Surprisingly good writing style and exhilarating action scenes. The ending is a true cliffhanger but the library doesn't have book two so I may never Surprisingly good writing style and exhilarating action scenes. The ending is a true cliffhanger but the library doesn't have book two so I may never know what happens. The only downside is there were long periods of ruminating inner monologues which I found myself skim reading through. The gore levels were great with the main character gnawing off her trapped fingers in order to get away from the zombie horde. Kinda felt like poetic irony. Chewing off her flesh to escape having her flesh chewed off. I love zombie virus stories like this one where the undead evolve. Makes them more frightening. Thanks for the recommendation, Zellian!...more
Dear Ashley, Most of the book was really great but that ending was genuinely annoying. Kind regards Claude
Seriously folks. There a few things more annoyDear Ashley, Most of the book was really great but that ending was genuinely annoying. Kind regards Claude
Seriously folks. There a few things more annoying to me than an unsatisfying ending. Now sometimes there are cool endings that your are left shocked or mind-blown. This just felt unfinished. I was actually totally absorbed for most of the book so I will still give it 3 stars. The characters were interesting and although the whodunnit elements were well signposted, I still loved the twists and turns.
A short but powerful novel. The writing in some of the more shocking moments is quite understated and I'm not sure if it is the translation but I hopeA short but powerful novel. The writing in some of the more shocking moments is quite understated and I'm not sure if it is the translation but I hope not because it was perfect given that Yunjae's Alexithymia, which makes it difficult to feel emotions like fear or anger. I really felt like I was in his head throughout his experiences so when people looked at him with confusion, anger or disgust I felt like shouting that his almonds are tiny so leave him alone, guys! I don't have any medical knowledge regarding his condition so can't comment on how the story progressed and ended. All I can say is that there nothing more wonderful than finishing a book feeling hopeful.
Definitely the most interesting book in the series. Look, it's a good trilogy but not amazing. Something was missing throughout the entire se3.5 Stars
Definitely the most interesting book in the series. Look, it's a good trilogy but not amazing. Something was missing throughout the entire series and I think it was any lasting emotional attachment. The characters were interesting and I liked the relationships but nothing hooked me and had me thinking of name mash-ups if you know what I mean. The focus seemed to be the story moving forward and things happening but nothing that had you gasping or swooning or feeling outraged. But I didn't at any point feel like I wasn't going to finish the series. Does that make sense? I liked it but also meh...Confusing.
CW: blood magic that requires the magician to cut themselves....more
A good follow up in which Kell and Lila compete in a pretty cool magical tournament. The magical battles were well written. What I found it i3.5 Stars
A good follow up in which Kell and Lila compete in a pretty cool magical tournament. The magical battles were well written. What I found it interesting slash weird is that in book 1 I honestly thought Lila was quite young. Suddenly in book 2 she is written a lot older and as a love interest. Maybe I wasn't paying enough attention in book 1? Holland is probably the most interesting character in this book. I found this book a lot more engaging than book 1 but still, something was missing that I've yet to identify.
CW: blood magic that requires the magician to cut themselves....more
Crikey, that was an excitingly tense roller coaster ride! The cold and isolated setting made for a good backdrop to this chilling thriller. T4.5 Stars
Crikey, that was an excitingly tense roller coaster ride! The cold and isolated setting made for a good backdrop to this chilling thriller. The dual timeline was extremely effective in keeping us on the edge of our seats as, piece by piece, the horrors of the past fill in the present day mystery of how a young child came to be found by writer, Wylie Lark, curled up in the snow outside her writing retreat home. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and actually listened to it in one day. The audiobook was really well narrated and heightened the level of stress I felt towards then end. I look forward to reading more from this author.
A charming Christmas themed romance with a cute friends to lovers storyline. Steamy in parts and adorably awkward in others it was a perfect 3.5 Stars
A charming Christmas themed romance with a cute friends to lovers storyline. Steamy in parts and adorably awkward in others it was a perfect holiday read. It didn't have a huge amount of substance to it so I'd put it in the 'light and fluffy' category. I'll definitely continue with the series....more
I honestly had to dig deep to get through this predictable mystery. I don't know why I held on until the end because I detested the main character, JeI honestly had to dig deep to get through this predictable mystery. I don't know why I held on until the end because I detested the main character, Jessica, with a passion. I wasn't invested in who killed Heather because we didn't really get to know her at all. There was an angsty teen drama vibe despite the dual timeline between them as university students and then adults. I did enjoy how things unfolded in the last 1/4 but overall this was just okay for me....more
I'm such an outlier with many of these super hyped and popular romances. Some have cavemen types clubbing women over the head and dragging them back tI'm such an outlier with many of these super hyped and popular romances. Some have cavemen types clubbing women over the head and dragging them back to their caves where they can growl at them about their ownership status and the women gasp and whimper and tremble delicately in the strong possessive hands of their master. Some are beyond the realms of plausible even though they are contemporary romances as is the case with this book. Despite being a super intelligent STEM woman the main character acts like a bloomin' idiot and miscommunication/no-communication and withholding information plague us throughout most of the novel. I suspect I am meant to be on the edge of my seat waiting for them to clear the air by speaking from their hearts and professing their undying love etc. All that happens is that I crank up the speed. I had this on 2.3x within the first 30mins. TWO POINT THREE! Do you have any idea what they sound like at this speed? Let's just say the love interests should be named Alvin, Simon or Theodore (you're welcome for the earworm). I actually enjoy a good fake dating trope but this one made zero sense to me. ZERO! And is it just me or is Adam's height pretty much mentioned on every page? Olive and Adam were quite boring characters and the dialogue was clunky and cringe worthy at points. Yay for women in science but bummed I paid for this book....more
This was a pretty thrilling descent into child abductions and supposedly perfect crimes. When husband and wife crime writing duo are shocked to find tThis was a pretty thrilling descent into child abductions and supposedly perfect crimes. When husband and wife crime writing duo are shocked to find their son missing, all eyes turn to them and their previous claims of knowing how to get away with murder. There were a few stressful moments in this book and I had a few possible scenarios floating around in my head throughout. I didn't quite pick it so it was fun to see where Paul took us. A particular chilling moment was when one of the characters was explaining about the 'quiet people'. The neighbours you don't really notice and when the reporters and police interview them after a horrific crime they say 'they were such good polite neighbours and such quiet people that I would never suspect them of these terrible crimes'. Creepy. I also love that Paul is a kiwi writer and lots of his stories are set in Christchurch. He has won the Ngaio Marsh Award for crime fiction in the past. Definitely a New Zealand author worth reading if you like the crime/murder mystery genre.
Booker Prize Shortlist 2022 and in my opinion a 'must read'.
“Goddamnit, I hate murder more than just about anything,” said Sheriff Red Jetty. “It can Booker Prize Shortlist 2022 and in my opinion a 'must read'.
“Goddamnit, I hate murder more than just about anything,” said Sheriff Red Jetty. “It can just ruin a day.”
"Oh Lordy, Lordy" that was a superbly written and darkly humorous novel. It is a satirical study of the drawn out genocide of people of colour in the US and uses the murder of Emmett Till as its anchor. This is the first novel in which I have been deeply disturbed one moment and laughing out loud the next. Make no mistake this is a hard hitting novel that looks at racial discrimination and violence towards people of colour. We get to know the small minded and backward thinking community of Money, Mississippi, as they grapple with the horrific murders of two of its white community members. The murder scenes are gruesome and spark fears of an upcoming race war. This is an absolutely brilliant, relevant and insightful novel and I thoroughly recommend the incredibly entertaining and well read audiobook....more
Another twisty and twisted story with DI Mack and PI Atticus. But that ending, Mark! You better be tippy typing book three right this very moment, gooAnother twisty and twisted story with DI Mack and PI Atticus. But that ending, Mark! You better be tippy typing book three right this very moment, good sir!...more
This is a novel that celebrates the much, and in my opinion, unfairly maligned 'trope'. Romance novel tUPDATE: 08/04/2023 - Reread and still loved it!
This is a novel that celebrates the much, and in my opinion, unfairly maligned 'trope'. Romance novel tropes are what romance readers love because we know basically what to expect but are still excited to see how it all unfolds and how the author will bring their own originality to the table. 'Enemies to lovers', 'ice princess', 'fake dating' etc. all of these are clichés but I simply don't care if the story and characters are interesting enough. Emily Henry writes such witty dialogue and her characters are charming and relatable and this is absolutely the case in this novel. What's not to love about book lovers who are in the book publishing industry writing the ending to their own love story? If you have enjoyed Emily's other novels then it's likely you will enjoy this one too. I know I did!...more
1.5 rounded up to 2 for the good suspense writing in parts.
Well the start was so promising and then nothing much happened. I didn't enjoy the format w1.5 rounded up to 2 for the good suspense writing in parts.
Well the start was so promising and then nothing much happened. I didn't enjoy the format which was literally a novel length letter to a lawyer telling them about everything that had transpired up until the death of a girl under her care. There was a good sense of menace that was built up but I grew tired and a bit bored as the 'what is that noise?', "but I closed that door and now it's open, "I hear mysterious footsteps" stuff went on and on and on. I didn't enjoy the ending which I think was meant to be a series of shocking reveals but they felt a bit ho-hum and fell really flat for me. I see some very positive reviews so I guess it was a case of not for me....more
What an exceptional story teller! This is kind of a hard-boiled crime horror hybrid, with elements of gritty crime fiction brilMy King Journey Book 1
What an exceptional story teller! This is kind of a hard-boiled crime horror hybrid, with elements of gritty crime fiction brilliantly blended with the supernatural horror elements Stephen King is famous for. Written in 2021 it is the third book by King published within the Hard Case Crime series of original hard-boiled crime novels. This is a coming of age story about a young boy called Jamie who has the unfortunate ability to see dead people. They appear to him as they were at the moment of their deaths which made for some gory apparitions. There was tension, mystery and a few 'why Stephen why!' moments, and then all too soon it was over. The novella ended quite menacingly and I love that we are left to sit there freaking out about what might happen 'later'. This was a short and entertaining read that I listened to in one sitting. Highly recommend if you want a slice of horror that will have you unsettled but not sleep deprived....more
Time passed by quickly as I listened to this fun romance. The characters were interesting and I enjoyed the hospital setting. Not much more to report Time passed by quickly as I listened to this fun romance. The characters were interesting and I enjoyed the hospital setting. Not much more to report as this was a safe and easy romance....more
For me this was probably the most emotional of the series so far as the three sisters struggled to uphold the promise they made to their father as litFor me this was probably the most emotional of the series so far as the three sisters struggled to uphold the promise they made to their father as little children to always stay together. The Slovakian Hlinka Guards had other ideas and soon the family found themselves torn apart by the Nazi collaborators. Again this was another well researched novel with Heather Morris talking to Livia, Magda, and their families about their experiences before, during and after World War II. Therefore the story contains real events in their lives and how they survived the death camps and found freedom and a home in Israel. It is another rough reading experience as the women had to watch some of their family march to the gas chambers. It was interesting that we also got to see their lives after they were freed because the discrimination in Germany and Slovakia continued long after the Nazis regime ended. I thoroughly recommend this series....more
Another compelling story from Heather based on a true story of courage and endurance. I found it interesting listening to the author's notes as she exAnother compelling story from Heather based on a true story of courage and endurance. I found it interesting listening to the author's notes as she explained her research process in preparation to write this work of historical fiction. She makes it very clear that whilst she has gathered personal accounts and backed these up with a lot of secondary sources, that she then blended these elements together to build her story and therefore they are not accurate historical accounts, but based on survivors' stories. I believe she said she took experiences of multiple victims and wove them together into her characters. Holocaust stories are never easy to hear as they are quite harrowing and emotional but I like that there is an undercurrent of hope throughout stemming from the strength and determination of the main characters....more
A lesbian alien space captain who runs a donut shop on earth whilst her and her family build a stargate disguised as a huge donut.
A violin teacher whoA lesbian alien space captain who runs a donut shop on earth whilst her and her family build a stargate disguised as a huge donut.
A violin teacher who has made a deal with the devil in which she will deliver him seven delicious souls whose tortured despair he can feed on for all eternity. She only needs one more.
A transgender girl who feels like she doesn't deserve to be seen but can make her cheap violin sing so beautifully it stops people in their tracks.
I expected quite a crazy ride but instead got a tender and hopeful exploration of finding meaning, joy and a sense of belonging. I felt a lot of emotions as our main characters struggled on their separate journeys. Katrina never felt like she belonged with the family who purported to love her but wouldn't accept her. Shizuka is fixated on her goal to play the violin again and be idolised at prestigious concerts despite the dark deeds she will have to do on the road to achieving this goal. Lan is so preoccupied with preparing for the future that she forgets to feel the joy and love around her in the present. When their journeys intertwined music spilled off the pages and I became quite starry eyed.
A lot of people will find this book long and boring with changes of narration that will make your head spin. I get it.
I, however, found it to be a gloriously gentle and lyrical study of love and sacrifice with descriptions of violin music and food that had me transfixed. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
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