Y’all, I can’t get over this book. I finished it, and can’t move on, can’t read anything else. I’m afraid it will spoil my high.
This book has element...moreY’all, I can’t get over this book. I finished it, and can’t move on, can’t read anything else. I’m afraid it will spoil my high.
This book has elements of several different genres: YA , paranormal, action, suspense. It would be too hard to put it into one category. And that is what makes it awesome. You start out with plain, normal Maddy, and get introduced to her plain, normal life and friends. Then, after the lightening strike (the point at witch things start to get really interesting) you begin the introduction into her paranormal adventure. There are several things that happen, and so many of them are entwined so tightly with the plot, that I can’t talk about them because it would give things away. I need to say I love Dane and Chloe. I’m not sold on Stamp. And, really, Hazel is the worst best friend ever. I didn’t like her before things went down. Seriously.
As the “zombie Armageddon” approaches, things get really interesting and suspenseful. I stayed on the edge of my seat for like 80% of the book. It’s entertaining with enough humor, action, zombies, and snarky dialogue to keep you hooked. I stand by my assessment that Rusty Fischer is a genius. Yes, he needs some kind of writer-genius award.
I want to kick myself for waiting as long as I did to read this. Seriously, I’m an idiot.
So, if you haven’t read this yet, don’t wait any longer. Go buy it, devour it, and relish the afterglow of the brief romance you will have with Zombies Don’t Cry.(less)
Ben asked me to review a different book of his, and like any good reviewer, I did some digging into his other works, found this as a free eBook, and,...moreBen asked me to review a different book of his, and like any good reviewer, I did some digging into his other works, found this as a free eBook, and, since it’s a short novella, I decided to use it as a sample of his works.
An interesting story is woven here. We’re post zombie-apocalypse here, and zombies are hunted for sport. Hence the name of the novella. It’s quite different from other zombie stories I’ve read, where people are killing them for survival, and scared to death of them. Here, they pay big money to hunt zombies. The zombie are just as dangerous, just as deadly, and incredibly fun to hunt. The paid guides have this down to a science.
Though slightly predictable, this makes a fun, quick, Halloween-themed read. Go download it, read it, and keep an eye out on the blog for my review of The Society of Dark Hearts coming soon!
I have read and reviewed a couple other Koontz books, and so far, he’s either hit or miss with me. Your He...more *This review most likely contains spoilers*
I have read and reviewed a couple other Koontz books, and so far, he’s either hit or miss with me. Your Heart Belongs to Me has definitely left me on the fence of whether this is a hit or a miss.
Adam is a self-made, rich, and famous. But most of all, he’s likeable and relatable. You could instantly be his friend. He’s obsessive, working hours on end on the same project without stopping. This obsessiveness brings about a downfall of sorts.
He is diagnosed with a heart defect, and needs a transplant. One doctor mentions in passing that poisoning could cause the same defect, but is very unlikely. Well, being the obsessive person that he is, Adam spends a small fortune on trying to find out who poisoned him and why. Which leads to a dead end—no one is! Which is frustrating that Koontz spends more than half the book on this train of thought. As a reader, if you read the description you know that’s not the case, but still.
Adam goes all Tale Tale Heart obsessive—every little knock or creak makes him think someone is out to get him. I appreciate the Hawthornian bend to this novel. As a fan of Hawthorn, I was impressed how easily those themes fit in here. Koontz even creates a character who is a major Hawthorn fan!
It gets a little crazy at times, and there’s a lot of questions that aren’t answered, and then there’s the whole scene at his dad’s house with Lily’s sister and the end of the scene is just…unbelievable.
And the ending is really, very sappy. Who needs redemption when there’s no closure? What about all the questions I need answers to? Apparently, we’re not getting any answers since the book ends and this is not a series. AND I NEED ANSWERS!
I was riveted at times, and liked major chunks of the plot, but not the whole of it.
So, take it or leave it, my heart doesn't belong to this one.(less)
Kephart writes poetic. Her words and the way she describes even the simplest things are beautiful. You Are My Only is written unlike any book I have r...moreKephart writes poetic. Her words and the way she describes even the simplest things are beautiful. You Are My Only is written unlike any book I have read. At it’s basic, it is a story of loss, friendship, growth, and trust. It is heart wrenching, heart breaking, gorgeous, and wonderful. I laughed, I was nearly in tears, and I ached for Emmy and Sophie.
There isn’t too much that can be said without spoiling this magnificent literary creation, so I’m not going to say too much. Just be prepared to stay up all night to finish it. Seriously. You kinda figure out the big reveal very early in the story, and I think that might be what you’re supposed to do. So that you keep reading to see how it ends. Kephart writes in such a way that made me second guess myself about the characters and the plot, but it’s not frustrating or irritating. It’s enlightened.
At it’s deeper levels, you will explore humanity and longing. The need to be held as dear and the need to hold things dear. The need for purpose in our lives, unconditional love and acceptance.
The cover is my real issue with this book. It is beautiful and what initially drew me to this story, but really didn’t fit the book. It looks more like a young lady from the 20s, a flapper if you will. I had trouble, because of the cover, figuring out what time period I was reading in. Let me go ahead and let you in on a little secret: this book takes place for the most part in the early 90s (for Emmy) and 2004 (for Sophie). But you don’t find this out right away. Knowing this upfront would have provided necessary context desperately required for the first few chapters. So, there you have it. Context proper.
The ending, though not what I was expecting, was perfect. I love it, I related to it. It couldn’t have been any better. It left me wheeling, dizzy, and breathless.
I was hooked, stayed up way past my bed time and HAD to finish this. Just had to, no matter how bad my performance at work would suck the next day. It was demanded of me to finish this book! [PS: I didn’t suffer at work, I was very productive!]
4 Stars: Add this to your TBR list. Go on, do it now!
Get to reading, Richard
*This pre-release was provided to me by the publishers through netGalley* (less)
I approached this book all wrong. I made fast assumptions about it, and misjudged it. I almost didn’t finish it because of my assumptions, but continu...moreI approached this book all wrong. I made fast assumptions about it, and misjudged it. I almost didn’t finish it because of my assumptions, but continued reading and finished it.
You must realize before starting this book how difficult it will be to read. I had no idea how sad and monstrous reading this would be. Mental illness is no joke. Just prepare yourself: Pixley is real. There’s a no-holds-barred approach to telling Lizzie’s story. You’ve been warned.
I felt sorry for Lizzie. Both as the compliant preteen flashback Lizzie and the moody depressed teenage Lizzie, her character makes you feel and understand to some extent what mental illness can do to someone. The feelings of being ashamed, hating, loving all became vivid. Her love for her sister is fathomless, knows no bounds. The turning point, when she’s able to let go, I didn’t cry, but it’s just awesome.
Pixley did an amazing job writing this story. The ending was beautiful. The growth in the characters was poignant. Without Tess left me feeling breathless and lightheaded.
4 Stars: Without Tess your life is missing something.
Get to reading, Richard
*This book was provided to me by the publishers through netGalley* (less)
I came into this book with an open mind, as wide as the big blue sky. What filled my mind were characters that I cared nothing for. A story that was m...moreI came into this book with an open mind, as wide as the big blue sky. What filled my mind were characters that I cared nothing for. A story that was mildly intriguing. A plot that moved like frozen molasses. I don’t think I can tell you adequately how incredibly slow this story moved, how many times I heard the phrases “sister-wives,” “house governor,” “our husband Linden,” and “my twin brother Rowan.” It really irritates me when an author doesn’t think that the reader is smart enough to remember who is who and constantly repeats things.
Now that I’ve been overly critical toward the author, let’s move on to the actual story. I like that DeStefano did something that I’ve not seen in YA/dystopian yet: that the genetically perfected offspring die young...And there’s no cure.
I grew to LOVE Jenna! And then the thing happened. And I nearly cried. Cecily is another story. I cared absolutely nothing for her, until one little bit right near the end of the book. If you read (or have read) this, then you’ll know what I’m talking about. Rhine…well, she was just irritating. I can’t put a finger on exactly what it was about her that raked my nerves, but she did. I really can’t understand why Rhine never just told Linden the truth. The truth about where she was from, who she is, that she has a twin brother, how she ended up as his wife. Why didn’t she try to send a letter to Rowan? Why?
Did I mention how incredibly slow Wither was?
Even though the story isn’t complete, and this is only the first of a trilogy, I’m passing on the rest.
Update: As I was updating my reviews on Goodreads, I saw this on my list, and I couldn't remember what this book was about. I had to read my review to remember. It didn't even leave an impression on me.(less)
I have honestly been dying to read a book by Janet Evanovich and when I saw this at my local library, I nearly peed my pants with excitement! Ok, that...moreI have honestly been dying to read a book by Janet Evanovich and when I saw this at my local library, I nearly peed my pants with excitement! Ok, that’s not really how it happened, but I was still super excited.
I read a few reviews where the reviewers compared Lizzie to Stephanie Plum. They also said that they were too similar. Well, since this is my first Evanovich book, I can’t say that I agree, because I don’t know anything about Stephanie Plum. I can say this: I love Lizzie. And if Stephanie is anything like Lizzie, I’m sure I’ll love her, too. And I think that I love Janet Evanovich as well.
The characters were rich and colorful. I was never bored. The plot moved quickly, and though definitely not real, was something I could relate to. The supporting characters added just the right amount of comic relief and side plots. Glo is freaking hilarious.
There’s so much left to explore and I cannot wait to read the next installment. Ms. Evanovich, wanna throw me an ARC???? Please?? I’ll get my wife to bake you cookies!
Wicked Appetite is witty, hilarious, well-written, and entertaining. My only complaint is how quick it went! And now I’m totally disappointed that I have to wait until 2012 for the untitled sequel. Boo hiss.
I was instantly drawn to this book by the cover. Then, I read the description and was sold. I have rarely found books these days that blatantly featur...moreI was instantly drawn to this book by the cover. Then, I read the description and was sold. I have rarely found books these days that blatantly feature someone in their 30s, and that’s where I am, in my 30s, so this instantly sounding like something I should read.
The story is told only from Zoe’s perspective, with her insights, reactions, feelings, and thoughts. I like books that are told in the first-person point of view. I like that the readers doesn’t have to interpret how the person is feeling, it’s right there on the page. This was the right way to tell the story of White Horse.
What I didn’t appreciate was Adams’s writing style. It was a little choppy and disjointed. There were too many times when I had to reread a sentence, paragraph, or page because I wasn’t at the same place Adams was. Others bloggers have said they like the short, quick sentence structure, because that’s the way they think sometimes, but I felt more confused about what was going on than I should have. This was a very complex story with two different story lines (more on this later) and I had to focus a lot to keep pace. I’m not saying this is a bad thing, I just wasn’t convinced this was the most effective way to tell the story [of course I am not a writer, and Adams’s book was published, and the second in the series is coming out later this year, so does my opinion really matter? Probably not a whole lot.] And I don’t mind investing brain power in a story, but even with my extra effort, I had a hard time.
As I mentioned, there’s a lot going on here. The story takes place in two different time periods referred to as “Then” and “Now.” We don’t’ know when these actually are, so I viewed this through a modern perspective. We switch back and forth between Then and Now multiple times per chapter. This, coupled with the way Adams wrote (remember the paragraph above), often left me grasping at air trying to remember when I was reading in, especially if I had come back to the book after taking a break from reading. My savior was in the characters that differed between Then and Now. I like that a little about each time period was revealed in small chunks, but this too was trouble at times.
For much of the book I was trying to figure out what White Horse actually was, what it was doing, why the world was the way it was. As things unfold, I was able to put the puzzle together, but only after large chucks of story took place. I was around halfway or a little more through the book before Adams really told me what was up. And it was a humdinger. And I still had questions, even after it was revealed.
Another interesting part of the book is that there are some parallels to Greek Mythology. And honestly, if it weren’t for Rick Riordan and discussion questions at the end of White Horse, I wouldn’t have picked up on some of this. Some is very obvious, some isn’t. Mythology isn’t my thing. I get confused about who is who and what is what. But regardless, it was a nice addition. I also appreciated the Book of Revelation end-of-the-world tie-ins (which I didn’t catch until it was spelled out for me!).
There is a thing that takes place in Then, that defines, for the most part, Now and what Zoe does. This thing can’t really be talked about, but let me just say now, that I had a hard time believing what happened with this thing. I don’t think that, no matter how powerful or connected they are, that the thing could have actually happened. And this combined with another governmental thing put the world in the tailspin it’s in. I would have liked for Adams to camp out on the governmental thing a little more. I understand the story is about Zoe and her survival, but the little descriptions given on both things left me going, “Huh?” I’m not talking scientific research need-a-PhD-to-understand-it, just a little more fleshed out thoughts on these things.
The Swiss, I hope you hate him as much as I did. I wanted him to be hit by karmic bus the instant I met him. Of all the unbelievable stuff, he was the most unbelievable. Very much a caricature of a misogynistic man. Even knowing what all he had gone through to get to where he was, I just didn’t buy into him.
Then the final chapters of the book, when redemption is found, was too…gosh, how do I say this without sounding too negative. With all that White Horse did to humanity, I find it highly unlikely that what happened in the end would have happened. Call me a skeptic if you must, but I’m just not buying it. There was too much feel-good at the end, and this is not a feel-good kind of book. And I can’t talk about it any more because this would be a big spoiler for you all.
Overall, White Horse is very dark, very depressing, even from the get-go. The more you know, the more you root for Zoe, but the darker and more depressing the book gets. It’s a very unique apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic story. There were parts that felt like other stories or TV shows [ever watch The Walking Dead?] that lend some credibility to Adam’s take on dystopian.
For all the questions that weren’t answered in full, for the parts that I didn’t like, for the writing style that didn't speak to me, for all it’s shortcomings, for all the Hate-orade I drank before writing this review, I still really enjoyed this story. This is the first of a trilogy, so I might read Red Horse when it comes out at the end of the summer. Fans of dystopian/apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic should give this a shot.(less)
You know those books where everything that happens is very dramatic and very tragic? This is one of those books. And I wasn’t expecting that. From the...moreYou know those books where everything that happens is very dramatic and very tragic? This is one of those books. And I wasn’t expecting that. From the cover to the synopsis, I had the impression that this was going to be a truly uplifting, even happy, book of short stories. Instead, what I received was the dark, depressing side of life, the parts of people’s lives that are character building, but I was left without the growth that results from these experiences.
I desperately wanted something good to happen…to anyone.
I enjoyed reading While I’m Still Myself. I appreciated the theme of the short stories, of wanting to be able to deal with whatever was happening while you’re still in your right mind, still able to think rationally. It was a premise that carried through clearly and effectively. I liked that there were different perspectives, different eras, different places in life.
I liked that Lane grabbed my attention with each and every story in the book. I like that I needed to read the next page, the next sentence, the next word. I liked that his stories were kept short, that he didn’t drag them out into novella length (doesn’t that defeat the purpose of being a “short” story if they are the length of a small book?…but I digress).
I’m not the kind of reader who always expects a happy ending. But While I’m Still Myself would have been practically perfect in every way had there been at least one thing happy take place. (less)
Review: For starters, I highly recommend reading both books in this series back-to-back. The non-ending of the first book (although a perfect ending fo...moreReview: For starters, I highly recommend reading both books in this series back-to-back. The non-ending of the first book (although a perfect ending for the story) left me dying to read Where She Went. Gayle Forman, you are a genius!
If If I Stay is tragically beautiful (which it TOTALLY is), then Where She Went is brutally honest. Told from Adam’s POV, we are taken on a journey through what happened since the accident that took Mia from him (ok, well, you can tell from the description above that she isn’t dead, but you’ll understand when you read this…that’s a command, by the way, to READ THIS BOOK!): his rise to fame, hardships of being a star, etc. It is all very gritty and genuine. And, if you’re anything like me, you’ll hate Adam for the first quarter or so of the book. He’s such a pretentious jerk. He’s angry, self-absorbed, and childish. But as the story progresses, you being to she why he is that way and you begin to hurt with him, and build defenses with him, and hate the world for him.
New York to me, is one of those fantasy cities, where anything is possible. I love that Forman set is as the backdrop of the second installment. More than just a setting, it is a character in it’s on right and has taken an influential role in Mia’s life. It sort of says a lot about who Mia is, as much as Los Angeles does about Adam. About their transformation as people and how they have dealt with tragedy.
I’m trying really hard not to giveaway too much. Geez this is a hard review to right. So much happens that is central to the plot, that commentary on those things would give too much. You don’t want to know what is coming next because if you do, I’m sure it will take some of the magic out of Where She Went. You may just have to trust me on this: go read this!
4 Trees: Where She Went is definitely a place you should go!
Ok, y’all, this book is sexy! Ameilia and Nathaniel make sparks jump off the page! I don’t know how Saundra managed to make it so super sexy without a...moreOk, y’all, this book is sexy! Ameilia and Nathaniel make sparks jump off the page! I don’t know how Saundra managed to make it so super sexy without actual sex, but she did. There was this element of being risqué, that made the forbidden/frowned upon attraction between them almost too much to handle!
I fell in love with the characters. I felt very passionate about them (though often confused on who the minor characters were—there were many!) and wanted good things for them, and good things did happen! Amelia’s visions, though, perforated a happy period piece with flashes of tragedy. Even if the visions weren’t tragic, they were often bittersweet.
The language is appropriate, but not overly-haughty. I felt transported back in time, without feeling as if I was an outsider—I connected with the writing and was drawn in. The major plot elements really develop about half-way through the book. The story is so enticing, so entertaining that it wasn’t bothersome that that no real action takes place right away. And the paranormal elements keep things interesting.
Y’all, you need to read this book, even if you aren’t fans of either period or paranormal. This is just good!
Side Note: I don’t normally like period novels. I would have never read this book had it not been for YALL Fest 2011. Saundra was on a panel and hearing her talk about The Vespertine made me want to read it—BAD! So, I bought it that day, had her sign it, and the rest is history. (less)
I am a huge fan of Rusty Fischer! I think that I might be his biggest fan. Seriously, I cannot read enough of his books!
Vamplayers is a fun, interest...moreI am a huge fan of Rusty Fischer! I think that I might be his biggest fan. Seriously, I cannot read enough of his books!
Vamplayers is a fun, interesting, new take on the vampire trend that is rocking the YA lit department. I love this idea, that there are players whose only goal is to seduce, turn, and wreak havoc on a high school and community.
So, we’ve got the Sisters: Alice, Cara, & Lily. They’re, you know, not teenagers, but expertly-trained vampire secret ops agents whose purpose is to seek out the vamplayer. They have a rank, Lily (our heroine) is Third Sister. She really has no pull, no authority. She’s the nobody of the group. Her history is epic. Sad, but epic. And I loved Lily for the most part. She’s a little of a ditz. Ok, so maybe a lot of a ditz. She doesn’t connect the dots. Even I connected the dots. So, I got a little frustrated with her. I wanted to slap her a few times, but she is mostly made of awesome.
I loved Zander and Grover. By far the best supporting cast and comedic relief I’ve seen in awhile! They are geeks, outcasts, and scholarship kids at this exclusive school. They’re pretty much nobodies, too. And they are made of awesome.
I love the ending! I didn’t see that coming! I expected something quite the opposite and love this book all the more for it! And I’m not going to spoil it for you!
Vamplayers is action packed, full of awesome, and a very very fun read! So, on February 1, BUY THIS BOOK!
4 Trees: READ THIS BOOK!
Get to reading, Richard
*This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review*(less)
First of all, I have to throw props out to Rusty Fischer...Ushers, Inc. is awesome! Great job, dude!
I read The Bookish Brunette’s review of Ushers, In...moreFirst of all, I have to throw props out to Rusty Fischer...Ushers, Inc. is awesome! Great job, dude!
I read The Bookish Brunette’s review of Ushers, Inc. and KNEW I had to read it! And boy am I glad I did. The story was clever, the idea original, and I just couldn’t get enough! I read Ushers, Inc. feverishly, and rightly so. Fischer is a genius! It was like a roller coaster ride of emotions. Just when I got to catch my breath, there was another twist, and plunge, and…well, you get the idea.
Abby Cooper is the reluctant hero. I love her witty, comedic, sarcastic approach to life. Her fellow orphans/coworkers/only friends are cool, too. I really liked how they interacted and could read each other without saying anything—like brothers from another mother, sisters from another mister. I however, did have a problem with Cliff. His motives were very transparent, canned. Fischer tells us (in the last chapter) what I suspected all along about Cliff. And, well, it was a little bit teen-drama-cheesy and weak.
There are twists I didn’t see coming, and those I did. The prologue kinda gives away the ending, so if that will bother you, just skip it and read it last—turn the prologue into an epilogue! I won’t give away too much, because YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK! Trust me, don’t think, just zombie-it on over to a bookseller’s website and buy it, devour it, then smile to yourself knowing that you read one of the best books of 2011! I sure did.
Check out Rusty Fischer’s blog for more awesomeness (and some free downloads—seriously, dude, FREE awesomeness!!).
5 Stars: unadulterated awesomeness!!!! Looking forward to reading Fischer’s other works!
Many Adventures, Richard
*This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review* (less)
The Undertaker has the humor of a Stephanie Plum novel, with the action, blood, and gore that men appreciate. So, dudes, take note, this is a book you...moreThe Undertaker has the humor of a Stephanie Plum novel, with the action, blood, and gore that men appreciate. So, dudes, take note, this is a book you would like.
So, I have to get my biggest complaint out of the way: there are some major rookie editing mistakes. Brown is a fairly accomplished author and there are some quite inexcusable editing faux pas. The Undertaker should have been edited again. And maybe again.
We open with a very sinister vibe. With the feelings of horror and of terror. As the story progresses what unravels, and I feel that maybe the plot unraveled in a bad way, is a mystery/suspense/government conspiracy type of thing. Not a bad thing, per se, but maybe a little off kilter from where the book started. I had expected something more serial-killer than officials on the take.
I read this easily, and could have read it in a couple of sitting had life not interrupted so often. Peter has wit and charm, balanced against Sandy’s cynicism and bravado. They worked well together and their developing romance (you see this coming from a mile away) provides a nice break from the running, guns, Mob, Tinkerton, whatever was chasing them at the moment. The story progressed easily from the action, to the non-action, and back again. I was never bored
I was, however, perplexed by a couple thing, things that I don’t feel were discussed or used to their full potential. 1. Peter was in the Army, even if for a short time, and it was mentioned a couple times that his “training” came to his aid, but there were times where his Army background should have made a bigger impact, and it just didn’t. 2. Why did Tinkerton et al. decide to do what they did? I won’t give anything, but I just don’t think this was fleshed out enough. There’s enough there to wrap the story up, but just left some unanswered questions.
What might have been a 4 Tree book, ended up being 3 Trees. I was not disappointed in the story or the plot, but surprised by the overall quality of the the finished book.
3 Trees: let this one take you under, you will enjoy it!
Get to reading, Richard
*This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review*(less)
R. Scott Anderson’s The Uncommon Thread is a hilarious romp through the musings of a deep thinker. Albeit irreverent at times, there is something to b...moreR. Scott Anderson’s The Uncommon Thread is a hilarious romp through the musings of a deep thinker. Albeit irreverent at times, there is something to be learned from Anderson.
The short essays are witty, full of quips and jabs, but not demeaning or degrading. They are fun, quick reads, all with a message to be taken from them. Several had me actually laughing out loud, some in thoughtful silence. Others brought me to near-tears. What you need to know going into these essays is that you will see life through the eyes of a very intelligent doctor, and reevaluate how you see your own life, how seriously or not you take it, how you will let what you read and learn change you.
I liked the honest voice in which each essay was written. It was relatable and genuine, like going to coffee with a dear friend and discussing the latest adventure and lessons learned. There was a bit of comfort and nostalgia, mixed in with just enough excitement to keep you drawn into the story. Several short stories were included as well. Some were humorous, others verging on unusual or weird.
One of the great things about reading a compilation of short stories or essays is that it is full of variety. I never got bored reading Anderson’s writings! They were captivating. I tended to enjoy most reading his retelling of something that happened within his family, stories about his children especially.
This is a fun, easy read that will open your mind, give your funny bone a workout, and most of all, entertain you. (less)
I have thought about this review all day. Mostly because my emotional reaction to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is confusion. Sheer and utter confusion....moreI have thought about this review all day. Mostly because my emotional reaction to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is confusion. Sheer and utter confusion.
Now, this is not to say that Mara Dyer is not a good book. It is. There is lots of good in there: good writing, good mystery. But that’s about it. Mara Dyer is just good. Barely average. Parts were somewhat disjointed as though we were inside Mara's brain and the book was written the same as her thought process--like there were missing details, purposefully removed to add to the confusion.
The characters are shallow and thin as rice paper. Mara is whiney and inconsistent. Aiden and Anna were plastic copies of other evil stereotypical just-there-for-angst characters of many YA novels. Noah was unrealistic and multiple-personalitied. From chapter to chapter I just didn’t know who I was going to get. Jamie was the only character who seemed to be thought through and remained himself. And I liked him and Daniel the most of all the people in the book.
Torn between hating it and liking it with mild curiosity, I was left confused and vaguely disappointed. There were so many almosts, but nothing really developed or came to light in the some 400 pages. Mara Dyer felt like a 400+ page introduction. There was a major cliffhanger at the end. Which is enough to have me put book 2 on my TBR. I can't decide if I hate Hodkin or appreciate her cunning.
I don't know how I feel about it, except that confusion pretty much describes it. Maybe that’s how we’re supposed to feel?
2 Trees: For all the hype, I was let down.
Get to reading, Richard
*Update to this review: After seeing Hodkin at Yall Fest, I am even more intrigued than before about who Mara Dyer is. Not that she lessened my confusion about the book, but peaked my interest even more for book 2. She did not change my mind about my 2 Tree rating, however.* (less)
Loading...
