husnaibrahim_'s Reviews (393)

This was quite a disturbing yet intriguing read! Initially, I felt really disturbed and unsettled by the story. I kept thinking ‘what is wrong with these people? Well, at least Marcos seems like the only decent one from the bunch.’ Then he went on to do something possibly worse than breeding and eating flesh! 

But I really wonder, in such a situation, how can we even determine which is worse—the actions of the government and society or what Marcos did, despite claiming a higher moral ground?
Then I think the way his wife got roped into it all at the end was cruel too. Yes they were both grieving, clearly in different ways, but it’s all just truly messed up. 

I was really starting to hope that they might have been a possibility that Jasmine would eventually become a person of her own, have her own thoughts and be able to make her own decisions in that society, but I guess it seemed like too much hope or delusion.

Also I find it really funny that Gaston says this right before he offers himself to be slaughtered: 

“The human being is the cause of all evil in this world. We are our own virus.”

It takes all kinds, truly!

I’ve probably read this particular one about five times now and all I have to say is that, I just wish Eve was more accepting of so many other things that don’t align with her thought process. Other perspectives, other ideologies, other belief systems, Roarke’s money, and so on. That’s honestly what makes her a slightly more complicated character to love, but I guess that’s also what makes her our Eve Dallas.

This was pretty good for a novella. 

I always love the short ones in between this series because we actually get to see Eve battle with her own belief system and the fact that there might be other things out there that she can’t always be condemn or be right about just because she deems it silly. 

I think the last novella tackled this really well but I can’t say the same about this one because the ending feels so rushed! In fact, I don’t believe we even got an ending for this one, and it isn’t always a bad thing when that happens but I think this particular book needed it because I really wanted to see how Eve justifies what she had just encountered. 

Unfortunately, this might be one of my least favourite from this series but I still somewhat enjoyed it so I guess there’s that.

This book started off a bit slow for me but I ended up loving it so much. I definitely don’t regret picking up  the audiobook halfway because the narrator was brilliant. 

I just wished there was a second book or that we got a bit more closure at the ending because now I have so many questions! Like what would become of Yoko and Makino now? And what about Sanayi? And Jalilah too. Also did Yoko bring up the topic of her last conversation with her dad to her mum? And would she end up quitting her new job to move back to Tokyo with Makino now Or would it be the other way around?

There’s just so many questions I need answered yet I think the way the author ended it is what ties the whole book together. I loved the way the book was written and it was really interesting to learn about what happened to Yoko’s mum as a child just after watching Oppenheimer. 

Overall, I’m very satisfied with the book but at the same time, I just can’t help but feel like I need more!

This book was a complete miss for me. I couldn't wrap my head around how I was supposed to root for the main characters. Nicolas and Elena seemed to be consumed by their desires, and it got rather annoying. I understand that this book delves into the world of mafia and gangs, where morality isn't always a priority, but some things just went too far. I mean, sleeping with your father's wife or flirting with your sister's fiancé? That's a level of dysfunction that's hard to swallow.

You can't even argue that Adriana wasn't interested in Nicolas and wasn't going to marry him, so it's fine for Elena to be with him. We've seen enough of these mafia-themed books to know how they tend to unfold. Women often lack choices in such stories, and  Elena knew Adriana was going to marry Nicolas, so they probably would have ended up together eventually even if it’s against her wishes . So, how did Elena justify her actions, thinking it was okay to continue this affair while he was engaged to her sister? Her reasoning of 'oh, she doesn't like him anyway, so it's fine for me to sleep with him' doesn't hold water because in such books, they usually do end up falling in love after a while. It's especially frustrating because Elena is her sister, and she acted as if she had a higher moral ground than the rest of the family. Wasn't she feigning superiority by condemning the mafia lifestyle for its lack of morals, only to turn around and do something like this?

What made it worse was that everything about them revolved around their sexual desires, which grew tiresome quickly. I despised everything about this book, and Nicolas' domineering and controlling nature made matters worse. Amidst all this, I found myself preferring every other character over them. Frankly, I just couldn't stomach their behavior.

Yeah, this book was just okay. I wasn’t really feeling the whole people, especially the men, telling Amelia what to do thing. It was a major turn-off, especially when Cam suddenly became possessive towards the end. I mean, out of nowhere he’s all like bossy. It just felt weird, you know? Because if we had seen that side of him from start it would have made more sense but the sudden shift clashed with Amelia’s desire to assert her independence, making it feel rather strange. Also, Amelia and Cam’s relationship felt kinda surface-level. It was just basically sexual tension and attraction but I wanted more depth. While these are valid aspects to consider in a partner, there wasn’t much else that demonstrated a deep understanding between them, especially considering they got married in such a short period of time. 

On a more positive note, the introduction of Romani culture into the story was highly intriguing. the Romani culture aspect was really fascinating with Cam being a Romany guy navigating the English world, while keeping his past a secret. Despite my reservations about the main characters’ relationship, I must admit that I was captivated by the exploration of Cam’s Romani heritage. The potential for further character development and the mysteries surrounding Cam and Merripen hold promise. It’s also got me really curious to find out his connection to Kev Merripen. And honestly, I’m more invested in Win and Merripen’s story. They’ve got that special something so I can’t wait for Win and Merripen’s book because I find myself more drawn to their story.

Overall, this book was just okay. It had its moments, but Amelia and Cam’s relationship lacked that extra connection to the story. It didn’t fully satisfy my expectations, and I was left wanting more closure and depth in the story.

I can’t believe how this book’s ending played out! We took a downhill slide from the brilliance of the first book, and it’s hard to wrap my head around it. Seriously, if only they had listened to the police, so much could have been avoided! Brother Hwa should have known better. Three people lost their lives under his watch, and yet he still believes he can take on Eumenides? Talk about misplaced confidence!

Qin Zhao is honestly such an annoying character! Seriously, no backbone whatsoever. Why would he kill Han just because he asked him to? It’s absolutely bewildering. And to make matters worse, Brother Hwa wasn’t even arrested afterwards. It just doesn’t make sense, honestly.

However, amidst all the frustrations, One of the few aspects I appreciated in this book was Eumenides’ storyline about the father figures in his life. It was truly intriguing to witness his descent into chaos after realizing the cruelty of his fate. On the other hand, I found his relationship with one of the female leads to be quite off-putting. Nevertheless, I was still curious to see how it would all unfold. I must admit, it was interesting to see how Dr. Lang seemed to anticipate every possible outcome if Eumenides were to spiral. Impressive, indeed! However, I did have an issue with the fact that she was still referred to as “Ms.” despite being one of the lead investigators who contributed significantly to solving numerous cases while every other male investigator was addressed by their titles. A bit of respect is in order, I believe.

And let’s not forget about Captain Pei Tao—what happened to his brilliance all of a sudden? It’s all just so hard to comprehend and, it’s truly quite disappointing.

Overall, this book left me with mixed feelings. It couldn’t quite live up to the brilliance of its predecessor, but there were still some intriguing storylines and character dynamics i enjoyed.

To be honest, I was really enjoying this book until we reached a certain point. Valerie and Noah were great characters, and I appreciated how Valerie's health issue was addressed in the story. Noah's persistence and Valerie's relationships with her friends were also highlights for me. However, things started going downhill for me after the incident with her mom. The storyline about the bandits had potential, but I couldn't help but question why it seemed like all the victims were our main characters. It would have been more impactful if the trauma wasn't solely focused on them. I just wish I had enjoyed the second half of the book more. It left me wanting something more from the story.

I’m still trying to wrap my head around this book—it’s like a blend of science fiction, yet not quite fitting into that category. It’s one of those books that leaves you pondering and wanting to give it a second read to fully grasp its intricate layers. Lakewood presents a fascinating and unsettling situation: the offer of health insurance for Lena’s seriously ill mother and a huge sum of cash in exchange for participating in a mysterious and vague study. It’s not your typical medical horror; instead, it leans more towards suspense and Mystery.

What truly grabbed my attention in this book were the characters, particularly Lena and her complex relationships with her friends and family. Lena, the main protagonist, is a deeply complex and relatable character, and her pain and desperation to hold on to fragments of goodness in her life resonate strongly. The mother-daughter relationship, with all its complications, served as a powerful aspect which definitely  elevated the book. The close friendship between Lena and Tanya, despite their differing backgrounds and Lena’s struggles, was also a highlight. I loved that this book explores things that go beyond the boundaries of Sci-Fi, diving into the historical context of unethical experiments on marginalized Black people in America. 

I also think that The atmospheric quality of Lakewood is exceptional—it feels like it’s filled with tension, eeriness, and a constant sense of impending doom. The vividness of scenes like Bethany losing her teeth, and the shock rippling through the other study participants, lingers in your mind.  some events did  come across as exaggerated , but the book maintains its grounding through Lena’s zeal and determination  to stay in the study for the sake of her mother.

Although the ending is vague, it just leaves too many questions unanswered and also  leaves us pondering the untold stories of the other study participants, the actual purpose and history of the study, and the aftermath in the town. So many things that happened didn’t make sense and honestly needs better closure.

To be honest, this was my first encounter with Megan Giddings’ work, and I have to say, Lakewood captivated me with its thought-provoking themes, complex characters, and eerie atmosphere. It’s the sort of book that continues to linger in your mind long even after you’ve put it down!