Tegan
Absolutely terrible. Read Lynley Stace's review here if you want to know specifics. They lasted so much longer than I did (123 pages vs my 10 pages). I couldn't continue reading this as every second paragraph made my eyes bleed. Only read this if you care to hear about a dudes boner every page and enjoy indulging in misogynistic + toxic masculinity traits and behaviour
I highly recommend this book regardless of whether you are neurodivergent or not. This book walks you through the diagnosis of autism and autistic traits but that is only one chapter. The rest of the chapters focus on CBT therapy and its uses in helping depression, anxiety, anger etc. This is not a book that is full of jargon. It explains the CBT tools/practices in a very accessible way and gives examples (and worksheets) to help with each type of CBT tool/practice. I highly recommend this book and will be buying a print version of it to refer to (and re-read) in the future.
I didn't understand much of it until almost the end but I think that's the best kind of horror story. All the puzzle pieces were up in the air until they all fell into place at once. This story is creepy and horrible and was definitely worth reading. I've wanted to read it for so long and I'm happy I finally did even though I'm thoroughly creeped out. Content warning for r*pe and sexual assault.
The book was fine. I don't recommend reading it if you have suffered from ED in the past. Every page talks about weight loss and sometimes there would be multiple instances on one page. It was interesting to see the differences between the book and the movie. They made some smart decisions to cut some of the plot of the book for the movie script. I won't be seeking out the sequel(s) but it's good to tick this off the TBR.
I received an ARC of this book via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
I read this in one night (approx 3 - 4 hours) when I couldn't get to sleep and quite liked it! I had just finished a series that I didn't like (except the first book) so I had a bad taste in my mouth / grumpy attitude. This book helped cleanse me of that. The beginning was a bit rough for me but that might have to do with growing up in a similar home situation. I liked that the book flipped back and forth between narrators and time periods. I guessed one of the MCs mysteries early on but that, along with guessing what was going on in general, didn't prepare me for the end. I was satisfied with the end and enjoyed the ride (pun intended) of the book as a whole. I'll keep an eye out for books written by this author in the future!
#NetGalley #TheOtherPassenger
I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I just finished this book, it's nearly midnight here, and I'm breathless from everything that happened. My god. Let's just say 10 out of 10 stars, it's fantastic, go read it! The characters, the plot, the tension, the mystery, the action, the romance, just... everything was A+, no notes, the author crushed it.
My mind is still reeling from the events at the end of the book. I almost read the last 1/4 in a anxious fever dream. I had a profound attachment to certain characters and could not help myself from feeling panicky and anxious about their endings. Part of that was my brain being the mental health goblin it is (thanks, panic disorder) but a majority of it was me being scared about these characters (which rarely happens for me). I will buy this authors following books in a heartbeat regardless of what they're about.
I am more than grateful to Netgalley, Kassandra Flamouri (what a kick ass name btw), and her publishers for allowing me to review this for free. Thank you so much and I look forward to Kassandra's next book!
#NetGalley #TheFoxandtheFlame
Beautiful art work, great recipes! The recipes say which anime the food is from and they all look delicious! I was wishing there were photos of the irl dishes made so I knew what to aim for but that's my only little nitpick. Definitely pick it up if you want to make anime dishes!
Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and their publishers for this free book in exchange for an honest opinion!
Three stars because I'm glad this series has ended. If you look at my reviews for the last two books you'll know my feelings on this one. The ending seemed like it was fast forwarded and I was happy for it. Not a fan of this book or the two preceding ones. Loved the first book though and I still stand by my review of it. I wish Briar Boleyn all the best going forward!
I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review
#NetGalley #BloodofaFaeseries
Loved this book! A book with queer rep, POC main character, a murder mystery, alternate history combined with vampires? I was already so on board just from the description. There were parts that made me laugh, hit me right in the heart, and some that made me roll my eyes. All in all I loved it and eagerly wait for the next book!
The narrator did a good job and I only cringed at one voice for being stereotypical (and even then the character had like two lines). People from the southern US may have more to say about the choice of accents but once I got used to them they didn't grate on me. CW for detailed descriptions of death, emotional abuse on page, AH father, racism (casual mention), grief, death of family members, unresolved trauma.
It's the first of a duology but doesn't end on a cliffhanger. It does rival Return of the King (2003) for how many endings it has though
If you haven't read it, you need to. It's as good as everyone has been telling you, trust me
As always, Pierce Brown captured my heart in one hand while also shattering it in the other. Bloody damn brilliant.
Pierce Brown is amazing as always. This book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. It broke my heart, made my chest thrum with anticipation, adrenalin, sometimes anger, but also joy. The author and the audiobook narrator (Tim Gerard Reynolds) have once again caused me to sob multiple times during this book as they have done with the previous two. They must be commended for that. I recommend the audiobooks 1000%. I can't wait to dive into the next one to have my heart ripped out and repaired only for it to be ripped out again. As odd as it sounds... this is something I look forward to. My love for this series would not be the same without those occurrences.
Contains spoilers
I'm deep in book grief atm so I'll write a more detailed review later ("I won't think about it now. I'll think about it later when I can stand it") but here are the differences in the movie vs book.
Spoilers below:
- Book Scarlett isn't present when Gerald is killed. In the movie she sees it happen, in the book it happens when she's in Atlanta and her sister Suellen was responsible for his death via a financial con
- Scarlett had two other children, one from each marriage. I understand why the writers of the movie cut them out as the first two don't propel the plot along except for Wade being the reason Scarlett was invited to Atlanta.
- the movie glosses over how Scarlett made her fortune which, I think, is crucial to her character, specifically the convict labour part. The movie keeps Scarlett as child-like and flighty whereas the book gives more grounded context as to why she makes these immoral decisions in the name of financial security
- following on from the previous point, it's clear in the book that Scarlett has PTSD and that is a big motivator for her character and decisions after the war. The movie mentions her nightmares once but doesn't give it enough weight for the proper context
- Movie Scarlett is more ungrateful and doesn't appreciate anyone contribution to her success at any point. Book Scarlett is devastated at Melanie's death (something that is slightly changed in the movie as well) and realises how much people have done for her (that she previously regarded as her own contributions) that helped her get to where she was at the end of the book. Book Scarlett is also ungrateful but it's less cartoon-y than the movie portrays her to be
- in addition, book Scarlett is regretful of the decisions she had to make (before the convict labour which in my eyes in unforgivable) in order to survive but acknowledges she would have made the same decisions if she was in the same position again. She acknowledges the people she hurt (Honey, Suellen, Frank, her children) and wishes someone else had taken her place and/or that those decisions weren't so critical to her and her family's survival. Movie Scarlett only has moments of regret when she sees some of the consequences of her actions, usually affecting her negatively
- Rhett's character in the book is far more fleshed out, specifically the dedication to his daughter (which makes the death scene all the more harrowing) and changing his reputation to benefit her. The child's death in the movie was sad but the narrator's acting in the book made me sob the whole way through Mammy's speech. His jealousy of Ashley and his secret love for Scarlett (and his cruel behaviour towards her as a defense mechanism) is far more apparent in the book
- Scarlett's presence at Tara is very different in the book vs the movie. Book Scarlett leaves Tara to be run by her sisters and Will (a character not in the movie) after she leaves for Atlanta to ask Rhett for money. Book Scarlett lives in Atlanta with her dead husband's aunt, a character that isn't as prominent in the movie (and I understand why they cut her out), from this point on until the end of the book. Movie Scarlett has her living in Tara much longer and doesn't really mention that Frank's store and Scarlett's purchase of the lumber mill in Atlanta (via Rhett's backing) is how she clawed her way back from poverty
- the martial rape between Scarlett and Rhett is very different in the book. In the movie it is treated like rape with Scarlett struggling and her reaction the next morning. In the book Scarlett enjoyed "giving over control" and regarded it as the most passionate love making sessions she ever had. Book Scarlett yearned for more nights like that one and was only resentful of it when she learned she was pregnant
- following the previous point, the aftermath of her miscarriage is more serious in the book and paves the way for honest emotional but platonic connection between Melanie's and Rhett's characters (which comes in handy after the death of his child). In the book Scarlett is bedridden and delirious, the doctor isn't sure she'll survive, and Rhett is tortured and distraught at the thought that he didn't prevent her accident and thinks he has caused her death. The movie skips over most of that and we only see Scarlett in recovery.
- one of the biggest differences from book to movie is how the Confederacy is glorified in the book. The movie takes a lighter touch which was for the best regarding certain scenes and a disservice in others. The book hammers away at why they think POC should be slaves ("they are like children and cannot look after themselves") and why the Confederacy, and therefore white power (including the creation, operation, and dissolution of the KKK), is a glorious and a just cause.
There are other small differences (the Ashley scandal, Carreen's arc, some sequence of events are switched, etc) but they're slightly less consequential and this review is long enough as it is.
I watched the movie first and I think it was good fortune that I did. It gave me a foundation to explore more of via the book. If you do read the book, either as audiobook or physical/digital, be warned of the frequent use of the N slur and the racist depictions of POC. I know, I know, given the setting of the 1860s it was what actually happened but I still think it needs to be said.
I would recommend the audiobook (narrated by Linda Stephens) over the physical/digital copy just so you don't have to read the racist way the author depicted the POC dialogue. Trying to decode that and the abhorrent implications of it on paper or screen is much better served via audiobook in my opinion. Plus Linda Stephens is a fantastic narrator (more of an actor imo) that gives a unique voice to every character and SINGS (literally, not metaphorically) which surprised and delighted me and also gives such an emotional performance. She made me sob at the back end of the book and only one other narrator has touched my emotions that way before (Tim Gerard Reynolds in the Red Rising series).
I do recommend the audiobook heartily with those caveats I mentioned. I think I'll rewatch the movie to see if any of that hidden context is more apparent now that I know about it.
I got about 1/4 the way through and couldn't stand the back and forth, the past and present style of misleading the reader. I'm fine usually with books that jump around but I could tell it was written to hide information until the last pages. I'm also usually fine with a book like that but somehow this one ticked me off. I flipped to the back of the book (something I never do), read the ending, and I'm glad I did.
I received this ARC from Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review. Spoilers will be in a separate section of this review marked by brackets.
I'm of two minds about this book. Between this book and the second book I feel that this author knows how to write great endings but doesn't know how to start the beginnings. The first half of the book I felt like the author was trying to write their way out of a corner. I felt this way about the second book as well however this book undoes some things that happened in the second book. That was frustrating to me.
The spice was there (and I'm impressed by how the wording of the spicy scenes haven't seemed to repeat in the three books I've read so far) but that doesn't make up for the juvenile behaviour from MC.
[SPOILERS INCOMING]
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Again, I was mystified by MCs motivation. When we left her at the end of the second book she hated her LI but within a chapter she loved him again? At one point she asked herself if her LI missed her and I was like YOU HATE HIM WHY DO YOU CARE?? I can't deal with this ‘will they, won't they' plot line. It never felt genuine to me, almost like it was delaying the inevitable. There were parts that were so cliche it had me physically rolling my eyes. It also felt like the author needed to drum up drama for the end of the second book and undoes those choices almost immediately upon the beginning of the this book.
For the most part of this book MC was steady with her emotions regarding her LI but I was never sure it would stay that way. That could be good or bad depending on your perspective. The MCs moods are really unpredictable when it comes to her LI and after only one book of constant back and forth and emotions seemingly flipping on a dime... I was so tired by it all. I'm glad she finally decided to accept her situation (and her own feelings?) but sprinting into love just after declaring her hate for the same person is so frustrating.
It was interesting to get LI's POV but those chapters didn't land as much as I had hoped. I was hoping he'd be three dimensional by now, especially seeing as we were viewing the world through his eyes but that didn't come to pass. His main motivations were SEX and PROTECT and not much else.
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[END OF SPOILERS]
I started and finished this book within two days. Despite all my criticisms this author knows how to keep me spellbound. I did have to force my way through to the half way mark and almost didn't finish this book. I'll still read the fourth one but my standards are getting lower and lower with each book. Here's hoping the fourth book really pulls it off!
#BloodofaFaeSeries #netgalley
The TV show and the book are similar in name only and I love them both. This book is a slow burn and the ending is wonderful. It's thoroughly creepy and I enjoyed it immensely.
For me, this one was a bit of a slog for at least half the book. I was reading it in fits and starts and I found the main character so unlikable that towards middle and end I found myself getting real life angry at her decisions. Then, I realised, that was kind of the point.
With a book like this, with her kind of character, I wasn't expecting as much depth as I got. I thought this would be a fun and light read, police after a killer, everything turns out peachy in the end. This isn't that kind of book and it took me a long time to realise that.
Despite despising the main character I flew through the last half of the book quite quickly and looking back on it I can appreciate the author crafting such a flawed but ultimately human character. I didn't agree with the characters decisions but the point was that I don't have to. If I said any more I'd be going into spoiler territory. I'm giving this an extra star because the last quarter was compelling enough that it made me want to continue the series.
I was in such a frenzy to finish this book and resolve everything that I flew through those last chapters at lightning speed. Finishing books always makes me emotional but this one ratcheted it up a notch. Highly recommend!
I highly recommend the audiobook read by Tim Gerard Reynolds. I am very picky about narrators as I believe they can make or break a book/series. Obviously Tim Gerard Reynolds is the former. He gives so much life to this wonderful book.
I'm very glad I didn't read the ebook first. This is a series I know I'll re-read over and over but this will be the first series when I'll relisten to the audiobooks over and over.
Very excited to start book two!
So, so creepy. I'd say I like this Stephen King/Joe Hill collaboration but I really, really don't. Not for a lack of talent or plot. More because I'll be thinking about this book for years to come as I lay in the dark, sleep evading me. I'll attempt to banish my memory of this book with fluffier, lighter things and that only makes it come back twofold. If you like sleep, don't read this.