DNF at 60% Thanks to NetGalley and to the Editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Sadly, this is my first DNF of the yeaDNF at 60% Thanks to NetGalley and to the Editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Sadly, this is my first DNF of the year, and it was mostly because this was the wrong book at the wrong time. It's not that this book is bad bad, mind me, but I wasn't in the right mood for all the unfairness and the dumb politics going on. I think that this was my main problem, I just wasn't really into this part, and it's pretty heavy on politics (and on the one hand, it is a tad too close to home for comfort, in this period; while, on the other hand, the things here are collapsing, and it is baffling how the decisions of the people who are taking the power are just dumb, and yes, I know, again too close to home). And the characters weren't really working for me, either. I really liked Wizard Akana. He is a good character but all the others weren't as good, I didn't really care for them, and they all go around doing things and screaming and complaining and doing the worst things possible between their possible choices for things to do, but they don't seriously talk to each other. So yeah, I wasn't really a fan of that either.
I am really sorry to let this one go, in part because I was excited for it, in part because it is an ARC and it's always a tad harder to don't finish one of those, and in part because I was already after the halfway mark but every time I put it down I wasn't so keen on picking it up again, so I just decided to let it go and be done with it. ...more
With this book I had some highs and lows, it started strong. The first line hooked me up, but then my attention started meandering around for a bit. BWith this book I had some highs and lows, it started strong. The first line hooked me up, but then my attention started meandering around for a bit. But around the halfway mark things changed completely and I was hooked, I was 100% there for it and it was epic! It's not only that it was epic because we have some really cool fights (and they are cool, trust me!) but it is also because this book has some deeper themes and the way in which the author treats them is superb. And it was surprising. It is unapologetic in the best way, and the feeling of vindication is amazing. It is so so satisfying! I don't want to tell you what all this was about because I think that discovering it while you read it is worth the mystery. So yeah, I won't tell you anything about this book (I'll just add a couple of words about the world, but that's it), but I will tell you that it is surely worth your time.
It is a pretty short book, but we have great character development and an interesting plot. It is a bit lacking on the worldbuilding part because it is set in a strange world, a strange mix between rural Japan (in the past) and the modern Western world, and it is hard to picture and, obviously, this is not helped by the (lack of) length of the book, but it is outlined enough to give you an idea of it. I would have loved a bit more, maybe, but I am not really complaining, especially because the center is occupied by the MC, who is bigger than life and quite unforgettable. (And we have cool scenes!! So many of them!!)...more
Thanks to NetGalley and the Editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I saw this book tagged as fantasy, sci-fi, mystery,Thanks to NetGalley and the Editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I saw this book tagged as fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, time travel, and the like, but I think that it can also be considered horror. Sure, it’s light horror (does such a thing exist?) and not heavy on the horror side, but still, the setting fits the genre, in my opinion. The Echoes are fascinating places, but they are also creepy and unsettling as hell. And also the Echoes inhabitants, who are also called Echoes, are deeply unsettling and more horror critters and beings than your typical fantasy creatures. And even if the whole story does not have really strong dream-like vibes, it is still quite nightmarish. I think that this was part of the problem for me. I found it fascinating, sure, because the author did a great job with it all, but it didn’t work for me. It didn’t move me, I could appreciate it on a purely abstract level, but it didn’t pull at me, it didn’t speak to me.
Sadly, my problems with this book didn’t end there. I wasn’t invested in the characters, either. I really enjoyed some villains and some of the secondary ones, I found them fascinating and original, and I would have loved to spend more time in their company, but the two MCs didn’t really work for me. Kembral and Rika aren’t bad but they weren’t special, either. And that’s strange because Rika is the kind of character that usually works easily with me. But there is a big pro for Kembral. She is a new mother, and we get to see how motherhood started to change her. I think that, in this respect, the author did a good job, but it wasn’t really enough to make me invested in her. I was pretty lukewarm toward them both and things didn’t get better as the book progressed.
And last but not least, the plot is moving slowly. There are reasons for it, but still, to me, things lagged a lot, it was pretty sluggish and even if there were moments more fast-paced, in which my attention was fully engaged, they weren’t many, and I wasn’t really so invested in the mystery or the story. All things considered, I think that this author simply does not work so well for me. It wasn’t that it was bad, but for me, it was all pretty meh....more
Thanks to NetGalley and the Editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Things with this book started amazingly well. I wasThanks to NetGalley and the Editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Things with this book started amazingly well. I was enthralled by it and it was pretty hard to put down. Leo is a great narrator, and the magic in this world is fascinating. I was happy with how things were going but slowly the magic of it all started to fade. I think that my main problem was that we get only Leo’s POV, and this made the book unbalanced because Sebastian is an MC here, or he should be one, but since we don’t get his POV it’s like he is always on the background, somehow. And this is a shame because he has such potential as MC too! Even more so because Leo becomes tiring after a point. I mean, I like him, and I see where is coming from, so his actions make sense, but he is still annoying because he is trapped in an endless circle of “nobody listens” – “lashes out” – “drama ensue” and so on and so on. It becomes tiring pretty fast. And the fact that he is impulsive and drags everyone with him without thinking about the consequences does not help. He is not bad, really, and he has a strong charm to him, but still… he is constantly jumping from one disaster to another, without stopping for a second, and he drags people along. And then he complains because people are mad at him, don’t listen to him, you get the gist. And what’s more, is that I started to see Grimm more and more like the victim here (and that’s another big reason I wanted his POVs too), because if it’s true that Leo didn’t do anything on purpose, and he is the victim of the curse, it is also true that Sebastian is behaving like a Saint with it all. And I literally mean a Saint. The more time I spent with these two and more these dynamics became stronger, at least for me, and at the end of all, I wasn’t so happy with it all.
That said, I loved that Leo is a musician and that he managed to find a way to mix magic and music. It was delightful and it shows how smart he is. Because he has a lot of faults (see the paragraph above) but he is also brilliant and I love to see his brain put to work. And we get to meet some interesting characters too, and visit some fascinating places. The tower was so magical! Sure, the woods were creepy and pretty frightening, but the tower was well worth a stroll into the woods (if you manage to come out alive, obviously). And the ending was great. The last 20% or so of the book is pretty solid and it show some potential for growth. I have to admit that it made me curious about the sequels so… who knows? Maybe I will continue this one. Maybe.
I was hoping to enjoy this one more because the potential was there, but in the end, I was mostly irritated with our MC. I simply don’t have the patience for so many tantrums and teen behaviors, especially when the person is no longer a teen....more
I think Sarah is a Saint (view spoiler)[and she should have made Shane work for it, because I am happy with the ending, sure, but he deserved3.5 stars
I think Sarah is a Saint (view spoiler)[and she should have made Shane work for it, because I am happy with the ending, sure, but he deserved a bit more of groveling, at least! (hide spoiler)] but she is so cute and adorable and her enthusiasm is infectious! She is really into Christmas, and I really like that her family managed to transform it into something that can work all year round, because she really loves Christmas and her work, and it is really nice to see someone doing something they love! Shane is an adorable grumpy, but from time to time I wanted to shake him so badly! He can be annoying. I get why he is grumpy and why he is cautious, he has all the reasons in the world, but he still should have made up his mind, because it wasn't right. That said, this was a nice story, perfect for this time of the year, and I had fun with it! ...more
3.5 stars Thanks to the Author. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Nick continues on his path to sanctitude, with Amy helpi3.5 stars Thanks to the Author. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Nick continues on his path to sanctitude, with Amy helping keep him on track. I think that this can be a good summary of the book, and it is also the thing that I enjoyed less in the book. Mind me, I like Nick as MC and he and Amy are a great couple, but sometimes he is a tad too good. Not that it's really a bad thing but I usually like a tad more grey in the scale. That said, I like that Nick is the most decent guy around (view spoiler)[even if when he started working with Rob I was so mad! But... I have to say that I was wrong because I liked their cooperation! A lot!! (hide spoiler)], and I liked that he really tries his hardest, ever. This sometimes causes some really brilliant lateral thinking, and I loved this part! The ending was brilliant! I would have loved to see a bit more of Lu around, maybe, but I had fun with this book, it is a nice change of pace, and if you want to read something original and not too demanding, I suggest you give this series a try! ...more
This was the right book at the right time. I was in the mood for something short, sweet, funny and possibly Christmas related, and this book deliveredThis was the right book at the right time. I was in the mood for something short, sweet, funny and possibly Christmas related, and this book delivered perfectly! Catalina and Luke are such sweet and nice characters! And they are Lego fans!! Mind me, I enjoy lego, but I am not really a fan, but this little thing made them feel more real, and also, I am a nerd, so I can appreciate it, even if my interests aren't leaning that way. I think it was my favorite thing of the book. But there are other things to appreciate. On the whole, this is a nice story, lighthearted with just a touch of drama, good banter, and aww moments here and there. Luke is a catch for sure, and Catalina is the perfect counterpart for him! I liked that she is more reserved and introverted than him, and she is a great person too! (view spoiler)[She was a tad too dramatic about her sister and her new husband, really, I rolled my eyes so hard every time she mentioned or thought about the fact that her sister's husband is her ex, because really she is making this way bigger than what it was but still... that aside, it was a great read! (hide spoiler)]...more
3.5 stars Thanks to NetGalley and to the Editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I think I may put some order to this re3.5 stars Thanks to NetGalley and to the Editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I think I may put some order to this review later on, but for now I just jot down the things as they come to mind. Compared to the first book this one is less cozy, but it is still a nice book with which to cozy up on the couch, with hot tea with you. I loved that the story is told through Emily's entries in her journal (and I loved that we got a chapter written by Wendell too). It made for a really biased narrator because we meet some new characters here, Ariadne and Rose, and we see them through Emily's lenses, so we aren't really impartial toward them, but this is a thing that I appreciated a lot. I don't want it for all my books, sure, but it was a nice change of pace, and I appreciated it. The book as a whole was interesting and I enjoyed following Emily and her "team" exploring the Alps, but the end felt a bit rushed, especially the resolution to the main conflict. It is true that in part is due to the fact that Emily's memory is addled, and this is a brilliant thing, but still... it felt a tad rushed. That said, I really enjoy Emily and Wendell. Wendell is a dear, but Emily is so refreshing! I love her, because she stands her ground and she knows her worth. And this is just sooo good! Sure, she may not be your usual kick-ass heroine, but I loved that she can stand for herself. Lately, I read a lot of books about people who were just so insecure and who just were "yes people" and it was so annoying. I loved to see Emily being so strong and self-assured! ...more
Thansk to NetGalley and to the Editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
It took me longer than usual to read this one, bThansk to NetGalley and to the Editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
It took me longer than usual to read this one, but it is by no means, the book’s fault. It’s just that I started it and then remembered that I had two buddy reads planned. So I had to put this one on hold for a bit before going back to it. And I loved every moment I spent with this! (also, be warned that some of the points in this review are the same as I made in the review for one of the shorter stories, because they really are the strength of this series!!)
1)A Goblin Captain. William is an amazing character, goblin or not goblin. But still, the fact that we have a goblin captain is just soooo cool!
2)Flying Ships. Because as cool things went, flying ships are pretty high on the list, too.
3)Amazing characters. You need to meet the crew. They are all unique and they feel so real! And I can’t choose a favorite, I simply cannot. I love them all. For example, the head gunner is an older lady, a former teacher. And she is not the only “old” lady on board. We have also older men, asidethe younger ones. And I love to see some age diversity in my books!!
4)Adventures! Fights! Heist! Shawbuckling! Daring Escapades! Even more daring Plans! Oh my! There is so much happening between these pages! And you will find yourself on the edge of your sit, because you need to know how they would come out of a certain situation, or how they would do a certain things because the odds are all against them. Time and again. And William and his crew are there, with a new, mad plan. It is so fun! And so unbelievable, but in the best possible way! And the gal of them all! It reminded me a bit of Locke Lamora. And I loved it!
5)The Humor. This book made me laugh (and cry, a bit. Do not trust the authors they are bad and they will make you suffer!!!). It is full of action, it has a lot going on, and there are some really deep themes in there, but it has a levity to it, too, a sense of humor that is so pervasive and so good!
6)The Deeper Themes. As if all the things above weren’t enough. This book starts pretty small, but slowly you will find yourself knee-deep in some really heavy themes, because this book is not only about the best found family ever, or mad adventures, but it is also about personal growth, it is about taking responsibility for the choices we made in the past, it is about carrying the weight of something that it is way bigger than us, and it is about making the right choices. It is so deep, too, and the authors did an amazing job with all of these, they treat all these heavy topics with deep care and tact.
7)Found Family. It is one of my favorite tropes and here we have one of the best.
It is really hard to write a review for this book and to make it justice, because really, it is just good. So… yeah, I’ve tried, and I am really happy that this is the first review I share with you all, because this book was a great way to end the year, and talking about it is a great way to start the new one!...more
Thanks to NetGalley and the Editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I am really sorry to DNF this book, becauDNF at 50%
Thanks to NetGalley and the Editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I am really sorry to DNF this book, because I was so ready for it! I was in the right mood for something that was mostly romance and fun. And this sounded like the perfect choice! I was laughing out loud even before starting to read the book properly because the reference to Geralt of Rivia cracked me up. So I was in the best mood possible but... mostly, the characters didn't really work for me. Alaric and Winnie are two adults (one more than the other, since one of them is a vampire with some centuries behind him) but they behave like horny and angsty teenagers. So... I don't have the patience for this. They kiss at the beginning of the book because Alaric kisses Winnie to "save" her from a bad situation (I am not convinced that the kiss was the best option here, I mean, sure if you are teenagers, but between adults? Nope! But here I was ready to close an eye) and that's it. All they can think about is that kiss. Like horny teenagers. It was annoying. And Alaric has this whole "woe is me" attitude that I hate with a passion. And Winnie has a dromat personality, and sure, I am sorry for her (and there is a scene in which she finally stands up for herself and it was glorious) but really... most of the time was pretty annoying, especially all her doubt about Alaric. That, once again, reminded me of an angsty teenager. I mean, I get some doubts, and I totally support them when we are talking about serious commitment but... just for a shag? Come on!!! They were simply too much and I can't.
That said, there were some good things in this book too. The Book Coven is one, at least up to a point, and the mental health rep in there is amazingly well developed. This is a big thing. Because 1) Winnie's mother is a hoarder and we get to see an interesting depiction of it, and 2) we see how Winnie deals with it. We have a good rep of how mental health problems reflect on the family. It is not a theme that is exploited a lot, and it is a bit of a shame because it is interesting and it is also an important rep to have. And the author here does an amazing job talking about what is the impact of being the daughter of a mother with mental health problems. The trauma of it. And in this respect, I really think that this book does an amazing job.
Sadly, I couldn't deal with the characters anymore. ...more
This was nice and fun, nothing major maybe (aside from the bexoar! finally, she got them and she couldn't be happier. She is the cutest!). The scenes iThis was nice and fun, nothing major maybe (aside from the bexoar! finally, she got them and she couldn't be happier. She is the cutest!). The scenes in the bath were funny too, and it is nice to see Maomao with her friends! But I need more!! ...more
Oh my, this was so fun! Hilarious in some parts, especially when we got to the hunt. It was precious! And I was laughing out loud! And I hope that whatOh my, this was so fun! Hilarious in some parts, especially when we got to the hunt. It was precious! And I was laughing out loud! And I hope that what Maomao discovers about Jinshi will make things move a bit faster between them. But still... I loved this one! ...more
This volume was one of the most intriguing, as far as mysteries went. Sure, they weren't especially hard, or to be more precise, the first one wasn't This volume was one of the most intriguing, as far as mysteries went. Sure, they weren't especially hard, or to be more precise, the first one wasn't so hard to uncover (with modern knowledge, I am talking about us readers, not about the protagonists), but they were intriguing. And Maomao is brilliant as usual. (And fun, as all the other characters!)...more