Heather read and liked Tatiana's review of The Sweet Far Thing (Gemma Doyle, #3):

"Thankfully, this is over. I thought I would never get through this last installment of Gemma Doyle trilogy. Why, oh why does this book have to be so long? Take out 300-400 pages of unnecessary secondary characters and going nowhere plot lines, its 5 ...more Thankfully, this is over. I thought I would never get through this last installment of Gemma Doyle trilogy. Why, oh why does this book have to be so long? Take out 300-400 pages of unnecessary secondary characters and going nowhere plot lines, its 5 epilogues, and "The Sweet Far Thing" would be a reasonably decent book (I suppose). But alas, Bray chooses to ruin her own rather original series with this endless and bizarre last installment.

I've read quite a few reviews and know how many people are disappointed with the ending. I don't really mind where all the characters end up in this story, but I rather mind how and why they get there.

Gemma's books have never been about romance for me. The underlying idea of these books is women's independence, I get it. So I probably wouldn't have minded Kartik's sacrifice if it made any sense. For me, he dies because of Gemma's stupidity. Should she have done what she promised to do in the end of book 2 (divide the magic among the inhabitants of the realms), none of the events in the books would have happened. Thus his death is pointless in my opinion. In fact, the more I think of the details of Kartik's death, the less I understand what and why exactly happened to him. Basically, Gemma stabs the Tree releasing Winterlands' magic, Kartik sucks in this magic, then pours the magic into Gemma and then becomes a part of the Tree. WTH just happened? Why does he even have to do it? If the Tree doesn't have any more magic, how can it have this power to accept his sacrifice and why is it needed? If the Tree still holds on its evil power, how does Kartik's sacrifice change anything? Doesn't it mean that the Tree will continue its evil business in the Winterlands and will eventually corrupt Kartik the same way it did Eugenia? How is this a solution?

Now to Felicity and Pippa. Seriously, where does the gay issue come from? I have no objections to homosexuality being portrayed in YA literature, but it is handled very heavy-handedly by Bray in this book. First of all, there is no clue about this in the first two books - Felicity is caught kissing a gypsy man, Pippa dreams of a knight in shiny armor. This leads me to believe that this turn in the girls' relationship is an afterthought on Bray's part. Another issue here is that considering that Felicity is only 16 and a victim of sexual abuse, can we really be sure that her newly found sexual preference is a real one and not caused by the abuse? I just think Bray shouldn't have brought up this issue if she didn't have time to handle it responsibly and thoughtfully.

Lastly, “The Sweet Far Thing” is an unbearably long and convoluted tale that needs editing badly. First two books have a great balance of real and supernatural with a great women’s independence message. This third book is unnecessarily full of numerous subplots, redundant scenes, and pages of feminist propaganda. I understand Bray wanted to give us her opinion on about every women’s issue out there, but it doesn’t translate into a good book.

Overall, a disappointing conclusion to an imaginative and original series. I don’t necessarily regret reading the trilogy, but I will definitely not recommend it to anyone. Two stars only because I was able to finish it and it gives some kind of closure.
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Heather read and liked Tatiana's review of An Ice Cold Grave (Harper Connelly Mystery, #3):

"Harris is losing me again. This series is taking a weird turn, just like her Lily Bard series, which I abandoned after book 2. I like Harris for her stories set in small towns, with colorful characters, with families full of dark secrets and back sto...more Harris is losing me again. This series is taking a weird turn, just like her Lily Bard series, which I abandoned after book 2. I like Harris for her stories set in small towns, with colorful characters, with families full of dark secrets and back stories. "An Ice Cold Grave" is just too dark for my taste - mass graves, serial killers, teenage sociopath torturing animals... That's not what I care for. Plus the relationship between Tolliver and Harper - not comfortable with it. Too quick of a transition from brother/sister (even though biologically they aren't) to lovers. Too ewww for my taste. I might have been OK with the entire thing if their relationship was portrayed as tender and romantic, but no - it is too lustful and outright gross at times. As for the sex scenes - ew again. Harris definitely pushes the envelope here - she makes these scenes risque and rather unsavory and dirty.

I am planning to read the 4th (last) book in the series just to get done with it, but without much excitement.(less) "

Heather read and liked Tatiana's review of The Historian:

"I am giving up. The only fascinating thing about this book was the story of its publication. "The Historian" was supposed to be the next "The Da Vinci Code," hence a purchasing price of 2 million dollars. "The Da Vinci Code"...more I am giving up. The only fascinating thing about this book was the story of its publication. "The Historian" was supposed to be the next "The Da Vinci Code," hence a purchasing price of 2 million dollars. "The Da Vinci Code" it was not. The book was very slow and overly descriptive. The only reason I was able to read as much of it as I have (130 pages) was because I was listening to it on audio, thus I guess I checked out during endless descriptions and historical background, and was engaged only during conversations. When I actually started reading the book myself, I couldn't get through even 10 pages. Can't recommend it to anyone I know, but it is a bestseller, so I guess some people find something in it to be enjoyed...(less) "