Edrie Elen
~Check out all my reviews over on The Bent Bookworm!~The Necromancer's Bride is an excellent continuation of the story begun in A Bad Breed, and as the fourth installment in the Gaslamp Gothic series! I was so excited to read more about Anne and Gabriel and the whole scheme of everything that's going on. I still need to go back and read the first two books in the series (which you do NOT have to read to start with A Bad Breed, but you DO need to read A Bad Breed before reading The Necromancer's Bride...yes, I know, slightly confusing). Also there's a 5th novel coming!! It's not on GoodReads yet but was named in the end notes for Necromancer, and it's called The Dead Ringer.Favorite Things“You won't be laughing so hard when my wife gets here,” Gabriel said. The guards exchanged a solemn look.“His wife,” Daan echoed in a quaking voice. “Well, now I'm truly terrified.”...“Will she bring her rolling pin?” “No, no, it'll be knitting needles,” Daan put in. “She'll poke us and tell us we're very naughty boys.”- This exchange. Because if they only knew...and then they are properly educated and it's both awesome and hilarious.- Besides the romance, which I found much more believable in this book than the last – if you read my review of A Bad Breed, due to the whole Belle and the Beast thing felt kind of forced – there was intrigue and evilness going on that was awesome and kept me reading.- Balthazar! Can someone please give me some more of Balthazar's story? He's such a morally grey character and yet he seems to be an actual teddy bear inside.- Anne continues to be a total badass, and in this book she is the BADDEST of the badasses. Gabriel, of course, and Balthazar also kickass, but they get themselves into PROBLEMS and have to be rescued by the tiny little lady. It's awesome. YES PLEASE.She was barefoot and painted head to toe in dried blood. With her wild auburn hair, she reminded Balthazar of the Celtic queen who had burned Londinium to ashes and whipped the Romans so badly they almost fled Britain.Less Favorite Things- There is still so much unexplained about the magic of this world, and the daevas and necromancers in general. Where did this come from? Why are they immortal? I need details. This might have been explained in the first books of the series, but I feel like if the later books are to be read as standalones there needs to be some kind of refresher course in them as well. I found myself a bit frustrated by the lack of info and occasionally confused.Overall 4/5 stars, and I'm eagerly waiting for the next one!Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram
~Check out all my reviews over on The Bent Bookworm!~ A Bad Breed is a hugely atmospheric read, dropping you into a gothic Victorian world from the first page. I really wished it was longer, to delve more into the background of Anne and Vivienne – but I guess that's what the other books are for! This is the first book I've read by Kat Ross, so I took the description at its word, that A Bad Breed could be read as a standalone despite being the third novel in the series. It worked out just fine, and I've already downloaded The Daemoniac to read soon as well. 😉Favorite Things- Vivienne and her fake marriage. It was fun and lighthearted, if sad that it was necessary for both the parties involved. Accurate to the time though, I think.- The way the paranormal was brought into the story. I wanted more details, but I think (hope) that all that is delved into more in the other books of the series.- Anne using her small stature and feminine wiles to get what she wants – hurrah for our girl not being afraid to use what nature gave her!- The dark, sinister atmosphere. This was done so, so well and just sucked me in completely!Less Favorite Things- To be honest, the romance between Anne and the “beast.” It felt kind of contrived, and due to the whole captivity thing, I found it hard not to be a little uncomfortable. He never outright abuses her (is quite the gentleman, outside of the whole OH HEY YOU CAN'T LEAVE thing), and she is clearly a woman experienced and in full control of her own desires...just, Stockholm syndrome? I did THOROUGHLY approve of the way it ended, and I'm glad to see that the fourth book will continue Anne's story!4/5 stars overall, and I'll definitely be reading more by Kat Ross!Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram
DNF - 20%. Didn't like either MC. Rhett is stereotypical, and while Reagan's lack of filter is funny she's presented as just eccentric in an illogical way. Both the male and female MCs have an irrational fear of blood - probably plays an important part later, who knows. Then a slight emergency happens, and there's a bunch of ridiculous drama - and turns out Reagan has a completely irrational meltdown - which she fully acknowledges is crazy - during which she screams and thrashes like a child, calls people trying to help her names, etc. She passes out, vomits, passes out. Then she has the nerve to look down her nose at someone trying to help her, who also vomited.
I'm done.
ETA: Let me make it clear - I'm not making fun of people who can't handle blood. It's a vasovagal response that people literally have no control over - though there ARE ways of attempting to redirect it, since it's an bodily overreaction to certain stimuli. What I can't handle here is how Reagan is so clearly aware of her irrational response and appears to just be “oh well, it's me, deal with it” instead of attempting to be logical and overcome it, to the point of being okay with hurting (sometimes physically, definitely verbally) the people around her. Can't. Deal.
~Check out all my reviews over on The Bent Bookworm!~
Pawsitively Poisonous is the first in a new series of cozy paranormal mysteries by Melissa Erin Jackson, and it's a very quirky little trip through a town famous only for its obsession with cats! I was somewhat suspicious but intrigued by the premise, and the main character, Amber, sounded like a cool sort of person.
~Check out all my reviews over on The Bent Bookworm!~ Two Like Me and You is a quirky, funny debut novel about two teenagers trying to navigate their own mental and emotional growing pains, and their quest to help an old man find the girl he lost in the chaos of World War II. I was a bit skeptical of the tone of the book at first, but soon it becomes apparent that Edwin, our narrator, just has a rather anxiety-filled yet still somehow irreverent way of looking at life. And that he's still not over his now famous ex-girlfriend, Sadie.Parker is hilarious and so unashamedly herself, I absolutely loved her. I would love to see another book from her point of view. She isn't afraid to take chances (to the point of stupidity, at one point, but thankfully no one was harmed), and she isn't afraid to be different. That's my kind of girl!There is a lot of stuff going on in this story that just...would never, ever happen. I know it's fiction, of course, but still. I expect my contemporaries to be a little more realistic. For instance, there is NO WAY IN HELL any nursing home would have let an old man go off with two high school kids. Definitely not the way it's explained away in this story, anyway. Also all the running around and dodging of police? Come on, y'all. Just be prepared to have to suspend a little more disbelief than you might be use to.The romance was cute, very puppy-love like. Edwin is sweet, but he has a lot of growing up to do. Parker does right by him though. She totally does. You'll have to read it to find out what I mean!Overall this was a very enjoyable read, lighthearted but with some really heartfelt bits when Gordon is telling his story of being in France and meeting the love of his life during the war. I was expecting a little more of a Letters to Juliet type story, but I was still quite satisfied with how this turned out. 3.5/5 stars!Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram
~Full series overview here on The Bent Bookworm!~The Wide Window takes place far and away from the first two books, in a reclusive town and even more reclusive house with, you guessed it, yet another unstable distant relative as guardian for the Baudelaire children. This time their guardian, Aunt Josephine, isn't even actually related to them, but is their “second cousin's sister-in-law.” Who just happens to be terrified of everything. The dock. The lake. The oven. She never eats anything hot for fear of getting burned by either the oven or the food. However! She has an intense passion for grammar.“Grammar is the greatest joy in life, don't you find?”Being something of a grammar freak myself, I found her constant corrections and horror at bad grammar to be quite entertaining and that in itself is the reason this book received a slightly higher rating (3.5/5 stars) than books 1 and 2. It really was hysterical at times, and plays an interesting part in the story.Of course this wouldn't be an A Series of Unfortunate Events book without, well, you know. Horrible bad luck. Of course these kids can't catch a break and when a “Captain Sham” (hahaha ok, Lemony Snicket, you must have had such fun naming characters) shows up with an unhealthy interest in the children and all kinds of sweet words for Aunt Josephine, the terror begins. Once again (I since a recurring plot) the kids are forced to fend for themselves due to the incompetence of their adult guardians, and once again after a great deal of running around and close calls and horrible things happening to certain people, they manage to escape.Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram Google+
The Golden Acorn is a sweet book with adorable illustrations of forest animals. Squirrel is a competitive little racer who keeps a trophy collection from all the many races she has won. But the Golden Acorn race has a new twist this year - only TEAMS will be allowed! Squirrel is put out, but rounds up her friends anyway. But on race day, will she be able to remember that the whole team has to work together?This is a cute picture book for young children, and the pastel colored illustrations really complement the woodland setting. A beautiful addition to any child's library.Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram
Celia Aaron is a new-to-me author, and I was intrigued by the synopsis of the title story. Then I read the rest, because I'm something of a completionist. tries to hide the very large stack of unfinished book series behind herChristmas Cake4/5 stars. This was adorable. Short, cute, sexy, and different enough to keep me reading. I love that Adeline was a successful businesswoman - with a bakery! - that didn't take shit from anyone, but she still had a soft, sweet side for people. Of course there was insta-love but this is a novella, so there kind of had to be! The sexy factor is ON POINT in this one too...phew. I liked Ezra, and the fact that while yes he was insanely hot he still had some imperfections (more in personality than appearance, but still).A Cowboy for Christmas3/5 stars. This one was just a little too corny for my taste. I guess I'm just not a cowgirl? Or maybe the characters just weren't fleshed out enough for me. Even though they had known each other for a long time, they didn't really know each other (and I don't mean sexually, hehe), and there were a lot of misunderstandings and assumptions they had to clear away. Good, but not as good as the first story. It does have a bit of a mystery that is the catalyst for bringing the main characters together.Christmas Candy2.5/5 stars. I eye-rolled pretty hard through this one. The premise is basically that the couple (Olive and Hank) had a crush on each other in high school but neither ever had the courage to speak up. Now as adults, Olive has lost her chubbiness and become a super-hot yoga instructor (Hank swears he was infatuated with her as much then as now but was that really necessary??), and Hank owns a candy store but has the body of an Olympic swimmer.A Stepbrother for Christmas2.5/5 stars. Content warning accompanied this one: contains possible triggers for those sensitive to dub-con play. Fair enough. I'd never read anything featuring this sort of relationship, and I guess maybe it's just not for me? But aside from that, I really felt the amount of hate/loathing Anna had for Niles in the beginning disappeared WAY too quickly to be believable, even if they had known each other for years. Maybe I'm just salty and jaded though, too.Overall 3/5 star rating. Would DEFINITELY recommend the first story for a cute holiday tale, the rest if you're bored and like quick steamy stories. ;)Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram Google+
~Review first appeared on The Bent Bookworm!~Disclaimer: this was my first ever m/m romance read. I'm not a romance devotee, by any means, so perhaps it should not have been a surprise that I found aspects of this novel grating. 2.5/5 stars. Rounded to 3 because it redeemed itself slightly with a sweet ending. CharactersI liked both the MCs, Quintus and Kaeso, from the start. For different reasons, as their personalities and backgrounds are QUITE different (backgrounds more so than the personalities). However, I felt there were a lot of inconsistencies portrayed in their characters as the novels progressed. For instance, Quintus is a hardened gladiator and a skilled tactician, and at one point he makes a COMPLETE NOOB BLUNDER. Um, no? Sorry, but a man like Quintus would NEVER fail to think of the people he is close to being used as blackmail or bargaining chips. Never. Kaeso was even worse. At the beginning he is proud and fierce and defiant. He changes and falls in love with Quintus so rapidly I found it entirely unbelievable. It reeks of Stockholm syndrome, to me. As the story progresses, it is clear that it is NOT, however, the speed at which Kaeso's attachment forms is not consistent with the horrible experiences he is supposed to have had (which we never get much description of, only hints and at the end, a few more details). All that said, Quintus is sexy AF and their relationship is sweet and gave me warm fuzzies AT THE END. DescriptionI'm pretty sure this novel was not written with the best view to historical accuracy. It's not supposed to be literary fiction, so that's okay, but I found the dialogue especially to be stilted and off-putting. More so in the middle than in the beginning and end. There also wasn't ENOUGH detail for my tastes...I was vaguely aware that the city was Roman, but it didn't really give me that walk-back-in-time feel. I think this is a particularly hard time period in which to do that, due to how very far back in time it is and the fact that there are less historical records/description of it than say, Victorian times. PlotPredictable. Saw everything coming a full mile away. Again, not entirely unexpected because the main focus here was the romance. However, even with that...it was as if the author was purposely alternating: scene with other characters, sex scene, scene with other characters, sex scene...and on and on. Even the sex scenes became extremely similar (which...I guess is also expected?). With about 15% left it actually became a little more interesting as things drew to a close...the only thing really left open was if a certain side character would live or die, and where Quintus and Kaeso would settle down for their HEA. Flame RatingEh, 3.5/5? It's very graphic and they're obviously very very into each other. I was so nonplussed by Kaeso's character flip-flopping though, that I couldn't really get into the sexy scenes. YMMV. All in all, maybe if you enjoy this genre, you would enjoy this book. I probably won't be reading any other stories by this author, but I do have one more m/m romance I want to try...see if it's me or the genre. Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram Google+
~Check out all of my reviews over at The Bent Bookworm!~“Magic is real, Thomas. No matter what happens, always remember that magic is real.”Thomas Wildus and the Book of Sorrows feels like the start of something big. While there's not a TRUE cliffhanger ending, there is so much unfinished business – I was happy to see this is supposed to be the first of five books!Thomas is an ordinary kid, obsessed with comic books and having doodle wars with his best friend, Enrique. His dad disappeared years ago and his mom is an insanely busy professor, but he's mostly pretty happy and knows he has a good life. Then weird things start to happen, weird things involving a book with a changing cover, and strange people appearing and seeming to stalk him. So yes...this book falls into the “chosen one” trope...but tropes only become tropes because people love them. We all just have our favorites. 😉The first half of the book was setup. Which was...slightly off-putting. I was convinced this was going to be a 3 star read until I was over halfway through, but the last parts of the story bumped it up to a solid 4 stars! The writing during the first half is at times kind of clunky and awkward, not unlike the middle school audience the book is aimed at but hopefully not enough to put them off.THEN, the action starts. And I was intrigued by the puzzles and the magic and the intrigue. It was really cool and I just kept finding more things to be curious about. This is also where all those loose ends start to appear, which obviously are leading into a huge epic adventure for the series. Thomas is kind of pulled in two directions here, as he's uncertain who to trust – and who wouldn't be, with all the things he thought he knew about himself and the world in general, suddenly appearing to be lies – and wants to both be loyal to his family and friends, and save the world. wink wink He's an incredibly likable character, as (so far) he has stayed humble and true to himself even with the discovery of his special abilities.The bad guy, who stays in the background for most of the book, appears only in about the last quarter. And then, what do you know! Is he REALLY a bad guy? Oh boy. Who is Thomas supposed to believe? I love that this presents a somewhat (only somewhat) morally gray appearing character in a story for this age group.Obviously, there is a lot more to come in this story, and I'm looking forward to it. I'll definitely be reading the sequel, Thomas Wildus and the Wizard of Sumeria. Also, I'm totally on board with the galaxy-ish looking covers for these books.Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram
When You Find My Body is the story of Geraldine (Gerry) Largay, an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker who disappeared in 2013. I was very excited to see this book is coming out, as my husband and I are avid hikers and I distinctly remember hearing about her disappearance and wondering if we would ever find out what happened to her.First of all: this book is being marketed as a thriller and or true crime. WHAT?!? It is neither of those, least of all true crime. There was no crime committed here! None! Nothing at all! This is a complete misnomer and will undoubtedly lead to a LOT of disappointed readers. I went into this expecting something like an Ann Rule book, as I didn't actually know what had happened to Gerry and it said true crime. I was at first very irritated, but decided that it probably isn't the author's fault and I really wanted to read Gerry's story regardless. I'm glad I did, but just be forewarned. NOT A TRUE CRIME OR THRILLER.The author gives a lot of background information on Gerry, which I was very glad to read. It made her seem more like a real person and less like a statistic. It was also rather sad, as clearly her husband, children, and grandchildren miss her deeply. Gerry touched a lot of lives not only in her “regular” life but also in her life on the Appalachian Trail, where she was known as Inchworm. I loved that she clearly had a sense of humor and could laugh at herself, as she was one of the slower hikers on the trail.One thing that really was a drawback to this book was the amount of time the author spent on things that had very little relation to Gerry, her family, or her disastrous hike. In one case several pages are spent going over details about the Navy SERE school...totally unnecessary. There is also a lot of background on the AT itself and how it came to be, which might be considered unnecessary as well, but I think gives a really nice look into the history and motivations of people who hike the trail, both in the past and present.Gerry's story in the end is a real tragedy, especially when reading how – if she had possibly been better prepared – it most likely would have been avoided all together. I'm sure the author and her family hope that from the writing of this book, people will go out better equipped for whatever adventures in the outdoors they might seek.3.5/5 stars.Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram
~Check out all my reviews over on The Bent Bookworm!~ “I saw that.”“Saw what?”“You checked out my chest.”“Of course I did. It's like having two other people up here with us. I don't want to be rude.”The Unhoneymooners took a very unlikely scenario and made it mostly believable, funny, and incredibly full of sexual tension. It was hysterical and moved along quickly – I finished it in one sitting on a Sunday! Olive is a very likable and spunky character. I especially loved how comfortable she was with her body, even though she mentions it not being to everyone's standard of beauty. She and Ethan have clear chemistry and it was hilarious watching them dance around it while having to pretend they were madly in love.I laughed out loud so many times while reading this. The banter is 100% on point! I kind of wished the incident that incited their intense “dislike” of each other had been handled differently, but you can't have everything. View Spoiler »4/5 stars. This is a great read for the beach or any summer vacation. It's lighthearted and breezy and fun. On the same note, don't expect depth from it...it's cute and sweet and left me with warm fuzzies, but no real lasting connection to Olive and Ethan. That's okay! It did what it was designed to do – entertain, and it did it extremely well. All the unlikely coincidences started to build up after awhile and made me roll my eyes a bit, and Ami (Olive's sister) seemed more like a caricature than a character in a lot of ways. That said, I still thoroughly enjoyed it! This was my first Christina Lauren book but it won't be my last!Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram
~Review first appeared on The Bent Bookworm!~I saw this book and wanted it. Instantly. THAT COVER. Who doesn't want to dress up in a sweeping, rich red gown with Christmas green trim? Clearly I was born in the wrong century. I had never heard of Mimi Matthews and while I am typically suspicious of historical romance books, my lovely experience with Someone to Trust (by Mary Balogh) made me willing to give this one a try as well.The premise was intriguing enough – a woman willing to sacrifice her own happiness for her family, but only so far. Sophie has standards. She is more than fine frills and ballrooms. Mr. Ned Sharpe recognizes that almost at once upon meeting her. Before long he is head over heels – but will he ever find his tongue? Though very short, this story was absolutely delicious. I loved the science brought into it as the characters were discussing Darwin's then-new theories, loved the descriptions of modernization, and I especially loved the major hat-tip to Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South, which is one of my most loved classic books!^I can totally see Ned as perpetually frowning as Mr. Thornton.Sophie has just about given up on Mr. Sharpe, but in an effort to please her parents she makes one last ditch attempt to get to know him – just to know him! that's all she wants! not even to be attracted to him! – and invites him AND his parents to her family's Christmas party at their country estate. Given their aristocratic status and his family's merchant background...things may not go as smoothly as could be hoped. But Sophie is determined to try to like the man who is willing to save her family from her father's ill-advised spending, and what results is a lovely little romance that builds as the two come to understand each other better.If you're familiar with North and South, you will definitely see the similarity between Mr. Thornton and Mr. Sharpe, which wasn't really all THAT obvious until the mother came into play. I loved it. It was sweet, and lovely, and can we have a full length novel with Sophie and Ned?^From the North and South movie, which was amazingly good and true to the book! I think it might be time for a re-watch.5/5 stars, because while there isn't a whole lot here, it seems meticulously researched, the characters are alive and vibrant and seem ready to walk off the page, and, well, they're just adorable somehow. Also snow and Christmas, because apparently I am ALL ABOUT the holiday cheer this season.Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram Google+
~Check out all my reviews over on The Bent Bookworm!~ “He is everything you fear, and worse. He is also everything you hope, and more.”I was just halfway through Beasts of the Frozen Sun, and I already loved it so much I ordered a hardback copy. I'm both excited and furious that it's the first in a trilogy, because it means I'll get to spend two more books following Lira and Reyker's stories but also that I have to wait AN ENTIRE TWO YEARS to find out how it all ends! How has this story not gotten more press? Why is it not more popular?!?But apparently I will have to. :'(I've discovered I really love this little sub-genre of fantasy, historical fantasy. The setting of this book reminded me somewhat of [b:Sky in the Deep 34726469 Sky in the Deep Adrienne Young https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1508350209l/34726469.SY75.jpg 55907957] (which was awesome as well), but it goes much more in depth, not just in the geography but in the mythology and spiritual beliefs of the world. It's set in a very British Isles sort of locale, and the Dragonmen are obviously meant to be patterned off the Vikings – all this is pretty obvious even if you hadn't read the author's lovely page about the real world locations she patterned the book settings off.As is fitting for the ancient British isles...there is a lot the modern reader might find disturbing in this book. There is violence, bloodshed, abuse, torture, near-rape, and horrible, vindictive and abusive gods. It does somewhat gloss over what I think would have actually happened in those times, probably to make it more suitable for a YA audience. But it's just barely done and doesn't really take away from the story.Lira and Reyker are one of the few YA fantasy pairings I could actually get behind. It's not insta-love, and it's not perfect, but they respect each other and they compliment each other and yet they never seem to catch a break! I was rooting for them so hard by the end.5/5 stars for Beasts of the Frozen Sun. I absolutely cannot WAIT for the second book! Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram
~Check out all my reviews over on The Bent Bookworm!~ “Have you forgotten what I am? I am the heart's first beat and its last. I am the newborn lamb and the wolf that rips out its throat. I am the bloodsong, crone.”Stepsister is the story of what happens to Cinderella's family after she marries her prince and leaves them for the palace life. I was SO excited for this book, and I loved the cover, and the premise! So, while I enjoyed it and finished it pretty quickly, this was unfortunately one of those books where I really felt like I read a different book than what other reviewers read. I saw several reviews that said it was incredibly dark, and gritty, and feminist...and while it definitely tries to be all of those things, it doesn't quite pull it off. I think one of the main issues I have is that the book is simply too short to successfully BE what it was aiming for. I was quite surprised when it arrived, as it seemed like a very slim volume for the tale I was expecting – it comes in at 352 pages, in a book shorter than your usual hardcover. It feels rushed, and as a result I wasn't able to fully believe in the characters or their feelings.HOWEVER. I was still extremely curious all the way through, as it isn't ever exactly clear how Isabelle and Octavia (the other stepsister) will reclaim themselves and their circumstances. I expected a lot more darkness, but to be honest the most horrifying thing happens in the first chapter (and isn't a surprise) when both sisters mutilate their feet in an attempt to wear the glass slipper.insert Jeopardy theme songI kept waiting for something else bloody and awful to happen but it really...didn't. And yes, I know, what kind of a person does this make me...I'm trying not to think too hard on that. 😛 I also loved the idea of the wolf within, slumbering under the heart of a girl who had been told to be quiet and still and stay in her place.More Things I LikedBoth sisters have very unconventional interests (Octavia is a mathemetician, and Isabelle is a tactician) that have been smothered by their mother and society in general. I loved how they grew and blossomed and came into themselves as the story progressed.There are some real zingers in here,too...“The feeling that you want to own someone body and soul, spirit them away from everyone else, have them all to yourself forever and ever and ever,” Hugo said dreamily. “It's called love.”“No, it's called kidnapping,” said Tavi.”The bet between Fate and Chance was pretty interesting. I wish there had been a little more explanation of how they came to be in their current form and the mapwriting...etc.THE FAIRY GODMOTHER!!!! OMG. I don't want to spoil anything but holy crap this is my favorite fairy godmother interpretation of all time.Overall 3.5/5 stars, rounded up. Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram
Not continuing the series. The writing is good but too many plot elements I dislike. 18 year old woman-child with a 25 year old man. PTSD used as a plot device. All the other women hate her...pass, I'm just not in the mood to put up with all the little annoying stuff that bothered me.
~Check out all my reviews over on The Bent Bookworm!~ I'm giving this book five stars, even though I only read the first 10% and the last 10-15%. It was extremely painful to read, and Nathan's aunt's character reminded me so much of my mother. I grew up in a fundamentalist Christian cult (much more repressive than even Aunt Lori's beliefs seem to be, from what part of the book I read) and even what little I read brought back some really bad memories.After reading the ending, though, this is a story that needs to be told AND it needs to be read. I fully intend to finish the entire book at some point. It does, I think, need some serious content/trigger warnings though.Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram
Sophie thinks she's a monster. She thinks a lot of people around her are monsters too, and she carries her Big Book of Monsters around almost everywhere she goes so that she can identify them and protect herself and her mom from them. The big birthmark - a hermangioma - that covers one side of her face makes kids and even adults stare and even make fun of her, and as a result she has severe social anxiety. Her world of monsters helps everything make sense. Until things start to change, and the bullying gets worse, and her monsters might just make her lose the only friend she's ever had.This was a fantastic book! Sophie is 11 years old, and the writing will appeal to kids that age and even a little older. The idea of Sophie so fully believing in the idea of people being monsters, will be a little more hard to go along with, but the book has a cast of loving, supportive adults that - while not hogging the page time - make it clear that Sophie's way of dealing with the issues caused by her birthmark is not the healthiest way. Autumn, a sweetheart of a girl at Sophie's new school, is such a vivacious, loving friend to Sophie that she unwittingly opens an entire new world to her shy friend. Autumn's grandmother, a gardener and herbalist, is another new friend that slowly draws Sophie out of her shell with gentleness and acceptance. I really liked that Sophie's mom was such a positive character. Even though she was far from perfect, she loved Sophie with all her heart and really, truly wanted the absolute best for her. In so many MG and YA books the parents are negative influences and I was happy to see a strong mother/daughter relationship.4/5 stars. Strongly recommend for any kid and any library! Also worth noting: the author herself had a hermangioma as a child, and some of the incidents in the book came from her experiences. Now available!Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram Google+
~Review first appeared on The Bent Bookworm!~ I was intrigued by the premise of The Psychology of Time Travel. Time travel itself has always fascinated me, and I loved the idea of it being a group of women pioneers who actually made that leap for the first time. Also, the author herself is a psychologist, which I think lent a special depth to the characterization and some aspects of the story (notably mental health issues).Characters^Unfortunately I couldn't find a picture with a redhaired model, but this is about how I picture Ruby.Within the first couple of chapters we are introduced to one of the main characters, Ruby, as she changes the oil in her motorcycle, and I was SOLD. I'm hopeless when it comes to mechanical things myself, but I love seeing women mow down that stereotype. Also motorcycles are just awesome. I miss ours...but I digress.The characters – and there are MANY – are from various walks of life, various sexualites, various cultures. I enjoyed all the diversity but the constant perspective hopping became exhausting rather quickly. Especially since even after the book was halfway over, there were STILL new characters being introduced! I almost went cross-eyed trying to keep them all straight. That said, the friendships developed through the book are really what MADE the story. Not the romance – which was a little hard to believe – but the friendships.I struggled some to connect with the characters, sadly, and only really felt invested in two. The others I didn't really care that much about, they were interesting but if they lived or died I was just...meh.The SCIENCEYes, all caps, because the amount of thought put into just how time travel would work – really, actually, maybe work – was very much evident. Unlike a lot of books with time travel elements, there are no dire consequences if your younger or older self sees you as a time traveler (no time-turner woes here), it's just an accepted part of society and life for those travel. There is new slang and jargon for time travel and the occurrences that go along with it – even down to terms for sex with one's older or younger self! The story also probes into thedisregard for death that most time travelers either already have, or develop through their career. After all, if someone they love dies, they can just travel back in time and see them again. Despite that...they aren't actually able to change the past. It's all very mind-bending.The MysteryThere's a behind-a-locked-door murder mystery plotline as well, and it was quite interesting. However, that is definitely not the main draw for the story.Overall, 3.5/5 stars. The Psychology of Time Travel is a very intriguing story, especially if you like seeing things from many different viewpoints and angles.Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram