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Bookapotamus (289 KP) rated The Signature of All Things in Books
May 29, 2018
First of all.. this book is loooooooooonnnnng. I feel like I may have read 3 books in 1 binding.
I expected it to be similar to Eat, Pray, Love in style, but boy was I incorrect! Don't get me wrong, the writing is beautiful, the characters are extremely interesting and I loved the first half ... I couldn't get enough of this riveting story, rich historical references and so much beauty in the descriptions of nature and plants and their surroundings. I felt like I was learning so much, as well as being treated to a beautiful story. I was hooked in, and fast....
But then.... I got stuck. Like REALLY stuck. I felt like it just turned into a different writer all together? I couldn't focus, the tone changed, the story faltered as quickly as the characters lives did. It was hard for me to finish this one. I loved the first half of the book. I wish she had stopped it there ... it just went on too long, and I was so sad that it did.
I expected it to be similar to Eat, Pray, Love in style, but boy was I incorrect! Don't get me wrong, the writing is beautiful, the characters are extremely interesting and I loved the first half ... I couldn't get enough of this riveting story, rich historical references and so much beauty in the descriptions of nature and plants and their surroundings. I felt like I was learning so much, as well as being treated to a beautiful story. I was hooked in, and fast....
But then.... I got stuck. Like REALLY stuck. I felt like it just turned into a different writer all together? I couldn't focus, the tone changed, the story faltered as quickly as the characters lives did. It was hard for me to finish this one. I loved the first half of the book. I wish she had stopped it there ... it just went on too long, and I was so sad that it did.
Liliannar (58 KP) rated Thirteen Reasons Why in Books
May 29, 2018
This was a difficult read done in an incredible way. It's a hard topic and this is a book I wouldn't have picked up if I didn't see my little sister reading it. I like to try to read what she's reading so we have something to talk about when it comes to books. This was well written and done in a way I felt I had to keep going. I finished it over about a 4 hour reading span split between two nights. It's a very fast flowing book with a tempo that makes you want to keep going until you get to the end.
I recommend this one to anyone with high school aged kids, if nothing else it opens up the eyes a little about some of what goes on. I was the quiet kid in high school. No parties, no going out and being crazy, it was school, home, work. This book shows a bit of a different life than the one I knew.
I recommend this one to anyone with high school aged kids, if nothing else it opens up the eyes a little about some of what goes on. I was the quiet kid in high school. No parties, no going out and being crazy, it was school, home, work. This book shows a bit of a different life than the one I knew.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Good Sister in Books
Jul 22, 2018
A very thought-provoking, interesting and challenging read about a very real and current situation.
Written from the two perspectives of the father and daughter, Sofia and Abraham, makes this book flow extremely well with the pace being good. Both Sofia and Abraham are believable and definitely grow on you as the book progresses; I do admit that I didn't particularly like them at the start but the more their inner-workings are explored, the greater the understanding of their motives which resulted in me becoming fully invested in their stories and completely engrossed in their respective journeys.
The book comes across as pretty authentic ... whether it is or not I would only know if I was in Sofia and Abraham's situation which is highly unlikely .... but I do wonder how and where the author got the information for the book from and how accurate it is because, as I said, it feels pretty authentic.
Thank you to Jellybooks for giving me the opportunity to read something a bit different.
Written from the two perspectives of the father and daughter, Sofia and Abraham, makes this book flow extremely well with the pace being good. Both Sofia and Abraham are believable and definitely grow on you as the book progresses; I do admit that I didn't particularly like them at the start but the more their inner-workings are explored, the greater the understanding of their motives which resulted in me becoming fully invested in their stories and completely engrossed in their respective journeys.
The book comes across as pretty authentic ... whether it is or not I would only know if I was in Sofia and Abraham's situation which is highly unlikely .... but I do wonder how and where the author got the information for the book from and how accurate it is because, as I said, it feels pretty authentic.
Thank you to Jellybooks for giving me the opportunity to read something a bit different.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2436 KP) rated One Fete in the Grave in Books
Jul 6, 2018
This Fourth of July Ends with the Bang of Murder
When the fireworks show ends, party planning Liv McKay thinks her day organizing her town’s Fourth of July festival is over. Unfortunately, someone finds the body of councilman Bubba Rowland. Despite being on the council, Bubba had his enemies, and one of them was Earl, her mother’s new fiance. Can Liv help her mother by clearing Earl’s name?
This book starts with a bang – of fireworks, but it isn’t too long before we find Bubba’s body. Unfortunately, the book does still have some pacing issues as Liv’s party planning business slows things down. I did find one sub-plot lots of fun, however. The mystery does have some good suspects and twists before we reach the logical climax. Liv’s family and friends, including best friend Di, are as charming as ever. The suspects work, although we don’t get to know them as well as we might in some mysteries. This is a fun cozy for a relaxing summer read or any time of the year.
This book starts with a bang – of fireworks, but it isn’t too long before we find Bubba’s body. Unfortunately, the book does still have some pacing issues as Liv’s party planning business slows things down. I did find one sub-plot lots of fun, however. The mystery does have some good suspects and twists before we reach the logical climax. Liv’s family and friends, including best friend Di, are as charming as ever. The suspects work, although we don’t get to know them as well as we might in some mysteries. This is a fun cozy for a relaxing summer read or any time of the year.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Life After Life in Books
Sep 25, 2018
Great idea but needs more of a central plot
This story is fairly similar to other books like The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, however it has its own unique spin on reincarnation/Groundhog day type experiences.
This is a very intriguing story about how the choices you may in life affect everything,but with Ursula being able to relive her life over and over again, constantly making different choices to change how her life plays out. For me it was interesting to pick up on some of the smaller details that change through each reincarnation. Ursula is a well written and in-depth character, although the same cant always be said for the rest of her family and other minor characters. My only problem with this is that other than Ursula reliving her life repeatedly, there's no central plot or grounding. Its just the same life over and over again with slightly different circumstances. There's nothing else to hold it all together and it can become a little repetitive (unsurprisingly).
This is a very intriguing story about how the choices you may in life affect everything,but with Ursula being able to relive her life over and over again, constantly making different choices to change how her life plays out. For me it was interesting to pick up on some of the smaller details that change through each reincarnation. Ursula is a well written and in-depth character, although the same cant always be said for the rest of her family and other minor characters. My only problem with this is that other than Ursula reliving her life repeatedly, there's no central plot or grounding. Its just the same life over and over again with slightly different circumstances. There's nothing else to hold it all together and it can become a little repetitive (unsurprisingly).
Joelene Marie (28 KP) rated Gork, the Teenage Dragon in Books
Oct 1, 2018
Hilarious, cute (at least to me) adventure in finding love with the young Gork. The authors take on dragons is wholly original. These aren't your typical dragons, either as destructive creatures hording treasure and demanding maidens and being slain by knights or as respected creatures of magic and wisdom. Gork and his dragons are a very interesting alien species that have the characteristics of typical dragons with their wings and tails and scales and claws and breathing fire and just plain fierceness but with an intelligence similar to humans, a more militarized society, and a huge love of poetry. Have I mentioned it's hilarious? yes? well that's cause it is lol. My only problem, and it's not much of one, was the repetition of things like "scaly green ass," the first few times it added to the humor but after that it got a little annoying. Gabe Hudson has clearly shown his talent and I'm interested to see what he does in his (hopefully very long) career.
**Thanks to the publisher for inviting me to review the ARC!**
**Thanks to the publisher for inviting me to review the ARC!**
Erika (17789 KP) rated Dracula vs. Hitler in Books
Oct 6, 2018
The title of this book grabbed me, alone. What wouldn't be cool about Dracula being awakened during WWII to kill some Nazis?
Well, all the crap in between. It was written in epistolary form, like the original Dracula novel. We've got Van Helsing, who wakes Dracula up, who coincidentally (or not) has a daughter named Lucy. A member of the Harker fam shows up, as does Renfield.
There were a lot of scenes of vampire carnage, but then an insta-love story thrown in (gag), and a little Hitler.
I'm sorry, but if you write an alt-history book, and you have Dracula in it, why wouldn't you have him straight up ripping out Hitler's spinal column or something?
I started this book when it came out in October 2016, and picked it back up a few days ago. After reading a few pages, I remembered why I put it away, it moved at a snails pace, and honestly wasn't that interesting. Overall, a yawn.
Well, all the crap in between. It was written in epistolary form, like the original Dracula novel. We've got Van Helsing, who wakes Dracula up, who coincidentally (or not) has a daughter named Lucy. A member of the Harker fam shows up, as does Renfield.
There were a lot of scenes of vampire carnage, but then an insta-love story thrown in (gag), and a little Hitler.
I'm sorry, but if you write an alt-history book, and you have Dracula in it, why wouldn't you have him straight up ripping out Hitler's spinal column or something?
I started this book when it came out in October 2016, and picked it back up a few days ago. After reading a few pages, I remembered why I put it away, it moved at a snails pace, and honestly wasn't that interesting. Overall, a yawn.
Merissa (13414 KP) rated The Heir Apparent (Sanyare Chronicles #2) in Books
Dec 17, 2018
Sanyare: The Heir Apparent is the second book in the Sanyare Chronicles, and follows Rie as she tries to control her magic, and realises that her position of Sanyaro Heir is very different to being a Messenger. Control is hard to attain, although she is working hard, and Greg just doesn't seem to be able to help. Hopefully, a ball will take her mind off things!
Once again, full of action and adventure, this book will delight and enthral as the words jump off the page at you. With a multitude of lovable characters, dangerous situations, baddies to dislike, and heroes to swoon over (including a bad-boy come good), then there is something here for everyone.
Exceptionally well written, with no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt the reading flow, this book continues the story with a smooth pace, whilst leaving you wanting more. An excellent addition to the Chronicles, and I look forward to reading more.
* I received this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Once again, full of action and adventure, this book will delight and enthral as the words jump off the page at you. With a multitude of lovable characters, dangerous situations, baddies to dislike, and heroes to swoon over (including a bad-boy come good), then there is something here for everyone.
Exceptionally well written, with no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt the reading flow, this book continues the story with a smooth pace, whilst leaving you wanting more. An excellent addition to the Chronicles, and I look forward to reading more.
* I received this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
David McK (3632 KP) rated Infinity: Volume 1 in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Spring 2018.
Perhaps the best Marvel movie to date was released, a culmination of circa a decade of Marvel movies consisiting of numerous single-character led films and even a couple of previous 'team-ups'. That movie was, of course, 'Infinity War, part 1'.
At around the same time, Comixology ran one of their frequent sales. With a picture of Thanos on the cover, a title called 'Infinity' and being on sale at around the saem time as the movie, I made the mistake of thinking this would share similarities with the plot of the movie.
(No) spoilers: it doesn't.
As others on this site have mentioned, however, it is perhaps well named in that the story seems to go on ... and on ... and on ...
Honestly? I struggled to get through this, finding it hard to 'tie together' the various disparate story-lines; to even really care about all that much about what was happening or who it was happening to.
In short, and for me, this was a massive disappointment.
Perhaps the best Marvel movie to date was released, a culmination of circa a decade of Marvel movies consisiting of numerous single-character led films and even a couple of previous 'team-ups'. That movie was, of course, 'Infinity War, part 1'.
At around the same time, Comixology ran one of their frequent sales. With a picture of Thanos on the cover, a title called 'Infinity' and being on sale at around the saem time as the movie, I made the mistake of thinking this would share similarities with the plot of the movie.
(No) spoilers: it doesn't.
As others on this site have mentioned, however, it is perhaps well named in that the story seems to go on ... and on ... and on ...
Honestly? I struggled to get through this, finding it hard to 'tie together' the various disparate story-lines; to even really care about all that much about what was happening or who it was happening to.
In short, and for me, this was a massive disappointment.
David McK (3632 KP) rated Wolverine: Origin in Books
Jan 30, 2019
As the mutant with no memory of who he was but with the adamantium skeleton and claws, there's a reason that Wolverine was the character chosen to draw the audience into the world of the X-Men in the 2000 movie of the same name, as well as being a key player in virtually all the X-Men movies to date (skipping, say, 'First Class').
He's also the first - and, to date, only X-Men mutant (I'm not counting Deadpool as belonging to the X-Men) to get his own solo movie in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. A movie that I'm not sure whether was released before or after (or at the same time, even?) as this collection of stories.
But there sure is a lot of similarities in the early portion of that film, and with when this is set and the events that take place within it ...
[i]edit[/i]: I've just discovered that this was released first (2001-02), with the movie in 2009. Guess I know now where the early part of the plot came from!
He's also the first - and, to date, only X-Men mutant (I'm not counting Deadpool as belonging to the X-Men) to get his own solo movie in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. A movie that I'm not sure whether was released before or after (or at the same time, even?) as this collection of stories.
But there sure is a lot of similarities in the early portion of that film, and with when this is set and the events that take place within it ...
[i]edit[/i]: I've just discovered that this was released first (2001-02), with the movie in 2009. Guess I know now where the early part of the plot came from!