Elizabeth
This was really lovely in ways I didn't expect. The mystery was good, but the exploration of love in its many forms, and the question of what a person will do for someone they love, made this a standout in its genre. A very pleasant surprise.
It is hard to find the words to do this novel justice. So many elements come into play, but it breaks down to really, really good writing, and characters that become unforgettable. Don't let the magical realism scare you off - that is not my wheelhouse, but in this novel it feels seamless. A heartbreaking novel by a new American master.
I feel like my heart was broken and stitched back together during the reading of this book.
Polygamy has been much in the news in the past few years, with the popularity of the TV show Sisterwives, and the widely-anticipated raid and subsequent imprisonment of cult leader Warren Jeffs. Memoirs of life inside these religious groups have been popular over the past years, and I've read a bunch of them. But I don't think I've read one that felt so deeply personal, and yet so universally hopeful.
LeBaron's story includes serious deprivations, abuse, actual murders - this is like a CSI case on steroids, and yet it's completely true. And yet the author's ultimate message is freedom - it's not a story of how bad her life was, or how sorry we should all feel for her. It's a story of redemption - of overcoming - of walking a hard road, and coming out the other side truly free.
This is a hard, brutal, beautiful story. Don't miss it. Highest of recommendations.
(I received an advance copy from Tyndale House in exchange for my honest opinion - but then I pre-ordered my own copy. It's that good.)
This novel was a slow starter for me - great premise, but not one that grabbed me from the get-go. However, the writing was lovely throughout and that kept me willing to press on. I'm glad I did, because I think this is the start of a really interesting YA fantasy series. Tea is a compelling heroine, and watching her come into her power has been exciting. The author is peppering the narrative with hints of even bigger things to come, and I am definitely along for the ride. This one does require some patience, but for me it very much paid off.
This was sweet & light, but not something I'd recommend. Too many relationships that didn't make sense, and not enough about the one I was actually interested in. My favorite parts of the book were the times Sara talked about other books! Alright, but not great.
Thane and Ciena are wonderfully charismatic, and while it's clear from the start what trajectory their relationship will take, the author does a superb job of placing just enough road blocks in their way to keep the ride enjoyable. I so appreciated that neither character was dependent or subordinate to the other - each had their own clearly defined set of beliefs and values, and neither was willing to sacrifice them for each other.
This was exciting and action packed, but the author didn't resort to a cookie-cutter happy ending for any of her characters, which was a refreshing change from many YA novels in this vein. I would happily read a series of books about these characters - I'd love to see where their paths take them.
I genuinely did not, based on the jacket blurb, expect to enjoy this book. What a fantastic surprise.
For me, this novel read like the first season of an amazing new HBO series - dark, with a sense of forboding because you know something bad is going to happen, but you just don't know quite when. A series of well-drawn characters makes you invest early and deeply in the outcome of the tale. And when the bomb explodes, you feel the shockwaves down to your very bones.
I did not want to put this one down. I am absolutely looking forward to this author's next work. Definitely recommended.
A pretty mixed bag for me on this one - on an emotional level, it was satisfying, and I did cry for the last 15 pages or so. It's been a long investment in this character, and saying goodbye was bittersweet. As far as plot goes, however, the whole novel felt convoluted and rushed - there seemed to be a lack of motive, a lot of confusing detail, and a general sense that the actual story of the novel wasn't the author's top priority. It made me feel sad, a bit, because the characters that Koontz has created over the course of the series really deserved a better send-off. I would say if you are not already invested in Odd, I would probably pass on this novel.
This was a stunner of a novel. Bitto perfectly captured, through gorgeous language, the languid beauty of childhood, where wonder can be found around every corner. Her fuzzy use of narrative details at times felt frustrating, but also stayed incredibly true to the experience of a child recounting a story that she doesn't fully understand. This will absolutely be one of the best I read this year.
A lot different than what I usually read, but I found this to be a lot of fun. Good for fans of paranormal romance.
This won't be for everyone, but it was definitely for me. Sometimes in life you are sent a blessing in disguise - a gift you didn't even know you wanted. That was this book for me. It made me feel less crazy, less awful, less alone. The author's style is quite informal, and I listened to the audiobook read by the author, so it literally seemed like she was talking directly to me. I am a fan of her work, her honesty, and her philosophy. We can do hard things. We belong to each other. Love wins. Thank you, Glennon.
This novel was a delightful surprise - so much depth of character and such a wonderful homage to the friendships of women. If you enjoy chick-lit at all, definitely pick up a copy!
I thought this was extremely well written, and the characters were quite good. However, the ending felt rushed and abrupt, and spoiled much of the impact of the novel for me.
This novel had a great premise but I found it extremely predictable and rather disappointing. Too many plot points felt like something I'd read before, and I never cared much for the characters. Not a great read for me.
I think Lisa Taddeo is a good storyteller, as I did find the stories of these three women compelling. I just disagree that this book is about women's desire. This is a book that shows, pretty graphicly, the ways in which men's desire can be used to abuse women. Interesting but misleading.
Okay, there is A LOT going on in this novel. Elements of Arthurian legend, Faust, mermaids, Greek myth - there is a lot to keep track of, and there were moments in the novel that I could feel some of the threads slipping away from me. But I have to say that I was completely entranced by this story from the very beginning. Even when I wasn't quite sure that I was keeping track of all the fantastical bits, I was always eager to see where Gavin's story was going to take him next. I loved the writing, and I definitely plan to read the next in this series.
Really wanted to love this novel, but just couldn't quite get there. Writing is good, but felt like I'd read the story before.
I still feel conflicted 24 hours after finishing this short novel. What We Lose had beautiful writing, and an emotional storyline, but the structure felt jarring. I wish the author had written another 100 pages, to fully explore some of the vignettes that felt cut too short. Not a hit for me, but I would definitely read more by this author.
Fantastic sequel to an amazing debut novel. Jordan Ifueko is an exciting new voice in YA fantasy, and I hope she has lots more stories to tell.
To say that the book blurb on this novel is misleading would probably be an understatement. I'm not entirely sure what the publishers were thinking, but “magic” this book is not. Intriguing? Certainly. Thought-provoking? Definitely. Magic? No.
While the writing was lovely - and it was. There were places I re-read simply for the beauty of the language - the story itself was only average. I never quite believed in Sarah's voice - I'm not sure if it was an issue of a male writer not fully inhabiting his female character, or just that Sarah herself didn't buy her own BS - and since half of the novel was written from her perspective, it made those sections difficult.
I found the time-shifting of the narrative a bit confusing at times, not really understanding where each character was in relation to the other. Once we all caught up on the secret “event”, it became easier, but there were still places throughout the novel where I felt like I had missed something, somewhere. I felt like the author had some interesting ideas about the different ways people can save each other, but the story ended so abruptly that it didn't seem like he had a chance to flesh these out.
Overall, it was just okay for me. Certain parts were lovely, but in other places I felt like I was really forcing myself to keep slogging on, and that's never a good sign.
This book was very much NOT what I was expecting going in. I never felt like the two separate storylines ever came together in a satisfying way.
Really quite bittersweet to arrive at the end of this beautiful story. While I don't believe this volume contains the strongest stories in the Fablesverse - I still contend that honor belongs to Cubs in Toyland - I am a sucker for a good ending, and reading the endings of so many beloved characters felt like a truly appropriate way to say goodbye. This is, truly, one of the great series of our time, and I'm so glad I spent this year immersed in its pages.
I have to admit that I wasn't sure this would be a hit for me - the murder mystery is not always my cup of tea. But reading the author's introduction, detailing his life as a “black boy who could pass for white”, and learning how much that influenced the writing of this novel, I was intrigued. And then the novel itself was just really really good.
I thought the historical information was well-integrated into a page-turning thriller, and the twists were genuinely surprising. I was significantly more drawn in than I ever expected to be, and I enjoyed the reading of this graphic novel greatly.