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lisaluvsliterature's Reviews (4.19k)
First thanks to Netgalley for letting me read this egalley.
Now, I really have been getting into stories about the underworld lately. So this sounded like a unique new take on it.
As other reviewers have said, the story jumps right in from the first page. The main character is Cora and she and her family are sucked into a sinkhole as they surround her father's casket at a funeral for him. Her father was a mean, abusive man. And now all Cora can think is that not only did he terrorize her in life, he's ruining her life even as he is dead. The whole farm they live on is on top of an immense cave system. She and her brother Lucas have spent their days exploring the cave. While Cora survives the sinkhole somehow, Lucas does not. Cora is met by a machine type object called Minotaur. Minotaur can change into anything, and he rescues her. But Cora soon wonders if she can trust him after being taken in by a woman named Sybil. Sybil writes people's stories. But she gives Cora the pen that writes them and tells her to go on and finish her story when it is destroyed in a fire. Sybil also tells Cora she will find her brother, even though he is dead. When Cora gets to the river before the Underworld, her brother is waiting for her. He helps her to get across the river and through the gates. But once through he is taken to where he is supposed to go, or so he thinks. He has been taken by Minotaur and his father/creator Minos. They use Lucas's genius programming skills to get him to stay. But Cora is captured and taken to trial.
Now, the story is interesting. However, so far I am a little confused. First, Minos, is this supposed to be the Minos from the myths? Or did I read that wrong? Second, I'm not sure about the whole computer programming bit, and how it ties in. And I have to say that the end is a HUGE cliffhangar, but so very abrupt! I guess it makes me REALLY glad that the 2nd book in the series is supposed to come out later this year, although I don't see it listed here on Goodreads. So, interesting take, just I'm a little confused about what exactly is going on. I did see another review compare it to the Matrix, and that kind of makes sense in that I did have a little confusion with the whole Matrix movie series.
Now, I really have been getting into stories about the underworld lately. So this sounded like a unique new take on it.
As other reviewers have said, the story jumps right in from the first page. The main character is Cora and she and her family are sucked into a sinkhole as they surround her father's casket at a funeral for him. Her father was a mean, abusive man. And now all Cora can think is that not only did he terrorize her in life, he's ruining her life even as he is dead. The whole farm they live on is on top of an immense cave system. She and her brother Lucas have spent their days exploring the cave. While Cora survives the sinkhole somehow, Lucas does not. Cora is met by a machine type object called Minotaur. Minotaur can change into anything, and he rescues her. But Cora soon wonders if she can trust him after being taken in by a woman named Sybil. Sybil writes people's stories. But she gives Cora the pen that writes them and tells her to go on and finish her story when it is destroyed in a fire. Sybil also tells Cora she will find her brother, even though he is dead. When Cora gets to the river before the Underworld, her brother is waiting for her. He helps her to get across the river and through the gates. But once through he is taken to where he is supposed to go, or so he thinks. He has been taken by Minotaur and his father/creator Minos. They use Lucas's genius programming skills to get him to stay. But Cora is captured and taken to trial.
Now, the story is interesting. However, so far I am a little confused. First, Minos, is this supposed to be the Minos from the myths? Or did I read that wrong? Second, I'm not sure about the whole computer programming bit, and how it ties in. And I have to say that the end is a HUGE cliffhangar, but so very abrupt! I guess it makes me REALLY glad that the 2nd book in the series is supposed to come out later this year, although I don't see it listed here on Goodreads. So, interesting take, just I'm a little confused about what exactly is going on. I did see another review compare it to the Matrix, and that kind of makes sense in that I did have a little confusion with the whole Matrix movie series.
I got this book as an advanced readers copy from an ad in Shelf Awareness. Later on there was an ARC on the table at the bookstore where I work too. It sounded really good. But then it sat on my shelf for a month or so. The back of the book said the publication date was April 3rd, so I picked it up the 2nd to last week of March, and when I walked into work that week, it was already out on the shelves! So this is not an advance review I guess. As I said, the book sat for awhile, other books seemed more interesting, and thinking I had till April, I waited. Well, I was crazy. Once I picked up the book, I was hooked from the very first page! Such a good story. The characters are so well developed, the back story is all there, and I thought the action and plots were good. I was on the edge of my seat at the end when Ismae was trying to help Duval. Of course you knew she would fall in love with him, but she knew to be cautious the whole time not knowing what he might really be up to. Ismae's life was horrible. Her father didn't want her, he even tried to make her mother miscarry her with homemade potions. It didn't work, and Ismae came out with scars. Everyone in the village thought she was cursed because of that. And finally her father got her married off to a man that was even more vile, and on the night he saw her scars, she was rescued by a priest, who passed her through the ranks until she came to the convent of St. Mortain. This was a time when the old gods had become saints in order for them to still be given respect with the new church. St. Mortain was the god/saint of death. And the girls here are trained to be assassins. Something that really appeals to Ismae, to be able to get justice on men who do things like were done to her. Who are traitors to their country. She is told who to kill, and she knows she is to do it when she sees the marque of Mortain on them. And quite often the marque is in the spot where they will be killed, the neck, the head, around the mouth for poison. One good thing Ismae has is that she is immune to the effects of poison.
Her first two assignments go well except for one small issue with each one. In fact, as she is getting assigned her 3rd person, it turns out that person shows up, and wants their help. It is Duval. She is assigned to show up as his "cousin" which during that time, is assumed to be a mistress. And she must help him protect the duchess from the French and help her find the correct suitor to save Brittany, their country. Duval is under suspicion though. And there are traitors and subplots going around the high court. Ismae must figure her way through all this intrigue and also deal with her feelings for Duval and knowing if that is why she trusts him, or if he is really trustworthy and has the duchess' best interests in mind. She learns that maybe Death's mark isn't always the end and that people can redeem themselves in St. Mortain's eyes. And she tests this, and finds it true.
I could just go on and on about how good this book was. Now, I feel it ended in a way that doesn't leave for a sequel, and this is part of a series. But from the blurb at the end of the ARC I see that we will follow one of the other convent girls, Sybella, who had become a bit of a mystery once she left the convent. So now I look forward to reading her story. My only complaint, not about the story, but that my ARC was missing pages in two places. The first place is where we learn that Duval is a bastard brother to the duchess, the 2nd part is where Ismae has finally found the marque of death on someone she has been ordered to kill, and she decides to test her theory of redemption. But we miss out on the whole thing, just getting in at the end. I will have to figure out how my ARC pages match up the real copy and go read those sections.
Her first two assignments go well except for one small issue with each one. In fact, as she is getting assigned her 3rd person, it turns out that person shows up, and wants their help. It is Duval. She is assigned to show up as his "cousin" which during that time, is assumed to be a mistress. And she must help him protect the duchess from the French and help her find the correct suitor to save Brittany, their country. Duval is under suspicion though. And there are traitors and subplots going around the high court. Ismae must figure her way through all this intrigue and also deal with her feelings for Duval and knowing if that is why she trusts him, or if he is really trustworthy and has the duchess' best interests in mind. She learns that maybe Death's mark isn't always the end and that people can redeem themselves in St. Mortain's eyes. And she tests this, and finds it true.
I could just go on and on about how good this book was. Now, I feel it ended in a way that doesn't leave for a sequel, and this is part of a series. But from the blurb at the end of the ARC I see that we will follow one of the other convent girls, Sybella, who had become a bit of a mystery once she left the convent. So now I look forward to reading her story. My only complaint, not about the story, but that my ARC was missing pages in two places. The first place is where we learn that Duval is a bastard brother to the duchess, the 2nd part is where Ismae has finally found the marque of death on someone she has been ordered to kill, and she decides to test her theory of redemption. But we miss out on the whole thing, just getting in at the end. I will have to figure out how my ARC pages match up the real copy and go read those sections.
I ended up waiting longer than normal to read this next book in one of my favorite series, and really the only mystery series that I read. Normally I would check it out when it first came out, but I was so busy reading other things, that I ended up waiting till it was in paperback and then buying it. And even then, I didn't have the money when it first came out, so it was a month or two after it was released in paperback before I got to read it. And it was kind of nice to get back into this world that the author has created. I like Goldy Bear and her family. I love the relationship she has with her husband Tom who works for the Sheriff's department. They're so cute! I want a husband who will love me just like he loves her the way she is.
As usual though, there has been a murder of someone that Goldy knows, and she has a friend in trouble that she needs to help, but also doesn't know if this person could have anything to do with what is going on. In fact, this is a really complicated mystery, as I might have guessed by the length of the book. Lots of stuff going on. As I saw another reviewer, this was a bit convoluted, but that's okay. I kind of liked how it all tied together at the end. I didn't really guess at first, which you can't, you don't actually know who one of the suspects is until towards the end, and even then, he is just a connection to the main murderer, or not even murderer, but mastermind behind a lot of what was happening. We don't get a lot of time with Arch in this book, he seems to be away at friends a lot. But that has happened more in each passing book.
Now, here's what shocked me. Goldy says she's 37 in this book. I am wondering, how old was she when the series started back in 1990? Because I remember her being older than me I thought, and now I'm 2, almost 3 years older than her! Makes me feel really old! The ending leaves off that Goldy and Tom of course solve the mystery, after Goldy once again puts herself in danger trying to do it all on her own, and now Tom is thinking he'd like them to have a baby. So, that should be a big part of the next book. Which I hope there is one, although maybe a bit shorter and less convoluted with the mystery next time. All in all, a good read, and a nice visit back in Aspen Meadow with Goldy and her friends and family.
As usual though, there has been a murder of someone that Goldy knows, and she has a friend in trouble that she needs to help, but also doesn't know if this person could have anything to do with what is going on. In fact, this is a really complicated mystery, as I might have guessed by the length of the book. Lots of stuff going on. As I saw another reviewer, this was a bit convoluted, but that's okay. I kind of liked how it all tied together at the end. I didn't really guess at first, which you can't, you don't actually know who one of the suspects is until towards the end, and even then, he is just a connection to the main murderer, or not even murderer, but mastermind behind a lot of what was happening. We don't get a lot of time with Arch in this book, he seems to be away at friends a lot. But that has happened more in each passing book.
Now, here's what shocked me. Goldy says she's 37 in this book. I am wondering, how old was she when the series started back in 1990? Because I remember her being older than me I thought, and now I'm 2, almost 3 years older than her! Makes me feel really old! The ending leaves off that Goldy and Tom of course solve the mystery, after Goldy once again puts herself in danger trying to do it all on her own, and now Tom is thinking he'd like them to have a baby. So, that should be a big part of the next book. Which I hope there is one, although maybe a bit shorter and less convoluted with the mystery next time. All in all, a good read, and a nice visit back in Aspen Meadow with Goldy and her friends and family.
Review will be posted on May 6th on my blog, http://misclisa.blogspot.com/
Review will be posted on my blog about July 21st, approximately 1 month before publishing date, http://misclisa.blogspot.com/
I got this book from our school book fair last October. Then I put it in a cabinet at school because I used to keep a book to read at school. Well, mostly this year I've been bringing the actual book I've been reading with me to and from school each day. So, I completely forgot I had this book till I went to look for something else in that cabinet. So I got it home, and picked it up to read. Once again it was a good read from Paula Morris. I first learned of her from the book [b:Ruined|6261081|Ruined (Ruined, #1)|Paula Morris|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327879243s/6261081.jpg|6444288], which I also really enjoyed. Again we have a girl kind of out of her comfort zone, as our main character is Miranda who has moved to York with her parents while they are there on business/work. Miranda and her brother have a bad memory when they were in an accident and Miranda's best friend was killed in the car her brother was driving. Since then her brother can't stand to be in small places. And Miranda thinks she can now see ghosts. So, this town in England, of course, has lots of ghosts. And soon Miranda begins wondering how many ghosts she's seen that she didn't realize were ghosts. She also meets a guy named Nick who can see ghosts. And he offers to help her learn about the whole deal of seeing ghosts. Not only is Nick kind of cute, Miranda sees a really handsome guy in the attic across from where they're staying. But she soon figures out from what Nick has taught her about ghosts that the hot guy is also a ghost.
There are lots of little connections, and some really interesting history of the town in this book. It kept me wondering and guessing who could be the so called bad guy that kept tearing up one of the local bars. And what is Nick really all about? Miranda soon learns who he really is, even if he does keep being really secretive. And his secrets could get Miranda and her family in some serious danger.
A great ghost story, with a really good ending. I look forward to reading more books by Paula Morris.
There are lots of little connections, and some really interesting history of the town in this book. It kept me wondering and guessing who could be the so called bad guy that kept tearing up one of the local bars. And what is Nick really all about? Miranda soon learns who he really is, even if he does keep being really secretive. And his secrets could get Miranda and her family in some serious danger.
A great ghost story, with a really good ending. I look forward to reading more books by Paula Morris.
Can't wait to post my review closer to the time of the actual publishing date! Loved this book!