Samantha Cook's Blog, page 9
November 21, 2017
Book Review: A Gathering of Shadows
A GATHERING OF SHADOWS by V.E. Schwab
4 Stars
Verdict: A great bridge to book 3.
#1 A Darker Shade of Magic
The consequences of book one have set in. Lila has set off in the new world with a sink or swim attitude, and closes in on her dream of owning a ship. Kell struggles with Rhy’s life tethered to his, unable to live freely, fearing that they’ll share the consequences. Lila and Kell are
4 Stars
Verdict: A great bridge to book 3.
#1 A Darker Shade of Magic
The consequences of book one have set in. Lila has set off in the new world with a sink or swim attitude, and closes in on her dream of owning a ship. Kell struggles with Rhy’s life tethered to his, unable to live freely, fearing that they’ll share the consequences. Lila and Kell are
November 17, 2017
Book Review: The Ask and the Answer
THE ASK AND THE ANSWER by Patrick Ness (#2 Chaos Walking)
4 Stars
Verdict: Tough to get into, killer cliff hanger.
Review of book 1
This book is like climbing a very steep cliff. It starts slow, building up new characters, a new world, a new system to climb through. When you're at the top, it's amazing. And then you slip right off it, your hand gripping the edge, hanging on for that sequel.
4 Stars
Verdict: Tough to get into, killer cliff hanger.
Review of book 1
This book is like climbing a very steep cliff. It starts slow, building up new characters, a new world, a new system to climb through. When you're at the top, it's amazing. And then you slip right off it, your hand gripping the edge, hanging on for that sequel.
November 10, 2017
Book Review: The Dazzling Heights
THE DAZZLING HEIGHTS by Katharine McGee (The Thousandth Floor #2)
5 StarsVerdict: Imaginative, readable, and scandalous
Review of Book 1
It's impossible for me to write this review without spoilers or hints about book one, so make sure you've read that first. The pages will fly by - trust me on that one - and if you liked book one, book two is the same style with new ideas.
So it begins
5 StarsVerdict: Imaginative, readable, and scandalous
Review of Book 1
It's impossible for me to write this review without spoilers or hints about book one, so make sure you've read that first. The pages will fly by - trust me on that one - and if you liked book one, book two is the same style with new ideas.
So it begins
November 9, 2017
Book Review: The Thousandth Floor
THE THOUSANDTH FLOOR by Katharine McGee
5 Stars
Verdict: A futuristic teen drama beginning and ending in murder
It’s a high school drama set in a futuristic tower that’s more like a world inside itself. Think of Pretty Little Liars or Gossip Girl, except 100 years into the future. Same problems - boyfriends, cheating, drugs, illegitimate children - with a different flavour.
Avery lives at
5 Stars
Verdict: A futuristic teen drama beginning and ending in murder
It’s a high school drama set in a futuristic tower that’s more like a world inside itself. Think of Pretty Little Liars or Gossip Girl, except 100 years into the future. Same problems - boyfriends, cheating, drugs, illegitimate children - with a different flavour.
Avery lives at
October 23, 2017
Book Review: Graceling
GRACELING by Kristin Cashore
5 Stars
Verdict: Enthralling from start to finish
Katsa is born to kill, 'Graced' with special skills that make her a deadly weapon. From a young age, her uncle, King of Middlun, has trained her to carry out his dirty work by doing what she's good at - hurting others. Kasta resents her uncle, but struggles to stand up to him. Only when she meets Po, another Graced
5 Stars
Verdict: Enthralling from start to finish
Katsa is born to kill, 'Graced' with special skills that make her a deadly weapon. From a young age, her uncle, King of Middlun, has trained her to carry out his dirty work by doing what she's good at - hurting others. Kasta resents her uncle, but struggles to stand up to him. Only when she meets Po, another Graced
October 2, 2017
Book Review: Undercover Princess
UNDERCOVER PRINCESS by Connie Glynn
4 Stars
Verdict: A light and colourful read
Lottie is a hardworking student at Rosewood boarding school, who loves tiaras, the colour pink, and fairy tales. Ellie is the rebellious princess of Maradova, who joined the school to shirk her royal duties and listen to heavy metal. When a misunderstanding has all of Rosewood believing that Lottie is the princess
4 Stars
Verdict: A light and colourful read
Lottie is a hardworking student at Rosewood boarding school, who loves tiaras, the colour pink, and fairy tales. Ellie is the rebellious princess of Maradova, who joined the school to shirk her royal duties and listen to heavy metal. When a misunderstanding has all of Rosewood believing that Lottie is the princess
September 28, 2017
Book Review: Poison Study
POISON STUDY by Maria V. Snyder
3 Stars
Verdict: An addictive first taste, didn't quite last to the end.
When the day comes for Yelana to meet the hangman's noose, she is offered a choice: face execution, or tempt death every day as the Commander's food taster.
It's a fantastic premise, with a pacy beginning. The pages hooked me fast, with Yelena dragged from her cell and offered a chance to
3 Stars
Verdict: An addictive first taste, didn't quite last to the end.
When the day comes for Yelana to meet the hangman's noose, she is offered a choice: face execution, or tempt death every day as the Commander's food taster.
It's a fantastic premise, with a pacy beginning. The pages hooked me fast, with Yelena dragged from her cell and offered a chance to
May 1, 2017
Book Review: Fly on the Wall
FLY ON THE WALL by E. Lockhart
4 Stars
Verdict: A short tale of naked truths.
Contemporary usually isn’t my thing. I need life threatening stakes, magic, and twisted, villainous plans – but E. Lockhart’s books are a welcomed break from what I call ‘the norm’. They’re short, and packed full of emotion and meaning. FLY ON THE WALL in particular felt relatable, full of diversity, and got me
4 Stars
Verdict: A short tale of naked truths.
Contemporary usually isn’t my thing. I need life threatening stakes, magic, and twisted, villainous plans – but E. Lockhart’s books are a welcomed break from what I call ‘the norm’. They’re short, and packed full of emotion and meaning. FLY ON THE WALL in particular felt relatable, full of diversity, and got me
April 22, 2017
Book Review: Skulduggery Pleasant
SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT by Derek Landy
5 Stars
Verdict: Fun, weird, and magical - what's not to like?
In short, it’s a fun MG book. It has humour and a jovial spirit running through its pages, getting serious at times when it needs to, but never feeling like a heavy weight of despair and angst that comes with YA. A welcome change from my normal genre!
I love how there's a quirky spin on the
5 Stars
Verdict: Fun, weird, and magical - what's not to like?
In short, it’s a fun MG book. It has humour and a jovial spirit running through its pages, getting serious at times when it needs to, but never feeling like a heavy weight of despair and angst that comes with YA. A welcome change from my normal genre!
I love how there's a quirky spin on the
April 21, 2017
Book Review: Gates of Thread and Stone
GATES OF THREAD AND STONE by Lori M Lee
2 stars
Verdict: Not good.
I always feel bad for writing two star reviews. Most of the time it's just a book that could do with more work, not a bad author. But I'm going to be bluntly honest. I felt the writing was dull, the world building was flat, and the pace was slow. I’ve read worse, but that doesn’t make this story better.
After Kia eats a
2 stars
Verdict: Not good.
I always feel bad for writing two star reviews. Most of the time it's just a book that could do with more work, not a bad author. But I'm going to be bluntly honest. I felt the writing was dull, the world building was flat, and the pace was slow. I’ve read worse, but that doesn’t make this story better.
After Kia eats a
