despite the weight of the plot and subject matter, the architect of grayland was a fast, enjoyable read, that hooked me in from the get-go. arvey has despite the weight of the plot and subject matter, the architect of grayland was a fast, enjoyable read, that hooked me in from the get-go. arvey has written it in a way that feels light, and while it consumed me, it didn't bite me on my psyche. i found myself transported into this world, watching as the world was meticulously built in front of my eyes, and curious to learn more about it. at the end of the book, a part of me remained in the story, my mind reliving the thrilling feeling i had while discovering it. maybe the moment was right for me, maybe the atmosphere played a part in it (reading in a hospital waiting room is an ✨experience✨), and maybe i will question what it was about this book that made me enjoy it so much for as long as i wish to be able to read it again for the first time
*copy received through netgalley in exchange for an honest review...more
i am very disappointed by this book. i liked the writing which is full of picturesque sentences that sound beautiful. but the book feels empty. there'i am very disappointed by this book. i liked the writing which is full of picturesque sentences that sound beautiful. but the book feels empty. there's barely any plot in it, which isn't to my taste. i also found that the sisterly love minna and kaija proclaimed to have for one another wasn't really there. they judged each other and refused to understand each other. all the interactions they had with one another were uncomfortable because at times i felt like they hated each other. it was more as if they had to interact because they're blood relatives and they share the ability to do magic, rather than they want to interact with one another. that wouldn't have been an issue to me if there was something happening in the text. i wish there was more story: that there was more plot, more dialogue, more lore. i feel like i would've enjoyed the book more then.
*copy received through netgalley in exchange for an honest review...more
this is an incredible story about all the red flags an incel will ignore just so he doesn't miss out on the possibility of getting sex. it also shows tthis is an incredible story about all the red flags an incel will ignore just so he doesn't miss out on the possibility of getting sex. it also shows the fucking audacity a man can have that leads him to agree to be the /boyfriend/ of and then sleep with someone he sees is struggling mentally. she tells him she's struggling mentally! she needs to be completely wrapped in a duvet and carried through the hallway to get from one apartment to another. and yet he goes ahead and has sex with her. not a crumb of care or empathy for her! it's ridiculous!
this book isn't "what the fuck did i just read" in a good way, rather in the most horrible way possible. it's shocking just to be shocking.
on the positive side: it's not the worst writing, and if you squint you can see some decent insight into the incel psyche. on the negative: the insight doesn't feel like it's purposefully written. oh, and everything else.
p.s. the woman's saliva and white discharge get described as slime while he describes her vagina like a "snail's cunt". do with all that what you will.
*copy received through netgalley in exchange for an honest review...more
Furia is one of those books that grabs your attention as soon as you open it and refuses to let go. With wonderful wrClick here for the blog tour post
Furia is one of those books that grabs your attention as soon as you open it and refuses to let go. With wonderful writing and accompanied by a strong protagonist, the story unravels in breathtaking fashion. It was impossible for me not to empathize with the main character. The events and emotions are fleshed out perfectly, making the book poignant. The characters are so realistic that the entire story feels less like a fictional book, and more like you’re experiencing the entire thing first hand. It’s quite difficult to put my thoughts of Furia into words. The best I can do is explain what reading it feels like, and the answer to that is quite a simple one. It felt sincere. It felt like I was going through one of the most important experiences I’ll ever get. Furia left an aftertaste in my mouth after I finished it, left me craving more of the same, but I’m afraid that books like this are rare. I absolutely recommend it, and I can only hope that you’ll experience it the same way I did. I wish I could go back in time just so I can read it for the first time again....more
I received this ebook from the publisher in exchange for a fair review. All opinions are mine.
This wasn't an easy or fast read for me. It might be chaI received this ebook from the publisher in exchange for a fair review. All opinions are mine.
This wasn't an easy or fast read for me. It might be chapbook of 48 pages, but the stories told in the poetry felt too important to me, so I found myself following along with the titles of the articles that a few of the poems are accompanied with, and finding out more. That's when the words of Ojo Taiye got even heavier, and I had to take a break to process. The poetry is beautifully written. It's heavy, poignant, and eye opening both to what poetry can be, and what's happening in a part of the world that seems so far away from mine. Ojo Taiye plays around with the structure and style, sometimes focusing on emotions only, sometimes talking as if there are no emotions involved. That change of perspective, along with the vividly expressed metaphors, make the chapbook feel dynamic. For me, this was impossible to put down. It's an experience that I'm glad I had. It moved me. I recommend it....more
This was really nice. I love the way Suzanne Collins writes, it just feels like I'm being hugged by an old friend every time I read her writing. I reallThis was really nice. I love the way Suzanne Collins writes, it just feels like I'm being hugged by an old friend every time I read her writing. I really liked the story. It gives a lot of context to the things that happen in the original series, it answers some questions. It's not a necessary read, but I really missed Panem and all their shenanigans, so I enjoyed it. Now I want to read the original series too. I also want to go back to high school, because my graduation project was on The Hunger Games series, and the addition of this book would've made that project even better....more
I haven't really be writing reviews this year. I've been trying my best to find a balance between work, book reviews, and hobbies, and the one that suI haven't really be writing reviews this year. I've been trying my best to find a balance between work, book reviews, and hobbies, and the one that suffered most was book reviews. Reading and reviewing this book is my comeback, and I was really hoping I'd start off on a good note. But nah. I love E. Lockhart's writing, because it never overwhelms the story, instead it's exactly that light approach that keeps me reading. In this book, however, I feel like her light approach to it took away from it. You can't do a character that's so complex and has so much trauma, and not back it up with stronger exposition. Between all the parallel universes we get a glimpse of, and how none of the stories actually feel complete or have a satisfying end, the only thing that could've potentially worked with this idea would've been a detailed character study. In my opinion, I didn't get that. I only got the beginnings of it. I wish I liked it more. E. Lockhart is always going to be an author I will admire because of her Ruby Oliver quartet, and how it changed my life. But this is the second time one of her books leaves me frustrated, so me and her writing are no longer besties. We're friends now, and I really hope we don't end up acquaintances....more
This was an okay read. It was quite a lot more serious than I expected. I had an impression that this would be a fun and quick read, but it has it's laThis was an okay read. It was quite a lot more serious than I expected. I had an impression that this would be a fun and quick read, but it has it's layers, and they're pulled off in an okay manner. I don't know what it was about this book that didn't wow me, since theoretically this is exactly what I enjoy. Maybe it's cause I went in with expectations. Maybe it was that the books feels only half baked. But I think it mostly has to do with the fact that I hated the main character. With everything going on in her life, she still came out as someone I couldn't sympathize with. I wasn't looking for a likeable character (even though it's chick lit, and that's what we always get with chick lit), but I was looking for someone I could understand and feel for. I didn't get that. This book could've been so much more than it is. But I did enjoy some of the themes in it, which saved me from DNFing it.
*Copy received through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. *Rating: 3/5 stars....more
A huge thanks to Algonquin for the chance to be a part of this blog tour.
I’m having a really hard time trying to find the words to express my love for this book. It’s written beautifully. The writing captivated me right away, it flowed really well, it was well paced and lyrical. The story extends over several generations, and despite that, it kept my interest throughout. I wish I could say that I couldn’t put it down, but at times I had to as I was getting overwhelmed with emotion. The book offered a lot of insight into historical events that I was unfamiliar with before it. It did spark my interest for more information with how well the circumstances were described though. I think that, because of these descriptions, as well as the characters that were well-developed and vivid, the book offers a one of a kind glimpse into the culture and mentality of Việt Nam. The Mountains Sing is an important read that you shouldn’t miss out on. I absolutely recommend it.
*Copy received through NetGalley *Rating 5/5 stars...more
A huge thanks to Algonquin Young Readers for the chance to be a part of this blog tour.
Tigers, Not Daughters was a surprising read. It surprised me with how well it was written. The writing flowed well, it was paced just to my liking, and it was captivating from the beginning. The style in this book is perfectly suited with the storyline as it balances it out by keeping things short and sweet, and with that keeping your attention. It also surprised me with how dark and heartbreaking it got at times, and I think that is mostly due to how well the characters are developed. I couldn’t help but empathize and feel connected to them, though the circumstances aren’t something I’m familiar with, not even remotely. But the characters and their emotions are brought so well on the page, they are so vivid that they feel so realistic, despite the fact that this story touches on the fantasy/magical realism genre. The only thing I can note as something I wish was better was the ending. It’s quite a satisfying one, but it did leave me with a few questions, as not everything is answered throughout the text. I hope that the sequel that is scheduled for next year will answer those. I recommend Tigers, Not Daughters. I feel like it’s an experience that fans of YA/Contemporary Fantasy should give a chance to.
*Copy received through NetGalley *Rating 4/5 stars...more
This felt kind of anticlimactic. I liked the characters of Martin and Akki, and their interactions were interesting, but none of them ended on a high This felt kind of anticlimactic. I liked the characters of Martin and Akki, and their interactions were interesting, but none of them ended on a high note. The rest felt kind of rushed and unpolished, the ending did too. It was a solid read, but not overly gripping, or exciting....more
This poetry collection had its relatable moments, emotional ones too, and though I empathized, I didn't feel connected to what was expressed on the paThis poetry collection had its relatable moments, emotional ones too, and though I empathized, I didn't feel connected to what was expressed on the page. I really wish I liked it more, especially because of how personal the collection seems to be. It was a decent read, but it didn't quite work for me.
*Copy received through NetGalley *Rating: 2/5 stars...more
Sometimes sequels don't live up to the previous book, but that wasn't the case with Off Balance. It was just as lovely as the first one. The story and Sometimes sequels don't live up to the previous book, but that wasn't the case with Off Balance. It was just as lovely as the first one. The story and plot remained interesting, the book was quite engaging. Everything about it was consistent with the first one, the characters, the pacing, the writing... It's an amazing continuation to the series. I can't wait for more.
*Copy received through NetGalley. *Rating: 5/5 stars...more
A People’s History of Heaven is a one of a kind book. It has a wonderful cast of characters that are well-developed and intriguing, and they are masterfully executed as they jump off the page and grab onto your attention. The story is heartwarming, in the end it left me feeling like I’ve experienced something I never will again. The book is written beautifully, the style felt fresh and it flowed really well. The book was paced just to my liking, it kept me entertained from the start, and it kept me focused on the story throughout. I definitely recommend this book. I think it’s an unmissable read that you should check out.
*Copy received through NetGalley *Rating: 5/5 stars...more
This was an exceptionally enjoyable read for me. I really liked the characters. Trice was so perfectly developed and brought to the page. Nandy seemed to be set as an opposite to Trice, and I really liked their interactions. A lot in this book was well executed. I really enjoyed the dynamics between the characters, as well as the writing. The plot was okay, but the connection I felt to the characters allowed me to keep reading. I have to note though that the pacing didn’t work for me, it felt a bit inconsistent. However, I liked the story, and I really wanted to see how it would turn out in the end.
*Copy received through NetGalley *Rating: 4/5 stars...more
I skimmed my way through this book. I tried to get into it a few times, and I failed at every attempt. I didn't want to DNF it, so I had to resort to I skimmed my way through this book. I tried to get into it a few times, and I failed at every attempt. I didn't want to DNF it, so I had to resort to the next best thing. I think the writing was okay, and it has potentially interesting characters, but none of it intrigued me enough. It wasn't for me.
*Copy received through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review *Rating: 2/5 stars...more
This is one of the best science fiction books I’ve ever read. Reading A Beginning at the End feels like once in a lifetime experience. It was fresh, endearing and heartwarming, while being suspenseful and thrilling at the same time. The writing and the world building were excellent. They captured my attention from the beginning and kept it throughout. I loved the characters as well, the more I read the more connected I felt to them, and this kept the story dynamic and interesting. The plot pacing started off a bit slow, but once things connected, it picked up and I fell in love with the book even more. In the end, I found this book to be uplifting and unique. I can’t recommend it more, and I look forward to reading more from Mike Chen in the future.
*Copy received through NetGalley *Rating: 5/5 stars...more
Don’t Read the Comments tackles some heavy subjects, cyber bullying as one of the main ones. But it’s done beautifully, and though the subject matter is that way, it didn’t make me feel heavy while I was reading it. Eric Smith does an absolutely marvelous job at writing from a first person female POV. His excellent writing style, as well as the pace that perfectly suited the story, made the book unputdownable. I really enjoyed the characters. They felt fresh as they were developed excellently. The dialogue is excellent, it felt natural and flowed really well. All of it put together kept the book feeling dynamic, and entertaining throughout. This is a read that you definitely shouldn’t skip.
*Copy received through NetGalley *Rating: 4/5 stars...more
This book turned out to be exactly what I was in the mood for. First and foremost, the pacing was great. I like books where something I find intriguing is happening throughout them, and Day Zero was that to me. The twists were exceptionally fun, they kept the plot unpredictable and me on the edge of my seat. There was something about the writing too, it sucked me in and kept my attention from the start all through the end. It felt dynamic, so did the characters that were masterfully developed. Day Zero is one of my favorites that I've read this year, and I'm looking forward to the sequel.
*Copy received through NetGalley *Rating: 5/5 stars...more
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