Natália
"Who we are, and who we think we are, are rarely one and the same."
Well, this book had a lot of potential...the premise is actually really interesting and it's what caught my eye when I was browsing NetGalley. But, sadly, I don't think the execution was well done. First of all, this book is LONG. Maybe not in pages, but it feels like it stretches: the more you read, the more you still have to read. It honestly felt like it was neverending, and there wasn't a point to it all of the unnecessary side plots and repetitions of stuff that was plain 20 pages ago.
I thought Jake was extremely naive and too gullible and I couldn't connect with Alice (I don't know why I just couldn't like her...I felt like Jake was putting all the effort and was way more in love with her). Also, I can't get why they still were so much in love after the whole ordeal. If I were in this situation, the first horrible thing they did would make me forever hate my partner instead of getting me to be closer to them.
The narrative in itself is tiring after a while, there isn't an obvious climax so the impact of the final chapters felt flat for me - it's all the same, linear, monotone, so I only know I was getting to the end because of the % of ebook left. I wish the ending was different as well, it would be not only ironic but really interesting. The fact that Spoiler there were no real consequences for the Pact irked me too. At least, if the author went with the second choice of ending, it would've made sense. As it was, it was both too easy and too unsatisfying. There were a lot of loose ends too, like Spoiler what the hell happened with Eric, Alice's former bandmate/boyfriend? It's said that he disappeared, but then nobody mentions him again, especially after Alice is cleared from the cheating charges, and Jake realizes they were only rehearsing. It's hinted that The Pact made him disappear, but since it was proved they were not having an affair, I supposed they were going to release him? Unless he was already dead, but the author should have at least hinted at it? And what about the couple who disappeared? The spouses who conveniently died so their widows could marry someone inside the Pact? If Orla never meant for it to happen and Neal & the others were doing it behind her back, it should be also mentioned. And if Orla knew, we should see that too, maybe know what truly happened to these people. Instead, it's forgotten inside that rushed and very anti-climatic ending.. I think that, instead of wasting time with subplots that led to nowhere, to chapters with Jake's unnecessary intake/factoids about marriage, that stuff should've been better explained, and developed.
A thriller that's not really a thriller, left me frustrated and craving something at least enjoyable to read after.
"Times marches foward, even if you've stopped."
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Overall, I liked the majority of the stories, though 4-5 really gripped me and made me want more. I think what I most enjoyed about this anthology is the subversion of some of the more cliche aspects of vampire lore, as well as the fact that every single one of these is diverse and representative. If you love vampires and all their lore, you'll definitely love this book! As for the stories individually:
Seven Nights for Dying - Tessa Gratton: I really enjoyed this first tale, it has that sensual atmosphere of the vampires, but it's also an excellent retelling of Persephone's myth. 4 stars!
Senior Year Sucks - Julie Murphy: ok, by far one of my favorite tales in this anthology! I would gladly read a whole book with these characters and I would love to know how Jo and Alma would deal with their attraction while trying to maintain their deal, Jo balancing her hunter's life with high school and cheerleading. The story was funny, since Jo is sarcastic and witty, and it was intriguing. There is a lot of potentials to explore here. Definitely a 5-star!
The Boy and The Bell - Heidi Heilig: Heidi's story was interesting, she successfully used the whole funeral tradition, the stories of people being buried alive, and mixed it with vampire lore. I especially enjoyed how she brought class differences and how that affects us even in death - poor people were more susceptible to having their bodies stolen and sold to Mes schools, or even having the safeguard mechanisms wealthy people got in case they were buried alive. I found it interested that our vampire here is a snotty, bratty, and utterly transphobic - being made a vampire apparently only amplifies your personality, and if you're a shitty person in life...well, in death you're no better. The best part was Spoiler Will chopping off Maxwell's head with a shovel!. 4 stars!
A Guidebook for the Newly Sired Desi Vampire - Samira Ahmed: my favorite of them all! It was humorous, full of pop culture references mixed in with lots of elements of Indian culture, and it still manages to be an excellent metaphor and direct critic of colonialism. Just superb. 5 glittering stars!
In Kind - Kayla Whaley: I don't know how I feel about this one...I do like the discussion that vampirism is always portrayed as a ‘cure', as well as the vision we abled bodies have toward disabled people. But I do also understand the caretaker's stress and helplessness (though obviously not to THAT extreme). It really made me think, and it's one I'll constantly come back to mull over, but not a favorite by any means. 3 stars.
Vampires Never Say Die - Zoraida Córdova & Natalie C. Parker: being the short story by the editors of the anthology, I expected more. The truth is, I found Theo irritatingly naive, and though Britanny is a very interesting character and her POV deals with vampire politics and power struggle plots, the story is too short to have the proper development I wanted. There are hints of a Vampire Civil War in the making, but that is simply mentioned and quickly forgotten. I would have loved to see more on that and the role both Britanny and Theo would have in it in the future.
Mirrors, Windows & Selfies - Mark Oshiro: This was my least favorite of the stories. I understand the main character's struggle, but I don't know if I like him that much. I don't know if the audiobook narrator had something to do with it, but I just couldn't connect with Cisco. I liked the overall premise, but it's a story that in the future will get lost among the others that are superior and more interesting. 1.5 stars.
First Kill - Victoria Schwab: the final story in this anthology couldn't have been by anyone other than Schwab. And I have to say, thank goodness we're having a whole show to explore Jules & Cal's relationship, the idea of the first kill that surrounds them (though with different purposes), their families, and the whole ‘Romeo & Juliet but make it sapphic' vibes. 5 stars!
The House of Black Sapphires - Dhonielle Clayton: Ok, THIS WAS AMAZING. Dhonielle, please write a whole novel about this! I just want MORE: more of this secret, magical New Orleans, the Eternals, and the Shadow Barons, the mysteries surrounding them and their enmity, and the whole family dynamic of our MC....just, I NEED MORE, YA KNOW? Obviously 5 stars.
The Boys From Blood River - Rebecca Roanhorse: this one was just ok for me, it has a more eerie, dark vibe, it is supposed to be a horror story as well, like the original vampire stories are supposed to be. I just...I don't know, couldn't enjoy it much? Maybe if it had a different ending, I would've enjoyed it more. 2 stars.
Bestiary - Laura Ruby: this story had a very interesting concept and it left me intrigued enough to want to read a full-on story about this character. I like the criticism of capitalism, and the main characters' powers and personality. 3.5 stars.
Je vous assure, Hastings - there is nothing so dangerous for anyone who has something to hide as conversation! Speech, so a wise old Frenchman said to me once, is an invention of man's to prevent him from thinking. It is also an infallible means of discovering that which he wishes to hide.
This was one of the first Christie novels I've ever read, and boy did it survive after the re-read! I very much enjoyed the experience of reading this already knowing who the killer was, because then I could capture the subtle hints that were strewn through the book. And they ARE subtle, but they are there and when you get to the explanation part of the finale, it makes perfect sense! That is the magic of Agatha Christie's books for me - the final reveal is extraordinary, but it makes sense and is perfectly explained because the clues were there all along! Also, I love how she is able to misdirect our attention and play us, readers, for a fool (I love when I'm absolutely fooled in a mystery novel!).
And let me say, this particular installment in the Poirot mysteries is so good that not even Hastings (which is a character I deeply dislike, especially when he's the narrator) couldn't ruin it for me. I just wish that Dame Agatha would've written more serial killers in her works, because the whole ‘who will he kill next', the chase, the letters, just had me turning the pages and wanting to read more!
"There is only one voice you must listen to, Caé Elissa. And that is your own."
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an ARC!
First of all, this was so promising! I love the premise, how magic is imbued in music and the roles of the singer and composer, the different songs and their effects....the political aspect of the book is simplistic, but it serves the purpose of creating tension and driving a wedge between Elissa and Lucio, as well as give purpose to our MC.
At first, I found Elissa's naiveté cute, it quickly transformed into stupidity and started to annoy me. I don't care much for the preachy tone of the novel as well. The pacing was very off as well, and that was probably what made this fall flat for me - up till almost 50% of the book, nothing much happens, there's no plot so to speak. And then, everything starts happening at once, the ‘big' plot is revealed and in 100 pages or so our MC is able to not only find her way and her purpose but meet everyone she needs to meet AND end a war. Not only was everything extremely rushed, but it was oh so easy as well. Everything felt as if, literally, delivered by a higher power, and though I think some of it was the intended purpose, it could've been done better.
As I was approaching the end, I thought that maybe this would benefit as a duology, with this first book as an introduction and the start of Elissa's journey to find all the Voices and hone her magic and compositions. And by book two we would have Lucio struggling with his choices, maybe falling deeper or even trying to redeem himself somehow. The ending could've been the same, but it lacked development to get there.
"A thing found can't be unfound."
This one missed the mark for me, unfortunately. I really love Earnshaw's atmospheric writing, how she can make you submerge into the story and is able to create complex, flawed, realistic characters - even while writing about magic and paranormal stuff. But what I loved about The Wicked Deep was how unpredictable the story was and how I could connect with the characters. That didn't happen here. Not only I was able to guess everything that was happening almost 25% in, I just couldn't connect with Nora...after a while, her constant repetition that ‘she wasn't a true Walker because she didn't have any powers' got tiring. I also didn't care much about the romance (I thought it was too much too soon), and I thought the ending was very good...up until the big revelation regarding Nora. It was the easy way out and left some things out. It was still an enjoyable read, but definitely not my favorite.
"Fear is just a game, Shiori. You win by playing."
This is my first contact with Elizabeth Lim's writing and I didn't know what to expect, but now I can say I'm curious to read other books by her. This one particularly was growing on me - it started out just ok, with a seeming cliché premise (the evil stepmother cursing the more powerful, magic girl and her family) and a very childish and spoiled MC, but it turned darker the more the story progressed and the mythology and politics of this place were revealed. I really liked how the author took a retelling of a known fairytale and added elements of Korean and Chinese mythology, creating a beautiful and magical world. There were some good plot twists I wasn't expecting and I really enjoyed where it took the story.
Shiori was a character that gradually grew on me during the book and I thought her development from a spoiled and kinda bratty younger child to a brave, strong, and self-assured girl was really well done - the situations she was put through, how much she had to take to survive and complete her mission, the people she found along the way, it all played a part into her development. I particularly loved the Bushian family arc, it's where I think the book really captured me. Megari, the cook, and especially Takkan were some of my favorite characters (along with Kiki, who is obviously the best!). I just wished there was more from Shiori's brother - the older ones get to shine a bit, but I hope the next installment will have more of their personalities and how they were dealing with the consequences of the curse and what happened at the end of this one.
I am excited for what's to come for the characters and the mythology the author will explore in the final novel! And I definitely want to read her other duology as well!
"Money's queer. It goes where it's wanted.”
So, this was interesting. The plot doesn't really start until almost halfway through and the first half is slow and I wasn't sure where it was going. But then, things started to happen, I again made 54215 theories and NEVER ONCE had an inkling of the real solution. When it was presented, I was truly shocked and the book gained another dimension in my eyes. I added a whole star to my rating because of the reveal and the ending. I have to say, I do love the more atmospheric, creepy novels by Agatha, they always manage to compel me to keep reading and give me the chills, even though I'm not drawn enough to the plot or the characters. That happened here, because, like I said, up to 50% I wasn't sure where the story was going and I wasn't that much invested in the characters. Actually, that was one of the issues for me, aside from the slow start - I just couldn't care much for the characters, any of them. That is partly explained by the ending, but still, it's hard to care about the safety of the MCs if you don't much like them. But, as I said, the atmosphere kept me going and it did pay off! Not my favorite Christie novel, but an overall good read!
"There are always choices. They may not be ones you like, but there are always choices."
A dark Cinderella retelling with a twist and a sapphic romance, but with some execution problems and a very annoying MC. I really wished I liked this one more, because I love a dark fairytale retelling, but 90% of the time I was annoyed with Sophia and her decisions, how she put the blame on her parents and the girl she liked for something out of their control and how reckless she was. Still, there were aspects of this world that I liked, and there were hints of possible other fairytales intersecting with this one that I would love to read more about. I overall liked the conclusion and was surprised by some of the reveals, but the point where the story left us is still full of issues and the author doesn't provide any hints as to how it would be solved or a glimpse into the future to see how things were going. I think the book would benefit from it and it would give me a much more satisfying ending.
"Old sins have long shadows.”
This one didn't survive as well to the re-read. I remember loving this on my first go because I really like Ariadne Oliver and her unusual friendship with Poirot. But while there were very good parts, I thought the overall mystery was just...I don't know, I feel like Agatha has written similar stuff and I've read it before because I could pinpoint every clue and was able to guess the ending, though I didn't remember much about the novel from my first read. Still, it's a Christie novel, and it's always a good read for me!
Cada livro, cada volume que você vê, tem alma. A alma de quem o escreveu e a alma dos que o leram, que viveram e sonharam com ele.
Another book I wish I loved as much as everyone seems to. I found the narrative slow and drawn out, with lots of descriptions, and, though that was necessary to create a Barcelona who feels mystical and immersed in mysteries, I kept having to bring myself to pick up the book again.
I don't really like Daniel as a lead character, I often found him bratty and annoying. I like some of the side characters (Fermin is definitely my favorite), and was interested in the main mystery of the book - I actually really enjoyed the conclusion, because in the final 1/3 things picked up speed till they exploded in a fast-paced, very interesting ending. But overall, it wasn't a book I was excited to keep reading or wasn't as invested in the characters or in love with the prose. I also don't wish to continue with the series, and since this installment has a conclusion of a sort, I'll be finishing my Zafón experience here. Maybe in a few years, I'll try to revisit this, and by then, maybe I'll be in the frame of mind to actually love this book and the writing style.
"Amor e sangue. Ambos possuem um poder colossal."
Ok, so not as good but not as bad as I was hoping. I like short stories, and I liked how the characters were presented, it was a good way to be immersed in this world and the politics surrounding it. Having watched the Netflix show beforehand, I was familiar with most of the stories present in this first installment (and, overall, the tv show managed to keep quite truthful to the source material, but with changes for the better - I also think the timeline of the show was easier to follow and made more sense).
I have to say, though, that the writing is somewhat poor and there are a lot of misogynistic lines and characters, with too many sexual remarks (especially directed at women) and that bothered me a lot. The female characters are also portrayed as cunning and manipulative, or else playthings to the men. They are often belittled and mistrusted, especially if they are in a position of power or have power somewhat. The author seems to have some progressive thoughts, though, but it gets lost inside all these other stuff.
Still, I intend to keep going with the series because I really want to get to the material from season 2 and know more about the politics and other aspects of the mythology and world-building.
“Women's ideas are treated as though they sprung from nowhere, to be claimed by the first man who comes along. Every generation had women stand up and ask to be counted—and every generation of brilliant, insightful, educated men has raised a hand and wiped those women's names from the greater historical record.”
LESBIAN HISTORICAL ROMANCE, YES! I was sold on this novel from the first couple of chapters. It helped that I connected with Lucy, her struggles, and also her bravery. She is willing to stand up for herself, and her work and is not easily dismissed by those arrogant men from the scientific society. I also love how both she and Catherine are able, both together and apart, to overcome their struggles and doubts, and to grow and find themselves. Catherine, especially, because of all the trauma she carries from her past marriage.
The author is also able to explore some social issues of the time (that sadly are still present nowadays) and make them central aspects of the story. That leads to a DELIGHTFUL reveal, in the end, that is both satisfying and shocking. It also lets the author explore the side characters, who are as interesting as our MCs - I especially love Catherine's aunt, she's one of the funniest parts, but there's a scene in her home that is emotional and sweet and that really touched me.
And let me tell you, the romance is really top-notch - the right dose of sweet and steamy and you can really see they care deeply for each other and they bring out the best in each other. Their scenes are just so good to read and their relationship is based on mutual respect and appreciation and I AM HERE FOR IT!
I just found out this is a series, and am definitely going to check out the other novels because Olivia Waite's writing surely won me over.
"Palavras são como o vento - ele disse para o seu conselho -, mas o vento pode alimentar o fogo. Meu pai e meu tio lutaram contra palavras com aço e chama. Nós combaterems palavras com palavras, e apagaremos o fogo antes que ele cresça."
And we're back into the backstabbing politics and family feuds of Westeros, shining a light on the history of the powerful House Targaryen - from Aegon's Conquest to the start of the dying of the Dragons, passing through one of the most violent (but exciting) episodes, the Dance of the Dragons. I liked how Martin decided to tell this tale, as if truly written by a historian of this world that collected documents and writings of people who lived in those times. As such, we still don't have the ‘full' version of events, because there are conflicting accounts, things that went on behind the screens, and things that happened beyond Westeros but affected its history directly, but thus can't be fully known. I think this way of telling things added veracity to what was being told and, though it is supposed to be/sound like a scholarly text, it wasn't dull at all - on the contrary, it was very engaging, at times even with touches of humor. Needless to say, I loved every second of it - especially the chapters about the Conquest, Jahearys I, and the Dance. Martin knows his political intrigues and convoluted characters and it's s easy to slip back into the vast world of ASoIaF. I also listened to the audiobook while reading and the narration was excellent, it only added to my experience. I can't wait for volume 2 (which I think we're all anxious about - I MEAN, the Blackfyre rebellions and FINALLY Robert's Rebellion in its entirety!) and for House of Dragon to premiere in 2022 so I can see some of this play out on my TV again (DRAGONS! DRAGONS FIGHTING! YAY!)
“Often, I feel overwhelmed by this sinking feeling in my heart that I will never be enough.”
In less than 100pgs, TJR managed to write a heartbreaking, emotional, and beautiful story about love and betrayal with an unexpected twist at the end. The epistolary structure of this novella is quick to read, but it still conveys all the emotion and a very well-developed narrative. I don't know how she manages it, but every single thing I read by this author is just so good, and this was no different. It may be, along with Evelyn Hugo, my favorite thing from her - and that's no small feat if you look at her other works (Daisy Jones, Malibu, One True Loves, etc).
A story that will stay with me, and I'll definitely revisit a lot.