husnaibrahim_'s Reviews (393)

“Red Island House” was alright, though I’m not entirely sure if I enjoyed it as much as I thought I would, or if it just happened to be the right book to pull me out of my reading slump.

Either way, it was a good listen. I always appreciate audiobooks that are easy to follow, even if you lose track of where you left off. The narrators did an excellent job in this regard.

The constant use of the word soccer made me realize that this book must’ve definitely been written by a Nigerian American author and everything else after that just kind of made sense. Because, Initially, I didn’t realize that this was the second book in the series. I guess I had the American cover (‘Sunny and the Mysteries of Osisi’) and not the Nigerian one (‘Akata Witch’) so I was really confused when it came to the order of the books. 

I have to say though, I really enjoyed this book. I couldn’t really relate to a lot of things but at the same time, I could relate to almost everything. It just reminded me so much of my childhood. Growing up in northern Nigeria, I didn’t expect to connect much with this book, but it turned out to be quite the opposite.

Sunny’s intense curiosity but also her ease of believing all the tales meant to scare her were portrayed exceptionally well. It captures that irrational part of Nigerian society where you know a superstition isn’t true yet can’t help but believe in it and even somewhat live by it.

Overall, it was a solid read, though some parts left me a bit confused. So, I’m definitely planning to check out the first book in the series.

Where do I even begin with this one?

I read Wrong Place Wrong Time with a kind of quiet awe; not just for the structure or the suspense, but for the strange emotional intimacy it created as I moved deeper into Jen and Ryan’s lives. I knew it was going to be clever; the time-travel premise alone had me hooked, but I didn’t expect it to be chaotic; and I mean truly chaotic, there was something in that chaos that reflected the very heart of this story. The unravelling. The uncertainty. The reordering of what you think you know.

At first glance, it’s about a mother who watches her teenage son commit a murder, and then wakes up the next morning to find it’s the day before the crime. And then the day before that. But honestly? That’s just the surface. Underneath all the twists and clever plot reveals, this is a book about love. About motherhood. About identity. About the quiet ways our choices echo through the people we love most, even when we think we’re protecting them.

I don’t think I’ve fully recovered from Ryan’s arc. The whole time, I kept thinking: he didn’t mean for any of this to happen… but that doesn’t make him innocent. His past; the undercover operation, the stolen cars, the lies, the false name, it all started with a good intention, I guess. But he got caught in it. And then he fell hard; maybe too hard, for the very woman whose world he was meant to infiltrate. Jen. The woman who thought his name was Kelly, and suddenly everything shifted. He wasn’t just undercover anymore. He was in it too deep, too fast. He wanted out. He wanted her. He wasn’t just living a lie; he was trying to bury it in the hope that love could redeem the cost of his past. 

And I found myself torn; because on one hand, I understood his motives. On the other, I was furious. Furious that he kept her in the dark. So that scene where he talks to Jen’s dad, Kenneth, and basically begs to stay in Jen’s life? That whole conversation floored me. Two men, both guilty in different ways, both loving her in their own deeply flawed ways. That scene where Ryan confesses that he just wants to be with her, despite everything; there’s a crack in his voice, and that crack is everything. It was such a mess of guilt, desperation, and this raw kind of hope that maybe love could still make it all okay. And honestly, I believed him. 

And Jen… my heart broke for her. The way she kept trying to figure out how everything went wrong, how she could fix it. I loved how grounded she was, how honest and intuitive. That final moment between them; where he tells her who he really is, and she just knows, was so simple but so powerful. I honestly had to sit with it for a while before I could even process the rest. I kept returning to that line: “She meets his eyes in the car park. He fell in love with her so deeply he gave up his life for her, his name, his mother, his identity.”

And maybe that’s the thing. This isn’t just a story about a crime or a twisty timeline. It was emotional and reflective in ways I didn’t expect, and I think that’s why it stayed with me. The writing had this quiet ache running through it, like even when the plot was racing forward, the real story was somewhere softer, under the surface.

What a predictable but amazing book!

The beginning of this book was a bit slow so I didn’t think I’d like it much but my God! 

At first, I thought Victor was crazy after what happened because his reaction to Angie’s situation seemed reckless. In fact I agreed with Eli on that front. So imagine my surprise when I realised that Eli is even crazier. His descent into delusion and his godlike aspirations revealed a surprising depth of madness because he somehow thinks he is the only sane E.O?? I mean Serena was truly the perfect match for him. Her character was flawed yet captivating. It provided a perfect foil to Eli. 

So despite her instability, particularly in her actions towards Sydney, I think Schwab’s nuanced portrayal of her also evoked a sense of empathy. She has such a way of craftily writing such characters that you have no choice to root for them . So I definitely supported her throughout because Eli truly had me fooled.

Speaking of Sydney, she was such a sweet and thoughtful girl. Her innocence and sincerity brought a refreshing dynamic to the story. At first I thought she should have been written to be older than she was and might have possibly been a love interest for either victor or Mitch but I’m glad it wasn’t written that way. Because I appreciated the nuanced relationship that developed instead. It was refreshing. 

So, as I look forward to delving into “Vengeful,” I’m honestly intrigued by the potential trajectory of these complex characters. I’d like to see what comes next for Victor and even Mitch. And while I think “Vicious” could stand alone, I’m eager to see how Schwab continues to explore the themes of past and present in the sequel.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The world building was a bit weird but the whole concept of the soul collectors, the intricacies of the underworld, and its multifaceted nature was very fascinating.

Usually with books that touch subjects of the angels of death, the afterlife and all that comes with it, they only seem to scratch the surface, often remaining shallow. This is usually because they tend to predominantly focus on the Western world, so seeing other perspectives being explored was refreshing. Plus even though we only glimpsed the afterlife of just two places, the portrayal, especially of the Japanese afterlife, felt well-executed.

So I’m honestly excited to dive into the next book, but I’m not sure if I can just over look what Neven did and the fallout with Hiro and just get comfortable with his brother?! It’s a complex situation because, as much as I admire the mistress of death, I’m still struggling with some of her choices.

And there are still so many Unanswered questions, like the whereabouts of her mom and the fate of her brother. So despite how much I enjoyed this book, I’m torn about whether to jump into the next one right away.

There are some books that portray teenage obsession in a way that’s easy to enjoy and even indulge. This, unfortunately, isn’t one of those..

Initially, I understood Grace’s love for the wolves, but it quickly became annoying; especially when she rushed into the woods to save them from being shot while also completely forgetting how her friend Rachel was also supposedly in the woods taking pictures. Yet all her focus was on the wolves and not her friend being potentially shot?

And that’s just one thing. There’s several other things like the infuriating absent-mindedness of her parents. I mean how convenient that her parents were the type to let her fend for herself and never check up on her so then she can, again, conveniently  invite a werewolf into their home to literally live there without them noticing. And I don’t even want to get into how fast that relationship moved. I mean you could probably argue that they had some pre-existing connection, but it felt a bit creepy given the lack of scrutiny from her about his wolf form and how he is only half human?

Then there’s how she tried to gaslight Isabel about her own brother. These were all elements that, in a different context, I might have overlooked for the sake of the plot, but collectively, they just left me feeling that the book wasn’t well-written. Or Perhaps I’ve just outgrown my phase of reading teen romance fictions involving supernaturals. I truly hope so then.

I've read some fantastic books from this author, and it's disappointing that 'She Can Scream' isn't one of them.

Brooke, the main character, stood out for me. She portrayed a strong female lead and her commitment to protecting other women was commendable. Yet, in her fervor, she tiptoed that thin line between dedication and obsession.

While I understood Brooke's motives, I can't entirely agree with all her choices. And I understood why Luke went along with it all even if I didn’t like it. That’s fine, sometimes we have to let people get involved with the investigation for them to find closure. But taking risks like visiting people you suspect without informing the police is just something I’ll never agree with, a recurring trope in crime fiction that often doesn't sit well with me.

Regarding the victims, particularly Halie, there's a blend of frustration and sympathy. And I’m not one for victim blaming but why would halie go out to meet some boy in the dead of the night when she knows a man is out there targeting young women related to her mum in some way. She might not have thought it but I imagine she should have been too scared to even think of going to meet a boy, especially with the lurking threat in the background. 

Speaking of victim blaming. Luke was a victim himself yet he blamed himself for what happened to his assistant. I didn’t really understand it or why but I guess that’s just how it is sometimes. And the narrative involving Luke's history as a victim and his battle with PTSD felt severely underexplored. His somewhat miraculous improvement through interactions with Brooke didn't seem convincing considering the gravity of PTSD. I’m just not too sure that’s how ptsd works. 

Then there’s the matter of the rapist/killer. I won’t say I expected who it was but i won’t lie that was shocked. I should have been, yet I was disappointed if anything. It just felt a bit lackluster to me. The scenario didn't fit the ideal portrayal of a small-town crime mystery. And this is the problem with some small town crime fiction. The way the killer is revealed should essentially be so well down we wont even have a chance of questioning it. Yet I questioned everything about this one.

Firstly, why was he just running his mouth to Brooke and telling her how he did everything without her even asking? You can say he wanted to brag but that’s not what it felt like. If anything it was stupid. He didn’t feel like a serial killer at all but an amateur. Secondly, why did he have to be the one connected to Brooke’s roommate. I mean come one. If it were to be that way, it should have been better portrayed. Again it felt half assed. And lastly, why did it have to be him?? I mean really? It could have been anyone but him. Because if it were to be someone in his position, it should have been portrayed better than that. 

Maybe I am criticizing this book too much even after knowing it’s one of the first books the author wrote in her carrier. But it’s essentially because of that I am criticizing it and while critiquing, I do consider her growth in subsequent books. I've seen the improvement in her recent writing style, and although this book wasn't my favorite, I still appreciate the author's progress and look forward to her future works. I just wished I enjoyed this book as much as I did the others.  

Ratings can sometimes be a bit tricky. I would have rated this book higher if it weren’t for its ending. 

The suspect was pretty much out in the open from the start; it was set up that way. Because just as we met our male mc/detective, we met our suspect.

I liked the mage aspect of the book. It was nice to add a bit of magical realism to the book. Joan's character was cool too. She was someone who could stand her ground. And I liked Sherringford too. On the other hand, I'm not entirely sure how I felt about their romance, as it felt a bit rushed. The chemistry was evident, so it wasn’t surprising or anything. I just wished we had a bit more time with them. But I guess since the next book in this series is about them too, that’s fine.

Then there's Augustine. He had this slightly creepy vibe, but it strangely fit into the story well. I wouldn't have minded if Joan ended up with him in the long run. I also liked her mother. She might have seemed a bit timid, as Joan described, but considering the societal constraints of middle-class women in that time, things probably weren't easy for her. You earn enough to be important in society yet you still can’t do whatever you want because all your fortune and freedom belongs to your husband who inherits it after marrying you. Then there’s the way she was treated after her marriage, and how she was restricted with his illness and all, it's something worth considering.

But let me tell you, I wasn’t a fan of the ending, at all. The whole confrontation and the duel felt a bit stupid. Why can’t we ever read crime fiction books where the fmc wouldn’t have to risk her life to achieve something at the ending? Why is it always the fmc’s? Why never the others or even the name lead? I get the idea of portraying strong female characters, but it's becoming a bit of a cliche, especially when not executed well, as in this case.

Then dragging her mother into the climax—unnecessary. Why??? Just why? Why couldn’t the author just let her be. Yes it made sense that she’d be involved in it somehow but I didn’t like it because I liked her, because I didn’t see it coming and because it wasn’t necessary. Why should her mother be the one she’ll lose in place of the somewhat abusive father. Isn’t the mother a victim of some sort too? It all just  felt too abrupt and unplanned, especially since her mother wasn't a part of the lead character’s troubles. Idk maybe I’m not being rational about this with all the facts but I just hated it it because it was so last minute. 

All these aside, it's a decent read. The world-building sets up a really intriguing backdrop, and I’m definitely interested in the second book to see how the story takes us to Gregor's noble family.

This story, in its own unique way, intrigued me, but I can't say if I truly enjoyed it, primarily because of the unsettling elements, or if I hated it because of just that.

The source of my unease lies in whether it’s the storyline itself, particularly involving Dr. Alan, or the way in which he tells it.  It's peculiar; his pompous and air of self-importance, making it a bit difficult to warm up to. There's an underlying sense of misogyny, narcissism, and manipulation beneath his logical assessment. Yet, it's equally challenging not to understand why he's this way. This complexity makes me question whether I dislike him in general or just the circumstances in which we find him. 

It was even more surprising that the author was a woman, yet it appears because she’s a woman, she can artfully portray a well-hidden misogynist under the guise of a supposedly progressive man.

Nevertheless, this narrative was interesting. It wasn’t one of those beautifully written or narrated books about the typical tragedies involving women. Instead, it presents Jenny as the somewhat central character, with a cast of strikingly flawed characters, each grappling with their own shortcomings.  The character I connected with most was Tom, his determination in transforming guilt and helplessness into a mission to find his daughter's rapist felt too real and just brutal. However, I'm unsure about my feelings toward him and Charlotte as a couple.

And I wish I had more I could say about Charlotte but I don’t. I can't say I connected with her deeply. I struggled to understand her and her 'two sides,' but I guess some things might be beyond our own individualistic understanding. Just like I couldn't fathom why Dr. Alan said some certain things about his wife. It all leaves a bitter taste.

The revelation that Dr. Alan knew the truth but led us, readers, and Jenny's family to believe he was helping her recover her memories was a bitter twist. Instead of reporting it to the police, which he could have easily done since he had been in contact with them frequently, he allowed this elaborate deception to unfold. No wonder he was so adamant that his son didn’t do it and could have in fact even been the victim. It’s all just so twisted but I guess he found a way to justify that too. Justify what he did to them all and what happened to Bob. I mean it’s just like he said, he was just ‘trying’ not to ‘confuse’ her memories. Yet did exactly that. 

Then there’s the fact that he showed no remorse for his role in what happened to Bob. It was truly unsettling. I mean bob is not a good man that is a fact but Dr Alan is one sick individual. I know we are supposed to understand him and his choices after what we came to know but I just somehow don’t. And I just find it difficult to empathize with him. The empathy is there but not as much as it should have been. The man is just a deeply complicated character.

And this complexity is why I believe this book deserves a good rating. I somehow feel like the author intended for us to feel conflicted, not to actually like Dr. Alan even after everything that unfolds in the book. To somewhat understand his decisions, but also not understand it? To recognize that he needs to see a specialist just as much as Jenny does, and perhaps, in some twisted way, Jenny is his own form of therapy?

It's a complicated story that left me intrigued but also really conflicted, not because it's poorly written, but because it's well-written in its own unique way.