Samantha Cook's Blog, page 13
April 10, 2016
Book Review: Glass Sword
GLASS SWORD by Victoria Aveyard (Red Queen #2)
2 stars
Verdict: Repetitive prose, slow pace, and lacks plot.
In my opinion, this book had two flaws: the story and the way it was written. I wanted to love it as much as I enjoyed book one, but I honestly found it dull.
The story followed a predictable path. Book one ends with Mare and a list of newbloods to recruit. Book two, Mare travels
2 stars
Verdict: Repetitive prose, slow pace, and lacks plot.
In my opinion, this book had two flaws: the story and the way it was written. I wanted to love it as much as I enjoyed book one, but I honestly found it dull.
The story followed a predictable path. Book one ends with Mare and a list of newbloods to recruit. Book two, Mare travels
January 28, 2016
Book Review: The Red Queen
THE RED QUEEN by Victoria Aveyard
5 Stars
Verdict: Depth of epic fantasy, speed of YA.
The silver blooded are gifted, magical, and prideful. The red blooded are nothing in comparison – well, except hard workers sent to die in a war that won’t bring them any power.
Mare is a skilled thief. It’s the only way she can help her poor, red-blooded family, even though they are uncomfortable
5 Stars
Verdict: Depth of epic fantasy, speed of YA.
The silver blooded are gifted, magical, and prideful. The red blooded are nothing in comparison – well, except hard workers sent to die in a war that won’t bring them any power.
Mare is a skilled thief. It’s the only way she can help her poor, red-blooded family, even though they are uncomfortable
January 20, 2016
Book review: Throne of Glass
THRONE OF GLASS by Sarah J. Maas
5 Stars
Verdict: This is a series I want on my shelf!
Hmm, yes, this one is interesting. Dark and cunning are just how I like lead characters to be, and Celaena the assassin is exactly that. If only there were some forbidden romances and –But wait. Yes, we have two. Maybe even a future third. It’s practically a love triangle.Okay, I’ll stop that. Maas has [...]
5 Stars
Verdict: This is a series I want on my shelf!
Hmm, yes, this one is interesting. Dark and cunning are just how I like lead characters to be, and Celaena the assassin is exactly that. If only there were some forbidden romances and –But wait. Yes, we have two. Maybe even a future third. It’s practically a love triangle.Okay, I’ll stop that. Maas has [...]
January 19, 2016
I'm still alive!
Hey everyone,
The last few months have whipped by. Over Christmas, I moved into a cosy flat. It's not a time of the year I'd recommend for this sort of thing, but I'm happy to call this new place home.
Mini announcement: I completed my reading challenge for 2015! I ended up reading 53/52 books last year...which is why I'm yet to finish a book this January. I need a little time off reading,
The last few months have whipped by. Over Christmas, I moved into a cosy flat. It's not a time of the year I'd recommend for this sort of thing, but I'm happy to call this new place home.
Mini announcement: I completed my reading challenge for 2015! I ended up reading 53/52 books last year...which is why I'm yet to finish a book this January. I need a little time off reading,
December 5, 2015
Book Review: Fever
FEVER by Lauren DeStefano (The Chemical Garden #2)
3 Stars
Verdict: Miserable. And not in a good way.
Let’s get one thing straight. I loved book one and I’m still pumped for book 3. Unfortunately this is a bridging story full of side plots. It was the aftermath of book 1 and the build up to book 3, and there’s one word to describe it.
Miserable.
What wasn’t miserable was a half-happy memory[...]
3 Stars
Verdict: Miserable. And not in a good way.
Let’s get one thing straight. I loved book one and I’m still pumped for book 3. Unfortunately this is a bridging story full of side plots. It was the aftermath of book 1 and the build up to book 3, and there’s one word to describe it.
Miserable.
What wasn’t miserable was a half-happy memory[...]
November 28, 2015
Book Review: Gone Girl
GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn
5 Stars
Verdict: Kinda messed up, aren't they?
When Nick finds his wife missing in suspicious circumstances, he doesn’t react the way a loving husband should. That’s all I’m going to say (fearful of spoilers). The film is also very close to the book, so don't watch if you plan to read it!
At first I enjoyed the two narrators, Nick's present day musings which
5 Stars
Verdict: Kinda messed up, aren't they?
When Nick finds his wife missing in suspicious circumstances, he doesn’t react the way a loving husband should. That’s all I’m going to say (fearful of spoilers). The film is also very close to the book, so don't watch if you plan to read it!
At first I enjoyed the two narrators, Nick's present day musings which
November 25, 2015
Self-Pub Fest Postponed
Unfortunately stacking a self-pub fest onto my plate right now is going to put cracks in the china. What I mean is, I don’t have enough time to coordinate the blog event I was hoping for. Organising good quality content from a bunch of authors takes time, and I want to be able to put that time in.My boyfriend of five years has a job in the same county as me – a commutable distant if we pick the
November 22, 2015
Book Review: Find Me If You Dare
FIND ME IF YOU DARE by Vicki Leigh (Dreamwalker #2)
3 Stars
Verdict: An action romance. Not bad.
Review of book 1
As Kayla’s father plots to bring on the apocalypse, the Protectors join forces with a coven in order to take down her father before it’s too late.This book has a lot of things I love – protective characters, thrilling action, magical powers – yet I don’t think it was [...]
3 Stars
Verdict: An action romance. Not bad.
Review of book 1
As Kayla’s father plots to bring on the apocalypse, the Protectors join forces with a coven in order to take down her father before it’s too late.This book has a lot of things I love – protective characters, thrilling action, magical powers – yet I don’t think it was [...]
November 20, 2015
Book Review: The Winner's Curse
THE WINNER'S CURSE by Marie Rutkoski
3 Stars
Verdict: Slow and flowery.
Kestrel is clever and tough, with a strategic mind and a sharp affinity for reading others. Arin is a defiant yet skilled slave, and clearly just as intelligent. After paying too much for him in an auction, Kestrel’s name becomes tarnished in society...
The first half of the book is sssssslllllooooowwww. While [...]
3 Stars
Verdict: Slow and flowery.
Kestrel is clever and tough, with a strategic mind and a sharp affinity for reading others. Arin is a defiant yet skilled slave, and clearly just as intelligent. After paying too much for him in an auction, Kestrel’s name becomes tarnished in society...
The first half of the book is sssssslllllooooowwww. While [...]
November 16, 2015
Book Review: Demon Road
DEMON ROAD by Derek Landy5 StarsVerdict: Easily the best book I have read this year.
Amber’s parents want to eat her. Amber doesn’t want to be eaten. This calls for a deal with a demon, a hunt for a murderer, and an action packed road trip!
Fantastic premise. Loved the characters too. Amber is relatable - the right amount of awkward, self-conscious, and generally a good sport. Milo is her
Amber’s parents want to eat her. Amber doesn’t want to be eaten. This calls for a deal with a demon, a hunt for a murderer, and an action packed road trip!
Fantastic premise. Loved the characters too. Amber is relatable - the right amount of awkward, self-conscious, and generally a good sport. Milo is her
