heddas_bookgems's Reviews (490)

Barrie's original Peter Pan story differs greatly from any adaptation. The portrayal of gender roles is old-fashioned and there are some instances of xenophobia, particularly towards Native Americans. Peter Pan himself is not the charming character portrayed in popular culture. He is morally ambiguous and does not shy away from violence against pirates or Lost Boys. In fact, he can be quite unpleasant, selfish, and even whiny at times. However, the underlying message is that children can be ruthless – which is why they need to grow up. Despite these issues, the story remains a classic with enchanting elements such as mermaids and pixies. But be warned, some of these characters may not be as innocent as they seem.

If you're looking for a unique read, give this book a try – but brace yourself for some weirdness. It's like the witty banter of an Austen novel combined with the gritty drama of Peaky Blinders, all while on some kind of hallucinogenic substance. Despite the bizarre premise, the characters are funny and engaging, and there's even some unexpected romantic tension between enemies. However, some parts of the book are bogged down with excessive references to etiquette and proper behavior, which contrasts with the characters' tendency to steal and even kill. Towards the end, the pace slows down a bit too much for my liking, leading me to give the book a 3.5 star rating.

Our Wives Under the Sea was beautifully written and managed to create a deep connection with the characters despite its brevity. The characters themselves had a sense of depth (pun intended), which added to the story's overall impact. While it may not have been as scary as anticipated, the book was still able to draw me in with its unique plot and anxious descriptions of the underwater world. The author's enchanting writing style left a lasting impression, making it a must-read for anyone who enjoys angsty and complex tales.

Emily has never experienced life on land as she has spent her entire life on a boat without taking a bath or a swim. Her mother finally agrees to let her take swimming lessons, and Emily discovers that she has a natural talent. However, during her first dive, she almost drowns due to a strange cramp in her legs. Emily embarks on a journey to discover her identity and family history, and to uncover the truth behind her mysterious cramps.

Liz Kessler's middle-grade mermaid novel, first published in 2003, has become a childhood favorite for many readers. The book is a charming twist on "The Little Mermaid" tale, filled with humor, mystery, and emotion. Readers are transported to a magical underwater world ruled by Neptunus, where young mermaids and mermen are taught how to sink ships.

The book is a heartwarming story about the power of friendship and acceptance, and the struggles of being a social outcast. It is a well-written, easy read that will make you feel like you're diving into a warm summer ocean. If you're looking for a captivating book with mystery, family love, and the search for new friendships, Emily Windsnap is a must-read.

In the novel, Remarkably Bright Creatures, the protagonist, Marcellus, is a captive octopus living in Sowell Bay Aquarium. With just over 161 days left in his life, Marcellus seeks to make the most of his remaining time and possibly even make friends. Along the way, he meets Tova, a friendly 70-year-old widow who works as a night-shift janitor at the aquarium. Tova's cheerful demeanor masks the pain of losing loved ones, and her work helps her cope with grief.

The debut novel by Shelby van Pelt delves into themes such as mystery, grief, the fear of death, aging, loneliness, and even a hint of romance. The story is told in straightforward prose with descriptive writing that captures the magical realism of the novel. Marcellus's mischievous personality adds a touch of humor to the story, making it an enjoyable read.

While the plot may be predictable, the book still manages to be a delightful and engaging read. However, it's worth noting that there may be some trigger warnings that readers should be aware of before diving in.

Fable is a young girl who must prove herself in a world dominated by men. She lives in an environment surrounded by a dangerous sea, pirates, and dredgers. Fable's one desire is to earn enough money to prove to her father that she is capable of living in this perilous world at sea.

I came across a second-hand copy of this remarkable book a while ago and decided to purchase it. The cover was eye-catching, and the story had pirates; there was no way I could resist reading it. However, it took me a while to start reading it, mainly due to the mixed reviews that I had seen.

Unfortunately, I found myself agreeing with the negative reviews. The plot was lacking in substance, and even though I was past the halfway point, nothing significant had happened. The book's characters were also unable to deliver a captivating story, except for the protagonist and her father.

The absence of interesting friends, enemies, or allies, the lack of in-depth dialogues, and the mild chemistry between lovers added to the story's overall disappointment.

While the book was not the worst I have read, it was not the best either. Though I enjoyed it to some extent, it was a mediocre read for me, earning only a 3 star rating.

The journey of Frodo and his companions continues in the second volume of the Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers. In this book, the group strives to prevent the rise of Sauron and destroy the Ring at Mount Doom.

After revisiting The Fellowship of the Ring, I knew I had to read the rest of the series as soon as possible and I did just that. Much like its predecessor, The Two Towers was an absolute joy to reread. Though it was notably darker than the first book and slowed down at times, particularly during the pursuit of Merry and Pippin's captors and the Fangorn forest scenes, I appreciated the attention given to world-building and character development.

For me, the best part of this book was the journey of Frodo, Sam, and Sméagol (Gollum). I was surprised to see them return so late in the book, yet I loved the dynamic between these three characters. Seeing the friendship between Sam and Frodo develop, watching them establish a relationship with Sméagol, and experiencing Sméagol's split personality between himself and Gollum was both fascinating and dangerous. I was once again in awe of the author's excellent writing skills.

In short, I loved rereading The Two Towers and I can't wait to continue rediscovering the rest of the Lord of the Rings series.

Since earth has been destroyed, humans, cyborgs and aliens have to life together in space. But for some it’s harder to get along or call it a home. Not only are aliens and cyborgs seen as a lower race, but at some places old traditions from centuries ago are revived. For Trystan this has been a struggle, as his body or name never felt as his own. At the other end of the galaxy Malek is brewing in escaping the inescapable prison, Helios 2. While on Kirillion, the city as big as a planet, thief Làhn has to flee from his home when a job of his go south.

When somebody tells me a book is a combination between Firefly meets Guardians of the Galaxy, I’m instantly drawn to it. Add to the mix that it’s an indie, queer, found family sci-fi with a space-opera adventure and I’m sold.

And this didn’t disappoint one bit. As Cristea created not an average sci-fi, but a warm, thrilling, diverse and amazing novel set in space. It’s filled with wonderful and vivid images of ships, galaxies, aliens, big city’s, neon planets, trade stations and even scrumptious descriptions of fried street food. It completely drew me into space.

The only minor issue I had was the somewhat inconsistent pacing. It had some major fast paced action scenes, combined with some slower parts of reflection. But it felt a little off in the middle.

But well fleshed out characters with real, tangible emotions made up for that. Cristea didn’t scare away of discussing themes like disability, discrimination, trauma or struggles with finding your own identity. I highly recommend it if you’re into sci-fi or in search for an amazing queer read with wonderful characters.

Mia Corvere is a pale, skinny, black-haired girl with one goal in mind: revenge. But first, she must gain admission to the Red Church, a school for assassins.

After falling in love with "Empire of the Vampire" and discovering that there was no sequel in sight, I decided to read the highly praised "Nevernight" series. It took me some time to start, but it was a rollercoaster ride that left me feeling conflicted. At times I loved it, at times I hated it, and at times I was bored. To say that this book left me with mixed feelings would be an understatement.

However, I must admit that this book is incredibly well thought-out. The world is multilayered, dark, and dangerous, with a complex and mysterious magic system. It feels like medieval Venice with its grimdark pubs, fancy balls, political intrigue and shadows.

The worldbuilding and magic system were explained through footnotes, which took some time to adjust to. It was interesting, but it interrupted the flow of the story, especially in the first half. Nonetheless, it gave some insight into the character of the narrator.

At some point, I was taken aback by the objectification of women and certain scenes that had a male perspective. It felt like the views of a hormonal adolescent or a male with disturbing thoughts about women.

Despite these concerns, I still gave the book four stars. The captivating storyline, wonderful descriptive writing, and intriguing world-building created an extremely powerful protagonist that left me curious for more.