My one major complaint: Miss Morton is so beautiful that every man she meets is attracted to her. Give me a break. I wish the authoAn enjoyable read.
My one major complaint: Miss Morton is so beautiful that every man she meets is attracted to her. Give me a break. I wish the author would pick one guy for Miss Morton to be interested in. Clearly the inspector is the right choice, but I really don't enjoy the Inspector v. the Doctor nonsense....more
I absolutely adore many of the books by Mimi Matthews, but find others a bit of a miss. The Muse of Maiden Lane is fine – well written, well researcheI absolutely adore many of the books by Mimi Matthews, but find others a bit of a miss. The Muse of Maiden Lane is fine – well written, well researched – but it didn’t resonate with me. There is no tension in the relationship between Teddy and Stella. He says he doesn’t want to marry, but we don’t believe that. Stella is put off by Teddy’s forward ways, but not that much.
I was a bit puzzled by Stella dyeing her hair for a house party – did she not know eventually she might see those people somewhere else when her hair went back to gray? (“But one rule remained as inflexible in London as it was across Britain entire: a respectable female did not color her hair. Only actresses and - Stella blushed to admit to herself – prostitutes would resort to such tawdry tricks.” p. 1 of the advance reader copy) For that matter, I don’t get the deal with a beautiful young woman having gray hair. Would that really have been a big deal in Victorian times?
As book four in this series, there are also too many brief and distracting appearances by so many characters from this series and another by the author. As a reader, I really don’t expect every happy character to cameo. I know the author loves horses, but this is also an excessively horsy book. Lots of descriptions of and focus on the four horses. Yes, they love their horses. Yes, we understand that Stella will not give up her spirited and dangerous gray horse that matches her hair.
I still love Matthews and eagerly await her next book, but The Muse of Maiden Lane was a miss for me. I read an advance reader copy from Netgalley. ...more
I’m a huge X-Files fan (I have parrots named Scully and Mulder) and have read and enjoyed several books by Claudia Gray, so I was eager to read PeriheI’m a huge X-Files fan (I have parrots named Scully and Mulder) and have read and enjoyed several books by Claudia Gray, so I was eager to read Perihelion. It’s…fine. It’s competently written and very readable.
Reading the author note was helpful because Gray was an early shipper of Scully and Mulder, and I would have preferred they stay close coworkers. That ship has sailed however (ha), so I knew going in the book would be about their romantic relationship. I also preferred the monster of the week episodes vastly to the conspiracy episodes, and this book is a continuation of the conspiracies. The Cigarette Smoking Man may be dead (or is he?), but he casts a huge shadow over Perihelion. My biggest complaint, however, is the lack of humor. The best X-Files episodes in my opinion are the funny ones – Clyde Bruckerman’s Final Repose, Bad Blood, War of the Coprophages. Perihelion is best described as grim and determined.
Gray does prove her X-Files credentials with many references to things from the TV show. She did a good job of capturing their personalities aside from the lack of humor. Also, Scully and Mulder joke about the one job that’s not self-serving being that of librarian, so that’s a plus. Let’s bring Gray back for a rollicking monster of the week title.
I read an advance reader copy of X-Files: Perihelion from Netgalley. ...more
A little slow moving. The author didn't do the hard work of showing the relationship moments between Charlotte and Anthony berounded up from 3.5 stars
A little slow moving. The author didn't do the hard work of showing the relationship moments between Charlotte and Anthony because she established from the beginning that they were in love years before. Still, an enjoyable clean Regency romance. ...more
Did I decide to read this because of the title? Yes, yes I did.
Imagine you are reading a novelization of an episode of Friends. Then imagine that it’sDid I decide to read this because of the title? Yes, yes I did.
Imagine you are reading a novelization of an episode of Friends. Then imagine that it’s not Friends, but a show like Friends. Only in this version, the friends are a witch, a wizard, a demon-spawn, a werewolf, a vampire, and a dragon. And they are each adorable in their own ways, and the focus is on their friendship and not their paranormal lives
The main character in this entry in the series is an adorkable witch who is terrible at casting spells and accidentally makes a pigeon her animal familiar. Everyone has paranormal problems and romantic interests and some of them are roommates or live near each other, but no worries. Everything is going to come out okay. If you are looking for a book you can read the same way you watch Friends in the background while you are doing something else, this may be a series for you.
I enjoyed the early Flavia de Luce books. They are a twist on girl sleuths, with a very intelligent, somewhat alarming 11-year-old main character who I enjoyed the early Flavia de Luce books. They are a twist on girl sleuths, with a very intelligent, somewhat alarming 11-year-old main character who loves chemistry and solving crimes. Set in England in the 1950s, she lives in a fading mansion with her distracted father and two sisters.
However, the last few books have not been up to the standards of the first books, with increasingly unbelievable plot twists, and What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust completely jumps the shark. The plot twists are ridiculous (and once Flavia started looking for a mysterious someone I knew immediately who it would turn out to be). It seriously feels like Alan Bradley is seeing just how bad a book he can write and still get paid to keep the series going.
Flavia’s ever-changing relationship with her cousin Undine, Flavia wandering around an American base at night, the many “wink wink” asides in which the author wants us to stop and appreciate how clever he is, ugh.
I do not recommend this book, and it’s going to be my last book about Flavia. If you read the series, I recommend stopping at about book 7.
I read an advance reader copy from Netgalley. ...more
I was excited about this book but have sadly DNFed it. I had every intention of reading it when I requested an ARC from Netgalley but politics and graI was excited about this book but have sadly DNFed it. I had every intention of reading it when I requested an ARC from Netgalley but politics and graphic violence are just not my thing. (I DNFed the first Game of Thrones book for the same reason.)
Turns out I should have taken Holly Black's cover quote as a warning ("Reading Navola is like slipping into a luxurious bath full of blood.") I'm sure Navola is well written and I'm sure there are readers who will love it, but I'm out. ...more
I enjoyed the Chicago setting, but the main character is something of an idiot, in a reckless, too-stupid-to-live way, and the book reads like the novI enjoyed the Chicago setting, but the main character is something of an idiot, in a reckless, too-stupid-to-live way, and the book reads like the novelization of a movie. Very Hollywood. Lots of chases. There are multiple ridiculous scenes where cops target our heroine instead of the obvious bad guy she is chasing/engaged with.
I don't think I'll go on to the next book. ...more
I read three later books in this series when I received advance reader copies and I finally decided to read the first. This was a creepy book, with a I read three later books in this series when I received advance reader copies and I finally decided to read the first. This was a creepy book, with a murderer who wants to do autopsies and so kills people for that purpose.
Yeah, so. Susan Hill is a good writer, but her main character is just a blank. More than enigmatic, Simon Serrailler is just not there. The character who seems to be the main character in this book is (view spoiler)[brutally murdered (hide spoiler)] toward the end. O-kay. Looking at the descriptions of the next few books, I think I will end here with Simon Serrailler.
I like to read books set in Chicago, and I am fascinated by the tragedy of the Eastland, which isn't very well known compared to the Titanic. Despite I like to read books set in Chicago, and I am fascinated by the tragedy of the Eastland, which isn't very well known compared to the Titanic. Despite some misgivings I decided to read Drawn by the Current.
There were parts of it that I quite enjoyed. There are some strong scenes between the main character Olive and her love interest Erik. But the Eastland disaster is background noise. Like the movie Titanic, there is made up drama instead of focus on the real drama that was part of the disaster. There are so many real tragic and fascinating stories in the Eastland disaster, I don't get having to make them up. (There is even a Titanic-like bit of nonsense with someone shooting at two people on the Eastland.)
Also I had my usual problem with extremely religious Christian novels. I could hardly read the passages where the characters rely on their faith in God. Really, God saved you from the Eastland disaster but not the other 844 people who drowned? I guess they were all unworthy sinners. (*sarcasm*)
Note to self: this is my second attempt at reading a Jocelyn Green novel and she CLEARLY is not for me. ...more
Whew. I really enjoyed Lloyd's Kurland St. Mary mysteries and was extremely disappointed in the first Miss Morton mystery. This second book is much beWhew. I really enjoyed Lloyd's Kurland St. Mary mysteries and was extremely disappointed in the first Miss Morton mystery. This second book is much better and more like the Kurland St. Mary books.
There's nothing new or original here, but I love having comfort reads and Lloyd's books fall into that category. No graphic violence, just a little murder and characters you get to know better with each book in the series, far removed from issues today.
This book is very readable. I was drawn in by the world building and the magic. Once lost in the woods, the students encounter a steady stream of periThis book is very readable. I was drawn in by the world building and the magic. Once lost in the woods, the students encounter a steady stream of perilous situations and despite different backgrounds and access to magic pool their physical goods (food, supplies) and their magical skills to work together and try to improve their chances of survival.
Things I didn't like (view spoiler)[ Ren. The main character is not likable. Katniss, also, is not likable, but we like Katniss because she loves her sister. Ren is a self-righteous, arrogant know-it-all with only one thing in mind - revenge. She is the reason the teens are sent to the middle of nowhere. She miscalculated her magic, or didn't understand it, or something, and a plan to get a little lost with two rich House heirs went bad and four of her classmates ended up dying. Does she feel remorse? Honestly, not that I saw. She is sorry that she lost her best friend; she doesn't really seem sorry that her best friend lost her life. "I'm always right," she thinks (p. 306), even though she was very very wrong in trying her little deadly stunt.
Zombie. Yawn.
George R.R. Martin style killing of so many characters the author has bothered to introduce. The first death was absolutely necessary; I'm not sure the following three were.
Theo. I liked Theo but he is an absolute textbook YA "heir to money/power" who seems like a jerk but who is a super nice guy inside who wants to atone for his family's deadly ways.
When Theo offers unexpectedly to bond with Ren, she thinks, "Of course. The answer was simple. Theo was falling in love with her." (p. 303) Say what now? Is Ren delusional or is the author? (hide spoiler)] I will probably flip through book 2 to see what happens but I doubt I will read it....more
Good intro to a series. Lots of characters introduced. A mysterious blue-eyed coyote appears multiple times without much explanation. Maybe in a futurGood intro to a series. Lots of characters introduced. A mysterious blue-eyed coyote appears multiple times without much explanation. Maybe in a future book.
I'm interested to see if, in a sequel, the main character (1) gets a cat; (2) sees more of the coyote; (3) reconciles with his wife.
I liked the setting and the realities of small town life. I am interested in reading a sequel.
Oh, this was okay. The author tried to tackle the issue of insanity and women being unjustly sent to institutions, but I didn’t find that the story reOh, this was okay. The author tried to tackle the issue of insanity and women being unjustly sent to institutions, but I didn’t find that the story really worked. As soon as I heard that the Brooding Baron’s mother killed his uncle, I knew it wasn’t a case of insanity. An imprisoned sister was almost an afterthought (although she may be getting her own book and romance in the future). I didn’t sense any chemistry between the leads, and the constant quoting of Shakespeare was intrusive. I love Shakespeare as much as the next person, but I don’t think I could stand to date someone who can’t stop quoting Shakespeare and expecting me to get every reference. The cross-dressing ala Twelfth Night was forced. Also, the stupid decision made by the heroine at the end? Give me a break.
There were some good passages, which is why I gave it three stars instead of two, but on the whole I just found this – mediocre. Another round with an editor and another rewrite might have done it a lot of good. If you are looking for a good book in which a woman is institutionalized against her will, I recommend The Matrimonial Advertisement by Mimi Matthews.
I read an advance reader copy from Netgalley. ...more
Gravity Lost is not as good as the first book, Cascade Failure. The best way I can describe it is that I felt like I was reading the novelization of aGravity Lost is not as good as the first book, Cascade Failure. The best way I can describe it is that I felt like I was reading the novelization of a TV series that assumed I was very familiar with the series and the characters. Like reading a Star Trek or Firefly novel, only I’d never watched a single episode. I missed Anke from the first book, and the tension between the crew members that was set up in book 1. At one point one of the characters was ready to give up, and I didn’t feel the author had earned their belief that the reader would automatically understand why. (I still don't understand why.)
The ending was very good (although the “bad guy” was easy to guess long before the Big Reveal), and there’s a cat. I will still probably give a third book a chance. I really want to like this story and for it to have a long run.
I read an advance reader copy from Netgalley. ...more
A mystery set in Chicago featuring a main character who lives with an African Grey Parrot? Yes, please!
But unfortunately Hardball was only okay. Cat, A mystery set in Chicago featuring a main character who lives with an African Grey Parrot? Yes, please!
But unfortunately Hardball was only okay. Cat, a reporter, is definitely too stupid to live and is attacked at least three times in this book alone (in addition to surviving the bomb that sets up the story). The story feels very dated. Cat is the kind of person who has two serious boyfriends and is flirting her way toward a possible third, ugh. Not my kind of person. The mob is involved, yawn.
And on top of all that the parrot is not in the story very much and is not very well portrayed. He tends to say things like "aawwwk!" and "awk!" which, I've had three African Grey Parrots and don't think I ever heard one of them say "aawwwk." It seems to be used to make sure we understand it's the parrot talking.
I did enjoy the Chicago setting.
I'm glad I read it but don't see myself continuing with the series. ...more
This is a paint-by-numbers police procedural, pretty interesting but not particularly original. Some awkward phrasing and a little too much reliance oThis is a paint-by-numbers police procedural, pretty interesting but not particularly original. Some awkward phrasing and a little too much reliance on thesaurus words. Too many unhinged suspects, and the main character dated the sister of one of the murder victims who is also a suspect? No.
The worst part was the awkward romance and even more awkward sex scenes. I find many series get better as they go along and the author gets comfortable with their characters. However, these books are only available for purchase and right now anyway I'm not inclined to buy book two.
The book ended very abruptly. I would have liked a more definitive answer on who was leaving the dead animals on the girlfriend's porch. Clearly the aftermath of the murder of the main character's sister as a teenager is going to run through multiple books....more
Although I very much enjoy books by Agatha Christie, I'm not a huge fan of Poirot, and I hadn't read this book before. He was less annoying than he isAlthough I very much enjoy books by Agatha Christie, I'm not a huge fan of Poirot, and I hadn't read this book before. He was less annoying than he is sometimes - maybe because the book was narrated by an English nurse - and the mystery was good. I guessed who the murderer was but not why and how....more
This book has many things that should make me love it. Romance, fantasy, Victorian times, Oxford, birds, MAGICAL birds, ornithologists. But I didn’t lThis book has many things that should make me love it. Romance, fantasy, Victorian times, Oxford, birds, MAGICAL birds, ornithologists. But I didn’t love it. I found the story repetitive and boring. I was never invested in Beth or Devon or their relationship. There is so much silliness – SO MUCH silliness – that it is truly hard to take the story seriously. There’s madcap and then there’s so much absurdity that it’s really hard to fall into the story and stay there. At least for me.
At one point they are naked and about to have sex and Devon asks, “do you consent?” Really? After making out and taking off each other’s clothes “I consent” literally needs to be said? OK, never mind, maybe young people having sex today really expect the other person to say “I consent” during the throes of passion. I guess this is supposed to prove what a super nice and trustworthy guy Devon is, but I found it awkward and unrealistic. (Oh, and how very very helpful and convenient that he is sterile and manages to tell Beth before they do the deed.)
In the Acknowledgments, the author says, “While every effort was made to accurately depict the various details of life in 1890, I took considerable artistic licence with the big picture”. You think? Like having an educated gentleman go around using the f word in front of a gentlewoman? (That word felt so out of place in this book.)
Some of the magical creatures seriously reminded me of certain Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Especially the big climax with the magical caladrius flying and filling everyone with magic, healing, and love.
I think it may be time to stop reading India Holton. I read the first Dangerous Damsels and gave it three stars as well. (At least this book was not nonstop nonsense. There is plenty of nonsense, but it’s a little more contained.) She just really is not my cup of tea.
I read an advance reader copy of The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love from Netgalley....more
About a third of this was a four star book that I enjoyed. I can imagine I would have loved every word if I lived in the 1860s and was desperate for wAbout a third of this was a four star book that I enjoyed. I can imagine I would have loved every word if I lived in the 1860s and was desperate for written entertainment. But for me, reading this today, the book was waaay too long, and it was hard not to blame Alice for breaking up with John Grey in the first place.
Also, the chapter detailing a fox hunt was horrific.
I'm glad I read it, but I won't be reading more Palliser novels....more
Loading...
