trope or not, this is an enjoyable read.

NOTE: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Kudos

Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Death Doesn't Bargain in Books

Aug 5, 2019

Death Doesn't Bargain

Sherrilyn Kenyon | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Simi!!!!! (0 more)

Another fab Instalment from the pirates

Contains spoilers, click to show

The Deadmen are back...

But so are the demons who have broken free of their eternal prison and are bent on mankind's destruction. The worst of the lot is Vine, determined to claim their lives for taking hers. She will see the world burn...and has the perfect lure to destroy them all. One of their own.

Kalder Dupree has never known a day of mercy. Born to the cruelest of mer-races, he sacrificed himself for his crew and is in Vine's hands. He expects no mercy or rescue.

Yet Cameron Jack is determined to set Kalder free. As a Hellchaser, it's her calling, and she cannot allow even a not-so-innocent to be tortured for an act of kindness that spared her damnation.

To defeat evil, it sometimes takes an even worse evil, and Cameron is willing to do whatever she must to make this right. If Vine thought she had her hands full before, she hasn't seen anything nearly as powerful as Cameron's resolve.

I absolutely love Sherrilyn Kenyon! I struggled with the first book and sometimes this one was a bit of a struggle too but overall another great book from a very talented writer! I got so excited to see Savitar, Archeron and Simi!! No Dark hunter novel is complete without Simi and her BBQ sauce!!

I did find it funny swapping from normal to pirate talk my husband thought I was crazy laughing to myself!

⭐⭐⭐⭐