Review: Sour

Sour by Tony Evans
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars.

The creep-factor on this one is seriously high.

It's chaotic and fast-paced almost the entire way through, with only a brief lull in the middle to relate a little backstory on witches. But then when it picks up again it's even crazier than before and WOW. It was hard to breathe towards the end there.

I really enjoyed the first part, in which Sam and his friend Anthony take on a witch and her crow minions in a small cabin. I loved how it jumped straight into the action and never let up; I loved how it wasn't just violence - there were mind games, too. Mostly I just love how evil this witch is. *shudder*

It's a short story at only 158 pages, so it packs in a lot of action at the expense of background details. I didn't mind it, but I would have enjoyed a little more on the history and lore and that mysterious black book.

One thing that did begin to frustrate me, though, was all the similes. There were a few too many for my tastes, and while they were rather creative, at times it stunted the action for me instead of enhancing it.

Overall, though, it was a disturbing story that made for compulsive reading. I enjoyed the atmosphere of it, and while Sam made some utterly idiotic decisions, it led to some rather fascinating events.

Not for the squeamish, but otherwise horror lovers should be thoroughly entertained.

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Review: Jack West Jr and the Chinese Splashdown

Jack West Jr and the Chinese Splashdown by Matthew Reilly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Look, on its own, this is a pretty random short story.

But in the role of an appetiser before the main course of The Two Lost Mountains, it does the job.

Something else to get you excited for what's to come.

Consider me excited.

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Review: The Three Secret Cities

The Three Secret Cities by Matthew Reilly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

**Re-read 09/20**

Basically it's all the global adventuring fun of the first three books with all the fangirling fun of the fourth book. STILL GOOD.

I still lost my mind over the best bits. It's just that epic.

Also, 2020 is here and although it's mostly been terrible the silver lining is quite clearly that we finally get the next book in this series. <3 Patience is a virtue, friends.


**Original Review 10/18**

OH MY GOD I CAN'T DEAL.

And you're telling me I have to wait til freaking 2020 for the next one?!!

I don't even know how to process this.

This book has been my most anticipated read of 2018, and it did not disappoint.

There's the trademark action involving vehicles and guns, chases, puzzles and some seriously evil villains. Once again, Jack has to save the world with assistance from his friends, solving riddles and brushing shoulders with death. It's super far-fetched, so if you're one of those people who needs realism, this is probably not the series for you. Me, I personally love how outrageous things get, and I'm more than happy to suspend disbelief.

It picks up where The Four Legendary Kingdoms left off, with the Minotaurs having to face what comes out of the coffins, while Jack is back home, recuperating. I had to flick through the last half of 4LK to refresh my memory and it was well worth it. This is a definite continuation of that story, but its own contained arc of it.

This is back to the global scale of the first few novels, meaning we've got more characters as well. I was so happy to have the twins pop up again! I also LOST MY MIND when one particular character showed up that I wasn't expecting. I still grin maniacally thinking about that grand entrance. SO BADASS. *swoon*

I love the way these characters interact with one another, so I was sad they were all so spread out! They kinda clump in groups of two or three, but it does allow for fast action in multiple locations so it works.

The locations themselves were a lot of fun to puzzle out, as with any Jack West Jr book. Reilly does some meticulous research, then plays around with history wherever there's a gap and it's always a good time reading about all these myths and legends that have been turned on their heads. The scale is always big and he uses familiar legends and historical figures so that you're easily drawn in.

There was a teaser recently from the author that warned he did something terrible in this book, and it was in my mind the whole time. I was constantly wondering which of our favourites was gonna die, and if he was in fact going to kill someone or just teasing. That little teaser had me believing anything is possible, so all those fatal situations became so much more real! Because suddenly there's no, 'oh he can't kill off a main character' moments and it amps up the intensity instantly. (Read it for yourself to discover the Mystery of the Teaser :P)

SO MUCH INTENSITY.

I loved it, but it gave me mild anxiety on repeated occasions.

Safe to say, I LOVED THIS BOOK. It had everything I've come to love from Reilly's books, and it's just such a fun ride to lean back and enjoy. There's never a dull moment, but it has its emotions, too, so that you can really invest in these characters.

The cover is gorgeous, too, and the inside cover is also gorgeous but totally intriguing and confusing. I could study the pictures and diagrams in this book for hours.

Highly enjoyable, totally worth the wait, and absolutely ridiculous fun.

Matthew Reilly fans should enjoy this one immensely, and for people who love treasure-hunt-type action, get onto the first book, Seven Ancient Wonders so you can enjoy the journey properly.

Copious thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia for my sneaky early copy.

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Review: Kin

Kin by Kealan Patrick Burke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story is both deeply disturbing and absolutely brilliant.

It's very much a gruesome slasher flick, which begins with a horrific massacre and doesn't get any prettier, but there's also an intelligence to it that contrasts the violence with very real character depth.

This is not horror for horror's sake.

This is horror that allows for a fascinating examination of trauma.

One of the most incredible horror stories I've read in a long time.

I have this rule about only giving 5-star ratings to books I would definitely read again, but I might just be breaking it for this one. Because I don't know that I'd want to re-live this nightmare, but the initial 4-star rating I gave it just wasn't sitting right. It's worthy of 5.

Here's why:

It's unpredictable
You think you know the formula, you think you can guess what's coming ... you are wrong.

It doesn't pull punches
It gets straight into the nastiness, and it does not hold back. There is plenty of suffering to go around and this book is creative with it.

It's intelligent
The violence is not the main feature, it's just another part that comprises the whole. The story takes the titular theme and explores several manifestations of it, all while holding the tension and probing the depths of trauma.

The writing is addictive
From the very first page it's almost impossible to resist the compulsion to read. There are certainly moments that will make you want to pause but it draws you back in soon enough. There's just something about the way it plays out that makes you want to see it through to the end.

A fantastic horror story with fascinating themes, some epic scenes and memorable characters. Cannot recommend it highly enough.

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Review: The Two Lost Mountains

The Two Lost Mountains by Matthew Reilly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Holy crap.

This was all kinds of batsh*t insane.

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

As we all know, the last book ended in a painful cliff hanger that led to an excruciating two-year wait. Thankfully, this book jumps straight into clearing things up for us - although, let's face it - chances are you had it worked out already.

This book begins in Russia, and it's quick to take on all kinds of trouble from a host of bad guys, meaning Jack is very much on the back foot from the beginning. Frustratingly, this book leaves him trailing further and further behind. Poor bastard.

I can't describe how painful it was for me that Jack was always so far behind. He's always been great at coming from the back to take the win but this book makes it feel almost impossible - the odds are just so ridiculously stacked against him.

This feels very much like an 'in-between' sort of novel; there's a lot of allusion to a labyrinth which was never going to make it into this book, so it feels like it spends a lot of time setting up that final challenge, rather than focusing the attention on the adventures of the lost mountains. It annoyed me a little, but only because I know I've got another wait before that conclusion which I know is going to be all kinds of epic. It also felt a little lacking in all the ancient puzzle-solving that I've enjoyed so much in the other books. The Lost Mountains of the title didn't actually feel that important to the whole progression of this particular episode.

Lots of planes and other vehicles which I always take with a grain of salt - these things don't hugely interest me but I really love the enthusiasm that comes through the writing. The creepy psycho statues are back, too, and are wreaking plenty of havoc.

The team is still split in all kinds of directions and I really miss them all working together. It adds to Jack's desperation that he seems to have to deal with so much of it by himself, but it does also give us some epic moments when characters come together again after a long and/or tense separation. But I'm very much looking forward to some serious teamwork in the last book.

Overall, I really enjoyed how crazy this adventure was, but it was also seriously fkn depressing. It was just so hard for me to read about how dire things looked for Jack at every single turn. So I guess the emotional factor messed with me a little too much to make it a 5-star. They've always been such fun novels but suddenly the drama is real and the consequences are too extreme and things just feel so damn helpless throughout this book. It hurt my heart.

Tell ya what, though. The final book is going to be all kinds of insane and I honestly can't wait. I am ready for everything in this series to come together like the most incredible tapestry ever woven. I AM READY.

...aaaaaand impatiently waiting. Again. 

With thanks to Macmillan for my ARC       

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Review: Mexican Gothic

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a fascinating, unique breed of creepy.

I mean, a haunted house is nothing particularly new, but there's something about the way this one delivers that had me constantly shuddering.

Super, super creepy.

The story is set in a derelict mansion on a hill. Noemi has been sent there to check on her cousin, Catalina, who has been ill, and sent a rather troubling letter about how there are ghosts in the house and her husband is trying to poison her. Naturally, things get weird.

First up, it's set in 1950, but it definitely gives off some Victorian vibes. The house has limited electricity and it's a huge part of the atmosphere - along with the mold growing everywhere, cracked and crumbling walls, and a distinct lack of music or merriment. Catalina's husband and his family are decidedly odd - the patriarch of the family, Howard Doyle, is an ogre with some interesting ideas about 'breeding', while the husband himself, Virgil, is all sly smiles and malicious glares. Florence is the strict homemaker who has no time for Noemi, but her son, Francis, does provide a small glimpse at comfort. He's still a bit weird, but he's the most normal of the bunch so Noemi has a little more time for him.

The characters are brilliantly done, and they fit the story so well. Naturally, there are a lot of secrets surrounding this odd family, and it's all brilliantly contrasted by Noemi the socialite, who is more used to dancing, flirting, and generally doing what she wants (provided these things are acceptable for a woman). There is a fascinating conflict between this family with its strict rules and Noemi's stubbornness and strong will, but there's also the overarching sexism that is a fact of Noemi's existence that she doesn't particularly agree with.

The atmosphere of malice seeps into every page and the story becomes horrifying without ever really understanding why. I really enjoyed the complicated relationship between Noemi and Virgil, and then the spark of hope that Francis presented. There are some fascinating dynamics and looming over it all is this ancient mansion with so many secrets trapped within the walls.

I loved the way the story unravelled and enjoyed the foreboding of the whole thing. It just leaves you with a gut feeling that things are not going to end well so it's quite a ride watching it all play out.

Really enjoyed it! I can see why it's getting all the hype. Totally deserved, in my opinion.

Thanks to my friends from HA for the buddy read :)

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Review: A Walk to Remember

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The movie was better.

It's not often that I prefer the movie over the book, but it's also not often that I like chick flicks and the movie of this novel really got to me.

So honestly it was a bit sad that this book didn't have the rich details that the movie did.

That's what it comes down to, ultimately - not enough detail.

For those who don't know the plot, the story is told by Landon, who is a bit of a rebel. His dad hasn't been around so he's a bit reckless and wild, and also sometimes quite a jerk. Then he gets to know Jamie, daughter of the local pastor, and suddenly things begin to change.

There's also this secret that Jamie has, and the movie kinda spills halfway through, whereas this book left it to the last minute which ended up being frustrating. But I think if you haven't seen the film it will be a real gut-wrenching twist that will give you all the feels you want from a Nicholas Sparks book.

I'm not usually into the mushy stuff, but I do really love how this relationship plays out. I love Jamie and how she treats everyone, and there's no pretence to it. She's just such a loving soul, and the way Landon begins to change, just by knowing her, is actually pretty beautiful.

But the novel is short so it doesn't quite expand on the love story and so the ending feels a little abrupt and unsatisfying.

Overall, it's not a bad book - the characters are great and the story is sweet, but it just wasn't enough to win me over after the brilliance of the film.

Read the book before you see the film and you'll probably rate it a lot higher.

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Review: The Kingdom of Copper

The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

WARNING: This review may contain spoilers for the first book in the series.

Pros:
- Nahri being a badass
- Dara being a badass
- Muntadhir being unexpectedly sweet
- Ali being an idiot

Cons:
- Ghassan being a jerk
- Dara being a jerk
- Muntadhir being a jerk
- Ali being an idiot

Also there was so much more hatred and pain and death and scheming characters and my heart just couldn't. handle. it.

The pace is a little uneven compared to The City of Brass so I was worried from the slower start that I might not like it as much. But once Ali and Nahri were reunited, I was happy again. It's very dynamic and by the end it devolves into absolute chaos which was a lot of fun but also nearly stopped my heart from fear and pain. So ... yay?

The politics still confuse me, as well as who is in what tribe and who has what magic and why things are scandalous etc. so that got a bit frustrating, but there is a glossary and cast of characters at the back which helps a little.

There was not nearly enough Dara for my liking, but I like how powerful he is. I did NOT like him being M's lapdog, though. I just did not like her one bit at all. Dara belongs with Nahri and if you disagree with me on this I will fight you.

I also liked Ali's new friends. They seem nice.

The whole persecution of the shafit really made me sad, and I got so frustrated at how people were just constantly jerks to others. It's part of why I love Ali so much, even if he's an idealistic idiot sometimes. He's just so honest and raw and there's no faking from him. He's such a pure soul.

I really love this world, but DAMN does it have some issues.

Very much looking forward to the next (and final, I believe) book in the series where hopefully everyone will sort their sh*t out.

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