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emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5 stars.
I listened to this book on audio and it was likely the best choice I've ever made with regard to a book. This was particularly wonderful to listen to as President Obama's voice is incredibly soothing and his delivery is deliberate and smooth. I'm not sure I would have done as well with the narrative had I chosen to read this in a physical form.
This is an incredibly well-written and constructed memoir. I'm not usually highly politically minded (it's typically a turn off for me rather than an interest), but his writing made it more intriguing, less dry, and very informative. There is a lot of historical information presented and I learned a lot about events that I should have in all honesty been more versed on prior to my reading. But it was very nice to get a "backstage tour" as it was and get a little bit more insight as to the hows and whys of historical events. It was nice to have a realistic picture of the political landscape, the nature of political deals, and the large scope (incredibly overwhelming) of the presidential office.
Obama is incredibly candid in this narrative, but he is also very humble and presents things in quite a balanced way. There wasn't a lot of bipartisan posturing or prejudice. His introduction of the other individuals he interacted with and had relationships with during these years felt very honest. All of the individuals in this book (including Obama himself) are portrayed with both strengths and weaknesses. He demonstrates his ability to approach a subject with careful thought and consideration rather than simply demonizing someone because they sit on the other side of the aisle or glorifying someone simply because they may agree with him.
I very much enjoyed this book, even with the incredible length. It was comfortably paced and didn't feel like it needed to necessarily be shorter. It didn't feel like a speed read, but it certainly didn't have the heavy weight of a tome while I was in the midst of it. The only place that really hitched me up in my read was the ending. Though Obama's presidential career definitely needed to be broken up into multiple installations (the length!), the closing seemed to be in an odd location historically speaking. It didn't wrap up his first term fully, which felt a bit awkward. But it does leave some introduction of what's to come and wraps up his feelings on everything presented quite nicely.
I'm looking forward to the next installment.
I listened to this book on audio and it was likely the best choice I've ever made with regard to a book. This was particularly wonderful to listen to as President Obama's voice is incredibly soothing and his delivery is deliberate and smooth. I'm not sure I would have done as well with the narrative had I chosen to read this in a physical form.
This is an incredibly well-written and constructed memoir. I'm not usually highly politically minded (it's typically a turn off for me rather than an interest), but his writing made it more intriguing, less dry, and very informative. There is a lot of historical information presented and I learned a lot about events that I should have in all honesty been more versed on prior to my reading. But it was very nice to get a "backstage tour" as it was and get a little bit more insight as to the hows and whys of historical events. It was nice to have a realistic picture of the political landscape, the nature of political deals, and the large scope (incredibly overwhelming) of the presidential office.
Obama is incredibly candid in this narrative, but he is also very humble and presents things in quite a balanced way. There wasn't a lot of bipartisan posturing or prejudice. His introduction of the other individuals he interacted with and had relationships with during these years felt very honest. All of the individuals in this book (including Obama himself) are portrayed with both strengths and weaknesses. He demonstrates his ability to approach a subject with careful thought and consideration rather than simply demonizing someone because they sit on the other side of the aisle or glorifying someone simply because they may agree with him.
I very much enjoyed this book, even with the incredible length. It was comfortably paced and didn't feel like it needed to necessarily be shorter. It didn't feel like a speed read, but it certainly didn't have the heavy weight of a tome while I was in the midst of it. The only place that really hitched me up in my read was the ending. Though Obama's presidential career definitely needed to be broken up into multiple installations (the length!), the closing seemed to be in an odd location historically speaking. It didn't wrap up his first term fully, which felt a bit awkward. But it does leave some introduction of what's to come and wraps up his feelings on everything presented quite nicely.
I'm looking forward to the next installment.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A fun cover and a great premise drew me to add The Midnight Library to my TBR. It was a good choice. I had a wonderful time reading this one and didn't want to put it down. It moves quite nicely at a medium pace and has great emotional content. There are moments of high tension, but it is mostly a ride that pulls at the heartstrings and made me contemplate pieces of my own life.
Haig's writing is beautiful, but accessible. It feels comfortable while still creating a vibrant atmosphere and shaping Nora's character in a masterful way. I could have used a bit more development in the supporting characters, but they were not completely flat and did add some value to the story.
The exploration of lives and the use of Nora's librarian friend, Mrs. Elm as a guide were executed very well. I savored the progress of this book and just found myself sinking in to the narrative.
The ending was somewhat, though not completely, predictable. It was a good, solid close to the story, but not quite as powerful as I would have liked. Still, the journey itself was magical and impactful and I very much enjoyed my reading experience. This is a book that will find itself a permanent place in my collection.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this book! I had read Harrow's novel The Ten Thousand Doors of January prior and gave it 5 stars, but I liked this one even more.
I found the premise (and the fact that I enjoyed said previous novel) intriguing enough to put this on my TBR, but SERIOUSLY underestimated where it could go. The Once and Future Witches goes far beyond your typical "witchy" novel. It is an incredibly well-written and magical story that takes history, fairytale, and children's rhymes and tosses them together with liberal alteration to create something ridiculously creative and gripping.
The characters and atmosphere were both amazing. Typically a book is either character-driven or plot-driven. This was very easily both. The characters were brilliant. Distinct personalities, well-demonstrated flaws, and individualized motivations were present for all three protagonists in even balance. Even the supporting characters had dynamic development and followed full character arcs. Brilliant.
The world-building was intricate and just kept wowing me. The usage of "believable" magic was fantastic, with the use of simple "spells" from childhood rhymes and the need for basic items and herbs. This was incredibly well thought out and entertaining. There are little historical nods and Easter eggs sprinkled throughout the narrative in a way that makes it immensely fun to read.
The pacing is great throughout the story. Despite the fact that it is a lengthy read, not a bit of the plot felt wasted. There is a constant build of tension created in a way that took advantage of the surroundings, made things feel dark and foreboding, and took use of historical and fantastical license well. Every page and chapter served a purpose and added to the story, either through plot movement or vibrant background information that occasionally left me giddy.
This book was beautiful and amazing. The only (fairly minor) flaw for me was the inclusion of an epilogue, which I felt took a little fire and power out of the ending. Still...hard 5 stars. I will definitely read this one again and will be putting a copy in my permanent collection.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
I found the premise (and the fact that I enjoyed said previous novel) intriguing enough to put this on my TBR, but SERIOUSLY underestimated where it could go. The Once and Future Witches goes far beyond your typical "witchy" novel. It is an incredibly well-written and magical story that takes history, fairytale, and children's rhymes and tosses them together with liberal alteration to create something ridiculously creative and gripping.
The characters and atmosphere were both amazing. Typically a book is either character-driven or plot-driven. This was very easily both. The characters were brilliant. Distinct personalities, well-demonstrated flaws, and individualized motivations were present for all three protagonists in even balance. Even the supporting characters had dynamic development and followed full character arcs. Brilliant.
The world-building was intricate and just kept wowing me. The usage of "believable" magic was fantastic, with the use of simple "spells" from childhood rhymes and the need for basic items and herbs. This was incredibly well thought out and entertaining. There are little historical nods and Easter eggs sprinkled throughout the narrative in a way that makes it immensely fun to read.
The pacing is great throughout the story. Despite the fact that it is a lengthy read, not a bit of the plot felt wasted. There is a constant build of tension created in a way that took advantage of the surroundings, made things feel dark and foreboding, and took use of historical and fantastical license well. Every page and chapter served a purpose and added to the story, either through plot movement or vibrant background information that occasionally left me giddy.
This book was beautiful and amazing. The only (fairly minor) flaw for me was the inclusion of an epilogue, which I felt took a little fire and power out of the ending. Still...hard 5 stars. I will definitely read this one again and will be putting a copy in my permanent collection.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
reflective
slow-paced
(FYI...I RARELY rate below a 2.5.) In all honesty, this should have been a DNF, but I just couldn't let it beat me.
Analogy time. In undergrad, I did a psychology independent study in which I simply had to do research on a chosen topic and write a term paper. Per usual student actions, I procrastinated the CRAP out of that project. Sure...I gathered some research here and there and had random articles scattered about my dorm room, but the writing of this paper 100% took place in the last 4 days before it was due. My method for construction was primarily to grab quotes I found interesting and "meaningful" and then wrap my narrative around them. It really read like a giant rambling sentence weaving around a few things that made sense.
This is how reading this book felt. It was 100% not for me. It was too much grasping for an assumed truth and a whole lot of rambling. Like my term paper, it had a few moments of clarity and things that I thought were actually good takeaways, but then I was plummeted back into the abyss. Sure, it got published...but hey...I also got an A+ on my paper. Sometimes weird things happen.
To enjoy this book I think you have to be WAY more open-minded than me and take the author's assumptions about the soul as fact. I couldn't do that. I guess I'm not enough of a multisensory person and I'm stuck in my five-senses analytical scientific way of looking at things, but there was just too much reaching. I'm all for being spiritual and having a feeling of there being something greater, but there was a lot of assumption thrown in here that came completely out of left field. Also...the fact that he states that all humans have their own soul, but that animals are only parts of collective souls really pissed me off. Sorry. My dog isn't a freaking genius, but if there are souls, then he certainly has his own. He's not just some tidbit of the greater "dog" consciousness. Nope. I can't jive with that theory.
Thank goodness this one was borrowed from the library.
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a soft, cute YA contemporary with sweet cinnamon roll characters that I just wanted to hug and squeeze. It's a bit of a slow introduction to the series, but does lay down some good groundwork. It contains drama, conflict, and emotional struggle, but still manages to be ridiculously heart-warming. The creativity is great and I'm interested in seeing where the story goes.
The drawings are lovely and the storyline is really easy to follow, despite the limitations of the graphic format. This is only my second graphic novel, and I am struggling with adapting to the format. However, this story is helping me become more comfortable, as it does balance the advantages of the format with the limitations fairly well.
There is a semi-predictable progression of the plot, but I found that to be fine. It really just felt like more of a cozy, relaxed read...something that would work especially well as a palate cleanser between genres. Also...did I mention that I love the characters? (They are SUPER adorable!)
The drawings are lovely and the storyline is really easy to follow, despite the limitations of the graphic format. This is only my second graphic novel, and I am struggling with adapting to the format. However, this story is helping me become more comfortable, as it does balance the advantages of the format with the limitations fairly well.
There is a semi-predictable progression of the plot, but I found that to be fine. It really just felt like more of a cozy, relaxed read...something that would work especially well as a palate cleanser between genres. Also...did I mention that I love the characters? (They are SUPER adorable!)
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I enjoyed this installment more than the first one and felt that the story really gained some traction with this volume. The story has started to build up speed and complexity. In fact, the story gets cuter by the minute. I'm being slowly sucked in more and more and I'm really enjoying getting to know Nick and Charlie. I love how wholesome and kind they are. I love how they interact with one another and how gentle and respectful their relationship is.
This volume presents some really fantastic exploration of sexuality and the process of understanding one's own sexual preferences. It deals with the fact that the work of knowing oneself is complex and can be emotionally overwhelming. I loved how gently this was handled while still being open. It felt incredibly authentic and super accessible.
I love this story as a graphic novel and it does really well in that format. I'm still finding my footing in the format, but I will say that this feels like a really great way to be introduced to graphic novels, as there really is a lot present in the panels and the story feels pretty seamless.
This volume presents some really fantastic exploration of sexuality and the process of understanding one's own sexual preferences. It deals with the fact that the work of knowing oneself is complex and can be emotionally overwhelming. I loved how gently this was handled while still being open. It felt incredibly authentic and super accessible.
I love this story as a graphic novel and it does really well in that format. I'm still finding my footing in the format, but I will say that this feels like a really great way to be introduced to graphic novels, as there really is a lot present in the panels and the story feels pretty seamless.
adventurous
challenging
informative
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3.5 stars.
I picked this book up after having read Ruta Septetys's The Fountains of Silence last year. I found great interest in the Spanish Civil War, as it is a period of history that I know little about. This book presented me an opportunity to learn more from a different perspective and did present quite a different historical experience.
The writing was decent and the plot moved along at what felt like a comfortable pace. There was a lot packed into the plot and I do feel like I learned a lot of pieces of the whole. It did add to my historical understanding and did continue to fuel the fire of wanting to know more about this time period. It was presented in a 1st person POV, which was mostly effective, but I would have possibly enjoyed a 3rd person experience more, as it would have allowed a more intimate look at the parents' experience.
My largest struggle was becoming invested. While I enjoyed the source material and found both the premise and the approach intriguing, I was just overall underwhelmed. I wanted to love it, but I couldn't get there. The characters were likable and the plight of the family was documented well, but I could not connect with them. There were also a few plot choices that bothered me. At times there were things that should have been harrowing, difficult, and even dangerous, yet they were simply resolved without much consequence. In other moments, quite unbelievable and unfortunate circumstances occurred in a way that did not feel organic and left me somewhat rolling my eyes at the absurdity.
This was not a bad read by any means and it certainly has merit. I will admit that my 5-star experience with Sepetys probably hurt the rating for this one. If you are considering both novels, I would read Escobar's book first.
I picked this book up after having read Ruta Septetys's The Fountains of Silence last year. I found great interest in the Spanish Civil War, as it is a period of history that I know little about. This book presented me an opportunity to learn more from a different perspective and did present quite a different historical experience.
The writing was decent and the plot moved along at what felt like a comfortable pace. There was a lot packed into the plot and I do feel like I learned a lot of pieces of the whole. It did add to my historical understanding and did continue to fuel the fire of wanting to know more about this time period. It was presented in a 1st person POV, which was mostly effective, but I would have possibly enjoyed a 3rd person experience more, as it would have allowed a more intimate look at the parents' experience.
My largest struggle was becoming invested. While I enjoyed the source material and found both the premise and the approach intriguing, I was just overall underwhelmed. I wanted to love it, but I couldn't get there. The characters were likable and the plight of the family was documented well, but I could not connect with them. There were also a few plot choices that bothered me. At times there were things that should have been harrowing, difficult, and even dangerous, yet they were simply resolved without much consequence. In other moments, quite unbelievable and unfortunate circumstances occurred in a way that did not feel organic and left me somewhat rolling my eyes at the absurdity.
This was not a bad read by any means and it certainly has merit. I will admit that my 5-star experience with Sepetys probably hurt the rating for this one. If you are considering both novels, I would read Escobar's book first.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Lava Red Feather Blue is a cute and light read with some humorous moments that kept me entertained and interested throughout. Though billed as an adult fantasy, I would classify this as a new adult read as Merrick, one of the protagonists, appears a bit immature for his age and felt more of an early twenties character than near thirties. Based on content, it is a bit above the level of an average YA read, though more mature readers of the YA audience would do fine with it.
The writing was good and comfortable for me. I found it adequately descriptive, though I could have used a bit more world-building and physical character descriptions. This was particularly true for me with regard to the fae world. However, I did very much appreciate the inclusion of different species and their customs. Also of note was the attention to modern conveniences as experienced by Larkin, who had been in a magically-induced sleep for over 200 years. The address of his exposure to technology was both realistically and humorously handled.
The relationship between Larkin and Merrick is cute and fun. It is a bit instalove-y in the fact that it is fairly predictable, but the progression of the relationship is well-handled and interesting. Their interactions gave me a few good laughs along with some warm fuzzies. Their banter was particularly fantastic.
In fact, the majority of the characters and their interactions were great, with Merrick and Larkin being particularly well fleshed out. The only characters that felt extraneous to me were Merrick's sibling and niece, who provided a relationship for Merrick, but not much else. They did not appear to serve the plot in much of a substantial way and could have been utilized more. This also may have helped to expand the importance of Merrick's involvement in the perfumery. I found the occupation interesting, but there wasn't a lot of exposition explaining what he did or showing how they did it. It would have been a fun inclusion for me.
The author handled diversity and LGBT+ representation wonderfully. Unlike a lot of novels with rep, diverse sexuality does not take center stage in a way that works as a plot device, it simply exists as a matter of course. This was pleasantly refreshing and I appreciated the lack of a heavy hand.
Though I enjoyed the world and would definitely be keen on exploring it more, this novel is a standalone and it does well as one. The plot is constructed nicely and the pacing is great. There is enough action to sustain the narrative from beginning to end. The ending is good and wraps up nicely. I will admit that there is some convenience factor in the final pieces of exposition, but it was fun to read and had a very satisfying resolution. Definitely recommend, especially for readers of light fantasy or those who wish to introduce themselves to fantasy.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
The writing was good and comfortable for me. I found it adequately descriptive, though I could have used a bit more world-building and physical character descriptions. This was particularly true for me with regard to the fae world. However, I did very much appreciate the inclusion of different species and their customs. Also of note was the attention to modern conveniences as experienced by Larkin, who had been in a magically-induced sleep for over 200 years. The address of his exposure to technology was both realistically and humorously handled.
The relationship between Larkin and Merrick is cute and fun. It is a bit instalove-y in the fact that it is fairly predictable, but the progression of the relationship is well-handled and interesting. Their interactions gave me a few good laughs along with some warm fuzzies. Their banter was particularly fantastic.
In fact, the majority of the characters and their interactions were great, with Merrick and Larkin being particularly well fleshed out. The only characters that felt extraneous to me were Merrick's sibling and niece, who provided a relationship for Merrick, but not much else. They did not appear to serve the plot in much of a substantial way and could have been utilized more. This also may have helped to expand the importance of Merrick's involvement in the perfumery. I found the occupation interesting, but there wasn't a lot of exposition explaining what he did or showing how they did it. It would have been a fun inclusion for me.
The author handled diversity and LGBT+ representation wonderfully. Unlike a lot of novels with rep, diverse sexuality does not take center stage in a way that works as a plot device, it simply exists as a matter of course. This was pleasantly refreshing and I appreciated the lack of a heavy hand.
Though I enjoyed the world and would definitely be keen on exploring it more, this novel is a standalone and it does well as one. The plot is constructed nicely and the pacing is great. There is enough action to sustain the narrative from beginning to end. The ending is good and wraps up nicely. I will admit that there is some convenience factor in the final pieces of exposition, but it was fun to read and had a very satisfying resolution. Definitely recommend, especially for readers of light fantasy or those who wish to introduce themselves to fantasy.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.5 stars.
Like a lot of readers, I do love me a good cult novel. Honestly, I just like books based on weird stuff and this fit that bill super well. I like creepy situations, haunting atmospheres, and flawed characters who sometimes make terrible decisions. Check, check, and check.
The Children of Red Peak is really well-written and I found it to be quite gripping. The writing style is right up my alley and kept things nice and tense while still doing a magnificent job of doling out information and creating a wonderfully creepy atmosphere. The pacing was somewhat slow and steady, but there was always something happening. It was an emotionally traumatic train wreck from beginning to end and I was totally here for it.
The story is told on a dual timeline perspective, with experiences in both present day and the days of the cult as experienced by David, Deacon, and Beth. This was a great balance of information and I genuinely appreciated all of the little details that were given about backstories and how they moved forward after the events at Red Peak. There was definitely a lot to unpackage here and there could easily have been another hundred pages just about the cult and how the children were "rescued" and "rehabilitated", but the way the story was constructed definitely worked.
I loved the characters--not because they were lovely cinnamon roll types, but because they were the total opposite. Each one of the characters in this book is a freaking mess in their own way. As a result of the trauma they sustained, they are all wonderfully flawed. I particularly liked Deacon and Beth and their messy relationship with one another. It frustrated and pained me, but it also made perfect sense to me. I enjoy when authors don't try to make all of their characters redeemable. The only shortcoming in the character department for me was that I would have liked more of the Angela perspective from beginning to end. She is probably the most level-headed of the characters and, while her perspective would have likely removed some of the overall crazy feel, it also would've added an interesting emotional response and point of view.
When it came to supporting characters, I would have loved more, but I did like how the Reverend's character was developed. He isn't really in the story directly much, but his battered psychological being is definitely present in how it all shakes down. He's incredibly tangible and definitely crafted properly for a cult leader. The charisma is patent despite how few pages he graces and the descent into madness is captured fairly well, though I will admit that I could have used more of the days leading up to the Red Peak events.
I was totally captivated by this story and things moved incredibly fast for me. This was a "don't put it down" read for me and I loved it. The ending was admittedly a mixed bag for me. I felt it moved a little too quickly and there were things that left too many questions and bends in the logic, but the intensity and creep factors were totally on point.
Craig DiLouie has my attention. I'll be scoping out his backlist for sure.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. *
Like a lot of readers, I do love me a good cult novel. Honestly, I just like books based on weird stuff and this fit that bill super well. I like creepy situations, haunting atmospheres, and flawed characters who sometimes make terrible decisions. Check, check, and check.
The Children of Red Peak is really well-written and I found it to be quite gripping. The writing style is right up my alley and kept things nice and tense while still doing a magnificent job of doling out information and creating a wonderfully creepy atmosphere. The pacing was somewhat slow and steady, but there was always something happening. It was an emotionally traumatic train wreck from beginning to end and I was totally here for it.
The story is told on a dual timeline perspective, with experiences in both present day and the days of the cult as experienced by David, Deacon, and Beth. This was a great balance of information and I genuinely appreciated all of the little details that were given about backstories and how they moved forward after the events at Red Peak. There was definitely a lot to unpackage here and there could easily have been another hundred pages just about the cult and how the children were "rescued" and "rehabilitated", but the way the story was constructed definitely worked.
I loved the characters--not because they were lovely cinnamon roll types, but because they were the total opposite. Each one of the characters in this book is a freaking mess in their own way. As a result of the trauma they sustained, they are all wonderfully flawed. I particularly liked Deacon and Beth and their messy relationship with one another. It frustrated and pained me, but it also made perfect sense to me. I enjoy when authors don't try to make all of their characters redeemable. The only shortcoming in the character department for me was that I would have liked more of the Angela perspective from beginning to end. She is probably the most level-headed of the characters and, while her perspective would have likely removed some of the overall crazy feel, it also would've added an interesting emotional response and point of view.
When it came to supporting characters, I would have loved more, but I did like how the Reverend's character was developed. He isn't really in the story directly much, but his battered psychological being is definitely present in how it all shakes down. He's incredibly tangible and definitely crafted properly for a cult leader. The charisma is patent despite how few pages he graces and the descent into madness is captured fairly well, though I will admit that I could have used more of the days leading up to the Red Peak events.
I was totally captivated by this story and things moved incredibly fast for me. This was a "don't put it down" read for me and I loved it. The ending was admittedly a mixed bag for me. I felt it moved a little too quickly and there were things that left too many questions and bends in the logic, but the intensity and creep factors were totally on point.
Craig DiLouie has my attention. I'll be scoping out his backlist for sure.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. *
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is vaguely reminiscent of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, but with a more modern setup and a location that I really enjoyed. A closed circle type mystery is always a bit iffy as they can easily just start to feel like repeats of one another. Luckily, this one did manage to feel a bit more in the successful camp as it remained fresh and interesting. The premise is a bit unique since it focuses on a modern style company and the isolation is in a chalet in the French Alps. It seems like most of these types of stories are in dark mansions or on isolated islands, so that was a nice change.
There are a lot of characters, but I felt like most of them were fairly easily discernible. There were a couple who sort of faded into the woodwork and could have used some strengthening in order to heighten the tension, but overall the characters worked for me in terms of numbers. They were admittedly quite stereotypical. This was a bit of a let down. The mousy girl, the antisocial tech nerd, the posh model type with a foreign flare, just to name a few. The two strongest characters were definitely the two utilized as narrators, which isn't much of a surprise. Using the two narrative style was a smart choice as I felt that it did give a little more of an encompassing view and did let the characters play off one another a bit, but it also somewhat reduced the ability to create what I felt were efficient red herrings.
The writing style is great, but there is a bit of a slow burn here. Yes, there are moments of intrigue and...MURDER, but the story doesn't move at a quick clip. This is a read that doesn't have a ton of creepy vibes or edge-of-your-seat moments, but mostly consists of trying to solve the mystery before it's answered for you. I enjoyed that, but a little additional edginess wouldn't have been a bad thing.
The ending is probably what hurt this one the most for me. The reveal seemed to come too soon, as there is quite a bit of book remaining after you know "whodunit". There was some excellent action that followed, but then there was just some random exposition tying up loose ends. This made it a neat little package, but stole a little of the thunder and caused the ending to fall just a little flat.
This was my first Ruth Ware and I did enjoy it. I wasn't blown away, but it was certainly a good read and I'll definitely be picking up more of her books.
There are a lot of characters, but I felt like most of them were fairly easily discernible. There were a couple who sort of faded into the woodwork and could have used some strengthening in order to heighten the tension, but overall the characters worked for me in terms of numbers. They were admittedly quite stereotypical. This was a bit of a let down. The mousy girl, the antisocial tech nerd, the posh model type with a foreign flare, just to name a few. The two strongest characters were definitely the two utilized as narrators, which isn't much of a surprise. Using the two narrative style was a smart choice as I felt that it did give a little more of an encompassing view and did let the characters play off one another a bit, but it also somewhat reduced the ability to create what I felt were efficient red herrings.
The writing style is great, but there is a bit of a slow burn here. Yes, there are moments of intrigue and...MURDER, but the story doesn't move at a quick clip. This is a read that doesn't have a ton of creepy vibes or edge-of-your-seat moments, but mostly consists of trying to solve the mystery before it's answered for you. I enjoyed that, but a little additional edginess wouldn't have been a bad thing.
The ending is probably what hurt this one the most for me. The reveal seemed to come too soon, as there is quite a bit of book remaining after you know "whodunit". There was some excellent action that followed, but then there was just some random exposition tying up loose ends. This made it a neat little package, but stole a little of the thunder and caused the ending to fall just a little flat.
This was my first Ruth Ware and I did enjoy it. I wasn't blown away, but it was certainly a good read and I'll definitely be picking up more of her books.