Gavin Patterson
Very promising start, really enjoyed the relationship between the father and daughter. Touching and very moving.
First half I flew through the book, second half didn't keep me as engaged. Main character is great to begin with, however the final episode didn't land with me.
I recommend this to sci-fi lovers and particularly Blake Crouch fans. Very touching moments, large dose of sci-fi and a smidgen of evil army man.
It was a 4/5 majority of the way, enjoyed the mystery and family love to begin with more than the climax. 3/5 still enjoyed this one and would read more of this author.
A thrilling page-turner that will keep you guessing in this cold and twisted murder mystery punchbag.
I read this over a few hours. I could not put this down, when I tried to I found myself another chapter down. The main character is very likeable along with a strong supporting cast.
An unexpected 4/5 stars.
Thank you netgally for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3/5 stars.
I absolutely loved Illborn but this felt a little lower in quality, I don't know exactly why. I still enjoyed it and will be reading the next instalment when it's out. Great characters, some rough dialogue but some very exciting events. I have no idea how this series will end and I know the author will end this book in a marvellous way.
Enjoyed this one although it isn't as good as his other works. Which isn't to say this was bad, Adrian Tchaikovsky has a tremendous catalog.
A dark and rotting fantasyland novella. The characters were likeable, some nice ideas and thought provoking. Very clear and visual story telling.
It is a novella however it did feel rushed. I kept thinking humans would be a lot more shaken up by witnessing the real life childrens characters and world. I wanted a bit more of Harry's background and his life, it could have helped with a bit more on why he is so defeated so that we believe he wants to change for the better. Very straight to the point in story line, compared to the gradual and story building of Ogres.
Overall I did enjoy this story and 3/5 stars is good. I did love Ogres and other works by this author, this one maybe wasn't my cup of tea. I can tell others will really enjoy it. He is an extremely skilled writer and his stories are always vivid.
Thank you Netgally for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story was great, I sped through the first half of the book within a day.
We fallow Anthem, an Exilist who lives in the walled city of Atlas. The post apocalyptic world is dark and bleak, one where monsters called Shivers haunt the living until they are hungry enough to devour them alive. Anthem is tasked with moving the afflicted and their shivers out of Atlas and to keep the city safe. This is not an envious role within the community, people see the Exilists as horrible people who bring death to their doors.
Anthem, a broken man, who wants to help the city and cares deeply for the habitants, is thrown out of the city and has a new job, one that could save or destroy his people.
This world is dark, bleak and humanity is on the brink of extinction. The journey is hard but the rewards could be the change that humanity needs to survive.
I really enjoyed this story. The characters were great and you cared for the habitants of Atlas, the stress and fear they must be under is terrible. The world building was great, I really liked hearing about Anthems day to day role within the city. The twist at the end was a little obvious but didn't detract from the overall story.
4/5 - very good story, one I'm very glad I picked up.
A brutal world filled with war and violence, only the strong will survive.
Anna - a life alienated from the world with her father in the woods, no amount of training and determination that her father could give her will prepare her for the gruesome road she will travel.
Grimm - once a man born to kill and pillage, has left that life behind after a horrific murder. He is forced to flee his homeland and find peace, however he befriends someone that'll change his life forever.
Elbert - never the most enchanting man of the room, more an eye roll of a human. He wants to be king but the kingdom may not want him.
All characters go from strength to strength, growing with every chapter. My favourite would probably have to be Elbert, however all 3 POV characters had their pros and cons.
I would liked to have heard more about the mythical beasts that were in the woods, it feels like it was glossed over and forgotten.
I'm not sure if I found the ending satisfying or not. I really didn't want certain things to happen but I trust the authors process and look forward to book 2.
Overall 3.5/5 - promising start to the series, rounded up to 4 as I'm left excited for book 2.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Hollows started well enough. The setting felt real, the weather felt a major part of the story and worked well. The characters were good, I like the touch of having a POV of the ‘family'.
I just didn't want to keep picking The Hollows up. I don't know if it was the pacing, the story, or the lack of horror. I did manage to reach the end and the author landed the ending nicely. I may not be who this story was intended for, as the high ratings it has received possibly proves that.
Overall I can see this story being received well, so it feels a shame to give 2 stars, however I need to be true to myself. Did not hate it, just didn't click with me as it has with others.
You can catch me on Twitter @ReadsGavin
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press. ARC received in return for an honest review.
Thrilling, emotional and fast paced. The story starts with a pregnant Victoria and her partner staying at a guest house. Things take a turn for the worst as they find nobody else in the house and their belongings gone. What happens next is a punch after punch sequence of events that leave you turning page after page.
This story kept me guessing all the way through. The pace was great, even with the constant thrill of what is happening, it never felt exhausting. The characters were well written to a point where I disliked some then liked them, back and forth several times.
Overall this was a twist and turning, non stop, emotional ride that you don't want to stop. 4/5 stars. You can chat books with me on Twitter @readsgavin
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This started promising and had an enjoyable main character. The story went on for a bit longer than I thought necessary and there were no real answers to the questions.
I got misery (Stephen King) vibes to begin with and maybe I self consciously put it on that pedestal. I would have liked more from the story as it felt as though there was something missing throughout.
Blake Crouch is an auto-buy for me. He never fails to deliver a great story full of twists, enjoyable characters and edge of your seat, brain frying fun.
Quick review - a fun story with heart and moments that make you stop and think. Will keep you guessing and you can yet again see this being made into film. Upgrade was very entertaining, slightly enjoyed this less than Dark Matter and Recursion, however that certainly does not mean this was a bad book. Very high standards Mr Crouch has set himself with his wonderful writing.
Twitter - @readsgavin let's chat books!
Fantastic and fast paced, emotional rollercoaster.
This is my first A G Riddle read and I will definitely be reading more.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story centres around a group of people who, with their own reasons, stumble onto building a time machine. The plot is on full of murder mystery, a whodunnit situation that leaves you disagreeing with yourself on what the hell has happened.
The story flows very well, I only started this last night and have now finished it in two sittings. If there was ever a unputdownable book, this is it.
The characters, as I've mentioned, all have their reasons to want to change their lives. Also, each one has a motive to want to murder the victim. Every time I thought I knew who done it, I was switched and left unsure. Each character felt real and were making decisions you'd expect of them.
There is a lot of time travel in this book and it sometimes went over my head, which isn't hard! There's a few scenes I would love to mention but it's much better if you experience this yourself.
4/5 stars. Great story and one I didn't want to end. I look forward to delving into the Riddle world.
You can find me @gavinreads for book chats!
A thrilling and engrossing story filled with realistic characters and haunting nightmares.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very unexpected 5 star read. The characters were amazing, every single one was completely flushed out and unique. I felt as though I was watching a movie play out in front of my eyes.
I didn't expect this to be such an enjoyable, thrilling, scary and ultimately awesome read.
I didn't want this story to end and I really hope that there is further instalments of this! I can also easily see this having an excellent tv adaptation. I can't wait to buy this when it is released and enjoy this a second time.
You can find reach me @readsgavin
Requested fro NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Wow that was too much emotion. Standing ovation for the finale. Terrific work.
The first instalment took me by surprise, I instantly took to Sancia and Cleft. The support cast where also very likeable and the bad guys were fleshed out. Now the finale has completed the series and Sancia is a hero that we all need.
There's only a few books that I feel I am competent engrossed in the characters and can visually see them as real people and know what choices they'd make. This is one of them, very well written. I don't want to say too much as it's the final book and most of the story will be spoiler territory.
5/5 stars I encourage fantasy readers to dive into this series.
Come chat with me about books and all things sci-fi fantasy @readsgavin
I listened to this on audiobook as it was included with my audible membership. The description interested me and I went into it not knowing what to expect, other than the blurb.
The story is very enjoyable. Extremely gritty and raw. This is a great escape story, with friendship being a main point and what people would do in a chance of escape.
The narrator was brilliant, really enjoyed listening to her read the story. 3.5 stars.
Come chat books with me @readsgavin
Very enjoyable read. I never expected to enjoy this as much as I did, I went in wanting new world exploration and I was very pleased with what I read.
The world building is out of this world...no seriously it is great. I felt I was in an Avatar / Alien world and loved hearing about the vast creatures and fauna.
Characters are well written and are quite funny. They make decisions you would expect them to and don't act out of character.
The plot is great and surprised me at how good it was. I'll definitely be adding the next book to my ever growing TBR.
Overall 4/5 stars ✨ follow me on Twitter for book chats @readsgavin
King by name, king by nature.
I walked past this book at Waterstones and had to go back and take it home.
The characters King creates are second to none. They are completely flushed out and real, I don't know how he does this so easily. Each character brings something different to the table, none of them felt like filler.
The story possibly could have been a little shorter, although I didn't want it to end...so I don't know if that makes sense. The way Stephen King writes hits me so we'll. it isn't just characters that make his writing so real, it's the fact he can create a full town that feels alive and moving.
The underlying tension that constantly flows through the story is unrelenting. It doesn't harm the pacing or ever feel that it's too much. It's like a river of slowly running dread that eventually escalates into an alarmingly powerful waterfall!
4/5 stars and would have been higher but I felt the climax could have been a little better.
Let's chat books on Twitter @readsgavin