It's strange - the thing I liked most about the book is the same thing that cheapened it for me.
The story follows medical student, Amy, who is due to It's strange - the thing I liked most about the book is the same thing that cheapened it for me.
The story follows medical student, Amy, who is due to spend her first night on a psych ward as part of her training.
Long has mental illness been associated with horror, and it's only in recent years that that damaging narrative has started changing, so I wasn't sure how this was going to go.
So I appreciated that Amy's view of the patients is quite compassionate; it comforted me immediately and I was ready for some real twists from a more considerate viewpoint.
Unfortunately, it ends up being quite dull, with most of the 'thrill' coming from questioning who is telling the truth. The story still banks on the instability of the patients, and while I enjoyed questioning who was worth being afraid of, the conclusion soured it all for me. I kept waiting for more.
I did find it an addictive read, but it wasn't as thrilling as others by this author and I felt the treatment of mental illness to be a little contradictory. Still, an interesting read and entertaining enough for a few hours....more
The plot follows Sophie, who finds herself naked and scratched up, with no memory of who she is, nor how she came to be iThis was SO GOOD. Very eerie!
The plot follows Sophie, who finds herself naked and scratched up, with no memory of who she is, nor how she came to be in the unusual town she finds herself in.
From the get-go, I had no clue what was going on and loved every second of it. The people of Withered Hill are completely nuts, but at the same time there's a sad logic to the way they behave and the choices they make. Even their bizarre rituals make their own kind of sense.
The grey morality of this book was my favourite aspect - questionable things are done that have a clear logic, making the reader question who is really in the wrong. At the same time, there is a real menace over the town, creating an atmosphere that will make your skin crawl.
The book alternates between 'Inside' and 'Outside', so we witness the days leading up to Sophie's entry to Withered Hill, which are equally menacing. I really enjoyed the contrast, and followed events in each section with rapt attention.
I did enjoy the ending, but it felt a little heavy-handed on the exposition. Honestly, the way it wrapped up was mostly perfect but I still want MORE.
This was easy to devour, and is the perfect book to snag for Halloween season. It's an extraordinary blend of horror, thriller and mystery, with a fast pace and some clever considerations.
Hello, if I am reading a book about a grown woman mating with marshmallows I am not here for serious sex scenes - IThis took itself way too seriously.
Hello, if I am reading a book about a grown woman mating with marshmallows I am not here for serious sex scenes - I'm here for ridiculousness and hilarious puns.
Some funny moments, but not nearly enough in this mercifully short novella....more
Plot: a woman loves her toaster and so she LOVES her toaster. Physically.
Honestly, just impressed she cBruh.
I finally read my first unhinged romance.
Plot: a woman loves her toaster and so she LOVES her toaster. Physically.
Honestly, just impressed she could make it work.
Tears of laughter from start to finish. I may re-borrow the e-book (free on KU, if you're feeling curious) just to drop some of the quotes regarding No-No Zones and fondling of Nip Nups.
Had to skip the bits about her actual life though - come on, we all know that's not what we're here for.
Thought-provoking, but a little too jumbled to hit as hard as it could have.
Another novel that focuses on the women behind crime, this book follows RuThought-provoking, but a little too jumbled to hit as hard as it could have.
Another novel that focuses on the women behind crime, this book follows Ruth as she investigates the three women that may be connected to the murder of her friend 19 years ago.
I did enjoy the angle and I really love the way this author considers the impact of murder from multiple angles. There's some interesting insight here into the women vs women mentality that is so common in today's society, and I really enjoyed turning those thoughts over. Ruth is not a perfect heroine - her thoughts are flawed and coloured by her own traumas, and so it was interesting to try and read between the lines of what she was saying and doing.
That said, involving the other women did make this feel rather complicated, and it was hard to keep the stories straight. There seemed to be a lot of questionable coincidence, and I lost the thread a few times.
The writing was wonderful and lyrical, with some beautiful phrases and a powerful atmosphere, particularly where we met Rose. I did enjoy losing myself in the language, even if the story felt a little stilted.
I felt the idea was really clever and the themes important, but I think ultimately it was too much to keep straight. It was beautifully written for what it was, but I feel the important parts got lost a little bit in an over-complicated story.
Not quite the follow-up I'd hoped for after the standout debut, Before You Knew My Name but still some solid ideas here with beautiful writing. Worth a shot for the crime fans looking for something a little deeper.
The plot sees Dafyd and his friends kidnapped by an alien race and transported to another world, where thDAMN this was insane and made me feel things.
The plot sees Dafyd and his friends kidnapped by an alien race and transported to another world, where they're forced to prove themselves 'useful' or suffer the nasty consequences.
I don't want to talk too much about the plot, because I really enjoyed how completely unpredictable it was so I'd hate to spoil that for someone else. But, safe to say, this particular alien race is quite a nasty foe.
So much of how I felt reading this book relates to the contemplations of humanity, and how humans would feel and adapt to such situations. I think that's something Corey does well - they can plant the story in a completely foreign setting surrounded by completely foreign creatures and entities, and you still end up mulling over humanity with all of its strengths and weaknesses.
The characters portrayed those ideas brilliantly; even though I didn't like Dafyd at all, his behaviours made this story so much stronger. I loved reading the different reactions and thought processes, and while I sometimes didn't agree with what a character was doing or thinking, I easily understood it.
This story takes a lot of care to develop its characters, but its never dull. There's always action just around the corner, and it's hard to catch a breath before the next twist knocks you for six. As mentioned, I loved how wildly unpredictable it was.
Such a brilliant, fascinating read, that touched some very deep emotions within me. Easily one of my favourites this year, and I can't wait for the next installment!
It turned out okay, but I really wanted a more likeable protagonist and less fingerbanging.
I feel like, if this had focused on being a fantasy story iIt turned out okay, but I really wanted a more likeable protagonist and less fingerbanging.
I feel like, if this had focused on being a fantasy story instead of trying so hard to be romance as well, it would have been so much better. The romance felt forced and led to some incredibly awkward, questionable moments. I could rant, but I'll try not to.
The story is a rather blunt Beauty and the Beast retelling, where Wren is taken from poverty by the beastly North Wind. She assumes she's to be sacrificed but instead she's married off to him, for some awfully thin excuse of his needing her 'royal' blood to fix a barrier around the land. He takes a woman roughly every thirty years but none of this is ever really explained properly.
From the start, Wren is a detestable character. There's a really interesting commentary on feminism and the idea of women being accused of being 'too much', but Wren destroys any sympathy for the argument by being an utter contradictory nuisance. For example, she was allegedly raised in poverty, having to do everything for her twin sister because her parents always looked after one sister more than the other (this is never properly discussed, either), but as soon as she gets servants she's ordering them all around like a queen? It didn't sit right with me.
Also, the cake obsession was so stupid. Don't preach to me about how hard her life has been and then tell me how important cake is to her.
There were so many times when I found myself really caught up in the story, only to be jarred out of it by things that didn't seem to match the characters at all, and it was so incredibly frustrating.
As far as the romance goes, maybe people who are really into romance will appreciate it more, but it made me incredibly uncomfortable. A lot of it didn't make sense to me (especially when Wren spends at least 2/3 of the book insisting she still hates and wants to kill this guy) and it also went into far too much detail when so many other details were missed. I also really didn't like that towards the end there was a throwaway comment about (view spoiler)[Wren selling her body to get sweets for her sister. (hide spoiler)] I felt it was messy and disrespectful and glanced over an important topic that deserved a lot more attention.
I said I wouldn't rant but I really need to vent about this scene: (view spoiler)[ So Boreas comes home from battle so exhausted that he ends up face first on the floor, too tired to move, but Wren insists he has a bath. And he's like, 'please just let me sleep woman' but she gets servants to drag him to the bath anyway. Then he's in the bath and she's like, 'huh, you should get some sleep' but he insists he can't sleep? So she gives him a hand job in the bath to help relax him?? And then is shocked he's so tired he can't get out of the bath??? WTF. Like, what actually was the point here other than a sad excuse for a hand job? That whole scene was such a confusing mess and I hated it with every fibre of my being. (hide spoiler)]
Sigh.
So yeah. The romance sucked and ruined this completely for me.
There was a decent story lurking in here, but it just tried so hard to be another A Court of Thorns and Roses that it fell flat. Which is a shame, because there are some really great ideas in here that I wanted to explore further.
I guess if you love romance with a side of fantasy, you'll appreciate this. If you're okay with a thin plot holding the sex scenes together, you'll get your kicks here. But fantasy lovers will find better B&B retellings elsewhere.
I wanted badass but I got ... mopey. Not quite what I wanted, and sadly kind of dull.
When I think of Hera, Queen of the Gods, I think of petty vengeanI wanted badass but I got ... mopey. Not quite what I wanted, and sadly kind of dull.
When I think of Hera, Queen of the Gods, I think of petty vengeance and ferocity. I think of her as bold, brave, and confident.
I was excited for a book that would take these things and show us a villain in a new light, but instead this book tries to make her something of a beaten-down heroine? It really didn't work for me.
I didn't like Hera as a character here at all, and I felt the story really washed her out and turned her into a victim. It seemed to be fighting so hard to tell a feminist story that it forgot women can be villains, too. Hera is well-known for her wrath and it was so washed out, here.
The storytelling was also to blame, I feel. It takes all the big stories from Greek mythology and mostly glosses over them all in a sentence or two - as though it was essential to include all these things but the author didn't really want to. I would have preferred less references in lieu of further detail. As a consequence of the sparse detail, it feels like nothing really notable happens - it's just the bland passing of time.
I just wanted so much more story than what I got. It was disappointing to get to the end and feel that I hadn't really felt anything at all.
An ambitious goal, but I do feel it fell flat. Others may appreciate this more sympathetic take on the famous Queen, but it didn't quite meet my expectations.
A cozy lil space story with some excellent characters.
Somehow got from this exactly what I expected? It was a story about various random people in a hA cozy lil space story with some excellent characters.
Somehow got from this exactly what I expected? It was a story about various random people in a hotel floating in space. I liked the chill vibe, to be honest. It was calm sci-fi - not something I've really experienced before!
Essentially, all of these characters have a past that led them to this floating hotel. Most are staff, escaping various things, but there are a few regulars as well who round out the story quite well.
I liked that each character's view progressed the story in its own way. There's no real jumping back and forth; the story marches steadily on, gaining greater insight into the players as we go.
No hectic terminology or wildly deep ideas. Just a soft lil space adventure featuring a bunch of misfits.
I do think things could have been a little more thrilling, but as it is I still enjoyed getting to know the characters and their stories. There were still plenty of moments that kept me invested in these people, the hotel, and the collective future of all.
I enjoyed this at the start but it got a bit too long and tedious for me, full of stereotypes and clichés.
The story begins with a wizard taking chargeI enjoyed this at the start but it got a bit too long and tedious for me, full of stereotypes and clichés.
The story begins with a wizard taking charge of a unique orphan baby - obviously destined to save the world. The baby gets left with a family who raise it as their own, but when the child is older they realise they're 'different' and have special powers unique even amongst those who also have special powers. But an evil villain is searching for this specific child. Ooooooh.
Yes, that does sound like the same plot of almost any fantasy ever.
I listened to this one, and the narrator was not for me. He read so slow that I had it on 1.75x (I usually ma out at 1.5x) speed and it was STILL slow. Also, he seemed to struggle with female voices. Yikes.
Aside from that, the story was okay at the start but just trope after familiar trope meant my attention started wandering and I just kinda lost interest by the end.
There were some cool characters - okay, actually I liked Ferrin and that was about it. And maybe also that guy that worked for the King. I lost track of the names very easily.
Even the giant monsters that crept in towards the end of the book didn't really save it for me, though there were some dramatic deaths that caught my attention.
I think, at the end of the day, this was just too long to have such an unoriginal story. It needed a unique hook to keep me guessing and there was nothing.
Mostly mediocre. But cheap, so there's that, I guess....more
This was an interesting idea, with plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing.
No real feelings towards any of the characters, but Another audio win.
This was an interesting idea, with plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing.
No real feelings towards any of the characters, but I was here for a thriller listen so it did the job. There were plenty of reveals to keep me hooked and I liked trying to puzzle out the truth.
Some parts were a little predictable, but it was an easy story to follow so I didn't mind.
The whole idea of this sociopathic son was fascinating, too, and I liked the way it contemplated things along these lines.
Ultimately it was good fun and an easy listen.
Really enjoying this crime audio book trend I've got happening....more
This was probably a little too chaotic and coincidental for me.
Another Audible listen, this one was immediately off-putting because of the accents. WeThis was probably a little too chaotic and coincidental for me.
Another Audible listen, this one was immediately off-putting because of the accents. We all tend to read in our own accent, so for me hearing this recited with a British accent was just a bit jarring. Some words were harder to understand, and at times the narrator just seemed like she was in a hurry to get the paragraph out in one breath. So nitpicky things but they didn't work for me right off the bat.
The story is told by Hannah and Nadine - Hannah being the waitress with an unhealthy obsession with the couple at Table Six and Nadine being one half of said couple. As the story unravels, so too do their secrets.
As a tense thriller, I didn't find it particularly tense, nor was it particularly thrilling. Hannah is loathsome and lives a relatively mundane life, while Max and Nadine are a copy of the 'obnoxiously rich' couples I've read about plenty before in this genre. They throw money at problems and their love is worn out and held together by money and secrets. Nothing new here at all, really.
The action is a jumbled mess that jumps back and forth and sometimes just seems like its making things harder than they should be. There were also just so many unbelievable moments that took the thrill out and left the story feeling cheap. One can only suspend disbelief for so long.
It did still hold attention, and it was easy enough to listen to while I did other things, and ultimately I did listen to the whole thing in a day so it was a nice one to tick off.
Nothing particularly new or thrilling here, but it was cheap via Kindle and definitely twisted so not a total write-off....more
Apparently I enjoy thrillers more in audio format. I actually listen properly! How fun.
This one starts with a murder, and that's nAnother Audible win!
Apparently I enjoy thrillers more in audio format. I actually listen properly! How fun.
This one starts with a murder, and that's not even the focus of the plot! How cool is that! The story is about Quinn running after murdering her husband and ending up in this dingy motel that has a lot of secrets. Ooooh.
I really enjoyed the narration, and am impressed at how easily I told the characters apart. Nice work with the differentiation. The characters each have their own secrets and it's fun to guess at who is hiding what.
The pace is helped along by big revelations followed by changing viewpoints, which is equal parts frustrating and fun. The different perspectives round out the story really well and help to fill in the blanks slowly so that the tension stays tight throughout.
Some great twists, here, too, as well as great character development.
Really enjoyed this one! These last two audiobooks have given me greater respect for audiobooks in general so I'll definitely be dabbling more....more
If I'd been paying attention this might have been a 4-star, but I think it's more likely it would have been a 2-star. So just gonna settle on 3.
I lisIf I'd been paying attention this might have been a 4-star, but I think it's more likely it would have been a 2-star. So just gonna settle on 3.
I listened to this one, which means I started with a low commitment to it. I did really enjoy this narrator and I'm sure she's done a few others I've enjoyed. Very easy to listen to.
The story starts with Cyrene getting chosen as an affiliate - and if there was an explanation for why this role is such a big deal I missed it. I didn't miss the part where she gets a super special role because she flirted with the king, though.
I feel like there were a lot of clichés in this story but I thankfully missed a lot of them because I was only half tuned in. The times I was paying attention there were some really cringe-worthy moments but on the whole I enjoyed the overall story so maybe it's a good thing I missed all the little details.
Cyrene is of course a classic, YA 'Special One' - the one with powers that haven't been seen in years and everyone is obsessed with her and everything happens because of her but of course she's in denial the entire time because she's ever so humble. It's a trope I'm really, really tired of.
There's a supporting cast that seemed better - I liked Maelia - but I'd like to re-read to properly understand why they're all getting involved. Ahlvie seemed like a cool dude at times but then he does some really questionable things later?
I also really hated what I heard of the Cyrene/Prince (I don't remember his name - K-something) relationship. Like he's super skeezy straight up and then later she's (view spoiler)[fake-seducing him? And he falls for it?!?! (hide spoiler)] WHY. Stuff like that is DUMB and why I suspect a re-read will drop it a star.
But there was also a mystery related to dead bodies turning up so that had me intrigued.
Honestly, I'll probably listen again. It was interesting enough to me that I wanted to go back and listen properly so I may just do that. Orrrr I may just move on to the second and see what happens. *shrug*
Love this narrator, though. She reads it well!...more
I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't magical cavemen.
This book centres around Rebaa, who carries a A decent read but not what I expected.
I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't magical cavemen.
This book centres around Rebaa, who carries a 'Forbidden' child - descendant of two different races. Chased from her home and left to wander the wilds alone, she encounters Nen, and the two women must work together if they wish to survive.
I'll be honest - I zoned out a little once Rebaa and Nen came together and it was all survival stuff. I got a bit bored. And distracted. Have any of my reviews for audiobooks ever NOT mentioned me being distracted? I am rubbish at multi-tasking. Anyhoo.
The story flows easily enough, and there are some interesting bits and pieces, but I was never hugely absorbed. I felt okay if I'd zoned out and missed things, because it never seemed like I was missing much. Plus, the magic seemed non-existent? A mention here and there, but really it was disappointingly absent.
Then there's the actual audio presentation: I really enjoyed how easily the narrator differentiated between characters, but my oh my did her Nen voice make me laugh. It was so caveman. I couldn't take it seriously.
It still had moments where I did find myself captivated, but not enough for me to be truly invested. I liked it, I followed the story easily enough and was entertained, but it wasn't anything particularly memorable.
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