Vilandra

This book is mental. Sometimes it annoyed me, and sometimes I thought it was wonderful. Ugh. I don’t even know what to say. It’s just mental.

This is what happens when you write about a sociopath and it's not a crime novel. This doesn't really have the comedy that The Heart's Invisible Furies has, but the premise is original and the characters interesting. I liked the format and enjoyed reading.

The story is enjoyable enough, but it is obvious and predictable. The dialogue is pedestrian, as is using a lunch as a way to give a “who's who” of characters. Characters frequently contradict themselves after about a paragraph. The one bright point is that the author does capture the terror of being in a bomb raid very well.

I liked this better than the first book in the series. The main characters are still not that great though - I wouldn't have wanted a third book about Reuben & Laura. What shines in this book are the descriptions of the house and Christmas party, but I didn't really find myself interested in the werewolf parts of the story.

I did not love this the way I did the author's other books. The first half is slow and boring, and it really doesn't get going until 3/4 of the way through. The main characters are not the most interesting or likable, and the “romances” are ridiculous and not believable.

The first Miss Marple book. I was surprised that Miss Marple is so unlikable and unliked by the other characters for most of the book. The story was enjoyable to read and I did not guess the ending.

I kind of hated Tris by the end, but I enjoyed the story and liked the way it ended.

Once you get into the meat of the story, you are riveted. The twists can make you laugh or cry or tear your hair out in frustration at the characters. You really become invested in the story, and the suspense is palpable.

Very enjoyable - had some books I hadn't read which was nice.

This is what 84 Charing Cross Road should have been. It was wonderful to see the characters from The Jane Austen Society again - and I hope this is not the last time! Jenner's books are so relaxing and transport you to post-war England. Loved it!

I enjoyed reading this and its take on Peter Pan. I was disappointed in the way the ending was presented and felt that the stakes could have been higher with better payoffs. It was almost there.

This book was okay, though it read more like a romance than historical fiction to me. The main character is spoiled and narcissistic, which makes her unlikable. I didn't feel transported to the time period.

Hardy has such a way of melding the happy & the tragic. A terrific story of an imperfect man.

There's nothing exactly wrong with this book, but the story is nothing special. There is a buildup to when reveals start happening, and then everything seems rushed to finish. One of the main characters suggests the culprit and is rebuffed for it - only to have the protagonist come to the same conclusion two pages later. It needed some work.

An amazing book! Great characters, great story, long but not slow. Beautifully written. Incredibly intelligent.

I loved this book, Capital L. It felt a lot like a Dickens book - a lot of vignettes about the same character. I laughed out loud a lot, and also got teary-eyed at parts. The dialogue is so sharp and witty, and it deals with serious topics in a real way without being preachy. Just an all around well written book that I didn't want to put down.

What a beautifully written book. It really captured the feel of Italy and being part of an Italian family. The characters are distinct and well crafted, and the story is beautiful. I truly loved this.

The story is okay, though it's a thinly veiled female Robin Hood story. The writing needed to be stronger to pull this off though - it's a bit too simplistic. I don't think I would read the second book in the series, though I do think the story might really get going there.

I liked this book much better than the Hunting Party or the Guest List. It still features an unlikable main character, but all the characters in the book were well fleshed out. An easy, light read.

This book felt like a fairytale, and I really enjoyed a story based in Japanese myth rather than the ones we see all the time. I also liked the flawed main character - so often “strong females” are one dimensional, but that wasn't the case here. Looking forward to the second book.

I felt the author is very talented with her descriptions. This book felt a bit slow in parts, and I think the author struggled with the romance, especially between the main characters. I did enjoy it and want to find out what happens in the next book!

The concept and the writing were superb and kept me wanting to read more. I did sometimes feel like the stakes weren't as high as the characters thought, but overall enjoyable with good characters.

I admit it was not what I expected. But it was a relaxing read, and I enjoyed Stevens' trip and reminisces. It is a book you have to take as a whole to see what it is really about. It's about thoughts, not actions.

It took a little bit to get past the vulgar language and apparent Outlander homages, but once I did I enjoyed the story immensely. Admittedly I don't normally read romance, but it was a nice read.

I loved this book. It felt like curling up next to a fire in the great house of an English village. The characters are superb, and their different storylines are woven together wonderfully. I wish this was a true story!