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ellemnope's Reviews (2.4k)
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This book just wasn't for me. It was nowhere near my wheelhouse. There were too many things that rubbed me the wrong way -- from the language style to some of the tropes used. The writing is not empirically bad and the story definitely has some good adventurous points to it, but it simply wasn't my style. I don't think even middle grade me would have enjoyed it, it just isn't the type of story I'm drawn to. That was somewhat disappointing as I typically enjoy magically infused middle grade. There are some redeeming qualities that make me think there are others who will find great enjoyment with it, but I don't have any middle grade readers for whom I would find it to be a particularly successful recommendation.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
3.5 stars.
This second half of the Feverwake duology gave me much more to appreciate. The story line moves quick and keeps things interesting while the character development continued to bloom quite wonderfully. As a result, I found that the sequel read easier for me and kept my attention quite well.
There is more focus on character in this piece and less political detail, which I think also helped from my personal perspective. I was able to engage more fully with the story while still getting the pieces of world building that made the story feel full and imaginative.
The representation in this duology is well done and there is quite a bit of impactful content with regard to relationship development, domestic abuse, and sexual abuse. It is pretty well constructed and comes off with a good serious note while not dragging the plot down overly heavily. The characters are realistic and flawed with respect to these aspects, a good note in my book.
The downside for me was the ending. While the action portion of the ending was well done and I did appreciate the thought and detail that went into creating it, I felt a little let down in terms of summary detail. I needed things to be a little more fleshed out and well-rounded here rather than feeling like things quickly got summed up and tied with a neat little bow.
Overall, a good and smooth read and the rare case for me where the sequel in a duology was better than the initial composition (which still got a respectable 3-star rating from me).
3.5 stars.
This second half of the Feverwake duology gave me much more to appreciate. The story line moves quick and keeps things interesting while the character development continued to bloom quite wonderfully. As a result, I found that the sequel read easier for me and kept my attention quite well.
There is more focus on character in this piece and less political detail, which I think also helped from my personal perspective. I was able to engage more fully with the story while still getting the pieces of world building that made the story feel full and imaginative.
The representation in this duology is well done and there is quite a bit of impactful content with regard to relationship development, domestic abuse, and sexual abuse. It is pretty well constructed and comes off with a good serious note while not dragging the plot down overly heavily. The characters are realistic and flawed with respect to these aspects, a good note in my book.
The downside for me was the ending. While the action portion of the ending was well done and I did appreciate the thought and detail that went into creating it, I felt a little let down in terms of summary detail. I needed things to be a little more fleshed out and well-rounded here rather than feeling like things quickly got summed up and tied with a neat little bow.
Overall, a good and smooth read and the rare case for me where the sequel in a duology was better than the initial composition (which still got a respectable 3-star rating from me).
The beginning had me worried I wasn't going to like the book, as it started off with a tone that felt a little like trying too hard for a laugh. Once she got into a rhythm though, the writing settled down and felt more genuine. I still didn't like the random "Hello, so-and-so" interjections -- I found them overly corny.
The last third of the book was extremely nostalgic for me and I loved it. Gilmore Girls was such an impactful show for me that her reminiscing just brought back all the feels. Lauren feels to be like talking to a friend and I particularly enjoyed having the audio with her as her own narrator once the first page jitters got out of the way.
The last third of the book was extremely nostalgic for me and I loved it. Gilmore Girls was such an impactful show for me that her reminiscing just brought back all the feels. Lauren feels to be like talking to a friend and I particularly enjoyed having the audio with her as her own narrator once the first page jitters got out of the way.
2.5 stars.
There are cute moments and a bit of E.B. White magic, but this book just didn't have the same charm as his other novels. The narrative felt like little vignettes rather than a logically flowing story and the premise was a bit awkward. In addition, the ending is weak and incomplete. Definitely a disappointment.
There are cute moments and a bit of E.B. White magic, but this book just didn't have the same charm as his other novels. The narrative felt like little vignettes rather than a logically flowing story and the premise was a bit awkward. In addition, the ending is weak and incomplete. Definitely a disappointment.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
I had only read one Nick Spalding novel prior to this, but very much enjoyed his flippant comedic writing. I was seriously worried in the beginning of this novel that it was simply going to be a regurgitation of that first read, but it turned out to just be some clever nods to his previous work.
Spalding's writing style is hilarious and realistic in its conversational style, making the interaction between characters and the internal monologues of Andy feel incredibly natural. This approach may be seen as some to be unpolished, but for me it was entertaining in a way that helped the personality of his characters really shine through. The characters themselves may be occasionally farcical, but they also have a ring of truth about them that create a bit of internal retrospection.
There were definitely a few moments of corniness and over-the-top drama, but it was all fun to read. This is a great book for those looking for some quick summer beach read fare. It is an entertaining story and cautionary tale all rolled up in one. And...once again, I will continue to seek out more of Nick Spalding's work so long as it keeps being this enjoyable.
I had only read one Nick Spalding novel prior to this, but very much enjoyed his flippant comedic writing. I was seriously worried in the beginning of this novel that it was simply going to be a regurgitation of that first read, but it turned out to just be some clever nods to his previous work.
Spalding's writing style is hilarious and realistic in its conversational style, making the interaction between characters and the internal monologues of Andy feel incredibly natural. This approach may be seen as some to be unpolished, but for me it was entertaining in a way that helped the personality of his characters really shine through. The characters themselves may be occasionally farcical, but they also have a ring of truth about them that create a bit of internal retrospection.
There were definitely a few moments of corniness and over-the-top drama, but it was all fun to read. This is a great book for those looking for some quick summer beach read fare. It is an entertaining story and cautionary tale all rolled up in one. And...once again, I will continue to seek out more of Nick Spalding's work so long as it keeps being this enjoyable.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. *
This was SUCH an interesting read! I had only learned of the true existence of sin eaters with the narrative of this book and it is a terribly intriguing topic. The writing was wonderful and done in such a way as to effectively evoke the time setting of the narrative, which was both impressive and endearing. I liked this book so much that it was one of those rare cases where I felt that it was maybe a little too short. I could have done with more detail and more information...more story.
The premise was interesting to me from the get go and was presented in a way that was gripping, interesting, and entertaining. The parallels to Tudor England were fun and enjoyable. (It certainly didn't hurt that Tudor England happens to be my favorite historical time and place.) The fact that very few characters had actual names was an interesting approach, but seemed appropriate for May's character. It added a little bit of whimsy to the narrative and I found it to be something that put a little additional smile on my face.
May herself was interesting and sympathetic. Her circumstances were certainly harrowing and it was interesting to watch her navigate her sudden shift of living. Admittedly though, I wanted things to move at a slower and more detailed pace. The transition between May's arrival at the home of the Sin Eater and her movement into taking on the profession solo was a bit too short. It felt a little jarring. Similarly, the merging of the sin eater world and the royal court just didn't feel super smooth and the tangential storylines needed a bit more meat.
However, the story flowed well and I found myself not wanting to put the book down. I would not mind this being expanded with a sequel or companion novel. (I was particularly interested in the perspective of the Country Mouse.) Will I be reading more of Megan Campisi's work? Absolutely.
This was SUCH an interesting read! I had only learned of the true existence of sin eaters with the narrative of this book and it is a terribly intriguing topic. The writing was wonderful and done in such a way as to effectively evoke the time setting of the narrative, which was both impressive and endearing. I liked this book so much that it was one of those rare cases where I felt that it was maybe a little too short. I could have done with more detail and more information...more story.
The premise was interesting to me from the get go and was presented in a way that was gripping, interesting, and entertaining. The parallels to Tudor England were fun and enjoyable. (It certainly didn't hurt that Tudor England happens to be my favorite historical time and place.) The fact that very few characters had actual names was an interesting approach, but seemed appropriate for May's character. It added a little bit of whimsy to the narrative and I found it to be something that put a little additional smile on my face.
May herself was interesting and sympathetic. Her circumstances were certainly harrowing and it was interesting to watch her navigate her sudden shift of living. Admittedly though, I wanted things to move at a slower and more detailed pace. The transition between May's arrival at the home of the Sin Eater and her movement into taking on the profession solo was a bit too short. It felt a little jarring. Similarly, the merging of the sin eater world and the royal court just didn't feel super smooth and the tangential storylines needed a bit more meat.
However, the story flowed well and I found myself not wanting to put the book down. I would not mind this being expanded with a sequel or companion novel. (I was particularly interested in the perspective of the Country Mouse.) Will I be reading more of Megan Campisi's work? Absolutely.
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Is the controversy based in founded information? Absolutely. Was this a good read? Yes. Those are the basics. This is admittedly an overly dramatic story, but on an entertainment level I found it enjoyable. It is painfully tragic, sometimes very uncomfortable, & terribly gripping. The characters are caricatures, but the writing is beautiful & lyrical (despite the ugliness of the narrative).
Had there been no controversy to reflect on, I simply would have enjoyed the fluidity and lyrical writing, been impressed by the atmospheric creation of characters and setting, and simply been left somewhat breathless.
In fact, with regard to the controversy, I was prepared to be supportive of the author after hearing her statement at the end of the audiobook, but was then both disappointed and aggravated by some of its content after a bit of research. The author states that her husband was an undocumented immigrant when they were dating. The way this is written and the fact that it is followed up by the statement that the author's grandmother was originally from Puerto Rico led me to believe that her husband was from Mexico. In some way, I felt this perhaps gave the book a bit more authenticity and weight and thought that perhaps the critics had been too quick to judge. However, my assumptions were incorrect.
The author's husband is, in fact, from Ireland. Discovering this fact made me quite upset as I feel like this was purposefully meant to mislead readers in some kind of justification. Some readers have called this gaslighting and I have to agree that it falls in those lines. Had this one statement been clear, perhaps the amount of controversy would have been slightly less.
I am angry that such a move by both the author and the publishing company have tainted what is otherwise a good novel in the sense of being creative, relatively well-written, and attention grabbing. My rating is based solely on my reading experience rather than my opinion of the controversy or my own emotional reaction to the author's note.
Had there been no controversy to reflect on, I simply would have enjoyed the fluidity and lyrical writing, been impressed by the atmospheric creation of characters and setting, and simply been left somewhat breathless.
In fact, with regard to the controversy, I was prepared to be supportive of the author after hearing her statement at the end of the audiobook, but was then both disappointed and aggravated by some of its content after a bit of research. The author states that her husband was an undocumented immigrant when they were dating. The way this is written and the fact that it is followed up by the statement that the author's grandmother was originally from Puerto Rico led me to believe that her husband was from Mexico. In some way, I felt this perhaps gave the book a bit more authenticity and weight and thought that perhaps the critics had been too quick to judge. However, my assumptions were incorrect.
The author's husband is, in fact, from Ireland. Discovering this fact made me quite upset as I feel like this was purposefully meant to mislead readers in some kind of justification. Some readers have called this gaslighting and I have to agree that it falls in those lines. Had this one statement been clear, perhaps the amount of controversy would have been slightly less.
I am angry that such a move by both the author and the publishing company have tainted what is otherwise a good novel in the sense of being creative, relatively well-written, and attention grabbing. My rating is based solely on my reading experience rather than my opinion of the controversy or my own emotional reaction to the author's note.
Memoirs have apparently been a thing for me this year. Who knew?
This one felt different from the others that I've read in a few ways. Jessica Simpson is very much her own person and she is unique among celebrities in a few ways. She is very open about her faith and definitely comes clean in a way that feels very candid and overtly honest. She is clear to take responsibility for her life choices and is blunt about her financial privilege. This felt particularly interesting as the usual experience I've had is for celebrities to try and make themselves feel more relatable by branding themselves as just like you and me...which clearly their circumstances do not lend them to be. It was a refreshing change and I appreciated her candor about her struggles with anxiety and her journey to find happiness and sobriety.
This one felt different from the others that I've read in a few ways. Jessica Simpson is very much her own person and she is unique among celebrities in a few ways. She is very open about her faith and definitely comes clean in a way that feels very candid and overtly honest. She is clear to take responsibility for her life choices and is blunt about her financial privilege. This felt particularly interesting as the usual experience I've had is for celebrities to try and make themselves feel more relatable by branding themselves as just like you and me...which clearly their circumstances do not lend them to be. It was a refreshing change and I appreciated her candor about her struggles with anxiety and her journey to find happiness and sobriety.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review. *
3.5 stars
Last Memoria is an interesting fantasy work based on the idea of the fallibility of memories and how easily lies can mislead. The writing is smooth and well-situated in terms of prose and moves at a fast pace that constantly keeps things in motion. The story is told in two sections with two different POVs. Both of these narrators are unreliable and the entirety of the tale is a bit of a confusing ball that forces the reader to really pay attention and question the knowledge they are given. It is both frustrating and fascinating.
The development of the plot is done well. It is interesting and intriguing, with characters who captured my attention. However, the world building does need a bit of expansion. The reader is somewhat dropped into the world and pieces are parceled out as the narrative progresses. Though this may be purposeful, it led to some distraction and confusion in the early pieces of the work and did result in some loss of connection with the plot. With patience, the story does begin to unfold and make sense, but this is certainly a story where the reader cannot be lax...again, attention is a must. Just remember..."everybody lies."
A bit of polishing to remove some repetition and unnecessary scenes as well as expand on other areas would have helped to increase my enjoyment and involvement, but overall I did enjoy the story and would like to read the second work in this duology when it becomes available. It is a unique premise with creativity in the plot and clear talent in the writing.
3.5 stars
Last Memoria is an interesting fantasy work based on the idea of the fallibility of memories and how easily lies can mislead. The writing is smooth and well-situated in terms of prose and moves at a fast pace that constantly keeps things in motion. The story is told in two sections with two different POVs. Both of these narrators are unreliable and the entirety of the tale is a bit of a confusing ball that forces the reader to really pay attention and question the knowledge they are given. It is both frustrating and fascinating.
The development of the plot is done well. It is interesting and intriguing, with characters who captured my attention. However, the world building does need a bit of expansion. The reader is somewhat dropped into the world and pieces are parceled out as the narrative progresses. Though this may be purposeful, it led to some distraction and confusion in the early pieces of the work and did result in some loss of connection with the plot. With patience, the story does begin to unfold and make sense, but this is certainly a story where the reader cannot be lax...again, attention is a must. Just remember..."everybody lies."
A bit of polishing to remove some repetition and unnecessary scenes as well as expand on other areas would have helped to increase my enjoyment and involvement, but overall I did enjoy the story and would like to read the second work in this duology when it becomes available. It is a unique premise with creativity in the plot and clear talent in the writing.
* 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.