tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51327508183335119572024-03-13T14:03:35.243-04:00Book Crave ReviewsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132750818333511957.post-7320441522979005092015-10-25T20:25:00.002-04:002015-10-25T20:27:30.334-04:00Madame X (Madame X #1) by Jasinda Wilder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiad1UxgZ1UvOfdioru9ZY9LCQb5RLD3lg6SBl_Y_W_JR3xZ2ZPJBNfQhUkawMCYv3P4oQoxbm8jZixA87-nkASsgyoR7f-Y5XvCsqdg_iT8Nkh5hBL_XRHCeC6tCW11HYqwiJCySJHgj6J/s400/Madame+X+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiad1UxgZ1UvOfdioru9ZY9LCQb5RLD3lg6SBl_Y_W_JR3xZ2ZPJBNfQhUkawMCYv3P4oQoxbm8jZixA87-nkASsgyoR7f-Y5XvCsqdg_iT8Nkh5hBL_XRHCeC6tCW11HYqwiJCySJHgj6J/s400/Madame+X+Cover.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
<b>Title: </b>Madame X<br />
<b>Series:</b> Madame X<br />
<b>Author: </b>Jasinda Wilder<br />
<b>Genres: </b>Romance/Drama/Dark/Adult<br />
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<b>Maturity Rating:</b> 17+<br />
<b>*WARNING: TRAUMA TRIGGERS* </b><br />
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<b>Overall Rating:</b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87cuNizGJul2v1wpdBn5qonPbsuLOEs2KfYsm0vKnXKmnli-d6IsCEqssvaEmSNcNkwPkKUy2Inhu4zY0HtbrbqtS2CZ3d1weyR9pUcdPfnkQZPAqif8B1tA62N2AbwXwZsAj4tjJ4Pk8/s1600/Five.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87cuNizGJul2v1wpdBn5qonPbsuLOEs2KfYsm0vKnXKmnli-d6IsCEqssvaEmSNcNkwPkKUy2Inhu4zY0HtbrbqtS2CZ3d1weyR9pUcdPfnkQZPAqif8B1tA62N2AbwXwZsAj4tjJ4Pk8/s200/Five.png" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /></a><br />
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<b>My Quickie Synopsis:</b> Madame X lives in a plush world of sophistication where she caters to only the privileged and most elite of society-but it's not in the way that you might expect. She's a mistress in the art of class, confidence and control; her job is to impart this knowledge to the entitled yet thoroughly ignorant sons of her clientele. However, her carefully constructed reality and identity threaten to come crumbling down when a few chance encounters force her to question her lifestyle and circumstances.<br />
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<b>Micro Review:</b> I typically don't like doing micro reviews because I feel that they do a disservice to the book and author. That being said, I also realize that most people don't give two flying craps about technicalities. I get it and I can appreciate it. So, I'll try the condensed version out for a while. We'll see how long it lasts!<br />
On to the juicy bits though-<br />
<i>Madame X</i> is probably going to be unlike anything you've read in a while and I say that purely from the standpoint of the writing style. There are certain aspects of the story told in a kind of diary-style second person; it takes a while to get used to, but it certainly adds a richness to the story. On top of that, I can't think of many authors that would be brave enough to tackle that point of view and then go on to excel with it.<br />
That's just the tip of the iceberg here; the most compelling aspects of the book are the characters themselves. The titular character, Madame X, is a veritably complex woman and you can't help but to feel an emotional connection to her the deeper you find yourself immersed in her world. The supporting cast of characters each come with their own skeletons and emotional baggage, and X's interactions with each of them spark a slow shift in her perspective. These interactions alone will probably have you reading all night just to see what X will get herself into next.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.giphy.com/FVKD0P4SiP42I.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i.giphy.com/FVKD0P4SiP42I.gif" height="222" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You're hurting my heart, X!</td></tr>
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I will say that I personally was disappointed with a few of X's choices, but the fact of the matter is that everything made perfect sense, And honestly, as a reader, you can't really ask for anything more. There are several difficult topics explored within <i>Madame X,</i> and each one is handled with a certain poise alongside a dose of harsh reality that you just don't see as often in modern romance novels. Don't get me wrong; there's plenty of romantic fantasy to be had within the story, but it's grounded by the heavier issues that Ms. Wilder introduces in a seamless way.<br />
In line with the majority of reviews that are already out regarding this book, I too do not want to give too much away. It's a book that has to be experienced with a fresh pair of eyes.<br />
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<b>My Icing on Top:</b><br />
It's really rare for me to rate a book at five stars. This is only the second book I've rated as such for books I've read in 2015. To put that in a bit of perspective, I've rated 83 books this year. I know that this book won't be for everyone, as the subject matter is on the graphic side; however, if you're up for reading a superb modern drama with a twist of dark romance and plenty of thought provoking moments, please pick up <i>Madame X</i> the next chance that you get.<br />
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Check out my informal review on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1412676428?book_show_action=false" target="_blank">goodreads</a>!<br />
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As always, happy reading!<br />
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-K<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132750818333511957.post-62187022525247329712015-10-11T20:41:00.001-04:002015-10-11T20:48:23.630-04:00Micro Burst ReviewsHello everyone! It's time to get back into the swing of things. The new website is still underway, but should be up soon! In the meantime, I'll be posting a few micro burst reviews. As you can imagine, life gets busy, but never too busy to the point where I'm not reading at least a few books a week.<br />
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Here's a sneak peek at some of the books I'll be posting reviews of in the upcoming weeks!<br />
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<span id="goog_1013995087"></span><span id="goog_1013995088"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><b>Madame X </b>by Jasinda Wilder-<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87cuNizGJul2v1wpdBn5qonPbsuLOEs2KfYsm0vKnXKmnli-d6IsCEqssvaEmSNcNkwPkKUy2Inhu4zY0HtbrbqtS2CZ3d1weyR9pUcdPfnkQZPAqif8B1tA62N2AbwXwZsAj4tjJ4Pk8/s1600/Five.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87cuNizGJul2v1wpdBn5qonPbsuLOEs2KfYsm0vKnXKmnli-d6IsCEqssvaEmSNcNkwPkKUy2Inhu4zY0HtbrbqtS2CZ3d1weyR9pUcdPfnkQZPAqif8B1tA62N2AbwXwZsAj4tjJ4Pk8/s200/Five.png" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /></a> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKe8wccVVb2SvLYXimTf-oqCo_3oqa51LwfkQxXUQrSzhnjuJzMXtsy70L3UKOe4aseWWXMbH8H6nUgevN94irVM6177HgNesOJojgcb7QURnY7RSuMAiQftw3rG2SlKMyBvX-DW-crmy/s1600/Madame+X+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKe8wccVVb2SvLYXimTf-oqCo_3oqa51LwfkQxXUQrSzhnjuJzMXtsy70L3UKOe4aseWWXMbH8H6nUgevN94irVM6177HgNesOJojgcb7QURnY7RSuMAiQftw3rG2SlKMyBvX-DW-crmy/s200/Madame+X+Cover.jpg" /></a></div>
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Trigger alert! This book is graphic my friends and it certainly needs a warning label as such. But what a fantastic read! The characters are phenomenal and are sure to keep you locked in to the story-line. Can't wait for my full review? Read my quickie Goodreads review <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1412676428" target="_blank">here</a>! </div>
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<b>The Dark Ones</b> by Rachel Van Dyken-<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1f0v2ZVti7O8L9dIkMSiRRPczytCnSBlWcqK_kPzBXOalhOnbPpMMryE1v2jVnQ-0FuxBLe5n7YuT4EfticCN2MNUOsm3NSlnBGmOtS_pvKJUwjycZiaihZLMs_OCpKKgpyUAZPO2K1N/s1600/Three.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1f0v2ZVti7O8L9dIkMSiRRPczytCnSBlWcqK_kPzBXOalhOnbPpMMryE1v2jVnQ-0FuxBLe5n7YuT4EfticCN2MNUOsm3NSlnBGmOtS_pvKJUwjycZiaihZLMs_OCpKKgpyUAZPO2K1N/s200/Three.png" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /></a> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92IJ1Y9t5A4Zi0EgrIj_m2s9rGx5c_lQNESN8cdb8yMf6BJpuxIj-GxejqzlLAbpnXmafYQZmHQUg4JlqcRurJaFhxnChQnBEaN8TFVmdUmwNPYXGieT6_f_-Tn0hAX6n_YG7-EF8yCZ_/s1600/The+Dark+Ones+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92IJ1Y9t5A4Zi0EgrIj_m2s9rGx5c_lQNESN8cdb8yMf6BJpuxIj-GxejqzlLAbpnXmafYQZmHQUg4JlqcRurJaFhxnChQnBEaN8TFVmdUmwNPYXGieT6_f_-Tn0hAX6n_YG7-EF8yCZ_/s200/The+Dark+Ones+Cover.jpg" /></a></div>
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This is the first book in a new paranormal series by Rachel Van Dyken. There's a ton of potential here, but it is a short read clocking in at only 268 pages. The story isn't particularly novel in its presentation, but it is enjoyable nonetheless and serves as a great introductory tale.
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<b>Bound by Duty</b> by Stormy Smith-<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1f0v2ZVti7O8L9dIkMSiRRPczytCnSBlWcqK_kPzBXOalhOnbPpMMryE1v2jVnQ-0FuxBLe5n7YuT4EfticCN2MNUOsm3NSlnBGmOtS_pvKJUwjycZiaihZLMs_OCpKKgpyUAZPO2K1N/s1600/Three.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1f0v2ZVti7O8L9dIkMSiRRPczytCnSBlWcqK_kPzBXOalhOnbPpMMryE1v2jVnQ-0FuxBLe5n7YuT4EfticCN2MNUOsm3NSlnBGmOtS_pvKJUwjycZiaihZLMs_OCpKKgpyUAZPO2K1N/s200/Three.png" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /></a> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8-47DQON_jlRS3rp4_qhMHX3ndI2Z_6rX0VHYKHn6Zmov_XezElrbkjJTiEJjBXUJDMCNaGgZJKDOGgpIMbPl458wwLzgB5x_NNxI8b6JbZhrn57T9PLhi35RvTzQkJ1OaIGaTF4f-3t/s1600/Bound+by+Duty+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8-47DQON_jlRS3rp4_qhMHX3ndI2Z_6rX0VHYKHn6Zmov_XezElrbkjJTiEJjBXUJDMCNaGgZJKDOGgpIMbPl458wwLzgB5x_NNxI8b6JbZhrn57T9PLhi35RvTzQkJ1OaIGaTF4f-3t/s200/Bound+by+Duty+Cover.jpg" /></a></div>
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I liked this book, but I do feel that the romance was a bit forced and the story line was a bit predictable. Whether logical or not, I do have high hopes for the next books in this series, as the first book does have good bones. Can't wait for my full review? Read my quickie Goodreads review <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1408420841" target="_blank">here</a>!
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<b>Queen of the Deep</b> by Kay Kenyon-<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1f0v2ZVti7O8L9dIkMSiRRPczytCnSBlWcqK_kPzBXOalhOnbPpMMryE1v2jVnQ-0FuxBLe5n7YuT4EfticCN2MNUOsm3NSlnBGmOtS_pvKJUwjycZiaihZLMs_OCpKKgpyUAZPO2K1N/s1600/Three.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1f0v2ZVti7O8L9dIkMSiRRPczytCnSBlWcqK_kPzBXOalhOnbPpMMryE1v2jVnQ-0FuxBLe5n7YuT4EfticCN2MNUOsm3NSlnBGmOtS_pvKJUwjycZiaihZLMs_OCpKKgpyUAZPO2K1N/s200/Three.png" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /></a> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RYhx92pC7svxVRDp8ps14vALXqWYQRHVfRfNpnc2WzsPrf8GTSoN-dkdEwsoLuAlEjTK8lJ-qX-4cWzIJBPrkaD7F5V9D7auiZ99vjYYWjHUqgfkj6eBDPZ5jTO8Ir4O200k7dhqdWBh/s1600/Queen+of+the+Deep+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RYhx92pC7svxVRDp8ps14vALXqWYQRHVfRfNpnc2WzsPrf8GTSoN-dkdEwsoLuAlEjTK8lJ-qX-4cWzIJBPrkaD7F5V9D7auiZ99vjYYWjHUqgfkj6eBDPZ5jTO8Ir4O200k7dhqdWBh/s200/Queen+of+the+Deep+Cover.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Queen of the Deep</i> is a book I received courtesy of NetGalley. This was definitely a weird read for me. I say that in the most positive way though! The story was quite different than most of what I had been reading at the time, however, it needed to spend just a little more time in the development tank. Can't wait for my full review? Read my quickie Goodreads review <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1392069673" target="_blank">here</a>!</div>
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I look forward to posting more about these books as well as a few others in the near future! In the meantime, happy reading!</div>
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-K</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132750818333511957.post-70458907891340356912014-06-16T23:10:00.000-04:002014-06-16T23:12:44.859-04:00Always You by Missy Johnson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEHpeje1bOkvT9_20Cupa1Luj99J2BNIMy29w3mcaCuLWDBKeXEdRKgP71bMXPG3ftGcv_crPmzXpYJd-i2a-4_fmCCwSR5eRj4CTf1R3zfoHb8fQ1k7sdGxdaskdC9QUuFPeTOnUx4PA/s1600/Always+You+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEHpeje1bOkvT9_20Cupa1Luj99J2BNIMy29w3mcaCuLWDBKeXEdRKgP71bMXPG3ftGcv_crPmzXpYJd-i2a-4_fmCCwSR5eRj4CTf1R3zfoHb8fQ1k7sdGxdaskdC9QUuFPeTOnUx4PA/s1600/Always+You+Cover.jpg" height="400" width="267" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> Always You<br />
<b>Author:</b> Missy Johnson<br />
<b>Genres: </b>Romance/Drama/Young Adult<br />
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<b>Maturity Rating:</b> 13+<br />
<i>Some graphic sensuality, but okay for a mature teen reader</i><br />
<b>Overall Rating:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fc-c0iA8XYVlO7-VJBmeteLg9rCWo8_glcQ7e-afmoZIWNPichn5XcrccVpRSdV7ufcT-5mQi4lO1JA8wxlroPJiNgL4ai-hlwJnjeu6WmykTYGWmomaCBlOgJCLInlLJxMSfvbu1jsf/s1600/Two.Five.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" />
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<b>My Quickie Synopsis:</b> Wrenn is taken in by her aunt when tragedy befalls her family; her aunt also happens to be the headmistress of her new all girls school. Still acclimating to her new surroundings, Wrenn is blindsided by her substitute teacher Dalton Reed. He's everything she never knew she wanted and more, but Dalton's secrets and position of authority threaten to derail their relationship before it even begins.<br />
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<b>Enjoyment Factor:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9KiqtHlXTz-5t1-DDSGrBXyTrIyIaQ5YHoWA0Kkd8sn4FAy17aH_Tgi2hvvWTlvqH-eyJab03i0JdV0pG-N7erCIyGKmgyl4veoBGlp63nK_1Fs7naZtjF-goZR11GKAS_90saXBfW29/s1600/twostar.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /><br />
And here we go again; here is yet another book that claims it's new adult, but screams young adult fiction again and again. Our main heroine is in high school and our main hero is her hot, young, substitute teacher. No matter how you look at it, the relationship is sketchy as hell. Yes, she's of legal age, and yes, the age difference is acceptable; however, this particular love story just doesn't ring true. Why would a man who has spent the better part of his life <i>avoiding</i> commitment suddenly give in to having a go with a girl who could potentially ruin his career?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a joke...right?</td></tr>
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Even if I could overlook that glaring inconsistency in the name of super duper insta-love syndrome, I can't get over how painfully immature Wrenn is. Honestly, it killed the book for me. The way Wrenn reacted when she confronted Dalton about his secret was juvenile, and I can't believe that Dalton just took it. To top it off, the girl has no filter. She flat out asked a character what it was like to watch her husband suffer. There was no easing into the question, and there was no softening context. The girl is just plain rude and selfish; I don't see why a character like Dalton would become hung up over her just because of her blunt, simplistic world views. It's still not ranking with the worst books that I've ever read though, so it gets a two star enjoyment rating; I know there's an audience for this, but it just wasn't my cup of tea.<br />
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<b>Technical Rating:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKsq3wTVdJP8q0H5Aj5_n1VYld9pN5LvjBjKbMhEWwg4F01c60FXaqpvYFmUcGEQoXCtIHpErlowWw9SGyYV0LomPpvHY32w7gA_DhHnNDHGJTdaCM_n_HiEU58XmxT8K_z_K_C6rd4pj/s1600/threestarg.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" />
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<u>Character Building:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1oNZKSWrffwYx705KF0msR4gJPKMvS5_5QCLD1FIbeO4jPellZ98k7f0n9HgJ_7wgV8LLwVqrB6oIohWoMee21rQUei9nCNFPVPr11LwGun1JS67i4PApUr36Z9dvtoUBSgzukR8OnyK/s1600/full+star.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" />
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For as much as I disliked the heroine, I can't say that she was an underdeveloped character. As a matter of fact, all of the characters had depth to them, with the possible exception of Paige. But, thankfully, the story wasn't about her, so I'll let that one slide. I think my favorite character though had to be Wrenn's best friend. She was a good dose of quirky in a desolate landscape of romantic angst.<br />
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<u>Plot Strength:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQZ2JFqZOYtsPjU7aC4CjLjcNNU-zu4cJbqTkVGn8fDMwt-6sSXaZDejhr0SCXkXwhHmx1SnU9kLyopompZqrhwdkrs3R9HC2hZCKdvgGxqTzxMG3xOe6PxvlF4L1ijbBV4dVhvlOwe1j/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" />
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The premise of the story is actually pretty good; taboo romance, hot-for-teacher action, and heavy secrets should all make great ingredients for a steamy good read. But there was no follow-through! If this were a cake, the story would be the equivalent of mixing all the ingredients but never actually putting it in the oven. There was an overall lack of cohesiveness in the plot elements that made it feel like I was being bounced around from scene to scene.<br />
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<u>Sincerity:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQZ2JFqZOYtsPjU7aC4CjLjcNNU-zu4cJbqTkVGn8fDMwt-6sSXaZDejhr0SCXkXwhHmx1SnU9kLyopompZqrhwdkrs3R9HC2hZCKdvgGxqTzxMG3xOe6PxvlF4L1ijbBV4dVhvlOwe1j/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
I find myself struggling on how to rate this category; on one hand, I still fail to see how the characters would ever end up together. However, if I maintain a healthy distance from my own reservations, I see the glimmer of a possibility. Perhaps she's so broken and he's so dense that they actually work together. I can partially accept that.<br />
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<u>Editing:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQZ2JFqZOYtsPjU7aC4CjLjcNNU-zu4cJbqTkVGn8fDMwt-6sSXaZDejhr0SCXkXwhHmx1SnU9kLyopompZqrhwdkrs3R9HC2hZCKdvgGxqTzxMG3xOe6PxvlF4L1ijbBV4dVhvlOwe1j/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
I honestly think that the editor went through the first half of the book and said to themselves that it was decent and then proceeded to ignore the latter half of the novel. If I went back to re-read this, I could probably point out the exact page that marked the beginning of the editor's holiday. It was jarring; there I was sailing through the book and then suddenly I was hit with rough waters. It's not a pleasant feeling.<br />
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<u>Pacing:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQZ2JFqZOYtsPjU7aC4CjLjcNNU-zu4cJbqTkVGn8fDMwt-6sSXaZDejhr0SCXkXwhHmx1SnU9kLyopompZqrhwdkrs3R9HC2hZCKdvgGxqTzxMG3xOe6PxvlF4L1ijbBV4dVhvlOwe1j/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
The accusations that Paige made were so quickly brushed off that it made my head spin. What was the point of even dropping that bomb if you weren't going to dedicate serious time to exploring it? I'll make another analogy since I'm on a roll: It's like making a tutorial that only shows the beginning and the end steps. Pointless. Outside of that warp-speed fast-forward, I think the pacing was adequately handled, so a half star it is!<br />
<br />
<b>My Icing on Top:</b><br />
I'm going to be honest here; the secret that Dalton has is one that was similar to a secret my own boyfriend had to share. All I felt was heartbreak when Wrenn started to throw a tantrum over it; I couldn't fathom being so cruel. Did that affect my enjoyment rating? Absolutely. But I tried to not let that bleed into my technical rating. This isn't an awful book, but it <i>is</i> awfully predictable. It's an average tale of two people with less than stellar pasts who come together in a somewhat taboo romance. Consider <i>Always You</i> to be a midnight snack of books; it can be your guilty pleasure, your little secret, until you get to read a more fulfilling story at a later point in time. But don't come complaining to me about remorse; I told you so!<br />
<br />
Check out my informal review on<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/969251824" target="_blank"> Goodreads</a>!<br />
<br />
Happy reading!<br />
<br />
-K<br />
<u><br /></u>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132750818333511957.post-44141294174662749062014-06-16T19:22:00.000-04:002014-06-16T19:26:42.725-04:00The Fault in Our Stars by John Green<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMNHWox3JhU3zcYRtkc1xql40WM-UIoMAPm2YmoualiC0MNMQIfI99Hy1SCHY2K-6aQo5GSLYh9noecT6tNOZZt4eFUvnWx60oXsydGNo2AcToTEjQ2KrztV7mauSBPDrBOrGwGP60Ja4/s1600/The+Fault+in+Our+Stars+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMNHWox3JhU3zcYRtkc1xql40WM-UIoMAPm2YmoualiC0MNMQIfI99Hy1SCHY2K-6aQo5GSLYh9noecT6tNOZZt4eFUvnWx60oXsydGNo2AcToTEjQ2KrztV7mauSBPDrBOrGwGP60Ja4/s1600/The+Fault+in+Our+Stars+Cover.jpg" height="400" width="272" /></a></div>
<b>Title: </b>The Fault in Our Stars<br />
<b>Author:</b> John Green<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Young Adult/Drama/Romance<br />
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<b>Maturity Rating:</b> 13+<br />
<b>Overall Rating:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyFSCcsSO6bGuQBBfs947QRi6DeRuWGbuUYKp_r7IdrLA2cbsVszaLhm5J6xzy8ryDPgl1h8VwbczaL9rQDwaiYX0u51TyySa6aRBBrEXeY84x0de3_MuGjS9TJ4xswSrWCcKZqKDh7D_/s1600/Three.Five.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /><br />
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<b>My Quickie Synopsis:</b> Hazel Lancaster is a young woman with terminal cancer who has been blessed with receiving ground-breaking medicine that has hindered the growth of her tumors. But Hazel knows that it's only a temporary fix; she doesn't want to get too close to anyone because she feels like a ticking time bomb. That all changes the day she meets Augustus Waters.<br />
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<b>Enjoyment Factor:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCeXCRlFt6V7Nbgzd3R6dZwfZQeWQJlg_0GWh94Fpm_0NJ4Pie8R6aCUK0G64aJRA0C-S_aNDFyfteGMY46wiDXi26ZOFnP4eHRKdwkzPFZvUTrSqRartAK2ByLbKNlGV6dj1tzIvrm8Ti/s1600/threestar.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /><br />
I finally gave in and read this book, primarily because I was considering going to see the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2582846/" target="_blank">movie</a>. Now that I've read the book, I'm actually wondering if for once the movie might be better. There is a bucket load of pretentious writing in this novel. Granted, being a little on the cavalier side is a popular trait in teens, but this took the cake. The following quotes are just a few nuggets of the philosophical rhetoric that fill the novel:<br />
<i>"My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations." </i><br />
<i>“We’re as likely to hurt the universe as we are to help it, and we’re not likely to do either."</i><br />
<i>“It seemed like forever ago, like we've had this brief but still infinite forever. Some infinities are bigger than other infinities.” </i><br />
<i>“Pain is like fabric: The stronger it is, the more it’s worth.” </i><br />
<i>"You're arguing that the fragile, rare thing is beautiful simply because it is fragile and rare. But that's a lie, and you know it."</i><br />
I'm sure that by now you've seen tons of memes/graphics/posts that spew out these lines. On their own they do hold meaning, sure. On their own they are bright, vibrant beacons of thought provoking sentiments. However, <i>The Fault in Our Stars</i> is drowning in these one-liners and I think that the over emphasis seriously detracted from the story. If the point is to show that you have to live life to the fullest and not let ailments define you, I think the book failed. It's full of defeatist mentality; I'm not buying that the sarcasm of the main characters shows that they are above their predicament. Honestly, the main thing I took away from reading the novel was that I must be a glutton for self-inflicted emotional sabotage.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.giphy.com/media/rWHfGvicCMi5y/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media.giphy.com/media/rWHfGvicCMi5y/giphy.gif" height="320" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Except you can't; your tear ducts have been hijacked.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>The Fault in Our Stars</i> is probably one of the better crafted contemporary stories out there designed to make you feel. The entire book read like a long eulogy of the reader's heart. Seriously. There's a pretty good chance that you'll cry at the end.<br />
But even with its shortcomings, <i>The Fault in Our Stars </i>is a good read. It's nice to see the ebb and flow of Hazel's relationships with her family, her friends and, of course, Augustus. I enjoyed it, but it's not something I'm too keen on reading again.<br />
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<br />
<b>Technical Rating:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhWAujikYokNGds4LufIl-Vkwn9L7wKRepMODBgdVkxxNXdwzJYluCEOUzvyLhBiMDr5FTDHrcSYZBIhehTbihGI4R-QR_kRZU3pmvPsq3osqJefyXmf-WoYRga4zHLPvWbBkPjphtwCz/s1600/fourstarg.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /><br />
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<u>Character Building:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjH3UX6Qpjh-t5Mc_BhMl76dFsvP5ALi1MA4Aah6fML4vjorkAoQulRy7I6AlSVm4s_xK4fvyf1sBYngmg9fzmEuAouz-X-4ewjHcwVPAjWcW6kV3MeTbAilLEVp97jpuhPIG_IqnJm7xp/s1600/full+star.png" height="17" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
I think that the character building was fine, although perhaps a bit monotonous. It seemed like the majority of the cast of characters had the exact same personality just to varying degrees. I can't particularly fault the book for that though because in the end, it works.<br />
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<u>Plot Strength:</u><img 20="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6a46LQlz7Aay5PyRzxXFEvEUD9pn1p7jrmuEFX715siaiD_KJgdY6MZ3Rjl4y8wBTDSBzDFNyPJCdomZQMcxKkDANgFSF-AvHVY4ORgShrIvhjbyzfnSXXGt2jJtjxjFiZ7v1ggA36FmQ/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="17" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
For every strong plot element in <i>The Fault in Our Stars</i> there seems to be an equally weak element lurking nearby. The exposition was great; you get hooked on the characters and their life stories because Mr. Green pulls you in right away. But then the rising action feels lacking; the love story seems forced at times as if we were reading a manual on how romance <i>ought</i> to be. Augustus may have been on a roller coaster that kept going up, but the plot was on a crazy inverted roller coaster of exhilarating highs and sickening lows.<br />
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<u>Sincerity:</u><img 20="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6a46LQlz7Aay5PyRzxXFEvEUD9pn1p7jrmuEFX715siaiD_KJgdY6MZ3Rjl4y8wBTDSBzDFNyPJCdomZQMcxKkDANgFSF-AvHVY4ORgShrIvhjbyzfnSXXGt2jJtjxjFiZ7v1ggA36FmQ/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="17" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
The sincerity of the novel was both a hit and miss for me. Sometimes it felt like I was being artificially manipulated to feel for these characters; there's something to be said for a book that can evoke emotions organically. The story also felt a lot like being talked at, and not in a good way. I would prefer not to be preached at about how we are all simply side effects of dying! That being said, I did get an emotional rise or two out of this book, so I can't completely knock it on the sincerity front.<br />
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<u>Editing:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjH3UX6Qpjh-t5Mc_BhMl76dFsvP5ALi1MA4Aah6fML4vjorkAoQulRy7I6AlSVm4s_xK4fvyf1sBYngmg9fzmEuAouz-X-4ewjHcwVPAjWcW6kV3MeTbAilLEVp97jpuhPIG_IqnJm7xp/s1600/full+star.png" height="17" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
The editing was fine. I did get the sense that Mr. Green struggled with how to make his characters sound like teens. "Like" and "um" are both peppered throughout Hazel's inner dialogue as well as forced modern euphemisms such as "I'd tap that." Even so, I don't think it was necessarily detrimental, so full marks here.<br />
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<u>Pacing:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjH3UX6Qpjh-t5Mc_BhMl76dFsvP5ALi1MA4Aah6fML4vjorkAoQulRy7I6AlSVm4s_xK4fvyf1sBYngmg9fzmEuAouz-X-4ewjHcwVPAjWcW6kV3MeTbAilLEVp97jpuhPIG_IqnJm7xp/s1600/full+star.png" height="17" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
I think the ending felt a little rushed in spots, however, I think it all goes back to the remark in the book that you get to choose how you tell the story. Here, they chose not to dwell so much on sad times but rather on the happier moments throughout the book. So, even though it isn't what I'd normally say was appropriate, I think the rushed spots were meaningful in their own way.<br />
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<b>My Icing on Top:</b><br />
Honestly, the more I think about it, the more that I believe that this story was meant for one person and one person only: <a href="http://tswgo.org/esthers-story.html" target="_blank">Esther Grace Earl.</a> It was a chance for Mr. Green to write something beautiful for a young woman who passed away without ever experiencing her own romantic moment of happiness. And it was also a way for Mr. Green to pay homage to the time that he worked with ill children; apparently he had wanted to write a story about children as cancer patients for ten years! Perhaps the faults that I found within the book simply stem from the fact that the book wasn't written for me, or for any general audience. It is a tribute piece that isn't for everyone. If you're looking for a young adult fiction with a moving love story, a la Nicholas Sparks, then give <i>The Fault in Our Stars</i> a try!<br />
<br />
Check out my informal review on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/968956919" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>!<br />
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Happy reading!<br />
<br />
-K<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132750818333511957.post-64707624113727060322014-06-15T23:39:00.000-04:002014-06-15T23:41:25.841-04:00Very Bad Things (Briarcrest Academy #1) by Ilsa Madden-Mills<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFp81iV-WpcCC1teeCkL9AZusCiZuVSi6_sH4N6SYXfJH27b90DgWQVAIxXE5UPm_jRndBzEN0m2sJ6f692vFoA-kwgWoKRTJWeF2I3iwO0zMSVu8ZmPx54K8GN7iAABtURNWe0u1w_QM/s1600/Very+Bad+Things+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFp81iV-WpcCC1teeCkL9AZusCiZuVSi6_sH4N6SYXfJH27b90DgWQVAIxXE5UPm_jRndBzEN0m2sJ6f692vFoA-kwgWoKRTJWeF2I3iwO0zMSVu8ZmPx54K8GN7iAABtURNWe0u1w_QM/s1600/Very+Bad+Things+Cover.jpg" height="400" width="249" /></a></div>
<b>Title: </b> Very Bad Things<br />
<b>Series:</b> Briarcrest Academy #1<br />
<b>Author:</b> Ilsa Madden-Mills<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Young Adult/Romance/Dark<br />
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<b>Maturity Rating:</b> 17+<br />
<b>*WARNING: TRAUMA TRIGGERS*</b><br />
<b>Overall Rating:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssmjY9IpuYKxX0S9gIUO_VP1GTpatwvFHR7KkxlvxJ6M5VFrTQC4SlF_5lHqh1p7SgN46vRdgmr2oOT6JPTiNcjdGxx9oerDXjXn4l5TrxvN-I4CPrCbvENixdMmY6wdb5MRhwNLiNFo6/s1600/Two.Five.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /><br />
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<b>My Quickie Synopsis: </b>Nora Blakely seems like she has the best of everything; she's talented, smart, beautiful and comes from a well-to-do family. But Nora is harboring excruciatingly dark secrets, and she's tired of having to put on a face of perfection. She's ready to give in to her darker side.<br />
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<b>Enjoyment Factor:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9KiqtHlXTz-5t1-DDSGrBXyTrIyIaQ5YHoWA0Kkd8sn4FAy17aH_Tgi2hvvWTlvqH-eyJab03i0JdV0pG-N7erCIyGKmgyl4veoBGlp63nK_1Fs7naZtjF-goZR11GKAS_90saXBfW29/s1600/twostar.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" />
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This book had me seriously scratching my head over what constitutes being a new adult book. In my head, I always considered new adult as being anything that happens post high school up until the late twenties, early thirties range of adulthood. But this story, which was promoted as new adult fiction, focuses entirely on a girl who is still in high school. Sure, she's nineteen, but she's <i>still</i> in high school. There's still locker-side talk going on. This book read like a young adult fiction that desperately wanted to be in the big leagues of adult fiction but settled for calling itself <i>new</i> adult. I'm not buying it.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.giphy.com/media/fQtIgwNTEh3j2/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media.giphy.com/media/fQtIgwNTEh3j2/giphy.gif" height="186" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cotton candy book playing with trauma triggers?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Mislabeled genres aside, this book just came across as weak. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't fantastic either. The main characters felt so extraordinarily cookie cutter and I just didn't connect with them the way I would have wanted to. I was actually more invested in what happened to the supporting characters; perhaps the author was more invested in them as well since she goes on to tell their stories in subsequent books.<br />
My main problem with <i>Very Bad Things</i> is that it puts a nice veil on a very serious topic. Everything is handled so incredibly casually and with such shallow convictions that the story lost quite a bit of its much needed poignancy. Everyone deals with trauma in their own way, but I feel like <i>Very Bad Things</i> glamorizes the after-effects. Instead of actually dealing head on with what Nora was going through, everything seemed more like a long-coming rebellious phase that was due to an overbearing, evil mother.To make matters worse, there definitely was some rose-colored shading going on as well. I could understand if the author didn't want to focus much on Nora's traumatic past, but the fact of the matter is that she made it a huge plot point that was only brought up when it was convenient. If it weren't for this indelicate handling, I'd probably rate the book slightly higher. As it stands though, I do realize that there's an audience out there that would eat this up without batting an eye, so it gets a solid two stars from me!<br />
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<b>Technical Rating:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKsq3wTVdJP8q0H5Aj5_n1VYld9pN5LvjBjKbMhEWwg4F01c60FXaqpvYFmUcGEQoXCtIHpErlowWw9SGyYV0LomPpvHY32w7gA_DhHnNDHGJTdaCM_n_HiEU58XmxT8K_z_K_C6rd4pj/s1600/threestarg.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" />
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<u>Character Building:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6a46LQlz7Aay5PyRzxXFEvEUD9pn1p7jrmuEFX715siaiD_KJgdY6MZ3Rjl4y8wBTDSBzDFNyPJCdomZQMcxKkDANgFSF-AvHVY4ORgShrIvhjbyzfnSXXGt2jJtjxjFiZ7v1ggA36FmQ/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="17" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
I touched on this a bit in my initial response, but to reiterate, the main characters needed quite a bit of work. Both Nora and Leo are extraordinarily flat in their character builds; any complexities that they had felt like mere ornaments to their personalities instead of having actual intrinsic value. The supporting cast of characters were a bit more grounded, which was refreshing, but disappointing at the same time. If only the main characters had been developed as much!<br />
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<u>Plot Strength:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6a46LQlz7Aay5PyRzxXFEvEUD9pn1p7jrmuEFX715siaiD_KJgdY6MZ3Rjl4y8wBTDSBzDFNyPJCdomZQMcxKkDANgFSF-AvHVY4ORgShrIvhjbyzfnSXXGt2jJtjxjFiZ7v1ggA36FmQ/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="17" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
I'm not sure if you'll recall when I explained what a cotton candy book is, but I'll redefine that here. A cotton candy book is one that looks amazing, sounds like it's interesting, but when you read it, you realize that even though it might fulfill a base desire, there isn't actually much there to it. <i>Very Bad Things</i> is one such book. There's no actual edge to this book, and the plot elements are as weak as the character builds of the main characters. The climax? Anticlimactic. The resolution? Loose at best. However, the elements are there so I gave it half a star.<br />
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<u>Sincerity:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6a46LQlz7Aay5PyRzxXFEvEUD9pn1p7jrmuEFX715siaiD_KJgdY6MZ3Rjl4y8wBTDSBzDFNyPJCdomZQMcxKkDANgFSF-AvHVY4ORgShrIvhjbyzfnSXXGt2jJtjxjFiZ7v1ggA36FmQ/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="17" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
The supporting characters save <i>Very Bad Things</i> from getting a big fat zero in this category. The main characters are borderline unbelievable in their actions. A lot of pieces don't really add up when it comes to the pair, and I can't even chalk it up to fairy tale syndrome.<br />
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<u>Editing:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1oNZKSWrffwYx705KF0msR4gJPKMvS5_5QCLD1FIbeO4jPellZ98k7f0n9HgJ_7wgV8LLwVqrB6oIohWoMee21rQUei9nCNFPVPr11LwGun1JS67i4PApUr36Z9dvtoUBSgzukR8OnyK/s1600/full+star.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
I can't particularly recall anything that made me cringe or stumble, so full marks here.<br />
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<u>Pacing:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6a46LQlz7Aay5PyRzxXFEvEUD9pn1p7jrmuEFX715siaiD_KJgdY6MZ3Rjl4y8wBTDSBzDFNyPJCdomZQMcxKkDANgFSF-AvHVY4ORgShrIvhjbyzfnSXXGt2jJtjxjFiZ7v1ggA36FmQ/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="17" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
The only time that I took real issue with the pacing was towards the end. Everything was speedily wrapped up for the HEA (Happily Ever After). I did skim a few parts, but to my recollection it had nothing to do with a slow paced story, I just was getting fed up with the main characters! So an okay pace overall, I give it a half star.<br />
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<b>My Icing on Top:</b><br />
In all fairness I read this from the anthology <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21956896-devour" target="_blank">Devour</a>, </i>which I mentioned in a previous review. Unfortunately, the anthology is no longer available for purchase (it was a limited time kind of deal) so you'll have to settle for buying this lovely tale on its own. For the reasons stated above, this book was not my cup of tea. However, I do know that this will come as a happy diversion book for many readers out there. If you (like me) take issue with traumas taken lightly, don't read this book. But, if you're just looking for your next fluff piece that has decent insta-love, give <i>Very Bad Things</i> a shot.<br />
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Check out my informal review on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/958317889" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>!<br />
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As always, happy reading!<br />
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-KAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132750818333511957.post-68843662662775121022014-06-11T17:55:00.000-04:002014-06-11T17:57:15.822-04:00Lexicon by Max Barry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9u6VNRjuvHPYBNUa2TZb6Cr26TmEMTdyWjldy_vQrfJavGWQau3x_bpOwEeR2u9dwcLprxMWvQOrrHiUnyKhTDjYpAp2Eyh1VKdRL-2MyyR_OMU2YL_dM1APcvOMKC9pW4kYNIUx2QKl/s1600/Lexicon+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9u6VNRjuvHPYBNUa2TZb6Cr26TmEMTdyWjldy_vQrfJavGWQau3x_bpOwEeR2u9dwcLprxMWvQOrrHiUnyKhTDjYpAp2Eyh1VKdRL-2MyyR_OMU2YL_dM1APcvOMKC9pW4kYNIUx2QKl/s1600/Lexicon+Cover.jpg" height="400" width="260" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> Lexicon<br />
<b>Author:</b> Max Barry<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Thriller/Science Fiction/Fantasy<br />
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<b>Maturity Rating: </b>13+<br />
<i>*Graphic scenes, but more than manageable for high level teen readers*</i><br />
<b>Overall Rating:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7H6AMSim1eqYlp2Phf09qOaXrThwjQuEsf__llFd46E1w7RCqRJtcxYVfvW2Qesw8DH7bUbrcAcv5RoM5cBvRfTY1oZWDQk19BNOzgBLAB2TLlXkYVdn-hgrJ-KMveX1olK_K23xcM-Eq/s1600/Four.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /><br />
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<b>My Quickie Synopsis: </b>Wil Jamieson finds himself in the center of a war that he cannot comprehend; there are people who can wield words as weapons, bending the world around them to their will. Caught in a tug of war between the two factions, Wil must fight to survive and uncover his hidden past before it's too late.<br />
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<b>Enjoyment Factor: </b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPwLpIHcclnr7Hh-FiNLR_-ADF5WY1LxNUtIiy_g0dajZQyyz2Rgfc_4MZRBCni8NRgLECz89p115-SMb081HB6dI5esVTVheDZ6iB2c7S2KA_hXaHA1ksXF0gwgCjHs56VLZO_DbM00b/s1600/fourstar.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" />
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This is one of those books that grabs you by the collar on the very first page and dares you to look away. It's pretty balls-to-the-wall from the get go. It's uncomfortable. It's fantastic. It's bizarre. It's thought-provoking. There's a reason why the likes of <a href="http://entertainment.time.com/2013/12/04/arts-and-entertainment/slide/top-10-best-fiction-books/" target="_blank">TIME Magazine</a> and <a href="http://apps.npr.org/best-books-2013/#/book/lexicon-a-novel" target="_blank">NPR</a> are shouting its high praises as one of the best reads from 2013. And yes, I know. It's 2014, but that doesn't make this book any less stellar. You know how in high school, or college (if you took certain liberal arts courses) you had to read books and write book reports? Yeah, this is a book that <i>makes</i> me want to write a book report. There's so much to discuss and I'm already having a hard time not jumping right into any highfalutin BS that you didn't come here to read. The premise is extraordinarily smart and edgy and it makes sense. Words have always held power, but their power is much more immediate and tangible in Mr. Barry's imagined world.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.giphy.com/media/2o0nIkBSsU85G/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media.giphy.com/media/2o0nIkBSsU85G/giphy.gif" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Start to think about why words, even images, affect you the way that they do.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But let's step aside from the intellectual side of <i>Lexicon</i> for a moment, shall we? I want to point out that Mr. Barry presents a highly entertaining read. You don't have to dig deeper to find the "greater meaning" of the book to enjoy it. It's an action-packed roller coaster ride of adventure and even if you only give it a surface read, it more than blows away most expectations for a good sci-fi thriller.<br />
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<b>Technical Rating: </b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhWAujikYokNGds4LufIl-Vkwn9L7wKRepMODBgdVkxxNXdwzJYluCEOUzvyLhBiMDr5FTDHrcSYZBIhehTbihGI4R-QR_kRZU3pmvPsq3osqJefyXmf-WoYRga4zHLPvWbBkPjphtwCz/s1600/fourstarg.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" />
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<u>Character Building:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6a46LQlz7Aay5PyRzxXFEvEUD9pn1p7jrmuEFX715siaiD_KJgdY6MZ3Rjl4y8wBTDSBzDFNyPJCdomZQMcxKkDANgFSF-AvHVY4ORgShrIvhjbyzfnSXXGt2jJtjxjFiZ7v1ggA36FmQ/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="17" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" />
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I am not entirely certain how I feel about the main characters. I'm not sure whether my indecision is due to weak development, or just a general sense of unease about their attributes. That being said, the reason why I ultimately downgraded this particular rating had nothing to do with the protagonist(s) of the tale. The antagonist felt grossly glossed over. The announcement of the villain felt underwhelming in many ways, and truth be told, it detracted from the story.<br />
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<u>Plot Strength:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6a46LQlz7Aay5PyRzxXFEvEUD9pn1p7jrmuEFX715siaiD_KJgdY6MZ3Rjl4y8wBTDSBzDFNyPJCdomZQMcxKkDANgFSF-AvHVY4ORgShrIvhjbyzfnSXXGt2jJtjxjFiZ7v1ggA36FmQ/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="17" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" />
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For the most part (I'm talking a solid majority kind of part) I loved the plot. However, there are a lot of vague concepts that are never fully explained. I'm going to go ahead and say that the fuzzy "what the what?" feelings that <i>Lexicon</i> provides are purposeful; I think one of the main points to the tale is that you'll never fully understand every how or every why. Just like it's nearly impossible to wrap your mind around the why and the how of words affecting people the way that they do. Sure, you can give a technical explanation by going into the details of the brain and its mechanics, but after a certain level, you'll be left grasping at straws. Anyway, I'm starting to get into that highfalutin BS I promised I wouldn't get into, so let me just say why I didn't give this category a full star: the ending. It's such a cop-out! I actually felt a little shortchanged. Here I was, completely invested in what was going on, even though at times the story crumbled under its own weight. And then, BAM! A watered down ending that felt like Mr. Barry just wanted to be done with writing.<br />
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<u>Sincerity:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjH3UX6Qpjh-t5Mc_BhMl76dFsvP5ALi1MA4Aah6fML4vjorkAoQulRy7I6AlSVm4s_xK4fvyf1sBYngmg9fzmEuAouz-X-4ewjHcwVPAjWcW6kV3MeTbAilLEVp97jpuhPIG_IqnJm7xp/s1600/full+star.png" height="17" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" />
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Terrible ending aside, I think the sincerity was spot on. The way the plot was set up, I could see the events as having plausibility. And the characters felt like they belonged in that crazy world with their super secret war raging.<br />
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<u>Editing/Writing:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjH3UX6Qpjh-t5Mc_BhMl76dFsvP5ALi1MA4Aah6fML4vjorkAoQulRy7I6AlSVm4s_xK4fvyf1sBYngmg9fzmEuAouz-X-4ewjHcwVPAjWcW6kV3MeTbAilLEVp97jpuhPIG_IqnJm7xp/s1600/full+star.png" height="17" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /> <br />
I caught a couple of strange typos, but I'm going to chalk it up to E-book conversion.<i> </i><br />
<i>By the way, I haven't made any serious note about this, but I do generally read books in some kind of e-book format. At the moment it's just the more economically sound decision!</i><br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>Pacing:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjH3UX6Qpjh-t5Mc_BhMl76dFsvP5ALi1MA4Aah6fML4vjorkAoQulRy7I6AlSVm4s_xK4fvyf1sBYngmg9fzmEuAouz-X-4ewjHcwVPAjWcW6kV3MeTbAilLEVp97jpuhPIG_IqnJm7xp/s1600/full+star.png" height="17" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /> <br />
As I said before, <i>Lexicon</i> was a roller coaster ride, and the pacing reflected that. It picked up where it needed to and slowed down when it was appropriate for the tone of the events.<br />
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<b>My Icing on Top:</b><br />
So this review had been finished. And then it didn't save properly and I lost about half of it; I just can't catch a freaking break! I do feel slightly bad about getting back to re-writing it so long after the fact, but I owe you all quite a few reviews at this point! Anyway, go read <i>Lexicon</i> if you're looking for your summer fix. It's an intelligent story that will have you glued to the pages (or screen) until the very end. And if you're the type that likes to discuss the deeper meanings of books, hit me up! I'd love to discuss this with you :)<br />
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Check out my informal review on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/950196324" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>!<br />
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Happy reading!<br />
<br />
-KAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132750818333511957.post-59630700541598125772014-06-03T15:15:00.001-04:002014-06-03T15:15:55.969-04:00Unexpected HiatusHello all!<br />
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Just a quick update on where I am with reviews!<br />
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I do apologize for not updating in a while, but I've been dealing with some ridiculous sickness. It happens! That being said, here's what's on my agenda:<br />
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<u>Juicy Reviews</u><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82rd_OpZhVSsILBb4dVjElFRUt21riczdwVqau0bWadnJENBhpKtF3wFhdVc0h2a2D-ZmJX0PFER0CRHkp11y4wU6izRZb7NUgsft_a0zrddr7V8XFb4T9A6UzZiDXSb5sfq1iiH9wChX/s1600/Lexicon+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82rd_OpZhVSsILBb4dVjElFRUt21riczdwVqau0bWadnJENBhpKtF3wFhdVc0h2a2D-ZmJX0PFER0CRHkp11y4wU6izRZb7NUgsft_a0zrddr7V8XFb4T9A6UzZiDXSb5sfq1iiH9wChX/s1600/Lexicon+Cover.jpg" height="400" width="260" /></a></div>
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<b>Title:</b> Lexicon<br />
<b>Author: </b>Max Barry<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Science Fiction/Thriller<br />
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What a fantastically bizarre story! I look forward to this review for a wide variety of reasons. If you're looking for a good summer read, <i>Lexicon</i> is a good place to start.<br />
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<b>Title:</b> Hardwired<br />
<b>Series:</b> The Hacker Series (#1)<br />
<b>Author:</b> Meredith Wild<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Adult/Romance<br />
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I was really disappointed with <i>Hardwired</i>. It's not that it doesn't deliver, but everything was overly expected. There's nothing particularly fresh about the story. But, if you are hankering for another <i>Fifty Shades of Grey</i>-esque story line, pick up a copy of Ms. Wild's <i>Hacker</i> series.<br />
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<u>What I've Been (Re)Reading</u><br />
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<b>Title:</b> Fifty Shades of Grey; Fifty Shades Darker; Fifty Shades Freed<br />
<b>Series:</b> Fifty Shades #1-3<br />
<b>Author:</b> E.L. James<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Adult/Romance<br />
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I refuse to review these books here, and it's only because I just don't feel any pressing need to parrot what has already been said! However, I am enjoying my casual re-read of the series. It's quite shocking how many books pull directly from Ms. James' successful story line and meld it (or straight rip off of it) to their own devices.<br />
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<u>What I'm About to Read:</u><br />
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<b>Title:</b> City of Heavenly Fire<br />
<b>Series:</b> The Mortal Instruments #6<br />
<b>Author:</b> Cassandra Clare<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Paranormal/Young Adult/Fantasy/Romance<br />
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Honestly, I have to reread, or at least skim, the first five books of this series before I truly tackle this book. Right now, <i>The Infernal Devices'</i> story sticks out in my mind more than the series of events of <i>The Mortal Instruments.</i> Both series are phenomenal; please don't let the movie sway your judgment as to whether or not you'll read Ms. Clare's works.<br />
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Until next time, happy reading!<br />
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-KAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132750818333511957.post-46931337596577841202014-05-25T23:19:00.000-04:002014-05-25T23:21:47.145-04:00One More Night (One Night #2) by A.M. Willard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Title:</b> One More Night<br />
<b>Series:</b> One Night #2<br />
<b>Author:</b> A.M. Willard<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Romance/Adult<br />
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<b>Maturity Rating:</b> 17+<br />
<b>*WARNING*: VERY GRAPHIC SCENES</b><br />
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<b>My Quickie Synopsis:</b> Angela is finally back home and she's ready to figure out where things stand with her husband. But Christopher isn't being as receptive as she would have hoped, and his secretive behavior isn't helping matters. As Logan's determination to see her again increases, Angela quickly finds herself at a cross-roads. Is her marriage worth saving, or is her future with Logan?<br />
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<b>Enjoyment Factor: </b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Twj8LnTGHYquOyHKefPE6ZmB2gi7VBeTyXflHd4etIgTTSlfaoXp6QWA5z1B0d6kI30w2x7hPEFnmL9T5au4t-FlrRCyXQLKYQ1VId2PE7nDM4HGK2vrcHIYqLpXAUGUab5raeYd3nNv/s1600/threestar.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /><br />
As a quick recap, I did a review of the first novella for this series <a href="http://bookcravereviews.blogspot.com/2014/05/one-night-one-night-1-by-am-willard.html" target="_blank">here</a>. I've opted to not do an overall or technical rating until the series is complete because of the length of these novellas. On to the review!<br />
I'm still not overly impressed with the editing, but it is a lot better! My main concern is the lack of semicolons! Don't be afraid of them; they are your friend! See what I did there? I'm a semicolon pimp, and possibly a little neurotic. I'll give an example because the teacher in me demands it. I'm pulling it from the first page, so you don't have to worry that I'm spoiling anything.<br />
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<i>"I can't think straight, I thought I would never see him again after he left my room last night."</i><br />
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There are a few different ways that the above comma splice can be fixed. Obviously, as a semicolon pimp, my number one fix would simply be to change the comma.<br />
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<i>"I can't think straight; I thought I would never see him again..."</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
The next fix would be to use a subordinate conjunction. The semicolon actually implies it, but sometimes it's better to show the relationship between the two clauses.<br />
<br />
<i>"I can't think straight because I thought I would never see him again..."</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Finally, you could separate the two independent clauses. I would only use this fix if the two clauses weren't related at all. That isn't the case here, but I'll show it for the sake of the example.<br />
<br />
<i>"I can't think straight. I thought I would never see him again..."</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
But enough about that! On to the good!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.giphy.com/media/281V8coeBmOm4/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media.giphy.com/media/281V8coeBmOm4/giphy.gif" height="210" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How I wanted Angela to respond at the end!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The writing flowed much better this time around. Instead of spending time explaining what characters were about to do, we got right into the action. And there was quite some steamy action there! The dialogue felt a bit more natural, and it was easier to focus on the story as it developed. I'm rooting for Angela; I'm not sure how I'd react in such a situation!<br />
The ending made me laugh a little though; the word "examine" in the last sentence felt a little clinical and cold. It would have worked if I thought that Angela was truly that detached from it all, but considering the fact that she responded, I think a warmer phrasing could have been used. I know that's vague as hell, but I'm trying to avoid giving anything away; buy <i>One More Night</i> so you can see what I mean!<br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>My Icing on Top:</b><br />
<i>One More Night</i> is an example of why I generally enjoy reading from new authors, and I do mean that sincerely. When it comes to a dedicated author, you get to see incredible development sometimes. There is a great deal of improvement between the first novella of the series and the second. Could it still use work? Absolutely. However, I'm happy to see growth already! It's my hope that this pace of refinement continues into the third novella and onward. I look forward to the conclusion of the <i>One Night</i> series; let's hope Angela gets what she wants!<br />
<br />
Check out my informal review on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/948109140" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>!<br />
<br />
Happy reading!<br />
<br />
-KAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132750818333511957.post-24366784122688785752014-05-24T21:10:00.000-04:002014-05-24T21:13:23.604-04:00Blood Shadows (Blackthorn #1) by Lindsay J. Pryor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelG4y2C3hZO2WaPjX4CyWjiC-gtXohlE_vIO2Wa8QSUfSYCCwMk2e29TdxFtLEakvYHnyp9hjGAwzNXzGmN5j-KMMXP-lfw08t3URklDJZxKL7U2JiZt668__qgwz9sp2aMm0WCqEKOav/s1600/Blood+Shadows+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelG4y2C3hZO2WaPjX4CyWjiC-gtXohlE_vIO2Wa8QSUfSYCCwMk2e29TdxFtLEakvYHnyp9hjGAwzNXzGmN5j-KMMXP-lfw08t3URklDJZxKL7U2JiZt668__qgwz9sp2aMm0WCqEKOav/s1600/Blood+Shadows+Cover.jpg" height="400" width="250" /></a></div>
<b>Title: </b>Blood Shadows<br />
<b>Series:</b> Blackthorn #1<br />
<b>Author:</b> Lindsay J. Pryor<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Romance/Paranormal/Adult/Urban Fantasy<br />
<br />
<b>Maturity Rating: </b>17+<br />
<b>*WARNING*: VERY GRAPHIC SCENES</b><br />
<b>Overall Rating:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSX8Y02tnj5eTRBIOBtS8Igl8uoXcdurwzUtd5tufdipoY5JMviYODD3NUsPY3O3vnNARes5CNdq2Ulqf9xIlPJoOY9qK98QCTwC5jXoV0XkkKe20bxUF4GzOci2Da2f59sGMbfXMQDOl/s1600/Three.Five.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /><br />
<br />
<b>My Quickie Synopsis: </b>Caitlin Parish is running out of time; she knows that whatever killed her parents is going to come after her next, even if no one believes her theories. Her best bet is to get answers out of the elusive vampire, Kane, a being notorious for his cunning brutality and irresistible charm. But Kane has his own agenda concerning Caitlin and it may not include playing nicely.<br />
<br />
<b>Enjoyment Factor:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Twj8LnTGHYquOyHKefPE6ZmB2gi7VBeTyXflHd4etIgTTSlfaoXp6QWA5z1B0d6kI30w2x7hPEFnmL9T5au4t-FlrRCyXQLKYQ1VId2PE7nDM4HGK2vrcHIYqLpXAUGUab5raeYd3nNv/s1600/threestar.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /><br />
For the most part, <i>Blood Shadows</i> is a very engaging read. I enjoyed the world-building immensely, although I do wish that Ms. Pryor went into more detail about the lore surrounding it. However, as it is with most paranormal/fantasy series, I'm sure that she'll reveal more over the span of the next installments.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.giphy.com/media/aQ0PfLFwagW52/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media.giphy.com/media/aQ0PfLFwagW52/giphy.gif" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You've been warned.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The sensuality of this book is through the roof; I will admit that some of said sensuality is a little questionable (slightly dubious on the consent at times). Kane is quite the persistent vampire and Caitlin, in my opinion, is just a tad unstable.<br />
I originally wanted to give <i>Blood Shadows</i> a four out of five. I finished this book a couple of days ago and was all set to give it a nice and glowing review. But now that I've come back to it and reviewed my notes, I had trouble justifying the rating. That's never a good sign! The story is memorable, but it sometimes drags. A great deal of the book is spent solely on the interactions between the main characters in one locale; it gets old pretty quickly. Yes, I enjoyed the steamy bits, but give me more non-sexually-charged action, please!<br />
<br />
<b>Technical Rating:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhWAujikYokNGds4LufIl-Vkwn9L7wKRepMODBgdVkxxNXdwzJYluCEOUzvyLhBiMDr5FTDHrcSYZBIhehTbihGI4R-QR_kRZU3pmvPsq3osqJefyXmf-WoYRga4zHLPvWbBkPjphtwCz/s1600/fourstarg.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /><br />
<br />
<u>Character Building:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1oNZKSWrffwYx705KF0msR4gJPKMvS5_5QCLD1FIbeO4jPellZ98k7f0n9HgJ_7wgV8LLwVqrB6oIohWoMee21rQUei9nCNFPVPr11LwGun1JS67i4PApUr36Z9dvtoUBSgzukR8OnyK/s1600/full+star.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
Every scene, in its own way, lends a hand to building the personalities of the characters, and it's extremely well done. The only character that could have used more work was Xavier; I understood Rob and Max in their supporting character roles, but Xavier felt a little incomplete.<br />
<br />
<u>Plot Strength:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQZ2JFqZOYtsPjU7aC4CjLjcNNU-zu4cJbqTkVGn8fDMwt-6sSXaZDejhr0SCXkXwhHmx1SnU9kLyopompZqrhwdkrs3R9HC2hZCKdvgGxqTzxMG3xOe6PxvlF4L1ijbBV4dVhvlOwe1j/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
While I don't necessarily believe that there's such a thing as the over-development of characters, I did see a lack of balance between their build and the strength of the plot. Ms. Pryor has such a great concept in <i>Blood Shadows</i>, but her focus on the growth of the relationship between Caitlin and Kane drowns it out. A lot of the heavier plot driving doesn't come into play until the book is nearly over.<br />
<br />
<u>Sincerity:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1oNZKSWrffwYx705KF0msR4gJPKMvS5_5QCLD1FIbeO4jPellZ98k7f0n9HgJ_7wgV8LLwVqrB6oIohWoMee21rQUei9nCNFPVPr11LwGun1JS67i4PApUr36Z9dvtoUBSgzukR8OnyK/s1600/full+star.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
My heart went out to both Caitlin and Kane numerous times! Their situations felt very real and it was absolutely heartbreaking. It's not an easy feat to humanize a story that's set in a world steeped in fantasy, but Ms. Pryor successfully did so.<br />
<br />
<u>Editing:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1oNZKSWrffwYx705KF0msR4gJPKMvS5_5QCLD1FIbeO4jPellZ98k7f0n9HgJ_7wgV8LLwVqrB6oIohWoMee21rQUei9nCNFPVPr11LwGun1JS67i4PApUr36Z9dvtoUBSgzukR8OnyK/s1600/full+star.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
There were a few minor glitches here and there, such as misplaced words. For example, there was a sentence that said "within in" instead of "within it." So, like I said, little things. But, if you haven't noticed already, I'm a little neurotic when it comes to errors! However, they're so few and far between in <i>Blood Shadows, </i>so it doesn't really affect the story.<br />
<i>As a side note, I am far from perfect, and I make mistakes all the time. In fact, there are a few in this very blog! Don't worry; I'm just as harsh on myself, guys!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<u>Pacing:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQZ2JFqZOYtsPjU7aC4CjLjcNNU-zu4cJbqTkVGn8fDMwt-6sSXaZDejhr0SCXkXwhHmx1SnU9kLyopompZqrhwdkrs3R9HC2hZCKdvgGxqTzxMG3xOe6PxvlF4L1ijbBV4dVhvlOwe1j/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
Because the character development and the plot development weren't balanced, the story dragged at times. Instead of character growth being woven into the plot, Ms. Pryor seemed to take a series of character time-outs. It almost felt like each character interaction had its own little time bubble surrounding it, where the plot slowed down considerably.<br />
<br />
<b>My Icing on Top:</b><br />
I'm not going to lie; I want more Kane and Caitlin! But, guess what? The next books aren't even focused on them! Believe me when I say that I was <i>not</i> a happy camper when I found out. <i>Blackthorn</i> is one of those paranormal series that bounces around between different couples until the story lines converge. Alas, I was not looking for that kind of commitment! These series can become incredibly long, and if you become overly attached to one couple over the others, it can quickly become very frustrating and expensive to keep up. But, if you love these kinds of series and are looking for a hot paranormal read, look no further! <i>Blackthorn</i> is shaping up to be a solid series, and Ms. Pryor is now on my list of authors to follow.<br />
<br />
Check out my informal review on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/945085287" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>!<br />
<br />
Happy reading!<br />
<br />
-K<br />
<u><br /></u>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132750818333511957.post-77570179829242275842014-05-22T16:28:00.000-04:002014-05-22T16:30:07.218-04:00One Night (One Night #1) by A.M. Willard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf27DtM8NnYgJMb3njYTanKTdx_EMMPou6-LFktYvEoN55d0LrWTdkbAoglgZRY_Qw7vr1hwm8BIYv6Uc7ONulFtrU0R3qVIyKPX9YnnRcVWO7mt0crd7GrMAAUYmaSqn1V6SwCLe3MMCZ/s1600/One+Night+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf27DtM8NnYgJMb3njYTanKTdx_EMMPou6-LFktYvEoN55d0LrWTdkbAoglgZRY_Qw7vr1hwm8BIYv6Uc7ONulFtrU0R3qVIyKPX9YnnRcVWO7mt0crd7GrMAAUYmaSqn1V6SwCLe3MMCZ/s1600/One+Night+Cover.jpg" height="400" width="250" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> One Night<br />
<b>Series:</b> One Night #1<br />
<b>Author:</b> A.M. Willard<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Romance/Adult<br />
<br />
<b>Maturity Rating: </b>17+<br />
<br />
<b>My Quickie Synopsis:</b> Angela Stephens is beginning to realize that she's at a standstill in her marriage with Christopher; their jobs have them constantly traveling, and they rarely see each other these days. Planning on rekindling her relationship with Christopher, Angela is derailed by a handsome stranger she meets on a business trip. Will she be able to resist his charm, or will she succumb to an offer of one night?<br />
<br />
<b>Enjoyment Factor:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9KiqtHlXTz-5t1-DDSGrBXyTrIyIaQ5YHoWA0Kkd8sn4FAy17aH_Tgi2hvvWTlvqH-eyJab03i0JdV0pG-N7erCIyGKmgyl4veoBGlp63nK_1Fs7naZtjF-goZR11GKAS_90saXBfW29/s1600/twostar.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /><br />
I want to tackle a couple of things before I get into the reasoning behind this rating. First and foremost, I probably would not have had this novella on my radar if it weren't for a friend's recommendation. This is a new author, and I'm going to go on a limb and say that my friend is acquainted with Ms. Willard and wanted to help spread the word about her debut. Secondly, I'm not going to give <i>One Night</i> an overall rating or a technical rating; it isn't because I don't think it's deserving of one, but rather that I don't think there's much to go on at this point. If I read the next two novellas I'll give the full series an overall rating and a true technical rating.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media2.giphy.com/media/b55x0VFpFKm7S/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media2.giphy.com/media/b55x0VFpFKm7S/giphy.gif" height="277" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not trying to be a jerk; I really do understand that it's not easy to write a book!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, why did I give this only two stars? The writing, the writing, the writing. I think the plot itself has potential, and the characters are likable enough; however, it's all wrapped up in some very awkward and stiff writing. Honestly, it was to the point where I had difficulty reading through. There was a great deal of telling instead of showing. Don't tell me what your character is going to do, just show the action. It's a waste of valuable page real estate to have a character explain what they are going to do before they do it, especially if it's something as mundane as taking a shower. The dialogue wasn't as consistent as it could have been; there were times where contractions weren't used and they should have been. It would be one thing if you had a character who never used contractions because they're supposed to be "proper," but when the voice of the character isn't consistent, it creates a stilted read. I do feel that <i>One Night</i> could benefit from another round of editing; misuse of commas, missing commas, run-on sentences, and a slew of other grammatical errors plagued the story. Regardless of the length, I just can't get into a story that has such rough writing.<br />
<br />
<b>My Icing on Top:</b><br />
I really don't like giving books low ratings, especially when it's a book that comes recommended. It makes me feel like I'm being so disloyal! That being said, I do believe that Ms. Willard has potential. I think that with a bit more polish and more writing under her belt, she could really go far. I would recommend this book to fans of the adult romance genre who aren't particular about grammatical errors; as I said before, the story itself is okay, it was just the presentation that I took issue with.<br />
<br />
Check out my informal review on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/945156104" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>!<br />
<br />
Happy reading!<br />
<br />
-KAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132750818333511957.post-76602335063466937242014-05-21T16:46:00.000-04:002014-05-24T21:30:28.425-04:00Drawn by Lilliana Anderson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAxfL5_KlsNtDNuaSLO9T6obSRNpPV3yxzwoUCyrHikzgU30JR-eW3k6hvFvDuSZLLnOCDJHAxjQnDxrTtpl_V7RtJ-2ToChh3SJKpArG_wTVM0RrbCfhS9XuijgrVd9EUxVj-5sVc0rO/s1600/Drawn+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAxfL5_KlsNtDNuaSLO9T6obSRNpPV3yxzwoUCyrHikzgU30JR-eW3k6hvFvDuSZLLnOCDJHAxjQnDxrTtpl_V7RtJ-2ToChh3SJKpArG_wTVM0RrbCfhS9XuijgrVd9EUxVj-5sVc0rO/s1600/Drawn+Cover.jpg" height="400" width="270" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> Drawn<br />
<b>Author:</b> Lilliana Anderson<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Adult/Romance/Dark<br />
<br />
<b>Maturity Rating: </b>17+<br />
<b>*WARNING*: VERY GRAPHIC SCENES</b><br />
<b>Overall Rating:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGICtxHJfBAesf0OscJ9HWThCJAGTsSzUChQBJaUkNXLUKCj-YfxhyUwm0eeZJ7W1wKSWIMaxeaSqJrNhJ-3PBHRza5VyEBN9tZeo3akjKeSvbCx2paNspXK8uz5ocojVXsiM3zD6txo5/s1600/Two.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /><br />
<br />
<b>My Quickie Synopsis:</b> Henrietta is suffocating under the overprotective thumb of her father. However, she finally gets the chance to make her own rules; when she turns 18 her father agrees to let her leave the nest. While enjoying her freedom, she meets the highly attractive Damien and sparks fly. But, is Henrietta simply trading in her new-found independence for the shackles of lust?<br />
<br />
<b>Enjoyment Factor:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1pFvZs2M02y1Hwv2xhskrmdhhkYn-nsV6unCyklisLob_NSL0rDEfa7cF0YyXt5so90-WYN8kXXYnLcjmt9I_xCmti52GrGVhbhTa6dZxDTlOeKmAyr5fmlWnQ88M8tXk1jNwuZ1zFtn/s1600/twostar.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /><br />
Oh, boy. What the hell did I just read? I'm not going to lie; I skimmed through portions of this book (namely the multitude of sex scenes). I can't recall being this incredibly naive when I was 18. I don't even recall anyone I knew at the time being this dense. I honestly just wanted to slap Henrietta. And her mom. And her dad. Just line them up and we can get this over with quickly. The book started off okay and it seemed like it had some good material to work with. But then it just kept devolving until it was unbearable. The sad thing is, I can still see why others would enjoy this read. For that and the ending alone, I give <i>Drawn</i> two stars.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.giphy.com/media/F8bo1LU5U5ApG/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media.giphy.com/media/F8bo1LU5U5ApG/giphy.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How I felt for at least 75% of the book.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I understand that the story is supposed to be dark, but I didn't see a point to any of it. I didn't care about these characters. At all. If they have any redeeming qualities, they're all lost in the swamp land of a plot.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Technical Rating:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACAsa9HG7ZIekCupmPqVmo8ByBnO0BHx8jGwRNpZOeiXCpAtHveeGP-1kuswpPe4Q8liFcVkOWVMSr03TUnqpppLRwcPE1XYxr9F2C5QkvT7rl-xm8CjQsaabGYP7SwiXZiVfsh2I3JZ7/s1600/twostarg.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /><br />
<br />
<u>Character Building:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQZ2JFqZOYtsPjU7aC4CjLjcNNU-zu4cJbqTkVGn8fDMwt-6sSXaZDejhr0SCXkXwhHmx1SnU9kLyopompZqrhwdkrs3R9HC2hZCKdvgGxqTzxMG3xOe6PxvlF4L1ijbBV4dVhvlOwe1j/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
Ms. Anderson's characters do have potential. There are the faint beginnings of foundation elements for her main heroine/hero, but they aren't as strong as they could be. A lot of their personality traits feel forced on the reader, to the point where I was more annoyed than sympathetic. The supporting characters are full-on terrible though; Aaron's role didn't sit well at all.<br />
<br />
<u>Plot Strength:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pPAmGcvtSbqNBIEp39WABNmgemkwtBxexESAp2orWishKSM50C52yBsVbhgCi_8Ch5jSYBM__509hb0hOXMomvQMUli3pfeXonSc2eWr_93d9LYZoj2Ha1fEFD12Q_oiNvmSe7zeoxII/s1600/star1.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
Was there really a plot? If so, I missed it. Maybe their relationship in itself was the plot? Seriously, I'm at a loss here; why did I just spend time reading about a naive girl and her controlling boyfriend? There's nothing there to keep a reader engaged (unless you're reading it for the smut). The attempts at plot elements were weak and uninspired; I'm honestly surprised I finished the book.<br />
<br />
<u>Sincerity:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQZ2JFqZOYtsPjU7aC4CjLjcNNU-zu4cJbqTkVGn8fDMwt-6sSXaZDejhr0SCXkXwhHmx1SnU9kLyopompZqrhwdkrs3R9HC2hZCKdvgGxqTzxMG3xOe6PxvlF4L1ijbBV4dVhvlOwe1j/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
I still have a difficult time believing how someone could be so naive, but it works (to a point) in terms of how Henrietta grew up. The "darker" parts of the story felt the most sincere, oddly enough. But everything else just seemed so shallow and fake. I had a hard time believing that Henrietta's father would condone Damien being around his daughter at all. And Aaron was just so lackluster! So much for having someone to root for!<br />
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<u>Editing:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQZ2JFqZOYtsPjU7aC4CjLjcNNU-zu4cJbqTkVGn8fDMwt-6sSXaZDejhr0SCXkXwhHmx1SnU9kLyopompZqrhwdkrs3R9HC2hZCKdvgGxqTzxMG3xOe6PxvlF4L1ijbBV4dVhvlOwe1j/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
There was a lot of awkward wording and dialogue in <i>Drawn.</i> Sometimes I wonder if it was due to a cultural disconnect; the author is Australian, so I did stumble over some of the slang. I'm not discrediting the editing for the slang though; it's always interesting to learn new things. However, I think overall <i>Drawn</i> was just a little too verbose in places and stiff in the presentation.<br />
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<u>Pacing:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQZ2JFqZOYtsPjU7aC4CjLjcNNU-zu4cJbqTkVGn8fDMwt-6sSXaZDejhr0SCXkXwhHmx1SnU9kLyopompZqrhwdkrs3R9HC2hZCKdvgGxqTzxMG3xOe6PxvlF4L1ijbBV4dVhvlOwe1j/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
Too much smut and too little story-telling made the book drag in a bad way. There were spots where Ms. Anderson did okay keeping the book moving forward, but it's hard to keep a good pace when there are so many plot holes to stumble on.<br />
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<b>My Icing on Top:</b><br />
The epilogue felt a little rushed and jumbled; it seemed more like a preview into the next book instead of an actual epilogue. That being said, apparently Ms. Anderson is writing two separate concluding books in a "choose-your-adventure" kind of fashion. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about that; although, then again, I'm not sure I care enough to read on anyway. I'd suggest <i>Drawn</i> to readers who want their fix of dominant male smut, but don't necessarily want to be bothered with too much story.<br />
<br />
Check out my informal review on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/938916966" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>!<br />
<br />
Happy reading!<br />
<br />
-K<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132750818333511957.post-10460828990016042072014-05-21T13:54:00.000-04:002014-05-24T22:18:40.873-04:00Fading (Fading #1) by E.K. Blair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8L2xQBLLjQ41NOde7PfyNE-FE0kpHpPIuEOzAUZjNzt2kOJX2yn3iOSTlsKDWNCDlt-QxSfCKqdTX9gwCv9rfECOac2PWSaioisgPvmwOMZXrows3SrsixBkuXucGDlxEKGm41aUCQM1G/s1600/Fading+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8L2xQBLLjQ41NOde7PfyNE-FE0kpHpPIuEOzAUZjNzt2kOJX2yn3iOSTlsKDWNCDlt-QxSfCKqdTX9gwCv9rfECOac2PWSaioisgPvmwOMZXrows3SrsixBkuXucGDlxEKGm41aUCQM1G/s1600/Fading+Cover.jpg" height="400" width="267" /></a></div>
<b>Title: </b>Fading<br />
<b>Series:</b> Fading #1<br />
<b>Author:</b> E.K. Blair<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Romance/Dark/New Adult<br />
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<b>Maturity Rating:</b> 17+<br />
<b>*WARNING*: TRAUMA TRIGGERS</b><br />
<b>Overall Rating:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJLTHt3WfvWiKthWWoUNtk_aONGDMJLd8xsh6dLZ4SEL2TRxNiI9Rc5XPv_bxLTYQi9a2Xpwin-dxkBQMq_ffrSJgBjSMwbdNKcOvwFjWco-ub4Gsprepg8V2LdFkn6rYNBpSt9IveSrd/s1600/Four.Five.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /><br />
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<b>My Quickie Synopsis:</b> Candace Parker is entering her final year at college and she's excited for the opportunity to continue her dream of becoming a professional ballerina. However, a brutal assault at the beginning of the school year leaves her broken and struggling to pick up the pieces. Ryan Campbell, the owner of a nearby bar, meets Candace by chance and sparks fly between the pair. Ryan wants nothing more than to be the rock that she needs, but his own demons may doom their relationship before it even starts.<br />
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<b>(Enjoyment) Factor:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHiVwXyqoRkxJcha5x-zT_BsPf-Denpu2tO2Hs8bJb62x1nWHuhGZf5KJh62_OUVlYZWkvzI_IF8XIcYaB0kkWSsioASd5tVgwiCFaXvVKBgp3duAO0cCBziepjgI7boXYvhNcV4N1n1R/s1600/fourstar.png" height="21" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /><br />
This is not a book for enjoyment, but rather inspiration. I'm going to be blunt; <i>Fading</i> is a story about a rape and how it affects a young woman. You'll see her spiral down, but you'll also see her build herself back up. It's incredibly moving, and extremely honest to the point where you may be left just slightly raw.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media2.giphy.com/media/zHGXhFJCVCbD2/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media2.giphy.com/media/zHGXhFJCVCbD2/giphy.gif" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Fading</i> is not an easy read by any means; it is profoundly sad at times.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Even through the dark subject material, Ms. Blair was able to keep me hooked onto the story. I wanted to keep reading for the sake of Candace. I wanted to see her obtain as much closure as she could, and I wanted to know that she'd be okay. The only issue I had was the slight twinge of disbelief some of the happy coincidences caused.<br />
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<b>Technical Rating: </b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8AsAck8LutiFwCxwrxW7EvhSAVapSerGWlx2rmGJKVLjhR-d-m3eO7dXgF1WWwBE1CrnBiaFAmmcxvQoHd6uC8jwvRku7L2XvcyvArpyJeD7Fi1Ox6fPFeYEq6pyIS2rLGETCha1eGOL0/s1600/fivestarg.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /><br />
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<u>Character Building:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1oNZKSWrffwYx705KF0msR4gJPKMvS5_5QCLD1FIbeO4jPellZ98k7f0n9HgJ_7wgV8LLwVqrB6oIohWoMee21rQUei9nCNFPVPr11LwGun1JS67i4PApUr36Z9dvtoUBSgzukR8OnyK/s1600/full+star.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" />
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I can only imagine how exhausting it must have been to write these characters into being. Both Candace and Ryan are beautifully complex both individually and together. Ms. Blair does an incredible job of making sure that Candace's character truly isn't defined by her assault. There are multiple layers that are explored; we see everything from how she works, her goals, her interactions with her friends, her family dynamics, and how she falls in love and learns to trust. Ryan is just as well-thought out as a character, and even though the focus isn't on him, you still understand everything you need to about him. However, I'm glad Ms. Blair is devoting a book to his perspective.<br />
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<u>Plot Strength:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1oNZKSWrffwYx705KF0msR4gJPKMvS5_5QCLD1FIbeO4jPellZ98k7f0n9HgJ_7wgV8LLwVqrB6oIohWoMee21rQUei9nCNFPVPr11LwGun1JS67i4PApUr36Z9dvtoUBSgzukR8OnyK/s1600/full+star.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
The plot in <i>Fading</i> is concrete, easy to follow and works very well with the characters. I'm not sure what more you could ask for in a book! I have seen reviews that fault the author for having the plot revolve around the assault, but, in my opinion, that's the heart of the book. Should a reader fault <i>Twilight</i> for revolving around the concept of vampires and werewolves?<br />
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<u>Sincerity:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1oNZKSWrffwYx705KF0msR4gJPKMvS5_5QCLD1FIbeO4jPellZ98k7f0n9HgJ_7wgV8LLwVqrB6oIohWoMee21rQUei9nCNFPVPr11LwGun1JS67i4PApUr36Z9dvtoUBSgzukR8OnyK/s1600/full+star.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
Even though I'm not entirely satisfied with how Ms. Blair decides to handle the outcome for the rapist, I can't say that it actually harms overall feel of <i>Fading</i>. There was never a point in time where I thought that these events and these characters didn't fit within the realm of the book. The entirety of the story is full of heartbreaking sincerity.<br />
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<u>Editing:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1oNZKSWrffwYx705KF0msR4gJPKMvS5_5QCLD1FIbeO4jPellZ98k7f0n9HgJ_7wgV8LLwVqrB6oIohWoMee21rQUei9nCNFPVPr11LwGun1JS67i4PApUr36Z9dvtoUBSgzukR8OnyK/s1600/full+star.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
The editing gets an A from me.<br />
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<u>Pacing:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1oNZKSWrffwYx705KF0msR4gJPKMvS5_5QCLD1FIbeO4jPellZ98k7f0n9HgJ_7wgV8LLwVqrB6oIohWoMee21rQUei9nCNFPVPr11LwGun1JS67i4PApUr36Z9dvtoUBSgzukR8OnyK/s1600/full+star.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
The pacing was perfect for the story. The romance wasn't rushed and the story flowed quite naturally. There's a bit of formulaic writing in the book in terms of pacing, but Ms. Blair does it well; it doesn't detract from <i>Fading</i> at all.<br />
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<b>My Icing on Top:</b><br />
I usually try to avoid books that are this heavy for a variety of reasons, but I recently purchased <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Devour-E-K-Blair-ebook/dp/B00K9730CY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400541325&sr=8-1&keywords=devour" target="_blank">Devour</a></i>, which is an anthology featuring <b>8</b> full length new adult novels. It was only $0.99 and it benefits <a href="http://www.firstcandle.org/" target="_blank">First Candle</a>. In other words, I couldn't help myself; eight full books AND the profits go to a charity? Sold! I just didn't actually read any of the book summaries. So sue me; I went in for the surprise element!<br />
This book is not a romance of the "bodice-ripper" genre, but rather a story of survival and love. That being said, don't be scared off from reading <i>Fading, </i>even if it isn't your normal cup of tea. As a matter of fact, I encourage you to read this book, or any book that goes into the devastating aftermath of sexual assault. As the end of the book states, "Every 2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. Approximately 2/3 of assaults are committed by someone known to the victim. And only 46% of assaults are reported to the police." That's just in the US alone; can you honestly afford to not seek to understand how this affects everyone? So, what are you waiting for? Start reading!<br />
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Check out my informal review on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/942038325" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>!<br />
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Happy reading!<br />
<br />
-K<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132750818333511957.post-49597473775208891912014-05-19T16:11:00.000-04:002014-05-21T13:57:24.006-04:00The Iron King (The Iron Fey #1) by Julie Kagawa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLv2x6CEknkT23jlid6pF9jlZjX6mb17wd-pya27zM0-8zr6yDwTnnHH6H90c0341yxngN84Vzrwumg7p4zdzykAeO7gg77D3omYHQpsgdZ_ayL7mFYxHBxI6bgtKNKVwkRjcojG_2KVH/s1600/The+Iron+King+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLv2x6CEknkT23jlid6pF9jlZjX6mb17wd-pya27zM0-8zr6yDwTnnHH6H90c0341yxngN84Vzrwumg7p4zdzykAeO7gg77D3omYHQpsgdZ_ayL7mFYxHBxI6bgtKNKVwkRjcojG_2KVH/s1600/The+Iron+King+Cover.jpg" height="400" width="256" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> The Iron King<br />
<b>Series:</b> The Iron Fey #1<br />
<b>Author:</b> Julie Kagawa<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Young Adult/Fantasy/Romance<br />
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<b>Maturity Rating:</b> 13+<br />
<b>Overall Rating:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1f0v2ZVti7O8L9dIkMSiRRPczytCnSBlWcqK_kPzBXOalhOnbPpMMryE1v2jVnQ-0FuxBLe5n7YuT4EfticCN2MNUOsm3NSlnBGmOtS_pvKJUwjycZiaihZLMs_OCpKKgpyUAZPO2K1N/s1600/Three.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /><br />
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<b>My Quickie Synopsis:</b> Meghan Chase must go on a fantastical adventure when her younger half-brother is kidnapped and brought to another realm. Along the way she meets all manner of odd creatures and learns secrets about herself and those around her that send her reeling head-first into a secret war.<br />
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<b>Enjoyment Factor: </b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauGhJtioato8wI7nXQDAAxQiDe5PdgawsjnkUrx9UBEfkRB51qyNsb_5b1hafDnyqT5HV8JJ3usw6K_T4oKnbG3qgbLeRM9wxOvgMONxjYpVSL_CUBTcvkeeGfYux7SgMSuZ6AMHzt6aU/s1600/threestar.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" />
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<i>The Iron King</i> has been on my radar for a while now, but for some reason I just never felt the pull to read this particular book. However, I was specifically searching for books that were similar to the feel of the 80's movie <i>Labyrinth </i>recently, and <i>The Iron King</i> consistently came up. So I finally gave in. Don't judge me; David Bowie fascinates me! But, my obsession with 80's movies aside, I didn't rate this book based on its nostalgia factor for me, I promise!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.giphy.com/media/6ph0fITjflftm/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media.giphy.com/media/6ph0fITjflftm/giphy.gif" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If anything, <i>The Iron King</i> reminded me of <i>Alice in Wonderland.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ms. Kagawa is one powerhouse of a writer, and it shows in this book. It is an enjoyable read, but I wasn't falling all over myself to get to the second book right away. I had a few problems with plot execution to the point where I started to feel slightly disenchanted. The story is like a deliciously tantalizing piece of chocolate that's only slightly expired. You eat it anyway (well, if you're me, ha!), but you realize that it's not as good as it had the potential to be.<br />
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<b>Technical Rating:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKsq3wTVdJP8q0H5Aj5_n1VYld9pN5LvjBjKbMhEWwg4F01c60FXaqpvYFmUcGEQoXCtIHpErlowWw9SGyYV0LomPpvHY32w7gA_DhHnNDHGJTdaCM_n_HiEU58XmxT8K_z_K_C6rd4pj/s1600/threestarg.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" />
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<u>Character Building:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQZ2JFqZOYtsPjU7aC4CjLjcNNU-zu4cJbqTkVGn8fDMwt-6sSXaZDejhr0SCXkXwhHmx1SnU9kLyopompZqrhwdkrs3R9HC2hZCKdvgGxqTzxMG3xOe6PxvlF4L1ijbBV4dVhvlOwe1j/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
I suppose the one character that I take issue with most for development purposes is the Iron King, himself. The book is <i>titled</i> after him, for goodness' sake! And yet, I don't feel like we learned much of anything about him at all. What's up with that?! I'm not also entirely sure how I feel about the shaping of Ash; I understand for the time being his character is supposed to be more on the mysterious side, however, already there are inconsistencies.<br />
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<u>Plot Strength:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQZ2JFqZOYtsPjU7aC4CjLjcNNU-zu4cJbqTkVGn8fDMwt-6sSXaZDejhr0SCXkXwhHmx1SnU9kLyopompZqrhwdkrs3R9HC2hZCKdvgGxqTzxMG3xOe6PxvlF4L1ijbBV4dVhvlOwe1j/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
Oh, boy. Well, like I said, this book was an enjoyable read, but had some plot issues.<script language="javascript">
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<h1>
How could a mother not realize that her son is not the same, especially considering that she remembers her encounter with the Seelie king. That shows that she must have a higher sensitivity to the Fae, right? And what was the point of the Iron King, except as a prop at the end? Perhaps he isn't truly dead, but still, his sudden demise left much to be desired.</h1>
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I'm somewhat wondering if these issues had to do with the fact that this is Ms. Kagawa's first series. In my mind, perhaps she wasn't sure of the reception of the story so she gave it the ability to be a stand-alone if it came to that; but with a story of this magnitude, wrapping the story up so tightly actually suffocated the plot and didn't allow it to play out naturally.<br />
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<u>Sincerity:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQZ2JFqZOYtsPjU7aC4CjLjcNNU-zu4cJbqTkVGn8fDMwt-6sSXaZDejhr0SCXkXwhHmx1SnU9kLyopompZqrhwdkrs3R9HC2hZCKdvgGxqTzxMG3xOe6PxvlF4L1ijbBV4dVhvlOwe1j/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
Perhaps I'm out of touch with the times; I hear that it's a problem that plagues adults as they get older. Anyway, I think that the insta-love was ill-placed. I understood it to a point, but seriously? A girl who just turns 16 and a boy (man?) who is quite possibly immortal and who is supposedly her enemy just don't add up. Sorry, not buying it!<br />
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<u>Editing:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1oNZKSWrffwYx705KF0msR4gJPKMvS5_5QCLD1FIbeO4jPellZ98k7f0n9HgJ_7wgV8LLwVqrB6oIohWoMee21rQUei9nCNFPVPr11LwGun1JS67i4PApUr36Z9dvtoUBSgzukR8OnyK/s1600/full+star.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
<i>The Iron King </i>shows Ms. Kagawa to be quite the proficient writer with a fantastic editing team.<br />
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<u>Pacing: </u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQZ2JFqZOYtsPjU7aC4CjLjcNNU-zu4cJbqTkVGn8fDMwt-6sSXaZDejhr0SCXkXwhHmx1SnU9kLyopompZqrhwdkrs3R9HC2hZCKdvgGxqTzxMG3xOe6PxvlF4L1ijbBV4dVhvlOwe1j/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
The main antagonist and the general romance were so incredibly rushed. I was highly disappointed! This is the<i> first</i> book in a series and I felt like rushing those elements was a great disservice to both the book and the series overall.<br />
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<b>My Icing on Top:</b><br />
I haven't read many books that center specifically on Fae; usually Fae are companion characters to paranormal story-lines. I'm not sure if that's because I haven't been looking hard enough, or if it just isn't what's "in" right now. Either way, this book was interesting and I do know that I will eventually continue on with this series. My hope is that because her first book was so well received, Ms. Kagawa's remaining books in the series will strive to be a bit more polished in terms of plot and character development.<br />
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Check out my informal review on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/941310670" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>!<br />
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Happy reading!<br />
<br />
-K<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132750818333511957.post-47544735442287524972014-05-18T20:13:00.001-04:002014-05-18T20:16:34.364-04:00The Atlantis Gene (The Origin Mystery #1) by A.G. Riddle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKbxV0l-A_BfK1ghCwUhp0QUom4M3COR9D-EaSGe77LydCdwKii2cjOFQG-PNKp7skNvgC7zGKAMbtKcebdwjrjTe2TaY9stdU1ljsFvBbUEOgQbASMgYiyTd9Wvzcm3dWQq8_XaBv-KM/s1600/The+Atlantis+Gene+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKbxV0l-A_BfK1ghCwUhp0QUom4M3COR9D-EaSGe77LydCdwKii2cjOFQG-PNKp7skNvgC7zGKAMbtKcebdwjrjTe2TaY9stdU1ljsFvBbUEOgQbASMgYiyTd9Wvzcm3dWQq8_XaBv-KM/s1600/The+Atlantis+Gene+Cover.jpg" height="400" width="312" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> The Atlantis Gene<br />
<b>Series:</b> The Origin Mystery #1<br />
<b>Author: </b>A.G. Riddle<br />
<b>Genre: </b>Thriller/Science Fiction<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Maturity Level: </b>13+<br />
<i>Some mildly graphic scenes of violence, but an okay read for an advanced teen reader</i><br />
<b>Overall Rating:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmh1e1nn0Uc8umRw2f_4Q8lca19FvMWTeLVRW7RHDy5d4Q1FmULlSbjMothoTXG2MNzWjdvbWprZWnxfIxdiGmTeDajoRhYmjVyM7NzCKvp-eYmFY6vurtE5oVbIKhDNGEc6E3jPkH9vuD/s1600/Three.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /><br />
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<b>My Quickie Synopsis:</b> The secrets of the origin of modern day humans are closer than ever to being revealed, but the world may be unprepared for the consequences of that knowledge. David Vale, an international intelligence agent, and Dr. Kate Warner, a lead genetic researcher, must pair up to defeat a centuries old organization before they doom humanity.<br />
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<b>Enjoyment Factor</b>:<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22vqKXVNidE1LPPhsI0qOi4DaOgBsrxjpHPjWpLLaNnG1yJcEExVjlLh15YkOrHEXdnKf2I5TpN5ZNpEQIj1OSan9tvWKH2rVe5eKaEUUBDZfUhj30BkYI3FK3fU1w7SamHW0XJpnFqWz/s1600/threestar.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /><br />
I was teetering between the 2 star and 3 star mark, but I gave in to the three stars because this really is a very entertaining read. However, it's a very exhausting read. The chapters jump so fast back and forth to different locales and different characters that it'll make your head spin.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.giphy.com/media/mPytjcsG3XS4o/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media.giphy.com/media/mPytjcsG3XS4o/giphy.gif" height="247" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to navigate the story was quite an undertaking!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It takes some getting used to, but it does make sense in terms of what Mr. Riddle presented as the plot line. I'm not entirely sure whether I want to read the second book, simply because The Atlantis Gene wiped me out. I feel tired after completing it, and I'm not sure how soon I want to zap my energy again.<br />
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<b>Technical Rating</b>:<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWo0N7zpKaDUBRHDM3QOlid0ooz0iJhMyvFtgnnlb_8YRNNtfrgA9lHhhkmsAMUHMnhCvkTUC_Gcyj2Yy_d3lHwH5c_N5k9u67tvIG_6GFdS1Vkv7QFOpe9W6XmVscNnfdU1ds0fI9lgr/s1600/threestarg.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" />
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<u>Character Building</u>:<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7XGbYG7Vgop6hekOtZHmW2IQy7LouFoeLE1jzN57Tgh-KTpjXBIF1Lfa662piZBkFO-8hU_ORiSsQabA_yqFSufB-lIITOMh_OQ-8PNdmKO17x85jJCKSwppjXE4ZwX1AvicAYxdohf53/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
The main heroes are explored adequately, but I think overall, character building came across as fragmented due to the constant shifting of focus. For a while, I didn't even have a clear image of what the main characters even looked like because they don't have memorable descriptions. It's not the worst offense in the world, but it is something that Mr. Riddle can address.<br />
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<u>Plot Strength:</u> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7XGbYG7Vgop6hekOtZHmW2IQy7LouFoeLE1jzN57Tgh-KTpjXBIF1Lfa662piZBkFO-8hU_ORiSsQabA_yqFSufB-lIITOMh_OQ-8PNdmKO17x85jJCKSwppjXE4ZwX1AvicAYxdohf53/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
Again, the constant shifting is a problem here. The plot is fine, but it can be hard to follow at first because there's really no clear sense of what the story is actually about. You can't just pick up this story without reading the book cover first because it takes a while for the book to start coming together.<br />
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<u>Sincerity:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTarTebVfavH_8_fFiSH3V3oFJc9f1lp6L4ceDPUQ2HS70raCn8bNLwPL3YilbmezIKCv-dKLwlb0MsTArOd3H6U5eMp-lU6hCuinaP4dCzW9cHYAZphD_uhx6Umt9-q1quYDJ2wPIGJ8/s1600/full+star.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
The Atlantis Gene is a well thought out conspiracy theory story from an author who clearly did a lot of research. Some of the plot elements are a little far-fetched, but that's what you get with over-the-top super action-packed thrillers most of the time. But, everything is plausible within the world Mr. Riddle built.<br />
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<u>Editing:</u> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7XGbYG7Vgop6hekOtZHmW2IQy7LouFoeLE1jzN57Tgh-KTpjXBIF1Lfa662piZBkFO-8hU_ORiSsQabA_yqFSufB-lIITOMh_OQ-8PNdmKO17x85jJCKSwppjXE4ZwX1AvicAYxdohf53/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
No one can fault Mr. Riddle when it comes to the editing of his grammatical structures, however, I think that editing should have included the flow of the overall story.<br />
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<u>Pacing:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7XGbYG7Vgop6hekOtZHmW2IQy7LouFoeLE1jzN57Tgh-KTpjXBIF1Lfa662piZBkFO-8hU_ORiSsQabA_yqFSufB-lIITOMh_OQ-8PNdmKO17x85jJCKSwppjXE4ZwX1AvicAYxdohf53/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
The pacing in the story is choppy at best. It strives to be so fast-paced, that at times the plot trips over itself.<br />
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<b>My Icing on Top:</b><br />
On the bright side, I think that the plot is intriguing enough, which in the end, counts for a lot. I'm not going to say that I think it's entirely original; conspiracies surrounding origin and the like have been around for quite some time, and I can't say that I'm entirely "WOW"ed by the theory presented. But I didn't drop the book. Mr. Riddle provides a story that is compelling in its own right and he does explore some thought-provoking aspects of humanity. This is his first book, so perhaps the story-line will come together more for him in his following books.<br />
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Check out my informal review on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/937300765" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>!<br />
<br />
Happy reading!<br />
<br />
-KAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132750818333511957.post-45286123911379238142014-05-13T18:06:00.000-04:002014-05-13T18:08:42.173-04:00The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner #1) by James Dashner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkR29BXoROMajJ9eTo4UkxEDey7tLhyphenhyphen40RiKgYn1bWVJdHSG60pIo-qCPrrGr1HItPIkKxN3FZ-YZj6Yme1MGfgesaDzuDpeCV6_nasiJ0z0zl9EXfV2RDSm9YSyu1cKlyhxtLMJ9KXuI/s1600/The+Maze+Runner+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkR29BXoROMajJ9eTo4UkxEDey7tLhyphenhyphen40RiKgYn1bWVJdHSG60pIo-qCPrrGr1HItPIkKxN3FZ-YZj6Yme1MGfgesaDzuDpeCV6_nasiJ0z0zl9EXfV2RDSm9YSyu1cKlyhxtLMJ9KXuI/s1600/The+Maze+Runner+Cover.jpg" height="400" width="263" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> The Maze Runner<br />
<b>Series: </b>The Maze Runner #1<br />
<b>Author: </b>James Dashner<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Young Adult/Dystopia/Science Fiction<br />
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<b>Maturity Rating: </b>13+<br />
<b>*WARNING*: SOME POTENTIALLY NIGHTMARE-INDUCING ELEMENTS</b><br />
<b>Overall Rating:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3-x3Hx-2QeyXN8R4bXrRt7O5GolFTeMeN3jZ7bBSL5hIzDF14M77JnMpAz0_dN-57-KPITWFkFT_hvZKYJiYY9-2icpy_VUEipfq_3cXshh_QbOaZ_r6KTIdIEPTLrCbWcw8oBOHzf1N/s1600/Three.Five.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" />
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<b>My Quickie Synopsis: </b>Thomas finds himself thrust into a group of all boys who, like himself, can't remember anything other than their first names. If that weren't terrifying enough, their group is enclosed by mountainous walls that lead into a labyrinth, which seems to have no rhyme or reason. Then the first girl ever arrives, signaling that things are about to change. And it may not be for the better.<br />
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<b>Initial Rating:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjE0Wt4OjQfCLlDL2KaN5b5Dz0AL15DT_UFrtTs7HM0fI29XJoWLsRVekmFlHnf8l-EtIz4H_11SIo7759KHc3uX1i8ckf8wQSwUxlPMQx8LGIiZ510tEmja9R21WLFzfzUS_muPqvNZO/s1600/fourstar.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" />
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<b>My Initial Response:</b> "The night is dark and full of terrors!" Isn't that from <i>Game of Thrones</i>? No matter; it suits this book perfectly. I started this series when I was craving something akin to <i>The Hunger Games</i>, and I was not disappointed. <i>The Maze Runner</i> is a highly imaginative tale that will keep you up at night with it's fast paced writing and gripping story. As a side note, when I was looking for the image of the book cover, I came across fan art of the Grievers (one of those terrors of the book); it was absolutely incredible how real the images were to me. It goes to show what great descriptions that Mr. Dashner provides, because the images that these artists rendered looked exactly like the ones that filled my head while I was reading the novel. Truly terrifying.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/scared.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/scared.gif" height="268" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Grievers are way too creepy for their own good</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Terrifying or not though, I could not put this book down. I remember talking to my boyfriend about it as I read it (a very bad habit of mine), and he was just as enthralled by the story as I was. And that was from my rambling second-hand account! The one reason why I can't give this a full five stars is because of how detached everything seems at times. There's a disconnect between the story and the readers due to a culmination of flat points.<br />
I wasn't entirely sure where they were going with the overall plot because some of the mystery elements were a little dragged out; but, I can't say that I was surprised by the ending epilogue. Call me a cynic or just a generally desensitized person, but I could see this plot line playing out in an alternate future.<br />
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<b>Technical Rating:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJqVjvPIlwbkY6uzKMzEvS0RQ-kxo2PWSKZyxE94tK1Yjam3TFKjwSYkDA62uJ0qBU7YUFqKUDtlaQFskGF3wYUP1yiwnVwgJNVykz5_d2yWHYJLH3bpPcI_rptrPSohWLLqmwfVTC0Sw/s1600/threestarg.png" height="18" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" />
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<u>Character Building:</u>
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9Ka_Gq_M3k3NMv7IiPn6Wy89gj4_fYylfrjr9TdvoTDrulgR805mzIyPaB2Z5tGoYcf28-z0r3WjxXD04koXY6wNso9fe6IHpYoDSybV1MMZcGx2FrOCtESQA2MzUNTBunpS8Ea-V4HA/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" />
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You know that board on Craigslist about missed connections? For some reason, that's all that comes to mind when trying to think of an adequate way to talk about Mr. Dashner's character building. There was a lot of initial spark, but the story sometimes had a way of trampling on character development. The plot had to move on, so some relationships ended up a bit neglected. At the very least, the foundation for the main characters was set.<br />
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<u>Plot Strength:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9Ka_Gq_M3k3NMv7IiPn6Wy89gj4_fYylfrjr9TdvoTDrulgR805mzIyPaB2Z5tGoYcf28-z0r3WjxXD04koXY6wNso9fe6IHpYoDSybV1MMZcGx2FrOCtESQA2MzUNTBunpS8Ea-V4HA/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
The more that I consider the plot, the more that I realize that there were times when it was inconsistent. As you're reading it, it's easy to chalk up any plot holes as actual plot devices to keep you reading. After all, there is an air of mystery surrounding <i>The Maze Runner</i>. So what if a few things don't completely add up? In addition, this is a part of a trilogy, and some authors are known to throw in a lot of red herrings until the very end of the series. But, it can't be denied that this plot could have been a lot stronger if it made a bit more sense overall.<br />
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<u>Sincerity:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9Ka_Gq_M3k3NMv7IiPn6Wy89gj4_fYylfrjr9TdvoTDrulgR805mzIyPaB2Z5tGoYcf28-z0r3WjxXD04koXY6wNso9fe6IHpYoDSybV1MMZcGx2FrOCtESQA2MzUNTBunpS8Ea-V4HA/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
Again, the lower rating is because of some of the flat spots within the writing. It's hard for me to elaborate on this without giving away anything, but suffice it to say, Mr. Dashner has the potential to improve this area in his next books.<br />
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<u>Editing:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFOcb7oAA-jq6Ib0vuK7bVRvrEk7hc3MIoSyiZPRzz46u6xQ3MhluzYOpG-7M3p7JqpuosqoSb9zcS5lKh3oi1QDaU9FgkgwgwnfUADkfBuBOtVbjNSPGDqyxpJ5vsNZx7eR10nqEiYXQ/s1600/full+star.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
I didn't find any editing problems in <i>The Maze Runner.</i> I didn't particularly always like the new slang that Mr. Dashner came up with, but it works in terms of the setting that he built.<br />
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<u>Pacing:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9Ka_Gq_M3k3NMv7IiPn6Wy89gj4_fYylfrjr9TdvoTDrulgR805mzIyPaB2Z5tGoYcf28-z0r3WjxXD04koXY6wNso9fe6IHpYoDSybV1MMZcGx2FrOCtESQA2MzUNTBunpS8Ea-V4HA/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="20" /><br />
<i>The Maze Runner</i> probably would have benefited from slowing down slightly. Just as I stated with character building, sometimes it felt like Mr. Dashner was simply in a hurry to move the plot forward at certain times, and other elements of the story suffered. A mistake that I'm beginning to see for a lot of authors is the idea that a story has to be the same pace at all times; it doesn't. In that sense, I'd compare a story to that of a musical selection; not all music carries the same tempo throughout, and usually those are the most compelling pieces of art.<br />
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<b>My Icing on Top:</b><br />
If you're just catching on to the wave of <i>The Maze Runner</i>, you have impeccable timing! This series is set to be made into <a href="http://themazerunnermovie.com/" target="_blank">movies</a>, the first of which is set to release in September, 2014. I sincerely hope that it sees better success than some of the other flops that have hit the screens lately, like <i>Beautiful Creatures</i> and <i>The Mortal Instruments</i>. Movies aside, however, I think that this series is worth looking into if you like the dystopian, young adult genre. I recommend it even more so to those who are tired of insta-love syndromes and overbearing romantic notions that saturate the young adult market at the moment. Just my two cents!<br />
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Before I sign off, I'd like to point out that I am having issues giving technical ratings without spoiling the story! I guarantee it will be something I'll be able to better address, however, when I have my website up and running.<br />
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Until then, happy reading!<br />
<br />
Check out my informal review on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/690816398" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>!<br />
<br />
-KAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132750818333511957.post-43449930223062132352014-05-10T13:38:00.002-04:002014-05-10T13:40:19.635-04:00On The Horizon 5/10/14Hello everyone!<br />
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Just a few quick updates to keep you in the loop!<br />
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*<b>Currently Working On:</b> I am currently working on my actual website, so forgive me if I fall behind in the pace of posting some reviews. You will be the first to know when the site is up!<br />
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*<b>Currently Reading:</b> <i>The Atlantis Gene</i> by A.G. Riddle<br />
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*<b>Next Book Review:</b> <i>The Maze Runner</i> by James Dashner<br />
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<b>PS: </b>Let me know what you think of the stars! I think the yellow needs to be muted, but does it help in the overall sense of rating? I welcome all feedback :)<br />
<br />
-K<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132750818333511957.post-20290059504185363722014-05-10T13:30:00.000-04:002014-05-10T13:33:03.831-04:00Darkness Falls (Reveler #1) by Erin Kellison<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholaCQJHecRV1OrnX5DeP6k0SqYJPbmH4U5AQfXl74LH2CXyHi4Iy941_-2lhaP6QLonRW9bCLHiQTIIJjE58-FLKunZvXnAIorOXSFtxlqsM8FlcLMGZ0KKB-wyDt1IJRJTDBpNmmQ06_/s1600/Darkness+Falls+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholaCQJHecRV1OrnX5DeP6k0SqYJPbmH4U5AQfXl74LH2CXyHi4Iy941_-2lhaP6QLonRW9bCLHiQTIIJjE58-FLKunZvXnAIorOXSFtxlqsM8FlcLMGZ0KKB-wyDt1IJRJTDBpNmmQ06_/s1600/Darkness+Falls+Cover.jpg" height="400" width="247" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> Darkness Falls<br />
<b>Series:</b> Reveler #1<br />
<b>Author:</b> Erin Kellison<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Adult/Urban Fantasy/Romance/Science Fiction<br />
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<b>Age Recommendation: </b>17+<br />
<b>
<b>*WARNING*: VERY GRAPHIC SCENES</b><br />Overall Rating:</b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDIK86Gj6nNe1Bod9godocs7j5Nq-D_dAVG8F3GueOPLXX3Om9gzw5-ncd_wFxDJAzuTr1f-4LFbuJzE2argOdljFhpEiwjCD4xwgeDtk850MXk31bfn0-_pQPX83SCrvvBOutmcVe2nHw/s1600/Four.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" />
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<b style="font-weight: bold;">My Quickie Synopsis: </b>Lucid dreams are now all the rage, but Jordan Lane isn't convinced that it deserves the hype. She is eventually cornered by her sister into trying lucid dreaming at a host party, where she meets the handsome and mysterious Malcolm Rook. Together they find pleasure beyond their wildest dreams, but also find terror rooted deeply within the shadows of their nightmares.<br />
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<b style="font-weight: bold;">Initial Rating:</b><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1MkiHrfq6_eYukYr72kvgzz38KunhwnJxOmidNU124UfkVJiD0O9RzgnpEhXyF4ONKX03EvXs7zFMdPnA203DWz6V8LJXo3hjoYrc2fCuMkswmPGN8o-69lodpraHmzMpPnB-Z-YiW8R/s1600/fourstar.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /></b><br />
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<b style="font-weight: bold;">My Initial Response:</b><b> </b>Again, this comes from the anthology that I've been reading over the past week. It's called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Deadly-Eight-Paranormal-Romance-ebook/dp/B00JNSN3RM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1399308241&sr=8-1&keywords=bad+boys+of+paranormal+romance" target="_blank">Dark and Deadly: Eight Paranormal Bad Boys of Romance</a>. Click the link to buy it from Amazon; it's still only $0.99, so it's quite the steal! Anyway, this was a nice surprise. This is the first time I've read anything by Ms. Kellison and I enjoyed all eight chapters of <i>Darkness Falls.</i> Yep, you read that right. It's only eight chapters, but quite a bit can happen in such a short span! This is the main reason why I have to say hats off to Ms. Kellison. Somehow she built a complete world, full of rich characters and an intriguing plot line, within a few keystrokes (or penstrokes, if you will). Not an easy feat, by any means!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What I imagine the Reve island to feel like. So peaceful!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One of the other reasons why I'm rating this as a four is because she actually left me wanting for more. As I've said before, I <i>don't</i> like novellas; they are generally lacking in multiple areas that are important to me. But! I am slowly warming up to the idea of reading more novellas, and <i>Darkness Falls</i> has a lot to do with that. The first thing I did after I finished reading it was to check to see if the next book was already out. Color me surprised when I found out that it didn't center on Malcolm and Jordan. Very disappointed! However, upon checking again just now (just to make sure!), it looks like all information about the story has been pulled, so who knows what's in store. If you do end up purchasing the anthology, there is a snippet from the supposed next book <i>Lay Me Down,</i> and you'll see what I mean about it being centered on other characters.<br />
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<b>Technical Rating: </b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhWAujikYokNGds4LufIl-Vkwn9L7wKRepMODBgdVkxxNXdwzJYluCEOUzvyLhBiMDr5FTDHrcSYZBIhehTbihGI4R-QR_kRZU3pmvPsq3osqJefyXmf-WoYRga4zHLPvWbBkPjphtwCz/s1600/fourstarg.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="100" /><br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>Character Building: </u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHQG0fa0GfLifmxnfb4_w_ztqWMegI7RV61QbhoFGkihrXmxlaHdy6Ir7M4FKn2grBLAcoVmOUnGWV_U2dqeD0tYesXRJrXXxSBQE2kSGvB63okBvDV_2MBRRAIDMCnIoWZv54kzlwiiq/s1600/full+star.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="25" /><br />
It's interesting to me that Ms. Kellison was able to build her characters so well in such a short span when other established authors struggle to give life to their characters with twice, three times, four times, the span of what Ms. Kellison used. Not only do you connect with her main characters, but you develop a connection to some of the supporting characters as well.<br />
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<u>Plot Strength:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbV2qlcGGtvOKGCpBCcxt_xrAwCrBEez2bHf8m79cgnwHZf45Er3xChDJFH4oTQO0xrflG40bMwQKVENPAfXGzS4uaOZz0a95pghdftRR74TWNhoXnTdGOtEVaS7WK8dctxzmJATr8MGF/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="25" />
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There are a couple of glaring holes that cannot be ignored; however, a lot of them have to do with the overall series' plot from what I understand, so my assumption is that they will be answered as Ms. Kellison moves through the series. But, the ending was extraordinarily abrupt, and not in a good, "edge of your seat," what-a-cliffhanger sort of way.<br />
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<u>Sincerity:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbV2qlcGGtvOKGCpBCcxt_xrAwCrBEez2bHf8m79cgnwHZf45Er3xChDJFH4oTQO0xrflG40bMwQKVENPAfXGzS4uaOZz0a95pghdftRR74TWNhoXnTdGOtEVaS7WK8dctxzmJATr8MGF/s1600/halfstarp.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="25" />
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The only thing that really threw me was how quickly Jordan accepted everything. It makes sense if you think about it overly much, but I think that in this case, it was only done to save page space. Other than that, the world feels genuine and the plot seems organic.<br />
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<u>Editing:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHQG0fa0GfLifmxnfb4_w_ztqWMegI7RV61QbhoFGkihrXmxlaHdy6Ir7M4FKn2grBLAcoVmOUnGWV_U2dqeD0tYesXRJrXXxSBQE2kSGvB63okBvDV_2MBRRAIDMCnIoWZv54kzlwiiq/s1600/full+star.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="25" /><br />
Full star!<br />
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<u>Pacing:</u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHQG0fa0GfLifmxnfb4_w_ztqWMegI7RV61QbhoFGkihrXmxlaHdy6Ir7M4FKn2grBLAcoVmOUnGWV_U2dqeD0tYesXRJrXXxSBQE2kSGvB63okBvDV_2MBRRAIDMCnIoWZv54kzlwiiq/s1600/full+star.png" height="19" style="padding-top: 0px; position: absolute;" width="25" /><br />
This novella is very fast-paced, but it has to be for the amount of material that it covers. It works well with the plot though, because it makes it an action-packed thriller of sorts. Would I necessarily say that this fits in the thriller genre? Not so much. But, it is a thrilling read!<br />
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<b>My Icing on Top:</b><br />
I like this author! It actually had story to it and it wasn't just about the romance. Actually, even if you took the romance angle out of it, it would still be a highly entertaining read. There's really only one scene of steaminess, and it doesn't take up 75% of the book. Sorry, I'm still disappointed about the last couple of romp-fest novellas I forced down. I would love it if Ms. Kellison took these ideas and expanded them into a full-length novel, but as it stands now I think she's going to stick with a novella series. Only time will tell, though! If you're looking for a romance story but want something that has a well-thought out plot that doesn't heavily rely on the romance, pick up <i>Darkness Falls</i>!<br />
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Check out my informal review on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/931640542" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>!<br />
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Happy reading!<br />
<br />
-KAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132750818333511957.post-70515231918808775352014-05-08T14:54:00.000-04:002014-05-08T14:55:52.301-04:00World After (Penryn & the End of Days #2) by Susan Ee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVxz79LN5fRsKxr50pbWY94EBxkq1HQhIRPEfdWhvrfUqVlKE27i4Kd2Zc5M8JAsFFmDfW7-5e1VQeoPckgbBWdLOaRXoz_d8eg32Yf9M4_lPadeWhxzRM5R3x9q7Rs1caSfBVrxe9CHT/s1600/World+After+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVxz79LN5fRsKxr50pbWY94EBxkq1HQhIRPEfdWhvrfUqVlKE27i4Kd2Zc5M8JAsFFmDfW7-5e1VQeoPckgbBWdLOaRXoz_d8eg32Yf9M4_lPadeWhxzRM5R3x9q7Rs1caSfBVrxe9CHT/s1600/World+After+Cover.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<b>Title: </b>World After<br />
<b>Series: </b>Penryn & the End of Days #2<br />
<b>Author:</b> Susan Ee<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Fantasy/Paranormal/Young Adult/Romance/Science Fiction<br />
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<b>Maturity Rating: </b>13+<br />
<b>Initial Rating: </b>3/5<br />
<b>Technical Rating:</b> 4/5<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>My Quickie Synopsis:</b> Penryn finally has the family back together again, but things go awry when Paige slips away after a terrible massacre at their new home base. Penryn and her mother, desperate to not lose Paige again, attempt to find her, but find trouble instead.<br />
Raffe isn't having much luck of his own, as he tries to recover his wings and exact revenge on the angels that took them.<br />
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<b>My Initial Response:</b> It's always bad when you attempt to write a synopsis and you struggle to articulate the point of the book. And then, when you come up with something that sounds right, it mimics the point of the first book of the series. What is <i>that</i> all about? I wanted to rate this book higher, if only because the writing seems to have slightly improved. Apparently, this book is longer than the first one, but I actually didn't take issue with finishing it. It's still choppy in its structure sometimes, but it was bearable. So that must count for something, right?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really? The same basic plot twice?</td></tr>
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Turns out, I still only felt the mildest twinge of interest for this book. Why, you ask? Well, nothing really happens in the story. You get a little bit of background on Raffe, and you find out what happened to Paige and even uncover what Uriel is trying to do. But by the end of the book, it doesn't feel like there was any stride forward within the overall plot. All the information that was provided simply creates a better foundation, but it doesn't magically create the house as well. The series darn well should be called "The Hunt for Paige and Raffe's Wings" because that's all there is to it at the moment. The main characters are so focused on those elements alone, that everything else might as well be window dressing. Locusts? Yeah, they <i>are</i> bothersome, but I need to get to Paige. Angels seeking an Apocalypse? Oh, that <i>is</i> worrisome, but I need to get my wings. It was fine for the first book, but to rehash the same thing in the second book makes the series start to feel repetitive. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how hooked you are), the next book isn't slated to drop until 2015, so that gives me plenty of time to possibly let the series grow on me. I wouldn't hold my breath though.<br />
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<u>Character Building:</u> <b>1/1</b><br />
I'm glad that we got a little more insight into Raffe's character. I'm also glad that there was a little bit of growth in the relationship between Penryn and Raffe. However, right now, my favorite character is Paige. Ms. Ee is taking her in quite an interesting direction, and I hope that her character is explored more in the coming book. Overall, I'm not sure if the character building evolved as much as I would have liked, but it was still on par with what she created in the last book, so a full point for that!<br />
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<u>Plot Strength:</u> <b>0.5/1</b><br />
There is a very rude part of me that wants to give this a big fat zero. But, I'm not without heart. I think that Ms. Ee used this book as a means of creating some of the foundation that she probably should have had for the first book. But nothing really <i>happens</i> in the story. It seems like an updated re-run of the first story. You learn some tidbits here and there, but it doesn't lead up to anything, really. The ending was middling to fair. There was a big, heavy, action-filled moment and then...nothing?! It fades off abruptly and that's it. That's the end. It's definitely weaker than the ending of the first book in the series.<br />
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<u>Sincerity:</u> <b>0.5/1</b><br />
There was some improvement here! I started caring just the slightest as to what was happening to the characters and what was going to happen next. The story felt a bit more genuine and the writing came together a bit better than it did with the last book. However, it still needs polish.<br />
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<u>Editing:</u> <b>1/1</b><br />
Nothing really to add here; the editing was fine.<br />
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<u>Pacing:</u> <b>1/1</b><br />
I felt a bit more locked into the story and it never felt like the pacing was lagging behind. If anything, perhaps there were times when the pace was a little too fast for the story; but, just as with <i>Angelfall</i>, these flaws didn't detract from the story overall.<br />
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<b>My Icing on Top:</b><br />
It seems like Ms. Ee is getting a better grasp on her writing style, but I think that her plot could use some work. If the Paige/wings plot somehow repeats itself in the next book, I just might lose my mind. Well, at the very least, I'd be hesitant to complete the series. I really am rooting for the series to get better, because it does have the potential. Part of me is glad that the third book in the series doesn't come out for a while, because I really don't want to be disappointed again so soon. Is that mean of me? Yeah, probably. But I have to have a healthy does of skepticism in with my optimism :) If you've already read <i>Angelfall</i>, you might as well continue on with <i>World After</i>. It isn't necessarily better, but it isn't worse either. If you haven't started the series at all yet, you may just want to let this sit on the back burner for a while until the majority of the books are out. Just my two cents!<br />
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Check out my informal review on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/931548411" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>!<br />
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Happy reading!<br />
<br />
-K<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132750818333511957.post-85665379680741458672014-05-07T22:26:00.000-04:002014-05-07T22:55:14.055-04:00Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days #1) by Susan Ee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyM_vaeksCRdrhstbz_zqsXmTahv3b5-lcui994MBaszTgkjryrupGHfkUcX7o-6unFZBYuXgH9cmbjxdN2KvuCukh6iDsiOyjNeHGfdWkvFyq2bIPXyPHGIO-Yjrsctqmuf5QDdeQWu_/s1600/Angelfall+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyM_vaeksCRdrhstbz_zqsXmTahv3b5-lcui994MBaszTgkjryrupGHfkUcX7o-6unFZBYuXgH9cmbjxdN2KvuCukh6iDsiOyjNeHGfdWkvFyq2bIPXyPHGIO-Yjrsctqmuf5QDdeQWu_/s1600/Angelfall+Cover.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<b>Title: </b>Angelfall<br />
<b>Series:</b> Penryn & the End of Days #1<br />
<b>Author:</b> Susan Ee<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Fantasy/Paranormal/Young Adult/Science Fiction<br />
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<b>Maturity Rating: </b>13+<br />
<b>Initial Rating: </b>3/5<br />
<b>Technical Rating: </b>4/5<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>My Quickie Synopsis: </b>Angels have descended upon Earth and they aren't particularly friendly. When Penryn's sister is snatched away by the winged predators, she makes an unlikely alliance with Raffe, an angel who brutally had his wings removed. Together the pair trek to the nearest angels' home base; Raffe goes with the hope of saving his wings while Penryn simply wants to rescue her sister. But the journey is rife with danger at every turn, with unimaginable horrors terrorizing the streets. Even if she makes it to the stronghold, there's no guarantee that Penryn will ever see her sister again; but, in a world full of desolation and darkness, it's a chance she has to take.<br />
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<b>My Initial Response: </b>I struggled to finish this book. Everything about the story screams that it's something that I should love, so I feel bad for not adoring it. <i>everything</i>, or some of the plot elements, but something about it was really off-putting.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Something is definitely suspicious here</td></tr>
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And for those who claim that this is a romance book?<rant> Get over yourselves, please. There are maybe two hints of romance going on here and that's it. I can understand that perhaps that's where the series is heading, but it's not there yet! So stop putting this as a romance! If a guy simply looks at you or even hugs you, it does NOT mean he wants to love you forever and ever. That being said, yes, I know, the ending. But come on! It's not a romance, it simply has the slightest bud of one. <end rant> When I started this book, I made the mistake that I always make; I didn't check to see how many books were in the series or if they were all out yet. If there's one thing that can kill a series for me, it's having to wait overly long for the conclusion. Don't get me wrong, though; I started Harry Potter in the 5th grade and stuck it out until I was a senior in High School. Reading like that can be a very frustrating commitment. At best, you can't get the story out of your head and you crave the next book until it's released. At worst, you slowly start forgetting the story, and by the time the book comes out, you're not sure if you care enough to finish it. For each series that falls into the former, there are about a dozen more that fall into the latter. Is it unfair to an author who had a pretty good story going? Absolutely. It's why I <i>try</i> not to read a series until it's finished. My point here is that because I'm already squarely on the fence with the series, I'm not sure I'll finish it in the long run. And that kind of makes me sad. Overall, Ms. Ee is set to release five books in this series, with two of them already out. The third book is slated to drop in 2015. So just keep that in mind!<br />
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There's just something so incredibly dry with the writing that I couldn't read more than a few chapters at a time before focusing my attention elsewhere. I'm not sure if it was the tense that it was written in (first-person present), or the clinical descriptions of <br />
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<u>Character Building:</u> <b>1/1</b><br />
It's kind of hard to believe that Penryn is only 17 years old. She makes references to high school a couple of times, but other than that, she just doesn't seem that young. I'm going to go ahead and say that it's because of how she grew up, but don't be surprised if you catch yourself thinking that she's older. Honestly, I can't say for sure if Ms. Ee did this on purpose or not though, so I'm not going to knock it. Raffe is an interesting character as well. It's a little difficult to get a proper read on him, but that's only because the book is written in Penryn's voice. Not much you can do there except to learn about him through her eyes. There is a veil of mystery surrounding almost all of the characters, but in this case, I don't think it's a sign of weak character building.<br />
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<u>Plot Strength:</u> <b>0.5/1</b><br />
Ah, the plot. I know that Ms. Ee has a full series to build up, and I understand that it's normal to not have everything laid out in black and white in the first book. However, almost nothing is said about what exactly happened during the first six weeks of the apocalypse and it leaves you feeling slightly detached from the story. And it's not just that; there's a great majority of background information that's left out. When you build such a complex setting and pair it with an intricate plot, you've got to give it a stable foundation to stand on. A good background is usually a part of that foundation. And then there's the ending. If you read it, you'll understand. Something there just didn't add up.<br />
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<u>Sincerity:</u> <b>0.5/1</b><br />
My main problem with this book is how flat the writing was at times. There are a lot of exciting scenes, but I never felt as if I was on the edge of my seat. The descriptions, although well-articulated, felt lukewarm. The disconnect comes from Ms. Ee doing a great deal of telling instead of showing. It's such a fine line to walk, but it can affect the feel of the entire book.<br />
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<u>Editing:</u> <b>1/1</b><br />
The editing was great-nothing out of the ordinary.<br />
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<u>Pacing:</u> <b>1/1</b><br />
I do think that at times the story was dragged out. But only in a select few spots. Overall it wasn't bad. The pacing was appropriate for the plot.<br />
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<b>My Icing on Top:</b><br />
My sincerest hope is that the series will evolve with each new book. The story line could be incredible, the characters have raw potential and the author seems to have the ability to give me one of my favorite series of all time, but it all just needs a little bit more push to it. It may just be that I should re-read it at some point in the future; there has to be a good reason why a great majority of reviews (especially from some of my most trusted sources) are so overwhelmingly ecstatic. But for now, if you're looking for a new angel series to start, I would suggest reading <i>The Premonition</i> series by Amy Bartol first. I am head over heels in love with this lady and her books, and her foray into the genre feels a lot more genuine than <i>Angelfall. </i>But,<i> </i>if you can handle intense first-person present writing, and love angel stories anyway, go ahead and give this a try. I'm not making any promises, but considering the rave reviews, chances are you'll like it.<br />
<br />
Check out my informal review on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/920711100" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>!<br />
<br />
Happy reading!<br />
<br />
-Keana<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132750818333511957.post-57794584309136897452014-05-06T17:05:00.002-04:002014-05-06T17:07:40.860-04:00Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8c-7WnH0Qa3OA0R3w9oN23TBUf_3A3tVO1XWj8bmYqeBR0MyMgq8EB9jcVJmF6rzYc6eGCQjmTpqfCVxcbqOQgi7SOYFnMHPCiyqsrX19nGCkKxkMthLm7StQQSgraoaLCSxzwK0meRh/s1600/Gone+Girl+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8c-7WnH0Qa3OA0R3w9oN23TBUf_3A3tVO1XWj8bmYqeBR0MyMgq8EB9jcVJmF6rzYc6eGCQjmTpqfCVxcbqOQgi7SOYFnMHPCiyqsrX19nGCkKxkMthLm7StQQSgraoaLCSxzwK0meRh/s1600/Gone+Girl+Cover.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> Gone Girl<br />
<b>Author:</b> Gillian Flynn<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Mystery/Suspense/Thriller/Contemporary<br />
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<b>Maturity Rating:</b> 17+<br />
<b>Initial Rating: </b>5/5<br />
<b>Technical Rating:</b> 5/5<br />
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<b>My Quickie Synopsis:</b> Nick Dunne finds himself in a whirlwind of trouble when his wife, Amy, goes missing from their quiet town. Although they played the picture perfect couple, Nick quickly arouses the suspicion of both local authority and former friends alike. But he stands by his innocence, even as his world is crumbling around him, and his daydreams turn slightly psychotic. What happened to the beautiful Amy Dunne, and who is to blame?<br />
<br />
<b>My Initial Response:</b> <i>Gone Girl</i> is one of those polarizing books. You'll either love it, or you'll hate it. Do you remember when I reviewed <a href="http://bookcravereviews.blogspot.com/2014/05/avoiding-commitment-by-ka-linde.html" target="_blank"><i>Avoiding Commitment</i> by K.A. Linde</a>? Well, this story is somewhat like that in the sense that the concepts that Ms. Flynn writes about aren't the normal, fluffy, light crap. Which is understandable for a Mystery/Thriller. But the main reason why I compare the two is because the main comment against the books are their gross levels of wrongness. The difference for me, however, is that the level of wrongness in <i>Gone Girl</i> feels undeniably right for the story.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dual reactions upon figuring it out</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I don't want to get into too many specifics; with any mystery review, I feel you run the risk of spoiling the plot. That being said, once you figure out what's going on, be prepared to feel at least a tiny twinge of "What the hell?!" That's a sort of hallmark for a good mystery book, don't you think? I feel at odds for enjoying this book though. It's so dark and depraved, that you begin to wonder about the state of your own mind when you can be entertained by such things. There's a saying for that; "I looked into the abyss, and the abyss looked back." That's probably a bastardization of the actual quote, but you get what I mean. On to the technical side!<br />
<br />
<u>Character Building:</u> <b>1/1</b><br />
All of these characters are incredibly flawed. Every. Single. One. And yet, Ms. Flynn somehow miraculously makes it all work and makes it so the reader understands these flaws with what seems like little effort. The characters in <i>Gone Girl</i> are not the kind that you actively <i>want</i> to feel a connection to, but you can't help it. It's the same idea of not being able to pull away from some horrifically terrible scene unfolding. The level of magnetism that these characters have is outstanding, and I have to applaud Ms. Flynn for her terrific character building.<br />
<br />
<u>Plot Strength:</u> <b>1/1</b><br />
Any mystery or thriller is made or broken by the strength of its plot. Too much information too early, and readers already know what's going to happen and are more likely to become bored. Too little information too late, and readers can't even begin to understand what happened or why. <i>Gone Girl</i> finds the happy medium, and as a reader, you can follow right along, gobbling it all up. Granted, I know a few people who figured it all out a little sooner than maybe Ms. Flynn would have liked, but that happens. You can't fool them all!<br />
<br />
<u>Sincerity:</u> <b>1/1</b><br />
Ms. Flynn creates a very believable story-line. Is it crazy? Absolutely! Does it work? You betcha! The truth of the matter is that we all know people that are just like the main characters to varying degrees. It's not a stretch that such events could happen. I mean, turn on your local news, or simply peruse the bizarre stories posted to online newspapers. Stranger things have happened!<br />
<br />
<u>Editing:</u> <b>1/1</b><br />
No complaints here. The language is a little rough sometimes, but it goes with the story, so it's more than acceptable.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<u>Pacing:</u> <b>1/1</b><br />
I think that the pacing here is just right. It can be frustrating at times though when you want Ms. Flynn to reveal everything, but patience is a virtue. The build-up is for a reason, and it's worthwhile in the end.<br />
<u><br /></u>
<b>My Icing on Top:</b><br />
I haven't been into mystery books really since my days of reading Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys and The Boxcar Children. That was quite some time ago! But Ms. Flynn here may have thrust me back into the genre full force. This isn't quite the sleuth-tale that I was used to, but it really worked for me. And beyond that, it must have worked for quite a few people since a <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2267998/" target="_blank">movie</a> is currently in the works. I'm not entirely sure how they'll nail down the feel for the book since a great deal of it is internal storytelling, but I look forward to seeing it, nonetheless. I would suggest this book if you're in for a new mystery/suspense book to read; just be warned that it isn't going to be a smooth ride getting to the conclusion!<br />
<br />
Check out my informal review on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/928764635" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>!<br />
<br />
Happy reading!<br />
<br />
-KAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132750818333511957.post-54108901230942906032014-05-06T14:05:00.001-04:002014-05-06T14:07:16.468-04:00Bewitch (Vampire Erotic Theater #5) by Felicity Heaton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQe8GDTyPQ8BY0wuMft_88omGaHxZZ-nIER2ZHMih8t1YBEJKnSNdPNDsiTV1-AJrZO6vXYldWHE2-2l1-odsDmkSZpJKWS_g6hbPJiuzw0ML_NFTz4fVHO1LYt0hyphenhyphenTCfNykzLjYQCUkt2/s1600/Bewitch+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQe8GDTyPQ8BY0wuMft_88omGaHxZZ-nIER2ZHMih8t1YBEJKnSNdPNDsiTV1-AJrZO6vXYldWHE2-2l1-odsDmkSZpJKWS_g6hbPJiuzw0ML_NFTz4fVHO1LYt0hyphenhyphenTCfNykzLjYQCUkt2/s1600/Bewitch+Cover.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> Bewitch<br />
<b>Series: </b>Vampire Erotic Theater #5<br />
<b>Author:</b> Felicity Heaton<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Erotic Romance/Adult/Paranormal<br />
<br />
<b>Maturity Rating:</b> 17+<br />
<b>*<u>WARNING</u>*: VERY GRAPHIC SCENES</b><br />
<b>Initial Rating: </b>3/5<br />
<b>Technical Rating: </b>3.5/5<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>My Quickie Synopsis:</b> Payne, both vampire and incubus, is on the hunt for a solution to his friends' problem. He quickly realizes that the charming witch Elissa may hold the key to uncovering what he seeks. Elissa is harboring secrets of her own and agrees to help Payne only to aid in her own quest. After an explosive night of passion, the pair must work together to overcome the obstacles standing not only in the way of their goals, but each other.<br />
<br />
<b>My Initial Response:</b> Have you ever read any of the stories posted on <a href="http://www.harlequin.com/articlelist.html?activeTab=READ" target="_blank">eHarlequin</a> or in the romance section of <a href="http://www.literotica.com/c/adult-romance" target="_blank">Literotica</a>*? No? Oh, yeah. Me neither, ha!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I need a break from all that hot steaminess!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ah, but in all seriousness, this story feels a lot like those stories. Don't get me wrong; there's some pretty good writing to be found throughout, but it's with one heck of a sexual charge. There's a time and place for that; better yet, there's a mood for that. Honestly, I just wasn't into it. There are a lot of graphic scenes, and for a book that's so short, it feels like it monopolizes the story. They were well-written, but I found myself skimming over a lot of it towards the end.<br />
I read Ms. Heaton's first book in this series a long time ago, but I couldn't remember my impression of it. However, after finishing this story, I understood that my lack of recollection was due to how overly blase Ms. Heaton's writing can be at times. <i>Bewitch</i> just isn't, well, bewitching. It's simply a nice light read for those in the mood for smut with a paranormal edge.<br />
<br />
<i>*Literotica is most certainly a soft-core erotic story website. So 18+ only! Don't stray too far from the romance section if you visit, because some of the stuff on there is more than a little shocking. Just a warning!*</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<u>Character Building:</u> <b>0.5/1</b><br />
Payne's character is fantastically built. He's understandable. I think Elissa's character could have used more work though. For a story that really only focuses on two characters, I don't think that it's much to ask that those characters both have strong presentations. There aren't any supporting characters that can really fill in the blanks either, which is unfortunate. There's an expansion of the character base towards the end, but it's just frill by that point.<br />
<br />
<u>Plot Strength:</u> <b>0.5/1</b><br />
The plot isn't terrible, but some of the elements felt slightly underdeveloped. It's not the most interesting story to follow along with, but then again, I think this book is mainly out there for erotica fans. I can't give it full marks, but I also can't completely discredit a book simply for sticking to what it does best.<br />
<br />
<u>Sincerity:</u><b> 1/1</b><br />
I'll say this; it's not as if anything in the story was unbelievable, I just ultimately didn't care. Perhaps it's because I didn't make a good connection with the characters, or perhaps it's because I found the story generally lacking. Either way, I know the sincerity was there, so full point there.<br />
<br />
<u>Editing:</u> <b>1/1</b><br />
Editing was fine; nothing was glaringly awful.<br />
<br />
<u>Pacing:</u> <b>0.5/1</b><br />
My only issue here is that I wish that sex wasn't the name of the game in this story. Yes, the hero is a partial incubus who thrives on passion. Yes, the heroine seemed hot and randy for the hunky male.Yes, it makes sense, I know! But don't jump down my throat just yet! I think the pacing got bogged down by the lengthiness of some of the sexcapading. Were the more intimate scenes important to the overall story? Absolutely. But it just needed to be a little bit more balanced in terms of how it drove the plot, that's all.<br />
<br />
<b>My Icing on Top:</b><br />
Don't read this for the plot, read this for the smut. I think there's really nothing else to be said for <i>Bewitch</i>. Although, what is up with her covers for this series all being the same? For some reason, that kind of irks me. It doesn't have any bearing on how I read the book, but sheesh. At least have them in a different position from book to book ;-). I may try Ms. Heaton's full length novel series though, just to see if there's any improvement there. Fingers crossed, right?<br />
<br />
Check out my informal review on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/929698850" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>!<br />
<br />
Happy reading!<br />
<br />
-KAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132750818333511957.post-45492023944604203962014-05-05T17:35:00.003-04:002014-05-05T17:38:35.689-04:00Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J. Maas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvq8ZC1hyphenhyphenusOhPdEMZnsR7_c9DqdMjkmRrrpLZEaYskLx2Gv8wsVikLCcPsmXQYQaHqroLg0jk7L8w0iqvN_o1EBoS38E-6ZNMD5tx6tMdijsf_TAeHB1tvpQh4LuDj6GAD7AlT49Pm_Si/s1600/Throne+of+Glass+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvq8ZC1hyphenhyphenusOhPdEMZnsR7_c9DqdMjkmRrrpLZEaYskLx2Gv8wsVikLCcPsmXQYQaHqroLg0jk7L8w0iqvN_o1EBoS38E-6ZNMD5tx6tMdijsf_TAeHB1tvpQh4LuDj6GAD7AlT49Pm_Si/s1600/Throne+of+Glass+Cover.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> Throne of Glass<br />
<b>Series: </b>Throne of Glass #1<br />
<b>Author: </b>Sarah J. Maas<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Fantasy/Romance/Young Adult<br />
<br />
<b>Maturity Rating: </b>13+<br />
<b>Initial Rating: </b>5/5<br />
<b>Technical Rating: </b>5/5<br />
<br />
<b>My Quickie Synopsis:</b> Celaena Sardothien, best assassin in the realm, has spent the better part of the last year in a labor prison camp for crimes against the crown. Her fate is changed drastically, however, when Prince Dorian calls upon her to act as his champion in his father's competition. Should she win, she will become the King's Royal Assassin, enjoying luxuries beyond her wildest dreams. But there's that pesky task of having to outsmart the rest of the champions, and, of course, guarding her heart against both the charming Prince and the stubborn Captain of the Guard.<br />
<br />
<b>My Initial Response:</b> WHY DIDN'T I READ THIS BOOK SOONER?! No, really. <i>Throne of Glass </i> is so refreshingly different than what I've been reading lately, and I don't mean that just in terms of genre. The writing is absolutely superb. The characters are witty and <i>real.</i> The story itself is compelling. What more can a book lover ask for?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only Rene Rancourt can express the awesomeness of this book!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My only criticism is that the whole series isn't finished yet! I cannot do this book justice in words alone; you honestly have to read it for yourself. Believe me when I say that you'll get lost in the fantastical world that Ms. Maas has created. But, be warned, as I said before, the series isn't finished yet, so be prepared for some serious Celaena withdrawal.<br />
<br />
<u>Character Building:</u> <b>1/1</b><br />
So I read somewhere recently that this book took inspiration from the tale of Cinderella. I don't see it, but I honestly don't care. What a fantastic cast of characters! Celaena is such a bad-ass, strong woman and I absolutely love that. Dorian has just the right amount of cute playboy. And Chaol is the unexpected surprise of the book. I truly enjoyed the way Ms. Maas weaved the tales of all of the characters, both major and minor alike, to the point where you could see yourself being friends/enemies with all of them.<br />
<br />
<u>Plot Strength:</u> <b>1/1</b><br />
It wasn't hard to see where a lot of the story was heading, but the ride there was extremely enjoyable. The plot elements are stable and consistent, and <i>Throne of Glass</i> created a great foundation for the remainder of the series. I can't wait to see how Ms. Maas expands upon her world in the next book!<br />
<br />
<u>Sincerity:</u> <b>1/1</b><br />
I'm going to rant a little here, and I apologize in advance. There's one comment that I've seen throughout a lot of negative reviews of the book and that's simply that they don't feel that an assassin of Celaena's caliber could be "girly" in any way, let alone how she's portrayed in the book. I've also seen comments that say that some of her actions and thoughts don't entirely coincide with what we are told about her. I think that these kinds of comments are the main reason why we only ever see one particular kind of heroine portrayed in the young adult/fantasy/romance/paranormal genres lately. Just because a female is a bad-ass doesn't mean that she's without emotion. And a true bad-ass doesn't have to be a bad-ass all the time, especially one who is as young as Celaena. I think Ms. Maas gives us such a rich character, and each quirk of her personality makes sense. The times that she doubts herself or feels concern lets the reader know that she is human. She isn't a cold-blooded killing machine. But she still knows how to be tough when she needs to be. And she knows how to play her feminine charm. To that end, I can't really see any fault there. What I do see fault with is the notion that authors have to write their heroines as only having one dimension. I could understand the outrage if the character seemed all over the place with little rhyme or reason, but that was <b>NOT</b> the case here. The character was well thought out and everything about her made sense. Okay, whew. End of that rant.<br />
Long story short guys, this book screamed of sincerity all day long. Cohesion was Ms. Maas word of the day!<br />
<br />
<u>Editing:</u> <b>1/1</b><br />
Well, if I ever decide to write a book, I would like the editor of <i>Throne of Glass</i> to edit my book. Enough said.<br />
<br />
<u>Pacing:</u> <b>1/1</b><br />
I must have gone into a time warp because I started the book at one time, finished it without stopping, and have no freaking clue what happened to the time in between. The book evolves continuously and you never feel as if the plot is lagging or as if things are progressing too quickly. So, if you're anything like me, you should probably set some time aside to power through this book. You aren't going to want to put it down.<br />
<br />
<b>My Icing on Top:</b><br />
This book is long. For me, that's not a problem, but for others it might be, so I'm letting you know now. It can be a commitment. But it <b>is</b> worth it! It's such an enchanting world of intrigue, and although there's romance, it's not forced onto the story. If you're looking to add a little fantasy into your book line up and are craving a story featuring a strong lead female, <i>Throne of Glass </i>is most certainly for you!<br />
<br />
Check out my informal review at <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/862740210" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>!<br />
<br />
Happy reading!<br />
<br />
-KAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132750818333511957.post-43136438098423274662014-05-05T12:46:00.002-04:002014-05-05T16:33:06.329-04:00Alejandro's Sorceress by Alyssa Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbk_nlwwxoZ0vbELTTqBWNtWPMWWLl7g8X7evfegN9AQ1pXk-PvhgiaTMpHQvdpvv201jNLDVK5QQBg_zf_HHl6MH2CSyBCj4VV1oaRqiUJn0OzcCeqGa5XuA9sZK2T8ded1wHAx1VrW_/s1600/Alejandros+Sorceress+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbk_nlwwxoZ0vbELTTqBWNtWPMWWLl7g8X7evfegN9AQ1pXk-PvhgiaTMpHQvdpvv201jNLDVK5QQBg_zf_HHl6MH2CSyBCj4VV1oaRqiUJn0OzcCeqGa5XuA9sZK2T8ded1wHAx1VrW_/s1600/Alejandros+Sorceress+Cover.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
<b>Title: </b>Alejandro's Sorceress<br />
<b>Author: </b>Alyssa Day<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Paranormal/Romance/Adult<br />
<br />
<b>Maturity Rating:</b> 17+<br />
<b>Initial Rating:</b> 2/5<br />
<b>Technical Rating: </b>2/5<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>My Quickie Synopsis: </b>Garden-witch Rose Cardinal has a problem of the paranormal variety; a family of basilisks has taken over her garden! When her mother calls in the help of a federal agency, Rose quickly finds that she may have a bigger problem on her hands. Agent Alejandro is too tall, dark and handsome to be ignored and his sights are set on her. Opposites attract in this quirky, light novella.<br />
<br />
<b>My Initial Response:</b> Whew! I made it through in one piece! Meet one of the prime reasons why I normally don't read novellas: <i>Alejandro's Sorceress.</i> I found myself rolling my eyes all too often, shaking my head every other sentence and feeling generally detached while reading.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The range of emotions I went through while reading</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The writing reminds me of watching a sitcom. I could picture this being on TV, me watching for all of a few minutes, and then swiftly changing the channel. Why? Because it's shallow. I generally don't take issue with instant love syndrome, but this was just ridiculously unbelievable. I think overall that I just wasn't the right audience for this book. I'm guessing Ms. Day wrote this for her established base of fans who already know her world and her style of writing; maybe this was just a quick appetizer to whet the appetites of her fans waiting for her next full-length book. Who knows? The writing wasn't altogether terrible though, so maybe I'll give one of her novels a try in the future. Maybe.<br />
<br />
<u>Character Building:</u> <b>0.5/1</b><br />
I have to give Ms. Day some credit here because she did try to flesh out her characters. I'm not saying that it was a masterpiece by any means, but I could see the beginnings of some concrete building. Overall though, I didn't really care about the characters. I didn't hate them, I didn't love them. They were just there. Some of the interactions were amusing, some even steamy, but most were very awkward.<br />
<br />
<u>Plot Strength:</u> <b>0/1</b><br />
There was a plot? If there was, I missed it. Completely. There isn't any major conflict, unless you count the cat and mouse game of the instant love syndrome. There are a few cool ideas introduced along the way though and my bet is that those ideas come more into play in Ms. Day's other books. But these ideas were mere decoration and really didn't add on to the story at all. Highly disappointing.<br />
<br />
<u>Sincerity:</u> <b>0.5/1</b><br />
I struggled with this rating a bit. To be perfectly fair, I didn't want to give any points for sincerity at all. However, I think that the events of the book fit in with the world that Ms. Day created at the very least, so I had to give some credit. I don't want to spoil the story, but if you read it, you'll understand why I was hesitant to give it credit at all.<br />
<br />
<u>Editing:</u> <b>1/1</b><br />
There were a few minor errors here and there, but they didn't detract from reading.<br />
<br />
<u>Pacing:</u> <b>0/1</b><br />
This story is a little all over the place. The progression didn't feel natural at all, especially with the insta-love element added into the mix. Beyond that, there wasn't even an actual plot.<br />
<br />
<b>My Icing on Top:</b><br />
I didn't get much out of this book. As I said earlier, I think those who already read books by Alyssa Day would probably enjoy this more than I did though. Aside from that, I suppose if you love crazy instant love syndrome, this story may be up your alley as well. Anyway, this was the second book in the anthology that I mentioned in the last post, so if you really want to give it a try, I'd suggest heading over to Amazon to buy the set. It's currently on sale for the low price of $0.99 so you can't go wrong! <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Deadly-Eight-Paranormal-Romance-ebook/dp/B00JNSN3RM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1399308241&sr=8-1&keywords=bad+boys+of+paranormal+romance" target="_blank">Dark and Deadly: Eight Bad Boys of Paranormal Romance</a><br />
<br />
Check out my informal review on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/928784592" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>!<br />
<br />
Happy reading!<br />
<br />
-K<br />
<b><br /></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132750818333511957.post-37966552130096066422014-05-04T23:00:00.001-04:002014-05-05T17:57:12.726-04:00Bodyguard (Shifters Unbound #2.5) by Jennifer Ashley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKoeBvBYixkLgnESzk4wHBlPuzN0W8Bz1QugiusPk967lILhYWfVTUURqrrJBVM8mZenE4vA7ssUWzHYKtJYzW7ytkYuQWDjgLdr1VGIiRObKIALyQNqUOpk2g1N3K1AmrHyx5iOus5rK/s1600/Bodyguard+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKoeBvBYixkLgnESzk4wHBlPuzN0W8Bz1QugiusPk967lILhYWfVTUURqrrJBVM8mZenE4vA7ssUWzHYKtJYzW7ytkYuQWDjgLdr1VGIiRObKIALyQNqUOpk2g1N3K1AmrHyx5iOus5rK/s1600/Bodyguard+Cover.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> Bodyguard<br />
<b>Series:</b> Shifters Unbound #2.5<br />
<b>Author:</b> Jennifer Ashley<br />
<b>Genre: </b>Paranormal/Romance/Adult<br />
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<b>Maturity Rating: </b>17+<br />
<b>Initial Rating:</b> 4/5<br />
<b>Technical Rating: </b>4/5<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>My Quickie Synopsis:</b> After Ursine-shifter Ronan comes to her rescue, Elizabeth Chapman's life is turned upside down. Not only is the would-be robber gunning for her life, but her past threatens to catch up with her. Will Elizabeth trust Ronan enough to protect her, or will she have to go on the run again?<br />
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<b>My Initial Response:</b> I don't usually read novellas in a series, and I definitely don't start series out of order. That being said, I recently purchased a boxed set of paranormal bad boy stories by various authors and <i>Bodyguard</i> was in the lineup. I was pleasantly surprised! The story was short and sweet, but even more than that, it was extremely well written. There were a couple of plot elements that I was slightly uncomfortable with, namely the state of affairs of a world aware of shape-shifters. And the cover doesn't line up with the description of Elizabeth. But, overall, this book was great. It was a nice light read to enjoy on a rainy Sunday.<br />
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<u>Character Building:</u> <b>0.5/1</b><br />
I know that this story was short which means there isn't as much opportunity to ground all characters, but I felt slightly underwhelmed at how some of the characters were written. Ronan and Elizabeth were the best in terms of the strength of their build, and maybe that's all that was necessary. But call me greedy; I wanted more out of them as well as some of the other supporting characters. Bear in mind (ha! no pun intended), this is a book within a lengthy series, so a lot of these characters have an entire book devoted to them. So, perhaps I would've been a little better satisfied if I had read the first books in the series before I tackled this novella.<br />
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<u>Plot Strength:</u> <b>0.5/1</b><br />
Again, this all comes back to the length of the story. It isn't long enough to go into too many details. I would have loved to know a little more about the back story of Elizabeth, but I think Ms. Ashley did a pretty good job at delivering the most important information about the character's history. Beyond that, <i>Bodyguard</i> had a great story that surprisingly had some depth to it. There's a reason why Ms. Ashley is a bestselling author!<br />
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<u>Sincerity:</u> <b>1/1</b><br />
Although I can't say I was a complete fan of the world that Ms. Ashley has built in <i>Bodyguard</i>, it was compelling and honest. <i>Bodyguard</i> was superb in terms of its sincerity. Never once did I question the events that happened because they flowed so intrinsically within the story.<br />
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<u>Editing:</u> <b>1/1</b><br />
I think that I may have noticed one error, but I can't discredit the entire novella. Ms. Ashley has been publishing stories for a while, and she clearly knows what she's doing.<br />
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<u>Pacing:</u> <b>1/1</b><br />
For such a short story, it sure felt like a lot happened. In hindsight, it wasn't necessarily that a lot happened; <i>Bodyguard</i> simply had really good pacing. It was beneficial in this instance because it made the book feel fuller overall.<br />
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<b>My Icing on Top:</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bodyguard</i> gets my stamp of approval</td></tr>
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I'm always pleased to find another good author; it makes my hunt for the next book all the easier. As I said before, I generally don't read novellas within a series, or the ".5s." They usually end up forcefully dropping a reader into an already established world (if they haven't read the rest of the series), or they end up being simple extensions of a numbered book in the series. The latter has always been a peeve of mine; it always makes me feel like either the author was lazy (why not write these extra concepts into the original books?) or that the author was just looking for extra money. Either way, this clearly was not the case with <i>Bodyguard</i>. If you're looking for a light, paranormal/romance, give this book a try!<br />
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Happy reading!<br />
<br />
-KAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132750818333511957.post-76503504553004157212014-05-03T22:22:00.001-04:002014-05-06T18:49:45.311-04:00Starbound by J.L. Weil<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Title:</b> Starbound<br />
<b>Author: </b>J.L. Weil<br />
<b>Genre: </b>Fantasy/Romance/Young Adult/Paranormal<br />
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<b>Maturity Rating:</b> 13+<br />
<b>Initial Rating: </b>1/5<br />
<b>Technical Rating:</b> 1.5/5<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>My Quickie Synopsis:</b> The fates of Katia and Seth have been intertwined from birth; they are a rare starbound pair, destined to love each other. But an ancient curse could kill them both if they give in to their love.<br />
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<b>Initial Response:</b> I am so glad that this book is over. As a matter of fact, after getting through the first chapter, my initial thought was, "I really hope this wraps up fast!"<br />
Now, normally when I'm looking for a new book to read, I prowl Goodreads until my eyes glaze over. Unfortunately, the site was down and I had to take a shot in the dark, relying on an Amazon recommendation. But I can't say that the rating on Amazon was too far off; I looked at the rating this book got on Goodreads and the two are comparable. So, maybe I'm crazy, but this book did <b>not</b> do it for me. Shallow characters, terrible writing, and a weak plot equal extreme dissatisfaction. Generally I'm all for giving authors a second chance when I read a flop book, but I do not foresee any other J.L. Weil books in my future.<br />
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<u>Character Building:</u> <b>0.5/1</b><br />
I can't get behind a book that does more telling than showing, and this is especially true when it comes to character building. There were moments when Ms. Weil pulled through and showed the growth of Katia and Seth, but it wasn't consistent. Katia was supposed to be Ms. Popularity, but the reader only gets to see a minimal shadowing of that side of her personality. It's unfortunate because I think that the balance of characters is appropriate, but their relationships and personalities are never explored beyond surface necessities.<br />
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<u>Plot Strength:</u> <b>0.5/1</b><br />
There are some good ideas going on in <i>Starbound, </i>but not enough to save it. It's easy to follow along with the story line, but every element of the plot was shaky. There are a lot of people who harp on about how to create a good story with certain building blocks. Introduction of characters, crisis, climax, resolution, and conclusion are all buzz words to me. I don't necessarily believe that there has to be a set way to write a story, but I do think that the concepts have to be cohesive. This book had little to no cohesiveness.<br />
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<u>Sincerity:</u> <b>0/1</b><br />
This entire story revolves around a singular curse and the resolution of that curse. There was no true complexity there, and yet there were a couple of major plot holes that I couldn't overlook. The inconsistencies made the story hard to believe, especially the resolution to the book.<br />
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<u>Editing:</u> <b>0/1</b><br />
It was my sincere belief that this book had no beta reader, but then I went back to read the credits. This book at the very least had an editor, who can act as a beta reader of sorts. Now, I'm not sure if this editor hasn't had much experience, was rushed, or just generally didn't care, but there were a LOT of errors. I'm not talking little punctuation errors either. This was full of word choice errors, incorrect usage of the parts of speech, and indecision on the voice of the characters. In one example, "were" was used instead of "where." Then there was this gem: "You of all people should know that what I feel for you is so much deeper than <span style="background-color: yellow;">physically</span> appearance." I cringed when I read it. <i>Starbound</i> is in dire need of a revision.<br />
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<u>Pacing:</u> <b>0.5/1</b><br />
The book would have been improved greatly had it slowed its pace just by a little in order to give proper attention to the ideas that it was trying to portray. The story felt a little rushed sometimes which made it hard to really connect to the plot. After a while, it all just felt like going through the motions.<br />
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<b>My Icing on Top:</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not so good at holding my tongue when it comes to bad books!</td></tr>
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I don't think there's much else I can say here. I was really disappointed in this book! I think that there is <i>some</i> spark there, but the book just wasn't ready to be published. It needs to be polished quite a bit and then maybe it'll be a halfway decent read. I can't suggest this book to anyone, because there are so many better books out there just waiting to be discovered. But I do have to say, if you're on a book snob high, read this book. It will ground you back to reality and show you just how bad things can really be so that you appreciate well-done books a little more.<br />
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Happy reading!<br />
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Check out my informal review on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/927242366" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>!<br />
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-KAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517555064080502367noreply@blogger.com0