Review: A Very Medoran Kaldoras

A Very Medoran Kaldoras by Lynette Noni
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I mean, the good thing is that this implies a sequel.

The bad thing is THIS IMPLIES A SEQUEL WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE???!!!

Honestly though I'll read anything and everything to do with this series so keep 'em coming.

***

Review for Akarnae (4★s) HERE
Review for Raelia (5★s) HERE
Review for Draekora (5★s) HERE
Review for Graevale (5★s) HERE
Review for We Three Heroes (4★s) HERE
Review for Vardaesia (5★s) HERE

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Review: The Weekend

The Weekend by Charlotte Wood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Firstly, this book is really depressing.

It's about old people, and as a 34 year-old who likes to complain about being old while secretly appreciating that I've still got a fairly long life ahead of me, this was a terrifying glimpse of a future I DO NOT WANT.

I'm gonna be straight up: getting old scares the crap out of me. But it scares me more to think that I could wind up like these old ladies, full of regrets and missed chances. Still waiting for my big break. Having forfeited true love. Wishing for times long past. THIS IS MY NIGHTMARE.

This book revolves around three friends - Jude, Wendy and Adele- who come together one weekend to clear out the house of their fourth friend, Sylvie, who has recently passed. We come to learn quite quickly that perfect Sylvie was sort of the glue who held them all together, and made them feel better about the lives they lived. Without her, they're starting to fall apart and their friendship is being tested.

These are very real characters. This is not a book about action, or about unexpected occurrences, or even second chances - it's just about life, and how sometimes it can get away from you faster than you realise. It's about three perfectly ordinary old women who are STILL trying to make sense of the world.

Like I said: depressing.

Yet at the same time there is realness here, and you know they're flawed but you also know they're stronger than they realise and they are going to be okay. I never really liked any of them, but I was definitely rooting for them because they are resilient and fiercely loyal. Remember back in the day how you'd talk smack about your siblings (perhaps you still do) but then one of your friends would insult the same sibling and you'd have none of it? 'Only I get to talk smack about my siblings!' That is the vibe with these three. I kinda liked that.

I wonder how older readers will receive this one. Will the way these characters talk about their aches and pains, their bodies, their memories, resonate? Will it be considered more humourous to those who relate? I once saw this movie, Something's Gotta Give, with my mum and my aunt, and it was about old people (and their sex lives) and it scarred me for life. I found it horrifying. But my mum and my aunt loved it, so much so that they STILL rave about it. I feel like this book might be a bit like that. Like, for me, it's a terrifying possibility of a future I don't want, but for others it may just be a comical, insightful story about ageing. Anyone wanna weigh in on that for me?

This is one of those rare times that I didn't really like the story or the characters all that much, but I really enjoyed the writing. I connected to it, and I felt honest feelings reading about these people. And Finn! OMG FINN! I am a dog person but I actually despised this stupid, pathetic dog, and I despise myself for despising him. So it's that kind of book, folks.

There's some really interesting ideas here but ultimately it's about friendship and solidarity, and figuring out what's important in life. It may have been depressing, but it's certainly inspired me to try and live a little harder.

With thanks to A&U for my ARC

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Review: Catching Teller Crow

Catching Teller Crow by Ambelin Kwaymullina
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An unusual read, which lightly skims over some dark atrocities.

Beth is dead, and trying to help her grieving dad solve a mystery. The mystery leads them to Isobel Catching, who has a rather strange story to impart ...

This was an easy read, taking a mere handful of hours from my day. On the surface, it's a light story about death and moving on, but it also references the horrific treatment of Aboriginal people in days gone by and gives a voice to people who should have been heard.

It's told by both Beth and Isobel, but while Beth's story is coherent and linear, Isobel's is more like a dream, told in scarce prose and fanciful images. It's a little hard to unravel, but that's a huge part of this story's charm.

There's a mystery to solve, but the storytelling itself is the main focus, as well as the nature of grief. I found it quite beautiful, if a little confusing.

For a story that was consumed so quickly, there's a lot of thoughts leftover. It's a soft glimpse of Australia's dark, racist past but there's kindness, love and support flowing through the story, easing the pain and hopefully encouraging a more positive step forward from anyone this story touches.

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Dymocks 52 Challenge Refined: RESULTS

So last year I of course took it upon myself to read 38 books from the Dymocks Top 101 in the remaining 38 weeks of the year.

I failed.

In the end, I managed 28 books out of the 38, which is an effort I'm still pretty proud of. My downfall was just reading so many other books that weren't on the list.

I found that, as I got through the list, the books that were left didn't quite interest me enough to choose them over the other enticing books I had waiting for my attention. It also meant buying quite a few that I didn't own, and by the end of the year my book budget was maxed out.

So here's some final stats:

Books read: 28

Pages read: 11,611

Average # pages: 415

Shortest: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (212 pages)

Longest: A Little Life (720 pages)

Rating Breakdown:

 5 stars: 3 books

 4 stars: 10 books

 3 stars: 7 books

 2 stars: 7 books

 1 star: 1 book

Average rating: 3.25

Most popular GR review: The Final Empire

Least popular GR review: Mythos

Oldest book read: Jane Eyre (pub. 1847)

Newest book read: Becoming (pub. 2018)

Most popular on GR: Becoming (4.57av)

Least popular on GR: Nine Perfect Strangers (3.50av)

Most pleasant surprise: Ready Player One

Least pleasant surprise: Fight Like a Girl

Good as expected: Nevernight

Bad as expected: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

DNFs: 1

Aussie Authors: 10

Books I'm glad this challenge forced me to read: The Final Empire, Jane Eyre, The Happiest Refugee, Boy Swallows Universe, The Historian

And, finally, here's the list:

1. The Book Thief - Markus Zusak (AA) (28) 3*
2. The Happiest Refugee - Anh Do (AA) (12) 4*
3. Jasper Jones - Craig Silvey (AA) (5) 2*
4. Outlander - Diana Gabaldon
5. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte (20) 4*
6. The Light Between Oceans - M. L. Stedman (AA) (17) 3*
7. The Narrow Road to the Deep North - Richard Flanagan (AA)
8. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams (13) 2*
9. Assassin's Apprentice (The Farseer Trilogy) - Robin Hobb (14) 2*
10. The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt
11. The Husband's Secret - Liane Moriarty (AA)
12. The Martian - Andy Weir
13. My Brilliant Friend (The Neapolitan Series) - Elena Ferrante (11) 2*
14. The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows (3) 4*
15. Ready Player One - Ernest Cline (25) 5*
16. Shantaram - Gregory David Roberts (AA)
17. All the Bright Places - Jennifer Niven (22) 2*
18. Big Little Lies - Liane Moriarty (AA) (10) 3*
19. Reckoning - Magda Szubanski (AA)
20. A Little Life - Hanya Yanagihara (21) 3*
21. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck - Mark Manson (24) 4*
22. The Historian - Elizabeth Kostova (27) 4*
23. The Final Empire (The Mistborn Series) - Brandon Sanderson (6) 5*
24. Wool - Hugh Howey
25. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - Gail Honeyman (2) 4*
26. Boy Swallows Universe - Trent Dalton (AA) (16) 4*
27. Nevernight (The Nevernight Chronicles) - Jay Kristoff (AA) (1) 5*
28. Simon VS the Homo Sapiens Agenda - Becky Albertalli (4) 4*
29. Fight Like a Girl - Clementine Ford (AA) (19) 1*
30. Circe - Madeline Miller (7) 2*
31. Mythos - Stephen Fry (23) 3*
32. The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart - Holly Ringland (AA)
33. Becoming - Michelle Obama (15) 4*
34. A Discovery of Witches - Deborah Harkness
35. Crazy Rich Asians - Kevin Kwan (26) 3*
36. Scrublands - Chris Hammer (AA) (9) 4*
37. Normal People - Sally Rooney (18) 3*
38. Nine Perfect Strangers - Liane Moriarty (AA) (8) 2*

(AA = Australian Author)

You can read all the reviews here and please feel free to let me know your thoughts!

Overall I had a lot of fun with this challenge and will be starting the next Dymocks challenge soon! :)

Challenge Review: The Book Thief

My #dymocks52challenge book 28/38, for week 42.

Title: The Book Thief
Author: Markus Zuzak
Published: 1/9/05
First appearance in 101: 2008 (#27)
Years in 101: 11
2019 101 ranking: #4
Rating: 3 stars

Why I chose this book:
Um, have a look at that mammoth 101 streak! 11 years on the list! It's been on there every single time. As much as I've been avoiding this one, it was impossible to not include it in this challenge. When I realised I was ultimately going to fail the challenge, I knew I had to make a final push to get this one in.

Thoughts:
It's been raved about since publication, agreeing with my theory that people go nuts over war books. I avoid them where I can because I find them way too depressing, but this one surprised me by being okay. It wasn't as dreary as I was expecting, and the unique point of view kept things rather interesting. I liked it more than I thought I would.

You can read my full review on Goodreads here.


Verdict: Was it worthy?
Of course it was. It was always going to be. I'm not going to argue with eleven years' worth of votes! As much as I hate war books, this was uniquely told, so that it's not all dark and depressing, but it still gets across the message that war books try to convey - the horrific pointlessness to it all. It's well-written and told with wit and ultimately is a worthy read for all.

Review: Deeplight

Deeplight by Frances Hardinge
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ok this is not my normal kettle of fish (haha see what I did there) but actually enjoyed it a lot!

It's weird!

There are monster-gods!

Lots of fish and fishy things!

OH! FISHY THINGS HA HA GET IT COZ EVERYONE IS UP TO SUSS.

Wow, look how well my brain works after all this science and sea. Sorry. I need some time to dry out.

Also, Jelt is a JERK.

***
A day later ...

Okay, here I am to write a proper review for this highly unusual book!

Shall I give you the plot?
Hark is a troubled young orphan being constantly led astray by his best buddy, Jelt. They're living in a world where the gods are dead and pieces of them can still be found in the ocean. These pieces can be used for technological advancement - or sold to the highest bidder. Naturally, one particular piece might just be lurking, waiting to get Hark into an ocean of trouble ...

Ah, Hark. He's a good kid at heart but he's terrible at saying no and is completely blind to how toxic his friendship with Jelt is. It really frustrated me because I respected his loyalty but man was it misplaced. He does manage to make some other 'friends' though so at least there are other characters for us to like. PHEW.

The gods are freaking COOL. I mean, forget everything that you know about gods. These guys are basically all tyrannical monsters that once lived in the ocean devouring seafarers and ships and submarines and basically the floor was lava only the floor was an ocean full of these guys. They're gone now but their legacy is ingrained in the inhabitants of the Myriad and there are still some priests with memories of the time they terrorised humanity with their godliness. I loved the stories and was right by Hark's side when he was pestering people for more information. It was really fascinating to learn about these dark deities. It got dark enough to actually give me nightmares. That was unexpected. This is not a cheery story, my friends.

The world building in this story is incredible. It's limited to the Myriad, and while there is talk of 'the continents', they don't feature in this book. This is all about Hark's tiny world and it is full of the most amazing details. It's an interesting blend of science and mythology - I want to say magic but it doesn't feel like the right word here. It's more like ... the science in this world is just really different to the science of our world. These gods were real things and their makeup has provided advanced technology to those who have scavenged parts and experimented with them. It provides a lot to ponder.

The ocean features heavily (obviously) but the sea-creatures are limited in favour of all the weird and wonderful things that also reside in this strange double ocean. Maybe you should just read the book to figure out what I mean about that - I am not equipped to explain it other than to tell you it is equal parts strange and awesome.

Honestly, normally this much ocean and this much length and this much frustration with a main character would have turned me right off but I just found the whole thing so intriguing, so even though I would get frustrated with Hark there was still so much more I needed to know. Hark may not be particularly likeable but he's an honest sort of character, and he needs the length of this book for his growth to be realistic.

There are a lot of moral questions here if you want to think deep, but on the surface this is just a really unique story about a world far different from ours. I loved the complexity and the details, though there was never so much it weighed down the story and kept it from travelling at a nice steady pace.

It does get quite dark in places and there's not really any humour in it, but it raises some really interesting ideas and provides some wonderful characters for us to judge with all of our perfect righteousness (note sarcasm). I feel quite justified in calling Jelt a jerk, though. It's been a while since I hated a character this much.

Highly recommend for those looking for a unique coming-of-age tale set in a wet, tumultuous world of dead god-monsters and strange science.

With thanks to Macmillan for a copy to read and review

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Review: Our Dark Secret

Our Dark Secret by Jenny Quintana
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Well that was disturbing.

It took a while for things to happen so there wasn't a lot of suspense in this one. It was more about sad, pathetic Elizabeth and her obsession with Rachel, and their messed up family relationships. I gotta say, Elizabeth was not someone I enjoyed getting to know. She's incredibly insecure and her girl-crush on Rachel is super cringe-worthy. But you do really pity her and her naivety.

But let me back up.

Here's the lowdown:
1978: Elizabeth meets Rachel. Thinks she's an angel. Obsesses over trying to be her friend for the entire book. Meanwhile there's something strange going on with her parents but who has time for that drama when she's fat and sad?
1999: Elizabeth is still fat and sad and is now also a lost case. She's stealing cake, reminiscing about that sad childhood and hoping that the body that's just turned up can't be connected to her this many years later.

I mean, the setup is interesting. I definitely wanna know who owns the bodies, how they met their end, and how dear sweet Elizabeth is involved. But the first half of the book has no interest in crime and/or suspense and reads more like literary fiction as it discusses the breakdown of her parents' relationship and the awkwardness of navigating the relationships that are left. This will be fascinating for people who like to dwell on the tragic realities of broken homes and it really was quite heartbreaking, but in my case I was expecting a tense thriller so it threw me off a bit.

Once we got a bit more of a taste of the mystery though it was quite interesting and did keep me guessing. There was a lot going on so it was fun to work out what went where.

There's not a huge amount of depth to any characters beside Elizabeth, but I didn't really like what I saw anyway so that wasn't a deal breaker for me. The pace was really slow to start with but definitely picked up at the halfway mark and by the end I was pretty committed to the story.

Overall it was an interesting read but not really enough to be memorable for me. A unique story, but more mystery and drama than crime and suspense. This will be more enjoyable for those who want to dwell on motivations and far-reaching consequences, but people looking for a hard and fast thriller may find this a little slow.

With thanks to Macmillan AUS for my ARC. (Publishing 11/2/20)

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Review: Jar of Hearts

Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

OH MY GOD THIS WAS GOOD.

What an absolute heartbreaker of a novel!

I paid 5 bucks for this book, I was honestly not expecting to be so blown away.

Plot: Geo's ex-boyfriend has finally been outed as a serial killer, and she's in trouble for helping him out all those years ago. She's gotta do her time, then get back into the world and try to atone for things. Unfortunately he's escaped prison and suddenly bodies start turning up in a manner that seems awfully familiar ...

WOW. I mean ... WOW.

Okay, firstly ... alllllllllll the trigger warnings. I mean ALL. Basically, if you are someone who needs trigger warnings, stay the heck away from this disaster. And I say disaster with love and affection because boy did it steal my heart just to break it and then sticky tape it together again. But there is some tough content here so be careful my more fragile friends.

I was gripped from page one and it just never let up, so I finished it in less than a day. The pacing was incredible and it gave me a taste of so many things while leaving enough mystery to have me turning pages obsessively. I figured things out only when I was supposed to, and my emotions were all over the place being dragged up, down and sideways on this rollercoaster. I felt everything these characters felt, and there was so much grey to humanise everyone which was so important for this story. It's a novel about a serial killer but there's no black and white heroes and villains. I loved that.

Geo has a really tough time. I felt so much for her. We get to share a bit of her prison time and it really is no fun at all. And she has such a good heart and so much pain that my heart just breaks for her. Her story was a powerful one, and it asks a lot of questions that may make you feel uncomfortable.

The characters are brilliantly developed, and you've got detective Kaiser with his heart of gold to add a little light to all the darkness, although even he isn't perfect. He's a faint suggestion of hope, though, and that is so incredibly important to this story.

I really loved it, even though it broke my heart. It was one of the most intense thrillers I've read in a while, and if I were ever going to break tradition and give five stars to a crime novel, this would be it.

Fans of crime, suspense, thrillers etc should definitely get acquainted with this novel, because it's truly brilliant. WHAT A RUSH.

Damnnnn this review is like my own lil jar of hearts, look at them all XD <3

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Review: The Battle of the Labyrinth

The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

*sigh*

Always with the cliff(ish) hangers.

I was feeling the labyrinth, though! Fun times!!

Percy is back in fine form, with another dramatic school exit leading into another chaotic summer of dealing with godly issues while trying not to get his friends or himself killed. Yeah. Good luck with that, kid.

WARNING: This review contains spoilers for the previous three books in the series.

Things are not going well for the gods and their offspring because, thanks to our old traitor friend, Kronos is getting closer to restoration and the titans are shaping up for one hectic brawl. Grover is more motivated than ever to find Pan, and Annabeth and Clarisse actually agree on something so clearly these are dire times. Their conclusion? It's time to venture into The Labyrinth. Please leave your fears at the door and don't forget to take your trusty Handsome Hero with you, Annabeth.

If you know your myths then you'll smile knowingly when you encounter names like Minos, Daedalus (and his son <3), Theseus and Ariadne. The twists and turns of the labyrinth also lead us to an interesting assortment of allies and enemies so don't try to expect anything other than the unexpected.

Percy's advance through his teenage years is also becoming more evident as we see his interactions with the ladies acquire a wonderful clueless charm despite his growing confusion over his feelings. NOT THE TIME, PERCE. FOCUS.

I must say I really loved this adventure, even though things are getting more serious and we're starting to appreciate the magnitude of what's happening. There's an urgency to this story that we haven't encountered before now and I think it really amps up the tension and makes it a much more thrilling read. I didn't have to deal with Thalia being a pain this time and I am keen for more Rachel. Annabeth is a BADASS BABE as always. The squad is solid.

One more book to go in this series and I'm starting to get sad that it's nearly over! But it's really been a fun series and this one was another easy read. Looking forward to the conclusion.

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Review: Midnight in the Graveyard

Midnight in the Graveyard by Kenneth W. Cain
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alrighty!

Please see my status updates for brief feelings regarding each individual story, with the last three here, which I will spoiler tag for the sensitive souls:

(view spoiler)[The Putpocket: Weird. Different and interesting, but slow. 3 stars.
Swamp Vengeance: YASSSSSSS GATOR CHOWWWWW honestly I'm just an animal lover. 4 stars.
Portrait: ... I am at a loss. So confused. Also depressed. 3 stars. (hide spoiler)]

This was such a great collection! Admittedly it took me a while, but I'm super slow with e-books. It was a guest author group read for HA and it was an immense amount of fun reading along with everyone and having insight from so many brilliant authors! On that note alone I can't recommend it enough - a great collection from a great bunch of people. Also some great stories behind the inspiration!

This collection is all about ghost stories - hauntings, mysterious deaths, revenge from the grave etc. I love me some ghost stories, so this was always going to be a win. Of course there were some stories that I loved and others that I didn't enjoy so much but overall this is just a fantastic compilation with great variety. There is something to suit all tastes - tension, violence, gore, spookiness, silent contemplation ... plenty to work with.

My highlights:
-Euphemia Christie
-Dog Days
-Those Who Are Terrified
-Russian Dollhouse
-The Graveyard
-Last Call at the Sudden Death Saloon
-Ghost Blood
-The Glimmer Girls
-New Blood, Old Skin
-Swamp Vengeance

I think Dog Days was the biggest standout because it left me wanting more - I would definitely read a full length novel with this plot!

I do feel that the first half of the book is the strongest, because it was one great read after another. They kinda slowed a bit towards the middle, and some were a bit too long-winded for me, making wait too long for the real action to start.

Least Faves:
-The Cemetery Man (way too kinky for me)
-Sawmill Road (I've seen too much Supernatural for this one to have made a big impact)
-Haunted World (how dare you give me that ending)
-The Gravedigger's Story (see point for Sawmill Road)

Overall this is a solid collection and I had a lot of fun reading it. It's the first time I've actually purchased an e-book and it was totally worth it.

If you're looking for an excellent anthology of ghost stories, look no further!

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Review: Supernova

Supernova by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST INTENSE DAY OF READING I'VE HAD ALL YEAR.

WHAT A RUSH.

Where do I even start?

Obviously I loved it. The first two books set things up so well, so there were plenty of questions and theories waiting for answers and confrontations waiting to happen.

WARNING: This review contains spoilers for the first two books in the series.

Firstly, I was really glad this book contained gentle reminders of what happened in the last book(s) because it meant I didn't have to waste time trying to remember the important things. Sometimes you waste a couple chapters trying to get back into the flow of a story you haven't read in a year or so and it can be frustrating, whereas this throws you back in with all the important tidbits to make sure you're up to speed.

Then the action comes and it doesn't stop coming.

Nova is so badass, and she's determined to do what she thinks is right, no matter how many moral lines she has to cross. Poor, duped Adrian. She loves the guy, but she's still messing with that pretty head of his. Bless his determination to believe the best of everyone.

I really don't like Danna, and I wish there was more animosity between her and Nova but they're so damn forgiving. Blegh. But at least there is the nastiness between Nova and Magpie and that really makes my heart soar. It's a dynamic that was unexpected but I've grown to love it over these three books. Ruby and Oscar are adorable and funny and help lighten the mood when things are getting too serious. Ruby's brothers are a manic energy I can really get behind. Max is chill, and his childlike mind creates a strange balance to this world of violence.

When the Nightmare reveal came it was not nearly as dramatic as I was expecting, considering it's been building for two books. Everyone handled it much better than I thought they would. The council were douchebags, of course, but that's to be expected. Massive egos on that bunch of weirdos.

There were also some really interesting answers to burning questions and I am happy to finally have closure. It was a fun journey to kinda experience the unfolding of all the secrets and lies, particularly since it was peppered through all the action. There were no annoying walls of explanations or long-winded speeches. Everything was revealed so naturally.

This book is also an adventure in its own right. There are more barriers to overcome and Nova and Adrian both have a few things they need to work out about how they see the world. That's something I've really enjoyed over the course of this series - the heroes vs the villains and all of the grey in between. Right and wrong and who decides what that is. What makes people special, what makes a hero. Big questions with no clear answers.

The drama got pretty intense and there was a lot that I was definitely not expecting that tugged my heart a bit! It was such a fun romp that I wasn't expecting to feel so much. Why you make me get all attached, Marissa Meyer?

But fear not - there is still a ton of action with explosions, fight scenes, chases, etc so you will definitely not get bored or waste too much time sitting around contemplating your feelings.

A worthy conclusion to the series, but one that definitely leaves it open for a spin-off, which I 1000% support. Bring me those dastardly villains and their plots any time.


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Review: The Girl Who Reads on the Métro

The Girl Who Reads on the Métro by Christine Féret-Fleury
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I spent most of this book being confused about what was happening, but it was still cute. Plus it's about books so no complaints there!

So we have Juliette - who is quite an odd duck, to be perfectly honest - who lives a dull life and spends her daily commute reading people who are reading instead of her book. Then one day she happens upon a door held open by a book and it leads her to meeting Soliman, who is a recluse living in an apartment full of books. Soliman has people who deliver random books to people after stalking them to discover their interests. What happens after that is mostly a mystery to me.

I found it really hard to follow what was going on, and I think that's because Juliette is always off in her own little world. She goes off on tangents and the story telling skips around and suddenly you're reading thinking, 'wait a sec ... how did we get here?' It's almost like the editor was too heavy-handed and took out half the narrative.

It was also a bit disappointing for me as a Francophile that this was a bit light on the descriptions. Plenty of place names but they're going to be more familiar to locals than tourists - I imagine Parisians reading this will get a kick out of recognising places and descriptions but I found it hard to connect.

This is a book about books so if you're widely read, prepare for the little thrills when you recognise titles and quotes. Some are quite obscure but there's a handy list at the back as well, which will also give book lovers plenty of inspiration. I recognised a few references here and there, and it was fun to understand them.

There's also a heavy emphasis on how much books can change lives and I'm 100% on board with that.

It was a bit of a strange story overall but it was never dull and I wasn't entirely bothered that I only half understood it. I liked the message it was sending and I do feel that Juliette's transformation was there and quite sweet. I loved the emphasis on books and I think there is something here that will really capture hearts for those who can relate.

With thanks to Macmillan for an ARC

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Review: Oasis: A Novel

Oasis: A Novel by Katya de Becerra
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Okay.

I have no idea what just happened but that was a freaking WILD RIDE.

I mean ...

Wow.

So you've got this bunch of kids who are off to the desert for some archaeology fun but then there's a sandstorm, they get stuck wandering the desert and suddenly happen upon an oasis that should most definitely not be there. Freakiness ensues.

Let's start with the kids.

Alif - an interesting narrator. She's pretty honest, even if things get a little messy in that head of hers. I liked her, and that she was kind of a peacekeeper without being a total doormat.

Tommy - Yeahhhh alright it didn't take me long to warm up to him. Strong silent type here. Totally dreamy.

Minh - I feel like she had the most balls of the group, to be honest. No time for your BS. She is good people.

Lori - Look she was kinda annoying but I think she was supposed to be? Classic giggler who cares more about boys and looking good for boys than anything else. But she was plenty distracted by Rowen so I didn't really have to put up with her too much.

Rowen - Neutral feels. He seemed okay to me but, again, was too distracted wooing Lori to make much of a ruckus.

Luke - Oh how I loathed Luke. Luke is the kinda guy who thinks he deserves whatever he wants, just because he wants it really bad. WRONG. Take your ego and your entitlement and your ASSHOLERY out into the desert and keep walking until you crumble into the nothingness you really are.

In short: not my fave.

It takes a minute or two to find our way into the Oasis but once we do, buckle up for a strange, strange ride. Something alien appears to be messing with these kids and you never know what it's gonna do next.

But is it really alien? Is it heatstroke? Is it all a dream? What the heck is really going on here??!

This kept me on edge the entire time, trying to figure out who was messing with whom, and who was the sinister mastermind if there was one. There's so much strangeness that every time you think you've got something figured out, it changes again.

What a nail-biter.

Definitely a unique read with some crazy twists and turns that would make anyone carsick. The character dynamics are fascinating to witness - particularly as they unravel - and the whole thing is shrouded in mystery. Honestly found it hard to put down.

Highly recommend this one if you're keen for something unusual brimming with suspense that will keep you guessing until the very last page.

With thanks to Macmillan for my uncorrected proof ARC

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Review: Moral Compass

Moral Compass by Danielle Steel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a really difficult one for me to read emotionally, and as such it's difficult for me to rate.

Plot: An all-boys, elite boarding school has just agreed to take on the challenge of becoming co-ed, and has a handful of girls starting there for the first time. Things start out smoothly but then there's a Halloween party and next thing you know one of the new girls is waking up in hospital with a horrible hangover and signs of assault. Suddenly a lot of lives have changed.

The title of the story suggests the big theme: morality. Who is to blame, who isn't, what is the right thing to do? Who should be doing it? etc. A lot of questions are raised and I won't lie - this is gonna be pretty triggering if you've ever had something similar happen to you, or someone you're close to. Read with caution.

Things I felt reading this: Rage. Sorrow. Pity. Frustration. Understanding. Sick.

At the same time, it was blunted by how the story was written. It was very much told, meaning most of the feelings I had were less because of the writing and more because of my own feelings towards this kind of occurrence. I found it really strange that with all these people and conflicting POVs that there was very little feeling to the story. It was quite cold and direct, and no real attachment to the characters through the writing. Maybe that was intentional - the writer choosing not to take any kind of side - but it felt a lot like an opinion piece told through fictional characters. It's a relatively short book, coming in at just under 300 pages, and I wonder what sort of emotions could have been dragged out of me by taking the time to really explore the characters. There were a few expansions that I was desperate for - particularly in the case of Vivienne, Jamie and Chase - and then there were some that made little sense to me and seemed kind of inappropriate and cheap, considering the rest of the book.

The setup was also really abrupt for me. The incident occurred unbelievably fast, and I found it hard to swallow. It felt rushed and unrealistic. There was a lot of talk about alcohol poisoning which made me wonder what the hell they were really sharing around. (Remind me to have two sips of tequila next time I want to get blackout drunk.)

However I overlooked the sketchy setup because I knew this was a book about the consequences. The point was not how much alcohol had been consumed - the point was how much consumption of alcohol excuses one's actions. Along with a ton of other moral questions.

That's probably the big thing here: I felt like the story was written pretty bluntly, and was nothing special, but the questions it makes you ask yourself are quite intense. This is less about the way this story is told and more about the way this story makes you feel.

Personally, it made me feel terrible. Depressed, really.

If you're triggered easily I'd probably give it a miss, and if you're looking to connect with characters on a deeper level you'll probably be disappointed. But if you're interested in moral questions and right vs wrong in horrible situations, this will get the wheels turning upstairs. I can't say I enjoyed reading it, but it definitely made me think hard about what it was saying.

I'm definitely gonna need something fun after that emotional rollercoaster.

With thanks to Macmillan for my ARC.

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Review: The Titan's Curse

The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

WARNING: This review contains spoilers for the first two books of the series.

I wasn't feeling this one as much as the first two, but I think it's mostly because Thalia does nothing for me. I mean, she was the big reveal at the end of SoM and then between books she's somehow become one of Percy's best friends? Then all she does is yell at him and act all gung-ho. I totally get why it annoyed my homie. The girl needs to chill.

Percy also maybe needs to chill. This time there seems to be more desire to be the hero, but at least he's not too obnoxious about it. And he's mostly trying to up Thalia so I was kinda on his side, anyway. He's still got a heart of gold under all that teenage-boy ego.

The blurb mentions two more half-bloods with unknown parentage showing up but the kids don't hugely feature, to be honest. Mostly I think they're here so we can wonder about their parentage (guessed that pretty early on) but otherwise we don't really get to know them a great deal. This is more about the quest to find a monster and work out who The General is and what the heck is going on in the world of titans and gods. (Spoiler - nothing good.) Also, Percy + Annabeth 4 Eva

I feel like the adventure wasn't as exciting for me this time, which is nuts because there are still plenty of monsters and chases and fights and whatnot. I think maybe I read it too slow. The pace is still fast and the action is pretty non-stop, so I don't see why anyone wouldn't enjoy it if they liked the first two. Clearly I'm just hard to please at the moment.

There are more gods and goddesses to meet, and a few new characters to get to know, and the cover has a black pegasus so that suggests some fun times right? At this stage you can really feel the bigger story progressing, so you know the heat is gonna be turned right up next book.

I am here for it.

***

Review for The Lightning Thief HERE
Review for The Sea of Monsters HERE

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