Natasha
This is a moody, character driven, slow burn mystery. The kind that Tana French does so well. She builds the scene, creates the tension and leads you down a dark garden path. There are twists along they way (one that I did not see coming). The ending, however, did not satisfy - it felt a bit bland. I wanted the resolution to be darker.
This book! This book ... I was going to love this book. It was one of my most anticipated releases back in 2018, and I held off reading it. I was worried my extremely high expectations would not be met ending in disappointment. Fast forward two years .... my expectations were not met, ending in disappointment.
Having said that - you may love it. It's a largely fictionalized account of the early life of Madam Tussauds, her experience in Paris , Versailles and a tumultuous ride through the French Revolution.
This book needs more love ❤️ It is beautiful and heartbreaking and transformative and powerful and fun and .... I could keep going ... or you could pick it up and read about the courage of a boy named Sam as he transforms into the person he was truly meant to be. Be prepared to fall in love with a fabulous cast of characters along the way.
What if you could go back and change the biggest regret of your life? Or turn left instead of right at a crossroad? Study art instead of science? The Midnight Library allows you to do this. To ‘try on' all the lives you could have lived. What would you choose?
It is such a tantalising premise (and one of my favourite tropes!) as we follow protagonist, Nora, who decides to die and ends up instead at the Midnight Library. It is a whirlwind ride of Groundhog Days and Butterfly Effects, of foreign countries and famous people, of bears, vineyards and rock and roll. But it has such heart, such hope and really is the perfect read for these troubled times.
Highly recommend!
I was ready to fall in love with this book, it has some of my favourite tropes, tashreads catnip if you will. Strong female leads, witches, magic (but not too much!), revenge, narrow escapes and complicated mother daughter relationships.
But I'm sorry to report that I failed to connect to the way it was written. I felt the writing style kept me at arm's length from the characters - I never really knew them. The story was great (and I think it would translate well to screen - just like Practical Magic). I am in the minority, most people loved it, but the magic of this novel fell a bit flat for me.
Many thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This is a fairytale, an odyssey, an adventure.
During WWII in Darwin, through the mysterious and mythical Australian top end comes the thrilling and magical tale of Molly Hook - a tough and precocious preteen - who goes on a journey (with the help of a few friends and Sky gifts) to beg an ancient Indigenous sorcerer to lift a curse that has turned her heart to stone.
A story that will enchant and delight even the most jaded reader. Have an adventure and discover pure gold.
4.5 stars. I had to give this a high rating for sheer entertainment. The first half of the book filled me with dread and unease - it was so unsettling and creepy. You know your protagonists have arrived in the middle of a nightmare, but it's still just bubbling under the surface until ... non stop action and brutality- I didn't think I could stomach it at one point. If you are squeamish I'd advise you to look away - but it you are after a non stop, horror filled thrill ride - jump on board.
This is a story about monsters. Otherworldly beings and those who walk amongst us. The Klu Kluxes are pure hatred and evil personified as shape shifting monsters - and only a small band of female warriors can see them for what they really are.
This is a tale of vengeance and injustice, gore and terror and ultimately love and hope. I loved reading about Maryse and her band of strong women, and really enjoyed how African myth and history was incorporated into this story. It was a great adventure.
The only thing i didn't really enjoy was the Lovecraftian monsters in this book. But that is a case of ‘it's not you it's me'. I am not drawn to monster books - I prefer my horror to be grounded in reality or hauntingly supernatural.
A fast-paced, highly entertaining read.
Oh how I wanted to love this book! It promised magic and adventure, mystery and myth and I couldn't wait to open a page and find myself in a circus filled with quirky characters - where the impossible is possible. Unfortunately, like the a certain funambulist, my experience of this book fell a bit short of my expectations.
I listened to the audiobook (very kindly provided by Netgalley) and maybe the narration and delivery just didn't work for me, but I never felt invested in any of the characters. The dialogue was stilted and didn't feel natural. The story dragged in places and involved great detail (like an icky, rather disturbing ‘love scene') and other times felt rushed - especially towards to end.
I really enjoyed the myths and stories dispersed between the main plot, and felt the investment I craved when we learned about Marina's past. It was written well - albeit a bit scattered. Maybe if I'd gone into this with lower expectations I would have enjoyed it more.
3.5 stars. Emezi writes a heartfelt tale of transformation and love, heartbreak and friendship set in Nigeria. It's difficult for me to discuss what I loved about this book and what I didn't because of possible spoilers, but here goes... I loved the description and handling of Vivek's metamorphoses, the raw emotion felt by his family (especially his mother) and the setting of the story in Nigeria.
I liked the glimpses into the lives of the Nigerwives and their more progressive children.
Yet I still struggled to feel a real connection to the characters.