Andrea Ward
Wow! This is a powerful story and I can't imagine it being told any other way than in graphic novel form. I like the back and forth in time. It really increased my interest. I even teared up and cried a few times. There were a whole range of powerful emotions! This is something that everyone should read.
I love the setting of an island and a snow storm. I like mystery of the people disappearing, and dying along with the other scary things people did. The more the story unfolded, the more eh I felt about it. There were plenty of secret motives and awful people. There was a secret history of the island. I mostly liked those. Then as everting started to be explained, it all made less sense. The solution to the danger wasn't great either. Everyone was acting within their character on an individual level, but when you put all those individual pieces together it didn't make sense.
I loved part 1 and part 3/ Epilogue. She didn't spend too much extra time on breaking hearts. She just simply told us about these characters and what they were dealing with. I didn't really like part 2. It was a nice enough story and did clear up some questions I had from part 1, but it didn't seem to have much of an impact on the rest of the story.
There were great details about gardening, especially community gardening. I had no idea who did it. The investigation was good and focused on finding her friend, so the murderer was a surprise. I liked that it was structured that way and that it kept me guessing. There were a few parts that were sadder than I expected, but it was appropriate for story and made it more realistic.
Overall this was a great beginning to a new cozy series.
I love the world and the way it is built in this story. There isn't really an info dump and I didn't feel lost without information either. I love Kosara and Asen, as well as their journey and battles. It was fast paced and entertaining and we also got some good character growth as well. I loved the ending and the way it was wrapped up, but there is more to do. I want to get my hands on the next one!
The parallels between this and the Count of Monte Cristo are really strong for the first half. Then it takes off in more of it's own direction. I thought it was a perfect balance between retelling and new story. At the beginning, I was all for Dania and her revenge. Then somewhere in the middle my feelings begin to get muddled and by the end I was on her side again. I thought it was an emotional ride through the story. I liked the revenge, the magic, and the emotional growth. The reveals at the end got a little muddled, but I enjoyed them.
I gasped, laughed, and commented regularly throughout this book. This is one of the best cozies and one of the best books I have read recently. I was so surprised by the murder as well as a few other secrets that were revealed. I thought I had guessed who the murderer was and I was so glad I was wrong. The storyline with Clarice made me uncomfortable, but I think I see where that is heading and I like that solution.
Overall, this is an awesome book and one of the best cozies I have read in a long long time.
The banter is so good in this one! Kiki and Malakai are good together. I like that they are not just trying to make their relationship work and dealing with personal issues, but also trying to make change and live up to their ideals. I did not expect this level of awesome when I started the book. At first I thought it would be an average college romance book, but it was really so much more!
Miranda Abbott is back at it! Ridiculous demands of those close to her, but also an attention to detail that helps her solve the mystery. I really liked how she was able to use her knowledge of costars and costuming to solve the mystery. The relationship with her (ex?) husband is interesting, but didn't really seem to go anywhere in this one. The solution was more twisty than I expected. I liked the way we were given the answers. This was a great book 2 in the Miranda Abbott series.
I liked Sol and Alice. I liked their slow uncertain descent. The others in the neighborhood were immediately suspicious and often made me angry. So I felt like I was constantly on my guard as I was reading. The conflicting sights and confusing actions kept me guessing about what was going on. I knew what part of the problem was, but I had no clue where the problem came from. I was surprised when I found that part out. I don't know if I love the ending or hate it though. I guess that's the genius of the ending.
I love a found family, especially when they are healing each other. So not only do we have a lovely found family that are there for each other, but we also have a house that is cozy and a garden that is magical. The grief is not too heavy, but it is not treated lightly either.
The POV is first person and sometimes second person. I think it makes sense and it is used well, but not everyone is going to love that POV.
McBride has a way of creating a realistic feeling neighborhood full of flawed and complicated people. Some of them make mistakes, but are still trying. Others don't notice the mistakes they are making and don't consider them mistakes. It makes for a heart wrenching story because you feel like you know these people and what they are suffering.
I loved the creepy house. I loved the creepy history. Libby and Vivi are great characters and great sisters. I like slow descent into madness that we see in the mom. I did not like how long it took Libby to catch on to what was going on. That seemed obvious to me pretty quickly, but it took Libby forever to figure out what was going on. The battles at the end were exciting. I think the images from those battles will be the thing that sticks with me from this book.
I LOVED the sleuthing that Dayna did! I loved how she was working with Arthur? Asher?. The misunderstanding was so funny. The Hollywood bits we got were good without being too much. I liked that the first answer came so easily, but then there were more twists and turns after that. This felt like a really good second book to develop Dayna and the people around her.
I'm not sure how I feel about this one. I liked the women and I liked that they each had different struggles. Sometimes it felt like things were moving too quickly with their stories. There was a lot of real hurt and issues that are brought up in their lives. Sometimes I wanted more discussions and heart work before the next step in the relationships happens. I'm glad I read it and there really is a lot to think about in the various relationships that are portrayed.
I loved the setup of them having to work together for the wedding. Their banter was great. I wanted a little more Trinidadian culture, but it could have felt forced in there. So that's a minor complaint. My major complaint with this story was that the middle dragged. It felt like there were spicy scenes added without actual depth added for the characters. I really liked the characters and that's why I wanted more depth for them. But overall this was a fun romcom. And I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun quick romance read.
He truly is a wrestling historian! I felt that added a lot to the book. He is a very positive person and looks at the good in the situation and people. I appreciated that, but at times it made me wonder if that made him ignore some valid criticisms. Overall he did a good job telling his story and being honest about his struggles and faults. It was enjoyable.
I was shocked by the ending! It made sense and fit with the rest of the story. It also felt like a very Rivers Solomon ending. The ending doesn't tie everything up in a nice bow. So bits and pieces keep coming back to me. I sometimes feel like the ending doesn't fit and other times feel like it fits too well. So I am left torn by the ending and I think I should be.
My only minor complaint is that at times Ezra gets a little too philosophical. Some people will love that though.