Ismerene

All my reviews can be found at The Tiny Reader's Reference! Come on over and say hello!Short n Sweet: Despite an interesting premise, [b:One 34273826 One (Count to Ten #1) Jane Blythe https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1487021613s/34273826.jpg 48786607] grapples with unpolished writing, frustrating main characters, and insta-love. This is a quick and delightfully bloody read, but it simply isn???t finished. This novel was given to me for free from the author, as part of Goodread???s group Shut Up and Read???s Read it and Reap program, geared toward shining a spotlight on independent or lesser known authors. In exchange, I would provide an honest review.There is a story here. That???s about all I can say.[b:One 34273826 One (Count to Ten #1) Jane Blythe https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1487021613s/34273826.jpg 48786607] suffers not from lack of plot, or characters, or intrigue. It suffers from the very same affliction that other independent works suffer from - lack of editing. This comes out in a myriad of ways. Allow me a demonstration:???How???s Annabelle doing???? Xavier asked once they were back in the corridor.???Actually, she???s pretty exhausted. I don???t want you interviewing her today; she needs to rest,??? Dr. Daniels challengingly arched an eyebrow.Xavier exchanged a glance with Kate, ???We can interview more relatives of the Jenners today and speak with Annabelle in the morning,??? she proposed.He nodded his agreement, ???Tell her we???ll be here early in the morning,??? he informed the doctor.It is like this, save a handful of times, in the entire book. It began to slow my reading pace, and I started skipping over everything typed after quotation marks. Without the tags, the dialogue became natural. However, when the dialogue became unnatural, it was surrounding ???Well, as you know Bob?????? issues. A group of detectives, medical examiners, and forensic scientists are not going to stand in a circle and repeat the obvious. We are clobbered over the head with conclusions. ???The Englewoods were all dead when their bodies were mutilated,??? Billy explained. ???That girl was lucky to survive; you think whoever it was got spooked when you two showed up???? When no one responded, Billy???s dark eyes grew wide, ???You think she???s the killer? Murder/suicide? Or at least murder, attempted suicide. Why? What possible reason could this young woman have for killing her family? And the way she did it,??? Billy shuddered. ???She must be one angry girl.???You???ve been in the field for years, Billy the Medical Examiner. Why are you acting like this is the first case you???ve ever worked?The romance is insta-love. Xavier has only seen her in hospital gowns, spoken with her for one minute, and is then suddenly in love with her, dreaming about her, wanting her. We are told very little about who Annabelle is as a person, save for a tendency to become a pushover, and ~sky blue eyes~ (which we are, again, clobbered with).Originally, I was going to give [b:One 34273826 One (Count to Ten #1) Jane Blythe https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1487021613s/34273826.jpg 48786607] a three star rating, because editing is relatively independent of the story and characters itself. But then, this gem scraped across my wholly unprepared eyeballs:And, as much as he hated to admit it, the first thought that had jumped into his mind was that once they found the killer, there would be nothing left standing between him and Annabelle.Annabelle lost her entire family. The young brothers she cared for, the parents who housed her, the entire support system she had collapsed around her in a vicious, bloody mess. And the detective can only think about her family???s killer as standing in his way to get into her pants. My desire to root for him was destroyed with one small, yet powerful, line. The whole romantic situation felt very power-imbalanced.On that note - rape. Rape is present in [b:One 34273826 One (Count to Ten #1) Jane Blythe https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1487021613s/34273826.jpg 48786607], not in description, but used as a plot device. A poor plot device. When the killer's motivations are revealed, none of them involve sexual deviancy of any type - and yet, rape is used liberally as a device for angst, and a way to illustrate that the bad guy was just terrible, you guys. I object to this on a moral stance, as rape is not something to spread around like butter on the horribly burned toast of your story. It is a very real, very horrifying, very destructive act of violence, that is used as a literal weapon in real life. Not for you to further your angsty writing needs. I will leave you, dear readers, with a hilarious tidbit I couldn't help but laugh over:???Because I thought she needed a break,??? Dr. Daniels??? face turned a bright shade of red. ???You???ve already harassed her twice, both times I needed to sedate her. She???s just lost her entire family, you accused her of being a killer, then changed your mind, then came back and dumped a truckload of questions on her when she was in no condition to deal with them. She needed a break. I wanted to let her have some time to try to sort things out before you unleashed another tirade on her.???Hell yeah Dr. Daniels you got this the only person in this whole book who has his head on straight GO DR. DANIELS-I knew she was not a killer from the second they brought her in,??? he announced adamantly. ???Anyone with such amazing eyes could never take a life.???WE WERE ALL ROOTING FOR YOU DR. DANIELS

Short and Sweet: Despite a shorter size and somewhat clunky writing, [b: The Exorcism of Sara May 27311086 The Exorcism of Sara May Joe Hart https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1445988285s/27311086.jpg 47367798] packs a variety of creepy and unnerving moments, leading to an unexpected twist and satisfying conclusion.We are introduced to Lane and his father, veterinarians in the world of post-depression Wisconsin. The town, while small, still boasts some semblance of modest wealth. A late-night, bizarre birth assist kicks us off into strange occurrences that grow stranger and sinister by the day. A malformed blackness crawling from a puddle in broad daylight, a vulture with an unwavering stare, and a plot twist that took me completely by surprise. This tells of an exorcism, but not in quite the way you may think.While concise, the synopsis doesn???t really do this novella justice. I can see this easily becoming a full-length novel, only for the variety of questions I still had after I turned the last page and caught my breath.???Lane, hold the lantern steady,??? my father said. I did, the trembling in my arms making the glass shade rattle in place. Something growled like a tomcat and there was a wet tearing sound followed by another anguished bleat from Josha. A match popped alight, blazing like a miniature sun. In the glow, the two-headed kid stood behind my father on its hind legs, mouths crimson and dripping. I did scream then.”

I knew, after reading [b:The Hot Zone 16213 The Hot Zone Richard Preston http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320438393s/16213.jpg 909325] that [b:The Cobra Event 376613 The Cobra Event Richard Preston http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1223665252s/376613.jpg 817262] wouldn't disappoint, and I was right. Fast paced, [b:The Cobra Event 376613 The Cobra Event Richard Preston http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1223665252s/376613.jpg 817262] had me on the edge of my seat up until the very end. My removal of a star certainly had nothing to do with plot or characters. I didn't quite notice this in [b:The Hot Zone 16213 The Hot Zone Richard Preston http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320438393s/16213.jpg 909325], but Preston's method of storytelling is a double-edged sword; very straightforward, but in such a way that it creates vivid imagery. It does get tedious, however, when the sentences would reduce themselves to short, choppy bites of information (“They wear a chainmail glove on their dominant hand. It shows dominance in the workfield. It prevents accidental cuts. So they are worn during autopsies.”) which did serve to pull me out of the narrative a few times. It improves as the story progresses, but it did get frustrating. Four out of five stars, and a definite library search to find more of his work!

As much as I'd like to, I'm struggling to mask my disappointment with [b:Angelology 6691426 Angelology (Angelology, #1) Danielle Trussoni http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347562444s/6691426.jpg 6886872]'s sequel, [b:Angelopolis 16158489 Angelopolis (Angelology, #2) Danielle Trussoni http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362380627s/16158489.jpg 13523893]. Eager to read the next installment, I walked away feeling like the richness the first book provided had been stripped away in the second.1. The Fight ScenesVera, Azov, and Sveti are attacked by Gibborim in a helicopter. Excellent scene to create tension, yes? They're trying to crash them into the ground. Great scene to illustrate the ruthlessness of the gibborim and create tension for the survival of the passengers.Nope. It was glazed over in half a page, and I was left confused. ALL of the fight scenes are like this; glazed emotionlessly over with no building of tension or drive whatsoever. I started laughing at scenes like this, so lackluster in their creation that it felt textbook-esque. The ‘threat' that the angels supposedly possessed for humans was utterly absent. 2. The CharactersIn [b:Angelopolis 16158489 Angelopolis (Angelology, #2) Danielle Trussoni http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362380627s/16158489.jpg 13523893], we are introduced to a myriad of characters in which the story roughly splits: Azov, Vera, and Sveti in one, Verlaine, Bruno, and Yana in the other. A wonderful chance for development but, as stated above, most of these characters and their relationships were glazed over. For example, I was constantly told about a strong mentor-like relationship between Bruno and Verlaine that had formed in the ten years since [b:Angelology 6691426 Angelology (Angelology, #1) Danielle Trussoni http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347562444s/6691426.jpg 6886872]; yet I did not feel nor believe any of it. This tread continues for nearly every character and interpersonal relationship in this novel. The ONLY character I truly cared about was Dr. Raphael Valko, and I believe that was formed because of the events that occurred in [b:Angelology 6691426 Angelology (Angelology, #1) Danielle Trussoni http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347562444s/6691426.jpg 6886872]. 3. Verlaine, Evangeline, and the Shittiness that Unites ThemThroughout Angelopolis, Verlaine hammers away at our skulls insisting that he must save Evangeline, that she's his TRU LUUUUUUUV, that it took him nearly two books to realize that's what he felt (Really dude. Really.) I glean no other personality characteristics other than this point of focus. How have those ten years changed him, besides his ‘toughening' with becoming an angel hunter? What of his love of art so openly shown in Angelology? He continuously makes stupid decisions, to the point where it became a theme. “I cannot believe I'm going to freeze to death.” Well, I can. You practically waltzed into a Nephilim train car and begged her to kill you. The fuck did you expect?“I can't believe Dr. Godwin captured me.” Really? Your rash decision to flounder about the prison like a dumbass, risking everyone in the process, certainly reflects your other shitty decision-making skills. You are bordering on TSTL here, dude. Through all of this, we are banged against the head with the fact that Verlaine is tough, a seasoned angel hunter who is the best of the best. Evangeline was, in my opinion, the most irritating character I had the misfortune of reading about in this second installment. A farcry from [b:Angelology 6691426 Angelology (Angelology, #1) Danielle Trussoni http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347562444s/6691426.jpg 6886872], she must have had a total of five pages in which we directly interact with her in any meaningful way. She felt beige and flat, a character so rich before now flattened to a concept. With the cliffhanger in [b:Angelology 6691426 Angelology (Angelology, #1) Danielle Trussoni http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347562444s/6691426.jpg 6886872], I was excited to read about her growth. How has she coped? Where has she been living, with whom has she associated with, did she ever return to the convent? Why ten years to make contact with Verlaine and the others? What of her belief in God now? I feel like a lot of the drama could have been cut in half if she had just showed up to the angelologists and come clean. Her childlike behavior, annoying at first, became creepy as the story progressed.But, in my opinion, they deserve each other. Why? Because they both fucking suck.-When Verlaine meets with Evangeline and she fights Eno, instead of killing her which would have saved lives Evangeline takes this bullshit holier-than-thou route, allowing her capture to make some stupid statement. What? Did Evangeline not think the angelologists wouldn't pursue her? Why would she give the Nephilim what they wanted? Thanks for all that unnecessary goddamn work. -When Verlaine acts like an idiot (a common theme) and he's imprisoned with her, they are (quite quickly) rescued by Yana and Bruno, who are also fighting Eno. Does Evangeline, who fought Eno before AND WON, step in and help them escape? No. THEY FUCKING RUN OUT THE DOOR AND ABANDON THEM BOTH WITH A COLLAPSING, EXPLODING PRISON AND A DANGEROUS ANGEL.4. The EndingWhat? Did I miss something? In love with her for nearly two whole books, and now Verlaine is going to capture and kill Evangeline? Are you high? You must be high. [b:Angelopolis 16158489 Angelopolis (Angelology, #2) Danielle Trussoni http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362380627s/16158489.jpg 13523893] was given three stars because I did love the concept. The way Russian history was entwined with Nephilim, Evangeline's parentage reveal, it was basically the only reason I kept reading. The storyline's cliffhanger, with the Apocalypse arriving upon the Watcher's release, makes for an excellent setup for an action-packed final installment. I can only hope that the third takes after the first, and brings life back to the story.

[b:Nothing to Envy 6178648 Nothing to Envy Ordinary Lives in North Korea Barbara Demick https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320449375s/6178648.jpg 6358552] is a surreal peek behind the curtain of the lives of six North Korean defectors and their families. Rather than a dry report of the crimes behind the regime, this novel discusses the day-to-day of ordinary citizens and the trials they face. An absolute staple for any reader interested in North Korea.???Dr. Kim couldn???t remember the last time she???d seen a bowl of pure white rice. What was the bowl of rice doing there, just sitting on the ground? She figured it out just before she heard the dog???s bark??? she couldn???t deny what was staring her plainly in the face: dogs in China ate better than doctors in North Korea.???[b:Nothing to Envy 6178648 Nothing to Envy Ordinary Lives in North Korea Barbara Demick https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320449375s/6178648.jpg 6358552] is simply fantastic, and I flew through this novel so fast I forgot to take any notes. Unfortunately, I find myself struggling to encompass the impact this novel has in a few short paragraphs. How do you condense the suffering and terror people face in North Korea, both then and now? When we look at the mystique and secrecy of North Korea, often we get caught up in the outlandish propaganda, in the plastic smiles of the selectively placed North Koreans during a well-staged tour, and the rundown 1970s-esque buildings. Whispers of starvation, of malnutrition, and concentration camps go unacknowledged in the face of awe. But what does all that mean? Often we hear about these realities and separate them from ourselves. It's easy to read those words and yet, not fully understand such horror. What [b:Nothing to Envy 6178648 Nothing to Envy Ordinary Lives in North Korea Barbara Demick https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320449375s/6178648.jpg 6358552] does so effectively is bring these realities to the forefront, forcing us to confront in stark black-and-white what all of those things truly mean, and how they affect ordinary people like you and me.Though [a:Barbara Demick 785914 Barbara Demick https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1325069453p2/785914.jpg] obviously walks us through the history of the regime, touching briefly on its origins (as brief as one can be), we mainly see the regime and its actions through the lens of our six North Korean defectors, moving with them through Kim II-sung???s death, the following ???Arduous March???, Kim Jung il???s succession, and the escapes all six made. None were without sacrifice, and [a:Barbara Demick 785914 Barbara Demick https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1325069453p2/785914.jpg] steps aside for you to feel their pain, their anger, their sadness, their joy. This brings home a lot of what many of us take for granted - the quality food we eat, our ability to travel freely, our warm beds, and the support of our government.[b:Nothing to Envy 6178648 Nothing to Envy Ordinary Lives in North Korea Barbara Demick https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320449375s/6178648.jpg 6358552] is many things at once, but most importantly, it is a reality check. While we may be caught up in the fascination of this closed off world, we must also understand that the horrors written in this novel are still ongoing, and no amount of fake smiles or polite diplomatic meetings should conceal that.

I'll admit, I went into this book with low expectations, having read all the reviews, negative and otherwise. That being said, I got about 3/4ths of the way through this book before I had to put it down for my sanity.The two stars I did rate it were purely the idea and writing style, not the execution.[b:Wither 8525590 Wither (The Chemical Garden, #1) Lauren DeStefano http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1311109085s/8525590.jpg 13392566] sets you up pretty early in the book. Maybe its a personal preference, but I like bits and pieces being revealed, not info dumps towards the beginning. However, what really stood out to me was the ethnocentrism in this book, as other reviewers have pointed out. “All we were taught of geography was that the world had once been made up of seven continents and several countries, but a third world war demolished all but North America, the continent with the most advanced technology. The damage was so catastrophic that all that remains of the rest of the world is ocean and uninhabitable islands so tiny that they can???t even be seen from space.”Unless I missed any other ethnicity being mentioned, (this book got really hard to get through.) all I could recall was every character in this book was Caucasian. It reinforced this “AMERICA IS THE BEST!” mentality I didn't particularly care for. Did the USA have a shiny invisi-shield that protected it from the horrid destruction that the other countries somehow missed? This attitude is unfortunately prevalent nowadays and I don't like reading it in YA fiction. Some of the logic also made no sense to me. Since the women live to be twenty, and the men twenty-five, why are women still treated poorly? They are dying out faster than men, there would exist a huge gender discrepancy.It was hard getting through what I got through. Much of the writing in the middle and towards the end became very repetitive; whether or not [a:Lauren DeStefano 4103366 Lauren DeStefano http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1305725851p2/4103366.jpg] created this to illustrate the nature of her captivity is unknown to me. However, her idea for this dystopian novel was a great one, and had it been created with a little more research, a lot more logic and without the ethnocentrism, it could be wonderful. Her writing style is excellent, and I definitely enjoyed how she wrote (just not what she wrote!)

Short and Sweet: Set firmly on the line between reality and fantasy, [b:Daughter of Smoke & Bone 8490112 Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1) Laini Taylor https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1338613368s/8490112.jpg 13355552] is a phenomenal story of star-crossed love, betrayal, loss, and hope against all odds. Characters are 3D, their motivations just as clear, all set against a centuries-long war with the two who seek to turn the tide for peace. One of the most well-written and engaging YA novels I've had the pleasure of reading, to date. I'm burned out on YA, I'll be honest. The insta-love, the ~tragic~ choices; I find myself pulling away from the genre despite some of my favorite novels originating in YA. So when [b:Daughter of Smoke & Bone 8490112 Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1) Laini Taylor https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1338613368s/8490112.jpg 13355552] arrived on my doorstep - fueled by a flurry of glowing reviews and five star ratings - I dived in with some reluctance. Reluctance that, as I swam through the first part, deepened upon getting to know the main character Karou on a superficial level. The scent of a Mary Sue weaved faint upon the winds, and I was not pleased.As I read further, however, Laini Taylor brought her back down and turned her into a human like the rest of us, but with extraordinary circumstances - with an extraordinary love interest alongside. This ability to turn extraordinary things into something compelling and engaging is a theme through this novel, and will not let you leave feeling unsatisfied.[b:Daughter of Smoke & Bone 8490112 Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1) Laini Taylor https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1338613368s/8490112.jpg 13355552], at its most basic core, a Young Adult love story. But, to reduce it to that singular point would not be doing the novel justice. Laini Taylor does a wonderful job of weaving the romance in such a way that, aside from serving as the catalyst, it also provides a richness and depth without sacrificing plot. No love triangles, no assholery from Akiva. It is romance as it should be written, with the butterflies and fiery touches and longing glances, but also with very real consequences. The world itself is one of the most unique ones I've had the pleasure of experiencing. Many other fantasy novels will pull from tropes or other books as reference, but [b:Daughter of Smoke & Bone 8490112 Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1) Laini Taylor https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1338613368s/8490112.jpg 13355552] takes it to a new level. It presents not just one plot question, but many, and holds onto them up until the very last page. The ending, while satisfying in the questions it does answer, also leaves room for the next two novels in this trilogy: Days of Blood and Starlight and Dreams of Gods and Monsters. Both were immediately added to my to-reads list, as I will definitely be completing this trilogy in full. Truly, an absolute pleasure to read.

I loved this book, and this is why.-The romance was not weird or unequal. It felt real and genuine to me, and in light of all the creepy, unrealistic YA novel romances, it was a blessing to see one that wasn't creepy or forced but was realistic. I also was happy to see how it was briefly discussed that looks did not come into play when it came to what made Tris attractive. We, as a culture, are in desperate need of this type of message.-The main female protagonist was strong, and smart. She wasn't TSTL, or too busy flailing all over one guy to focus on herself. Her world did not revolve around a romantic relationship. I saw her grow, and while her initial infatuation was evident, it did not overwhelm her growth; it was more like a nice complement. -The dystopian part of [b:Divergent 8306857 Divergent (Divergent, #1) Veronica Roth https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327873996s/8306857.jpg 13155899] was not cheesy. Some novels have a great premise, but weak execution; the background for [b:Divergent 8306857 Divergent (Divergent, #1) Veronica Roth https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327873996s/8306857.jpg 13155899] sounded hokey in the synopsis, but was well-written. Written from someone who is young in the writing world, this gives me hope that it may change the face of what healthy relationships and self-esteem should look like. I truly enjoyed reading {book: Divergent] and I can't wait for the next installment!

All my reviews can be found at The Tiny Reader's Reference! Come on over and say hello!Short & Sweet: [b:Hyperion 77566 Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #1) Dan Simmons https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405546838l/77566.SY75.jpg 1383900] is a fast-paced, wordy, high science-fiction novel that focuses on characters and world-building rather than immediate story progression. Extremely immersive and very colorful.I started tabbing this book, it is that elaborate.It's easy to get overwhelmed and/or confused, especially if you are parallel reading and put this novel down for any length of time. [b:Hyperion 77566 Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #1) Dan Simmons https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405546838l/77566.SY75.jpg 1383900] gives naught a care, however, as it dumps you immediately into the action, where we meet “The Consul” as he's summoned to the planet, Hyperion.We are then introduced to the six main characters, called “Shrike Pilgrims”, aboard a treeship headed to the planet, the home of the ‘Shrike'. The progression itself would be dull otherwise, if Dan Simmons had not injected their trajectory with a back-and-forth narrative - fueled by the group's desire to know each other and their experiences with Hyperion better - explaining each person's background. Its quite frankly brilliant, as it breaks up the monotony and allows us to feel like we physically travel from memory, to real time, and back again.Each story is told in a different way, with a different voice, and through this method of storytelling do we learn more about the world we're in and the elements within we previously didn't understand. In this, every character's motivations are revealed, adding dimension and depth. They transform by the end of the novel, creating actual people instead of caricatures - very little of the Pilgrim's actual journey is expounded upon. The story is pretty much cemented in memories.I read reviews that stated that [b:Hyperion 77566 Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #1) Dan Simmons https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405546838l/77566.SY75.jpg 1383900] was a setup for the second book, [b:The Fall of Hyperion 77565 The Fall of Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #2) Dan Simmons https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1541174620l/77565.SY75.jpg 1882596]. It's quite accurate, as this novel was pretty much character and world-building. Sounds boring and repetitive, but [a:Dan Simmons 2687 Dan Simmons https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1427999015p2/2687.jpg] manages to keep it fresh with the constant changing memories, voices, and points-of-view.I did dock a star, as it began to drag toward the end. However, I feel this is a novel that can, and should, be read multiple times, and the history and world created is rich and endlessly interesting. The ending left off at a perfect point for [b:The Fall of Hyperion 77565 The Fall of Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #2) Dan Simmons https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1541174620l/77565.SY75.jpg 1882596] to pick up the thread, and I will be reading the next in line. High science-fiction done right - absolutely recommended.

I was very excited for this book! Its the final book in one of my favorite series, and I was ecstatic that I got to finally read it!

The fighting scenes were a bit tough to get through at times (its the same rigamarole as in Brisingr - we are shown every minute detail of how exactly that soldier's facial bones were snapped, it got to be a bit much to read through.) I felt that overall, how things were handled was excellent....


...until I got to the end.


THERE BE SPOILERS HERE, ARRRGGHHH






























First off, Arya becoming a Rider was hella predictable. We all saw that coming.


What was not predictable-

1. The absolute lack of resolution between Arya and Eragon. Yes, omg, they held haaaaands! But it seemed like once Arya reached a certain level of character development, she stopped. She remained the barely likeable character that I experienced in Eldest. Even after all the growing Eragon does (and it shows in Inheritance.) she is still aloof and unlikable.

So I thought to myself, “Well, now that Eragon has matured, maybe she'll give him the time of day and we can stop hearing about her beautiful hair or graceful fighting style.” Nope. Total cockblock.
The Wiki entry states that “Eragon and Arya recognise their true feelings for each other.” Not really. I barely saw anything, except her telling him her true name and them holding hands. Nothing else. It was a HUGE letdown. Its like I followed a rainbow all the way down to... nothing. Paolini could have worked this a bit better, and don't tell me he's incapable of going back to Alagaesia or Arya is incapable of going with. The whole thing was so contrived.


2. The ending, where he sails off into the distance. This is a blatant ripoff of Return of the King's ending, only Tolkien did it better because he wrapped shit up first.


3. The hell with Murtagh and Nasuada? Apparently Paolini has been mastering the beginning of storylines and then tossing them off into the distance, because this shit wasn't wrapped up either.


Overall, a great book, however I felt that all the minor storylines I invested so hard in (Eragon and Arya) were quickly wrapped with barely any resolution, if any. Paolini discussed in the end about returning to Alagaesia, though not with the same characters. Hopefully we can glean some more type of closure, ie Eragon finds a partner, because Jesus he certainly deserves one!

This is the toughest, most reluctant 5 stars I will ever give a novel. I hated every second of it and yet, [b:The End of Alice 75479 The End of Alice A.M. Homes https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1336321638l/75479.SY75.jpg 2702599] excelled at what it set out to do. Yes, the content that is described in the synopsis is present, and it pulls no punches; you know exactly what kind of novel you're in for from page 1. But it is far from cheap, and as the novel unspools in a beautiful-prose-with-horrible words way, you find the narrator may not be as reliable as you thought, and that situations and memories are blending together, past and present. This is the first book that made me close it for a moment to collect myself (Second place for that honor belongs to [b:Sister, Maiden, Monster 60784461 Sister, Maiden, Monster Lucy A. Snyder https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1649700559l/60784461.SY75.jpg 95849272]'s “brain honey”... HURK). I genuinely gave thought to putting it down permanently. There are no heroes here, only victims, and those who took their victimhood and turned it into outright evil. It is disgusting, intriguing, sad, and abhorrent. The ending is perfectly ambiguous. If you're looking for the most fucked up book that doesn't rely on cheap shocks, congratulations, you've found it. I will never touch this novel again.

When I first begin a novel, no matter what genre, author, or length, I will know within three to five pages whether or not I'm going to have a good time. With [b:The Line 6494966 The Line (The Line, #1) Teri Hall http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348228871s/6494966.jpg 6686411], I knew, and I wasn't happy. We are roughly introduced to Rachel, her mother Vivian, and their world: The US, now a police-state, has placed an unyielding barrier around the border that is referred to as the Line. The land across is dubbed “Away” and the sightings of strange people and creatures across the Line are called “Others”. My frustration with this book stemmed purely from the writing. The whole book is in a telling form. The whole thing. It really served to yank me from the narration and beat me over the head with the fact that I was, indeed, reading a story. So why three stars and not one? I found discussion questions in the back. This is a book that is not geared for anyone near my age range. I realized that I was using an adult set of expectations to review a book geared way more toward children. To me, it seemed unfair. Yes, I took stars off because the writing was that frustrating to wade through. But Rachel is a pleasant protagonist to deal with, her relationship with Vivian was beautiful to see, and the plot itself is a great one. This is a review of of execution, not idea. I also took off a star for that ending: When Rachel Crossed, why did Vivian and Ms. Moore not follow? Both of them really had nothing else going for them in the US. Ms. Moore had Jonathan, but she could have what, written a note or something? Neither had ties to the US as it was, so why did they stay behind to jeopardize Rachel's safety as well as their own? IDGI.Overall a good book for readers much younger than I. Though the writing itself was difficult, I will most likely be reading the next installment [b:Away 7732360 Away (The Line, #2) Teri Hall http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1311705255s/7732360.jpg 10515363], as I do want to see what happens next.

All my reviews can be found at The Tiny Reader's Reference! Come on over and say hello!Short & Sweet: [b:Never Let Me Go 6334 Never Let Me Go Kazuo Ishiguro http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1353048590s/6334.jpg 1499998] is a novel of many facets, all of which will inspire discussion between whomever may read it. Where it lacks in action and engagement, it makes up for in emotion, all the way up to its heartbreaking end. This is not a happy book. I originally planned, while sketching out this review in my mind, to sit down and state plainly that [b:Never Let Me Go 6334 Never Let Me Go Kazuo Ishiguro http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1353048590s/6334.jpg 1499998] is weird. “How it won awards is beyond my understanding” and “I didn't quite know what the heck I was reading half the time”.But as I mulled it over, I realized my flaw was going into this novel with expectations. I expected a traditional novel structure. I expected overt action. I expected a ‘movement' based story that engaged me from page 1. [b:Never Let Me Go 6334 Never Let Me Go Kazuo Ishiguro http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1353048590s/6334.jpg 1499998] is none of these, and it doesn't pretend to be, either. The beauty in this story is not action, or movement, or the way the story is presented to you. It is in the subtleties, the mundane over darkness, a normal veneer over something sinister.In replacement of action, we get trickle truth to keep us reading - just enough information for our ‘this is weird' sensors to perk up a little bit, to metaphorically smell a rot under a beautiful bouquet of flowers. And you keep reading for snatches of information, while a small voice in the back of your mind is saying, what the hell is going on here? Even after the answers are given and the book closes on the last page, so many questions are left unanswered. The writing itself is very basic and conversational. I wrote in my notes that it is “very much a ‘hanging out with a childhood friend and reminiscing about old times' type of story”, and I still stick by that. In fact, that is the whole setup, where we meet Kathy, a ‘Carer', who is taking care of her childhood friend, Ruth. They wile away the days talking about their time at Hailsham, and we are teleported into Kathy's memories.Is this novel engaging? Not in the slightest. I can put this book down and it'll drift to the far back of my mind - it doesn't stand out in that regard. A lot of other reviewers have struggled to finish it, or rated it poorly - those reviews are absolutely valid. But if you're looking for a very quick story that is not among the norm, something different, pick this up. Just make sure to also leave your expectations at the door.

I really enjoyed this book. It was an instance of, “I need to stay up to see what happens!” situation, which in light of the recent book “swamps” I've been (voluntarily) wading through (I'm looking at you [b:Wither 8525590 Wither (The Chemical Garden, #1) Lauren DeStefano http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1311109085s/8525590.jpg 13392566] and especially you, [b:Halo 7778981 Halo (Halo, #1) Alexandra Adornetto http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1278885735s/7778981.jpg 10695325]) [b:Maze Runner 6186357 The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, #1) James Dashner http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320500235s/6186357.jpg 6366642] was a completely refreshing change.I loved that not all the information was dumped at the beginning, that we were still finding out new things near the end. I did not like how we were subjected to constant mood swings; while it was great for illustrating Thomas' anger, I grew a bit weary of “I was quiet, wanting to be alone. Suddenly, a wave of fury overcame me. I looked for food, I was suddenly ravenous.” all in one paragraph. I also did not like Teresa. I felt her presence was wholly unnecessary, and felt the story could have moved without her there. Overall, I really enjoyed [b:Maze Runner 6186357 The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, #1) James Dashner http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320500235s/6186357.jpg 6366642] and I will definitely be pursuing the others in this series!

This is one of those novels in which the synopsis posted above is really all you can go on.

Genesis had me actively guessing up until the very last pages. Do yourself a favor and pick it up. The format of writing never gets stale, the story itself is rich, and the ending will surprise you. At 150 pages, its an afternoon well spent.

A fantastic addition to literature on this period of tragedy. Writing was crisp, to the point, and didn't embellish. It does a great job of illustrating the valid frustration the FBI/ATF had while trying to negotiate with Koresh, and the Davidians frustration with what amounted to torture tactics on the government's part. It does “lean” one way, but uses facts for support of that stance. I didn't feel beaten over the head with conclusions.
A small part at the end discusses how this ties in with the problem of militas today, from how Waco influenced the OKC Bombing to Alex Jones and his presence at a Waco anniversary gathering. This section was smaller than I hoped, but also served as a jumping board for other books I can look into for a deeper dive into this subject.

I like to think of this book as existing with two halves, the first part and the second part. The first part was phenomenal, and the reason why I rated so highly. The recording at the beginning, the image of a darkened, “dead” plane against the backdrop of an otherwise busy airport... fantastic. The first part yanked me in with a solid constructed mystery - ‘Why did this plane land and promptly go silent?' followed by ‘Why did everyone on board simply drop dead?'...where it then led me to the second part, where I found out this was a vampire novel. I have no issues with vampire novels. [a:Guillermo del Toro 167605 Guillermo del Toro https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1244751075p2/167605.jpg] does a fantastic job of illustrating a creature we have otherwise, in recent years, ‘domesticated'. What I did take issue with was the excellent setup and somewhat lame conclusion. As [b:The Strain 6065215 The Strain (The Strain Trilogy, #1) Guillermo del Toro https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1326225354s/6065215.jpg 6241525] progressed, the plotholes and fantasy got larger and more grandiose, leaving all of the beloved science behind that had originally made this story so riveting. Many characters that began as individual people slowly degraded and bled into one voice with no color. The story plunked its way to a off-tune conclusion, no doubt leaving wiggle room for [b:The Fall 11991 The Fall Albert Camus https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388187123s/11991.jpg 3324245]. Based on the reviews written for the sequel [b:The Fall 11991 The Fall Albert Camus https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388187123s/11991.jpg 3324245] and the conclusion [b:The Night Eternal 6945530 The Night Eternal (The Strain Trilogy, #3) Guillermo del Toro https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327932900s/6945530.jpg 6965593], I will pass on these two and leave them be. Not a horrible book by any stretch, but one I also won't revisit.

There's a reason why this book is rated so highly, and quite frankly, it deserves every single star.

I've never read a book like this that has such an enveloping, all-encompassing way of conveying the terror and grief and hope of that day. Viewpoints are often only a few sentences (up to a paragraph) long, but it creates a snappy and through 360 degree view of how the events unfolded and how each story intertwined. There's very little author interference; the viewpoints are presented as-is.

I felt raked over and absolutely exhausted when I finally turned the last page and closed this book. It is heavy. It is inspiring. It is a must read.

Though clocking in at a short 147 pages, [b:The Laws of the Skies 42372424 The Laws of the Skies Gr??goire Courtois https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1552177777l/42372424.SY75.jpg 52585140] manage to pack punch after punch after punch - literally AND figuratively, to the point where it becomes almost darkly comical. There is no feel good story here, no satisfying conclusion or moral to be learned. It's death, child death, and little more. Saw this reviewed on tiktok, and thought I'd give it a whirl despite the low rating and the obvious subject matter. It doesn't hold back letting you know exactly what type of story it is, and the tension is created knowing the deaths that will occur, leaving you to only guess how they will come about. That tension was punctured with each subsequent incident, however, as it started to come off like The Gashlycrumb Tinies. I'm not sure if this was on purpose, or if it was because there was little to no story to carry them - the tragedies were the story - but it became darkly comedic in a not-funny-ironic sort of way. Even though I don't hate this book, it doesn't add anything to it's genre or really anything, in my opinion. The ending was less than a page long. The other issue that heavily contributed to it's rating was the style of writing. At certain points, it was well-done, but would occasionally devolve into paragraph long spindles of thought that splintered until my eyes glazed over and I lost whatever point author attempted to make. No 7 year old had thought spirals like that, and it only served to add to the heightened absurdity of the entire novella. If you're morbidly curious - feel free to pick this up. But understand it's focus is only on the tragedies, and little else. I regret reading only because it doesn't really serve any purpose except to be depressing.

My review will echo others. In short, this is an deadened, back-and-forth circular discussion on the topic of whether to leave or stay in light of horrific abuse, all viewed through a religious Mennonite lens. The story throws some jabs, and the ending did pull some heartstrings, but ultimately I'm left confused and annoyed.

I think the biggest misstep in this novel that cascaded into other issues is the method of which the story is told. No speech is direct. Everything, save for our narrator, is spoken in passive statements, and it serves to deaden a lot of emotion about the situation at hand, as well as removing a large bit of personality from each character. There were a few moments of creepy, chill-up-your-spine implications and sudden, graphic depictions - all of which had heavier impact due to the otherwise banal narration - but overall it only served to turn much of the story into a slog.

The narrator's gender didn't bother me as much as his long-winded inserts did. Separate from him explaining certain cultural nuances, the insert of his background or his encounters outside the meeting felt frustrating. What really chapped my hide however were the comments and odes about one character he pines for. In the context of what this novel is centered on, it comes across as almost... creepy. It's all soft and emotional, but like, she's pregnant because she was raped. I'm not sure if this is to grow the narrator's character, or to illustrate a statement on men overall, but either way it was, also, annoying.

Based on other reviews, it seems as if the choices made here were stylistic, in which case I can confidently say the style is not for me. I think if this had been handled a bit differently, and maybe some choices - in narrator, particularly - were changed, this would be rated much higher. As it stands however, I didn't much care for it.

Short and Sweet: [b:Evermore 3975774 Evermore (The Immortals, #1) Alyson Noel https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362336360s/3975774.jpg 4021549], despite boasting a compelling idea, suffers from textbook tropes and choppy, emotionless storytelling that breaks up any investment in characters and their experiences. Characters turn into caricatures, and any questions the story may legitimately create are quashed, unexplained, or answered lamely.I... Don't really know what to say, so I'll just type out the notes I wrote as I read.1. Casual storytelling.2. Tropes. Tropes everywhere. 3. Sooooo.... what is WITH the random tulips?4. Touchy touchy ***** 5. “Its not what you think”6. Haaaaay backpack full of tulips NBD7. STOP. WITH THE TULIPS.8. When did he transition to BF status?9. You're just now discovering the power of alcohol?10. What the fuck 1: You can see here I initially tried to be serious. The storytelling method is very casual, as if the protagonist (Ever. Ever) is speaking with you directly. It was interesting, but a method that may not be for everyone.2: Here's an idea. Take a shot every time you stumble across a cheap trope. Haha just kidding no seriously don't.You imagine it, its in this book - anguished protagonist/mysterious love interest/airheaded BFF/gay BFF/mean girls/”I'm a freak!“/tragic backstory/overwhelming guilt/insta-love.3: The tulip thing got weird.4: The main love interest kept touching Ever from the very beginning, when it was not appropriate. Strange, intimate touching that aggravated me by-proxy. They'd barely spoken five words together when he was already whispering in Ever's ear, brushing his fingers along her jawline, pulling her close, etc. I tried to keep track with every scene this happened in with asterisks, but I lost count.5: Always the cry of a long misunderstood hero, masquerading under mystery, caught red-handed under sketchy circumstances. Please. Please.6: Yes, this happened. I kinda hoped she would start eating them, but no dice.7: Fun fact - it took her until the last few pages to google the historical meaning of tulips and their “flower language”. 8: He appears. He disappears. He's cryptic. He's manipulative. He disappears. Through several kisses and date-esque truancy, Ever suddenly labels him a boyfriend. Oh, don't mind his flakiness, he's handsome and his touch is silencing9: Ever suddenly realizes that alcohol dulls her senses and becomes a raging alcoholic (sniff sniff... can you smell the tropes in the air?) You cannot tell me this is the first time she's discovered that alcohol has this power. 10: I kept reading for the wrap-up. I got fuckery instead.I wanted to like this story. Damen's ~mystery~ was compelling (in which he-is-but-not-really-a-vampire, is no trope sacred?!) but I desperately wanted to reach through the pages, grab Ever's backbone, shake it upright and make her figure it out. I literally have a list of questions even after I turned the final page. Summerland? Transcendental Meditation? Chakras? The conclusion was, if possible, as muddied and confusing as the story itself, and closed on a minor note. Overall - I should have listened, I should have heeded other reader's reviews. But I was foolish. Optimistic. Naive. Yea, I have walked in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and in it I found... tulips.