|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
my rating |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0143783793
| 9780143783794
| 0143783793
| 3.12
| 334
| unknown
| Jan 29, 2018
|
did not like it
|
Thank you to Penguin Random House Australia for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for honest review DNF @ 120 pages ALSO FIND THIS REVIEW ON MY Thank you to Penguin Random House Australia for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for honest review DNF @ 120 pages ALSO FIND THIS REVIEW ON MY BLOG R E V I E W Palace of Fires is one of the first physical ARC’s I’ve been sent. Which made me pretty excited, obviously. Unfortunately, it fell really flat despite the exciting premise that had me requesting the book. From the writing to the characters everything felt incredibly flat and wasn’t enjoyable as a whole or even as a segment. Since I didn’t actually finish Palace of Fires, I will only be commenting on the part I did read and my thoughts and feelings on it. The book begins with a girl struggling to support her family in a historical era (I’m not sure on the year). Her little sister died, her mother and father are on their deathbeds and no doubt her younger brother will follow from starvation. It’s pretty damn sad. That is until she makes a deal with the devil, that her family and ancestors will have bountiful crops that will sustain them and provide them with an income. It’s an opportunity too hard to pass up and this girl jumps at it. The only catch is that she has sold her soul. Yes, the big cliché in these deals. However, this girl breaks her deal. Then we get a time jump to her ancestors who are on their way to a farmers market to sell produce they grew. Blah, blah, blah this mum and daughter duo eventually end up on the run from something evil chasing them – don’t be worried, you’ll get the perspective of these evil people so the mystery and suspense are destroyed. I really was invested in the prologue that told the historical girls story. I feel like it would have been a better story as a whole as we learn why she broke her promise and, ultimately, see her punishment. What we got though was a mess, at least in this uncorrected proof. The main character, Lily, was also pretty unbearable. She came across as the classic special snowflake main character, which I personally have nothing against. My problem was how easy everything was coming to her. She barely had to try and everyone was willing to risk his or her lives for her. Why? No idea, she really didn’t seem that special on the part of the book I read. It also seemed that she had some sort of magic that she was going to master before the end of the book so within 300 pages. Another issue I had with Palace of Fires was the number of points of view throughout. I am usually not too bothered by the changes in perspective when I feel they add to the plot. In the case where I felt they really took away from the mystery of the book, which feels like the main point of it. We get two of the villain’s perspectives, along with a boy that Lily’s thinks is cute. This is obviously on top of Lily’s POV. It just really took away from what the book was saying in my opinion and didn’t aid in what was happening at all. The writing style of the book also was disconnected. The flow and transitions between chapters were inconsistent and it lacked a severe depth of the characters or world-building – hence, why I put it down. Overall, Palace of Fires had a lot of promise but was very poorly executed. I know this is just an ARC so maybe these issues have been fixed in the final copy. However, I can’t ignore these issues in the copy I received since I was, unfortunately, let down by my too high expectations. Also, if you're looking to buy any books over at Book Depository, feel free to use my affiliate link! I gain a small 5% commission at no extra cost to you. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Jan 23, 2018
|
Jan 23, 2018
|
Jan 22, 2018
|
Mass Market Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 1481497588
| 9781481497589
| 3.65
| 99,135
| Sep 26, 2017
| Sep 26, 2017
|
it was ok
|
TRIGGER WARNINGS: alcohol (briefly) REVIEW AND OTHERS ARE ALSO ON MY BLOG R A M B L E I’m sure we all know that feeling when we are so excited for a boo TRIGGER WARNINGS: alcohol (briefly) REVIEW AND OTHERS ARE ALSO ON MY BLOG R A M B L E I’m sure we all know that feeling when we are so excited for a book but as soon as you start reading you go blah. That was me in this case. I was super excited for An Enchantment of Raven, almost every friend I have given it four stars or higher which only built my excitement. Furthered by the fact it was compared to A Court of Mist and Fury, arguably one of my favourite books. I was left so underwhelmed by this book it was ridiculous. I finished and went “that was a waste of time”. I mean, it did only take me around 24 hours to read but still. So, obviously, this book has been compared to the ACOTAR series several times (or at least I’ve seen it compared). I honestly think that’s an insult to Sarah J Maas, who I know many of you don’t like but still. Feyre is one of the strongest characters in fiction for me and just thinking Isobel could be compared to her is laughable to me. The girl finds herself in love with the love interest within two weeks and basically becomes useless from there. It was so infuriating. She barely struggled when he kidnapped her as well. It was so frustrating. I should mention I did enjoy the writing style of this book but sometimes it moved too fast and I was left looking back at previous pages confused as to where this new development came from. Half the time it didn’t really add to the plot (prepare for a rant on that). I just really think I had too many expectations for this book and it didn’t reach a single one of them. P L O T What plot? Honestly, what plot? There wasn’t a single piece of plot. There was nothing to grip you in and further your reading. Apart from the romance between the protagonists, which wasn’t interesting at all. There is honestly no chemistry between the pair and it is laughable to me that this could be viewed as romantic. The plot basically goes: Isobel paints portraits, she doesn’t want anyone else to paint portraits, she paints infamous Autumn Prince, falls in love in two weeks, he kidnaps her and after a paragraph, Isobel no longer cares. I shit you not. That’s it. There is a subplot going on that would have been great to include before the final 80% (which is what happened) but nope. We just get a love story for pages and pages. It did my head in. I love a good romance as much as anyone, but I need chemistry and build up. This book had neither. I also need a good plot to follow the romance so it isn’t all I’m focusing on. Again, not something this book had. I did like Isobel’s interactions with everyone but Rook (aka the Autumn Prince). It gave her some form of personality. Actually, I take that back. Usually, when Rook wasn’t around she was pining after him and wondering if she really liked him and about his pathetic declaration of love. C H A R A C T E R S #I S O B E L I am not sure I have ever read a more bland character than Isobel. Honestly, she had zero personality. Even before Rook kidnaps her she has no personality. Actually, maybe. She is high key petty in one scenario and kind of rude towards her aunt/doesn’t care about them too much further into the book (also conveniently dead parents). I would usually rant about how dumb she is but I am honestly speechless, a very rare occurrence to me when it comes to venting about a character. I can usually vent for hours. However, Isobel’s stupidly has left me completely speechless. Her obsession with a boy she knows nothing about and who is lowkey a villainous creature is disgusting. I wanted some form of girl power and I did not get a single piece of it. I truly don’t get the appeal to her either. Rook is basically obsessed with her and I really feel like it is simply because she is obsessed with him (wow romance). Someone truly needed to give this girl a reality check. #R O O K What a poor excuse for a love interest. I get why people would compare him to Rhysand in some ways (but what an insult to Rhys tbh) due to him kidnapping Isobel (he literally kidnaps her though is the wild thing). I just don’t have a lot to say on him either because much like Isobel, he lacks a personality that isn’t obsessing over her. Honestly, it’s ridiculous how much I did not like these two. Their scenes together left me cringing and hating everything. Every feeling of ‘love’ between the two felt artificial to me and I really wish the relationship had grown organically instead of just being forced upon us. O V E R A L L Overall, a massive disappointed for me. I really don’t have much to say to round this off (a common theme in this review, but I’ve had a pretty shitty day so writing this in itself was difficult for me). I mean, give this a go, I can understand why so many people love it but just not for me. Happy reading everyone. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Sep 27, 2017
|
Sep 28, 2017
|
Jul 22, 2017
|
Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 1501133403
| 9781501133404
| 1501133403
| 4.01
| 8,167
| Jan 23, 2018
| Jan 23, 2018
|
it was ok
|
CHECK OUT THIS REVIEW ON MY BLOG, WHERE IT IS MUCH BETTER FORMATTED R E V I E W When you pick up a book under the romantic suspense genre you suspect s CHECK OUT THIS REVIEW ON MY BLOG, WHERE IT IS MUCH BETTER FORMATTED R E V I E W When you pick up a book under the romantic suspense genre you suspect some of both. Some suspense in the plot and a dash of romance to undercut the horrific acts that are being put on the page. Keep Her Safe has neither. There is romance, but it is rushed while it is only being developed, with not much on the page that would lead to a romantic outcome. Then, there’s the fact the suspense is basically all ruined by 20 pages in. If that. The book tells you who did the crime and I went ‘it can’t be that easy, there’ll be a twist’. There is no twist. Well, there is, but it’s just that one of the characters is a creepy old man who cheats on his wife with prostitutes who are underage. What a charming guy. Not a twist either, just disturbing. Plus, I called it. I love K.A Tucker’s attempt in this genre – He Will Be My Ruin – so I really was expecting to love this. I mean, I even read the blurb. Which, if you’ve read my other reviews you’ll notice I very rarely do this. Keep Her Safe is a book full of missing parents who suffer from addiction (some succumbing to it), corrupt Texan police and a pair of characters who would have grown up together if circumstances had been different. It would have been a great story if it wasn’t so bland. The premise itself is interesting if it weren’t for the lack of suspense of mystery in the text. L I K E S ✗WRITING IS GOOD I think K.A Tucker has an excellent writing style. It’s very engaging and it’s very fun to read. The characters are usually a lot more fleshed out and enjoyable to read, but the writing is always solid. From the dialogue to the description, I can always count on K.A to deliver a decent and enjoyable book. It’s really the only reason I didn’t give this book one star as well. ✗FLASHBACKS WOULD HAVE MADE A BETTER STORY There are a series of flashbacks in Keep Her Safe that reveal the truth of what happened the night Abe (a Texan police officer) was murdered. These tended to come as Grace and Noah made a discovery to support the flashback (the discovery was usually very obvious too). However, the flashbacks themselves were incredibly engaging and probably the best-written part of the book. There are a lot more suspense in those 10 (random guess) flashbacks than the other 50 chapters. I just really think K.A Tucker should have chosen to tell Abe’s story as the main plot instead of messing around with the dull Noah and Grace. D I S L I K E S ✗PREDITCABILITY Do you hear that? It’s me snoring from how boring Keep Her Safe was. Honestly. This book wasn’t even fluffy to justify the predictability of it all. I don’t even mean the romance itself I really do mean the plot. You can’t tell the audience who committed a crime early in the book and then have that person actually commit that crime. It is boring. Honestly. I had no reason to guess or no mystery. There was no suspense either. There’s a dirty cop in the force and another cop sees it but decides to report it only to be framed as a dirty cop. Honestly, a boring mess. I would have fallen asleep if it hadn’t been for the writing. Thank God, for the writing. ✗POINTLESS & MEANINGLESS TASKS Noah and Grace are constantly running around. Accomplishing what, exactly? Nothing. The FBI is involved, there’s a bunch of pointless exchanges between Grace and the lead detective. There’s a shit tonne of pointless of conversations between Noah and literally everyone. Grace gives away what they’re doing to the person they suspect almost instantly. There’s a random scene where the dirty cops try to plant stuff in Noah’s house to discredit his mother. It’s really just pointless and fodder to fill up the book. Almost every time another one of these tasks would occur I was rolling my eyes and wondering when we’d get to the point. Since nothing actually added to the point of what was happening in the novel. Especially since a lot of these scenes were meant to make people out to be suspicious and reveal their true intentions. Surprise, literally everyone is in on it. I’m not impressed. ✗ROMANCE? WHAT ROMANCE? Now, this is a strange point for me to be making. I usually say there’s too much romance in books. I want more depth. However, Keep Her Safe literally had no depth to the relationship. One moment they’re just friends the next they’re almost fucking in a pantry before they find blood. It’s really just a strange feeling. I just really wasn’t on board with Noah and Grace. There wasn’t the spark for me bare the initial moment when she threatens to kill him – good stuff. Ultimately, it came across as underdeveloped and bland. ✗GAME OF MISSING IDENTITY I mean this in a really literal sense because neither Noah nor Grace has a single piece of personality. They’re both incredibly bland. Not even that, but their personalities are identical to each others. I would look at who’s POV each chapter was but by a few sentences in I was trying to pick out who’s voice I was really listening to. It was a lot harder than you’re thinking as well. It didn’t make sense for Grace and Noah to read the same either. They both had different lives and they both had different things to be angry about, though you wouldn’t know that from around 20% onwards. Actually, this particular dislike gets really big after the pair head back to Texas from Arizona. I’m not sure if it’s a Texas thing (very much a joke, please no one from Texas take offence) or just a ‘this book is crap and rushed’ thing. I’m leaning towards the latter. Overall, I was promised ‘complex, gritty, sexy, and thrilling’ and I got quite literally, none of that. Keep Her Safe by K.A Tucker does not live up to what it promises in the blurb. It does not fulfil the romantic suspense or mystery thriller genre either. It is simply bland and full of bland characters. I would highly recommend passing on this particular book, there are much better romantic suspense books out there. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Jan 31, 2018
|
Jan 31, 2018
|
Jun 30, 2017
|
Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 163375605X
| 9781633756052
| 163375605X
| 3.83
| 684
| Jan 03, 2017
| Jan 03, 2017
|
did not like it
|
DNF @ 40% Have you ever been super excited for a book and then you start reading it and you're like what? That's this book and me. I had staked this boo DNF @ 40% Have you ever been super excited for a book and then you start reading it and you're like what? That's this book and me. I had staked this book out a couple of months ago and loved the mysterious blurb. One chapter in, and I hated it. This book is a bunch of telling. This happened and this and this and this. As our main character basically has amnesia everyone is telling her events of her life and it's quite frustrating. I don't mind an amnesia story when it's done well. Lost Girls is not done well. My eyes kept skipping paragraphs and cringing at the dialogue because it was all so pointless. Almost every interaction had me rolling my eyes and I just couldn't handle that. Ultimately, this story tries to do too much and be too kickass that it comes off childishly stupid. It's so dumb. Honestly. I'm also not sure a quiet 5'7 almost anorexic (that's the description, "am I anorexic?") girl could really beat up her 6ft something brother. Guess I'll need to find my next mystery book somewhere else. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Mar 27, 2017
|
Mar 27, 2017
|
Mar 26, 2017
|
Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 0385755880
| 9780385755887
| 0385755880
| 4.12
| 585,386
| Jan 06, 2015
| Jan 06, 2015
|
did not like it
|
TRIGGER WARNINGS: abuse, depression, in depth descriptions of suicide, suicide, death, anxiety I went in knowing I'd hate this. I know it romanticises TRIGGER WARNINGS: abuse, depression, in depth descriptions of suicide, suicide, death, anxiety I went in knowing I'd hate this. I know it romanticises depression and suicide. I know these characters were nothing but their personality but I wanted to personally know. Also, a bunch of people in this Facebook group I'm in kept recommending this and I wanted a leg to stand on when I say "hey this book is actually really problematic, stop recommending it". I shouldn't have wasted my time. It got to the stage my eyes were moving across the page but words? They weren't there. I took notes while reading but it became tedious at 15% purely because I was taking a note every. single. page. That's right folks, that's how bad this book is. Because characters who are only the textbook version of their mental illness make sense! What's a personality? No clue, it's surrounded by stupid behaviour and stereotypes. So, I can't comment on everything but for this amount of notes to be taken in such a short snippet of this book? Not good. A collection of my thoughts while reading it: - "Is today a good day to die?" - Honestly what the fuck - hate at first sentence - they're so obnoxious kill me - “Behind the ugly glasses she’s pretty, almost like a china doll.” - ^ just going to leave that there because i don't think it deserves a sarcastic comment because of how dumb it is - 3% in and it feels as though it's making comedy out of depression - like yo i have depression, have had it for as long as i remember so i feel i can comment on the fact this is terrible representation in just the first chapter - ok it literally say it's started to rain and our the male mc decides to state that again??? that's sloppy - please stop describing her eyes @ 5% - "She’s pretty and tall, but not too tall, with long, restless legs and curvy hips, which I like on a girl. Too many high school girls are built like boys.” - "semihot girls" - let's comment on girls appearances every other page because i'm a piece of shit - still @ 5%, even angrier now - how is this good rep in anyway - this is complete and utter mockery of good rep - i want to punch everyone who says this is good rep - terrible counsellors? wow great let's tell kids that adults aren't here to help - counsellor lists people who would be upset if he died, Finch is stuck on multiple girlfriends - what a literal piece of shit - he's obsessed with Violet after chapter one i'm going to puke - so much telling rather than showing, it's frustrating - punishment equals bangs? jesus this book is a mess - these counsellors are terrible - Finch is honestly a pompous asshole - Violet is bearable despite her lack of personality - i can't stand judgemental characters??? - how many stereotypes are shoved into this book - the answer? - all of them - Finch is honestly a pig, which is an insult to pigs - "Faggot" is used as an insult - why is everything sexualised??? - so edgy!! so cool!!! turntables!!! vintage!!! hipster!!! w!!! o!!! a!!! h!!! - SMOKING SO COOL - "even though i'm not much into eating" ?????? - these characters are so dumb i want to strangle them - literally no one this age talks like this - ahhh, that my friends is the smell of sweet, sweet slut shaming - there's seriously so much focus on people's eyes, it's weird - these kids are so ungrateful - *boy starts facebook page just to talk to you* this is not romantic - 16% invites himself over to her house late at night & she gives in and just says yes after saying no?????? - I hate everyone In short. There are better books out there. A List of Cages. Under Rose Tainted Skies. Eliza and Her Monsters. There are books out there that paint realistic views on mental health. This is definitely not one of them. This book is disgusting. Not only the way it shames women but the way it romanticises suicide and depression. I've honestly never been so revolted by a book. Truly. If I see people recommending this they're about to be blocked/unfollowed/unfriended/punched because no. I honestly feel dumb after reading this - something that only happened when I read Caraval. This book is not good. This book is terrible. This book should be banned. Having depression isn't being quirky or different. Having depression also isn't who you are entirely. No one ever knows I have depression, unless I tell them. I know I've recovered, however I still have bad days. This book doesn't paint any of this in a realistic light. I have experienced almost every trigger warning this book features, and I'm telling you, as a person who struggled through 3/6 of the triggers, this book is a piece of shit. Not only that, but the end is a complete cop out. Almost every idea is stolen from other books. The Fault In Our Stars. Perks of Being a Wallflower. Looking for Alaska. 13 Reasons Why. All books I hated. My tip for you if you love this Find a better novel to promote as your mental health awareness book. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Jun 15, 2017
|
Jun 17, 2017
|
Mar 19, 2017
|
Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| 1595148248
| 9781595148247
| 1595148248
| 4.16
| 13,334
| Feb 06, 2018
| Feb 06, 2018
|
it was ok
|
YOU CAN ALSO CLICK HERE AND FIND THIS REVIEW ON MY BLOG R E V I E W SPOILERS FOR ALL BOOKS IN THE SERIES, INCLUDING IMMORTAL REIGN Immortal Reign was on YOU CAN ALSO CLICK HERE AND FIND THIS REVIEW ON MY BLOG R E V I E W SPOILERS FOR ALL BOOKS IN THE SERIES, INCLUDING IMMORTAL REIGN Immortal Reign was one of my most anticipated releases of 2017. Then it got pushed back to 2018 and I remained excited. I was sitting on the edge of my seat after the short events of Crystal Storm. The ending especially had me curious about the fate of Magnus Damora in this book. How would my beautiful villain turned softie fair out? I wasn’t going to write a review but I just have so many thoughts, none good. I typically love conclusions when they’re fleshed out. However, in Immortal Reign a lot happens while simultaneously the characters never move from their original positions. Amara is suddenly not the enemy, King Gaius is dies, and the elemental crystals are the only thing that matters. That is really the entire concept of this book. There’s a lot of murder, Lucia is meant to be some sort of demon to the people, and no one seems to really care about the poor people who the elementals have taken over. There is a slight care from Cleo, but really, grief is not something that Morgan Rhodes has a talent for writing. There were just so many problems with Immortal Reign. It’s not as if I hadn’t known there were problems in the previous books, I had simply ignored them because I didn’t want it to take away from how exciting the content was. Immortal Reign by Morgan Rhodes has not a single scrap of that excitement from the previous books – which, I’ve rated all five stars. It is weak. The main focus of this book is to give redemption arcs to the antagonists who have been terrible people. Not only that but there is some crazy queer baiting for a f/f couple. I don’t understand why the m/m couple was stated in the text but the f/f couple obviously gets pushed aside. To have a few more short points before I get into the big stuff; Lucia was a terrible mother, Jonas lost his spark, and I have no idea what Magnus and Cleo did apart from having sex together on a beach. L I K E S ✗ MAGNEO HAPPY ENDING This is really the only thing I did enjoy. My one ship of this series made it to the end and got a happy ending. I shouldn’t have been shocked considering they’re on the cover. That’s really all I can say. I love the paths they’re character took throughout the series and they didn’t really do much this story, so, they got their happy ending and that is all that really matters to me about the entire book. ✗ APOLOGY ARCS – KILL ME? The biggest problem of the whole book. I mentioned this earlier in my review, but the apology and redemption arcs of two of the biggest antagonists is a problem. Also the fact that one of the antagonists, Amara, was spontaneously queer baited – I shouldn’t be shocked after what happened with Nic. It just all came across as weak, honestly. You can kill of characters even if they haven’t been redeemed in the book. They’re villains for a reason, you don’t need your character to mourn for their abusive father who was a dictator ruler. You also don’t need to redeem a character that murdered her whole family and blame her grandmother. It all just came across as wasted page time, honestly. This book could have been shorter without all the unnecessary pages that had King Gaius and Amara become ‘good’ people. There was just such a lack of need for it. Also, considering this series is compared to Game of Thrones you would really think Rhodes would be willing to kill them off with no regret. ✗ FORCED RELATIONSHIPS Jonas and Lucia made me so uncomfortable. Honestly. The whole relationship was just weird. There was also no explanation for either of them in the end, which had me rolling my eyes. The relationship came out of nowhere and looking back, I find it weird that Lucia named her baby after a girl she had gotten murdered and Jonas loved. It’s just so weird. Neither of them shared two brain cells between them as well. They just ran into situations without an ounce of thinking, not caring who got hurt in the process. ✗ WHERE IS THE ORIGINALITY? It’s not only the fact I didn’t enjoy Immortal Reign, but it lacked originality. It seemed like the story went around in circles, we faced problems we already had and the characters seemed to have lost a lot of the development they had fought for in previous books. It was incredibly disappointing to read and wonder what had happened between the last book and this one, despite the fact the story picks up right where it left off. POINTLESS SCENES I think pointless scenes added the most to the circle feeling of this book. It felt every time we were taking one step forward we would take two steps backwards. It was redundant and so frustrating to read. I just wanted these characters to do something useful to the plot instead of screaming and fighting over useless stuff. A few of the POV’s could have been cut – cough, Amara, cough, Nic, cough – and it would have really not impacted the book at all. It was just so much wasted page time, especially with Amara’s section being filled with endless queerbaiting. ✗ EVERYONE GETS A GOLD STAR Everyone gets a happy ending; no one is at risk for more than a chapter, no one has to face any great issues. It was boring. Every POV from Jonas, Magnus, Nic, Amara, Cleo and Lucia were all boring. Why? Because not a single trouble happened. However, they were all rewarded despite the fact they literally did nothing that just feels pointless. The biggest problem ever, as well, had the easiest conclusion and Lucia was acting like a fucking moron over her child but couldn’t think to ask a simple question of ‘where is my baby?’ – reasons why children shouldn’t have children. It would have been great for there to actually be some danger so that the characters deserved the endless gold stars they received, but nope. Overall, I’m disappointed. If you were looking for a concise conclusion that’ll make you happy, I’d probably skip Falling Kingdoms altogether. I realise looking at it now that the series really fell apart around Frozen Tides and wasn’t able to pick it’s self up in this final book. It’s disappointing and frustrating just how juvenile this book was at stages. I just wish Morgan Rhodes would have taken a different path because Immortal Reign reads as if it was rushed and just a clump of ideas pulled from the trash. Also, if you're looking to buy any books over at Book Depository, feel free to use my affiliate link! I gain a small 5% commission at no extra cost to you. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Feb 06, 2018
|
Feb 07, 2018
|
Feb 02, 2017
|
Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| 4.23
| 24,777
| Jan 22, 2016
| Jan 22, 2016
|
did not like it
|
DNF @ 8% I could tell this book was going to be funny, but I was incredibly distracted by the protagonist calling a stranger walking into a bathroom wh DNF @ 8% I could tell this book was going to be funny, but I was incredibly distracted by the protagonist calling a stranger walking into a bathroom while she's butt naked and shaving "sexy". I don't know about you, but that facts just more than a little distracting for me. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Jan 27, 2017
|
Jan 28, 2017
|
Jan 27, 2017
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||||
| 0734411847
| 9780734411846
| 0734411847
| 4.00
| 26,895
| Oct 01, 2010
| Oct 01, 2010
|
it was ok
|
DNF @ 9% Embrace was a book I desperately wanted to like. Not for me. For the sake of one of my new Goodreads friends Caitlin. I know if I had read thi DNF @ 9% Embrace was a book I desperately wanted to like. Not for me. For the sake of one of my new Goodreads friends Caitlin. I know if I had read this book six years ago it would have been my favourite, much like how I loved Halo but would despise it now. Caitlin told me that I was nitpicking, but in all honestly I couldn't help it. My body kept folding in on itself to cringe at the writing style and the protagonist thoughts. So, I didn't even get to the actual storyline of the book. We also aren't given much information on one of the love interests that the protagonist is oh so in love with. Though, at 9% I didn't exactly meet the other guy either. Keep in mind, that I hadn't exactly read a lot of this book so the quotes I am providing are not spoilers in anyway - they are simply ones I had to get down so I could use in this review. cracks knuckles Now, to begin the roasting game. “Violet Eden!’ Steph said sternly, sucking me out of my trance. ‘We have your dad’s Amex, a green light and no specified limit.’ Her mock rebuke morphed into a devious grin. ‘What more could a girl want as a birthday present?” [image] At this quote, I knew I would hate this book. I love a good best friend in books, and I have been told that Steph is actually a good friend. However, in the single scene, I saw her in I have never wanted to punch a character more - an exaggeration because I have wanted to punch so many. “It’s like he’s training you for battle or something.’ Her eyes lit up. ‘Hey, maybe he has some underground fight club and he’s grooming you!’ [image] I am one of the weirdest people you could talk to (old and weird for life) and I say some stupid crap. I talk about random things and will usually message my friends a bunch of stuff that doesn't make a lot of sense. However, how the author wrote this moment it seemed that she was making it seem like Steph actually believed that her best friend was being trained for an underground fight club. Like, Jesus Christ girl. “The fact that she was from a seriously monied-up family and was usually wearing something that cost more than my entire wardrobe didn’t adversely affect our friendship. I didn’t overly care for material possessions and she didn’t overly care that I didn’t.” [image] NOT. RELEVANT. I swear to God this book could have been half the size if the author got rid of half of the inimportant sentences that editors left in. “I’d never been given a gift by my mother. She’d never made me warm milk, never wiped away my tears or put a plaster on me. She hadn’t saved me from the embarrassing outing with my nanny to buy my first bra and she hadn’t left me with a nifty stash of tampons in the bathroom cupboard that would never run out and that I’d never have to talk about.” [image] I get it, she feels like she missed out on a bunch of stuff. However, it felt like in this paragraph and what lead to it she was blaming her mum for dying. Which is dumb. I don't know my dad, he skedaddled when I was a baby and I have never felt like I missed out on anything. I get that having a parent die while giving to you is different, I wouldn't know. It does, however, seem like her dad has done everything to provide for her. The mind of Violet translated to that of a 12 year old to me, not of a 17 year old character. Didn't work for me. “Our fingers brushed briefly and it was enough to make my heart jump.” [image] I can't. “He smelled of baked suncream and his body radiated warmth.” [image] Not only did the author spell sunscreen wrong, but what the fuck? If anyone knows what the smell of "baked sunscream" actually smells like let me know. I know for a fact sunscreen smells terrible, so I'm not sure if she was actually insulting or complimenting the love interest. Caitlin told me it's because he is meant to represent summer, but Jesus Christ no. “It was like we were two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. We locked together perfectly.” [image] There was no chemistry and I'm meant to believe that you fit together like two pieces of a puzzle? I'm thinking you have the wrong pieces for this puzzle, honey. “I swear to you, he’ll never hurt you again. You’re… I’ll never let him near you,’ he whispered.” [image] The quote that made me quit. Made me want to peg my phone across the room and risk the smash as I gagged on my own spit. I just couldn't. I can do instalove sometimes and I don't mind a good cheesy romance. This quote failed too much for me that I couldn't continue on. I'm sorry to anyone who likes this book or if it is your favourite book or if it got you into reading - it just isn't for me. The two stars are for the fact I would have liked it if I was 13 and Caitlin so she doesn't brawl me. Now, to end this review with some Ron Swanson gifs that represent how I accurately feel about this book. [image] [image] [image] ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Nov 30, 2016
|
Dec 2016
|
Nov 26, 2016
|
Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 1250095255
| 9781250095251
| 1250095255
| 3.98
| 613,032
| Sep 29, 2016
| Jan 31, 2017
|
did not like it
|
TRIGGER WARNING: this one slipped my attention while reading, purely because I was bored, but I feel it is important to add that this book features pa
TRIGGER WARNING: this one slipped my attention while reading, purely because I was bored, but I feel it is important to add that this book features parent x child abuse which isn't dealt with. WARNING: this review will be a rant, there may be unmarked spoilers. This is also a highly unpopular opinion so if you want to come at me telling me I'm wrong or didn't understand the book I will punch you in the nose from how mad this book made me. Also, there is a high amount of swearing, which I usually don't try to put in my reviews but I am so angry. (: “Whatever you’ve heard about Caraval, it doesn’t compare to the reality. It’s more than just a game or a performance. It’s the closest you’ll ever find to magic in this world." Caraval was a book I knew I'd hate, I wasn't even excited for it. Then shallow me saw the inside cover and had to read it. Even after Caitlin, who I share similar opinions with, was disappointed. Even after it was repeatedly compared to The Night Circus, which I also hated. So, big fuck you to shallow Amber for making me waste my time. If you haven't read the book and didn't adhere to my warning at the top of this review, I highly recommend you skedaddle because I am about to go into the characters. So, bye, come back if you hate this book. [image] For a book where the only review I saw that wasn't a five was Caitlin's, the character's were so dumb and one-dimensional. They literally had to state everything that was happening. It was infuriating to read after the ridiculous description we had had to read of almost every item. This book would have been a lot shorter without the unnecessary metaphors for everything. It was tiring. But, anyway, let's talk about this shit storm of characters. First, we have the dumb ass, possible whore(not slut shaming just stating it could be a fact), and ninja turtle of a sister. Now, you may be like, 'where did the ninja turtle part come from?' Well, my friends, her name is Donatella. So, how did I picture this dimwitted sister the whole time? Much like this: [image] A giant turtle with a purple eye band. Then add this gif - because for some reason we were meant to think that Julian and Ninja Turtle had hooked up. [image] Moving on, we have the oh so romantic kidnapper known as Julian. Now, you may be like 'woah, a kidnapper?! Are we meant to like him?!' Don't worry, his brown muscles will distract from that. Nothing else matters because he has brown muscles and a solid chest. [image] Have you forgotten he kidnapped the main character (who I am looking forward to shitting on next)? Me neither. The fact he never called Scarlett by her real name, favouring "Crimson" instead, really irked me. She corrected him once and left it. I've had people call me Amanda for a year, and I corrected them every single time, so it irked me that Scarlett was that weak of a character she wouldn't stand up for herself. Now, let's talk about Scarlett. Honestly, the most dim-witted character I have ever read. She was so stupid that it made this book a struggle. Her absolute inability to do anything correctly, the fact she couldn't solve the clues and the fact she was so hopelessly okay with almost everything was infuriating. [image] Now, you may be waiting for a representation of Scarlett. I got nothing. I basically pictured her as an 'attractive' blob on legs. Oops. Add that to a blushing virgin and you have Scarlett, the girl who could barely look a male character in the eye. The plot was even worse. When you have a book with the preface of "it's all a game" and "nothing is real", it's going to be fucking boring when you try to add 6385923759 plot twists at the end that are dumbdumb. Everything about it had me spluttering in anger and sending Caitlin 80 billion messages. Honestly, I can't even begin to express my utter anger and hatred for this book. It is literally told over a week and somehow there's a fucking love story too. Don't even get me started on that shit. My notes for it are just: "this is so fucking DUMB" - exact copy and paste from my notes. Ugh, I am still so angry about this book, I don't even want to see it if I can't kick it 169238048 kilometres away from me. I also don't even want to get into the Legend shit that happened or the "oh no you've been fooled" or whatever the fuck happened. [image] To make this even better, I just went through my friends ratings and I've rated it the lowest. So, here's for an unpopular opinion. I mean, I didn't even buy into the hype, how am I this disappointed? ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Feb 10, 2017
|
Feb 12, 2017
|
Oct 27, 2016
|
Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| 1682305066
| 9781682305065
| 1682305066
| 3.91
| 85,087
| Oct 17, 2016
| Oct 17, 2016
|
did not like it
|
DNF @ 6% Twisted Palace is a book I don't hate myself enough to finish. I clearly hated myself enough to read both Paper Princess and Broken Prince. Th DNF @ 6% Twisted Palace is a book I don't hate myself enough to finish. I clearly hated myself enough to read both Paper Princess and Broken Prince. The funniest thing is, I don't seem to have unpopular opinions a lot when it comes to books but when I see people liking this series I want to kill someone. [image] Now, here's the thing, I did only read 6% of the book. Which may not seem like a lot to you but it took me around two hours to read. Due to this, I can't talk a lot about the plot, so instead I will take my classic form of "what the fuck" review and use quotes that had me wanting to kill not only myself but everyone else in my house. As a disclaimer, I hate everyone in this book. Not a single person is redeemable. I don't get the point of such sexist, male dominance, and weak female characters which feature in this series. In fact, it seems like these authors have tried to write a book based on an algorithm and failed horrifically, insulting everyone in the process. This will also contain spoilers for books one and two but I don't care. “Detectives Cousins and Schmidt don’t seem to care about my last name. For some reason, I find that kind of refreshing. I’ve gotten a free pass my entire life because I’m a Royal.” [image] Ever heard the phrase hate at first sentence? I think I just made it up, so probably not. I knew almost instantly I was going to DNF this book. I forgot how absolutely obnoxious the Royal boys are. Trust me, it's not cute when a boy is that obnoxious and sure of himself because of his last name. After this Reed goes on to list all the things he's been allowed to get away with. An undisciplined rich boy? How not hot. “Not that I want girls lining up for me. There’s only one girl I care about these days—Ella Harper.” [image] I mean, hey, not like you slept with your dad's girlfriend and she could be pregnant with your child. “I hate that I revealed even a trace of helplessness in front of this man. I don’t show weakness. Ever. The only person I’ve ever been able to lower my guard around is Ella.” [image] Sorry, had to kickstart my heart after reading that because I died from how disgusting that is. The helplessness he showed? Not wanting to go to jail. Oh no, fear. Shame. How could you live from asking for *gasp* help? I fucking hate Reed. “I release a slow breath. “Yeah. I was at the penthouse earlier. But I didn’t fucking kill her.” [image] When you're portraying a "closed off badass" in such an incorrect way that the word fuck is the only semblance of his uncaring nature you have a problem. Literally. Let the kid go to jail, maybe he'll realise that his last name doesn't matter when he drops the soap in the shower. “Because the sky is falling!” [image] Now, POV change. Ella, the most pathetic female lead I have ever had the disappointment of reading. That's right disappointment. The former stripper virgin turned rich girl who's dad is like actually alive? Honestly, don't get it. Don't care. Though, I will mark this spoiler, (view spoiler)[I guess it was her not so dead dad who killed Brooke? (hide spoiler)] “I didn’t hear a goddamn thing. I…ah…” Shame flickers in his blue eyes. “I kinda pounded a mickey of vodka when I was at Wade’s tonight.” [image] Brilliant, I say to myself while trying not to grit my teeth too hard due to not wanting my dentist to hate me. Do it for your dentist, I think to myself, ignore the idiocy. Unfortunately, I can't. Sure, kids are reckless and I know plenty of people of dumb people but not this dumb. I also had to google what a mickey of vodka was and what I got was this: A 375 ml bottle of liquor. In the United States, the term “mickey” is slang term for a date rape drug, and 69% of Americans were unaware of its more benign Canadian usage. Mickey is actually one of a series of uniquely Canadian booze measurements revealed by the survey. So, did he pop a date rape drug and then drink vodka? Or if not why is he usually a Canadian booze measurement? “You haven’t told me why you’re packing,” Easton says in frustration. [image] Nope, sorry, can't act like I care. Because honestly how much of an idiot is Ella? Let me run away with the guy who maybe killed someone who I've known for about five months max but I am in so much love with despite the fact he made the whole school hate me and bullied me. Wow, girl get your fucking morals in check you're a mess. “Are you serious?” Sawyer demands. [image] Ms. I'm Going To Whisper Despite Reminding Us Eight Times What A Big House I Live In. You think I'm kidding? I'm not. Before this interaction happen she has reminded us as the readers what a big house she lives in and how much money the Royal's have, because it is so important we don't forget this or else there will be no plot. “Easton rubs his chin. “Mom always wanted a girl. She talked about it a lot, said a girl would’ve softened us up.” His lips twitch. “But I don’t think girls make me soft in any way.” [image] INCEST JOKES?! CUTE. I literally puked in my mouth while reading this. This is not cute. This is not funny. This is one of the most disgusting things I have read and could probably be placed straight into Fifty Shade of Grey and no one would blink an eye. This book is filth. “You’re not running, little sis. You have to know it’s a stupid idea.” [image] A SISTER YOU MADE OUT WITH (I'm pretty sure). I can't. This made me literally puke. I had to stop reading. I have never been so disturbed. Ella isn't a fighter. Ella isn't a badass. Ella is one of the stupidest and most naive characters I have had the displeasure of encountering. So, guess what? I made it stop after reading this. I couldn't. In a way, they are step sibling and guess what kids? Making out with your step sibling is still incest. I honestly can't with this book. It is bigger pile of trash in the first 6% than both books combined. It was the most disturbing and degrading YA book I have read. I couldn't put myself through the pain that this book would cause because no one should hate themselves this much. [image] Problem here, everyone likes this series. I don't get it. How can you stomach it? How is this hot for you? How is this appealing? How are any of these characters anything but assholes and idiots to you? I mean, congrats if you like it but I can not and will not put myself through this degrading book. Every character is trash, every scene is trash. If I could, I would purge this book from the world. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Dec 09, 2016
|
Dec 09, 2016
|
Oct 18, 2016
|
Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 0316015849
| 9780316015844
| 0316015849
| 3.66
| 6,770,036
| Oct 05, 2005
| Sep 06, 2006
|
liked it
|
help why did i love this so much. maybe i’ll write a few review? it’ll just be a roast honestly. Buddy Reading with one of my favourite people, Maggie help why did i love this so much. maybe i’ll write a few review? it’ll just be a roast honestly. Buddy Reading with one of my favourite people, Maggie I’m personally not ashamed to say it was Twilight that got me into reading. I will never slam it for that, because when I was ten I did love it. I remember borrowing it from the library and being absorbed by it quickly. My family jumped on it and for three years I only realised Twilight merch. I even had a shirt saying “Team Edward” and another saying “Team Jacob”, and I would wear them. Oh, how times were easier. However, despite the nostalgia that Twilight gave me I found myself struggling. I couldn’t handle. The dialogue. The scenes. The completely problematic undertones of everything, and the characters. I basically wrote an essay before this review of notes and quotes I wanted to use, but I only find myself infuriated by it all. If you’re looking for a character with no backbone and absolutely no sense of personality Bella is your girl. Bella, our main character, is a clumsy albino. Oh, you didn’t quite catch that? Don’t worry, it’s going to be mentioned at least 50 times in the first half of the book. [image] Honestly. You think I’m kidding? Have this quote of Bella after she had seen the Cullen’s for the first time. “Every one of them was chalky pale, the palest of all the students living in this sunless town. Paler than me, the albino.” So, anyway, to begin Bella moves to Fork’s of her own free will. You wouldn’t know that from how childish she is acting about it. In the first chapter her mother even informs her that she doesn’t need to go, but Bella continues to inform everyone about how much she hates it and how much she has to do it. [image] If only it ended there. It doesn’t. Bella is the definition of “not like other girls”. She is such a snob it is almost ridiculous and unbearable to read. We’re supposed to think Bella is the greatest thing since sliced bread (which is not possible because, ah, sliced bread?) because she has done all the assignments that her classes at Forks are teaching and she can’t do gym. How relatable! Not. As someone who tried to go up a down escalator and face planted hard, I am not even as clumsy as Bella was. It was absolutely disconnecting to read about her stumbling and stammering every other sentence. At the age I am now I prefer my female characters to be strong, able to stand up for themselves, Bella does none of that. [image] Let’s not forget that because of Bella’s “quirky” – read bland – personality that three boys ask her to the Spring Prom. She rejects all three and has the audacity to them set them up with her friends, like they weren’t good enough for her but they’re good enough for her friends? Lovely. Then we have Edward, the epitome of a creep and controlling asshole. Why would I say that? Well, his personality is constantly changing. He gets cranky at Bella, only to smile and laugh it off. When Bella goes to drive herself home after she almost faints in Biology, he drags her to his car and tells her that if she tries to leave he will only drag her back. What does Bella do? Get in the car. In all my notes about Edward, I referred to him as creepy old man and I think that truly captures what he is like. A ninety (?) year old man trying to date a 17-year-old girl? Romance. [image] It’s not even just that. Edward flat out tells Bella he is the villain and he’s dangerous, but the girl just bites her lip and is okay with it. Hello, girl, run. I mean, the fact she Googles “Vampire”. Doesn’t that say it all. It gets worse, trust me. When Bella confronts Edward about being able to read minds and being a vampire – mind you, before this, she was almost raped and probably murdered – she doesn’t care. She is fine. She just has questions. She doesn’t run screaming like a sane person, oh no. She stays in the damn car and lets Edward drive over 100 miles (I’m not sure how fast that is in km) an hour. Yeah, no. [image] Oh, and one of my biggest problems? When Edward tells Bella he can’t read her mind she reacts like this: ”My mind doesn't work right? I'm a freak?” My own survival instincts told me to throw my phone at a wall and be done with it because, what?!What an absolute idiot are you? This creepy old man has told you that he has a temper and wanted to murder some people – to which you told him you feel safe with him – and you want to know if you’re a freak? Oh sorry, no, you want to know if a mind reading vampire thinks you’re a freak. Never mind, totally justifiable. “That wasn't the first time," he said, and his voice was hard to hear. I stared at him in amazement, but he was looking down. "Your number was up the first time I met you.” ^ just going to leave this quote with no explanation while I nod my head and make “yep” noises. It gets worse after this. The climax of the book happens during a baseball game playing during a thunderstorm. Bella is virtually kidnapped, have the vampires condescend her by acting shocked by her plan, is horrific to her father and then all she can think about is Edward. The girl is about the be killed and she is worried about Edward. Let’s remember Edward is a vampire. It is super hard to kill a vampire. Bella is a human – something very easy to kill. Okay, we got that? Awesome. It’s bad that even the writing of the book can’t give it any more credit. If the writing was good it may have made up for the horrific plot line. However, it’s bland. Everyone is bland. There is no personality to anything and for some reason simple mundane activities are described in the utmost detail. I could rant all day, but I have better books to. To say this re-read was a complete failure is an understatement. Pre-Review Okay, so you may see me making this as "want to read" in your feed. "How could I have not read Twilight?" You think to yourself. I have actually read Twilight. I remember borrowing it from the library as a mere 11 year old, excited for vampires since I'd recently outgrown my horse/unicorn phase. This book took over my life. This franchise was my guilty pleasure. I read it continuously. I would read each book and then start again. It was a serious problem. As in, during summer holidays where I couldn't borrow from my school library or my local library I would only read Twilight. I was 12 by that stage and I managed to be able to read the series in four days. So, where my siblings where riding their bikes and getting sun I was sucked into the world of vampires and love triangles that is laughable to this day. I have Twilight to thank for getting me into YA, however. So, I would love to do a re-read to see how currently aged me feels compared to 11 and naive Amber who was in love with Edward Cullen. "Why haven't I rated this book if I have read it?" Mainly because 11 year old Amber is trash and should not have any credibility when it comes to rating books. So, hopefully I can go on the journey that is Twilight again. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
2
|
Jan 04, 2019
Jan 11, 2017
|
Jan 08, 2019
Jan 13, 2017
|
Sep 29, 2016
|
Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 0983212546
| 9780983212546
| 0983212546
| 4.02
| 114,656
| Apr 29, 2011
| Apr 29, 2011
|
it was ok
|
I'm not going to do a full review on this book. Why? I just can't be bothered. It was amusing, without a doubt. But, the editing and plot lines had me
I'm not going to do a full review on this book. Why? I just can't be bothered. It was amusing, without a doubt. But, the editing and plot lines had me cringing. I laughed, that's true. Except, I didn't care about the characters. Around 50% I began to skim the book as the characters were acting so out of character I got confused. The one character I did like was Haley's grandma. If you want a fast read and not much plot, this is for you.
...more
|
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Sep 19, 2016
|
Sep 19, 2016
|
Sep 17, 2016
|
Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| B00WELVQSI
| 3.70
| 2,166
| Jan 12, 2016
| Jan 12, 2016
|
did not like it
|
DNF @ 5%. The Distance from A to Z was a book I knew almost instantly I would have a problem with, straight off the bat (pun intended since our protago DNF @ 5%. The Distance from A to Z was a book I knew almost instantly I would have a problem with, straight off the bat (pun intended since our protagonist has a great problem with baseball). I don't enjoy DNF'ing a book, but more so lately I can not force myself to push through a book I do not enjoy and have the ability to collect ridiculous quotes for. The Distance from A to Z is a book like that. I liked the idea mostly, but mostly I needed a contemporary. This obviously isn't the contemporary for me. I mean, I read 5% of this book and my best friend, Kyle, got copious amounts of texts because I just couldn't handle this book in the slightest. Maybe it gets better, I will never know. I don't want to know. I don't ever want to think about this dialogue again because the whole time I was like [image] Now? Why did I believe I would have such a problem with this book? Well, within the first chapter alone (which is all I read) I collected a bunch of quotes that had me hating life itself from our protagonist Abby herself. I mean, I usually wouldn't write a review for a book I chose to DNF but I can't help it. I probably shouldn't rate it either, but hey, my account. So, onto the quotes. “The truth is, I don’t really blame my brothers. They were raised this way. [image] Now, we have all in our lives felt like we were the only sane person in our families I'm sure. I know I have, and probably will again. However, I have never once though I was the only sane person in my family because I don't like sports or because I read. That is ridiculous and completely unnessarcy. Abby seems to think she's a special little snowflake becuase of it though and exaggerates the whole thing. She hates the Cubs (which I presume is an actual baseball team?), and she hates people who loves the Cubs. This leads to my next quote I have from the book: “Eff off,” I shout. [image] Is this weird? Yes. Why? For so many damn reasons. One being that she just told a stranger to "eff off". Two being she is basically 18 but not going to say the word fuck? I'm sorry, but that's ridiculous. I can understand a young child but someone about to start their senior year of high school or whatever would not do that. But telling a stranger to "eff" off because they mentioned the Cubs, since your car is decked out in Cubs memorbilia, isn't any reason to yell that at him. Now because this is a YA contemporary, who do you think the love interest is going to be? If you guessed boy she told to eff off, you're 110% right, have a cookie. “I love Chucks. [image] Now, this was a quote Kyle and I had a good laugh over. Chucks? Red Chucks? Foofy colours? I couldn't even deal with this quote. It was ridiculous. I have nothing to say apart from - guess who was wearing those Chucks? If you guessed the boy from the previous quote have another cookie. “She laughs and everyone laughs along. Apparently we’re that kind of crowd. But given that I’m doing it too, I’m not judging. Especially since I have these fluttery feelings inside me listening to baseball-cap boy beside me guffaw. Sorry. Zeke. Zeke Martin.” [image] I couldn't even deal with this. She's yelled at this boy and then tears him down while he tries to have a nice conversation with her all because he likes both baseball and the Cubs. A massive problem for her apparently. Then there's the fact that she's getting fluttery feelings that were never mentioned previously? God, I couldn't. I couldn't do it. Though, this wasn't the quote that made me stop reading. That's coming next. “She doesn’t look up when I enter; her hand is furiously writing in what appears to be a black Moleskine notebook. She’s using a fountain pen. [image] I couldn't after this quote on chapter 2. I couldn't put myself through the pain that is this book. I'm glad though since I just read a review that said slut-shaming was sure to follow all this ridiculousness. There was so much more but these were the stand out quotes, I could have probably quoted the entire first chapter as a reason why I will not be finishing this. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Sep 10, 2016
|
Sep 10, 2016
|
Sep 09, 2016
|
Kindle Edition
| ||||||||||||||||
| 0399549692
| 9780399549694
| 0399549692
| 4.07
| 25,129
| Aug 09, 2018
| Aug 07, 2018
|
did not like it
|
buddy read w/ my fave boyo in the world THIS REVIEW WAS FIRST FEATURED ON MY BLOG. CICK HERE TO SEE IT Trigger Warnings: PTSD, war flashbacks, mentions buddy read w/ my fave boyo in the world THIS REVIEW WAS FIRST FEATURED ON MY BLOG. CICK HERE TO SEE IT Trigger Warnings: PTSD, war flashbacks, mentions of parental abuse, mentions of drugs, mentions of cystic fibrosis Catwoman: Soulstealer was everything most people predicted it would be. A straight up disappointment. This book didn’t have anything going for it. A book that promised feminism and a kickass plotline was flat and used PTSD and abuse as a plot device to push forward the weak story. I don’t agree with those two things being used as a plot device, and I speak from experience when I say they were poorly executed throughout this story. Sarah J Maas was unable to create a new world within the pre-existing DC universe. This story came across as lacklustre and simply as a first draft of a book rather than the final edition. This particular story in the DC universe is told from two perspectives: Selina Kyle and Luke Fox. Selina Kyle didn’t have the easiest life. With an abusive drug addict mother (badly done) who had had a series of abusive ex-boyfriends, she has been left to care for her younger sister alone. Considering she is not 18 yet and has immersed herself in a well-known gang in the city this is not okay in the eyes of the law. Ultimately, Selina Kyle left Gotham City two years ago, on an adventure to train as an assassin and with a promise that her younger sister who had cystic fibrosis would be taken care of. She’s now returned to the city and is ready to wreak havoc in her path. Luke Fox was a marine. Now retired after an explosion? A car accident? It’s never really explained, I think it was mentioned in passing. Luke has returned to Gotham and it is there that he has found that he is battling the effects of PTSD. I can not speak on the PTSD that a war veteran experiences, I will never try to do so. I experience PTSD due to different reasons and my triggers are not the same as someone else’s. I will talk more about why I think this PTSD rep is piss poor later in this review, so keep an eye out. Luke now trains with Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, and has even adopted the fun title of Batwing. I cringed a little when I read it in the book honestly. I’m not sure if there is actually a character called Batwing in the DC universe, but honestly what a weak name. I want some creativity, folks. Batwing obviously fits for the good of Gotham City and Catwoman is obviously fighting for herself. The pair comes to blows several times throughout the story, so trigger warning for violence. However, the plot of this book is lacking. Almost nothing happens for 200 pages. Catwoman robs banks with Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy and Batwing does his best to defeat them but fails every time (which is kind of embarrassing and unrealistic, he should have at least one once). The story really doesn’t pick up until the last 50 odd pages of this book and it honestly isn’t even worth it. It is weak and poorly executed, which had my eyes rolling towards the back of my head. I was thankful when I finished this book. So, my positive for this book. I only have one, so strap on your seatbelt folks. I liked the fact that Poison Ivy was very much a lesbian on the page. She states that all she wanted was to kiss a girl and even states that she and Harley hook up. I just liked Poison Ivy’s character, actually. She was definitely the best part about this train wreck of a book. Additionally, Selina Kyle’s sexuality is completely erased. I have seen people asking if Selina is bisexual in this novel and honestly, I don’t know. It is never mentioned, which to me counts as erasing. Throughout this novel, Selina expresses the only thing she has desire for is money, which is cool. Except there is a romance forced into the plot that had me wanting to pull my eyes out with hot pokers. Oh, the other thing I did like about this book was that there was a trio of three girls who took the centre of the book. Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn and Catwoman all had their moment in the sunshine. I don’t think the friendships created between these characters were well done, which was frustrating, but they were there and I guess there was an attempt made. My least favourite about this book, if you had no idea yet, was the PTSD. I would say that only Luke experiences PTSD throughout this book, but in an underlying way, you could also say that Selina does as well. Again, Luke’s PTSD stems from being in the marines and seeing people he loves dies. I can’t speak on this. I will say that the PTSD is used to further both the plot and relationship between Selina and Luke, something I find disgusting. There is even a part where Luke tells Selina that he has PTSD, and she says she understands because her mother was abusive. That whole scene rubbed me the wrong way. The topic switches instantly to Selina’s backstory and Luke is simply put to the side, despite the fact this scene could have brought attention to what veterans go through. The way Sarah J Maas dealt with PTSD throughout Catwoman: Soulstealer kind of made me feel like she had no idea what she was doing. Which shocked me because of her PTSD representations in Tower of Dawn and A Court of Mist and Fury always spoke to me. It was simply used as a plot device in this novel and I am not okay with that. Hell, I would say the poor representation and way of dealing with PTSD in this book would rival Zenith by Sasha Albserg and Lindsay Cummings (review here). I mentioned before that Selina Kyle had a younger sister she cared for. This little girl is Selina’s whole life at the beginning of the book. Selina does anything she can to make sure her little sister is eating and not going to die. However, after Selina returns from where she has trained to be an assassin, to the same city that Maggie lives in, the younger sister is only mentioned in passing. Which is incredibly frustrating considering the ‘twist’ in the plot. I really felt that Maggie should have been allowed more page time, at least in Selina’s thoughts. It honestly made the book feel disjointed and like Sarah hadn’t worked on the plot enough at all. It was as if several ideas had been rammed together in hopes that it would work, with no thought as to how they would flow into each other. I think the biggest downfall of Catwoman: Soulstealer was the bland characters. They were so bloody boring. No one had a personality. They all virtually read the same. They just bored me to utter tears. I wish I could pluck this book from my brain because I wasted so much time reading it. Sarah J Maas wasn’t able to give these already loved characters their moment in the sunshine. She was trying to push so much into them and it ultimately resulted in them being one-dimensional characters that were boring to read about. Not only that, but this book really did have no plot. So, bland characters and lack of plot? There’s absolutely nothing going for this book. Another thing, since I’m on a roll. Some people shouldn’t write about diversity. I think Sarah J Maas is one of them. Everyone has called her out on her lack of diversity, and they’re not wrong, and she clearly tried to do something in this book but damn it was lacking. Luke Fox is a black male in this book and Sarah J Maas spends so much time talking about how he is oppressed despite being an incredibly rich man all his life. There were massive sections to Selina thinking about the oppression Luke must face as well, which just rubbed me the wrong way. It was as if Sarah was trying way too hard and not letting these characters come organically. The dialogue also sucked. Not a single interaction sounded realistic or as if the characters were real people. I understand it is a book but at least give the characters some kind of realistic traits. Overall, this book was blander than white bread. There was no spark, there was no great moment, there was simply nothing. The characters were lacking and the world building itself relied on what you already know about the DC universe. Sarah truly didn’t try at all with this book. I don’t know if maybe I am being too judgemental of Sarah’s writing, but if you’re an NYT bestselling author you should expect it. The writing in this book is comparable to Throne of Glass, her worst book in existence. I can say it was lacking that weird toxic masculinity that usually filters through her books and there was no smut. Overall, a terrible book and one I do not recommend. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Aug 08, 2018
|
Aug 09, 2018
|
Aug 26, 2016
|
Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| B01A2COA88
| 3.48
| 55,870
| Jan 19, 2016
| Jan 19, 2016
|
it was ok
|
Never Never: Part Three of the Never Never was the most disappointing ending to a series I have ever read. The fact I had seen so many put off by the
Never Never: Part Three of the Never Never was the most disappointing ending to a series I have ever read. The fact I had seen so many put off by the ending made me put these books off for so long, but then I got hooked on Part One, Part Two wasn't as great and Part Three was an all around disappointment. It felt as if the authors no longer cared about what was happening to the characters or what the conclusion would be. I have not read anything by Tarryn Fisher but I have read all of Colleen's books and I was honestly expecting a better result to them losing their memories than (view spoiler)[oh, we're soul mates who fell out of love (hide spoiler)]. It was ridiculous. I did not understand the point. This particular part of the story isn't even worth debriefing or attempting to write a blurb. It's basically our two protagonist's attempting to fall back in love with each other. I was completely lost on what was happening for the most part and the involvement of the siblings. I hated we didn't get much information of what happened after either. It was infuriating. I couldn't believe the decline in quality we were given. From the plot, to the characters, to the writing style. It was all incredibly lacking. It was missing the flare and spark the other books had. I was going to write a full review for this series in this review, but honestly, I'm just so mad I wasted time on this book. I should have kept my theories of magic and witches. I wish it had been something with more flare and shock factor than a complete cheese fest that had me rolling my eyes. Also, if anyone wants to explain what that epilogue meant I would love to listen. I am so confused because the epilogue was completely unnecessary for the lack of anything it provided. EDIT: well first, I just want to say I love these covers tbh. But, second - why is the fact that Silas had bloody sheets in book one never brought up again? I NEED TO KNOW WHY. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Aug 24, 2016
|
Aug 24, 2016
|
Aug 23, 2016
|
Kindle Edition
| ||||||||||||||||
| 1942215460
| B01IMFDR9A
| 4.13
| 73,102
| Jul 16, 2016
| Jul 16, 2016
|
it was ok
|
Bossman isn't a book I'm going to write a full review for or even include gifs for. It was short, it was sweet, it had steam and it was an alright rea
Bossman isn't a book I'm going to write a full review for or even include gifs for. It was short, it was sweet, it had steam and it was an alright read. Except, I had my problems. There was slut shaming and sexist comments that didn't sit right with me. I also didn't like that we didn't get much interaction without the male lead, or he was following her. I found him quite creepy in some cases. That doesn't take away from the fact I did still enjoy Reese and Chase, I did, but that doesn't mean this book sits higher than two stars with me. However, I do feel like it has pulled me out of my impending slump I was facing.
...more
|
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Sep 04, 2016
|
Sep 04, 2016
|
Aug 22, 2016
|
Kindle Edition
| |||||||||||||||
| 0062455869
| 9780062455864
| 0062455869
| 3.86
| 52,539
| Jan 31, 2017
| Jan 31, 2017
|
did not like it
|
DNF @ 8% I have never physically cringed while reading a book, By Your Side has changed that. I can't. I can't do it. The whole book can up to this can DNF @ 8% I have never physically cringed while reading a book, By Your Side has changed that. I can't. I can't do it. The whole book can up to this can be used under the roast so I'm not going to do one. The main character is meant to be a senior in high school but so far she's reading like an 8 year old and I can't put up with that for another 92% of a book. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Feb 2017
|
Feb 2017
|
Aug 19, 2016
|
Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 1481432540
| 9781481432542
| 1481432540
| 4.04
| 159,060
| May 03, 2016
| May 03, 2016
|
did not like it
|
DNF @ 10% I will be displaying my emotions through Ron Swanson gifs. Love and Gelato was a book I desperately wanted to love. I mean, the set up was per DNF @ 10% I will be displaying my emotions through Ron Swanson gifs. Love and Gelato was a book I desperately wanted to love. I mean, the set up was perfect. Italy, love and gelato (which I've never actually had but it sounds good). Italy is a destination I have always wanted to travel, and how could you not with all the culture present in the cities. However, as I began to read this book I knew it wasn't going to be a finish for me. Why? Well, the writing just jumped straight into the plot without any other pretenses or introductions, straight to the fact a house was in a cemetery. Then, we have one of the protagonists, Lina, first line: "It's a cemetery." My voice was like weak tea. [image] What? What in the name of all things holy and blessed does this mean? Is weak tea really the metaphor you choose to use? I knew this book, and I would have a problem here almost instantly. I can handle crazy metaphors sometimes, but this was a no and was at the very beginning of the book, so it could only go downhill. For me, it did. Not only did my hatred for Lina become cemented in the first 100 pages of the 900 page eBook but I was subjected to countless more strange and "quirky" people. However, Lina was just rude. I understand her mum had died six months previously, and it seemed like that was leading up to be an excuse featuring through the rest of the book, but she was rude. She was unwilling to give her recently discovered father a chance. I don't understand why because she isn't even sure if he knew about her existence. Also: "Aggressively normal." [image] Is a sentence I never want to hear again because what? Oh, we also get to introduced to Lina's totally “Why are you being so quiet? Is Gravedigger there?” [image] Like Ron's burger, this completely missed the mark for me. Oh, and lets not forget that Addie and Lina are both very “Addie and I had once won a costume contest dressed as Tacky Tourists. These two could have been our inspiration.” [image] I can't even add onto that. I understand there is a "tacky tourist" look, but honestly, if I went travelling I would probably be a tacky tourist myself and guess what? That is fine. Now, one last quote before I conclude this review. The quote that made me decide this was not for me in any way: “Howard still had steam curling out of his nostrils.” [image] I understand some people may think I didn't give this book a fair go, considering I decided to DNF at 10%, but honestly, I couldn't subject myself to this. I couldn't put myself through head banging sentences and characters who are meant to be funny and different but are simply rude. It's possible this story is super cute, but I won't be sticking around to find out. Honestly, what this book felt like was a jumble of words that shouldn't have slipped past an editor, in my opinion. [image] ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Sep 08, 2016
|
Sep 09, 2016
|
Jul 27, 2016
|
Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| 1682305031
| 9781682305034
| 1682305031
| 3.97
| 106,378
| Jul 25, 2016
| Jul 25, 2016
|
did not like it
|
WARNING: if you like this book/series my review probably isn't for you. Broken Prince was a book I fit into the minority with, same with Paper Princes WARNING: if you like this book/series my review probably isn't for you. Broken Prince was a book I fit into the minority with, same with Paper Princess. Everyone seems to love these books, characters and plot line but I find it all laughable. Which is sad considering one of my favourite authors co-wrote this. The book was full of slut shaming, bullying and all over ridiculous characters who seemed to think in ridiculous ways. I laughed for 80% of the book and the other 20% was weird sex stuff about side characters. I mean (view spoiler)[Brooke being dead makes me want to read book three, and I probably will, but that couldn't even redeem this book. (hide spoiler)] So much went on during this book that I was speechless at how completely ridiculous the characters were. From Callum to Ella I was ready to slam my head against a wall at full speed with not a single regret. Everyone in this book can buy their way out of things, or thinks it's okay to be an absolutely awful person to someone. The book picks up where book one finished though. The cliffhanger being picked up from Reed's point of view as he tries to work out where she is. Honestly, that's not important because Callum uses his PI to find her so all is fine and dandy because he tracked the serial number on a 100 dollar note. The rest of the book is boring. Ella and Reed are trying to ignore each other and it's not going well because they usually end making out. Then Brooke announces she's pregnant and oh no what if it's Reed's?! There you go. There's basically the entire plot of this book. Oh, and the twins sex lives and the fact East is a hoe and Gideon is being blackmailed. It's all ridiculous and I sincerely couldn't relate to anyone. Characters Ella was as dumb as she was in book one. You see, we're supposed to like Ella for three reasons. 1. She's poor. 2. She's a virgin and ultimately not a slut. 3. She's "standing up for herself". All these are ridiculous reasons. The girl has no personality. She is self absorbed and crazily obsessed with Reed to the point it's ridiculous. I hate girls like this and I personally would have stabbed her myself, (view spoiler)[if only she'd been the one who had been stabbed. (hide spoiler)] Her reaction to situations was always the extreme. Nothing simple was enough for Ella in this soap opera book, she had to pull a girl by her out of the school and she had to do her best to like ignore Reed (as if she even tried). Ella was absolutely ridiculous in every way. I have no words told describe her though I may come back to insert more anger in this review. Reed was a straight up asshole. There's nothing more to it. He was weird, arrogant, slightly creepy in the way he pursued Ella in order to get her to forgive him (I honestly don't know why Ella forgave her). I don't even know what to say apart from I wouldn't trust Reed Royal as far as I could throw him. Writing The writing was atrocious. There was no substance or actual feeling. These characters were one dimensional and felt 12 half the time. There was no reason for the characters to be so obsessed with each other's lives to the point it literally became the focus of the school. I hated the fact that the authors decided to make the school a kingdom basically. It was ridiculous and tacky. Overall Overall, this book is straight up tacky. There is nothing that makes me want to continue the series apart from the fact I want a good laugh. I would never, ever recommend this series to someone personally. Which sucks, because I know this is a book an author worked hard on - but I just don't like it. This book was also worst than the first one in my opinion I was laughing and gagging at the sheer idiocy. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Jul 27, 2016
|
Jul 27, 2016
|
Jul 12, 2016
|
Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 3.92
| 158,116
| Apr 04, 2016
| Apr 04, 2016
|
did not like it
|
I can't even begin this review with a quote like I've been doing with my most recent reviews. Why? Because while I didn't had this book I found every
I can't even begin this review with a quote like I've been doing with my most recent reviews. Why? Because while I didn't had this book I found every piece of dialogue laughable. I hate giving negative reviews to books, I literally hate doing it. An author puts so much work into a book and you want to enjoy it for their sake. This book, however, was not one that interested me. The plot line made me feel ill in several instances. SEVERAL. I don't think that's every happened to me before. The main characters were annoying, childish, and beyond stupid. Also, the cliffhanger this book ended on does in no way entice me to read the next book in the series. I'm going to try and summarise this book in my own way, be warned I can't summarise and theres spoilers : (view spoiler)[ So, we have Ella, our main character. Ella's mum has recently passed away, though you wouldn't know from how infrequently she's mentioned throughout the book. Avoiding going into foster care as she is only 17 Ella moves to a middle of nowhere town in which she is supporting herself by stripping and going a school which she forged her mother's signature to get in. One day Callum Royal comes to the school and tells Ella that he, is in fact, her legal guardian now, the best friend of her father who she never knew. The fathers dead too, what a coincidence. Ella makes a run for it instead of going peacefully and decides to run away from the town, but not before deciding to go to the strip club one more time. Low and behold we have Callum waiting at the strip club and Ella proceeds to give him a lap dance that had me gagging and need to take a break from reading. Callum then proceeds to take Ella out of the club and conduct our poor Cinderella story. Callum's filthy rich, has five asshole sons, and his wife passed away two years ago so now hes dating some young women. The sons are all assholes, I don't remember their names because they were all snooty and confused me. The kids are all messed up basically. The plot holds no real substance apart from the male lead making everyone bully her at school, Ella getting drugged because why the fuck not, and Ella and Reed having a romance that came out of literally nowhere. The romance annoyed me and again made me feel disgusted. Maybe it was that they kept calling Ella sis that I found myself wanting to go to sleep instead of staying away to continue the book. Then we end with poor Ella now being a multi-millionaire, Reed sleeping with his dads girlfriend, and Ella running away because that's obviously what she does best. (hide spoiler)] I honestly wouldn't recommend this book. The only reason it got 2 stars from me instead of one was the fact I laughed at how desperate and awful the portrayal of the characters were. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
May 10, 2016
|
May 11, 2016
|
May 09, 2016
|
Kindle Edition
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
my rating |
|
|
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| 3.12
|
did not like it
|
Jan 23, 2018
|
Jan 22, 2018
|
|||||
|
| 3.65
|
it was ok
|
Sep 28, 2017
|
Jul 22, 2017
|
|||||
|
| 4.01
|
it was ok
|
Jan 31, 2018
|
Jun 30, 2017
|
|||||
|
| 3.83
|
did not like it
|
Mar 27, 2017
|
Mar 26, 2017
|
|||||
|
| 4.12
|
did not like it
|
Jun 17, 2017
|
Mar 19, 2017
|
|||||
|
| 4.16
|
it was ok
|
Feb 07, 2018
|
Feb 02, 2017
|
|||||
|
| 4.23
|
did not like it
|
Jan 28, 2017
|
Jan 27, 2017
|
|||||
|
| 4.00
|
it was ok
|
Dec 2016
|
Nov 26, 2016
|
|||||
|
| 3.98
|
did not like it
|
Feb 12, 2017
|
Oct 27, 2016
|
|||||
|
| 3.91
|
did not like it
|
Dec 09, 2016
|
Oct 18, 2016
|
|||||
|
| 3.66
|
liked it
|
Jan 08, 2019
Jan 13, 2017
|
Sep 29, 2016
|
|||||
|
| 4.02
|
it was ok
|
Sep 19, 2016
|
Sep 17, 2016
|
|||||
|
| 3.70
|
did not like it
|
Sep 10, 2016
|
Sep 09, 2016
|
|||||
|
| 4.07
|
did not like it
|
Aug 09, 2018
|
Aug 26, 2016
|
|||||
|
| 3.48
|
it was ok
|
Aug 24, 2016
|
Aug 23, 2016
|
|||||
|
| 4.13
|
it was ok
|
Sep 04, 2016
|
Aug 22, 2016
|
|||||
|
| 3.86
|
did not like it
|
Feb 2017
|
Aug 19, 2016
|
|||||
|
| 4.04
|
did not like it
|
Sep 09, 2016
|
Jul 27, 2016
|
|||||
|
| 3.97
|
did not like it
|
Jul 27, 2016
|
Jul 12, 2016
|
|||||
|
| 3.92
|
did not like it
|
May 11, 2016
|
May 09, 2016
|
Loading...
