Tasha⛓️Sorsha
It's hard to convey how I felt about this book... It was bizarre. I have to admit, something about it kept me reading until I figured out how it ended, but I definitely don't think this book deserves all the hype it's gotten since it's been published. THIS was the forbidden book so many girls came of age to and passed around at slumber parties in the 80s and 90s? This? Really? 2.5 stars, rounded down.
Yes! THIS is what I'm talking about when I say “I like a good ghost story”! The Carrow Haunt was everything I've ever wanted in a legitimately scary, tense ghost story. You've got your huge old haunted house with a dreadful history, a week-long stay gone wrong, and one horrifying experience after another. It's on my to-do list to read literally every single one of Darcy Coates' books.
So first of all, the cover and spine glow in the dark. Awesome! Secondly, this was a ride! Just when you thought this would happen, that other thing happened. Then when you suspected one thing, someone else would completely throw you off. Thoroughly enjoyable and I couldn't put it down. I only deducted one star because it didn't turn out to be the story I was hoping for. But it was still great in its own way and worth a read!
This kind of reads like a modern fairy tale, which I liked, but overall the story itself wasn't groundbreaking. I'm giving it four stars because it was an enjoyable enough story and you can get through it quickly, but also because it's just so beautiful! The cover art and illustrations throughout the book are gorgeous and give the book a really unique, colourful vibe.
3.5 Those last two lines, though! When I first read them I was thrilled with the twist. But now that I'm thinking about it, I find it hard to buy. I loved Mackintosh's I Let You Go, it was brilliant and well-written. Seriously, the twisty trick in that book blew my mind. This one fell a little short of my expectations, but it was still an enjoyable read (or, in my case, listen), so I'd still recommend it!
Solid 4 stars. I've got a weakness for pirates and strong heroines, and Alosa happens to be both. When Levenseller said she was inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean but was discouraged by the lack of pirate books, especially ones about female pirates, so she therefore needed to write those books herself, I was like, “Is she me in a parallel universe?” We even have the same initials. Anyway, throw in a trace of the oceanic supernatural and this satisfied all my cravings!
The story of a vengeful spirit, told from the spirit's point of view. This was my first book by Rin Chupeco, and since I love a good ghost story, it didn't disappoint! Okiku is supposedly the Japanese spirit legend that all the horror movies like The Ring and The Grudge are based on. But a vengeful ghost with morals, she preys only on the murderers of children and teenagers, which made for a pretty satisfying read!
Solid 3.5 stars. I thought this book was good, and obviously I've got a thing for dystopia. But the whole budding romance between the two main characters just comes out of nowhere and lacks chemistry. Like it just simply felt forced and out of place. No one in their positions would realistically be thinking goo-goo thoughts about each other as it is, let alone in the weirdest moments, sometimes disrupting the flow of action, when it would be the last thing on a rational person's mind. It got annoying real fast. Sometimes there doesn't have to be a romance. And that's okay. And this is coming from someone who is normally all for a good romantic sub-plot. But the author should have either taken more time to develop their characters and really work out how they make sense together, or kept these two platonic.
That is my main criticism. Otherwise, it was good!
Okay. Sit down and grab some popcorn because here we go.
I was about halfway through this book when I learned of the controversy surrounding it, so unfortunately my review will probably be speaking to that more than the actual book, but I feel like it needs to be addressed.
I was shocked- SHOCKED- when I learned that so many rabid keyboard SJWs are on a mission to blacklist this book. Especially when most of them haven't even read it themselves and seem to be acting on the misinformed opinion of others who also haven't read it. You people probably also think The Handmaid's Tale glorifies misogyny.
Just so we're clear: Yes, there is some pretty brutal racism depicted in this book. Yes there is misogyny. Yes there is homophobia. There is xenophobia, bigot, prejudice, you name it... But THAT
*4.5 stars
I loved this so much! The writing and world-building blew me away, and this is the second book I've read about a queendom instead of a kingdom! The North African-inspired world drew me right in, and it was a refreshing change from the relentless European-inspired world with its white-bread Fey so prevalent in fantasy, which frankly I'm tired of hearing about. Our heroine, Princess Evalina, was strong but realistic, finding her way under impossible choices and hardships. I think Amanda Joy did an amazing job for a debut, and I'm pretty excited to read the second novel!
This book was good for what it was, but if you're a Hunger Games fan like myself and looking for something equally good, this is a pass.
First of all, the writing was okay but I found it hard to relate to or really feel anything for any of the characters. In fact, most of them were pretty unlikeable. There were a couple things that annoyed me quite a lot: the first is that in spite of being told multiple times by the narrator that these kids are of superior intelligence, they sure didn't back up that claim. They couldn't figure out the most obvious clues to the maze and their surroundings, even when (in my opinion) the hints were practically right there in front of them. And two, all that fake swearing. Shuck? Klunk? Ugh. It was obnoxious and annoying and awkward. Clearly the author wanted the kids to swear so we could see how tough they are, but it's also a YA book so he couldn't put actual swearing in there. Either swear or don't swear, but don't make up your own lingo.
Finally, I found the pace a little slow for something that should have been quicker. There was a lot of filler with dialogue and scenery, describing a typical day in the Glade. The actual story would have been a lot shorter if we cut all that out.
Overall it wasn't for me. Other people might feel differently and I wouldn't discourage anyone from picking it up. It would probably be a great read for, let's say, a young teen who is a reluctant reader looking to find something interesting.
*3.5 stars
I couldn't put this one down so I'll say that for it, but when I finally finished it I didn't really know how to feel. Nellie was the only main character I truly liked, and Richard was an evil bastard. That's the easy part. But Alice? Were we meant to sympathize with her? Because she was terrible and irrational and a constant liar throughout the entire book, for apparently no reason. I actually felt sorry for Nate throughout most of it, right up until the ending, and then I just lost hope for both of them.
The writing was good and kept me interested, and I found myself needing to find out what happened, so those were the pros. And I loved Nellie's big reveal at the end, that part was great.
This was just as good as the first book, which I fell in love with recently. I loved Marlie's complexity of being mixed-race during the civil war, of living a life of privilege due to her father's rich white family, and yet unable to find belonging, complete dignity, or even protection due to the fact that her mother was black. I felt the racial hatred stronger in this book with characters like Melody and Cahill, whom words cannot properly express how much I loathed. But I loved Marlie and our male hero Ewan. Can't wait to see what the third one has in store!
Overall I really liked this author's work. She did an amazing job of showing you the horrendous wealth gap between the absurdly rich and the desperately impoverished in modern-day Lagos, and how many of the absurdly rich keep their wealth by dirty measures and the oppression of others. I didn't find the ending satisfying or just, but in a lot of places that's the harsh reality of life, so I can appreciate what Onuzo was trying to recreate.