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Review Date: 9/6/2014
[May Contain Spoilers]
I really enjoyed this book. It was a heartbreaking story of a teen's struggle to deal with life after the death of his little brother. He's sad, angry, damaged, and hopeless. He goes into an ever-more-depressing spiral and hits rock bottom when he meets a homeless runaway and takes ecstasy with her after finding out that his parents are planning to adopt a new child.
The writing style is excellent and the narration style is evocative of Holden Caulfield in the Catcher in the Rye. It was a beautiful, heartbreaking story of loss and renewed hope.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a heartbreaking story of a teen's struggle to deal with life after the death of his little brother. He's sad, angry, damaged, and hopeless. He goes into an ever-more-depressing spiral and hits rock bottom when he meets a homeless runaway and takes ecstasy with her after finding out that his parents are planning to adopt a new child.
The writing style is excellent and the narration style is evocative of Holden Caulfield in the Catcher in the Rye. It was a beautiful, heartbreaking story of loss and renewed hope.
Review Date: 9/10/2014
***DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS***
**DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS**
*DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS*
DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS
This was a spectacular ending to a spectacular series. However, first of all, let me get my one complaint out of the way. I hate the shifting viewpoints in this book. The book shifts from chapter to chapter from Tobias to Tris. Normally, I have NO PROBLEM with shifting viewpoints whatsoever, however, in this particular series, the first two books were told COMPLETELY from Tris' point of view. Changing that around in the third and final book was very irritating because I wasn't used to it. I'd start reading a chapter and get three or four pages into the chapter and then there would be a line similar to this: "I can't believe I'm looking at the man who tried to kill my girlfriend."
And I would be completely turned around. I'd think, "Wait... Someone tried to kill Tris' girlfriend? Tris had a girlfriend? That makes no sense." And then, of course, I'd realize, "Oh yes. This is another Tobias chapter." I feel like, if the author was going to be flip-flopping viewpoints, she should have found a way to do so throughout the entire series or not at all.
However, despite that irritating inconvenience, I loved the book. It wasn't a shocking revelation like I think the author was going for, but it didn't matter. It was still wonderfully put together and is a wonderful comment on the state of governmental affairs and absolute power.
Also, there are not very many books -- especially YA novels -- that have anything other than a typical, Hollywood happy-ending these days. That is why the ending to this novel -- this series -- was so poignant and perfect. Tris' final sacrifice to save the world -- as well as her brother who betrayed her -- was the perfect ending to this series. There is not a single way this book could have ended that would have been better.
**DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS**
*DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS*
DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS
This was a spectacular ending to a spectacular series. However, first of all, let me get my one complaint out of the way. I hate the shifting viewpoints in this book. The book shifts from chapter to chapter from Tobias to Tris. Normally, I have NO PROBLEM with shifting viewpoints whatsoever, however, in this particular series, the first two books were told COMPLETELY from Tris' point of view. Changing that around in the third and final book was very irritating because I wasn't used to it. I'd start reading a chapter and get three or four pages into the chapter and then there would be a line similar to this: "I can't believe I'm looking at the man who tried to kill my girlfriend."
And I would be completely turned around. I'd think, "Wait... Someone tried to kill Tris' girlfriend? Tris had a girlfriend? That makes no sense." And then, of course, I'd realize, "Oh yes. This is another Tobias chapter." I feel like, if the author was going to be flip-flopping viewpoints, she should have found a way to do so throughout the entire series or not at all.
However, despite that irritating inconvenience, I loved the book. It wasn't a shocking revelation like I think the author was going for, but it didn't matter. It was still wonderfully put together and is a wonderful comment on the state of governmental affairs and absolute power.
Also, there are not very many books -- especially YA novels -- that have anything other than a typical, Hollywood happy-ending these days. That is why the ending to this novel -- this series -- was so poignant and perfect. Tris' final sacrifice to save the world -- as well as her brother who betrayed her -- was the perfect ending to this series. There is not a single way this book could have ended that would have been better.
Review Date: 9/6/2014
Hmmm... this book was incredibly hard for me to get into to begin with. It bounces around in a way that is reminiscent of Cloud Atlas, but it isn't as well balanced or well done as Cloud Atlas. There are parts that are incredibly heart-wrenching, parts that are beautiful, and parts that are incredibly endearing. However, there are also parts that are forced, over-indulgent, and seemingly pointless and not at all connected to the plot.
At times, I really did enjoy the book, and at other times, I just knew that I would never possibly be able to get through the rest of the book. However, at the end of it, I realized that I liked it overall.
At times, I really did enjoy the book, and at other times, I just knew that I would never possibly be able to get through the rest of the book. However, at the end of it, I realized that I liked it overall.
Review Date: 9/6/2014
**contains spoilers**
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This book started out beautifully. The story of Isaiah the prophet is wonderful, and interesting to the point where I didn't want to put the book down at all. However, the romantic element between Isaiah and Lucky (and even Deb) was really superfluous and, honestly, it detracted quite a bit from the overall story. I understand that the plot required Isaiah to sleep with Lucky in order for the town to have a large enough reason to fall out with the prophet, but I really, really wish the author had come up with a different inciting incident because honestly, the romance just did not fit with the rest of the story or with Isaiah's character traits in the rest of the novel. The whole Lucky/Isaiah thing really turned me off the book. However, the ending was quite nice. I like the way everything was tied up, and I really enjoyed the way Isaiah made contact with his congregation through their dreams. I thought that was a very nice touch. So, in other words, I really loved the beginning and the end of the book. It was just the middle that I really did not think very much of...
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This book started out beautifully. The story of Isaiah the prophet is wonderful, and interesting to the point where I didn't want to put the book down at all. However, the romantic element between Isaiah and Lucky (and even Deb) was really superfluous and, honestly, it detracted quite a bit from the overall story. I understand that the plot required Isaiah to sleep with Lucky in order for the town to have a large enough reason to fall out with the prophet, but I really, really wish the author had come up with a different inciting incident because honestly, the romance just did not fit with the rest of the story or with Isaiah's character traits in the rest of the novel. The whole Lucky/Isaiah thing really turned me off the book. However, the ending was quite nice. I like the way everything was tied up, and I really enjoyed the way Isaiah made contact with his congregation through their dreams. I thought that was a very nice touch. So, in other words, I really loved the beginning and the end of the book. It was just the middle that I really did not think very much of...
Review Date: 9/10/2014
Well, I meant to write this review a couple of weeks ago, but it just slipped my mind. :-/ And I have now read about four of five books since finishing this one, so most of all the things I wanted to say in my review have gotten mushed around and strewn to the wind, which is unfortunate because I truly loved this book.
Initially I was put off by the narration and writing styles, and five pages into the book, I was sure I was not going to get through another five. I mean come on, having Death as the narrator in a story set during the Holocaust? Can we say cliché? And that whole thing the author does with writing a couple of paragraphs and then suddenly inserting a few lines of
***asterisked, bolded, and centered text***
SOMETIMES IN ALL CAPS
just to make some kind of statement
No thank you.
I made it maybe to the end of the first chapter before I just thought, Nope, to hell with this and threw the book down in a pile, incredibly thankful that I'd picked it up at the Goodwill for a quarter.
The next day, I saw a good friend of mine -- a friend with whom I enjoy sharing and receiving book recommendations on a regular basis -- and brought up this book, mentioning how much the whole presentation of the story bothered me.
He was completely flummoxed, simply COULD NOT BELIEVE that I didn't finish the book -- in fact, he couldn't believe I'd waited so long to read the book in the first place. Urged me to put aside my annoyance with the writer's style and give it one more shot.
So I did. And while I can't say that I ever really warmed to the
***CRAZY BREAKS IN THE TEXT*** bullcrap
I did quickly find myself engrossed in the story, and I also did a complete 180 on the death-as-narrator tool. For this particular story, I felt it truly did add something to the story that -- without the gimmick of Narrator Death -- would have definitely made the story less interesting and less touching.
By the end of the book, I had laughed out loud, cried in unashamed, headache-inducing sobs, and slammed my fist down in furious anger. This book truly made me FEEL. I absolutely loved it, maybe not from beginning to end, but I loved it just the same.
Initially I was put off by the narration and writing styles, and five pages into the book, I was sure I was not going to get through another five. I mean come on, having Death as the narrator in a story set during the Holocaust? Can we say cliché? And that whole thing the author does with writing a couple of paragraphs and then suddenly inserting a few lines of
***asterisked, bolded, and centered text***
SOMETIMES IN ALL CAPS
just to make some kind of statement
No thank you.
I made it maybe to the end of the first chapter before I just thought, Nope, to hell with this and threw the book down in a pile, incredibly thankful that I'd picked it up at the Goodwill for a quarter.
The next day, I saw a good friend of mine -- a friend with whom I enjoy sharing and receiving book recommendations on a regular basis -- and brought up this book, mentioning how much the whole presentation of the story bothered me.
He was completely flummoxed, simply COULD NOT BELIEVE that I didn't finish the book -- in fact, he couldn't believe I'd waited so long to read the book in the first place. Urged me to put aside my annoyance with the writer's style and give it one more shot.
So I did. And while I can't say that I ever really warmed to the
***CRAZY BREAKS IN THE TEXT*** bullcrap
I did quickly find myself engrossed in the story, and I also did a complete 180 on the death-as-narrator tool. For this particular story, I felt it truly did add something to the story that -- without the gimmick of Narrator Death -- would have definitely made the story less interesting and less touching.
By the end of the book, I had laughed out loud, cried in unashamed, headache-inducing sobs, and slammed my fist down in furious anger. This book truly made me FEEL. I absolutely loved it, maybe not from beginning to end, but I loved it just the same.
Review Date: 9/10/2014
This was one of the best and cutest kids' books I have read in a long time. And I loved the names of the two main monsters -- Boris Kleanitoff and Bella Lugrossi. :-)
Review Date: 9/10/2014
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It was very well-written, and for a YA book, it was quite surprising and unpredictable. There were several points at which I just knew I had figured out what was going to happen next and how the book was going to end. Each time I was surprised -- and pleasantly so -- to see that I was wrong. It has been a long time since a book -- especially a YA book -- has kept me guessing until the end, but this one actually did. I'll definitely be on the look out for the next book.
Review Date: 9/6/2014
You know, I had initially rated this book four stars, but then I had to go back and give it five stars. This book of poetry (and essays) is just... it is simply amazing. Giovanni writes beautifully; her pen aims straight for the heart. Her poems, seemingly about everyday things and occurrences, say so much more than what is actually on the page. These poems celebrate the simplicity of every day living and the complexity of life all at once.
The essays are great, too, but my real love affair is with the poems. This book contains poems such as "These Women," "I Wish I Could Live (in a Book)," "I Wish I Could Live (in Music)," and "Spider Waltz." These poems celebrate womanhood and love and heartbreak and family, most of all, family.
I recommend this book to everyone -- EVERYONE. I believe that even people who don't enjoy poetry could enjoy this poetry.
The essays are great, too, but my real love affair is with the poems. This book contains poems such as "These Women," "I Wish I Could Live (in a Book)," "I Wish I Could Live (in Music)," and "Spider Waltz." These poems celebrate womanhood and love and heartbreak and family, most of all, family.
I recommend this book to everyone -- EVERYONE. I believe that even people who don't enjoy poetry could enjoy this poetry.
Review Date: 9/6/2014
[contains spoilers]
First of all, let me just say that I applaud anyone who can sit down, write a novel, and have the courage to get it published and send it out into the world, knowing that some people will love it while others will hate it. It takes a very brave person to do that.
However, that being said, I didn't really like this book for several reasons. First of all, because I didn't like it that much, I will probably never invest the time or money in reading the next one, and the ending of this first book leaves A LOT of MAJOR PLOT POINTS unresolved. And I am the type of person who, even if I am not enjoying something, I am going to see it through to the end simply because I started it, so by God, I'm going to finish it. However, finishing this particular book did nothing to wrap up anything for me.
The concept of the book itself was okay. At times, while reading it, however, I felt as though several of the scenes were adapted straight from the Twilight and Vampire Diaries books. One girl being fought over by three gorgeous guys of various supernatural statuses (two of them being brothers, no less)... sadly it has been done a little too often to have an impact on me anymore. There is actually a paragraph towards the end of the book that sums up the whole thing for me:
"Well, Grandpa Henry once told me that when asked a question, it is always wise to find the meaning of words I don't understand, before coming up with an answer. In this instance, it seems I don't know the difference between love, lust, and infatuation. It is possible to lust after the one you are in love with, is it not? Also, possible for that someone you are in love with to be the object of your infatuation, and to lust over the object of your infatuation, which might be the love of your life. Is it not also true that these three things can exist separately? Lust for one person, infatuated by the other or be in love with another?"
I'm sorry, but what?! It was paragraphs like that one there that made the book unappealing to me.
Also, a lot of the scenes felt forced, and the book would suddenly go from one extreme to the other with no warning. For instance, in one second, lips would be about to meet and then BAM! "F*-k you! Why don't you just f*-k off!" I have no problem with conflict or romance, but sometimes these scenes would happen not only on the same page, but in the same paragraph. It's hard to adjust to such rapid plot changes.
One of the worst instances of this happens on pages 234 and 235. The main character, Alexandra, is kissing one of her suitors, and it is a sweet moment. Then another of her suitors says, "Slow down, Alex. ... It almost looks as if you're trying too hard." And that morphs into a huge "F*-k you!" "No! F*-k you!" battle that lasts two and a half pages.
Finally, one of the things that bugs me most about this novel is the lack of editing put into it. Actually, that is unfair. I'm not sure if it is a lack of editing, per se. However, at times -- especially during the very 'exciting' or 'emotional' parts -- the grammar and sentence structure gets a bit... bad. In those places, the book reads almost like it has been translated poorly from another language.
An example (any grammatical or spelling mistakes are verbatim): "It's not long ago when I finished a glass of champagne, and yet I feel thirsty. So thirsty, I can barely stand it. No waiters seem to be around. I don't want to hunt for a drink, and so I wait patiently for a waiter."
Another (any grammatical or spelling mistakes are verbatim): "My mouth water as he moves his lips from my cheek, stopping just above my top lip. In breathless anticipation, I inhale his scent and move my hesitate lips to touch his."
I realize things like this are small and inconsequential, but I am a professional editor. That is what I do for a living. I edit books before they are published specifically to avoid problems like that. So when I see mistakes like these, it really detracts from the reading experience.
Overall, I was disappointed with this book; perhaps because I was so excited to read it. Anytime I build something up in my mind to be really good, it usually disappoints me. If I happen to win a copy of the second book, I'll read it just to tie up all the lose ends, but I won't be spending money on it.
First of all, let me just say that I applaud anyone who can sit down, write a novel, and have the courage to get it published and send it out into the world, knowing that some people will love it while others will hate it. It takes a very brave person to do that.
However, that being said, I didn't really like this book for several reasons. First of all, because I didn't like it that much, I will probably never invest the time or money in reading the next one, and the ending of this first book leaves A LOT of MAJOR PLOT POINTS unresolved. And I am the type of person who, even if I am not enjoying something, I am going to see it through to the end simply because I started it, so by God, I'm going to finish it. However, finishing this particular book did nothing to wrap up anything for me.
The concept of the book itself was okay. At times, while reading it, however, I felt as though several of the scenes were adapted straight from the Twilight and Vampire Diaries books. One girl being fought over by three gorgeous guys of various supernatural statuses (two of them being brothers, no less)... sadly it has been done a little too often to have an impact on me anymore. There is actually a paragraph towards the end of the book that sums up the whole thing for me:
"Well, Grandpa Henry once told me that when asked a question, it is always wise to find the meaning of words I don't understand, before coming up with an answer. In this instance, it seems I don't know the difference between love, lust, and infatuation. It is possible to lust after the one you are in love with, is it not? Also, possible for that someone you are in love with to be the object of your infatuation, and to lust over the object of your infatuation, which might be the love of your life. Is it not also true that these three things can exist separately? Lust for one person, infatuated by the other or be in love with another?"
I'm sorry, but what?! It was paragraphs like that one there that made the book unappealing to me.
Also, a lot of the scenes felt forced, and the book would suddenly go from one extreme to the other with no warning. For instance, in one second, lips would be about to meet and then BAM! "F*-k you! Why don't you just f*-k off!" I have no problem with conflict or romance, but sometimes these scenes would happen not only on the same page, but in the same paragraph. It's hard to adjust to such rapid plot changes.
One of the worst instances of this happens on pages 234 and 235. The main character, Alexandra, is kissing one of her suitors, and it is a sweet moment. Then another of her suitors says, "Slow down, Alex. ... It almost looks as if you're trying too hard." And that morphs into a huge "F*-k you!" "No! F*-k you!" battle that lasts two and a half pages.
Finally, one of the things that bugs me most about this novel is the lack of editing put into it. Actually, that is unfair. I'm not sure if it is a lack of editing, per se. However, at times -- especially during the very 'exciting' or 'emotional' parts -- the grammar and sentence structure gets a bit... bad. In those places, the book reads almost like it has been translated poorly from another language.
An example (any grammatical or spelling mistakes are verbatim): "It's not long ago when I finished a glass of champagne, and yet I feel thirsty. So thirsty, I can barely stand it. No waiters seem to be around. I don't want to hunt for a drink, and so I wait patiently for a waiter."
Another (any grammatical or spelling mistakes are verbatim): "My mouth water as he moves his lips from my cheek, stopping just above my top lip. In breathless anticipation, I inhale his scent and move my hesitate lips to touch his."
I realize things like this are small and inconsequential, but I am a professional editor. That is what I do for a living. I edit books before they are published specifically to avoid problems like that. So when I see mistakes like these, it really detracts from the reading experience.
Overall, I was disappointed with this book; perhaps because I was so excited to read it. Anytime I build something up in my mind to be really good, it usually disappoints me. If I happen to win a copy of the second book, I'll read it just to tie up all the lose ends, but I won't be spending money on it.
Review Date: 9/6/2014
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion. My initial first thoughts? I liked the book, although it took me a little longer to read than a book of its length usually takes me because it was a bit hard to get into at first. However, once I finally did get into it, I liked it.
Parts of it were very reminiscent of the Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman Dragonlance books -- a comparison that was only furthered by the names given to some of the characters and events in the book, such as the Cataclysm and Misha'Khal. The book was hard for me to get into at first because it had SO MANY CHARACTERS in the beginning, and the book tried to introduce them one after the other, which was nice, but also kind of killed the narrative flow at times. It is kind of like that section of the Bible where Somebody begat Somebody and then that Somebody begat Somebody Else. However, once one gets past that portion of the book, it is quite a fun read.
The only other big problem I had with the book is that it does wonky things with the timeline that I really didn't like. For instance, something big will happen -- such as a character dying -- and then, I'll have to read about that exact event again, only through another character's viewpoint. I don't have a problem with shifting viewpoints, but I feel that an author who uses shifting viewpoints should do so while maintaining chronological order, such as George R.R. Martin does in his Song of Ice and Fire series.
Other than those two main problems, I really did enjoy reading the book. The characters are very personable and realistic -- despite the fact that some of them are blood demons and elves. :-p It was a pleasure to "watch" them interact with one another. They each had their own passions and foibles... Yes. The characterization was great indeed.
Overall, a good, fun read that I would recommend to readers of fantasy.
Parts of it were very reminiscent of the Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman Dragonlance books -- a comparison that was only furthered by the names given to some of the characters and events in the book, such as the Cataclysm and Misha'Khal. The book was hard for me to get into at first because it had SO MANY CHARACTERS in the beginning, and the book tried to introduce them one after the other, which was nice, but also kind of killed the narrative flow at times. It is kind of like that section of the Bible where Somebody begat Somebody and then that Somebody begat Somebody Else. However, once one gets past that portion of the book, it is quite a fun read.
The only other big problem I had with the book is that it does wonky things with the timeline that I really didn't like. For instance, something big will happen -- such as a character dying -- and then, I'll have to read about that exact event again, only through another character's viewpoint. I don't have a problem with shifting viewpoints, but I feel that an author who uses shifting viewpoints should do so while maintaining chronological order, such as George R.R. Martin does in his Song of Ice and Fire series.
Other than those two main problems, I really did enjoy reading the book. The characters are very personable and realistic -- despite the fact that some of them are blood demons and elves. :-p It was a pleasure to "watch" them interact with one another. They each had their own passions and foibles... Yes. The characterization was great indeed.
Overall, a good, fun read that I would recommend to readers of fantasy.
Review Date: 9/6/2014
I received a copy of this book through First Reads giveaways, and I have to say, I'm very glad that I did. Despite the fact that this book is third in a series -- and I haven't read the first two -- I had no trouble falling into the story and understanding what was going on. When I entered the giveaway for the this book, I was terribly ambivalent about being selected as one of the winners because I felt that a book calling itself "A Forensic Handwriting Mystery" had the potential to either be very interesting and unique OR be horribly boring and silly.
Thankfully, this book turned out to belong to that former category. I really enjoyed reading about Claudia Rose and her handwriting analysis expertise. The plot is similar to an episode of Bones. Some people die, and the protagonist comes into contact with several viable suspects who could have potentially done the killing. Then she is forced to endure endless uncomfortable and nerve-shattering situations with each of these potential murderers until everything finally comes to a head at the end. Pretty standard stuff, really. But Sheila Lowe writes beautifully, and her characters -- especially Claudia, Joel, and the gender-confused matchmaker Grusha -- are personable and endearing. Not to mention the whole handwriting thing... it adds a totally unique angle which I've never experienced before. I fully intend on looking up the other two books in the series and reading them quite soon.
Thankfully, this book turned out to belong to that former category. I really enjoyed reading about Claudia Rose and her handwriting analysis expertise. The plot is similar to an episode of Bones. Some people die, and the protagonist comes into contact with several viable suspects who could have potentially done the killing. Then she is forced to endure endless uncomfortable and nerve-shattering situations with each of these potential murderers until everything finally comes to a head at the end. Pretty standard stuff, really. But Sheila Lowe writes beautifully, and her characters -- especially Claudia, Joel, and the gender-confused matchmaker Grusha -- are personable and endearing. Not to mention the whole handwriting thing... it adds a totally unique angle which I've never experienced before. I fully intend on looking up the other two books in the series and reading them quite soon.
Review Date: 9/6/2014
*contains spoilers*
A police detective -- Callista, Callie for short -- saves a little girl from getting hit by a bus. She, herself, is then hit instead. She wakes up to find herself in the Underworld where she is taken before Hades and offered a deal. Protect his son, Plutus, and find out who wants him dead, and Hades will restore her to life. However, if Callie fails in her objective or dies while in the Underworld, she will die an eternal death, and her soul will never be allowed to have an afterlife.
It doesn't seem like a super great choice, but when a god offers you a deal, the "offering" part is really just a polite term to cover up the fact that you are going to do what that god wants you to do or your screwed. And so Callie has little choice but to accept Hades' offer. She meets several interesting characters along the way, including one of the Furies, Tisiphone, who becomes Callie's friend and ally in the Underworld.
Callie's job is complicated, however, by the fact that Hades forbids her to interview, interrogate, or even outwardly suspect any of his royal family of trying to kill his son, and even FURTHER complicated by the fact that Hades lies to her and manipulates her at every turn.
"Death is but a Dream" is a beautiful and original story of the Olympian gods, and it is quite unique in its view of Greek mythology. Perhaps the closest comparison I can make to a book/series already out there in the market is with Amber Benson's series that starts with "Death's Daughter." (I'm sorry. I can't actually remember what the series is called as a whole.) It has the same tone. Both feature strong, independent female protagonists who are thrown into a fantastical world that they want no part of, so yes, fans of Amber Benson's work will really enjoy this book, I think.
The only complaint I have is that the book could have benefited from some series editing. I had an e-book copy of the novel, and there were quite a few more errors than I would expect a published, completed book to have. Most of the errors were inconsequential -- missing commas, wrong words, etc. -- and could be easily overlooked or fixed by the reader simply inserting the correct word while reading, but still, a polished book should be as free of errors as is possible, and this book had a good number.
I still really, really enjoyed the book, though. I highly recommend it.
A police detective -- Callista, Callie for short -- saves a little girl from getting hit by a bus. She, herself, is then hit instead. She wakes up to find herself in the Underworld where she is taken before Hades and offered a deal. Protect his son, Plutus, and find out who wants him dead, and Hades will restore her to life. However, if Callie fails in her objective or dies while in the Underworld, she will die an eternal death, and her soul will never be allowed to have an afterlife.
It doesn't seem like a super great choice, but when a god offers you a deal, the "offering" part is really just a polite term to cover up the fact that you are going to do what that god wants you to do or your screwed. And so Callie has little choice but to accept Hades' offer. She meets several interesting characters along the way, including one of the Furies, Tisiphone, who becomes Callie's friend and ally in the Underworld.
Callie's job is complicated, however, by the fact that Hades forbids her to interview, interrogate, or even outwardly suspect any of his royal family of trying to kill his son, and even FURTHER complicated by the fact that Hades lies to her and manipulates her at every turn.
"Death is but a Dream" is a beautiful and original story of the Olympian gods, and it is quite unique in its view of Greek mythology. Perhaps the closest comparison I can make to a book/series already out there in the market is with Amber Benson's series that starts with "Death's Daughter." (I'm sorry. I can't actually remember what the series is called as a whole.) It has the same tone. Both feature strong, independent female protagonists who are thrown into a fantastical world that they want no part of, so yes, fans of Amber Benson's work will really enjoy this book, I think.
The only complaint I have is that the book could have benefited from some series editing. I had an e-book copy of the novel, and there were quite a few more errors than I would expect a published, completed book to have. Most of the errors were inconsequential -- missing commas, wrong words, etc. -- and could be easily overlooked or fixed by the reader simply inserting the correct word while reading, but still, a polished book should be as free of errors as is possible, and this book had a good number.
I still really, really enjoyed the book, though. I highly recommend it.
Review Date: 9/6/2014
[contains spoilers]
Diary of an Evil Genius was an okay book. There were times when I feel the author let too much of himself into the work. For instance, though the book has its own author -- Gary Patella -- it is a book that is supposed to be read as a diary written by the character Victor. However, at times, things that "Victor" would say seemed more of a way for the ACTUAL author to clarify things. For instance, on page 39, "Victor" goes into a rant about ending sentences with prepositions.
"I have a feeling that I'm going to end a few sentences with prepositions. What do I care? It's not like this is the next best-selling novel or something. It's a journal; my journal. And I can write anything I please. In fact, I'm not sure why I actually go on about it every time I end a sentence this way."
This instance is not the only time "Victor" goes into a rant about proper grammar or punctuation. I just don't think that fits along the lines with his character. It seems forced. It seems more likely that it is the author's way of justifying not using correct grammar through "Victor."
Also, it really bugs me that you don't get to read any of the EVIL PLANS FOR WORLD DOMINATION. In the diary, Victor justifies this by saying that he doesn't want anyone who reads his diary in the future to steal his plans, but at the same time, it makes for a much less interesting book. When I signed up for the giveaway, I really thought this book was going to be a humorous account of an evil genius' rise to power. It turned out to be more of a mildly-bad dude's reflections on his henchmen's hobbies. I mean, at the end, you don't even get to find out if Victor's takeover of the world actually succeeded or not! The whole time, I was reading this book thinking, "Okay... well... I wonder if he will actually succeed?" And I never found out if he did or not. I could have dealt with the fact that he never actually goes into any of his evil plans... but not even finding out if Victor's plans succeeded? That's the whole point!!!!! Arg!
However, I feel I'm being very negative about the book, and I don't want to be. It wasn't a bad book. I really enjoyed some of the quirky sides to Victor's character, and I loved hearing about each henchman and his special passion. I mean, for God's sake, one of the henchman collects butterflies!!! How quirky and adorable is that? Ha. And the account of Victor's failed engagement? Priceless. There are definitely some entertaining aspects to this book, and I did have fun reading it. I was just hoping for a bit more.
Diary of an Evil Genius was an okay book. There were times when I feel the author let too much of himself into the work. For instance, though the book has its own author -- Gary Patella -- it is a book that is supposed to be read as a diary written by the character Victor. However, at times, things that "Victor" would say seemed more of a way for the ACTUAL author to clarify things. For instance, on page 39, "Victor" goes into a rant about ending sentences with prepositions.
"I have a feeling that I'm going to end a few sentences with prepositions. What do I care? It's not like this is the next best-selling novel or something. It's a journal; my journal. And I can write anything I please. In fact, I'm not sure why I actually go on about it every time I end a sentence this way."
This instance is not the only time "Victor" goes into a rant about proper grammar or punctuation. I just don't think that fits along the lines with his character. It seems forced. It seems more likely that it is the author's way of justifying not using correct grammar through "Victor."
Also, it really bugs me that you don't get to read any of the EVIL PLANS FOR WORLD DOMINATION. In the diary, Victor justifies this by saying that he doesn't want anyone who reads his diary in the future to steal his plans, but at the same time, it makes for a much less interesting book. When I signed up for the giveaway, I really thought this book was going to be a humorous account of an evil genius' rise to power. It turned out to be more of a mildly-bad dude's reflections on his henchmen's hobbies. I mean, at the end, you don't even get to find out if Victor's takeover of the world actually succeeded or not! The whole time, I was reading this book thinking, "Okay... well... I wonder if he will actually succeed?" And I never found out if he did or not. I could have dealt with the fact that he never actually goes into any of his evil plans... but not even finding out if Victor's plans succeeded? That's the whole point!!!!! Arg!
However, I feel I'm being very negative about the book, and I don't want to be. It wasn't a bad book. I really enjoyed some of the quirky sides to Victor's character, and I loved hearing about each henchman and his special passion. I mean, for God's sake, one of the henchman collects butterflies!!! How quirky and adorable is that? Ha. And the account of Victor's failed engagement? Priceless. There are definitely some entertaining aspects to this book, and I did have fun reading it. I was just hoping for a bit more.
Review Date: 9/10/2014
I avoided reading this book for a very long time because I assumed it was just another addition to the YA craze that has been sweeping the nation ever since Twilight hit the stands. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy a good YA novel every now and again, but this one reminded me a bit too much of the Hunger Games, and I thought, "Nope. Not going to give that one a chance."
All I can say is that I am REALLY, REALLY glad that I decided against that foolish decision. I really loved this book. I devoured it in just a couple of days. And while there are some vaguely Hunger Games-like qualities to the book, it really is its own, unique story.
So, if you are holding out on reading this book because you think it is just another piece of YA trash or because you feel it is going to be too similar to something you've already read, please give it a chance. It really, truly is a great book. I went out and bought the second and third ones immediately.
All I can say is that I am REALLY, REALLY glad that I decided against that foolish decision. I really loved this book. I devoured it in just a couple of days. And while there are some vaguely Hunger Games-like qualities to the book, it really is its own, unique story.
So, if you are holding out on reading this book because you think it is just another piece of YA trash or because you feel it is going to be too similar to something you've already read, please give it a chance. It really, truly is a great book. I went out and bought the second and third ones immediately.
Review Date: 9/6/2014
*may contain spoilers*
I loved it. I really did. It was a great story. Jeremiah Hunt is a grieving father who, in his madness and desperation after his daughter's abduction, turns to the black arts in order to "see what cannot be seen." The ritual he performs, however, has the unfortunate (side) effect of taking away his eyesight, which, in turn, allows him to see the dead. During the search to find out what happened to his daughter, he ends up chasing a serial killer with some very interesting friends -- Denise, the hedge witch, and Dmitri, the beserker who can turn himself into a polar bear at will.
It's a great story. There are a few little errors that should have been caught by the editor or publisher but weren't -- misspellings and wrong words mostly -- but they don't really detract from the overall plot of the story. Also, there are a couple of times when Hunt does things that a blind man really shouldn't be able to do and the author covers it up by having him 'draw on the eyesight' of someone else near him. I understand it, but at times it seems a bit forced.
However, those things really didn't take away from the overall experience for me. I just really, really loved the book. It was very interesting and quite entertaining. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
I loved it. I really did. It was a great story. Jeremiah Hunt is a grieving father who, in his madness and desperation after his daughter's abduction, turns to the black arts in order to "see what cannot be seen." The ritual he performs, however, has the unfortunate (side) effect of taking away his eyesight, which, in turn, allows him to see the dead. During the search to find out what happened to his daughter, he ends up chasing a serial killer with some very interesting friends -- Denise, the hedge witch, and Dmitri, the beserker who can turn himself into a polar bear at will.
It's a great story. There are a few little errors that should have been caught by the editor or publisher but weren't -- misspellings and wrong words mostly -- but they don't really detract from the overall plot of the story. Also, there are a couple of times when Hunt does things that a blind man really shouldn't be able to do and the author covers it up by having him 'draw on the eyesight' of someone else near him. I understand it, but at times it seems a bit forced.
However, those things really didn't take away from the overall experience for me. I just really, really loved the book. It was very interesting and quite entertaining. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Review Date: 9/10/2014
Honestly, to me, this book wasn't quite as good as the first book of the series, even though I still really enjoyed it. I'm not sure if it is simply because I've read SO MANY BOOKS and seen SO MANY MOVIES with this same type of plot twist, but about halfway through the book, I was able to figure out how the book was going to end, what was 'behind the fence' so to speak. I didn't know exact details, of course, but I knew, without a doubt, what was going to happen at the end of the book. That, to me, made the book a little less awesome than the first one, which was totally unique.
That being said, I still loved the book enough that, the moment I finished it, I began reading the third book in the series to see what is going to happen and how the series is going to end. At least, I THINK the third book is the end. There isn't going to be a fourth, right Divergent fanatics?
:-D
I still highly recommend this series and will continue to do so unless something really crazy happens and the third book just totally sucks eggs, but honestly, I don't foresee that happening.
That being said, I still loved the book enough that, the moment I finished it, I began reading the third book in the series to see what is going to happen and how the series is going to end. At least, I THINK the third book is the end. There isn't going to be a fourth, right Divergent fanatics?
:-D
I still highly recommend this series and will continue to do so unless something really crazy happens and the third book just totally sucks eggs, but honestly, I don't foresee that happening.
Review Date: 9/6/2014
*may contain spoilers*
This book was typical Ron Burgundy. Haha. If you hated Anchorman, don't bother because this book was just a wonderfully insane extension of Anchorman. It is full of the completely ridiculous, entirely fabricated 'facts' of Ron Burgundy's life as the classiest big deal around. Ron Burgundy has done it all. He has hunted jackalopes, slept with Barbara Walters, Bruce Lee, and Katie Couric, and killed a man with his bare hands. Okay. I made that last one up, but it is entirely possible. This book is full of decadent nonsense. There is one chapter devoted to 'recipes' for the best types of breath to use in order turn women on by blowing it out hot and heavy on their necks.
For example:
Recipe #1: The Dried-Up Riverbank
Thick, musty, lonesome, and dangerous, that's the smell and feeling of a dried-up riverbank. Women are terrified and turned on by it. How to capture it all in a breathy whisper? Simple. Shrimp dipped in stale beer and hot mayonnaise. Let it sit in your mouth for no less than five minutes; work it into your teeth. This one works from a long way out. Try it in a room full of women and see if any react -- more than likely those who do won't be classy but they'll be moved by a memory long since buried that only the rancid smell of dried mud can recover. If that memory is a pleasant one -- and often it is not -- you are in business, my friend.
Or, my favorite:
Recipe #6: The Animal Lover
Who hasn't seen a beautiful woman come to her knees at the sight of a cute puppy? Oh how I've envied that puppy from time to time. [...] Anyway... what is it about dogs that gets the ladies? Can't be their looks, because most dogs look like a pork roast with eyeballs. [...] Anyway I realized women love dogs because of their breath. "Eat a bowl of dog food, Burgundy," I said to myself one night, and so I did, and sure enough it was like cheating. Women go nuts for dog breath. [...] When it comes to dog food I go right for the hard nuggets right out of a forty-pound bag. A handful will do you for the night.
Ha! Love it.
A must read for Will Ferrell fans... or just fans of the absurd and ridiculous.
This book was typical Ron Burgundy. Haha. If you hated Anchorman, don't bother because this book was just a wonderfully insane extension of Anchorman. It is full of the completely ridiculous, entirely fabricated 'facts' of Ron Burgundy's life as the classiest big deal around. Ron Burgundy has done it all. He has hunted jackalopes, slept with Barbara Walters, Bruce Lee, and Katie Couric, and killed a man with his bare hands. Okay. I made that last one up, but it is entirely possible. This book is full of decadent nonsense. There is one chapter devoted to 'recipes' for the best types of breath to use in order turn women on by blowing it out hot and heavy on their necks.
For example:
Recipe #1: The Dried-Up Riverbank
Thick, musty, lonesome, and dangerous, that's the smell and feeling of a dried-up riverbank. Women are terrified and turned on by it. How to capture it all in a breathy whisper? Simple. Shrimp dipped in stale beer and hot mayonnaise. Let it sit in your mouth for no less than five minutes; work it into your teeth. This one works from a long way out. Try it in a room full of women and see if any react -- more than likely those who do won't be classy but they'll be moved by a memory long since buried that only the rancid smell of dried mud can recover. If that memory is a pleasant one -- and often it is not -- you are in business, my friend.
Or, my favorite:
Recipe #6: The Animal Lover
Who hasn't seen a beautiful woman come to her knees at the sight of a cute puppy? Oh how I've envied that puppy from time to time. [...] Anyway... what is it about dogs that gets the ladies? Can't be their looks, because most dogs look like a pork roast with eyeballs. [...] Anyway I realized women love dogs because of their breath. "Eat a bowl of dog food, Burgundy," I said to myself one night, and so I did, and sure enough it was like cheating. Women go nuts for dog breath. [...] When it comes to dog food I go right for the hard nuggets right out of a forty-pound bag. A handful will do you for the night.
Ha! Love it.
A must read for Will Ferrell fans... or just fans of the absurd and ridiculous.
Review Date: 9/10/2014
I received an ARC copy of this anthology in exchange for my honest opinion, and regrettably, I wasn't overly impressed with it. I made notes as I read, and those notes are what I will be posting here now:
Well, I'm about to start the third story, but I thought I'd keep a running commentary on each story so that when it came time to review it, I wouldn't forget how I felt about each individual one.
"Only the End of the World Again" by Neil Gaiman was good. Probably 4 stars. It wasn't the typical greatness that I USUALLY associate with Gaiman, but it was still a quick and enjoyable read. I read it aloud to my eight year old son (editing out the few naughty words, of course) and even he really loved it. There were a few places where he didn't understand what was going on, but overall, he thought it was a great story.
"Bulldozer" by Laird Barron was terrible. I couldn't make it through the story. The writing style was AWFUL. I know that it was supposed to be written -- in parts -- in a stream of consciousness style, but it was awful. I stopped about halfway through and just said screw it. I wouldn't even give this story a star at all.
Finished "Red Goat Black Goat" by Nadia Bulkin. While it had some nice creepy vibes, it was, overall, a 2 star story. I realize, as a short story, it is limited by length and time constraints, but the story just starts in the middle of a world about which the reader has no idea whatsoever. It's not what I would call a good story, although, as I said, there were a couple of moments when I had to look up from my completely dark bedroom and make sure I didn't hear bumps in the night, so it gets one extra star for that.
"The Same Deep Waters As You" was actually fantastic. It's been the best story in the anthology so far. I know, I know... me saying something is better than a Gaiman story is almost unheard of, but this story by Hodge was truly good from beginning to end. It was completely unique, and even though it was a short story, it was completely self-contained. It didn't leave me wondering what happened before the story started to get us to this place, and it ended perfectly, not in a 'to be continued' style. Also, just wow. The ending was a killer. I did NOT see it coming AT ALL. Five stars.
"A Quarter to Three" gets 2.5 stars simply because of Newman's writing style. He is very articulate, and I loved the tone of this story. The content of the story, however, wasn't that great. However, I feel compelled to give it an extra half a star -- bumping it up to 3 stars -- for this one, perfect line:
"It was easy to see what she had seen in him; it left a thin damp trail between his scuffed footprints." Ha. Loved it
"The Dappled Things" was a total bust. 1 star, and that is being generous. So boring I nearly fell asleep twice trying to get through the first two pages. Not worth the time it took to read it.
"Inelastic Collisions" was decent. I have nothing really bad to say about it, but I have nothing super great to say about it either. Three stars.
"Remnants" deserves about 3.5 stars. It's pretty decent. I like the story and the way the plot developed. However, I dislike how abruptly it ended. If the ending had been a little more well-rounded, it could have easily been a 4.5 star story.
"Love is Forbidden We Croak and Howl" -- eh. Two stars. Didn't really hold my interest that much. I kept drifting off...
"The Sect of the Idiot" was a solid three stars. Overall the story wasn't super, but I really, really, REALLY did love the detail paid to the dream sequence. It was beautiful and creepy and dark. Lovely bit of storytelling, that was.
"Jar of Salts" is easily 4.5 stars. Short little Lovecraftian poem, but such a pleasure to read.
Well, I'm finally finished with Lovecraft's Monsters, but honestly, after the last update I made, none of the other stories were really worth reading. I was, overall, a bit disappointed with the book. :-/
Well, I'm about to start the third story, but I thought I'd keep a running commentary on each story so that when it came time to review it, I wouldn't forget how I felt about each individual one.
"Only the End of the World Again" by Neil Gaiman was good. Probably 4 stars. It wasn't the typical greatness that I USUALLY associate with Gaiman, but it was still a quick and enjoyable read. I read it aloud to my eight year old son (editing out the few naughty words, of course) and even he really loved it. There were a few places where he didn't understand what was going on, but overall, he thought it was a great story.
"Bulldozer" by Laird Barron was terrible. I couldn't make it through the story. The writing style was AWFUL. I know that it was supposed to be written -- in parts -- in a stream of consciousness style, but it was awful. I stopped about halfway through and just said screw it. I wouldn't even give this story a star at all.
Finished "Red Goat Black Goat" by Nadia Bulkin. While it had some nice creepy vibes, it was, overall, a 2 star story. I realize, as a short story, it is limited by length and time constraints, but the story just starts in the middle of a world about which the reader has no idea whatsoever. It's not what I would call a good story, although, as I said, there were a couple of moments when I had to look up from my completely dark bedroom and make sure I didn't hear bumps in the night, so it gets one extra star for that.
"The Same Deep Waters As You" was actually fantastic. It's been the best story in the anthology so far. I know, I know... me saying something is better than a Gaiman story is almost unheard of, but this story by Hodge was truly good from beginning to end. It was completely unique, and even though it was a short story, it was completely self-contained. It didn't leave me wondering what happened before the story started to get us to this place, and it ended perfectly, not in a 'to be continued' style. Also, just wow. The ending was a killer. I did NOT see it coming AT ALL. Five stars.
"A Quarter to Three" gets 2.5 stars simply because of Newman's writing style. He is very articulate, and I loved the tone of this story. The content of the story, however, wasn't that great. However, I feel compelled to give it an extra half a star -- bumping it up to 3 stars -- for this one, perfect line:
"It was easy to see what she had seen in him; it left a thin damp trail between his scuffed footprints." Ha. Loved it
"The Dappled Things" was a total bust. 1 star, and that is being generous. So boring I nearly fell asleep twice trying to get through the first two pages. Not worth the time it took to read it.
"Inelastic Collisions" was decent. I have nothing really bad to say about it, but I have nothing super great to say about it either. Three stars.
"Remnants" deserves about 3.5 stars. It's pretty decent. I like the story and the way the plot developed. However, I dislike how abruptly it ended. If the ending had been a little more well-rounded, it could have easily been a 4.5 star story.
"Love is Forbidden We Croak and Howl" -- eh. Two stars. Didn't really hold my interest that much. I kept drifting off...
"The Sect of the Idiot" was a solid three stars. Overall the story wasn't super, but I really, really, REALLY did love the detail paid to the dream sequence. It was beautiful and creepy and dark. Lovely bit of storytelling, that was.
"Jar of Salts" is easily 4.5 stars. Short little Lovecraftian poem, but such a pleasure to read.
Well, I'm finally finished with Lovecraft's Monsters, but honestly, after the last update I made, none of the other stories were really worth reading. I was, overall, a bit disappointed with the book. :-/
Review Date: 9/10/2014
Helpful Score: 2
I read this book because I was a fan of Tawni O'Dell's "Backroads." However, this book did not live up to the precedent set by that novel. There were several problems that stood out to me that I simply couldn't get over. For instance, there were awful pacing issues, and worse, there were times when the point of view simply shifted between characters without warning, and it made it hard to follow along.
Furthermore, there were inconsistencies in the plot. For instance, one lady confesses that she never knew *something that I will not say due to spoilers* until someone told her about it recently (within the last month). Then, her daughter asks her something along the lines of, "And what about the fact that you ruined ______'s life? Do you care about that?" And the lady who just found out about this awful secret responds with, "Yes. I've had to live with that knowledge my whole life." Unless her life just started within the past month, there was a glaring error there.
Also, the book's plot was incredibly predictable. From the VERY MOMENT one of the characters received some very unsettling news, the rest of the story just unfolded before my eyes. There was no mystery left in the book for me, and I almost quit reading it right then. I did manage to soldier on, but in conclusion, I was definitely less than impressed with this particular O'Dell novel.
Furthermore, there were inconsistencies in the plot. For instance, one lady confesses that she never knew *something that I will not say due to spoilers* until someone told her about it recently (within the last month). Then, her daughter asks her something along the lines of, "And what about the fact that you ruined ______'s life? Do you care about that?" And the lady who just found out about this awful secret responds with, "Yes. I've had to live with that knowledge my whole life." Unless her life just started within the past month, there was a glaring error there.
Also, the book's plot was incredibly predictable. From the VERY MOMENT one of the characters received some very unsettling news, the rest of the story just unfolded before my eyes. There was no mystery left in the book for me, and I almost quit reading it right then. I did manage to soldier on, but in conclusion, I was definitely less than impressed with this particular O'Dell novel.
Review Date: 9/6/2014
***DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS -- PLEASE READ NO FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS***
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I recently read this book, and it was really hard for me to put it down. I really liked it. At first, I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to get into it -- the whole computer tech company, successful businessman stuff just did not appeal to me. But the moment the protagonist found his dead dog hanging from a tree with its intestines spilled onto the ground, the story immediately got darker and sucked me in.
Taking something as light and full of childhood innocence as Disney and EPCOT Center and turning it into the scene of darkness, drug abuse, psychoses, assault, and murder is just... well, to put it in a major cliché... it is right up my alley.
Furthermore, I simply fell in love with Lisa. Beautiful Snow White look-alike covered in tattoos, damaged and almost broken beyond repair. My kind of girl; my kryptonite.
I also love the way the story is told. It is reminiscent of Holden Caulfield from Catcher in the Rye, only much, much darker. It is wonderfully poetic.
My only qualm with the book -- the reason I gave it four stars instead of five -- is that I DESPERATELY WANT TO KNOW THE SECRET INGREDIENT IN THE DUST!!!!! There are so many hints and teasers and lead-ins... there are moments when you just KNOW the secret dust ingredient is ABOUT TO BE REVEALED... BUT. IT. NEVER. IS. And that REALLY PISSES ME OFF! I have all kinds of crazy ideas about what the dust is made of, but I have no idea if any of my ideas are correct. So, Mr. Leonard Kinsey, author of this book, if you read this review, feel free to message me privately with the answer to this question: "What did you have in mind as the secret ingredient for the dust when you were writing this book?" Thank you VERY much.
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I recently read this book, and it was really hard for me to put it down. I really liked it. At first, I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to get into it -- the whole computer tech company, successful businessman stuff just did not appeal to me. But the moment the protagonist found his dead dog hanging from a tree with its intestines spilled onto the ground, the story immediately got darker and sucked me in.
Taking something as light and full of childhood innocence as Disney and EPCOT Center and turning it into the scene of darkness, drug abuse, psychoses, assault, and murder is just... well, to put it in a major cliché... it is right up my alley.
Furthermore, I simply fell in love with Lisa. Beautiful Snow White look-alike covered in tattoos, damaged and almost broken beyond repair. My kind of girl; my kryptonite.
I also love the way the story is told. It is reminiscent of Holden Caulfield from Catcher in the Rye, only much, much darker. It is wonderfully poetic.
My only qualm with the book -- the reason I gave it four stars instead of five -- is that I DESPERATELY WANT TO KNOW THE SECRET INGREDIENT IN THE DUST!!!!! There are so many hints and teasers and lead-ins... there are moments when you just KNOW the secret dust ingredient is ABOUT TO BE REVEALED... BUT. IT. NEVER. IS. And that REALLY PISSES ME OFF! I have all kinds of crazy ideas about what the dust is made of, but I have no idea if any of my ideas are correct. So, Mr. Leonard Kinsey, author of this book, if you read this review, feel free to message me privately with the answer to this question: "What did you have in mind as the secret ingredient for the dust when you were writing this book?" Thank you VERY much.
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