Gavin Patterson
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
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
Kuang has written something that will make you laugh, cry, rage and sometimes gasp at the horrible, barbaric scenes.
Rin is a character you can't help but root for, she grows so much already within this first book, I'm looking forward to seeing what's in store for the next two books.
Warning - some scenes are hard to get through, but it does paint a vivid and cruel painting of what war can be. I'm glad, in a way, that Kuang went into this detail as life, especially war, isn't all rainbows and butterflies.
This made me stop biting my nails...
The vivid detail of the horrors that occurred to the troop will haunt me. Loved the characters, even Shel..kind of.
3.5 stars. Not much that can be said that hasn't already. Could have trimmed down the length, whereas I wanted even more pages from The Stand
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!
This was an easy read for me. The story was enjoyable, even without reading the prior stories, however I have played the Witcher games which did help my understanding.
The Blood of Elves mainly centres around the POV of Ciri, the child surprise, who is very likeable. Geralt is great, as expected. The other characters were good, I enjoyed Triss and Yennifer. Dandelion was a stand-out, lovable and cheeky.
The world-building was somewhat lacking. I would have liked to hear more about the other races within the world, albeit I understand there may be more of this in the other books.
Overall, 3.5 out of 5, rounded up to 4 as I did really enjoy it and I would recommend this to friends who enjoy fantasy.
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.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The legend of Black Jack is a fun and enjoyable read. I initially expected this to be a pirates of the Caribbean type of story, but I was wrong..and pleasantly surprised.
We follow Jack Swift, who after a very traumatic experience, is left in the world on his own. He isn't the most popular boy, and where he lacks in social skills, he gains in others.
His life goes bad to worse, living in a run down apartment with a horrible carer. That is until he is met by a very abnormal, scary...thing...that whisks him off into a different world.
This is where we begin the journey that we find Jack Swift become the famous Black Jack.
Jack is a very likeable kid, someone you root for straight away. Suffering from possible PTSD and anxiety, his journey is one that is full of love and determination. You can feel the Jack's emotions as he is chased by an unrelenting threat.
The side characters are brilliant. I couldn't pick a favourite, however, two I enjoyed most are Rooker and Memphis. Each and every character was well crafted, you quickly felt as though you knew each and all of them.
The world building was very fun. It felt as though it was a swashbuckling Narnia (if that even makes sense). Every place was alive with inhabitants that felt different from eachother. All the creatures we meet along the way were all different. A world i would definitely take a trip to, if I could!
Overall this was a very enjoyable read, I had guessed the twist or surprise early. I won't spoil it for anyone and it certainly never dulled the experience.
4/5 - great read and thoroughly enjoyed
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
A murder mystery with some light cyberpunk and a dash of insomnia.
ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What would happen if humans became sleepless? Yes, people could work longer and earn more money, learn new skills, spend more time with loved ones. However, the impact on our planet, the increased food consumption.. is it really a good change?
We follow Jamie, who after a traumatic loss, finds his boss dead. The story grips you from the beginning and doesn't let you go. We learn and investigate along with Jamie to find out the truth about the death and the sleepless secret.
I really enjoyed this one. The characters are well developed and there are plenty twists and turns to keep you guessing.
Overall I give this 4/5 - highly recommend for detective thriller lovers with a cyberpunk twist
Let's chat books on twitter @readsgavin
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!
ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A powerful and thought provoking first instalment to the Rift Walker series.
Ig who is rescued after his captivity within a horrific cult. His life is one of struggle and pain. Perhaps his rescuers can change his life for the better, perhaps not.
Creative world building. A world full of stone and fire, the whole time I was envisioning a hell on earth. Pyremoss filters through tunnels, lighting the ways through the cold, icy stone walls. Pools of red hot lava litter the smiths working areas. I definitely haven't read anything similar and it was great to read about.
Characters where both charming and hateful. Ig goes through a horrible journey, his flesh binding him to the will of his master, forcing him to do any horrible deed they deem necessary. Abusive relationships are paramount in this story, showing you the evils in which people will go to, in order to control and use someone to their benefit.
The plot did slow down quite considerably at points. I don't want to say a lot about the plot, it's best if you RAFO. It did keep me going. A lot of battle scenes, which were really cool when they included the magic system..oh the magic system, wait until you see what Ig can do! A lot of battle intrigue. The plot is Ig and the gang who are trying to reclaim the throne and that's all I'll say.
4/5 stars. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys their fantasy with a dash of BrandoSando and Pierce Brown
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.
A story of man vs ogres, told in the 2nd person. I didn't think I was going to enjoy this one, however that quickly changed.
The narrator is very likeable and tells the story of a lovable rogue, who daringly faces off the bigger, meaner and scarier ogres. The prose is fantastic, making every paragraph enjoyable. The way the story is told, it makes you want to keep turning and reading what is next.
I swallowed this up in one day...I usually take a week for each book but this is completely un-put-downable!
Character and plot progress nicely. You learn about the differences in not only build but in way of life.
You are following the rise of the main character, who gradually unveils the truth about his ogre masters, leaving you turning and turning each page, learning along with the MC.
The ending took me by surprise. I won't shed anymore on what exactly and why but it gave me a lot to think about.
5/5 - first 5 star rating of the year and thank you NetGalley & Adrian Tchaikovsky for this fun ride.
Reality TV gone wrong.
A group of people take part in a reality tv show, where contestants have to survive on an island in Scotland, with the bear minimum of necessities.
The story is told in first person, through the eyes of Maddy, a young women who has spent her whole life being smothered and overprotected, by her parents.
As things escalate, after the boat to bring them home doesn't come, we watch as humans reduce into a primitive and animalistic nature.
This is a story of survival at all costs. It is a quick and enjoyable read. It reads very well and there is an unnerving tension that flows through the book, never relenting until the very end.
The characters are all from different backgrounds and they are very well thought out. I could like a character one moment, for them to be hated the next chapter. They all breakdown at different speeds and it really shows you what a hive mind mentality can bring, in this situation.
The main character, Maddy, is likeable. I usually always sided with her. You have to keep in mind the sheer paranoia and anxiety that she will be facing in this potentially fatal scenario, especially after her extremely shelter life and her experiences.
Very lord of the flies meets survivor tv show!
This isn't one of my go-to genres. I normally only stick to sci-fi / fantasy, but after reading this, I will be on the look out for more of what I'd started as a ‘palette cleanser'.
4/5 very suspenseful and enjoyable read.
I try not to give 5/5 because in my eyes it should be reserved for the very best..and this is definitely one of them.
A medieval setting, following four 18 year olds from very different backgrounds, who start to develop powers. Powers that are forbidden and hunted. Only a dream that they all share connects the four. They must unite or else succumb to the will of whoever is hunting them.
All four characters have a distinct voice, each having their own thoughts and moral compass that is completely different from the rest. My favourite has the be Corin, they all go through a lot in this book, however I do feel the best connection between him and I love his companion..I can't say anymore!
They all, or most of them, have moments where you may disagree with them, which I love because we are all humans, we all make decisions differently.
The story telling is great, this is one of those books where you can't put it down, and you will be thinking about the characters while doing you whatever chores you have. The world is very believable, you certainly feel as though you can see the world through each character's eyes.
The brutal world that Jackson has crafted is beautiful and scary. The characters are some of the best I've read over the last few years. I cannot wait for the sequel to find out what happens next. Congratulations to the author for this brilliant piece of work!
5/5 stars, of course. You can find me at Twitter - @readsgavin
A Godzilla cheese fest.
Jamie Gray loses his job and is thrown into a role of delivering food to people's doors. Until one day, he serves an old friend who invites him on a journey, one that will change him forever.
The story is fairly short and I managed to finish this within an hour or two. KPS doesn't break down any new doors and it isn't very deep, however it was fun at times. I couldn't get used to the humour, it felt like a cheesy sit com and I wanted to roll my eyes one quite a few occasions. I really can't see anyone living with their sense of humour, it felt like you were waiting on the fake audience laughter.
This was maybe not my type of book, it had big potential and it could have been something special but fell flat.
2.5 stars out of 5
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
A complex world filled with political intrigue and enjoyable characters. I listened to this one during my projects this week at work and it was great - 3.5 / 5
The first book in the Winnowing Flame trilogy. A world where Elves and Humans live separately after a terrible war. Now a tree god is dead and the Eboran elves are slowly dying, the world of Sarn facing its own demise.
This is a fun and enjoyable journey, although there are moments of dark times and horror scenes, all formulating into a brilliant epic fantasy ride, which we are only 1 book into!
You follow the 3 main characters; Vintage - the rich and fantastic captain of the group. Tor - the serious Eboran elf with a passion for wine and human blood. Finally, Noon - the escaped witch with a tendency to set things on fire.
All 3 characters had their own views and beliefs, each with their own reason to trek on this journey. I honestly could not pick a favourite.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Superb story telling from a great author. I'm going to read this series alongside Foundryside, just to keep things fresh.
Overall 4/5 - recommend for anyone who enjoys witty characters and great characterisation, some horror elements and a nice slicing of epic fantasy.
Straight into my favourites. Pierce Brown knows how to make you love his books but simultaneously break your heart all over again!
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.