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Sword Art Online

Posted by cat2002116 on October 30, 2016
Posted in: Books, Reviews. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

sword-art-online

(This review may contain spoilers).

When I saw the anime of this advertised, I was immediately intrigued by the idea. And when I saw the book for sale… I immediately wanted to buy it and see the world.

Unfortunately, although this book did get off to a good start… by the end, I found myself feeling quite disappointed. While it was good to see something of how the people trapped in the game tried to make lives for themselves, by the time the plot got going, it felt like everyone had just given up.

The scenes at the beginning of the manga, when the players found out they were trapped inside the game, were done really well. It was heartbreaking to learn about the memorial that appeared and immortalised the names of each player who had died. In that respect, I could understand why many of the players chose to stop trying and just eked out lives to survive.

I didn’t really like Asuna. She kind of set my teeth on edge and I found it very difficult to believe she and Kirito had real feelings for each other. I was disappointed that there was very little time spent developing the romance… and even by the end of the book, I was left completely lost about how most things worked in the game.

There were some good elements of artwork in depicting the characters, in particular the contrast when all of them were unmasked when they realised they couldn’t leave. I found the idea of the guilds to be an intriguing one, but most of the information I had was coloured by Kirito’s experiences with them… and although I was being told a lot of the characteristics of those guilds, I wasn’t being shown.

I didn’t feel there was much in the way of different characters shown. I would have liked to see more than just Kirito and Asuna… and although it was interesting to see them gain a daughter, I found that very hard to believe when the little girl’s background was revealed.

I found it hard to form an emotional connection to most of the characters in this. I think the book would have been better as a longer one, with more time spent showing character relationships and how they interacted with the world they were trapped in.

Blog Tour: Unblemished

Posted by cat2002116 on October 16, 2016
Posted in: Blog Tour, Books, Interviews, Reviews. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

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Unblemished
by
Sara Ella
Publisher: Thomas Nelson/HarperCollins
Release Date: October 11th 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Synopsis:
Eliyana has always recoiled from her own reflection in the mirror. But what
if that were only one Reflection —
one world? What if another world existed
where her blemish could become her strength?
Eliyana is used to the shadows. With a hideous birthmark covering half her
face, she just hopes to graduate high school unscathed. That is, until Joshua
hops a fence and changes her perspective. No one, aside from her mother, has ever treated her as normal. Maybe even beautiful. Because of Joshua, Eliyana finally begins to believe she could be loved.
But one night her mother doesn’t come home, and that’s when everything gets
weird.
Now Joshua is her new, and rather reluctant, legal Guardian. Add a hooded
stalker and a Central Park battle to the mix and you’ve gone from weird to
otherworldly.
Eliyana soon finds herself in a world much larger and more complicated than
she’s ever known. A world enslaved by a powerful and vile man. And
Eliyana holds the answer to defeating him. How can an ordinary girl, a
blemished girl, become a savior when she can’t even save herself?

My Review

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).

(This review may contain spoilers).

I found this book to be a really engaging read. Even though a lot of young adult books can be a bit hit and miss with me, I thought this book definitely fell in the former category.

El’s character was one I could easily empathise with, though I felt there was a little too much telling rather than showing when it came to her history with characters like Quinn and Joshua. I found her interactions with Ky came across as far more sincere.

I thought that the book started at a good point, but it meant I didn’t really have an opportunity to see the people El knew before she lost her mother.

I did think it was intriguing to see the Reflections, but I would have liked to learn a bit more about the relationships between the worlds. Even by the end of the book, I was left with quite a bit of confusion in regards to how the worlds all fit together.

I would have liked the opportunity to get to know the other characters in the other world. Robyn and Wren were two examples of that. It was implied that the two sisters were different, but the only differences came from how they treated and viewed El. I would have liked to see more of both of them.

It was interesting to learn about the relationship between the Verity and the Void, but I found myself getting a bit lost at times. I did feel a lot of sympathy for Ky… but I would have liked some more background with Jasyn. It was interesting to read some of the diary entries from El’s mother, but they didn’t really provide very much insight into the bad guys.

I did think there were some good elements of foreshadowing in this book and I really liked learning about the different kinds of abilities, although I did think there were some elements of information dumping there.

I would have liked it if this book had been longer and I could have learned more about the background of the worlds and how the characters knew each other. I would read more books by this author in the future, though… and I would like to see more of the characters and the world in future books.

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About The Author

sarah

Once upon a time, SARA ELLA dreamed she would marry a prince (just call
her Mrs. Charming) and live in a castle (aka The Plaza Hotel). Though her
fairy tale didn’t quite turn out as planned, she did work for Disney —
that was an enchanted moment of its own. Now she spends her days throwing living
room dance parties for her two princesses and conquering realms of her own
imaginings. She believes “Happily Ever After is Never Far Away” for those who put their faith in the King of kings.

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Blog Tour: Iron Cast

Posted by cat2002116 on October 11, 2016
Posted in: Blog Tour, Books, Reviews. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

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Iron Cast
by
Destiny Soria
Publisher: Amulet Books
Release Date: October 11th 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Synopsis:
It’s Boston, 1919, and the Cast Iron club is packed. On stage, hemopaths whose “afflicted” blood gives them the ability to create illusions through art captivate their audience. Corinne and Ada have been best friends ever since infamous gangster Johnny Dervish recruited them into his circle. By night they perform for Johnny’s crowds, and by day they con Boston’s elite. When a job goes wrong and Ada is imprisoned, they realize how precarious their position is. After she escapes, two of the Cast Iron’s hires are shot, and Johnny disappears. With the law closing in, Corinne and Ada are forced to hunt for answers, even as betrayal faces them at every turn.

My Review

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).

(This review may contain spoilers).

I found this book to be quite an entertaining, enjoyable read, even though I felt like I was missing a lot of background and there were times I forgot what the setting was supposed to be, due to too modern language being used at times.

I really liked seeing the friendship between Ada and Corinne. While the very first scene was a bit confusing at first, it quickly made sense and I liked seeing how resourceful the two girls were.

While I did think there was a bit too much in the way of information dumping, I did like learning about Ada’s and Corinne’s pasts and their relationships with their respective families. I also really liked seeing the different kinds of abilities the hemopaths had… and it was difficult to see them mistreated by society. I would, however, have liked to see more of the interactions between Corinne and her family… especially considering there were references made to tensions between her and her brother that weren’t actually shown.

I found Saint an interesting character, but I was disappointed not to see more conflicts generated by his relationship with James, considering the time period they were in. I did find both Madeleine and James to have more depth to them than it first appeared, though, and it was good to see that they really cared about each other, despite the fact their marriage was more one of convenience.

I did like both Charlie and Gabriel as characters, though I didn’t really like the romance between Charlie and Ada, as it wasn’t clear how things started between them or why they were attracted to each other. I felt Gabriel and Corinne were better written when it came to the romance, but even with them, I felt it took over the story quite a bit.

I would have liked to see more detail about the secondary characters, in particular Eva and her husband… and also the politics between the different clubs. This was an interesting world… but one which I felt needed more background shown. Even so, I would like to see more of the characters and world in the future.

 

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About The Author

Destiny Soria writes Young Adult fiction. Her debut novel, IRON CAST, will
be published by Abrams/Amulet in Fall 2016.
Destiny lives in Birmingham, AL, where she spends her time trying to come
up with bios that make her sound kind of cool. She has yet to succeed.
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Seeing Evil

Posted by cat2002116 on October 7, 2016
Posted in: Books, Reviews. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

seeing-evil

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).

(This review may contain spoilers).

I’d probably give this book 3.5 stars out of 5. I was intrigued by the plot of the book… and the very first scene served to draw me into the storyline really well. It was easy to care about what happened to Michael… in particular given the fact he experienced a form of bullying.

It was good to see something of the relationship between Samantha and Michael, though I would have liked to see a bit more of their history together. I felt there was a bit too much in the way of information dumping about their history and the myriad of foster homes Michael had been moved between.

Although the first scene did do a good job of drawing me into the storyline, I actually felt like it didn’t add very much to the storyline. I thought there was a lot of potential that wasn’t really followed through on.

While I did feel there were a few too many point of view characters, I did like seeing Tessa and Michael interact with each other. I felt a lot of sympathy for Tessa’s situation with her father, but there were times I felt his character was a bit of a caricature. Since I was only seeing him from Tessa’s perspective and very rarely from the perspective of other characters, it was hard to see him as having much depth.

It was interesting to see the origins of Michael’s visions and I felt they were really well-written, especially with the very first one. I also found it believable that his attempts to warn people about what was going to happen fell flat.

There was a lot of good tension, but I felt there were too many characters used for POV. There were a few nice elements of foreshadowing, but there were as many areas where backstory was summarised in the narration and I found my attention dragging.

I did like how the book ended and it was good to see how things came together. I would have liked a bit more explanation about Michael’s ability, but I cared about the characters and I would be interested in reading more books by this author in the future.

Blog Tour: The Telling

Posted by cat2002116 on October 4, 2016
Posted in: Blog Tour, Books, Reviews. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

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the-tellingThe Telling
by
Alexandra Sirowy
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: August 2nd 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Contemporary, Thriller
Synopsis:
Lana used to know what was real.
That was before when her life was small and quiet.
Her golden step-brother, Ben, was alive, she could only dream about bonfiring with the populars, their wooded island home was idyllic, she could tell the truth from lies, and Ben’s childhood stories were firmly in her imagination.
Then came after.
After has Lana boldly kissing her crush, jumping into the water from too high up, and living with nerve and mischief. But after also has horrors, deaths that only make sense in fairy tales, and terrors from a past Lana thought long forgotten: Love, blood, and murder.
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My Review

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).

(This review may contain spoilers).

I’d ideally give this book 3.5 stars out of 5. Although I found it entertaining and easy to read, I found the majority of the flashbacks to be quite jarring and disjointing to read, due to abrupt changes in tense.

I did find it fairly easy to relate to Lana. While I wasn’t sure what to think of her for a lot of the book, it was interesting to see how she related to the other characters around her. While I wasn’t keen on Becca as a character even from the start, I found Carolynn much more likable… even if she did come across as the stereotypical mean girl at first.

I did find the individual members of the ‘core’ a bit hard to differentiate between, at least at first, with the guys. Josh, Duncan and Rusty seemed to merge together at times in my head and although, by the end of the book, they had more depth to them, I felt that Rusty especially seemed to be a mix of Duncan and Josh.

It was good to be able to learn about the history between Ben and Lana as the book went on. While I didn’t get to properly meet Ben, he left such a presence behind him that it felt like I knew him as well as Lana… at least in theory.

I did feel that some of the characters came across as a bit one-dimensional, in particular when it came to the police officers. I found it quite hard to believe that they were able to get away with outright accusing the group of murder… or that not one of the parents considered contacting a lawyer.

It was hard to get a clear picture of the island and the apparent divide there was. I felt there was a lack of foreshadowing and although the stories Ben told Lana added an interesting dimension, they weren’t really utilised in the same way the blurb had seemed to indicate.

I felt like this book could have benefited from being a bit longer and perhaps with a smaller cast of characters. Although there were some small elements of tension, those kept being lost in the amount of flashbacks that kept cropping up.

I don’t think I’d read this book again, but I wouldn’t mind reading more books by this author in the future.

 

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About The Author

alexander

Alexandra Sirowy was born in Northern California and grew up in
Providence, Rhode Island and the San Francisco Bay Area. She attended a
women’s college as an undergraduate and has a graduate degree in
International Studies. She lives in Northern California with her husband. Visit
her at alexandrasirowy.com.

Book Blitz: Dawn of The Vie

Posted by cat2002116 on October 3, 2016
Posted in: Books, Promotion, Reviews. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Dawn of the Vie
Laura Diamond
(Immortal Aliens, #1)
Published by: Curiosity Quills Press
Publication date: October 3rd 2016
Genres: Dystopian, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Since their Arrival less than 30 years ago, immortal Vie rule the planet like the super-predators they are. Enslaved humans are their servants…their entertainment…and their food. Anemies—humans with various types of anemia—are simply exterminated. Their nutritionally deficient blood is useless to the Vie.

Or so it’s thought…

_________

Alex, an Elite Vie, is a bit of a Renaissance Alien. Part scientist, part Raid Specialist, part drug addict, he knows Anemie blood is valuable. Rather than blindly carrying out his boss’s kill order, he convinces some colleagues to spare a few Anemies, not only for study, but also to reserve a secret stock.

The more Anemie blood Alex drinks, the more he slips into delusion, and the more his double life threatens to crumble. But quitting Anemie blood is not an option. Every Anemie has their own personal flavor. Each gives a unique high.

When Alex takes a hit of Justin’s blood, his hallucinations bleed into reality…

_________

Anemie Justin knows his little sister, Sammie, and he are living past their expiration dates. It becomes a guarantee when they’re bitten by a Vie named Alex during a raid. (The bite is fatal, thanks to a toxin carried in Vie saliva.) Alex adds insult to injury by promising Justin a second chance—an antidote in exchange for agreeing to be a lab rat.

And a mule…of his own blood.

When Justin says no, Alex takes off with Sammie.

All Justin has to do is find them, beat Alex, and cure himself and Sammie. All he has is a stake and serious lack of self-preservation.

No problem.

_________

Alex wants Justin’s blood.

Justin wants his sister back.

GAME ON.

Goodreads / Amazon

My Review

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).

(This review may contain spoilers).

I wavered a bit on how many stars to give this book. In the end, I would settle on 3.5 stars.

It was interesting to see a slightly unique take on the vampire myth, though I would have liked some more details about exactly why the Vie looked humanoid… especially considering what was revealed about them as the book went on.

I found Justin to be an intriguing character, even though I felt he was a bit cliched in the apocalyptic hero genre. It was good to see him more on the lookout for himself and his sister, though, rather than a typical self-sacrificing dark and brooding hero.

While I liked the fact that the book stayed with one first person perspective, I was a bit lost about exactly what had happened when the Vie invaded Earth. I would have liked a bit more detail about the history and how Justin’s father fit into all of it.

I did find Alex to be quite an intriguing character, even though I didn’t like or trust him. I would have liked some more detail about exactly what drove him… what his motivations were. While he skirted around telling Justin much… there were glimmers of a deeper depth to him that I would have liked to see further expanded upon.

I didn’t really like the romance that developed between Justin and Cara, mostly because I originally saw Cara as not much older than his sister… but I didn’t feel there was any real chemistry between her and Justin either way.

While I really had a strong dislike for Margaret, I did find her an intriguing character and I would have liked to see more of the Vie in general… in particular those who cared about the humans, even though even those members of the Vie didn’t seem to care as much as they could have done.

I liked seeing some of the secondary characters and it was especially interesting to see what happened with many of the other humans. Despite some problems with this book, I would be interested in reading the next book/s in this series in the future.

EXCERPT:

I hated afternoons the most. Soon after came darkness—the time when a raiding squad could snatch you out of bed and drain all the blood from your body. It was amazing that any Anemies survived with the extermination campaign ridding the world of us red blood cell-deficient freaks.

I gently squeezed my sister’s hand to make sure she kept up. Dirt caked under her fingernails like it caked under mine. The cuff of her torn sleeve had stains like mine. Her pant cuffs were rolled up six times… also like mine. A younger version of me—mouthiness and all—in girl form. Unlike me, Sammie tended to dawdle, and since we held onto the last rung of the society ladder by the tips of our fingers, giving in to distraction could get us hurt—or killed.

My gaze jumped to the pale, indifferent sky then jittered to the partially constructed biodome edge as I walked. Large, clear panels filled the metal framework in a beehive of hexagons. Eventually, the damn thing would cover the entire city, including the river surrounding the island and part of the ocean capping the south side. The project had been progressing since before I was born.

Once the construction workers completed the biodome, Vie wouldn’t have to fear the destructive UV rays of our sun and could wander freely during the day. We’d have no safe period whatsoever. Vie could get us any time.

 

Author Bio:

Laura Diamond is a board certified psychiatrist currently specializing in emergency psychiatry. She is also an author of all things young adult—both contemporary and paranormal. An avid fan of sci-fi, fantasy, and anything magical, she thrives on quirk, her lucid dreams, and coffee. When she’s not working or writing, she can be found sniffing books and drinking a latte at the bookstore or at home pondering renovations on her 225 year old fixer upper, all while obeying her feline overlords, of course.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

 

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Blog Tour: Nemesis

Posted by cat2002116 on September 29, 2016
Posted in: Books, Reviews. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

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nemesisNemesis (Nemesis #1)
by Anna Banks
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: October 4th 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Magic, Supernatural, Fiction

 

Synopsis:
The princess didn’t expect to fall in love–with her nemesis.
Princess Sepora of Serubel is the last Forger in all the five kingdoms. The spectorium she creates provides energy for all, but now her father has found a way to weaponize it, and his intentions to incite war force her to flee from his grasp. She escapes across enemy lines into the kingdom of Theoria, but her plans to hide are thwarted when she is captured and placed in the young king’s servitude.
Tarik has just taken over rulership of Theoria, and must now face a new plague sweeping through his kingdom and killing his citizens. The last thing he needs is a troublesome servant vying for his attention. But mistress Sepora will not be ignored. When the two finally meet face-to-face, they form an unlikely bond that complicates life in ways neither of them could have imagined.
Sepora’s gift could save Tarik’s kingdom from the Quiet Plague. But should she trust her growing feelings for her nemesis, or should she hide her gifts at all costs?

My Review

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).

(This review may contain spoilers).

I thought the cover of this book was really appealing. It really drew my attention and, along with the blurb, made me want to read this book. And despite the fact that it kept switching between first and third person, which meant I couldn’t easily get drawn into either character’s head, I did find this book an entertaining and fairly easy read.

I found both Sepora and Tarik interesting characters and it was good to see the problems both had to deal with… though I didn’t really think much of Tarik’s attitude during his original dealings with Sepora.

I liked being able to see something of the differences in the kingdoms… at least in the two main ones… but it was good to see how the characters viewed each other. I liked seeing something of the other characters in Tarik’s kingdom, but I would have liked to see some more of the secondary characters in Sepora’s history, rather than just her perceptions of them.

I thought that the idea of the Forgers was quite a unique one and it was good to see that Sepora still got herself in danger. I liked the fact that she was strong and spirited, but couldn’t just get away with doing what she wanted.

I would have liked a bit more time spent on the romance, as even by the end of the book, I didn’t find it all that believable. And although I found Sethos an intriguing character, I felt he didn’t really have a lot of depth outside of crushing on Sepora.

I liked Tarik’s ability to tell when someone was lying. I thought there were some really interesting weaknesses involved in that. I liked seeing his interactions with his adviser, but I would have liked to see some more details with the other people in his home. I was a bit disappointed that not much was done with the different girls in the harem.

I thought there were a lot of good elements of tension in this book and it was nice to see that the main characters had goals to work towards, along with strengths and weaknesses. While I did think it could have been improved upon… I would be interested in reading the next book/s in this series.

 

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Pre-order Pre-orders will receive an exclusive Nemesis print and a Nemesis bath bomb

 

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About The Author

anna

NYT Bestselling YA author of The Syrena Legacy series: OF POSEIDON (2012), OF TRITON (2013), OF NEPTUNE (2014).

Repped by rockstar Lucy Carson of the Friedrich Agency.

I live with my husband and daughter in the Florida Panhandle. I have a southern accent compared to New Yorkers, and I enjoy food cooked with real fat. I can’t walk in high heels, but I’m very good at holding still in them. If you put chocolate in front of me, you must not have wanted it in the first place.

Favorite Books:

Shatter Me, Cinder, Linger, Shiver, Forever, Pushing the Limits, Unravel Me,Shadow and Bone, Enclave, Divergent, Candor, Graceling, Fire, The Hunger Games Trilogy, The Host, Most of James Patterson, and Janet Evanovich makes me laugh through my nose in an unfeminine sort of way.

Visit Anna’s website, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter

Giveaway

1 winner will receive a finished copy of Nemesis. US only.

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Blog Tour: Stalking Jack The Ripper

Posted by cat2002116 on September 26, 2016
Posted in: Blog Tour, Books, Reviews. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

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stalking-jack-the-ripper-coverStalking Jack the Ripper (Untitled Trilogy #1)
by Kerri Maniscalco
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson
Release Date: September 20th 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Mystery

Synopsis

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord’s daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.
Against her stern father’s wishes and society’s expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle’s laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.

My Review

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).

(This review may contain spoilers).

Jack the Ripper has always been a horrible part of history, but I was intrigued by the blurb and I found Audrey to be a really intriguing character. It was interesting to see her as a progressive female character in a time when women were still considered unequal to men.

It was good to see the tensions between Audrey’s father and uncle and I liked being able to learn more about their history, though there were times I felt there were some contradictions… particularly in regards to her uncle’s behaviour. And I found it very hard to understand her father’s real motivations.

I thought the illustrations used in this book added a good aspect, but I did feel there were times they detracted from the story a bit.

It was good to see how there were some connections to Audrey’s household, though I felt there was a bit too much summarising of events. I would have liked to see this book expanded upon a bit more.

While I did find Thomas to be an interesting character, I thought that his deductions could have been shown a bit better, though, as none of those were things I could see as a reader.

It was good to see bits and pieces of the murders, but I did feel there was less shown than there really should have been. I did like seeing Audrey’s relationship with her cousin, but I would have liked to see those interactions a bit more, rather than them being glossed over. And I would have liked to see a bit more depth to her aunt’s character.

While a lot of the book did have the feel of the time period the book was set in… I was a bit disappointed to see there was quite a bit of modern day language used, that did detract from the story at times.

I did like seeing Audrey’s relationship with Nathaniel and it was good to get some ideas of the differences between the siblings. There was one thing in particular I did see coming, but only just before it became relevant.

Despite the issues mentioned earlier, I did find this book entertaining to read and I would be interested in reading more books by this author in the future, as well as the next book/s in this series.

 

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About The Author

kerri

Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside NYC where her fascination with gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life’s finer points with her cats. Stalking Jack the Ripper is her debut novel. It incorporates her love of forensic science and unsolved history, and is the first in a new series of gothic thrillers.
It will be available everywhere September 20, 2016.
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Blog Tour: Fear The Drowning Deep

Posted by cat2002116 on September 25, 2016
Posted in: Blog Tour, Books, Reviews. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

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Fear the Drowning Deep
by Sarah Glenn Marsh
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Release Date: October 4th 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Historical Fiction
Synopsis:
Witch’s apprentice Bridey Corkill has hated the ocean ever since she watched her granddad dive in and drown with a smile on his face. So when a dead girl rolls in with the tide in the summer of 1913, sixteen-year-old Bridey suspects that whatever compelled her granddad to leap into the sea has made its return to the Isle of Man.
Soon, villagers are vanishing in the night, but no one shares Bridey’s suspicions about the sea. No one but the island’s witch, who isn’t as frightening as she first appears, and the handsome dark-haired lad Bridey rescues from a grim and watery fate. The cause of the deep gashes in Fynn’s stomach and his lost memories are, like the recent disappearances, a mystery well-guarded by the sea. In exchange for saving his life, Fynn teaches Bridey to master her fear of the water — stealing her heart in the process.
Now, Bridey must work with the Isle’s eccentric witch and the boy she isn’t sure she can trust — because if she can’t uncover the truth about the ancient evil in the water, everyone she loves will walk into the sea, never to return.

My Review

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).

(This review may contain spoilers).

This was another book I was really interested in reading after seeing the blurb. I thought it was interesting to see the kind of setting Bridey lived in. It was nice to see her interacting with her family and her friends, Lugh and Cat. While I did think there was a little bit of information dumping in regards to the history between Bridey and her two friends, I did think both of them came across as well-rounded characters with a lot of depth to them.

I really liked seeing Bridey interacting with her family… but I had a lot of sympathy for her as a child, given everything I learned about her and her grandfather. It was good to see the elements of supernatural were a part of the story, but didn’t seem to take over completely.

I didn’t like a lot of the villagers by the end of the book, I have to say. I did feel like a lot of them were lumped together into the same kind of characters and there wasn’t a lot to differentiate between the stereotypical nosy women.

I thought Morag was an interesting character, although I was disappointed not to see much of her actually interacting with Bridey. While I could understand why, it seemed like she spent most of the book hiding away from everyone… including her apprentice.

I did like seeing Bridey’s sisters and how different they were. It was also good to see her relationship with her parents… and I liked that they had different nicknames for each of their daughters. It was interesting to see Bridey’s mother’s paintings and how they related to what was going on with the villagers disappearing.

I liked Fynn’s character, although I did think that his feelings for Bridey and hers for him moved a bit too quickly. I didn’t find much mystery surrounding his presence, as I figured things out fairly quickly. It was, however, interesting to see the different kinds of creatures from the ocean.

I found this book a really entertaining read and I would definitely be interested in reading a sequel to this.

 

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About The Author

sarah

Sarah Glenn Marsh writes young adult novels and children’s picture books. An avid fantasy reader from the day her dad handed her a copy of The Hobbit and promised it would change her life, she’s been making up words and worlds ever since.
When she’s not writing, Sarah enjoys watercolor painting, ghost hunting, and pursuits of the nerd variety, from video games to tabletop adventures. She’s never met an animal or a doughnut she didn’t like.
Sarah lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband and their tiny zoo of four rescued greyhounds, a bird, and many fish. She is the author of Fear the Drowning Deep, the Reign of the Fallen duology, and several picture books.
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Survivor

Posted by cat2002116 on September 23, 2016
Posted in: Books, Reviews. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

survivor

(This review may contain spoilers).

Before buying this one, I read about three of the novellas of this series… and despite reading them very much out of order, I found myself drawn really easily into the world and the characters, so I was happy to be able to read the whole serial.

I really liked the opportunity to learn the pasts of the different characters with each short segment. By the end of the book, I had no real idea what to think of Proctor and I was left with a whole horde of questions, even though there were a couple of answers given.

I would have liked some more detail about what exactly Ryan remembered of his past with the other crew members of the Survivor, though I did really like seeing his interactions with them… especially with Jabo. I would have liked more detail on them, especially as I wasn’t really sold on Maria by the end of the book. While I had a lot of empathy for her as a child, I didn’t really like her as an adult by the end of the book.

I found Ai to be the most interesting character. I thought it was interesting to see the parts of the story from her POV and it was good to get some idea of the events that had shaped her as an adult. Plus, I felt one of her weaknesses gave her a lot more depth.

I thought it was interesting to see the different gifts and abilities the characters had and to learn about how each of them gained those abilities. It was also good to see them using their abilities after they reached the planet.

I did find it interesting to learn, along with the characters, where they’d landed. There was a lot of mystery and tension surrounding the place the characters found themselves in… but there wasn’t a lot of time to relax and really absorb what was going on, or to put together many of the clues provided.

The beginning of the book was tense enough to pull me in straight from the start. I would have liked this book to be longer, though, and to be able to learn more about the events leading up to the crew and why Ryan was the only one who retained any memory.

I would really like to read the second serial. Unfortunately, as it’s in German (and I don’t know any other languages), I’m currently being disappointed… as I would jump at the chance to see more of this world and the characters.