Adam SP
This was an interesting one. Overall, it's the same world, with most of the same characters, and that charm that is just wonderful to read.
There were aspects here that felt either rushed, or not completely thought out. The level of world building that has been present throughout the last two books, and The Hammer and the Goat, just wasn't quite the same.
But the story was excellent, as always.
Do yourself a favour and read this one. It's worth it.
Contains spoilers
The Hammer is an absolute favourite of mine, and this small glimpse into her growth and recovery from the Usurper's influence is written so well.
I think my only displeasure is that it wasn't longer! Would love to have had it go further into when she passes in the cave. I now envisage that in the final moment, as she dreams of the usual dreams that torment from the Usurper, she is given a moment where the Usurper is finally eradicated from her mind and essence, with her last thoughts/dreams being of utter peacefulness.
Alas, it wouldn't be right for there to be more, but I yearn! Onto The Vagrant and the Shining City!
Dark, gritty, suspenseful, adventurous.
There are so many hints of what's to come, and then boom, change of direction and you're left wondering where you are and what happened. And it's glorious.
The story is deep, twisted, and gripping. Descriptions and the world building approachable and engrossing.
All in all, absolutely loved it.
2.75, rounded up.
Lynda is a great author, and tells a vivid and suspenseful story.
For me personally, this one was a bit too drama-driven, and not quite the usual crime-thriller I'm after.
And the rampant mysoginy was so overtly abhorrent. Which is the point. It's literally what Lynda is going for, and she has crafted that part so perfectly that I want to ensure a personal hand in the downfall of so many in the story. But it's left me feeling so angry (again, as intended).
Glad to have read it.
Action packed, intelligent, exciting, with a fair amount of suspense and thrill.
If you've ever watched the movie(s), the differences are stark, and it's sometimes hard to grapple the mental memories and what's taking place in the narrative.
The novel is far darker. In both characters and motives, and in violence.
It's also timeless in many ways. So little has changed with regards to human nature, especially the mega-wealthy.
Overall, sensational!
A very, very solid 4.25, rounded up!
The story is gripping, raw, and emotional. The themes are hard, deep, and disturbing.
The characters have such fascinating characteristics, and wonderful development. They're so utterly imperfect, but in a way that is so understandable.
I'll be sitting with this one swirling in my mind for a while...
Absolutely tantalising, gripping, and mind blowing.
The plot and the characters are smooth, and very, very well thought out. There is so much mystery, delicious sub-plots, and beautiful character flaws that make everything so human, and so surreal.
For so much of the story, any inkling you have for what's coming is dashed and you are left with whiplash. Towards the end, I had no idea who or what to suspect, and I loved it.
My only gripe is the super short chapters, which aren't needed. They add a slight disjointedness to an otherwise brilliant narrative.
2.75, rounded up.
The plot is good. The story is driving, intense, with excellent suspense.
Although I was correct in the end as to who the villain was (but had no inkling as to how heinous the depth the villainy went), I only had a niggle early on, and then the story was crafted well to direct you in many other directions.
What let it down, for me, was some of the personal traits of the main protagonist, and how superficially some aspects were written. Specifically in the vain of "a man writing a woman".
Glad to have read it, but not the best I've read.
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
This is hands down a brilliant story. The plot is great, and the characters are relatable, deep, and intriguing. They make dumb choices, but relatable dumb choices.
The action is good, the suspense balanced, and the "what's coming next" is always just out of sight, so you are beautifully driven to read and read.
The themes of this story are deep, unsettling, and confronting. TW: suicidal ideation, abuse, trauma.
None of the major players are likable, but that is the point and drives the story. The audacity of the main character is rather grating, with him seeming to want to be a detective more than a therapist, but that is also a key point and when everything comes to a head, it's incredibly important.
You will feel that timelines don't always add up, but they do, and it will all make sense.
Well worth the read.
An absolutely fascinating compendium of short stories.
Belladonna Nights was so initially perplexing, but so, so deep and left you very existentially ponderous.
Metal Like Blood in the Dark was such a captivating story of introspection, growth, and innocence (and/or the loss there of).
Immersion is powerful in the reflection of current society and the need to portray an unrealistic, polished perfection of life online. It's one downfall was my thirst for so much more! It needs a novel, or a series!
The Last Voyage of Skidbladnir was a touching analogy of consumerism over the appreciation of life, and the growth we must take to overcome such things.
The rest were just good and fun little episodes of space opera, and I enjoyed it all!
So very, very Hawkins!
Paula is able to write in such a way that it burrows into your psyche. Like an ink blot test, Paula is able to find parts of you and bring them forward as part of the story, so that your own scruples and unacknowledged anxieties become part of the story.
YOU progress the plot just by letting Paula's dark and thrilling narration unfold, and take root.
Incredible story, beautifully thrilling and petrifying plot and character developments, and what an ending.
Gritty, dark, compelling, and utterly confronting!
This novel is sensational. The way the story is progressed is an absolute masterclass in managing perspectives, and the story flowed so well.
The themes are truly confronting, but told in such a beautiful and respectful way.
The twists are twisty, the plot deep and enthralling, and I just couldn't put it down from the first chapter.
Well done on an exceptional debut novel, Hayley!
Beautiful, gut and heart wrenchingly beautiful.
Katrina is a sensational author, who writes in a way that is approachable to younger minds, but still complex for the advanced/mature reader.
The characters are incredibly well written, with phenomenal growth and development.
The story is painfully hard at times, but so essential. With the rise of neo Nazism, we must remember how devistatingly evil that ideology is.
Thank you Katrina, for a most deep, heart and gut wrenchingly beautiful story of hope and love.
2.38/5.
Honestly, this book frustrated the hell out of me. The characters are impulsive and often unlike-able, the story is choppy and at times disjointed. There are at least three moments where what is said at the start of the page is contradicted later on the same page!
However, it's an absolute pageturner, and I had to keep reading.
It's possibly just a story and writing style that doesn't suit me, hence why I feel so frustrated, and rated it low.
It's definately in part the stupidity and brashness of the characters that gets under my skin. Aspects of the plot are given too much focus where they're just not that essential, and detract from other more key plot devices.
If it was a movie, I'd have been yelling at the screen.
Good book, good suspense and thriller novel.
As a story, it's a solid 4.5/5. Dave is a captivating author, with a vividity and excitement that is missing in a lot of autobiographies.
Unfortunately, at times, Dave gets too enraptured in his own words and gets a bit repetitive; this is one of the reasons for dropping the score a bit.
There's also a lot of jumping about through the past, which was amazing, but at times there is no "landmark" as to where in time we are.
But, what drags it down a bit, is Dave's lack of accountability with his infidelity. He cries out his absolute devotion to his daughters, his wife, and his mum, but never acknowledges his own contradictions. That missing accountability is what brought my rating down.
All in all, thoroughly enjoyable read for anyone who's even only heard one of the many songs Grohl has been a party to.
He's certainly a Storyteller!
2.25, rounded up to 2.5.
I think, for me, this may just not be my style of story. I found the first ~60% a challenge to get through, with the characters and story rudimentary and frustrating. The last 40% really picked up, though.
It has mystery, twists, turns, and a good amount of action.
The writing style very much fits with New Adult, as it does appear to be more approachable to a wider audience.
2.7/5, rounded down.
One of the reviews stated that it gets more and more unsettling as you turn the page, and that it's a slow burn. Both of these are true.
The pace is excellent. It is intriguing, thrilling, and devious.
But, the characters are unrefined, and the plot has been eaten by a few moths. There's some really, truly dumb decisions made by the characters, and some truly absurd omissions.
If you like thriller/suspense, you will enjoy this read. It's not the best read, but it was still a ride, and I enjoyed it.
Brilliant. Utterly brilliant.
The story is compelling, engrossing, and damned amusing. There is a beautiful balance of mind games, calls to action, and character development.
The half-star taken away was due to the clipped nature of some of the plot points, which could have done with a little more thought and expansion.
But overall, this was a sensational read.
2.75/5, rounded up. If you're after suspense, intrigue, and a page turning plot, this is a good one.
However, the main character is a frightfully frustrating, arrogant, entitled, turd of a person, and that was a bit of a detractor.
Other characters are just as grating.
Glad to have read it, but it won't be on my "read again" list.