Five farmyard stars for this little tale of terror!
Since the blurb pretty much covers everything I couldOriginal Review on Jaunts & Haunts
5/5
Five farmyard stars for this little tale of terror!
Since the blurb pretty much covers everything I could tell you without giving anything away, I'll just go over why I enjoyed this short story.
The thing I enjoyed best about this story was its simplicity. Sometimes its best to go with the K.I.S.S. (keep it simple, stupid), and with this story, it really shows.
The writing is clear, to the point, and doesn't mess around. While The Ballad of Bonnie Rotten was slightly more poetic, this one didn't do that to the same extent, and it was enjoyable that the author could switch it up like that.
I honestly felt bad for the MC, Harold. He's a simple man at heart, and the universe just seemed to dump all over him. I could certainly understand the way he felt.
And of course, no story by this author would be complete without a healthy dose of horror. This time it was slightly more subtle, but that's what I loved about it. It kept me guessing for a bit like "Is that what I think it is?"
This short story is great, full of heartache and horror. Definitely worth a quick read!...more
This story was short and sweet, and quite frankly, refreshing. This is my first read of this aI gave this short story four gruesome stars!
This story was short and sweet, and quite frankly, refreshing. This is my first read of this author's work, and I was happy to get to know his style in the brief time it took me to read this (30 minutes on my lunch break).
The main character is a woman named Bonnie. She's young and has forsaken the traditional path of high school to instead stroll the streets for sex. Lately she has found that truckers are her meal ticket, so she's hanging out there when she sees an attractive man approach her.
I really can't say much more, but this is classified as horror for a reason, and something horrific happens.
I enjoyed the author's writing of this story. While it could lean towards somewhat flowery for my taste in small places, overall it was extremely well-written and descriptive. I could really picture the scenes he was creating.
Bonnie was simple but still an interesting character. I enjoyed her person POV, and I've never quite read one like hers before.
Lastly, this story delivered on what it promised, horror. While it wasn't a core shaker, I didn't expect it to be given the synopsis, and was happy with my dark experience.
Ultimately, this short story is great for anyone who isn't squeamish, loves the chills and thrills, and wants a light, fun read.
Definitely going to check out more of his work. Happy reading everyone!...more
I have been a fan of Thea's writing for quite some time, so when I heard she was releasin5/5
Five Whodunit stars for this book!
I have been a fan of Thea's writing for quite some time, so when I heard she was releasing her first novel, I jumped on the opportunity. Boy was I glad I did!
No Good Men is set back in the time of the Great Depression. We follow the main character Alex Dawson, who is a writer but has had to resort to bodyguard work due to hard times. One seemingly mundane night at the Ostia, he is done with a shift of work and goes to the bar when gunshots fire.
In a heartbeat, Alex's boss and best friend are dead. With no other means of work besides writing, Alex struggles to pick up the pieces of his shattered life. Who had killed his boss and best friend? Why? And most of all, will they strike again?
This book was great through and through.
For starters, the characters were very well fleshed out and had interesting personalities and flaws. Alex believes in justice and has morals in a city where exposing secrets can cost you your life. Sev, Bella, Pearl, Martin, they were all great characters too. I loved every one of them. And Harlow? Pft! Don't get me started on that dirtbag!
The plot was intriguing to me even though I don't usually read mysteries. I mean, you've got the mob, a murderer on the loose, and a gay romance in a time where it was extremely taboo. What's not to love? The city of Westwick reflected the effects of the Great Depression and was shabby, run-down, and corrupted. A perfect portrayal if you ask me.
Lastly, I'm bringing it back to the gay romance. This really brought things together for me. Sev and Alex meet in the strangest of circumstances, and from there I was living for it! Sev has a rough past, and Alex has his fair share of doubts as what starts off as a one-nighter starts to become much more than that.
Ultimately, I truly loved this book. If you like mysteries, adventure, and a healthy dose of romance, then this book is for you! I can't wait to read more from this author!
Honestly, I don't really even know how to react after reading Original Review on Jaunts & Haunts
Five spectral stars for this book!
Honestly, I don't really even know how to react after reading this book. I absolutely loved it, but more than usual (comparable to my everlasting love for Animorphs). Victoria Schwab has quickly become one of my favorite authors with this series, and I'm only sad that I've caught up to the published works in this series to date. I want to read them all!
Tunnel of Bones continues where City of Ghosts left off. Cassidy is still travelling with her parents on the filming of their show The Inspecters. This time, they end up in Paris, France.
The city is beautiful, rich with history and culture. The only problem is, once Cassidy and her parents venture through the Catacombs, she awakens a spirit far more dangerous and deadly than the ones she's encountered before.
Can Cassidy figure out how to send this reluctant spirit on, or will the city of Paris become victims to this mischievous entity?
Man oh man was this a great book!
For starters, this book was super easy to read.
Cassidy Blake is a very interesting and somewhat spunky character. Aided by the knowledge that she gains in the first book, she's definitely grown as an individual, and has advanced in her abilities a bit as well.
I also love the relationship that her ghost companion Jacob and her have. They feel like two halves of a whole, and their interactions make me giggle and enjoy the story even more.
There is plenty of character progression for Cassidy and Jacob, and I couldn't be happier about that. There's something going on with both of them (I'm not talking romance), and that mystery really pulled me forward. It's not something that will fully develop in the span of one book, so I am set to read this entire series to find out the real truth of things.
The plot of this book was pretty unpredictable if you ask me. I enjoyed seeing the sights that we did along the way, and though I was disappointed at first that we didn't get to see more historic sites from Cassidy's viewpoint, it made sense given the plot that was revolving around her and the strange spirit.
The chills weren't quite as strong in this book if you ask me, but they were definitely present, especially with the Catacombs. And actually, I liked how this book was slightly different from the first. Way to keep us on our feet, Schwab!
Ultimately, Tunnel of Bones is a great continuation of the Cassidy Blake series that is rife with adventure, chills, and the paranormal. Can't wait for the next book! ...more
After reading The Gemini Connection by this author, I had to read more of her works, and fortunately5/5
Five vengeful stars for this book!
After reading The Gemini Connection by this author, I had to read more of her works, and fortunately for me, she had a horror novel perfect for reading around Halloween time.
I was recently disappointed by another read (not by this author) and was desperate for something good and entertaining. Boy was I glad I chose to read this book!
The novel Sarah is centered around a young man, Cain Shannon and his family. He loves his mom and sister Maddie and hanging out with his sarcastic bestie Finn. But soon, Cain's life gets dangerously complicated.
The attic door connected to his bedroom begins to open on its own, and when Cain investigates, he stumbles upon the spectral form of a girl named Sarah. Sarah claims she was murdered by three boys in his house when it was under construction and that he has to help her.
Should Cain put his life on hold to help this spirit? How can he help her? And most of all, is she telling the truth, or does she have darker intentions?
This book had it all. Suspense, drama, laughs, and most of all, horror!
An urban tale, it was very easy to identify with Cain and his issues from the beginning, as I remember feeling the same way in high school (it hasn't been THAT long, people!). I also really enjoyed the secondary characters as well. His best friend Finn's sarcasm and wit was very refreshing, and his mom's unyielding support for him reminded me of my own mother.
The writing was flawless. The pacing and flow was smooth and moved fast, just how I like it. I'm telling you, those pages flowed like melted butter! Cain's POV was extremely believable for a high school student.
But in the end, it's all about the plot. Things aren't always as they seem with the paranormal, and the mystery and suspense kept me flipping through those pages every night.
Ultimately, Sarah is a haunting and riveting urban tale about what happens when you mess with a ghost. It ain't pretty! This book is definitely bingeworthy, just make sure you keep your night lights on with this one!
Happy Reading, and I can't wait to see what else Teri Polen has in store for us!...more
This is the second work I've read by Tommy B. Smith, and I received this for free in exchange for an honest review.
Due to how short3.5/5
This is the second work I've read by Tommy B. Smith, and I received this for free in exchange for an honest review.
Due to how short this work is, I won't be able to say much about the actual plot without spoilers, so I'll keep this brief.
Lawrence Cornwell is dying, and he doesn't have long to live. His daughter is caring for him in his last days, and he recalls memories from his past as he comes to terms with the pain and joy of life.
I wasn't sure what to expect based on the synopsis of this work, but it didn't sound too similar to Poisonous (the other work of his that I loved) so I tried to keep an open mind.
The writing style of this work is spot on. It was easy to follow and blaze through the pages. I probably spent about an hour to read through this work (I like to take my time).
It was also intriguing to see things from Cornwell's POV, being that I'm 32 years old as I write this review.
Pros being said, this work wasn't perfect.
The main con for me was that I thought there wasn't enough plot going on. Cornell has lived a long life, but not too much actually happens in this snippet of his life.
I totally understand that these are his last dying memories and this is the direction the author decided to take, but it left me wanting more adventure, that extra oomph that makes a book amazing. This is just my personal preference.
I'm definitely not done reading Tommy B. Smith's work. He's extremely talented and great at what he does. I just think that I'll stick closer to his horror works in the future.
But who knows, this work could be for you! It's definitely worth checking out.
This is my first read of something by Jackie Nelson, and I really enjoyed my exper4/5
Four zombie-fighting stars for this book!
This is my first read of something by Jackie Nelson, and I really enjoyed my experience. This book is a middle-grade fiction about a young autistic girl Daphne and her family and friends' struggles in a zombie apocalypse.
It all started at the dance studio. Daphne is done with her dance practice when she hears screams outside. There's a sudden zombie attack outside the studio, and no one knows what to do. Daphne begins to feel strange. She feels an irresistible urge to go outside, and when she does, the most miraculous thing happens. Somehow her stims that she uses to calm herself actually awaken a power deep inside her that stops the zombie assault.
Daphne and her mom flee the scene, trying to figure things out. What happened back there? Are zombies really real? And most of all, what will happen now?
Throughout this book Daphne and her friends and family journey through a drastically changing world, finding courage, bravery, and the will to carry on.
Honestly, I really loved this book. For starters, I could really relate to Daphne. My little sister is autistic, and I think that Daphne's character was portrayed pretty darn well. Lots of respect for Nelson's portrayal of an autistic character.
Secondly, you would think that middle-grade fiction and zombies wouldn't go together, being how violent the genre of zombie books can be. But actually, the author pulls it off very well. The level of gore wasn't too much, and being that the main character is a young girl, she isn't exposed to too much of it to where a young reader would shy away from this book.
Lastly, I think that Daphne's supportive family and friends were a really good pro for this book. She's obviously got a loving Mom and Dad who would do anything for her, and its evident throughout the pages. Her friends always support her however they can, and they try to understand her autism and how hard that can be to deal with.
All right, on to the cons, which aren't much if you ask me. It's just a couple small things.
I think that there were a lot of characters around for this book. Given the plot of the book that's totally understandable, but at times I did tend to forget who was who outside of Daphne's family closest friends. It definitely didn't stop me from reading though.
Also, I would have preferred that Daphne's abilities be explained a little bit better, pertaining to the how/why of it all, but I have a feeling that may be explored when the next book comes out.
For these two factors, I had to take a star away, but these issues were minor in the scheme of it all and I really was able to just enjoy this great, well-written story.
Ultimately, if you're looking for a great middle-grade fiction with zombies, this is definitely a read for you! Love, loss, the strength of family, plus some chills and thrills to boot. Can't get much better than that!
I had the pleasure of meeting the author at a local convention, so of course5/5
Five gritty, blood-stained stars for this book!
I had the pleasure of meeting the author at a local convention, so of course I had to buy a book and see what this story was all about. Man was I blown away!
Explaining the gist of this story is a little tough without spoilers, but I'll try. Poisonous is a story of set in the St. Charles area spanning several decades. Throughout the years, a vast number of murders have occurred in this area.
Local legend says that one person is to blame for all of them, but when the murders start happening again, its up to local law enforcement and those that have been haunted by loss to figure things out once and for all.
Can these individuals stop this evil from taking more life, or will they too succumb to The Living Poison?
This was my first read of anything by Tommy B. Smith, and it won't be the last. It's hard to know what to expect with a new author, but in the first few pages I was hooked!
From the get go, there's a dark edge to this book that really drew me in. I mean, that first scene! Talk about a nightmare!
The characters are well-written, believable, persistent, and understandably vengeful based on what they've lost. The story is told in several different point of views (3rd person), and all of them shine in their own unique way.
Lastly, I loved how action packed this book was. The Living Poison is not something to be trifled with, and we find that out in dark, gruesome, and murderous ways.
Ultimately, Poisonous was a knockout story, and if you're a lover of horror and dark fiction, you'll absolutely love this tale of loss, the unknown, and most of all, vengeance.
This is my first reading of something by Seanan McGuire, though I've been aware of her works for several years.
In a nutshell, Middlegame starte3.5/5
This is my first reading of something by Seanan McGuire, though I've been aware of her works for several years.
In a nutshell, Middlegame started with Asphodel Baker, an alchemist from the late 1800's. Her work allowed her to create living beings from spare parts (very Frankenstein!). When she dies, she leaves her legacy to her creation. Asphodel always had big plans (I mean, huge!), just not enough time to act on them. After her death, her creation continues her work, aiming to change the very foundations of the world through creating creations of his own. Can he figure out how to get his creations to lead him to the promised land that Asphodel intended, or will it all end in flames?
Middlegame is an intriguing novel. There are some really strong elements to this story that I enjoyed, but ultimately there were several bigger issues that caused me to give this book a lower score.
Alright, so first things first. The writing style. In the past I've stated how apprehensive I was of books written in the 2nd person. I've never seen much value in this type of writing, but I was delightfully surprised when the writing style didn't really bug me at all. It comes to show that 2nd person POV can actually be written in a manner that I really like. So brownie points right there.
Also, I really liked the concept of this book. There was fantasy and sci-fi elements a plenty in this book, and I truly lived for it. The scale of this book was pretty epic, so there was a lot at stake, and that really drew me in as well.
That being said, I had a real struggle getting through this book.
The main issue I had with this book was something we've all heard about before. Show vs. tell. Throughout the book, there are quite a few places where the narrator steps in and gives us some extra info in parentheses. At first, I wasn't too bothered by it, but after a while it really started to get on my nerves. These info dumps occur every several pages, which is a bit often if you ask me.
I'm a firm believer that a story should mainly tell itself. Sure, info dumps may be a necessity, but you have to plan them well and strategically so you don't aggravate your reader or interrupt the flow of your writing.
Sometimes the information in parentheses was useful, other times it made me want to rip my hair out in frustration. The placement of these parenthetical spots wasn't executed very well in many instances. Many times there is a conversation being had, and right in the middle we got an info dumps about how years later, a character will realize something from this conversation.
Um, why did you interrupt this conversation to tell me that? It truly killed the flow of my reading, and the information isn't useful enough to warrant the interruption.
My main issue also ties into the pacing of the entire book. The pacing was pretty good (parenthetical info dumps aside), though certain situations occur over and over again that made me question if it was all that realistic. I can't reveal what this situation is, but you'll understand should you read it. Not the biggest issue for me though.
Lastly, the mythology of the novel. There are a good number of instances where we are referred to the Impossible City and the improbable road, along with other references (I'm not telling you what they are. Nope, you can't make me!). If I'm being honest, the mythology of things didn't quite pan out for me.
Throughout the novel, the reader is given tiny tidbits of information about these references, but I really just felt like it wasn't concrete enough for me to fully understand it. There was too much smoke and mirrors around the mythology, and maybe that's what McGuire was going for. Still, I prefer to fully or at least mostly understand the elements of what I'm reading, and this was something of a let down.
Ultimately, Middlegame wasn't quite the book I was hoping it would be, but I'm definitely not giving up on Seanan McGuire! Its obvious that she has talent in spades, and she sure can set a scene. Though I can't fully recommend this book, consider checking it out at your local library and giving it a try. Who knows, this could be the perfect book for you!
I gave this book five quantum-entangling stars! Honestly, I'd give it ten thousand stars if I could.
This is my first time reading a novel by Teri PolI gave this book five quantum-entangling stars! Honestly, I'd give it ten thousand stars if I could.
This is my first time reading a novel by Teri Polen, and I was completely blown away!
This book centers on two twins, Evan and Simon. They live on the Planet Tage, where resources are scarce and the future of their home lies in the balance.
Simon is quite nearly a genius with his knowledge of science, while Evan is more of a social, leader type. Simon has been working on an important project that could affect millions, even billions of lives, until one night when he goes missing.
A year passes. Evan feels an immeasurable amount of guilt for not saving Simon when he could've. That is, until he starts receiving cryptic messages that somehow Simon may still be alive. Can Evan put the pieces together? Is Simon really alive, or has he finally lost it?
First things first. WOW! I mean, seriously, this book has the 'it' factor in spades. Scifi adventure, an addictive, twisting plot, chills, thrills, and even a gay romance! I was hooked to this book the second I started reading it, and I know that I won't ever forget this crown jewel of a story. It honestly was that good.
Okay, let's start with the characters. Evan and Simon's characters were executed perfectly. Given their traits and what they've been through, their personalities were expertly thought out. There was never a 'what?' moment where something didn't make sense. It's obvious that the author really connected with her characters.
The supporting characters were also extremely believable. Syd, Max, the others on the SI team, they all had interesting quirks, were likable in their own way, and their actions made complete sense.
Next, the world-building. As a reader, you expect the world around the characters to come to life. Boy did they ever! I was obsessed. Any time that Tage and its resource crisis came up, my eyes were glued to the page. I really loved the planet and its characteristics, and by the end of the novel, I desperately wanted the story to continue on into another story (please write a sequel!). I didn't want to be separated from Tage and its interesting inhabitants.
The plot was highly imaginative, addictive, and had plenty of twists and turns. Think Flatliners meets Nightmare on Elm Street with a healthy dose of Star Trek tech.
Lastly, the writing style. Quite obviously, this was the best part about the book. Polen's talent is apparent in her ability to write in a fluid manner that keeps the pages turning. The flow and pacing of the writing was flawless, and there weren't any chapters that I slogged through. Quite the opposite, actually. I actually slowed down my reading so that I could savor the story, something I've never done before.
Ultimately, Teri Polen has written one of the very best scifi books I've ever read, a masterpiece if you ask me. She has an abundance of talent, and I'm excited to explore her other works as soon as they come out. You've got a new fan here! ...more
This is my first time reading one of Alyssa Wees's works, and while my experience was conflicted, ultimately I am glad to have read thi3/5
This is my first time reading one of Alyssa Wees's works, and while my experience was conflicted, ultimately I am glad to have read this work. New authors deserve an honest review more than most people realize.
This is also my first time reading a book in the second person point of view. I've always had a hard time understanding why anyone would write in this perspective, but I have a little more respect for it now for taking a chance like I did.
I picked this book up from my library, knowing nothing about it other than the synopsis and the cover. I mean, that cover though! It's very dark and ominous, spooky. So why the three stars?
To be honest, the entire first part of the book. This book was split into two parts, vastly different from one another if you ask me, and I had completely different opinions on each part.
In a nutshell, this book is about a girl Rhea Ravenna and her family that live in a house near the beach. She's always had disturbing visions of decay and death, and when she encounters a strange entity in her attic who claims he knows her and can take her curse away, she resolves to find out who this stranger is and considers his offer.
I had a lot of issues with the first part of this book. If the entire book was set here I probably would've given the book two stars, but thankfully it wasn't. I think the concept of the first section was interesting enough, but there were also plenty of issues I had as I read them.
For starters, everyone in Rhea's family's name starts with an R. This is a big no no in the book world, and I still don't understand why this was done. It's confusing, especially when you have five female characters in one house, all with similar names starting with the same letter. I still can't tell you who is Renata and who is Raisa. It's just too similar.
Secondly, the first part of this book revolves around the MC's house. While I can understand that that's a part of the plot, after a certain point I was aching for the MC to just go somewhere else for a change of scenery. I mean, you can only spend so long in the same setting without getting bored, and this definitely tested my patience a bit.
The author did take us to a couple of other places throughout the first section, but it didn't feel like enough of a change of scenery to really do much for me.
These first two issues I had were relatively minor when compared to my biggest issue. The MC drags the events of the first section out way too much. After the stranger in her attic offers to take away her curse (not saying more than that because of spoilers), Rhea reacts to certain things he says as well as to her family in strange ways.
Numerous times, she runs to her room and goes to sleep. While I can understand this reaction a time or two, it becomes a broken record, and to be honest it evolved into a plot hole after a certain point. The MC knows what she needs to do to resolve the issues presented to her, yet she keeps running to her room or saying how tired she is. She'll just deal with it later, right?
No, that doesn't make any sense, especially given what is happening in the book. If things get serious, you can't just sleep through your issues. I got really close to DNF'ing this one at this point in the game, but I was determined to read this entire book.
Luckily, the second part of this book was quite a bit better.
There is more of a fantasy element to things (again, not saying more to avoid spoilers), and it really ties things together. Also, I found the reading to be a bit easier from this point on.
The ending was a little cliché and a bit too easy if you ask me (I didn't really feel there was enough of a climax), but it was definitely acceptable.
Still, if I'm being honest, I would've preferred that the entire book be written in this fantasy perspective. There's just not enough in the first section to carry a reader through to the better part.
Ultimately, only you can decide for yourself whether this book is worth your while. Pick up the book and read a couple pages. Who knows, maybe you'll love it! I would definitely try another work by Wees, I would just have to read it through a little bit before making a decision to continue.
***I received an advance copy of this novel in return for my honest opinion***
Four and a half stars for this thrilling installation4.5/5
***I received an advance copy of this novel in return for my honest opinion***
Four and a half stars for this thrilling installation of the Bedlam series!
This is the third book in Krzak's series, and much like the other two, this one didn't disappoint! In fact, this one is my favorite so far.
After an English woman goes missing and somehow escapes, a series of events unfolds that hints that several terrorist groups may be on the move with their sights set on Singapore.
The newly-formed Bedlam Charlie team, operated by Evelyn Evinrude must assemble quickly to deal with the mounting threat and terrible attacks against the general populace. Is their team ready for this challenge, or are they in over their heads?
Once again, Krzak has created an intricate braidwork of suspense, danger, and double crosses in this international thriller, and I truly enjoyed my experience reading this novel.
I was pulled into this book from the very beginning. I mean, that beginning scene was nuts! Natalee's story and perspective was my favorite, and she had a key role in this novel. There was something about it that resonated with me. She had been through severe trauma, she was brave, but most of all, she was resilient.
I really liked the new Bedlam Charlie team. They each had a distinct role, and their characters were well thought out. This team seemed a little bit more about the action and getting things done, and that spoke to me better this time around.
This book wasn't called Carnage in Singapore for nothing. There really is quite a bit of carnage going around, and being a big fan of suspense and thrills, I absolutely loved this element.
I also thought that the novel ended on a really good note. Is there another Bedlam novel on the way? I have no idea, but I hope so!
All right, so if I had to pick at something (to be fair), it would probably be the same thing I've brought up on the other Bedlam novels (I know, I know, broken record Jonny!).
There are quite a bit of characters in this book, though I will say that by this time if you've read the other books, we actually know most of the characters by now. My main one to poke at are the characters Koh and Goh. Their names are super similar and they interact with each other from time to time, so that got really confusing for me, but I think they only really interacted in a chapter or two, so the confusion was minimal.
That being said, the small flaws that I found don't even come close to all the excitement I found while reading this book.
Ultimately, Carnage in Singapore is an action-packed international thriller with suspense, deception, and adventure in abundance. Definitely worth a read!...more
This is the second book I've read by V.E. Schwab, the first being Vicious. I'd heard5/5
Five ghost-hunting stars for this book!
This is the second book I've read by V.E. Schwab, the first being Vicious. I'd heard a lot of hype about this book and I've never read a book by this author for younger audiences, so when I picked it up I wasn't sure what to expect.
Man, was I amazed by this book!
City of Ghosts centers on the life of Cassidy Blake, a young girl with the ability to not only see ghosts, but to traverse the Veil between the world of the living and the dead.
Her parents are famous for their research on the paranormal, and one day after school Cassidy is given the news. Her parents are going to have their own documentary series.
Cassidy is both excited and nervous. She'll get to travel around the world as the footage is filmed, but she's never travelled that far before. What will the spirits be like? Is it safe? And why does she have a bad feeling about this?
I've just got to say once again how much I loved this book. It was really great!
For starters, Cassidy Blake is a great character. She's a young girl, and I believed that with her thoughts and actions. Also, she had a lot of great progression during this novel, and she learns a bit more about herself and her ability in this adventures overseas.
The other characters were really great too. Lara, Jacob, Grim, her parents. I loved them all, regardless of how simple or complex they were.
The plot was very exciting as well. I mean, here we have a girl who doesn't fully understand her ghostly ability, and when she's in a historic site that has seen many a century, what she knows is challenged. There were plenty of twists and turns, and yes, maybe some were a bit predictable, but this is for a younger audience, so I won't knock down on the score for that.
Lastly, I think that the concept and depiction of the Veil in this book was hands down the most exciting part. It was creepy and interesting, and that kept me flipping the pages much faster than I usually do.
City of Ghosts is a great addition to Schwab's work and is the perfect light read for a younger audience or someone seeking some great chills and thrills. Definitely bingeworthy, give this one a try! ...more
This was my first time reading a book by Kenneth B. Andersen, and I had no idea just how entertaining this book wMan oh man was this read refreshing!
This was my first time reading a book by Kenneth B. Andersen, and I had no idea just how entertaining this book was going to be.
To start, I really loved Philip's character. He's virtuous and has a good head on his shoulders for his age. And let's be honest, who doesn't love a hero? Throughout this novel, Philip's morals are tested as the influence of the evil around him attempts to seep in. It was really easy to relate to since we all deal with these kinds of decisions every day.
Next, the writing. This novel is Young Adult and I personally felt that it was expertly written in that style. It was easy to read, concise, and those pages flowed like melted butter. The descriptions were well-executed, and I could imagine the hellish scenes that Andersen created easily because of it.
I also loved the strange and eerie characters we were introduced to. Very imaginative, creative, and well thought-out.
The plot and theme were interesting and honestly, right up my alley. I love all things creepy, and what is creepier than Hell? Not many things! This definitely satisfied my thirst for the macabre while keeping things PG-13. There wasn't any excessive gore or swearing either, which I understand can be a point of contention with the YA genre.
I honestly can't think of anything negative to say about this book. I loved it from cover to cover.
Ultimately, The Devil's Apprentice is a great YA fantasy filled with chills, thrills, and just a little bit of heartache. Definitely binge-worthy and a helluva read!...more
I gave this book three and a half physics-defying stars.
It was a hard rating to give this book, given how many stories o3.5/5
I gave this book three and a half physics-defying stars.
It was a hard rating to give this book, given how many stories of King's I've read that I absolutely loved. But if I'm being honest, this book didn't quite break the mold enough for me to give it four stars, definitely not five.
Allow me to explain.
So in a nutshell, we've got this kid Luke, right? Luke has it pretty good. Loving parents, an extreme intellect that is above and beyond the status quo, and a bright future ahead of him. However, when he is kidnapped one night and awakens in a strange Institute, Luke is desperate for answers.
Where is he really? Who are these other kids? And why won't the caretakers tell him anything? Can Luke make sense of his predicament and find a way to escape the Institute, or will he disappear in the Back Half like all the others?
So starting out, I immediately had something of a disconnect with this book. The first segment wasn't in Luke's POV at all.
No, no. Instead, we are introduced to a man named Tim. A rather boring man named Tim. You see, Tim came across to me as someone with very little personality, and his lack of drive in the first segment made the story a bit stale from the very beginning. It didn't make sense to me that this guy was kind of wondering aimlessly, especially given his age.
At a certain age of adulthood, you know who you are and what you want. Tim didn't really seem to care one way or the other where he ended up, and I simply didn't get why.
Anywho, once we get into Luke's segment of the story (which is the majority, thank goodness), the story really does pick up. Luke is an interesting yet slightly typical kid with a couple of intriguing quirks.
I enjoyed getting to know his character and felt he was as fleshed out as a twelve-year old pretty much could be.
Once he's taken, the story stayed interesting for quite a while, but I will admit that about halfway through I was kind of itching for King to get to the point and move on with the plot. There are intriguing bits, but it tends to drag a bit here and there.
Also, there are a ton of characters. I mean, A TON. The kids I could keep track of, but the caretakers, I just gave up on it at the end. Having twenty plus characters to keep track of, it's just a little much to expect out of your average reader, especially when some of the caretakers tend to bleed together.
That being said, I powered through to the end, and while it was a satisfying end, I didn't really feel ... fulfilled I guess you would say. It was an entertaining story with a decent climax, but it was just missing that extra something for me.
Obviously, I'm not too hurt about my experience, I just have come to expect more from Stephen King, and I really didn't get it this time around.
Overall, The Institute is a fun read with plenty of thrills, some light chills, and some serious heartache. Just don't get your hopes up too much with this one. ...more
After reading the first novel in this series just a short time ago, I was amped to read5/5
Five supervillain-crushing stars for this one!
After reading the first novel in this series just a short time ago, I was amped to read this one, and it. Did. Not. Disappoint!
After the defeat of Utopia, Danielle continues her life of crime-fighting, protecting the city of New Port all on her own. Only, she can't keep doing this. The city is huge, and there's just too much to handle. She needs help, and the only remaining members of the Legion are either out-0f-service or a total you-know-what (*cough* Graywytch).
But that all falls into the background when a new supervillain is on the rise, and he's got change on the mind. Change that could throw the world into a black-caped dictatorship of epic proportions.
Can Danielle put an end to this new villain's plans, or is she just fighting a pointless battle?
I truly love this book, I can't say that with enough emphasis. Daniels's writing style is just as packed with cleverness and wit as before, and I couldn't get enough. I also loved how all of the characters progressed through this novel.
Danielle learns how to control her anger, accept the unfairness of the world, but most of all to love. Also, she's really funny and had me busting out at work. Doc and Calamity are still wonderful characters, more fleshed out this time as well. The new characters introduced were great and original as well. I have no idea how Daniels thought this all up, but she's a genius I say, a genius!
By the way, did you think you knew plot turns from the first book? Well get ready for some sucker punches, because they're coming. Even to the last few pages, I was on the edge of my seat, and I couldn't believe the ending!
Ultimately, this book had it all. The chills, the thrills, the drama, the battles. I couldn't be happier, and I can't wait to read the third one when it comes out!
Give this one a chance, peeps. You won't be sorry you did.
Dangerous Alliance is the second novel in Randall Krzak's Bedlam series, and like the first b4/5
Four pirate-thwarting stars for this one!
Dangerous Alliance is the second novel in Randall Krzak's Bedlam series, and like the first book, this novel was a roller coaster ride of secrets, betrayal, and thrills.
The Bedlam program has decided to create another special ops group after the success of the initial team's success from the first book. But it isn't long before a new threat develops. Pirates are taking valuable ships from all around Africa, and it looks like there may be ties to a terrorist group named Al-Shabab.
Is the Bedlam Bravo team up for the challenge? Can they prove the ties to Al-Shabab? And most of all, can they stop the carnage before more innocent blood is spilled?
A fan of Krzak for quite some time, I found this novel extremely consistent with the first one. This novel is written in several great POVs, from the views of the Bedlam Bravo team, the Ambassador of North Korea, Soo, and even the pirates themselves. I really enjoy reading a book with multiple points of view, and this aspect worked well for me.
I also feel that the main characters presented were well developed. I didn't think I would, but I think my favorite character was Soo. I felt that I could relate to his dilemma pretty much immediately. The man he works for is a terrible dictator, yet he's stuck in this role and being forced to do the impossible, even if it means doing something unspeakable.
Also, if you follow my reviews, you know that I have a thing for chills and thrills. This book definitely had both in spades! The Bedlam Bravo team is running against the clock to figure things out, and Soo is running out of time to please his commander. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and I really felt the sense of urgency for all parties involved, which definitely got me to turn those pages.
Alright, so I did find some cons, but overall I don't believe that they should keep someone from trying out this book and giving it a chance.
While reading, the biggest con I could think of was the number of characters and locations. At times I found myself a tad confused as to who was who throughout my journey. More specifically, from the POVs of the Bedlam Bravo team and the POVs from the pirates/terrorist group. Bedlam Bravo has five plus people in it, and the pirates/terrorist group has many more than that.
When either POV group would split up on missions, I sometimes had trouble remembering who exactly was being referenced.
The number of locations didn't bother me, nor did the fact that I have never been to these places. I think that the combination of keeping track of who was who on top of them going from location to location did tend to slow up my reading pace from time to time.
Now, this wasn't too serious. I would simply take a moment, and think "Oh right, this is that character that just did ___". Then I would move on.
Also, I'm not in complete agreement of the ending (obviously I can't say much about that here because I don't believe in spoiling reads) with the pirate/terrorist group. Again, I can't really explain this in detail, but I didn't quite agree with what happened ultimately.
When it comes down to it, Dangerous Alliance is a great international thriller and continuation of the Bedlam series with plenty of chills, thrills, and plot twists to keep you wondering what happens next. I've got the next book on my queue and can't wait to continue this series.
This is my first time reading a book by this author (yes, I know they've written the Illuminae Files and no, IFour intergalactic stars for this book!
This is my first time reading a book by this author (yes, I know they've written the Illuminae Files and no, I haven't read it), and this time it was a bit harder to score this than usual. I'll get into that in a bit.
In a nutshell, this book is based on a group of cadets from an academy that recently graduated. The main character is Tyler, and the night before he is set to get his top pick of the very best cadets (being in the top percentile), he decides to go on a stroll through the Fold, a strange and exciting part of outer space.
Unfortunately, this nightly stroll through space explodes in his pretty dimpled face, and he finds himself aboard a famous ship that went missing 200 years ago. Even weirder, he finds a girl in cryo that's still alive.
Barely surviving the wreckage and space storms around this ship with the girl in tow, Tyler makes it out alive by the skin of his teeth only to miss his chance at top pick of cadets. Will the leftovers of the draft be worthy of his leadership? Who is this girl? And most of all, what was the ship doing out in the Fold?
This book was a lot of fun. I mean, who doesn't love a good space adventure? From beginning to end, this book was filled with mystery, adventure, and was action-packed.
The plot was hard to predict, which made things more exciting when the plot twists came around. I was guessing until the very end what would happen, and that's a win in my book.
Also, the characters were really great too. A lot of them had attitude and their own quirky personalities, and I really enjoyed that.
That being said, this book wasn't perfect (honestly, which one is?). This book is set in seven different POV's, which may seem like a dream to fans of RR Martin. However, I actually think the book would've been a bit better without so many, maybe four or five. More specifically, Zila's POV was probably the weakest and didn't really add much to the story in my opinion.
In the same vein, while having characters with their own quirks were great, I found that a lot of their humor was a bit too similar from time to time. Sometimes I just wanted to say "We get it, you've got attitude!"
My last qualm would be a certain romance that occurred at the very last section of the book. It felt really rushed to me given the plot of the first two-thirds of the book, and I didn't completely buy it. One of the characters in this romance doesn't seem to give two craps about the other for the majority of the book, then when feelings are spoken about, they decide to give it a shot. I'm not saying there's no context to back up their decision, there's just not enough for me.
Weighing the pros and cons of this book, I'm still extremely grateful to have read this book and will definitely keep my eyes peeled for the next one in the series! If you're a sci fi nerd like me, then this book is definitely for you! ...more
I rarely don't finish books that I start, but I really had some struggles getting through this one. As a result, I won't be giving a stDNF
I rarely don't finish books that I start, but I really had some struggles getting through this one. As a result, I won't be giving a star rating on this one, but will give my honest opinion.
First things first, I received a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion. I'm super grateful for the opportunity, it just wasn't for me at this point in time.
I have to say, I really enjoyed the beginning passage. It set the stage for what the book is about. Stories of great, inspirational women in a tribe. At that point I was on board.
But when I started reading the story, I began to get a little disappointed, and ultimately indifferent.
Helena is a young woman in a tribe of warriors. Her story covers her life in different stages, from a little girl to a blossoming woman and the struggles she faces.
The world built around Helena was a little difficult to understand for me. I understood what the author was going for, but I wish it was more fleshed out than it was. The reader is given a lot of information in the beginning, but it's hard to keep track of and there isn't much explanation. I think that if the author would've explained several things without info dumping the story would've been easier to understand. Either that or taking things slower would've actually helped in this case.
I also felt that there were too many characters rotating around. There had to have been at least 10-20 characters in Helena's story, and without slowly introducing each individual character and making them distinctly different I had trouble keeping track of who was who and what tribe they were from.
Lastly, I didn't necessarily find the story very inspirational. Although I didn't finish Helena's story, which could account for this, I still felt that there wasn't much development with her. Sure, bad things happen to her, and she has experiences, but I didn't really feel like the experiences affected her much. She seemed much more interested in finding a man throughout several of her sections, and it came off as a little selfish to me.
Anyways, these are just my overall thoughts of the part of the book that I read. I do have to say I like the concept the author was going for, I just think the execution is lacking. Though I would give this book another chance later on, I'm not very sure my opinion would change that much. ...more
This is my first reading of anything by April Daniels, and I am just floored by how amazing my experience was.Five crime-fighting stars for this one!
This is my first reading of anything by April Daniels, and I am just floored by how amazing my experience was. This book was EVERYTHING, I really mean that.
Danny Tozer has always lived with a secret. Though he's physically a man, he has always associated himself as a woman. He's lived his life trying to hide his secret, wishing that one day he could just be the person he sees so clearly in his mind.
That all changes one afternoon when the famed superhero Dreadnought comes crashing down from the sky just yards away from him. Dreadnought is in his death throws, and as he dies, he bestows his power upon Danny.
Immediately everything is different for Danny. A transformation occurs when he accepts Dreadnought's powers. He's got a woman's body, the body he's always dreamed of, and powers. Great powers that can save, that can destroy. What will Danny choose? To become a superhero to honor Dreadnought's parting gift? Will Danny be able to accept the body she's always dreamed of having?
First off, I want to say how happy I am that a great LGBT book like this has come around. As a member of the LGBT community, we don't get to see great works like this very often, and its important to recognize books like this when we get the chance.
That being said, let's start with the characters. Oh my gosh, the characters! Danny is deep, and I love everything about her. She's resilient, strong, and understandably confused by this sudden change in her life. While I am not trans and can't fully understand the feelings that Danny has, the author really bridges that gap by fleshing out the main character flawlessly.
I also really loved the supporting characters as well. Doc Impossible, Calamity, they were very well-rounded and had their own agendas. They weren't just conveniently around, and I loved their distinct personalities.
And the plot? Oh man, don't get me started! This book was a wild roller coaster ride all the way through, down to the very last pages. Twists, thrills, and stunning revelations happen at a moment's notice, and just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, the book went in a different direction. That really kept the pages turning for me.
As I write this review, I feel lucky to have read such an amazing book, and I plan on starting the second one asap. If you love superheroes and all the chaotic thrills, twists, and spins along the way, this book is for you!...more
I've been a fan of the My Favorite Murder Podcast shortly after it was started, thanks i4/5
Four true-crime-podcasting stars for this one!
I've been a fan of the My Favorite Murder Podcast shortly after it was started, thanks in large part to my friend Maggie. Man, the hours I've logged on my podcast app just listening to them!
So when I heard this memoir was coming out, I just had to jump on the opportunity. Memoirs and non-fiction works aren't really my thing, but I've been listening to the podcast for several years, so this is my small way of paying it forward.
I really enjoyed this memoir. It was a light, quirky read and always funny. Karen and Georgia break down the inspiration behind several great sayings from their podcast, illuminating more on their lives and what led them to create My Favorite Murder.
'Fuck Politeness', 'You're in a Cult, Call Your Dad', 'Stay Out of the Forest', etc etc. Each saying is explained in general, then expanded upon based on personal experience.
The writing itself was really great, and I like that they didn't censor out all the f-bombs and other creative curses because that is one of my favorite parts of the MFM podcast. They don't hold back, and they're brave and courageous.
While I probably won't read this again, I was glad to get to know a bit more about Karen and Georgia, and now I have even more reason to catch up on the podcast!
If you're a Murderino and can't get enough Karen and Georgia (I'm a Karen btw), then this book is for you! ...more
First and foremost, before I begin my review I'd like to thank the Goodreads community for recommending this book to me. It's not oft4.5/5
First and foremost, before I begin my review I'd like to thank the Goodreads community for recommending this book to me. It's not often that I base my book purchases on other's reviews (I usually make that decision myself), but I'm so glad I did!
Fear is a dark, suspenseful novel about the Sweeney family, who live in a rustic community in Mangrum County. 10-year old Jeb lives with his grandma and father Sam, who has suffered an injury from back in the war that makes his personality that of a child. That family dynamic in itself drew me in, such a tragedy.
Life sucks for Jeb starting out in this novel. He and his grandma try to pull the extra weight that his father would contribute to the family, while Jeb deals with the typical issues a 10-year old would have. Namely, bullying.
However, things take a terrifying turn when a number of unexplained animal deaths and human disappearances plague his hometown. To make matters worse, his grandmother's health starts to decline.
With nothing to lose, Jeb embarks on a quest with Sam, his older friend Roscoe, and his dog Buckshot to a neighboring county named Fear (for good reason) to find solutions for the pressing problems that gather around him. Can Jeb find the answers and solutions he seeks, or will he ever see Mangrum County again?
I have to say, wow! This book had me drawn in from the prologue. Talk about terrifying. In the beginning of the book, any time there was a scene with the snake creature I was pretty scared. The horror aspect there was really great and authentic.
The ambience of Mangrum County also felt extremely real to me given the era it was based in, and Fear County? Don't even get me started! That place is terrifying, kind of like the Upside Down from Stranger Things.
That being said, there were a couple of instances where I did knock my rating down a bit, and it boils down to two instances.
Firstly, the explanation of hybrid creatures in Fear County didn't make enough rational sense to me. The explanation given by Roscoe, while probably watered down so the 10-year old could understand, didn't logically make sense. Most animals literally cannot breed with other species. It's impossible. If they simply would've explained it in a more paranormal sense I would've totally been on board.
Second, the sheriff's treatment of Jeb as well as the general townsfolk was beyond irresponsible (abusive of Jeb if you ask me), and while I can understand his disbelief in the snake creature, it seemed to be a little too far-fetched by the time he finally came around.
That being said, this book was a lovely little detour into the demented mind of Ronald Kelly. I have to say, I'm looking forward to reading more from this author. It'll definitely be worth my time. This book is worth a read. Just keep that night light on, people! ...more
I received a free copy of this ebook in return for my honest feedback.
Alright, so this is my first reading of Maria Miller and I have decided not toI received a free copy of this ebook in return for my honest feedback.
Alright, so this is my first reading of Maria Miller and I have decided not to rate my review because I feel like this idea isn't fully realized in its current form.
This book centers on a young girl Lily Stargazer. She is murdered by her sister and wakes up to find she's been resurrected as a member of the undead. She must come to terms with her new situation and she runs into a man she never thought she'd see again.
I think I really do understand what this book is going for. The idea itself is pretty clear to me, and I do like it.
However, there are some things that need to happen for this book to live up to its potential. Overall, I think some more edits need to happen. There are sentences here and there that don't sound quite right or don't follow a standard structure. Punctuation and grammar can be a little spotty here and there.
I also believe that the chapters, while short, need to be elongated. We need to get more of a sense of worldbuilding after Lily's death. What are Echoes? What is the Void? Why did the woman resurrect her? What is her world like? I get that not all questions can be answered in the first few chapters, but I do think the reader needs quite a bit more. This book could easily be twice as long, and the reader would get much more out of it.
Overall, I was entertained by this story but think it still needs some work before it reaches its full potential. ...more
This is the second book in M.D. Neu's space epic series, and boy was it a roller coaster ride!
Todd has been elected by the Nentraee to be a middle maThis is the second book in M.D. Neu's space epic series, and boy was it a roller coaster ride!
Todd has been elected by the Nentraee to be a middle man of sorts between Earth and the Nentraee. This means living in outer space surrounded by people he hardly knows and customs he hardly understands.
As Todd mourns over his husband's death and begins his new life managing relations between the two races, Todd learns more about the Nentraee and the challenges they face.
However, when a new threat emerges, Todd must put his wit to the test and stop the chaos before it claims the lives of the Nentraee and the unstable peace they've maintained with Earth. Can Todd figure it out, or will he watch everything he's worked for crumble away?
I really enjoyed this book. It had a lot of everything. Definitely sci-fi, but also adventure, suspense, intrigue, and best of all, romance! Now, I'm not one for heavy romance, but M.D. Neu handled it perfectly. It was slower-paced and was very believable. I also like how the relationships grew between some of the characters. Very well done and worth a read!
This is the first Megamorphs book in the Animorphs series, and takes place between books 7 an4/5
Four monster-whooping stars for this one!
This is the first Megamorphs book in the Animorphs series, and takes place between books 7 and 8. Instead of one POV, each chapter is a different POV of one of our awesome protagonists. This book was also longer than usual, and I really enjoyed that as well. Heck, I'd read 1000-page books in this series if it was a possibility.
Alright, so this time around, our beloved Animorphs are taking a break. Tired from the constant Yeerk-battling madness, Rachel has a gymnastics retreat of sorts to attend, and Jake and Cassie have been invited to a pool party.
But soon, things take a sudden change when a beast of a tornado attacks at the pool party. No seriously, it's a beast of a tornado, literally! Narrowly escaping with their lives amidst the ruins of the house they were partying at, the Animorphs must band together to figure out how to combat this evil.
What is this creature? Why is it following them? And most of all, how can they stop its path of destruction when innocent lives hang in the balance?
I have to say, this was a great book! The chills, the thrills, this book had it all! I loved that tornado creature. Super clever!
I really enjoyed each POV written. My favorites were probably Cassie and Marco, as they seemed to shine through more than the others did. I do kind of feel that Tobias and Ax took something of a back seat for portions of it. Also, I'm not an expert, but I wasn't completely convinced of a certain event revolving around amnesia (trying my best not to spoil anything folks!). Lastly, while I can accept that the Andalites are super scientifically smart, the info dumps when it comes to tech can sometimes bug me a tad, and that happened this time.
I knocked off a star for these small issues, but ultimately this book was just another testament to how great this series is, and just how resourceful a bunch of teens can be when fighting evil slugs from outer space! Definitely worth a read!...more
It's been about a month since I've read an Animorphs book, and man have I missed i5/5
Five animal-morphing stars for this book!
It's been about a month since I've read an Animorphs book, and man have I missed it!
In this installment, we're in Jake's POV.
Things start off normal as usual (as normal as things can be for animal morphers fighting evil aliens) when the team is contacted by Tobias about a frightening new development.
There's been a strange crash of sorts at a local grocery store, and guess who's overseeing the repairs? Yep, it's Chapman, infamous Yeerk jerk.
The Animorphs spring into action on a recon mission, ultimately finding themselves in a shocking predicament they never could have foreseen. Can the Animorphs make it out of this one, or will they succumb to this shocking turn of events?
I absolutely loved this book! Yes, maybe I'm a little biased because I missed reading the series, but this novel had some serious nuggets of brilliance.
For starters, Jake. I mean, come on. He's the leader of the Animorphs. I really felt and identified with his struggle of being elected the leader, especially when there are no answers in sight. His POV was flawless, and everyone else's character really shined along with him.
The plot was amazing! I didn't see those plot twists coming at all, and I ended up reading this book in less than a day because of how mesmerized I was. I won't spoil anything, but like some of the other novels so far, this one had a very unique sci-fi edge that I just loved. It's shocking to me that the author could pull all of this off in just 160 pages.
All in all, this book was perfect to me. Adventure, sci-fi, morphing action. What more could you ask for? This book was everything and a bag of chips, and a great continuation of the series. Well worth a binge read.
Four and a half habitat-saving stars for this one!
In this book of the Animorphs series, we are once again graced with Cassie's POV.4.5/5
Four and a half habitat-saving stars for this one!
In this book of the Animorphs series, we are once again graced with Cassie's POV. I have to say, I definitely think she is the most intelligent of all the Animorphs, and a part of me always connects with her more introverted side of things.
So this time around, the Animorphs have a troubling discovery. There's a logging company out in the forest behind Cassie's house, and it's extremely suspicious. There are guards present, armed, and there's a strange force field present, stopping them from investigating closer up.
This situation reeks of Yeerk, but what do they want? Why are they here specifically? And how can they get through the force field before they start deforesting the entire area? Can Cassie and the other Animorphs figure it out, or will this area's ecosystem be forever shattered?
This book was really great. I mean, are you surprised at this point? For starters, Cassie is extremely thoughtful, and she tends to give issues more thought than her other team members. She's not impulsive, and she has some serious morals, which I think earn her the best Animorph award, don't you think?
I'm just kidding, but this book really was quite entertaining. Unlike the other books, we didn't go to outer space, we didn't go aboard an enemy spaceship. No, we went right to the Animorphs' backyard, and in a way that was more terrifying than the usual plotlines we see.
If the Animorphs can't fix this issue, it could ruin everything for several reasons. This book was quite unpredictable, and it went in a direction that I couldn't foretell (or remember from my first time reading as a kid in the 90's) which is great! I love it when they keep me guessing.
Action, mystery, thrills, this book had it all, and is a great continuation of the series. Definitely pick this one up! ...more
Four and a half gravity-defying stars for this one!
In this installment of the Animorphs, we follow Marco's POV as the adventure cont4.5/5
Four and a half gravity-defying stars for this one!
In this installment of the Animorphs, we follow Marco's POV as the adventure continues.
Jake and Marco want to go to this awesome concert, but Jake's not so keen on the idea, being mister serious leader all the time. Marco manages to convince Jake that if they sneak into the concert as dogs, they won't have to buy a ticket, but all of that changes when they encounter Marco's friend Erek.
He's passing out flyers for the Sharing, and that's not all. He has no scent to him at all.
What does this mean? What trick do the Yeerks have up their sleeves this time? Is Erek some kind of abomination that the Yeerks created, or is there more to this than meets the eye?
I had a blast reading this book. I always like Marco's sense of sarcasm and trying to keep the situation light despite how screwed they always seem to feel as Animorph underdogs.
The plot started innocent enough as it usually does, but it turned out to be so much more, and I really loved the extra reveals along the way. I won't spoil it, but the stakes are beginning to get a bit higher in the grand scheme of things, and I'm all about it. It definitely made the pages fly by, and I was sad that it had to end so quickly.
I mean, these books are ADDICTIVE!
If I had to pick at anything, I'd say that a certain part of their mission fell a tad flat for a small bit, but overall this one was a knockout.
Mystery, more secrets revealed, and tons of action make this a great continuation of the Animorphs series. Can't wait to read the next one!...more
Four and a half Grizzly-morphing stars for this one!
In this installment of Animorphs, we get our second book in Rachel's POV. Rachel and the ot4.5/5
Four and a half Grizzly-morphing stars for this one!
In this installment of Animorphs, we get our second book in Rachel's POV. Rachel and the other Animorphs find a new entrance to the Yeerk pool, this time via the mall. They sneak in as cockroaches, however, right in the middle of their mission, time suddenly stops and they are approached by a strange being called an Ellimist.
He says that they have a choice to make, continue fighting the Yeerks on Earth or go to a far away planet and live safely with their families. What will the Animorphs choose? Should they keep fighting the Yeerks, or is this just a losing battle?
Personally, I really enjoy Rachel's POV, maybe the most out of them all. She's strong-willed and resilient, traits I see most prominently in myself. This time around, I felt that I really got to see more depth out of Rachel. She wasn't gung-ho the entire time. I mean, everyone has a limit. There is a big change going on within her family, and I think seeing her react and respond to it just really proved how great her character is.
I will say that I think the sudden introduction of the Ellimist as well as the knowledge that Ax had and was holding back could have been done more smoothly, but I absolutely loved the dark edge of this book in the later half. I guess I didn't realize just how dark some of these ideas were back when I first read the series in the 90's.
Needless to say, this series just keeps getting better, and I can't wait to read the next one! Happy Reading!...more
Nom, nom, nom, I ate this book UP! ThisOriginal review on Jaunts & Haunts
5/5
Five Alien Race-saving stars for this book!
Nom, nom, nom, I ate this book UP! This book was just what I needed after a somewhat disappointing experience with another recent read, and I just have to say, wow!
The Andalite Chronicles was a great scifi book, full of adventure, heartache, and is a great coming-of-age story.
This book takes place before the Animorphs received their powers, centering on Elfangor as our MC. Elfangor is just a lowly Aristh along with his funny Aristh friend, Arbron.
Life sucks as an Aristh onboard the StarSword, but things get complicated when a simple check on a Skrit Na ship reveals not just human captives, but a weapon capable of destroying entire races.
Sent on a suicide mission to the Taxxon home world, can Elfangor get his hands on this weapon to save his race, or will it fall into the hands of the despicable Yeerks?
This was definitely one of the more memorable Animorphs books to date, and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Elfangor is a great character. He has a lot of progression, from being a clumsy Aristh to being forced to learn a lot of lessons in a short time when his life depends on it. Much like Ax, I enjoyed the dorky way he refers to how silly human things are. It's a great touch.
Also, Elfangor turns out to be something of a hero, which kind of reminded me of Jake. His moral compass is definitely true north, even if its a little too north at times if you ask me.
The plot was very fast paced and unpredictable, taking me places I didn't expect it to. The Animorphs universe is vast, and we got to see some interesting foreign planets as well. That was very refreshing.
We also got some juicy tidbits of knowledge, things I can't really share with you, but it nearly made my jaw drop when the reveals happened.
All of these factors made my experience with this book amazing, and I blazed through this thing in no time. I can't wait to see what happens next!
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