I received an ARC of this book. I tried to like this book, but I just couldn't. The author did a good job of creating a creepy spooky atmosphere, but nothing actually happened in this book! The plot was sluggish at best. Things that should have been a big deal and carried a great deal of resonance with our characters were glossed over. There was way too much telling and not showing. I got fed up with Winnie. And the teeth clicking--seriously?! This book was a huge let-down, because nothing interesting or exciting truly happens until the very end. So would I recommend this book? No. Not unless you don't mind wasting your time reading book 1 and can immediately go on to book 2 in the series in the hopes that Winnie stops clicking her teeth, gets a clue, and takes some initiative...
I received an ARC of this book. I know this book has a lot of hype, and a lot of people are loving it. But I am one of the few who was unimpressed. Although the author did a great job of creating a hot languid summer in a place that almost seemed otherworldly and out of time, the plot and pacing just seemed off and disjointed. At times things moved along at a pretty good pace, but then those situations became a bit irrelevant to the story. Then things that were not actually that big of a deal were dwelt upon quite a bit, and it felt weird. And then things that should have been important were glossed over. It felt like a boring rollercoaster ride through very pretty scenery. I just couldn't get on board (or didn't understand) the whole mystical and unique and invaluable quality of the tarot cards. Which was a shame since that was what most of the plot was based on. I also had a very hard time relating to any of the characters. Ann was unlikeable, which can be okay as long as she has rooting value or qualities that make her feel relatable. But she didn't. I felt as thought I couldn't connect with her at all. The majority of the other characters were not great people, either. I would not recommend this book, but I know I am in the minority. The setting and imagery were wonderful, but that's about it...
I really enjoyed this book. The main character was engaging, the pacing of the story and plot was well-done, and the mystery really drew me in. Even though I had my suspicions about who the culprit might be, I was still kept guessing, and was intrigued to know how everything would end. I was rooting for Maeve the whole time, and the secondary characters were great. I am looking forward to reading more books in this series.
Really cute graphic novel about overcoming your fears and not judging others based on preconceived notions. This book would be great for Halloween, or anytime children want to read a fun book while learning how to interact with those around them.
I received an ARC of this book. I was disappointed by this book. I should have absolutely loved it. There was a mystery, a slightly eldritch setting, and elements of folk horror. But there were also way too many POVs and it made the story feel a bit choppy and abrupt--it definitely affected the flow of the storytelling. I also felt like I didn't have enough opportunity to connect to any of the characters; the only one who was well-drawn and I felt like I had a connection with was Francesca, and she was incredibly unlikeable, with absolutely no redeeming qualities or rooting value. It was pretty obvious the direction the story was moving in, so any feeling of tension or suspense fell flat. I found that I was not that invested in the story or the characters, and felt underwhelmed when the book was over (and the ending/wrap up was a bit much). I would not recommend this one. And I might skip out on the next book by this author.
I received an ARC of this book. Normally I would round up, but it took me over a month to get through this book, and it was not easy. This is the story of a young woman named Annie whose great aunt has just died. Annie never knew her aunt, but when she travels to her home in the English countryside, she discovers this aunt was haunted by the disappearance of a friend back when they were 17, as well as the cryptic message she received from a fortune teller just before that friend disappeared. Annie works to find not only who killed her aunt, but also what happened back when her aunt was a teenager. The story is told in alternating points of view, one in the present day from Annie, and one from the diaries of Annie's great aunt Frances. The diaries were certainly the better portions of the book. I struggled to connect with Annie, and the way characters, events, and circumstances were relayed in the present felt two-dimensional at best, boring and confusing at worst. I could not keep track of who was who--past and present--how they were related, and why things were such a big deal. The characters and mysteries in the past storyline should have really drawn me into the story and created an air of tension and suspense, but it all fell a bit flat, making it just uninteresting. I really wanted to DNF several times, but I wanted to see who did it. But when that was revealed, it was incredibly underwhelming. I just did not care. I would not recommend this book--it will not draw you into the story, and if you put it down, by the time you pick it back up you will forget who over half the characters are and what purpose they serve.
I received an ARC of this book. I enjoyed this mystery. As usual, with this author, the setting plays a huge role in the story, and the descriptions really drew me into the action. The oppressive heat and isolation of the setting added to the book. The pace was a bit slow, but I think that also added to the way the story unfolded. I liked our main character, even when she made a few questionable decisions, and I did not want to put the book down. I did not figure out who did it, and was surprised in the end. I always enjoy this author.
I received an ARC of this book. Sadly, I had to DNF this one. I really enjoyed the author's previous book, and so was interested in reading this one. The first two chapters were very intriguing, but once we skipped to 1995 things kind of fell off the rails for me. As someone who was a sophomore in 1995, none of these "teenagers" felt authentic, and their internal monologues came across as stilted--like something an adult would ascribe to a teenager, instead of organic thoughts and feelings. (And we sure did not know that much about AOL and the internet back in 1995, but maybe that was just me, my high school, and every person I knew...) I just could not connect with the characters because they felt two-dimensional--things were being told and not shown--and there were too many characters to keep track of and not enough action to draw me into the story. I'm sure there are those who will enjoy this book. Unfortunately, it's not for me.
I received an ARC of this book. This book sounded promising, but quickly let me down. When a group of friends head out to relax at a Colorado resort, things go bad pretty quickly--is someone picking them off one by one? Most of the characters were unlikeable, and from the get-go, they did some pretty questionable things...Who agrees to go stay at an isolated resort based on the recommendation of someone they've never met, without even googling it? Who paid for it? Weird. And good grief, Noah was rude to Claire...geez! I know she probably "deserved it," but who would put up with that? Then the whole "getting lost in the woods" situation was pretty unbelievable. They just drove A MINI-VAN onto an overgrown trail? What? And then decided to get out and walk along this ridiculous trail when the mini-van broke down? And within just a few hours a whole "Lord of the Flies" scenario develops, with a complete chaotic devolving of common humanity? I kept thinking, "You all have been 'lost' in the woods for literally less than 24 hours and you're all acting like it's the apocalypse and you're about to have to cannibalize your friends, paint your faces with blood, and drink your own urine. GROW UP!" Once Lindsay got left in the woods, the story totally lost any believability it might have been clinging on to. I saw the "twist" literally as soon as it happened--waaaay too obvious. And I figured out who "Anonymous" was pretty early on, as well. This book was full of plot holes and required a great deal of suspension of belief. (I am sorry, but you can see if sandwich bread has been sitting out for a while just by feeling it...bread goes stale before it starts to "rot." And what kind of Swiss Army knife was that? Certainly not the kind I've carried in my purse for the last 2 decades!) I was not impressed by this book at all. Wouldn't recommend it, and will not read anything else by this author.
I received an ARC of this book. The first few pages of this book started off well. But then the writing took an overly florid tone. When characters were introduced with names like Wallop, Lord Grendel, and Spencer Sweetman, I thought perhaps this was going to be a more slightly satirical tongue-in-cheek type of book. But no. Once Albertine made her 3rd stupid decision at only 15% of the book read, I decided I was done. Some may enjoy this. But it was not the clever historical mystery that I was looking for.
I received an ARC of this book. Alice Feeney has never disappointed me! I am rounding up a bit, but this was another great book. A has-been writer heads to a remote Scottish island one year after his wife disappears in hopes to finally move on and finally begin writing again. But the island definitely is holding secrets. I knew there would be some big twists, so I was looking for them, but was still a bit surprised by a few of them. Feeney did a wonderful job of creating an atmosphere of almost horror-like creepiness with several scenes that will certainly get your heart beating a little faster! I was completely transported to this creepy island, and the air of tension and suspense was well-done. I will say that the ending/reveal felt a bit too "perfect" and maybe rushed, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book, and the epilogue was spot on, especially with the little "Easter egg" or clue right at the end! I would absolutely recommend this book and eagerly await the next one from Alice Feeney!
I received an ARC of this book. I am rounding up a bit, because although this book wasn't perfect, I did enjoy it. This is the story of a young law enforcement agent whose past comes back to haunt her--perhaps literally. She is the daughter of a prolific and gruesome serial killer who staged his victims in macabre fairy-tale like tableaux. And even though he was caught, imprisoned, and executed, it appears as though he has now returned. The beginning of this book felt a bit disjointed and almost clunky. I wasn't sure where the story was going and had a hard time connecting with the main character, Anna. I honestly considered DNF the book several times. But I kept reading, and once I got through about the first 1/3, the story and action picked up, I kind of figured Anna out a little bit, and I found myself really drawn into the story that the author created. This was helped by the fact that the setting and descriptions in the book were extremely well-done. The author did a great job of creating a truly eldritch, eerie, and creepy atmosphere. I was transported to the forest, with all its sights, smells, noises, and feelings. There were a few plot holes, some bigger than others (if that gene is so rare, how are there 3--or I guess 4!--people that have it all right there?!), but I could overlook them. I enjoyed the magical realism element, and the "is it supernatural, or is this all caused by trauma, physiological issues, drug exposure?" theme. But then, at the end of the book, when it was time for the "resolution," things ended a bit too neatly. Everything just fit so perfectly well together that it did not feel as though it fit the rest of the book. While I am not a huge fan of ambiguity, incompleteness, or deliberate vagueness at the end of books, this story was so unsettling and weirdly "off" (in a good way!), that the "happily ever after" felt jarring. But I did enjoy the book, and will probably read more by this author. It would be a great book to kick of spooky season!
Absolutely loved this thriller about a con woman who begins to realize her mysterious boss may be trying to sabotage her on her latest job. Evie Porter was a great character: morally gray but with a massive amount of rooting value--as the reader, I wanted her to succeed! The plot unfolded impeccably; small bits of the the truth were revealed while the reader learned more about who "Evie" really was and how she ended up attempting to con her "boyfriend" Ryan when her boss seemingly pulled the rug out from under her. I never knew what was going to happen next, but I thoroughly enjoyed the ride--the pacing was spot-on and all of the plot points felt believable while still surprising. I did not want the book to end, even though I could not wait to see if Evie would be able to pull off her scheme and outwit Mr. Smith. I could totally see this as a movie! I would highly recommend this book, and will read more by this author.
I think this is a good graphic novel adaptation of the epic poem Beowulf. However, I am only giving 3 stars because I think there are many aspects of this book that will only be completely understood or appreciated by those who are already familiar with the original poem. Readers new to the poem or those who had a hard time reading or understanding it will most likely miss the symbolism and nuances in this adaptation, and therefore not grasp many of the themes and important facets and details of poem. (As someone who has read the poem multiple times and has an understanding of the background and importance of BeowulfBeowulf, I did enjoy this graphic novel, however).
I'm rounding down on this book, just because it felt very disjointed because I could not figure out the target audience. It is the story of Rosamund (aka Sleeping Beauty) who objects to being woken up by a random prince by a kiss she did not want. That, of course, makes sense. She "escapes" by running through a magical door, and finds herself at the Home Educational Academy, a sort of Princess Protection Program, where erstwhile fairytale princesses (and one prince) learn about the real world in an attempt to protect themselves from the non-agency and lack of choice they had in their fairy tales. The issue I ran into again and again in this book was that the writing felt superficial and lacked depth. But that would be expected if the book was targeted for 5-7 graders and was focusing more on action. But then again, the action lagged. And then much of the subject matter would have seemed more appropriate for an older audience (consent or lack-thereof, identity, romantic relationships, etc.). So this felt like a very bad book written for high schoolers. As a librarian, I know I have some patrons who will like this book. But it won't be my sophisticated readers who expect action along with world-building, good pacing, or well-fleshed out characters. If I'd read it before I bought it, I wouldn't have wasted my money. I hope this is not the beginning of a series.
I received an ARC of this book. I loved this sequel to The Searcher. This return to Ardnakelty was superbly written. While the pacing is slow, that serves to fully develop the nuances of the story and characters. And again, as in The Searcher, the setting is as much a character as the people inhabiting the village and countryside, and the hot dry weather adds to the atmosphere. Trey, Cal, and Lena are just as well-developed in this book as they were in the first, and I really enjoyed reading about their journey, even if I didn't always agree with their decisions. The introduction of Trey's father was well done, as well as how he fit into the fabric of the townland. The pacing in this book was also slow, but I don't think it took away from the story in any way. It really made me savor the dialogue and action, and reluctant for the book to end. And of course, I really tried hard to not like Mart (especially after the last book!), but I just couldn't help it--he is a wonderfully intriguing and deceptively simple character. I really hope we get more books with these people, in this setting. I would absolutely recommend these two books.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a slower-paced Irish police procedural, and really focused on the characters. The way each character, their actions, and their thoughts unfolded along with the mystery kept the story flowing. Even though it was not fast-paced or a suspense-filled thriller, there were definitely some shocking moments. I must admit that I did not suspect the real "villain" until the big reveal, and I didn't expect the twist either. My one quibble is that a couple narrative points of view were introduced mid-way or even late in the book, and it's just a personal pet-peeve of mine that if we get to see "inside a character's head," we should have privy to their point-of-view all along. That being said, I was transported right to Galway, and am looking forward to reading the other books in this series. If you are looking for a character-driven mystery with great characterization, this is the book for you.
I received an ARC of this book. This was an interesting book. I cannot say that I am extremely familiar with the actual political climate or factual issues in Northern Ireland, but this book did offer a perspective on anyone living in a time of civil conflict. Tessa and her sister Marion (and their mother) seem to be almost disengaged from their reality, but perhaps that is a commentary on how they have become accustomed to violence in their lives. I did not realize that this was a sequel to Northern Spy. I did not have much trouble following the story, but if I'd read the first book, this one might have had a bit more emotional depth. It was a good book. I'm not sure if I'd recommend it or not. I certainly wouldn't go into it expecting a great deal of suspense or "espionage" or anything of that nature.
I received an ARC of this book. I am rounding up a bit on this one. The cover and description might make you think this is a suspenseful detective novel in which the isolation of our protagonist adds to a slightly creepy and unnerving tone. But you would be incorrect. This is actually a very very VERY slow-moving cozy mystery. You might could even call it less of a mystery and more the story of a man finding himself and discovering what he is capable of all on his own. I was reminded a bit of Tana French's The Searcher while reading this, because both books have similar themes of men who have left their old life behind and are seeking out something completely new while learning to depend upon themselves--and then a mystery pops up. While The Searcher does this better, in my opinion, I still found myself enjoying this book. But I will say that if you are looking for something that focuses more on mystery, suspense, and exciting plot points, you should probably avoid this book. I usually look for those things myself, but I must have been in just the right mood for this book while reading it. Because under normal circumstances, descriptions of building chicken coops, constructing saunas, "washing" clothes in a lake, and large portions of time spent in solitary retrospection related in MINUTE detail would just bore me. But in this case I kept reading and stayed interested. I am not sure if I will end up reading the next book in the series. I do know that if I do, I will have to go into it ready to read a book with a much slower pace than I am usually wont to read.
I received an ARC of this book. Oh my goodness. So much potential, but just not good. I was looking forward to reading this fantasy based on Irish mythology, but to say it fell flat would be a bit of an understatement. The protagonist Fia felt like a naive cliche. She was a petite hardened "weapon" forged by the machinations and tortures of the people who raised her (and those are not my words, those are the kind of florid words used in the story, over and over again). Yet she was also ridiculously clueless. She was susceptible to manipulation from everyone around her. I figured out ALL of the "bad guys" literally as soon as they were introduced. Yet Fia believed everything every one of them said, often to the detriment of herself and those she was trying to "save." I couldn't connect with her and it got to the point where I felt like she was an overly dramatic teenager. The pacing of the story was also really hard to follow. I really didn't understand the rules or "guidelines" of the quest that Fia and her childhood love Rogan were on. Things were explained, but they didn't feel logical or organic, just like awkward machinery stuck in to move the plot along. Things got repetitive and, as a result, boring, very quickly. The little snippets of action and storytelling that happened when the two were allowed(?) to go to Tir na Nog were much too few and far between. After about the 3rd time, I got tired of our two characters, who were supposedly on this great quest, just contenting themselves with spending a few hours a month on their actual "quest" either at a party or trading cryptic riddles, and then going back to the real world, having accomplished pretty much nothing. And then literally just "hanging out" for another month. The manner in which Fia and Rogan spend their time when not in magical fairy land felt strange and tacked on at first, and then as their relationship "matured," felt just out-of-place at best, stuck on as salacious filler at worst. I could go on and on, but I won't. The lack of backstory into Fia's magic other than the fact that nobody, including herself, really liked it. The total lack of time or character development spent on Eala, who could have been a much deeper and truly fascinating character. The way the reader was told so many plot points instead of allowing things to unfold organically. The choppiness of Fia's forays into Tir na Nog and her time spent with Irian. The dialogue that moved from the formal language of the fae and royalty to current slang. The way Irish mythology was stuck in jarringly with unexplained terms or names, instead of woven into the story. The huge plot holes... I am really sorry. I know a lot of time and research and effort was put into this book. And I appreciate that--it does show. But I needed and was expecting much more, in terms of character development, plot, and pacing. This has ended up being one of those books I feel like I wasted my time reading. I absolutely do not care what happens to any of these characters in book two. If you love flowery, over-the-top descriptions of the mystical lands of the fae, stereotypical heroines, heroes, villains, and love-interests, and books that try really hard to be "epic" while ignoring plot-holes, organic logic, and character development, then maybe this is the book for you. It was not the book for me.
I gave this one a try against my better judgement, and I shouldn't have. It just wasn't good. My first issue was that this felt like the author was trying WAY too hard to be "Irish." Everything felt like a stereotype that a tourist would expect to encounter in a "quaint Irish village." It was off-putting and felt cartoonish and fake. Perhaps as a result, the characters felt very two-dimensional, especially our (what I am assuming was supposed to be plucky, but just came across as unthinking, immature, a bit selfish, inconsiderate, and not very smart...) heroine and her trusty handsome guarda (whom she should have just let do his job and INVESTIGATE the murder, instead of sticking her nose in, going around interrogating every single resident of their village, and trying to do everything herself). I began to not like her; I couldn't relate to her, I didn't find her adorable (as I'm sure the reader is meant to), and I couldn't figure out if she was a teenager making dumb decisions, a young woman forced to care for her five siblings at too young an age, or what... The pacing felt off, as well. Important things were glossed over, unimportant things were described in intricate detail, and I found I just really didn't care by 3/4 through the book. Too many things were "told" instead of shown, and I very quickly became uninterested. I should have known better, because I're read a couple of other books by this author from a different series and didn't like those books, either. I won't be reading anything else by this author.
I received an ARC of this book. I was really enjoying this book. Great setting. Characters (who started off a bit cliched, but redeemed themselves quickly, and) who were easy to root for and relate to. Secondary characters (who also might have been a bit cliched, but who) were also fun and engaging. The relationship developed well, and didn't feel rushed. Then, at about 80%, it was like the wheels fell off. Anyone who reads romance novels knows a bit hurdle has to be thrown at the two main characters and they have to figure out how to go over it in order to be together. But this hurdle felt very clunky. Without giving way spoilers, I didn't understand the main characters' reasoning...why was it okay for one character to completely up and change their life for love, but not okay for the other character to do the exact some thing? There was no logic in it, to me: "Yes, I want you to do this huge thing for me, because you love me, but I am not willing to do the same thing for you. So we should just break up." And here is where the spoiler has to come in: (view spoiler)[ the reader spends the whole book getting to know the people of the island of Inishmore, the geography, the customs, the food, the weather--all of it. And the writer did a great job: it was absolutely a place anyone would love to go. And yet, when it came down to it, neither Cordelia or Niall wanted to stay there...? I didn't get it. Why couldn't they live in that magical village? Cordelia AND Niall both literally "healed and found themselves and their art/craft again" because they spent time there, but they never considered staying. Cordelia literally got "famous" again after taking pictures OF THE ISLAND. Niall kept saying how much he loved his family's pub... The fact that they both were so ready to leave made their time on the island feel contrived and like it didn't really matter, I guess. And there were quite a few plot holes (why did Roisin need a "caretaker?" Allison and everyone on the island knew perfectly well she could take care of herself. Why invite a stranger to come stay in the cottage to keep an eye on her? And then what are the odds that there are 3 people who just happen to be in the same age group as the newcomer, in such a small village?) (hide spoiler)] I don't know. I should probably stop reading romance novels, if I am going to expect the characters to act logically. If you can ignore or overlook the last 1/5 of the book, then you might enjoy this story. It left me feeling disappointed and let down, however.
I received an ARC of this book. This book tried to have all the pieces, but it really felt like none of the pieces quite fit together. The idea and premise were strong, but in my opinion the execution left much to be desired. Tess was forced to marry a very wealthy elderly duke at 19, but lucky (?) for her, he died just after the wedding. At which point her two best friends who just happen to be there show up and help her move the body so no one thinks she poisoned her new husband, and they decide to form a detective agency to help out the less fortunate... (okay. Seems a bit far-fetched, but I was willing to suspend belief). Then we fast-forward a few years, when the young women have a successful business, but Tess finds herself unsatisfied. After a steamy encounter with a stranger, she discovers that he is the new duke set to inherit her late husband's title. He proposes marriage completely out of the blue, she accepts (I think so she can keep her detective agency running...? The logic seemed funny to me), but worries considerably more about lying to her new husband about that fact that she in completely "inexperienced" than lying about the fact that she has been employed by royalty to find a blackmailer. I had a hard time connecting with both main characters. Tess's priorities seemed messed up, and she was preoccupied with things that didn't really matter. And Justin felt very two-dimensional. I felt now organic chemistry between the two--they just liked each other because of how "beautiful" they were. And I certainly didn't feel any growing feelings of love between them. The plot and pacing were strange as well. Things that should have been a big deal were glossed over, and things that were treated as huge road blocks in the relationship didn't seem like they should matter at all--mountains were made out of molehills and molehills were turned into mountains. And the ending was more than a bit ridiculous--just tell each other the truth! And I got really sick of reading the word "perverse." I tried with this book, but just didn't like it. I ended up skimming about half-way through, just because I wanted to see who the blackmailer would turn out to be. I wouldn't recommend this book and probably won't read anything else by this author.
I received an ARC of this book. I am rounding up on this one. I have enjoyed this author's books in the past (I absolutely loved On a Quiet Street), but the ending of the last book I read (The Vanishing Hour) felt rushed and glossed over. In reading this book, I got the same feeling, but sadly, not just at the end.
This is the story of Anna and Cass, who come into each other's orbit at The Sycamores, a scuzzy motel-turned apartment complex (you will not forget this detail--the reader is reminded constantly). Anna's husband recently committed suicide and she leaves their home and moves into the Sycamores, where her husband had his painting studio, in an attempt to understand his last days and why he was so lost. Cass ended up as the apartment manager/maintenance worker after her long-time boyfriend cheated on her with a younger woman. At this point, there really isn't much of a mystery or any suspense in the story. Cass has been blackmailing no-good men for extra money, but there is no real threat of danger, or tension. Eventually the action does pick up, and the reader wonders what secrets the residents of The Sycamores are hiding.
This whole book just felt "messy" to me. I couldn't really figure out why, until I was reminded of the Food Network show in which Guy Fieri challenges contestants to create a dish using criteria from "The Randomizer," including ingredients, cooking methods, appliances/utensils, and cooking time. It was almost like the author did the same thing in this book. "You have to write a mystery/thriller and incorporate cheating spouses--bonus points for more than one, domestic violence, drug cartels, murder/attempted murder made to look like suicide--again, bonus points for more than one!, mentions of child abuse, blackmail, inappropriate teacher-student relationships, miscarriages, assault, a "crazy cat person," a high-society ball/gala, burying a body in the desert, and illegal prescription drugs. And if you can include a box of maggots and poop in a pool, you are guaranteed to go on to the next round!" It just felt all over the place. Some aspects could definitely have been left out completely and streamlined--and while the characters and descriptions of The Sycamores were well-done, evocative, and added a wonderful depth to the story, that seemed to actually come at the expense of action and plot. The pacing was very off--some parts felt extremely rushed, and due to the fact that the reader was seeing it exclusively from one character's point of view, felt very glossed over. And the character of Anna was not well-developed. She was constantly making very stupid decisions, and therefore I didn't really like her.
But my biggest issue was the fact that once the action really picked up, everything unfolded--much too quickly--very conveniently. Crucial information that was withheld from the reader was revealed (a pet peeve of mine in mysteries), and moments that should have elicited a "Wow! What a twist!" instead just came across as "Humph. Isn't that convenient..." The ending just felt like everything was tied up in a neat bow, which was great for everybody. It didn't really fit for what had been a gritty story with characters living lives that were not pretty or easy.
I did like Frank!
I will probably give this author one more shot. But if you are looking for a suspenseful thriller full of tension, this is not it.
I received an ARC of this book. I really enjoyed this next installment in the Antonia Scott series. The plot moved quite nicely, and the development of Antonia and Jon is very well done. I did not want to put the book down and all of the twists and turns kept me guessing. The book ended on a cliffhanger, and I cannot wait for the next installment.
I received an ARC of this book. I loved this book! I was very eager to read the sequel to One Dark Window, and this book definitely did not disappoint. The storytelling style was a bit different from the first book, so it took a few chapters for me to get used to it, but once I did, the narrative flowed well and I really enjoyed getting to know the other characters. I had a very hard time putting the book down, once the book was over I was truly satisfied with the events of the story, the journey of the characters, and how everything ended. I would highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a good dark gothic fantasy series.
I received an ARC of this book. I am rounding down, instead of up, because I have read so many other books that use the same tropes that this book did, and I am just getting tired of them--but of course that is a personal preference. This book didn't blow me away, but I still enjoyed reading it, despite some flaws. This is the story of an extremely wealthy Icelandic family who spend a weekend at an exclusive hotel. Family secrets come to light as deep dysfunction is revealed, and it becomes glaringly apparent that while this family looks perfect from the outside, those on the inside are painfully far from perfect. And someone will not survive the weekend. This is another one of those stories told from several different points of view. Sometimes in books this helps to show insight into characters' actions and motivations, but sometimes it can get a bit boring. Especially when there is not a whole lot of real action going on, but instead a whole lot of introspection and remembering the past. While I have read books in the past that relied way too much on revealing backstory though internal dialogue, this one wasn't too bad--but more action and less page after page of individual mental self-flagellation and dwelling on personal faults and flaws would have added to a sense of tension and suspense. As it was the book had an overall tone of oppressive heavy despondency and hopelessness (which may have been what the author was going for). I also am a bit tired of reading books in which the characters are constantly "self-medicating" with pills, alcohol, and drugs. It makes it hard for the reader to feel any sympathy toward them when they are always saying how they feel high/drunk/zoned-out but yet keep taking drinks and popping pills. This also added to my inability to really like any of the characters at all, other than Lea. I did guess the "shocking twist" VERY early on, so that leant no suspense to that aspect of the story. The other "twist" about what happened in the past of several of the characters was pretty easy to guess as well. So there were no gasping "aha!" moments for me while reading the book. My other issue is that there were a couple of plot holes that I would have liked to have seen resolved in a more concrete manner. There were definitely some people in this story who did some questionable things, and I would have like to have seen them "punished" or receive their comeuppance, so to speak. But that is my personal feeling. All in all, despite the things I have mentioned, I did enjoy this atmospheric psychological mystery. I finished it quickly.
I received an ARC of this book. I had to DNF at only 18%. I wasn't sure if this was supposed to be a cozy mystery or a high-stakes suspense thriller... When an elderly antiques dealer is found dead, his best friend and his former protege attempt to find the truth behind what really happened. I really tried to get into the story, but I had a hard time connecting with the characters and the tone felt really strange (which probably contributed to the fact that I could not relate to Freya or Carole). Both Freya and Carole kept having internal dialogue (and conversations with each other) about how Arthur was killed because of some terrible shadowy goings-on. The interminable mentions of "Cairo" came across as some kind of 007/cut-throat espionage/deadly spy ring kind of event. But everything else in the story was really giving Miss Marple vibes. So I kept getting confused. And I didn't understand Carole at all. To me she came across as clueless and naive at best, or selfish and self-centered at worst. She bulldozed everyone around her and acted like she knew best in every situation, but she really had no clue about how to interact with people. But honestly my biggest issue with the book was the fact that is was set in a quaint English village, yet they were eating "cookies" and "fries," talking about their "moms," and using "parking lots." If I'm reading a book set in the UK about characters from the UK I would expect biscuits, chips, mums, and car parks... Some may really enjoy this book, but it was not for me.
I received an ARC of this book. I am struggling with whether to round up or round down with this book. I really enjoyed it up until the big "battle/climax" portion, and the way the story kind of switched tone kind of threw me off and kept me from truly loving the book. I did enjoy the story of Fritzi and Otto, their respective struggles, and their beliefs. I appreciated the way both of them hung on to their personal belief systems without getting too preachy, and this allowed the reader to think while still being immersed in the story. I rooted for both of our main characters and I liked their journey against the people and institutions that were oppressing them, and their journey toward personal understanding (and understanding each other). The setting and tone of the book was very well done, and I really found myself drawn into the world of Fritzi and Otto. The last act of the book, however, when our group of weary travelers finally reach their "destination," seemed to not fit in with the rest of the book at all. I do realize that Fritzi and Otto had to come to terms with their belief systems and are confronted with some totally new "truths," but so much time was spent earlier in the book on world-building and creating this system of politics, hierarchy, etc., that all of this new stuff almost felt like everything that had happened previously in the book didn't matter. The tone of the book went from the gritty dark city streets and cold countryside of Eastern Europe to (this might be a spoiler alert) a sort of airy ethereal Lothlorien from Peter Jackson's LOTR trilogy. It was too much of a jarring contrast and it blew up everything the story had been working up to. The ending felt like it belonged to another book. So despite loving the book up to the last act, at that point I was just thrown for a loop and it marred my enjoyment of the book. I am not sure if I would recommend this book or not, and despite the fact that the reader is left on a cliffhanger, due to the way the last part of the book took such a turn, I am not sure that I would read the next book.
I was not a fan of this book. I found Corrie to be very unlikeable, and I really wasn't sure what Ford saw in her, other than that he found her attractive. I felt like they both acted in a very immature manner, and if they, at any point, would have just stopped and had a real conversation, most of the "conflict" in the book could have been avoided. But to be honest, I think most of the "conflict" in the book arose because Corrie had a bad temper and didn't think about what she was saying or doing before she did it. She acted like a spoiled middle-schooler. I also felt like I had so suspend belief on the archaeological aspect and historical accuracy, not to mention the ending. I would not recommend this book
I received an ARC of this book. I enjoyed this book. It drew me in right from the beginning and I had a hard time putting it down. Charlie was a fascinating character and the story developed at a great pace; the author did a great job of incorporating dual timelines and still propelling the plot along at an intriguing pace. This is the story of Charlotte, or Charlie, an incredibly successful editor who seems to have it all: a great job, a fantastic super-wealthy fiancé, and loads of poise, self-confidence, and polish. But Charlie is also a survivor of what has been dubbed "Scarlet Christmas" by the press--a tragedy in which several students in an elite journalism grad school program were killed by another student. Charlie has worked extremely hard to put the past behind her and build a successful present, but when another survivor (a broadcast journalist who is even more successful that Charlie) announces plans to make a movie on the 10-year anniversary of the tragedy, Charlie begins to worry that her carefully curated life will fall apart. Because she has secrets about that night that she has been hiding for all theses years. As I said, I was pulled right into the book. Charlie's character is very well done. She is just the right balance of unlikeable and vulnerable. The reader understands her motivations and roots for her, even when she makes obvious wrong decisions and does questionable things. Charlie's meetings with her therapist were a great way to show exactly what was going on in her head as well as detail the events of the past that led up to the defining moment in Charlie's life. As the story unfolded, I was captivated and found myself wondering what really happened that night, what Charlie was really hiding, and what would happen in the present when and if the truth came out. I read feverishly until about the last 25%, when the pacing and plot began to feel a bit disjoined and strange. There was a slightly bizarre "aha" moment that should have been huge...and I guess it was huge...but then again it wasn't huge. So I felt confused and maybe a bit misled. And the denouement did not feel like it matched the pacing and tone of the rest of the book at all. I certainly don't want to give away any spoilers, (view spoiler)[ and I am all for a HEA, but this felt overly drawn out and slightly anti-climactic (and nobody cared about the peanuts? Really?!). (hide spoiler)] But I did enjoy the book, and I would recommend it if you enjoy tense psychological thrillers. And I will definitely read more by this author.
I received an ARC of this book. I had high hopes for this book and was really looking forward to reading it. But despite wonderful detail, attention to historical accuracy, and a great setting, the characters just really fell flat. The book started of very well, and--due to the fact that I just finished a rereading of Beowulf a few days ago--I was drawn into the story. It didn't take long however, for the characters to begin to feel underdeveloped, two-dimensional, and even a bit annoying. Fryda seemed like she was supposed to be the main character (I'm just going by the title of the book, here...), but she came across as naive at best, childishly ignorant at worst, about so many things going on in her home and with the people around her. I got fed up with her pretty quickly. Also, big events in the plot that affected Fryda greatly were not "told" from her point-of-view. It created a distance and lack of sympathy for Fryda. And all those points-of-view became confusing and cumbersome. It was hard for me to tell how much time was passing, where people were, and what was going on due to the fact that the story jumped from person to person to person. When I put the book down I felt little desire to pick it back up, and I felt very little connection to any of the characters--even Beowulf himself! This read more like a YA novel with a great deal of historical accuracy, than a retelling of Beowulf. Perhaps that is just my fault, and I came into the book expecting more, having just finished Beowulf and recently having read Queen Hereafter (another "retelling" of a classic literary work with the tone and characterization I was expecting). But if you love Beowulf, I'm not sure that I can recommend this book. I truly appreciated all of the historical detail, but I needed more from the characters and plot.
I received an ARC of this book. First, let me say that "Sleeping Beauty" has always been my favorite Disney movie. It's style of drawing is beautiful, Maleficent is a great character, and I love the setting. So I was excited about this book. BUT... This book just had too many flaws for me to enjoy it, even when I take a step back knowing I am not the intended audience. This book contradicted itself, was full of unlikeable and/or two-dimensional characters who acted and felt one way on one page and then completely different in the next chapter, had characters make decisions that they completely went back on later in the story, had no through line, and just didn't make any sense.
This is supposed to be the story of Stella, a junior in high school who is so detail-oriented that she even makes a spreadsheet on her phone (seems to me like that would be a lot easier to do on a laptop, but that's just me... And could you not just keep a calendar?) every morning to organize her day. She ends up going to Disneyland before her prom (you might think that's a huge part of the story, but it's not. Apart from the unnecessarily detailed descriptions of how Stella has created 4 different spreadsheets about what rides they need to go on, when they have to eat, what time they need to be in line, and essentially what they are and are not allowed to do, according to her plans.) with her best friend, her best friend's girlfriend, and a literal "rando." And of course Stella decides she does not like said rando, Reece, because he witnessed her breakup with her boyfriend weeks earlier, and he doesn't respond the way she feels he should to all her spreadsheets, rules, didactic pronouncements about what one should and shouldn't do at Disneyland, and generally unpleasant personality (not to mention the fact that she is mad he is there at one point, and then a few pages later is mad that he wants to do his own thing). All of this "backstory" (complete with a whole scene about how Stella has to show up at the gym earlier that day because the prom decorations aren't arranged to her "logistical expert" standards and she doesn't like that the theme is "fairy tale," just because her boyfriend broke up with her, even though she LOVES Disney--which is supposed to be a major part of her personality) just makes the pace of the first part of the book too slow and honestly, a bit boring.
I felt like the story should pick up when Reece and Stella finally, by some weird (not really ever explained in the book--if you're counting plot holes, you'll probably lose count, but here's one,) reason end up in the DISNEY CARTOON version of Sleeping Beauty (this is also important to remember, because although they have not actually travelled back in time to an actual historical event to real time in the past, they for some reason feel if they do anything to disrupt the storyline of animated characters who were designed by Walt Disney--a la the butterfly effect--cataclysms will occur that could warp the space time continuum. Again, it made no sense). And this is the point where the book got even more contradictory. Stella, who prides herself on being so detail-oriented, for some reason cannot remember the details of Sleeping Beauty (another plot hole: she has trouble remembering the details in stories even though she has somehow genetically inherited a genius-level propensity for figuring out logistics? How does she function in school? What happens when she has to read a novel in English, or remember dates in history, or use formulas in math? Not to mention the fact that SHE LOVES DISNEY), and has to have Reece explain everything to her--characters, details, major plot-points, seemingly obvious things that any normal person could probably figure out just by using common sense. And then when he tells her how she should or shouldn't behave or what she should or should not do in order to keep the movie flowing like it should, she gets mad, ignores him, or just acts in an incredibly stupid manner. Reece keeps telling her they are in 14th century Europe, and she needs to speak and behave appropriately (yet another plot hole: they are NOT in the Middle Ages, they are in an animated movie. If they were actually in feudal Europe, they would be speaking a different language, Stella's actions would probably have her burned at the stake as a witch, and THERE WOULD BE NO FAIRIES OR MAGIC. Here, the author and in turn the characters need to stop emphasizing that they are in the actual past, and focus more on the fact that if the story doesn't unfold just as it should that they may not get back home. That would make much more sense).
At this point, I just started skimming. I didn't feel like anything that happened would really have any important impact on the story, because the character would most likely just go back on their statements or contradict their actions in the next chapter. Phillip and Rose meet a week early, (but that's okay, even though it doesn't happen in the movie...? Again, I'm confused). Stella and Reese spend a week showing them how to be modern teenagers, complete with current slang (I thought we in medieval Europe? But then again, Phillip and Rose talk just like Stella and Reese... Confused... Now, it would be a bit more believable if the fact they are in a MADE UP cartoon was emphasized, but it's not...), manage somehow to avoid Maleficent (again, a great character. She was severely underused in this story). Then, it JUST SO HAPPENS that
Okay, I am too tired of this to keep going. But there are so many more things I could list that make this book just not good. More plotholes, more things that make Stella unlikeable, more times we could have really used Reece's POV, more examples of the 2-dimensional nature of Phillip and Rose, more GLARING incongruity...but I'll stop here. I didn't like this book. I am shocked that Disney approved of it. I really hope this isn't a series. I am surprised this got past an editor. I DO NOT recommend it. The premise was great. The execution was atrocious. Philip, Aurora, Flora, Fauna, Merriweather, and Maleficent all deserve better.
I received an ARC of this book. I really enjoyed this book. It was gripping, twisty, and hard to put down. Alix and Josie meet in a pub on what is both women's 45 birthday. Alix, a successful podcaster, is celebrating with friends, and Josie finds herself a bit envious of Alix and all she seems to have accomplished in her 45 years. Josie manages to run into Alix a few days later and finagle her way onto Alix's new podcast. As Josie begins to talk to Alix about her past, Alix begins to wonder if Josie could be in danger. But when Alix offers to help Josie escape what seems to be a horrible life full of abuse, pain, and trauma, Alix begins to wonder who is actually telling the truth--maybe Josie is the one putting Alix in danger. The reader knows right off the bat that something bad has happened--at best untoward and at worst criminal. As the story goes back in time and the unfolding of Alix and Josie's relationship is shown, the reader is not quite sure who or what to believe. The author does a great job of creating a feeling of "off-ness." Something is not right, but no one is quite sure what it is. Is Josie telling the truth? Is Alix being manipulated? As the action ramped up, I had a very hard time putting the book down, and there were actually a few times where I said, "Oh no!" out loud. My only issue with the book was the very end. I think it was intended for the reader to be able to draw their own conclusions about Josie, her past, and her actions, but to me the attempt at ambiguity cheapened the story just a bit. But I still really liked the book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys twisty psychological suspense thrillers with narrators who might be a bit unreliable.
I received an ARC of this book. I loved this second installment in the series! It was just a bit different in tone from the first book, but that did not diminish my enjoyment at all. The character growth of Emily, Wendell, and their relationship was very well done. I did not want to put the book down, and even found myself wanting to yell at Emily a little bit for some of the choices and decisions she made--and then was saying "I told you so!" right along with Wendell. This was a fun story in a delightful series, and I cannot wait to read more about Emily and her adventures with the Fair Folk!
I received an ARC of this book. I think I am rounding up just a little bit: I really enjoyed this book...until the last bit... Then I found myself underwhelmed, and it kind of ruined the book for me. No matter what the synopsis on the back of the book says, this is the story of 3 different people: one is the survivor of a horrible kidnapping many years ago, one is the single mom of a teen-aged girl who has recently disappeared, and one is a man who's father is missing. We see the story unfold from each person's point-of-view. Will the kidnapping survivor be able to put her past behind her, and could what happened to her have something to do with the people going missing in the present? I enjoyed all three of the main characters and found myself rooting for all of them. I even enjoyed the secondary characters--even Vinny! The pacing was well-done and I really had a hard time putting the book down. I will say that when it was time for the big "climax" and reveal of the crime and who was guilty, everything felt smashed together, and it moved so quickly that it really didn't feel like much of a payoff. Then the "resolution," instead of feeling satisfying and hopeful, was a bit depressing and open-ended--and not in a good way. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I felt kind of like, "oh... okay... well, that's crummy for them..." when I finished the last page. So I'm on the fence about whether to recommend this one or not...
I received an ARC of this book. I tried really hard, but I just could not get into this book or connect with the main character. The plot dragged and there was nothing to draw me into the story or keep me interested. I did not care about Nadine, her motives, her past, or her future. She was rude, dismissive, selfish, and unlikable. I realized halfway through that I didn't even care about Colleen or who the dead guy was on the floor, so I DNF. The cover is gorgeous, however...
I debated how many stars to give this book, but finally settled on 3. I enjoyed the beginning, got very mad at how dumb the MC was acting about halfway through, considered DNF it, persevered through, then enjoyed the last couple of chapters. This is the story of Grey, a teenage girl who is visiting her grandmother for the summer, as she has done every summer for years. She is excited to spend time with the friends she has in the town, but is worried and scared because her best friend Elora went missing suddenly one night several months earlier. Grey feels compelled to search for the truth about what happened to Elora, and hopefully find her "twin flame." This book sets up a wonderfully atmospheric tiny town set on the banks of the Mississippi River whose residents seem to all have one form or another of psychic abilities. The oppressive humidity, uncanny legends, lazy fireflies, and secretive past events all combined to really draw me into the story. But after several chapters the story seemed to drag a bit. Grey spends quite a bit of her time dwelling on her friends and how strong their relationship is to each other, and yet most of those characters are not well-drawn and I had a hard time feeling a connection with them. Grey also reiterates over and over and over how she must find out what happened to Elora, and discover her secrets, and find the truth...but she spends an inordinate amount of time just hanging out with some new guy she just met. I felt no real sense of urgency from Grey about her professed obsession with trying to find Elora. Then when Grey began to jump to ridiculous conclusions based on absolutely no evidence, I got pretty fed up with her. She went around accusing people of things for no reason, and I just found myself rolling my eyes over and over. The end of the the book had a couple of twists that I did not see coming, however, and it made up--slightly--for the dragging plot and weird pacing of the middle of the book. I am not sure if I would recommend this book or not. It had some pretty serious flaws, but the setting and atmosphere was well done. I might consider reading another book by this author.
I received an ARC of this book. I am not quite sure what I think about this book. It started off pretty well and the characters really drew me in. But after a few chapters I just got really REALLY mad at some of them and I got a bit fed up with the very slow pace of the plot. The book begins with the police discovering two dead bodies, and then introduces Bill, a widowed father struggling to care for his young daughter Lucy. In order to make ends meet, he takes in a lodger, Karla. Karla is a student who wants to become a lawyer one day, and she works as a maid for a well-to-do couple in order to make enough money to pay her rent. The other main character we meet is Jennica, a young woman who works as a phone psychic at night and pretends to attend university during the day, who has just begun a relationship with an intriguing older man. As the story unfolded, I began to get really fed up with Bill, and found myself really not liking Jennica at all. The only characters I liked were Sally and Karla. And even then I feel like the author missed some opportunities to really allow the reader to feel a strong connection to Karla--some of her actions/decisions/motivations were a bit glossed over. The pacing of the book really lacked any suspense or urgency. Not all books have to be edge-of-your-seat thrillers, but there needs to be a feeling that something is going to happen that will have a big impact on the characters. And I found that missing in this book. The ending left me unsatisfied, as well. I am not sure if I would recommend this book or not. It is definitely slow-moving and has several very unlikable characters.
I received an ARC of this book. I really tried, but I just could not get into this book. I was bored. I understand that some books can be "slow-burn" and have a slower pace, but there was nothing in the beginning 20% to have me intrigued enough to want to pick the book back up when I put it down. The town was depressing, the aftermath of the flood was depressing, and Annie was depressing. I got very tired of reading her inner monologue of how dissatisfied and out-of-place she felt with little to no action taking place. I needed something to draw me into the story so I would care about Annie and about the missing man. I did not finish the book.
I received an ARC of this book. This is a "cute" YA book about a girl attending the boarding school that her father mysteriously left when he was a junior. It also happens to be the 3rd most haunted school in America. She meets a cute ghost-boy and the have to solve a mystery. That's pretty much it. The writing was very atmospheric but also very surface-level. It felt less of YA and more middle-grade. I tried really hard to remember that I am not the target audience for this book, but I just could not finish it. The writing felt like every middle-school girl's idea of a spooky teenaged romance, with very little meat or depth behind the characters, their actions, or the plot. I did not finish it. But if you are a young girl who loves spooky season, this may be the book for you.
This book sounded like it would be so good, but I could not finish it. There were entirely too many things going on to make it a cohesive whole. I went into it thinking it would be a cozy mystery in the vein of Jane Austen. Which, in the very early pages, it was--a bit...there were a few anachronisms and details that would not have been true to society (and I don't mean the haute ton, I mean society as a whole) in Regency England. I was willing to overlook those and continued reading, despite the off-putting behavior of the father (I guess he was supposed to be funny? He just came across and an adolescent boy being inappropriate, in my option). I kept telling myself, "I guess this is supposed to be satire and we are making fun of the Regency Romance genre?" When the quiet sister kept giving off hairy rotting meat vibes, I couldn't go any further. I wasn't sure what direction the book was going in, but if the author had picked only one and left all of the other jarring plot points out, the book would have been so much better. Is it satire? Is it a cozy detective story? Is it a supernatural mystery? I did not like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, but that book was MUCH better than this one. I was really looking forward to reading this book, but could not bring myself to finish it. If you are new to Regency novels and like bizarreness and books that have no through line or overarching theme, maybe you will enjoy this book. But otherwise I would definitely not recommend it. Not at all.
I received and ARC of this book. I really liked the first book in this series and was excited to see what was next for Emma. This book, however, disappointed me. The pacing and plot was extremely uneven, and I continuously found myself mad at Emma for making ridiculous decisions and putting herself in completely unnecessary danger. I figured out who the "traitor" was very early on, and Emma's subsequent relationship with the person felt underdeveloped and forced, which added to the lack of tension and meaningfulness in the overall story. While I really enjoyed the first book, and I do root for Emma, I am not sure that I will read another book in this series.
I really tried to like this book, but I was not a fan. The setting and atmosphere really drew me in, and I really wanted to root for Ruth. But it didn't take me long to get annoyed by her, and then to get mad at her. I wanted her to make better decisions and couldn't figure out why she developed no agency for herself until it was much too late. I also really did not like the way she treated Everett. The back and forth of time periods in the narration also ended up confusing me. I was never quite sure of "where we were" when the reader was taken back into the past, and what we were supposed to know at that point, what had or hadn't already happened, and what was going on. I also feel like many threads in the story were left hanging, and I would have liked more development of the "supernatural" aspect. I think this could have been a great book, but there were too many things that I just didn't like, especially when I read the last couple of pages. I understand the author's choice with how the book ended, but it just left me unsatisfied and let down after investing in the story. I'm sure many will love this book, but it was not for me.
I enjoyed this book. It is told entirely from Noelle's point of view, as she is reeling from the death of her beloved grandmother and desperately trying to find her footing after losing her job and having to move back in with her parents. She finds herself on a roadtrip with Paul, her late grandmother's first love, and his grandson Theo, who also happens to be her high school nemesis. Noelle must find a way to endure Theo's company, discover the secrets of her grandmother's past, and rediscover who she is. Noelle was very relatable and the descriptions of the scenery in the book were very well done. I liked the relationship between Theo and Noelle and the way it grew and developed. I feel like they really depended upon each other in high school a lot more than they realized. I had a little trouble with the big inevitable fight at the end--I really thought that Noelle was being a bit harsh and hypocritical. But she soon realized she was acting that way, so that definitely helped. I would recommend this book if you enjoy contemporary romance and will probably read another book by this author.
I was a bit wary about reading this book based on the description, and it took me a while to finally start it. But once I decided to go ahead and take a chance on it, I am so glad that I did! The story of a prickly and standoffish professor who would rather research faeries for her encyclopedia than interact with humans, the book begins when Emily arrives in the wintry land of Ljosland in order to spend several months in the field studying the local Hidden Ones. Emily soon realizes the research will be more difficult than she first supposed, especially when she is unexpected and abruptly joined by fellow Cambridge professor Wendell Bamleby (whom Emily has long suspected is actually a member of the fae himself). Bamleby sets about endearing himself to the people of the local village while Emily focuses on discovering more about the local faeries, but Emily begins to realize that Bamleby might actually be an asset when Emily is confronted with locals who hold her at arms length, formidable arctic weather, and a changeling, missing villagers, a vengeful faerie queen and a faerie king imprisoned in an ancient tree. Not long after beginning the book I found myself drawn into Emily's world, where faeries are an accepted--if little understood--fact. The book is told from Emily's point of view, from the scholarly journal where she records notes for what she hopes will be a work of grand scholarship: an encyclopedia of faeries. Emily's voice was extremely well-done, and it was not hard at all to understand her personality and the way she regarded her scholarship and her ability to function alongside her fellow humans. I enjoyed watching her relationship with Wendell grow and develop, as well as Emily's realization that she didn't have to do everything by herself all the time. Emily was endearing and relatable. And Wendell was a wonderful character as well. The author did a great job of creating someone who was intelligent, perhaps a bit foppish, a bit selfish, but also incredibly enchanting (!) and adorable. I found myself rooting for both Emily and Wendell despite their personality flaws, and I enjoyed going on this adventure with them. My only issue with the book was the perhaps rambling way the plot flowed. There was not a real through-line with Emily's time in Hrafnsvik and the surrounding countryside. I found myself craving a true progression of action, with a clear beginning, middle and end. It seemed that Emily and Wendell found themselves completing many "side-tasks" and I kept wondering what the big final climax and denouement would be. But I also realize that this is the same nature as many folk- and faerie tales, that the author was just following a formula to relate her story to other ancient stories in the same genre. So I can appreciate what was going on here. All in all, I would recommend this book. It was a fun read that would be great for a winter's day by a cozy fire. I will be looking forward to Book 2!
The Luminaries by Susan Dennard
