ellemnope's Reviews (2.4k)

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

4.5 Stars.

I have adored this series from the beginning despite the fact that robots and artificial intelligence are not tropes that I typically enjoy. Kudos to Jay Kristoff for being able to write such a compelling series that I couldn't put it down. He may have opened my eyes to entirely new genre.

This finale to the Lifel1k3 trilogy is a firecracker. The tension kicks in very early on and it's a wild ride from beginning to end. There is a lot of action and a quickly paced plot in this narrative that is both darker and heavier than the two previous books. There is a lot of creativity in the world building. It feels both complex and simple at the same time since everything constructed feels so entirely believable. It's creepy in places, but it completely makes sense.

Aside from the truly gripping action sequences that had me near biting my nails in places, the character development in this novel (and indeed the entire series) is just magnificent. Cricket has been my favorite character to watch from beginning to end. I have a soft place in my heart for him. The character of Eve was so well constructed. Though she does fade away from being a truly central focus in this novel, her character trajectory is captured well and is an incredibly important part of the story. This character arc was both emotional and logical...and both heartbreaking and frustrating to read. Lemon. Oh, Lemon. That girl is tough as nails and so incredibly brilliant and brave. She is one of the most lovable characters in the book and I adored her. Even Faith's character complexity and development was enthralling--blurring the lines of alive and lifelike. So ingeniously written, really.

There were a couple of things with the ending sequences that were left without sufficient information for my liking, but otherwise this was a completely stellar read and the series as a whole was just completely enjoyable. I never would have guessed I'd find myself placing a series about about essentially humanoid robots in my favorite reads of the year, but...here we are. Brilliful.

This is a complex study of humanity that I can in no way fully capture through a short review. The Vanishing Half is a slow-moving, languid family history told from the narrated point of view of the Vignes twins, Stella & Desiree, and their daughters, Kennedy & Jude. There are also a couple of minor, though very notable, characters who lend their experiences to some of the narration.

Stella's choice to leave her prior life and live as white-passing is initially the result of financial needs, but there are soon several other factors that weigh in on her decision to maintain that lifestyle. The inclusions of Reese, a transsexual man who becomes Jude's partner, and Barry, an occasional drag queen, allows for the exploration of several different means by which people may feel uncomfortable in their own bodies and how they respond to the societal pressures that come with their personal choices. The narrative weaves through ways in which hiding one's birth identity may result in self-confidence and happiness, but may also either increase or decrease safety and privilege depending on how they are viewed by others. There is a lot more to it than that, but it's the best I can do without writing a multi-page report. It's a very complex and gut-wrenching dissection of humanity.

Bennett's writing is what holds this all together. Yes, the story is an interesting look at race, gender, and bias from a novel view, but it is more impactful because of the way it is told. The language is a combination of lyrical and practical, presenting truth without being overtly aggressive in its demonstration. There are uncomfortable moments along the way, but they are presented in a way that draws the reader in rather than pushing them away. Bennett is able to capture a great cultural exploration from several angles and presents this information through well-crafted and poignant characters.

This is in no way a highly plot driven novel, though there are certainly pieces that are moving and enthralling. The focus on the characters is monumental and being able to "see" inside each of their heads presents a terrifically multi-faceted narrative that sometimes examines the same moments and experience from the flip sides of a coin. A powerful read that has left me thinking.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

After Elias is a flowing and beautiful narrative that captures the whirlwind of emotions that encompass the processing of grief. Coen's character is an enigma that slowly comes clear, his journey being one that is simply heartbreaking. Both Coen and Elias are complex characters with distinct flaws, making them very believable and their actions often relatable.

The book is written in such a way that the narration both reveals and obscures, pulling the reader through the plot as if they are at once an insider and an outsider to the occurrences. This is a unique approach, but so incredibly effective. The feelings of confusion, heartache, fear, anger, and so many more are encapsulated through these types of movements, both pulling the reader in and pushing them away. It's quite masterful and difficult to define. The result is a grand description of the process of healing and working through a very confusing and complex life event.

I felt many emotions throughout my read and it is hard to walk away from the story without some lingering effects. There are moments that caused me pause and reflection of pieces of my own life in the way the best of books do. The writing was highly impressive, especially for a debut novel. Eddy Boudel Tan has an undeniable talent and his upcoming works will be ones to watch.

Something of a mix between Grease and West Side Story with a younger protagonist. Fantastic themes of loyalty, family, found families, friendship, and loss. The writing and language choice reflected the voice of the narrator well, but occasional incorrect verb conjugations sometimes rubbed me the wrong way.The character development is somewhat haltingly created, with the majority of the character arcs taking place in the final two chapters. (The author was 16-years-old when she wrote the novel, so I do have to give her great credit for writing so well at such a young age as it is still miles above what a good portion of adult writers are able to accomplish. Her application of teen ideas and thoughts were very well captured.)

The is definitely not my usual style of story, but it was full of good reflective lessons that I think are highly relatable and is still a great choice for teen readers. It is something I definitely should have read earlier. Actual rating 3.5, but rounded up because I think it would have rated higher if I had read it when I was part of the intended audience.

This was a different kind of read, but I still found myself enjoying it. I read it via audio, which I will say probably enhanced my experience. It helped create additional atmosphere. The writing was really great and the narrative felt like a mix of pulp fiction and literary fiction in its approach. That sounds odd, but it worked quite well. The read was both entertaining and gripping.

The synopsis combination description works well, but for me I would have also included that it had a very Stepford Wives feel to it. The setting is in the 90s, but the husbands as a group are so antiquated and the women are so oppressed that it feels most often like the 50s. There is a LOT of male chauvinism and most of the relationships are dysfunctional. Carter Campbell is a particularly condescending jerk and I hated him. I'm fine with unlikable characters, but there was some serious loathing for this guy.

I will admit that the title is a bit misleading, as has been mentioned by others, but I still enjoyed reading. I went in not really knowing what I was getting and I don't think there was really any way to have been prepared without simply being spoiled. It's fun, a bit spoofy in the narrative, and still enthralling. There is a good combination of humor and creep factor in the writing and the plot in general. The primary characters are magnificently drawn and shine well, but I did find myself getting a little tied up in the particulars of the book club wives and their husbands here and there.

Not my usual kind of read, but I'm definitely glad I gave it a whirl.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review *

Driftwood is something magical and different. It is an interesting compilation of short stories that link together in the story of Last, a mysterious immortal being and guide to Driftwood. Driftwood is a place where worlds literally collide as they disintegrate and eventually disappear into the land's center, known as the Crush.

This book was incredibly atmospheric and built with an amazing amount of imagination. The writing flowed easily and pulled me through the book with continuous wonder and curiosity. There are several unique worlds and species introduced within this tapestry of a land, delivered in such a tantalizing way as to leave me both captivated and wanting more.

The was so much at work here in such a small space that it was at times almost overwhelming, but I still found myself just mesmerized. There is no solid indication of additional planned works in this universe, but this book felt like both a standalone and a primer for a sweeping epic. This feeling of being on the precipice of something larger is bolstered by the ending, which left substantial room for continuation.

I am terribly intrigued and fascinated and really hope to see more of this land and its characters.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

The Last of the Moon Girls is an interesting blend of the genres of magical realism and suspense. I didn't really know what I was in for, but this turned out to be a good, quick read with a light magical feel. The writing is something like a blend of Sarah Addison Allen and Alice Hoffman, creating an atmosphere full of cozy small town vibes and magic while also introducing a darker feel and an ostracizing community. The characters are colorful and the tension created by the suspense arc is just enough to move the story well without feeling oppressive. The narrative was mildly tropey and predictable, but in a way that might make it the perfect beach read. There were a few things that I thought fell in place to easily, but overall I enjoyed where the story took me. I would have loved more of the magical element in the story as well as additional backstory of the matriarchy itself, but I think that's always the case for me in magical realism stories to some degree. I had myself a good time with this read.

4.25 stars.

I LOVED the majority of this book. I'm a sucker for gothic style writing and the creep factor was strong in this one, both from the setting and the characters. The story unfolds in a slow and strange way that I found interesting and I loved the little infusions of folk lore, history, and science. The writing was very good, save a tendency toward a few repetitious word and phrase choices.

The characters are well-written, vibrant and, for the most part, highly disturbing. I liked that...though Virgil was his own special kind of ick factor.

I will admit that I didn't really click with the opening pages, but things got good for me once Noemi arrived at High Place. Beyond this, the bulk of the story was fun and unnerving in a good balance. I never quite had a full handle on what was happening, but I liked what was revealed along the way. It's a peeling onion type of story and I appreciated how well that was organized through the narrative.

Like the beginning, I was less impressed with the ending, which was a serious bummer. I thought it was really going to end on a bang (and there is some good movement in the plot towards the end that I thought was great), but the wrap up made it feel like the intensity just unraveled in the end. I was torn in my rating because of the ending. The majority of the read was a 4.5 star for me, but that darned ending did pull things more toward 4 star territory.

4.5 stars.

I just really love me a YA dystopian. I had taken my sweet time getting to this one and I'm mildly kicking myself for it. (I consider it a somewhat good thing because it's nice to still have some of the original dystopian wave at my disposal for fresh reading.

Uglies is a quick teen dystopian that moves with a good pace and has a lot happening once it gets going. I found it quite fun to read. The premise is fantastic and is perfect for current culture, particularly for the intended audience.

The writing style is just right to create a page-turner. It's simple to follow, but special in its word choice. The voice of the narrator is interesting and entertaining, managing to keep the narrative funny while still dealing with a fairly dangerous/serious situation. I had a good time with this one and will be continuing on with the series soon.

4.5 stars.

Whoa. This one will stick with you. Do not go into this book unprepared. There is extremely explicit violence in this novel with graphic descriptions of the butchering process as well as cannibalism. This was extremely difficult to read, yet at the same time totally engrossing. I couldn't look away though several scenes made my stomach turn.

The composition of this work is exceptionally well done. The writing is incredibly blunt while still being atmospherically descriptive. The translation seems to be very well done. The world building is well executed and I could fully envision all of the scenes.

I found the novel particularly interesting as I am a part of the meat industry. We raise beef cattle and hogs and this novel explores the slaughterhouse process in detail, really making the reader consider things from a different angle when the animals being processed are humans. It was incredibly interesting to read, sometimes difficult to analogize, and seriously caused me to contemplate the possibilities of humanity. (Let's face it, things are weird in our world right now and who knows what could happen.) While I admit that the slaughtering process is something I have always struggled with, I still left the story feeling okay with how our personal animals are handled. There is a large difference between small farm processing and commercial plants and I think that makes it easier for me to tolerate, knowing that my animals have a good quality of life. I will continue to both raise animals for and eat meat.

Such a powerful read and one that just continues to somewhat haunt me. Oh...and that ending. Wow.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *