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4.5 stars.
Okay...first off, this did not go ANYTHING like I expected from the blurb. And guess what? I'm totally not mad about it. In fact, I think it was actually better than I could have expected. This is much less of a contemporary romance and much more of a contemporary tale of friendship. And it's great.
The writing is good and measured and well thought out (though there are admittedly moments of tangential thought...I could have done without the seagull scene, thank you very much). The characters were well-constructed and balanced (though Dannie and David's lifestyle and relationship are very much not my style). Dannie is a great lead character. She is driven and focused and well-suited for her career in corporate law. It's also clear early on that her friendship with free spirit Bella is something that lends itself so that they can each learn things from the strengths of the other.
There is a lot wrapped in this narrative that presents representation for New York City, particularly with regard to restaurants/food and specific neighborhoods. This didn't mean a whole lot to me other than creating atmosphere, but (assuming accuracy) would likely be endearing/nostalgic for a New Yorker.
The plot moves at a comfortable speed with good emotional moments and has a strong ending that was honestly just right. It wasn't what I was expecting, but...again...not angry about it. It fit and it worked quickly to assuage any "icky" feelings that might have otherwise cropped up. I really enjoyed thing and, though I'm not a huge contemporary reader, I'm definitely going to be reading more Rebecca Serle.
Okay...first off, this did not go ANYTHING like I expected from the blurb. And guess what? I'm totally not mad about it. In fact, I think it was actually better than I could have expected. This is much less of a contemporary romance and much more of a contemporary tale of friendship. And it's great.
The writing is good and measured and well thought out (though there are admittedly moments of tangential thought...I could have done without the seagull scene, thank you very much). The characters were well-constructed and balanced (though Dannie and David's lifestyle and relationship are very much not my style). Dannie is a great lead character. She is driven and focused and well-suited for her career in corporate law. It's also clear early on that her friendship with free spirit Bella is something that lends itself so that they can each learn things from the strengths of the other.
There is a lot wrapped in this narrative that presents representation for New York City, particularly with regard to restaurants/food and specific neighborhoods. This didn't mean a whole lot to me other than creating atmosphere, but (assuming accuracy) would likely be endearing/nostalgic for a New Yorker.
The plot moves at a comfortable speed with good emotional moments and has a strong ending that was honestly just right. It wasn't what I was expecting, but...again...not angry about it. It fit and it worked quickly to assuage any "icky" feelings that might have otherwise cropped up. I really enjoyed thing and, though I'm not a huge contemporary reader, I'm definitely going to be reading more Rebecca Serle.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
3.5 stars.
This is a good middle grade adventure story with nice historical elements and a good set of messages. The writing is comfortable and the story is fast paced, with a lot of action sequences and harrowing moments.
The characters were a mixed bag, with Lina, Bogdan, and Katya being well-developed for their particular roles. The Sorceress (Svetlana) and The Commandant (Zima) were problematic for me.
Lina was a wonderful protagonist and showed bravery, thought, and perseverance in difficult situations, lending her to be a good example for young readers. Her relationship with Katya is well-written and I loved the mother-daughter bond that was developed, regardless of how briefly they were used together in the plot. I could have done with more Bogdan in the plot. I felt he was underused and I would have like to have seen more of his friendship with Lina. This component seemed to be more of a tell vs. show element in the novel, which was a little disappointing.
Both Svetlana and Zima seemed to uncomfortably straddle the line of good and evil. They were inconsistent characters and their actions and choices did not always feel believable. Svetlana in particular seemed overly mercurial and I couldn't align myself with the arc of her character development.
World building was also a bit lacking for my tastes. Though this is a middle grade novel and these pieces are often less involved in that level of work, I would have liked to see more exploration. The development of Svetlana's world was a little lacking and the explanation of the mist world was very brief. These topics seemed to be peppered in to the plot in a rather awkward way and I would have liked to see them be a bit more seamless.
Regardless of its faults, this is still a good middle grade read and should read well for its intended audiences. I enjoyed my read, found it to be very quick, and liked the messages it explored. The setting was used very well in the development of the plot and the Lina was an ideal protagonist for this particular story.
3.5 stars.
This is a good middle grade adventure story with nice historical elements and a good set of messages. The writing is comfortable and the story is fast paced, with a lot of action sequences and harrowing moments.
The characters were a mixed bag, with Lina, Bogdan, and Katya being well-developed for their particular roles. The Sorceress (Svetlana) and The Commandant (Zima) were problematic for me.
Lina was a wonderful protagonist and showed bravery, thought, and perseverance in difficult situations, lending her to be a good example for young readers. Her relationship with Katya is well-written and I loved the mother-daughter bond that was developed, regardless of how briefly they were used together in the plot. I could have done with more Bogdan in the plot. I felt he was underused and I would have like to have seen more of his friendship with Lina. This component seemed to be more of a tell vs. show element in the novel, which was a little disappointing.
Both Svetlana and Zima seemed to uncomfortably straddle the line of good and evil. They were inconsistent characters and their actions and choices did not always feel believable. Svetlana in particular seemed overly mercurial and I couldn't align myself with the arc of her character development.
World building was also a bit lacking for my tastes. Though this is a middle grade novel and these pieces are often less involved in that level of work, I would have liked to see more exploration. The development of Svetlana's world was a little lacking and the explanation of the mist world was very brief. These topics seemed to be peppered in to the plot in a rather awkward way and I would have liked to see them be a bit more seamless.
Regardless of its faults, this is still a good middle grade read and should read well for its intended audiences. I enjoyed my read, found it to be very quick, and liked the messages it explored. The setting was used very well in the development of the plot and the Lina was an ideal protagonist for this particular story.
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A blend of an Anastasia retelling and I, Robot, Lifel1k3 is a fast-paced sci-fi dystopian. It was totally out of my normal wheelhouse, but I LOVED it! (That's twice that has happened with Jay Kristoff...the first was Aurora Rising.)
The setting is really fun and creepy at the same time--a bit of Thunderdome plus strange segmented city-states. California has become Kalyfornia, which has become the Dregs. It's basically a huge garbage dump and scrap heap. Armada lies across Zona Bay and is built entirely out of a mass of wrecked watercraft. And that's just two locations. The world-building is incredibly unique and amusing.
The characters are full of personality and a lot of fun as well. Eve is a badass who builds robots to fight in a life-sized version of Battle Bots. Cricket is a particularly entertaining sassy--don't call him little--machina, Kaiser is a robot/dog hybrid known as a blitzhund, and Lemon Fresh is a sardonic ball of fire whose name alone makes her intriguing. Add to that some evil science corps, some murderous robots, a gang of religious zealot vigilantes, some dangerous street gangs, and an apparently more than human bounty hunter, and you have yourself a cacophony of crazy.
I loved this book so hard. It read super fast and I ran the gamut of emotions. It's such a crazy hodgepodge. The narrative is action-packed with a seriously mind-blowing ending. Major intrigue still exists and I am grabbing the sequel ASAP!
The setting is really fun and creepy at the same time--a bit of Thunderdome plus strange segmented city-states. California has become Kalyfornia, which has become the Dregs. It's basically a huge garbage dump and scrap heap. Armada lies across Zona Bay and is built entirely out of a mass of wrecked watercraft. And that's just two locations. The world-building is incredibly unique and amusing.
The characters are full of personality and a lot of fun as well. Eve is a badass who builds robots to fight in a life-sized version of Battle Bots. Cricket is a particularly entertaining sassy--don't call him little--machina, Kaiser is a robot/dog hybrid known as a blitzhund, and Lemon Fresh is a sardonic ball of fire whose name alone makes her intriguing. Add to that some evil science corps, some murderous robots, a gang of religious zealot vigilantes, some dangerous street gangs, and an apparently more than human bounty hunter, and you have yourself a cacophony of crazy.
I loved this book so hard. It read super fast and I ran the gamut of emotions. It's such a crazy hodgepodge. The narrative is action-packed with a seriously mind-blowing ending. Major intrigue still exists and I am grabbing the sequel ASAP!
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
3.5 stars.
This was an interesting and super fast read that felt something like a pulp novel and fits perfectly in the genre of gothic romance. The characters are reminiscent of a 19th century novel and the atmosphere made it feel something akin to Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca in some ways.
For me, this balanced somewhere between a serious horror and a satire, as things were often over the top. There were also a lot of classic horror tropes rolled into the narrative, which I think made it even more enjoyable. However, this neared a 4 star read for me, but didn't quite make it there just because it did feel a little too cliche in some ways.
The ending was good, but does end on a bit of a cliffhanger. This was a bit frustrating. However, I had a good time reading the book and felt it kept my attention incredibly well, so I will be seeking out the sequel.
3.5 stars.
This was an interesting and super fast read that felt something like a pulp novel and fits perfectly in the genre of gothic romance. The characters are reminiscent of a 19th century novel and the atmosphere made it feel something akin to Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca in some ways.
For me, this balanced somewhere between a serious horror and a satire, as things were often over the top. There were also a lot of classic horror tropes rolled into the narrative, which I think made it even more enjoyable. However, this neared a 4 star read for me, but didn't quite make it there just because it did feel a little too cliche in some ways.
The ending was good, but does end on a bit of a cliffhanger. This was a bit frustrating. However, I had a good time reading the book and felt it kept my attention incredibly well, so I will be seeking out the sequel.
Dark, brooding, and quite violent given the time in which it was written. I didn't like any of the characters--finding them to have highly disagreeable personalities. However, there is a lot of talent in their creation...they have to be written well to make me dislike them. The POV for the book is interesting and uncommon, but it worked. The whole read was just okay for me. Overall I found it too tragic, without much to redeem it as enjoyable in terms of plot. Apparently it was just too much of a downer.
4.5 stars
Wow. This book is a total gut punch. It is intense, intelligent, and heart-wrenching. The writing feels authentic to the characters and Justyce felt very much like a teenage boy, despite his often very mature analysis of things. The situations addressed in the book are very direct and face racist comments and actions head on. The author did a good job of examining the situations from multiple angles, addressing common responses to similar racial situations.
I recognize that, as a white reader, my experience in reading this book is limited and my ability to fully understand the background and evaluate authenticity is limited.
However, this was an incredibly powerful work that I felt to be very accessible for any reader. It is a good primer for racial education in those who perhaps don't see the full picture as it pulls no punches, delving into the issues of racial inequality with eyes wide open. An excellent and NECESSARY read.
Wow. This book is a total gut punch. It is intense, intelligent, and heart-wrenching. The writing feels authentic to the characters and Justyce felt very much like a teenage boy, despite his often very mature analysis of things. The situations addressed in the book are very direct and face racist comments and actions head on. The author did a good job of examining the situations from multiple angles, addressing common responses to similar racial situations.
I recognize that, as a white reader, my experience in reading this book is limited and my ability to fully understand the background and evaluate authenticity is limited.
However, this was an incredibly powerful work that I felt to be very accessible for any reader. It is a good primer for racial education in those who perhaps don't see the full picture as it pulls no punches, delving into the issues of racial inequality with eyes wide open. An excellent and NECESSARY read.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
Before receiving a full copy of this novel, I read a short excerpt. I was pretty hooked in that short little section, so I knew I needed to read the whole thing. I had loved P.S. I Love You and, though I know that follow ups after the fact for something initially meant to be a standalone can often be huge disappointments, I wanted more of Holly's story.
The writing in this follow up is the same flowing and light tone as in the original, but it did seem to have a little less polish. There was also perhaps a bit more philosophical content, which came off a little too stiff. In fact, the prose itself felt initially a little halting overall, but this awkwardness faded and the narrative soon fell into a good rhythm. The storyline was mostly believable, but liberties were obviously taken to make this a bit more of a "feel good" in some of the circumstances...the way books lumped into the genre of "beach read" tend to do. So, yes, some of the plot devices were a bit basic and cliche. Regardless, I found myself wrapped up in the story and enjoying where the pages took me.
The characters continued to move forward from their initial trajectory, but there was less secondary character development than I recall from the first installment. This didn't feel lacking though, the balance was good and there was enough occurring peripherally to Holly to make the story well-rounded. With the addition of new characters, the pulling of heartstrings continued through this narrative. Gerry's character was still present to some regard, but (as would be expected) this focuses more on Holly's journey forward. This was a difficult balance to make between old and new, but it was done well.
Postscript is definitely a follow-up and couldn't really stand on its own without the history of P.S. I Love You propelling it forward, but it does have it's own merits. There was definitely a consistent stream of emotional content and further exploration of the topics of death and grief. I very rarely cry at books, but a piece of this one hit me hard, right in the feels. Bonus points for that. Takeaway thoughts: though not as good as the original, Postscript is a good story all the same and definitely worth a read.
Before receiving a full copy of this novel, I read a short excerpt. I was pretty hooked in that short little section, so I knew I needed to read the whole thing. I had loved P.S. I Love You and, though I know that follow ups after the fact for something initially meant to be a standalone can often be huge disappointments, I wanted more of Holly's story.
The writing in this follow up is the same flowing and light tone as in the original, but it did seem to have a little less polish. There was also perhaps a bit more philosophical content, which came off a little too stiff. In fact, the prose itself felt initially a little halting overall, but this awkwardness faded and the narrative soon fell into a good rhythm. The storyline was mostly believable, but liberties were obviously taken to make this a bit more of a "feel good" in some of the circumstances...the way books lumped into the genre of "beach read" tend to do. So, yes, some of the plot devices were a bit basic and cliche. Regardless, I found myself wrapped up in the story and enjoying where the pages took me.
The characters continued to move forward from their initial trajectory, but there was less secondary character development than I recall from the first installment. This didn't feel lacking though, the balance was good and there was enough occurring peripherally to Holly to make the story well-rounded. With the addition of new characters, the pulling of heartstrings continued through this narrative. Gerry's character was still present to some regard, but (as would be expected) this focuses more on Holly's journey forward. This was a difficult balance to make between old and new, but it was done well.
Postscript is definitely a follow-up and couldn't really stand on its own without the history of P.S. I Love You propelling it forward, but it does have it's own merits. There was definitely a consistent stream of emotional content and further exploration of the topics of death and grief. I very rarely cry at books, but a piece of this one hit me hard, right in the feels. Bonus points for that. Takeaway thoughts: though not as good as the original, Postscript is a good story all the same and definitely worth a read.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
Based on the other reviews for this book and the synopses for the original Ascenders series, I have an inkling that I would have enjoyed this read, and certainly the ending, more if I had read the other books first. So...I would advise any potential readers to consider doing so.
As it was, there were several times I nearly DNF'd this book and more than one occasion where I considered throwing it across the room out of frustration. The premise was good and had so much promise, but I felt that it was weakly executed. The plot was fragmented -- with random offshoots to the story that felt awkward and an oddly constructed timeline.
The writing was decent and so the pages moved quickly, but it definitely needed additional editing and polish. There were a LOT of structural, grammatical, and other errors--including blatant historical inaccuracies. (The Grapes of Wrath was written by John Steinbeck, NOT F. Scott Fitzgerald. This bothered me for HOURS after reading it...and still does.) I'm hoping that these inaccuracies would've made sense had I read the other novels first (perhaps an alternate history??), but as I read it these things simply caused me grief.
Perhaps the most jarring portion of the novel (and the thing that made consider DNF on multiple occasions) was the existence of the "incest" plotline between Cass and V. Though he is "technically" not her brother, this portion of the story did not feel necessary and I found it incredibly revolting.
As mentioned earlier, the ending was not helpful either. After reading the synopses for the other books this makes a bit more sense, but without that information the conclusion was simply confusing and left me frustrated. I'm highly disappointed since I really had high hopes for such an interesting premise.
Based on the other reviews for this book and the synopses for the original Ascenders series, I have an inkling that I would have enjoyed this read, and certainly the ending, more if I had read the other books first. So...I would advise any potential readers to consider doing so.
As it was, there were several times I nearly DNF'd this book and more than one occasion where I considered throwing it across the room out of frustration. The premise was good and had so much promise, but I felt that it was weakly executed. The plot was fragmented -- with random offshoots to the story that felt awkward and an oddly constructed timeline.
The writing was decent and so the pages moved quickly, but it definitely needed additional editing and polish. There were a LOT of structural, grammatical, and other errors--including blatant historical inaccuracies. (The Grapes of Wrath was written by John Steinbeck, NOT F. Scott Fitzgerald. This bothered me for HOURS after reading it...and still does.) I'm hoping that these inaccuracies would've made sense had I read the other novels first (perhaps an alternate history??), but as I read it these things simply caused me grief.
Perhaps the most jarring portion of the novel (and the thing that made consider DNF on multiple occasions) was the existence of the "incest" plotline between Cass and V. Though he is "technically" not her brother, this portion of the story did not feel necessary and I found it incredibly revolting.
As mentioned earlier, the ending was not helpful either. After reading the synopses for the other books this makes a bit more sense, but without that information the conclusion was simply confusing and left me frustrated. I'm highly disappointed since I really had high hopes for such an interesting premise.
3.5 stars.
It took me a few chapters to fall into this book, which is admittedly gritty and quite jarring. It is a good exploration of tough topics, including race, poverty, imprisonment, and drug use. This makes it an overwhelmingly sad and continuously painful story to read.
The unfortunate parentage of Jojo and Kayla is difficult to stomach--as is the attitude of Michael's parents (particularly his father) towards their own grandchildren. Thank goodness for Mam and Pop, though even their abilities are clearly limited. The relationship between Jojo and Kayla is endearing, but at the same time so heart-breaking and disturbing as it is the result of the young boy effectively having to become parent to his baby sister because of inept parenting.
I loathed Leonie for the entirety of the book. I felt no sympathy for her, wanted to slap her back into recognition of her actions and responsibilities. I just felt so bad for those children. It was a difficult read to stomach, but it was still well-written. I can't explain why I didn't like it more...it may have simply been due to my inability to connect with half of the characters based on my anger towards them and an inability to understand someone's sheer negligence and complete disregard for their own children.
It took me a few chapters to fall into this book, which is admittedly gritty and quite jarring. It is a good exploration of tough topics, including race, poverty, imprisonment, and drug use. This makes it an overwhelmingly sad and continuously painful story to read.
The unfortunate parentage of Jojo and Kayla is difficult to stomach--as is the attitude of Michael's parents (particularly his father) towards their own grandchildren. Thank goodness for Mam and Pop, though even their abilities are clearly limited. The relationship between Jojo and Kayla is endearing, but at the same time so heart-breaking and disturbing as it is the result of the young boy effectively having to become parent to his baby sister because of inept parenting.
I loathed Leonie for the entirety of the book. I felt no sympathy for her, wanted to slap her back into recognition of her actions and responsibilities. I just felt so bad for those children. It was a difficult read to stomach, but it was still well-written. I can't explain why I didn't like it more...it may have simply been due to my inability to connect with half of the characters based on my anger towards them and an inability to understand someone's sheer negligence and complete disregard for their own children.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
4.5 stars.
TJ Klune is quickly becoming a must read author for me. It seems as though everything he touches is magic. This is definitely true with this quick teen read.
The Extraordinaries is something like Fangirl/Carry On with a superhero spin. Humorous and flippant while tackling difficult topics and those awkward teenage moments and (let's face it) years. The writing is fresh and funny and everything moves so easily. The book zoomed along and it could easily be a single-sitting read.
Klune's characters are lovable, unapologetically themselves, and believable. There is a lot of encouragement for individuality and being true to yourself, which I found just so adorable. The characters, both adults and teens, feel inclusive and the writing perpetuates a great atmosphere of acceptance.
The plot is sometimes a bit overly transparent, but I didn't mind that since I was having so much fun with the read. I really enjoyed this first installment in what looks to be an upcoming trilogy and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book and...let's be honest here...anything else TJ Klune happens to write.
4.5 stars.
TJ Klune is quickly becoming a must read author for me. It seems as though everything he touches is magic. This is definitely true with this quick teen read.
The Extraordinaries is something like Fangirl/Carry On with a superhero spin. Humorous and flippant while tackling difficult topics and those awkward teenage moments and (let's face it) years. The writing is fresh and funny and everything moves so easily. The book zoomed along and it could easily be a single-sitting read.
Klune's characters are lovable, unapologetically themselves, and believable. There is a lot of encouragement for individuality and being true to yourself, which I found just so adorable. The characters, both adults and teens, feel inclusive and the writing perpetuates a great atmosphere of acceptance.
The plot is sometimes a bit overly transparent, but I didn't mind that since I was having so much fun with the read. I really enjoyed this first installment in what looks to be an upcoming trilogy and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book and...let's be honest here...anything else TJ Klune happens to write.