Goodreads Reading Challenge – 62% Done.

 

It’s now early July, must be pretty much at the half way mark of the year, so how am I doing.  Well, I personally feel I’ve slowed down a bit with my reading over the last few weeks, but as per good old Goodreads I’m still 4-5 books ahead of schedule!

So what have I read since my last blog?

Book #27 – Bound by Birthright by Janeal Falor

First off I really like the front cover, this did capture my attention and secondly the premise of the book is interesting. An elven princess needing to marry a human Prince for the good of her people! Who due to an assassination attempt is forced to go into hiding. (no more potential spoilers to be added) and adventures then follow.

So the first chapter or so seem good. But then, something goes wrong, and I’m not sure if it’s the writing style or an overzealous editor trying to keep the word count down, I don’t know? But things happen quickly, too quickly, and feels a tad rushed. For example when the pirate captain enters the story he isn’t really introduced to us readers, in my opinion, properly! Half way through a conversation with the recently arrived pirates it suddenly states…`says Captain Smythe`..and your left thinking, who’s that? His name isn’t mentioned before, we’ve not been introduced, so your left assuming that most be the name of the pirate captain.

So the rushed style switched me off, as well as not liking the main character in the slightest! A spoilt princess who is quite nonchalant about things, who then suddenly and a little out of character I felt, falls for a commoner human.  I don’t know. Kind of a nice idea of a story, but never had me gripped.

1 star out of 5

Book #28 – Clinch by Martin Holmen

This is a gritty, dark, no holds barred Noir crime thriller set in 1930’s Stockholm. The lead…I hesitate to say hero, or even anti-hero…is Harry Kvist. Ex boxer now dodgy debt collector that uses harsh, brutal tactics to reclaim monies owed, get’s caught up in a murder investigation where he becomes an obvious suspect. The story then evolves around him trying to clear his name and find out what happened and who actually caused the crime.

I enjoyed this story, and writing style a lot! Very different to anything I’ve read before or in a long time and I’m definitely intrigued to buy and read the planned future instalments of this series. Why four stars and not five? Because my sensitives kicked in a little at times with the sex scenes and some of the nastiness of our anti-hero which, although just part of the character, seemed unnecessary and put me off liking him. And I like to route or care for the hero/lead and found I didn’t because of some of his actions, that been said, the story, writing, setting the scene and description’s are great! and I read the book completely engrossed and entertained!

Good work author.

Right then, now the fun bit…picking my next book.