Kasia read and liked karen's review of Sold:

"another book im not sure gains a lot by being written in verse, unless it is just to slow the pacing down to better appreciate the horror. the beginning pre-sale parts were very beautifully descriptive, and then after that become very unbeautifully d...more another book im not sure gains a lot by being written in verse, unless it is just to slow the pacing down to better appreciate the horror. the beginning pre-sale parts were very beautifully descriptive, and then after that become very unbeautifully descriptive. its a rough subject matter that doesnt get disney-fied... until the end.(less) "

Kasia read and liked Lori's review of The Likeness: A Novel:

"I'm still debating whether to give this 3 or 4 stars - I just checked what I gave In the Woods, and see I had the same problem with that one! I gave that one 3 stars not knowing how much it would stay with me. I'm a fairly tough rater - 3 stars is qu...more I'm still debating whether to give this 3 or 4 stars - I just checked what I gave In the Woods, and see I had the same problem with that one! I gave that one 3 stars not knowing how much it would stay with me. I'm a fairly tough rater - 3 stars is quite a good rating for me.

Same thing as with In the Woods - not sure how much will stick with me after a few months, BUT just like that one, I pretty much was glued to The Likeness. When I woke up in the middle of the night, I was so driven that instead of going right back to sleep I stayed up to finish it! So I think that means it deserves a 4-star rating.

There was one thing I didn't find believable, and that was how much and how quickly Cassie got sucked into the scenario, at the risk of her love for Sam and her own identity. But it's also somewhat explainable in that she really did suffer from a mini-nervous breakdown after Operation Vestal, so that I could see how she'd glom onto the House and the community.

Except I didn't like Daniel, even from the beginning, and that held me back from entering that world wholeheartedly myself. You'd think she would have seen all those currents swirling underneath.

The real killer was a big surprise. Not what I expected!

When suspense books are this well-written, with characters that have so much depth and complexities, that are likable or at least get my empathy, well, it's a genre I love.

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Kasia read and liked Jim's review of Eighth Grade Bites (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, #1):

"A quick read, but a surprisingly good one, even for an adult. Typical of a kid's book, the plot is a bit simplistic, but it was a good story with believable characters. A lot of background had to be covered & it was well done. This is mostly Vlad ...more A quick read, but a surprisingly good one, even for an adult. Typical of a kid's book, the plot is a bit simplistic, but it was a good story with believable characters. A lot of background had to be covered & it was well done. This is mostly Vlad figuring out what he is, which fits rather well with his age, too.

One of the more interesting points is the characterization of the various people. They're not as simple as in most books of this type & even the bad guys have redeeming qualities, while the good guys have their faults. Refreshing.

If I found any fault, it was with the pacing. True to life, there were busy, exciting times followed by others that were typical. Typical days were just cut out. Sometimes a jump of several weeks left me a bit dazed & a few threads got lost. The author is constrained by a year per book & I'm guessing a specific length for each book. It felt like it, at times.

Vampire books are all the rage now & I've read so many that I didn't think this series would interest me too much, but I found that it does. I'm looking forward to the next book. (less) "