I really enjoyed this one. It was a beautiful, whimsical tale based on the indigenous lore of the Lipan Apache tribe.
Elatsoe was SO good, so of coursI really enjoyed this one. It was a beautiful, whimsical tale based on the indigenous lore of the Lipan Apache tribe.
Elatsoe was SO good, so of course, I wanted to know more about Grandma Shane. I loved Elatsoe's ability to communicate with animals and her adventure.
This one felt deeper and richer in that so much was acceptable, such as with the mushroom rings for travel and the way that Darcie Little Badger wrote this showed growth and strength in her talent as an author. I really can't wait to see what she delivers next.
A scene that stood out starkly to me was when everyone was getting sick from unsanitary water after a flood, and the question is asked "What did we do now?" and trying to find a reason how it can be tied back to some guilt of a past misdeed But the response "Nothing. Tragedies aren't punishments." And I think a lot of us still have that kind of religious guilt of being punished for action or inaction, but really, it is just a tragedy and not a punishment. Sometimes bad things just happen, and it's not a karmic reaction or a punishment.
This started out really well, and then it just kind of started to turn 2-dimensional.
The mystery wasn't too bad, but it could have provided a bit morThis started out really well, and then it just kind of started to turn 2-dimensional.
The mystery wasn't too bad, but it could have provided a bit more suspense.
The two timelines were weirdly set up.
There's not really any one thing I can put my finger on here escept maybe character development of the 2nd timeline from the beginning, and then the 1st timeline slacked off while the 2nd got more important.
I am mid-range on this one. This is a book written to make you angry, to make you react, to make you want to take up arms. And in that, it is frightenI am mid-range on this one. This is a book written to make you angry, to make you react, to make you want to take up arms. And in that, it is frighteningly effective.
I had never heard of William R. Forstchen, but I am willing to read almost anything once. A coworker lent me this novel, knowing my vast range of book love, letting me know that grammatically, it needed work, but to give it a chance. I have to agree that as far as polish goes, this has none at all. It is an obviously indie-published novel that never saw the light of a professional editor's office.
This is NOT a character-driven book; it is all action, fear, and rage. The characters are not well-developed, but they do play on racist and phobic fears of the American people vs the jihadists.
The biggest issue with this book is that Americans' overall reaction would, unfortunately, NOT be so far from what is predicted here. While active shooter drills have gotten better, and the school my son attends is a guardian school armed for this type of scenario, this is still a nightmare for any parent/teacher/student.
The decision made by the president in the end, we saw some of that with Covid and as a reaction to rioting in larger towns when riot baiters escalated violence and damage outside of frustrated people with a just cause.
The biggest mistake many people make is EVER painting an enemy as stupid. Leaders do not become leaders who plot for years extensively without some grasp and understanding of their target. The Russia/Crimea/Ukraine scenario showed just how social media can be used against an enemy. Showcasing that here was a good call.
This book is worth reading to get a better understanding of horrors coming true on a large-scale terrorist attack on schools and highways.
This is not an easy book to read. It is very gruesome and traumatic. It is meant to be triggering. There is much gun violence and the sexual assault of a minor.
Not many authors would want to go there.
Overall, the book itself is about a 3 star. ...more
5 years later, I enjoyed this one even more than the first time. Maybe it's because I have read the follow-on series, and my fulfillment was better fi5 years later, I enjoyed this one even more than the first time. Maybe it's because I have read the follow-on series, and my fulfillment was better filled with that one.
Persephone is hands down my all-time favorite character of this whole series, and she was woefully short in lines. I missed the witty humor and her quotable awesomeness that was held in other books. I was so happy for those short moments though.
This time around, the romance and understanding with Blue were more apparent. However, I still want more of Blue and the ladies.
As a tea connoisseur, I absolutely loved the devotion to tea in the first book. This is the Book of Tea series, after all. So... Other than the same cAs a tea connoisseur, I absolutely loved the devotion to tea in the first book. This is the Book of Tea series, after all. So... Other than the same characters, the essence of the reverence of Tea was missing completely in this novel.
This almost felt like an entirely different series. There were enjoyable elements, but it was more of standalone than a sequel. I was disappointed a bit by that.
The narrative on this one was excellent, but I have a lot of questions, such as how anyone can devote years of their life to a trial, how a trial can The narrative on this one was excellent, but I have a lot of questions, such as how anyone can devote years of their life to a trial, how a trial can take this many consecutive years to conclude, and how many trials are happening in Tokyo at the same time.
I also hope never to need to go on trial there. In a way it is a bit like being in jail for years while a case is built against/for you.
Worth a read. He's a serial rapist at the very least.
I highly recommend the audio version of this. Delanie Nicole Gill’s voice acting lifted this one up to a whole other experience in the creep factor! FI highly recommend the audio version of this. Delanie Nicole Gill’s voice acting lifted this one up to a whole other experience in the creep factor! From that first opening sentence, she gives 8-year-old Bela a voice that lets you know you are in for a ride of horror and suspense.
Josh Malerman gives his readers a LOT to love in this horrific haunting. Bela is a spectacular character, even if her parents are less than stellar.
There are some interesting characters, but by the time the séance and security protocols are involved, it gets a bit much.
The "loss of innocence" could have gone many different ways.
Overall, everything up to leaving the house with many rooms was 5-star material, but everything after brought it down to a 4-star for me.
I liked the case of the author, and the things going on behind the scenes. Kay being a target may get tiresome if it is every book, but I guess it wasI liked the case of the author, and the things going on behind the scenes. Kay being a target may get tiresome if it is every book, but I guess it was the same with Alex Cross.
I forgot how much nonstop smoking there was in the early 90s. It's pretty cringe to read about in 2024, haha.
I will continue on; I love the scientific bits that are thrown in.
Huh.... Well, this had a lot of elements that could have made it great.
Twin kidnapping-could be great
Mental hospital on a Shutter Island like locatioHuh.... Well, this had a lot of elements that could have made it great.
Twin kidnapping-could be great
Mental hospital on a Shutter Island like location-great
Secret paternity test? Great
And yet... No. There was maybe only one good suspenseful moment.
Instead, this felt like a storyboard of potential book ideas that were all bullets on sticky notes that ended up pasted into a Word doc and had some work with filling in the gaps.
Kiela is a beautiful character, and Cas makes the adventure hilarious.
I love all of the characters on the island, the This was wonderfully whimsical.
Kiela is a beautiful character, and Cas makes the adventure hilarious.
I love all of the characters on the island, the acceptance of so many races and differences, and the way that they all just work together without thinking about it.
The merhorses were spectacular!
I loved the spell magic here and everything about the island.
This is such a rich environment with beautiful characters and MEEP! I really hope that Sarah Beth Durst continues to use this in the future. I am in the PRO series.
I don't want this to be the end. This is a warm hug, and I want more.
Grant County is substantially darker than most of Will Trent. Karin Slaughter seems to be taking out of all of her anger at the injustices done to womGrant County is substantially darker than most of Will Trent. Karin Slaughter seems to be taking out of all of her anger at the injustices done to women here, and honestly good for her.
Lots of character development on a mostly darker slant.
Sara Linton- much self-guilt and self-exploration here. I liked the softer parts with Jeff and the strong parts at her clinic.
Chief Jeffrey Tolliver is surprisingly the softest character in the book, which I guess was echoed and expounded upon by Will Trent. In this one, he has a lot of the "Why won't you just let me love you" trope with Sara. The guilt of having to shoot someone and not knowing if it was the right choice.
Lena Adams-This one was almost more demanding on her than the first book. Dark connections with dark people, darkness in her own mind. I love how the relationship with her uncle and her career struggle developed. It's amazing how she can still accomplish anything, but she is a badass in her own way.
TW: Pedophiles, incest, cutting, teen pregnancy, genital mutilation, torture, suicide by police, death and dismemberment of an infant, attempted suicide, etc.
It was fun to have so much of the book involve my home state and places I have spent much time in. I have always been curious about what a peyote visiIt was fun to have so much of the book involve my home state and places I have spent much time in. I have always been curious about what a peyote vision trip would be like.
I can't believe Walt didn't react more to that last-second news.
This was a great one for the further evolution of Henry as a character, even though I always wanted more.
The reservation was the main setting, and the mystery was a bit convoluted.
A good one for showing that we all have craziness going on in our lives, but when someone takes a chance on us, it can make a big difference.
So many fantastic ideas.... but mayhap a bit TOO many for a single novel.
I wish this had focused on a couple of elements and developed them a bit stroSo many fantastic ideas.... but mayhap a bit TOO many for a single novel.
I wish this had focused on a couple of elements and developed them a bit stronger because Kate Pentecost has some amazing ideas here. In a standalone novel without further series space to bring all of them to a full realization, it just starts to feel a bit jumbled.
Steampunk + Western + Witches + Fight Between Heaven & Hell + Dystopian Society + Living in an in-between World and Time + Unlikely Allies + Politics + a LOT of characters + Magical objects + Coming of Age + Romance... Etc.
The Western vibe mixed with witchcraft was a spectacular combination, and it even worked well with the steampunk angle. However, the in-between realm, pus dystopian feel of the "real world" and the memories of what happened before the purgatory living just got to be too much.
This isn't even a long novel to carry these out, so the pace was fast, which didn't let these full elements be told.
The characters were great, but again, rushed in the space they were given.
So much strength here that could be developed a bit more.
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