Joan

I really enjoyed this first installment of a new fantasy series by John Gwynne. I am new to the author and haven't read any of his other books, but hope to rectify that soon.

This book focuses on three main characters and that is what really pulled me into the story. They are each very unique and it didn't take long for me to feel invested in their lives. The world-building and plot were solid and I look forward to the next installment.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital ARC.

I loved that this book can be read and understood on multiple levels.

I enjoyed the superficial level of the mystery of the house and characters. The author made it fast-paced and I couldn't wait for all of the pieces to come together.

I also enjoyed it on a deeper spiritual level...as a fable for the human condition. I highly recommend it for any reader looking for a unique read.

The Passengers has a unique plot and is a fast-paced read. The characters are interesting and presented in a way that made me curious to know more about them. There are themes related to Artificial Intelligence and how individuals are judged based on their value to society which are woven into the story. The weakest part for me was the ending which came across as a little contrived and rushed. Nevertheless, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a suspenseful thriller that is off the beaten path.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the digital advance review copy.

3.5 stars. This book was a mixed bag for me. I enjoyed the writing and dual timelines. The comparison between what was occurring in the past and present was interesting to me. At the same time, the characters seemed one dimensional and there wasn't much nuance when it came to their views on social and political issues. It is worth the read if you are a fan of Barbara Kingsolver and like literary fiction. Otherwise, you might not find this to be a compelling novel.

As a fan of Karin Slaughter, I was highly anticipating reading this book. The beginning of the book got me engaged in the story but it lost its momentum after that. I typically like dual timelines, but in this case, I didn't find the events in the past to be that interesting. Character development was also lacking. The ending was satisfying and answered all my questions, which was a plus. Would recommend for Karin Slaughter fans, but it is not as gritty, engaging, and suspenseful as her other books.

I have mixed feelings about this book. The author is very talented and her writing is textured and evocative. The story is told from many points of view and jumps around in time. I was fine with this but really wanted the loose ends to be tied together at the end. This never occurred which was a disappointment.

Solid YA fantasy read with unique, well drawn characters and an interesting story line. Look forward to continuing the series.

After reading “The Life We Bury,” I was looking forward to reading another book by this author. During the first 3/4ths of the book, I thought that the plot was predictable and the story was so-so. The final 1/4th turned things around and surprised me, which I really enjoyed. Looking forward to reading more by this author and recommend to readers who enjoy mystery/thrillers.

4.5 stars. This book was very well written and engaging throughout. I loved the main character, named Faith, and the setting and time period gave a lot of interest to the story. The author was able to weave together multiple themes throughout the book and I think that this is what I appreciated the most. Highly recommend for those looking for YA titles that are unique and layered.

4.5 Great story with unique characters and interesting twists and turns in the plot.

4.5 stars. The story pulled me in right away and kept me interested throughout. If you liked Gone Girl, you will most likely like this book.

I went into this book knowing nothing about it and that worked in its favor. I enjoyed the writing, characters and story. There were some surprises that I wasn't expecting which is always impresses me as a reader. Recommend for those who enjoy literary fiction and those trying to broaden their reading horizons beyond white/male/American stories and writers.

I can appreciate this book as a well loved classic. However, I think that my expectations of it were set too high from the beginning. I found it overly detailed and dense and by the end was not really that invested in the outcome.

I do appreciate the writing and the story had some high points for me especially those that were funny. In spite of that, I always felt that I was at a distance from what was happening and not really connecting with any of the characters who mostly felt flat and predictable. I would recommend this book to lovers of literary fiction who like a lot of detailed story telling and don't mind a slow moving plot.

I wasn't sure what to expect from the second installment in this series, but I really enjoyed it. Holmes was more of a secondary character in the story and the plot was primarily centered on Mary. I love watching her grow as a character. I am looking forward to the next installment.

I vaguely remember reading this book as an adolescent. I didn't remember all of the details of the story but did remember that I cried at the end. I recently read it again aloud with my 11 year old son who loves the outdoors, guns, animals and adventure. We both loved it and shed a few tears. It was a great to hear him say, “Mom, that was a really good book!”

Enjoyable mystery that held my interest throughout. I liked the extras like the newspaper clippings and web pages as it added a sense of realism to the story.

A definite page-turner. I think this is one of the best in the series so far. I enjoyed the story but also love getting to know the characters better and seeing their relationships evolve over time. Highly recommend!

A fun romp! Loving the Iron Druid Chronicles.

4.5 stars. Enjoyable and humorous story with lots of interesting characters. Can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series.

I didn't enjoy this installment in the series as much as the first two. I am still fascinated by the characters, though, and will continue with the next book.

Enjoying this series more and more!

I enjoyed the characters and set-up in this first book and am continuing on with the series.

Very enjoyable book. I really liked seeing the relationship between Holmes and Mary Russell develop and look forward to seeing how it evolves in the future installments of this series. Recommend for Sherlock Holmes fans!

I wasn't sure what to expect when I saw that this book was wordless. Words aren't needed as the images are rich and evocative and draw you into the story right away. Frame by frame the story unfolds in your mind. Lovely book and great visual “reading” experience.

I like the bones of this series and the character of Harry Dresden, but I didn't think this book was as good as the first one. It was enjoyable and I plan to continue the series but I did find that the story seemed to drag on a bit.