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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