I enjoyed this adventure on a (light) steampunkish island of Atlantis. It was a light read, and a quick one-- the pace kept the story moving right alo...moreI enjoyed this adventure on a (light) steampunkish island of Atlantis. It was a light read, and a quick one-- the pace kept the story moving right along. I wish there had been a little more depth to the characters and the world (I enjoyed the unique people in a unique situation and wanted more!), but overall it was a fun read!(less)
I was lucky to snag an ARC of this book. I read the entire thing in one sitting. The murder mystery angle gives the story a familiar base to start fro...moreI was lucky to snag an ARC of this book. I read the entire thing in one sitting. The murder mystery angle gives the story a familiar base to start from, and from there it twists off into one of the freshest reads I've had in a while. Dan has a real talent for taking slightly twisted characters (like John Cleaver in I Am Not a Serial Killer) and making them sympathetic and engaging. Michael, the main character, was one of the most brilliant unreliable narrators I've ever read-- and one that I loved. I spent half the book questioning what was real, and the other half of the book constantly going OH MY GOSH, WHAT?? The plot went in directions I did not expect, and when I thought I'd figured things out, it turned out I was wrong. (And I dearly love my reading predictions to be proved wrong.)
This book completely blew my mind with its engaging premise, twisty plot, and brilliant characters. While I still love the John Cleaver books best (Michael didn't capture me quite as much as John), I can't recommend The Hollow City enough.(less)
It takes a really intriguing paranormal for me to rave about it. This isn't a bash on paranormal; it's just that it's not always my personal taste. So...moreIt takes a really intriguing paranormal for me to rave about it. This isn't a bash on paranormal; it's just that it's not always my personal taste. Some storylines really capture my interest, though, and Everneath did. I was lucky enough to be part of an ARC tour. I read the book in one sitting-- that's how engrossing it was. I loved so many things about the book (the characters and their relationships, the brilliant use of flashbacks that enhanced the pace rather than slowing it down, a cliff-hanger ending that STILL managed to be very satisfying), but one thing I really loved was the theme.
Brodi Ashton does a fabulous job of addressing the theme of redemption without being heavy-handed about it. One of the ways she did that was to tie it Nikki's character arc. As Nikki grows through the book and questions her own "redeemability," it brings the theme to the reader's attention without the author bashing you over the head or becoming preachy.
By tying the theme to the character so closely, it also makes the theme hit a strong emotional chord with the reader. Of course, this was made possible because Ashton did a great job of making you care for Nikki.
This was one of my favorite reads this year!(less)
I was lucky enough to win a copy of this, and I have to say the book surprised me. It sounded like an exciting read with some interesting twists. It w...moreI was lucky enough to win a copy of this, and I have to say the book surprised me. It sounded like an exciting read with some interesting twists. It was that, but it was so much more. Kate's character was deftly drawn, which helped bring out some of the deeper issues in the book-- grief, betrayal, tragedy, and secrets. The depth of feeling the book brought out in me was not what I expected, but I loved it.
I also loved the romantic relationships here. It's got a bit of a love triangle, but it's a completely different love triangle than I've ever seen. I loved each of the boys, and I loved the complexities of the relationships that emerged between everyone.
All in all, the mystery was intriguing and page turning, the emotional depth was stronger than expected, and this was just an all-around good read!(less)
The first word that came to my mind to describe this was "rich." The book was rich in emotion, rich in culture and setting, and rich in characters. Wa...moreThe first word that came to my mind to describe this was "rich." The book was rich in emotion, rich in culture and setting, and rich in characters. Watching the family pull together and break apart through Livie's eyes took me through a myriad of emotions. The characters are so deftly drawn that they became real to me, heightening that emotional connection.
The landscape of the book-- the Lousiana bayou-- is delicious. I'm a sucker for stories with a strong, unique setting, and this one was perfect. The setting didn't just exist; it became another character as Livie and the rest of the family interacted with their world. It made the world more real for me, and took it beyond the basic family story into a place that was unique and enthralling.
I highly recommend this to anyone wanting to bask in the afterglow of an original, emotional contemporary middle-grade.(less)
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