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LucyB (47 KP) rated Dark Matter in Books
Jul 23, 2017
Mind-bending, fast-pasted, gripping to the end
Every so often, I come across an author who is so different, it blows me away. Blake Crouch is definitely one of those authors! The storyline is so completely 'way out' that I'm amazed he pulled it off, and his style of writing (short to the point of sparse) shouldn't work, but really does!
The story is about Martin, the man who has the perfect life, the perfect wife, a lovely son...but fifteen years ago, gave up his illustrious science career to have a family. Suddenly, he's kidnapped, drugged, and (wait for it), forced into an alternate reality. I can't say anymore without spoiling the plot, but what follows is a frenetic race through alternative realities to get back to the life he once knew, at any cost.
The storyline is impressive, not least because the concept is so complex, yet Crouch handles it with ease. I'd say that this is the author's greatest gift - being able to simplify and abbreviate, without dumbing down. In fact, this book is probably the best example of 'all killer, no filler' that I've ever read.
A formidable book... I'll be looking forward to reading the Wayward Pines series next!
The story is about Martin, the man who has the perfect life, the perfect wife, a lovely son...but fifteen years ago, gave up his illustrious science career to have a family. Suddenly, he's kidnapped, drugged, and (wait for it), forced into an alternate reality. I can't say anymore without spoiling the plot, but what follows is a frenetic race through alternative realities to get back to the life he once knew, at any cost.
The storyline is impressive, not least because the concept is so complex, yet Crouch handles it with ease. I'd say that this is the author's greatest gift - being able to simplify and abbreviate, without dumbing down. In fact, this book is probably the best example of 'all killer, no filler' that I've ever read.
A formidable book... I'll be looking forward to reading the Wayward Pines series next!
jmercado (1 KP) rated The Jewel (The Lone City, #1) in Books
Jan 15, 2018
My goodness. I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book and I struggled through the 1st have but that ending!!! Holy mangos was that good!
Royalty comes with its perks in the Jewel but it also comes with its flaws.
Royalty cannot bear their own children (well they can but they come out deformed and pass away).
So they seek and purchase Surrogates. Once a female who has hit puberty test positive to be a Surrogate they are taken and kept at a facility to be auctioned off to these Royals.
We follow the story of Violet and her journey after being sold.
This story does have a romance but the story is more politically driven.
There were some faults that made this book a 4 instead of a 5.
Firstly the beginning just exploded with information and didn't really easy you into the plot. There were multiple times I had to reread the sections to understand what was going on or who certain people were.
Secondly the romance in this didn't give us much build up. I mean I do like the couple but there was not much to go progression wise.
Other than that this book was beautifully written and once I pushed through the 1st half I could not put it down.
Can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Royalty comes with its perks in the Jewel but it also comes with its flaws.
Royalty cannot bear their own children (well they can but they come out deformed and pass away).
So they seek and purchase Surrogates. Once a female who has hit puberty test positive to be a Surrogate they are taken and kept at a facility to be auctioned off to these Royals.
We follow the story of Violet and her journey after being sold.
This story does have a romance but the story is more politically driven.
There were some faults that made this book a 4 instead of a 5.
Firstly the beginning just exploded with information and didn't really easy you into the plot. There were multiple times I had to reread the sections to understand what was going on or who certain people were.
Secondly the romance in this didn't give us much build up. I mean I do like the couple but there was not much to go progression wise.
Other than that this book was beautifully written and once I pushed through the 1st half I could not put it down.
Can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Merissa (13089 KP) rated Dalysian Struggle (Dalysia #2) in Books
Sep 13, 2017
Dalysian Struggle (Dalysia #2) by Jamie Summer
Dalysian Struggle continues with Sophie as the champion for the Dalysians, even though there are many who doubt her capabilities - including herself! She made it through the test, and now she has to face the Trials, including the Cetoan's and their champion.
This book is a doozy, and it does end on a cliffhanger from hell, so consider this fair warning! The story is intricate, and yet flows easily. The characters are all completely believable, whether you like them or not. The pacing is consistent, and yet you find yourself tensing up as you near the end.
I love where Jamie Summer has taken this story, although she did have me worried there for a while (#TeamRen all the way!). However, being kept constantly on my toes, not knowing where the story was taking me, certainly kept my interest, and I was completely taken with Sophie's story, and what would happen next.
What will happen next? Well, I sit waiting so impatiently for the next book. I need to know what happens next. Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This book is a doozy, and it does end on a cliffhanger from hell, so consider this fair warning! The story is intricate, and yet flows easily. The characters are all completely believable, whether you like them or not. The pacing is consistent, and yet you find yourself tensing up as you near the end.
I love where Jamie Summer has taken this story, although she did have me worried there for a while (#TeamRen all the way!). However, being kept constantly on my toes, not knowing where the story was taking me, certainly kept my interest, and I was completely taken with Sophie's story, and what would happen next.
What will happen next? Well, I sit waiting so impatiently for the next book. I need to know what happens next. Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated The Good, the Bad and the Smug in Books
Apr 27, 2018
I love Tom Holt’s sense of humor and writing style. He is sarcastic, quirky, fun to read, entertaining, light-hearted, and hilarious. I fell in love with his world and his style when I read (listened to) Doughnut way back in 2013. Apparently TGTB&TS is book 4 in the series and I missed all the ones in between. But not once did I feel lost or confused. Actually I didn’t even know it was part of the series until I recognized the sound of “The Very Very Large Hadron Collider.”
That being said, I’d recommend reading book 1 before you read this, otherwise you will be so confused it would distract you from how funny the book is.
Tom Holt has managed to take something so absolutely ridiculous and impossible and make it totally real. The characters are well built and real (even if they are goblins and elves and stock brokers pretending to be rumplestiltskin). The plot had my heart racing (trying to figure out why The Dark Lord is crying over patterned curtains is a serious matter) and the conclusion, though open to interpretation and somewhat confusing, was still fulfilling. I’m very happy with this book and look forward to going back (and forwards) to enjoy the others in the series!
Content/Recommendation: some language, some mention of eating body parts. no sex. Ages 18+
That being said, I’d recommend reading book 1 before you read this, otherwise you will be so confused it would distract you from how funny the book is.
Tom Holt has managed to take something so absolutely ridiculous and impossible and make it totally real. The characters are well built and real (even if they are goblins and elves and stock brokers pretending to be rumplestiltskin). The plot had my heart racing (trying to figure out why The Dark Lord is crying over patterned curtains is a serious matter) and the conclusion, though open to interpretation and somewhat confusing, was still fulfilling. I’m very happy with this book and look forward to going back (and forwards) to enjoy the others in the series!
Content/Recommendation: some language, some mention of eating body parts. no sex. Ages 18+
Merissa (13089 KP) rated Soul of Discretion in Books
May 2, 2018
Soul of Discretion by Susan Mac Nicol & M. Tasia
Soul of Discretion is written by both Susan Mac Nicol and M. Tasia. Ms Mac Nicol's work I have read and enjoyed before, but I think Ms Tasia's work is new to me.
In a nutshell, this story is about a man finding out his friend has been stealing from him, so he goes to confront him. Things take a darker turn when his friend is murdered, and it looks like the mob is involved. On a lighter note, the one night stand turns out to be a repeat, and in the RCMP.
I really liked this story. It has enough twists and turns to keep the reader's attention, whilst not drowning in detail. The relationship between the two MCs moves fast, but it is only right it does so. They work very well together, complementing each other in nearly every aspect. There is a great supporting cast, with Peter and Steph being amongst my personal favourites.
With no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt my reading flow, this book was a delight from start to finish. Thoroughly enjoyable and definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
In a nutshell, this story is about a man finding out his friend has been stealing from him, so he goes to confront him. Things take a darker turn when his friend is murdered, and it looks like the mob is involved. On a lighter note, the one night stand turns out to be a repeat, and in the RCMP.
I really liked this story. It has enough twists and turns to keep the reader's attention, whilst not drowning in detail. The relationship between the two MCs moves fast, but it is only right it does so. They work very well together, complementing each other in nearly every aspect. There is a great supporting cast, with Peter and Steph being amongst my personal favourites.
With no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt my reading flow, this book was a delight from start to finish. Thoroughly enjoyable and definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Eat Pray Love: One Woman's Search for Everything in Books
May 10, 2018 (Updated Apr 9, 2019)
Eat, Pray, Love is the story of one woman's journey through Italy, India and Indonesia in a quest to find peace, harmony, and to become a better person. She takes a year to make this journey. Starting in Italy to eat amazing food and to learn to speak Italian. In India she visited an ashram and met her guru. In Bali, Indonesia, she is returning to see Katut, a medicine man she had met before an had told her that she would return to Bali and teach him English.
Elizabeth Gilbert is one brave lady. First, to be able to dedicate a year of your life to traveling the world. Making stops in places where you don't know anyone or even speak the language.. It sounds like an amazing time.
I had seen the movie when it was first released, but didn't know there was a book as well. I try to read the book before the movie as much as possible. This has been on my library wish list for a while. When it finally became available I couldn't wait to listen to it. Having it being read by the author herself made it that much more enjoyable. It made me feel as though I was there with her. Tasting food in Italy, doing hours of meditation in India, and even more in Indonesia.
Elizabeth Gilbert is one brave lady. First, to be able to dedicate a year of your life to traveling the world. Making stops in places where you don't know anyone or even speak the language.. It sounds like an amazing time.
I had seen the movie when it was first released, but didn't know there was a book as well. I try to read the book before the movie as much as possible. This has been on my library wish list for a while. When it finally became available I couldn't wait to listen to it. Having it being read by the author herself made it that much more enjoyable. It made me feel as though I was there with her. Tasting food in Italy, doing hours of meditation in India, and even more in Indonesia.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated We Sold Our Souls in Books
Jan 31, 2019
Creepy novel
Horrorstör was my 4th favorite book I read in 2015. Considering only "Ready Player One", "13 Reasons Why", and "Autopsy Room Four", a little-known work by Stephen King were the only ones to beat it that is quite impressive.
I was so excited when I learned "We Sold Our Souls" by Grady Hendrix was being published. After reading it, I am just as excited to write how much I enjoyed it. First let me say, I am and always will be, a metalhead.
We Sold Our Souls involves a broken up metal band who did not end on the best of terms.As you can imagine, their reuniting is not everyone sitting around and singing Kumbaya. Hendrix through flashbacks shows how the band broke up and why they need to fight together. I would have loved to hear Dürt Würk play. Mentioned throughout the story are well known heavy metal bands that I have to turn up anytime I hear them. Each chapter's title is the name of a metal album.
The novel did not scary me but it was creepy and definitely worth reading. I will be keeping Grady Hendrix at the top of my "authors to read anything they publish" list.
Published on Philomathinphila.com, Smashbomb, Goodreads, Twitter, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble on 1/31/19.
I was so excited when I learned "We Sold Our Souls" by Grady Hendrix was being published. After reading it, I am just as excited to write how much I enjoyed it. First let me say, I am and always will be, a metalhead.
We Sold Our Souls involves a broken up metal band who did not end on the best of terms.As you can imagine, their reuniting is not everyone sitting around and singing Kumbaya. Hendrix through flashbacks shows how the band broke up and why they need to fight together. I would have loved to hear Dürt Würk play. Mentioned throughout the story are well known heavy metal bands that I have to turn up anytime I hear them. Each chapter's title is the name of a metal album.
The novel did not scary me but it was creepy and definitely worth reading. I will be keeping Grady Hendrix at the top of my "authors to read anything they publish" list.
Published on Philomathinphila.com, Smashbomb, Goodreads, Twitter, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble on 1/31/19.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated With Malice in Books
Feb 21, 2019
I was walking in the library and saw this book, With Malice by Eileen Cook, sitting on the endcap. I recognized the author's name as being one I had on my "want to read" list for "You Owe Me a Murder". It was not for this book but decided to give it a try especially since it is listed on Amazon as "'for fans of We Were Liars and The Girl on the Train".
I am so glad I did. This book was suspenseful from the start. Jill wakes up groggy and annoyed at the alarm clock until she realizes the beep she hears is hospital equipment. She was in an accident and does not remember the accident or the weeks before it. Was she responsible for the accident? Was it an accident? How can she figure it out if she does not even remember anything about the months before it?
With Malice is a fast-paced, well written, YA, mystery/thriller in which the main character does not leave the hospital bed for much of the story. The story keeps you guessing and trying to figure out what happened the same as Jill. We learn the story as she remembers.
Review published on Philomathinphila.com, Smashbomb, Goodreads, Twitter, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble on 2/20/19.
I am so glad I did. This book was suspenseful from the start. Jill wakes up groggy and annoyed at the alarm clock until she realizes the beep she hears is hospital equipment. She was in an accident and does not remember the accident or the weeks before it. Was she responsible for the accident? Was it an accident? How can she figure it out if she does not even remember anything about the months before it?
With Malice is a fast-paced, well written, YA, mystery/thriller in which the main character does not leave the hospital bed for much of the story. The story keeps you guessing and trying to figure out what happened the same as Jill. We learn the story as she remembers.
Review published on Philomathinphila.com, Smashbomb, Goodreads, Twitter, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble on 2/20/19.
Micky Barnard (542 KP) rated The Book of Life in Books
Mar 2, 2019
The best of the trilogy
Wow, this was literally absorbing from start to finish and it is my favourite of the trilogy; it is not often that the final book achieves the highest rating. This truly is a story and a bunch of characters that have built and built.
So much change came to Diana and Matthew's lives in this book, more than in book two in the past. I found the plot to be fantastically planned, intricate and well-researched. There were details for days but not so that I got lost.
Family was more central to THE BOOK OF LIFE than any other book and it was the side characters that enriched the read so fully. I have the biggest soft spot for Gallowglass and I want a book just about him. What was subtly fascinating was the meeting of the human and creature world in this book the crossing of threads, meeting of similarities and shared-being.
The narration was excellent, Ikeda can even sing beautifully in French and German as part of the story. Again, sadness that she doesn't narrate any more.
If you are like me and you found book two a bit of a hard trudge, please don't let that put you off the final instalment, it was the best of the three.
So much change came to Diana and Matthew's lives in this book, more than in book two in the past. I found the plot to be fantastically planned, intricate and well-researched. There were details for days but not so that I got lost.
Family was more central to THE BOOK OF LIFE than any other book and it was the side characters that enriched the read so fully. I have the biggest soft spot for Gallowglass and I want a book just about him. What was subtly fascinating was the meeting of the human and creature world in this book the crossing of threads, meeting of similarities and shared-being.
The narration was excellent, Ikeda can even sing beautifully in French and German as part of the story. Again, sadness that she doesn't narrate any more.
If you are like me and you found book two a bit of a hard trudge, please don't let that put you off the final instalment, it was the best of the three.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking #1) in Books
Mar 2, 2019
Had potential
I think my main issue with this book is that it's a YA book and you can tell it has been written for a younger audience. With some YA books, you really can't tell they've been made for younger people. But with this one with Todd as the protagonist and despite some serious subjects being raised, it still feels too childish and simplified.
Todd is likeable as the main character but irritating at the same time with some of his thought processes and tantrum like stubborn moments. The rest of the characters aside from Aaron and Viola are barely fleshed out and touched upon because of how quickly the plot jumps from place to place. The plot itself has a good idea with the Noise, but it isn't always well executed. The entire time is spent constantly running from place to place and getting foiled by othet characters. It reminds me a little of The Maze Runner series, where the later books always allow the characters to find something out or do something but then immediately foil them with a twist. It gets a little irritating.
This isn't a bad book and it is a fairly enjoyable and easy read. It does have potential and has intrigued me enough to read the next in the series at least, but maybe ignore the negatives.
Todd is likeable as the main character but irritating at the same time with some of his thought processes and tantrum like stubborn moments. The rest of the characters aside from Aaron and Viola are barely fleshed out and touched upon because of how quickly the plot jumps from place to place. The plot itself has a good idea with the Noise, but it isn't always well executed. The entire time is spent constantly running from place to place and getting foiled by othet characters. It reminds me a little of The Maze Runner series, where the later books always allow the characters to find something out or do something but then immediately foil them with a twist. It gets a little irritating.
This isn't a bad book and it is a fairly enjoyable and easy read. It does have potential and has intrigued me enough to read the next in the series at least, but maybe ignore the negatives.
