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momwithareadingproblem
Actual Rating: 3.5★
I received an eARC of this book from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
I’m not really sure how I feel about The Irish Getaway by Siobhan Davis. I was kind of excited to read it even though I’ve made no secret about my dislike for the two main characters. I thought a story set in the author’s country would be cool, but really there isn’t much about Ireland in this short story. It’s more about the party scene which seems shadier and more dangerous than the American party scene (still trying to figure that one out). Anyways….The Irish Getaway is more of a bridge, setting up the standalone novels for the rest of the Kennedy Boys, rather than a continuation of Kyler and Faye’s story.
Told in alternating POV chapters, Faye and Ky are still just as in love/lust with each other as they were in the first three books. Honestly, I agree with the brothers…it’s nauseating, and, personally, I felt it was over done at times. I mean I get that they are 18 and alone in Ireland, sharing a house for an extended vacation. I met my husband at 18, I know what goes through your mind at that age. I also know that some restraint is shown and not everything is about sex ALL THE TIME. Seriously, Faye couldn’t look at Ky without being turned on….too much, just too much.
The plot felt nonexistent. I understand that this is a short story/novella, but even those should have a clear plot line. This felt like an excuse for more drama, more parties, and more sex. That’s it. Ky and Faye’s story was wrapped up in [b:Keeping Kyler|35173354|Keeping Kyler (The Kennedy Boys, #3)|Siobhan Davis|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1495223501s/35173354.jpg|53578435] so I was surprised to find this novella narrated from their perspectives. Then I was disappointed that there really wasn’t a clear storyline to follow, just one party after another interrupted by the occasional fight between brothers and sex.
I did enjoy Faye getting to meet her extended family. I think it’s important for her to have family to rely on and shape her as she continues to grow into a young woman without her parents. I liked the grandparents! They were a fun and sweet, reminding me of my own grandparents.
Overall The Irish Getaway was just an okay read for me. I enjoyed learning a little bit more about the brothers and the set up for their stories. I didn’t care for the excess drama and sex though. I know it’s a hallmark of the series, but it felt overdone here and I couldn’t pick up on the plot because of it. About the 60% mark, the novella ends and the bonus content begins. The bonus content makes the novella worth every penny. If your a fan of the series, I would recommend reading it after [b:Keeping Kyler|35173354|Keeping Kyler (The Kennedy Boys, #3)|Siobhan Davis|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1495223501s/35173354.jpg|53578435] and before [b:Loving Kalvin|35217007|Loving Kalvin (The Kennedy Boys, #4)|Siobhan Davis|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1495623380s/35217007.jpg|55952239].
I received an eARC of this book from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
I’m not really sure how I feel about The Irish Getaway by Siobhan Davis. I was kind of excited to read it even though I’ve made no secret about my dislike for the two main characters. I thought a story set in the author’s country would be cool, but really there isn’t much about Ireland in this short story. It’s more about the party scene which seems shadier and more dangerous than the American party scene (still trying to figure that one out). Anyways….The Irish Getaway is more of a bridge, setting up the standalone novels for the rest of the Kennedy Boys, rather than a continuation of Kyler and Faye’s story.
Told in alternating POV chapters, Faye and Ky are still just as in love/lust with each other as they were in the first three books. Honestly, I agree with the brothers…it’s nauseating, and, personally, I felt it was over done at times. I mean I get that they are 18 and alone in Ireland, sharing a house for an extended vacation. I met my husband at 18, I know what goes through your mind at that age. I also know that some restraint is shown and not everything is about sex ALL THE TIME. Seriously, Faye couldn’t look at Ky without being turned on….too much, just too much.
The plot felt nonexistent. I understand that this is a short story/novella, but even those should have a clear plot line. This felt like an excuse for more drama, more parties, and more sex. That’s it. Ky and Faye’s story was wrapped up in [b:Keeping Kyler|35173354|Keeping Kyler (The Kennedy Boys, #3)|Siobhan Davis|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1495223501s/35173354.jpg|53578435] so I was surprised to find this novella narrated from their perspectives. Then I was disappointed that there really wasn’t a clear storyline to follow, just one party after another interrupted by the occasional fight between brothers and sex.
I did enjoy Faye getting to meet her extended family. I think it’s important for her to have family to rely on and shape her as she continues to grow into a young woman without her parents. I liked the grandparents! They were a fun and sweet, reminding me of my own grandparents.
Overall The Irish Getaway was just an okay read for me. I enjoyed learning a little bit more about the brothers and the set up for their stories. I didn’t care for the excess drama and sex though. I know it’s a hallmark of the series, but it felt overdone here and I couldn’t pick up on the plot because of it. About the 60% mark, the novella ends and the bonus content begins. The bonus content makes the novella worth every penny. If your a fan of the series, I would recommend reading it after [b:Keeping Kyler|35173354|Keeping Kyler (The Kennedy Boys, #3)|Siobhan Davis|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1495223501s/35173354.jpg|53578435] and before [b:Loving Kalvin|35217007|Loving Kalvin (The Kennedy Boys, #4)|Siobhan Davis|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1495623380s/35217007.jpg|55952239].
I have no words for Empire of Storms by Sarah J Maas. No, that’s not true. I have a lot of words for this book, but none are very flattering. I love the Throne of Glass series! It is one of my favorite high fantasies. So I was excited that I finally got the chance to read the next installment. Now I’m wondering what the hell I just read. Everything I love about the series is still there. I love the multiple character points of view and I love the overall series arc. BUT there are so many things I disliked.
First off, I felt lost through a good 3/4 of the book. I wasn’t sure what was happening. The head hopping didn’t help. I have loved the different POV in the other books. I especially enjoyed Elide’s and Lorcan’s POV, but it just didn’t work this go around. The characters’ voices weren’t distinct enough. I found myself getting confused about whose POV I was in. “Was it Aedion or Aelin?” “I thought Lorcan was talking now”….the entire book!!! I had to backtrack multiple times to figure out who’s head I was in. Frustrating!
Then the sex…I admit I’m a prude. I don’t like sex scenes – not in books, not in movies, not on a TV show. They make me uncomfortable. I get the idea that the characters are going to have sex if you fade to black or shut a door. My imagination is enough. I don’t need the details. I can forgive sex scenes in adult and new adult books because I expect it to be there. Sex is a part of life. I get it. What I do NOT like or expect are these scenes in young adult books. They make my eye twitch and my poor husband has to listen to me get on my soapbox about sex in teen literature. It just shouldn’t be there. I get that we have all shipped the characters and want them to be together, BUT there has to be a line. Shut that door and let the kids imagine what is happening. Scenes like this:
Of all the books in the series, I felt like this one falls short somehow. At least half the book is filler, a bridge to the end of the series. Why do I feel this way? Not much happens in the first 70% of the book. Yes several characters ships sail into HEA land, but there is a lot of filler. The plot drags. Then the end comes and it is explosive. It’s why the book gets three stars instead of one from me. Aelin, who I have rooted for from page one, makes some dramatic reveals. It’s heart-stopping and heart-breaking. I feel like the entire series comes to this point. And now we are coming to the end and I’m not ready!
Perhaps my favorite part of the story was the side plot involving Elide and Lorcan. I found myself falling for these two and rooting them along. Praying Lorcan would come to his senses and Elide wouldn’t get her heart broken. They made for a good team as they brought out the best in one another.
Overall, Empire of Storms was not my favorite book. It feels like the story has been dragged out on purpose, which I don’t like. Yet the reveals and the massive cliffhanger ending has me wondering what will become of Aelin, Rowan, Dorian, Aedion, and Manon. Now to anxiously wait on my mailman tomorrow as he delivers [b:Tower of Dawn|31450852|Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass, #6)|Sarah J. Maas|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1497973101s/31450852.jpg|51681900]. I’m curious to see what Chaol has been up to, however if I’m being completely honest I’m not looking forward to a Chaol-centered novel. I’d rather skip to the last book and find out what is going to happen to Aelin. But that’s just my opinion.
First off, I felt lost through a good 3/4 of the book. I wasn’t sure what was happening. The head hopping didn’t help. I have loved the different POV in the other books. I especially enjoyed Elide’s and Lorcan’s POV, but it just didn’t work this go around. The characters’ voices weren’t distinct enough. I found myself getting confused about whose POV I was in. “Was it Aedion or Aelin?” “I thought Lorcan was talking now”….the entire book!!! I had to backtrack multiple times to figure out who’s head I was in. Frustrating!
Then the sex…I admit I’m a prude. I don’t like sex scenes – not in books, not in movies, not on a TV show. They make me uncomfortable. I get the idea that the characters are going to have sex if you fade to black or shut a door. My imagination is enough. I don’t need the details. I can forgive sex scenes in adult and new adult books because I expect it to be there. Sex is a part of life. I get it. What I do NOT like or expect are these scenes in young adult books. They make my eye twitch and my poor husband has to listen to me get on my soapbox about sex in teen literature. It just shouldn’t be there. I get that we have all shipped the characters and want them to be together, BUT there has to be a line. Shut that door and let the kids imagine what is happening. Scenes like this:
She dragged her hands down his powerful, muscled back, over scars from battles and terrors long since past. And as his thrusts turned deeper, she dug in her fingers…..His hips slammed home…I think you get the point. There are entire chapters devoted to sex scenes. I know it’s more than just sex. BUT it’s a book billed for young adults. If this was a new adult or adult fantasy series, I wouldn’t have thought a thing about it. BUT young adult, by definition, is geared towards 13-18 year olds. Would you let your 13 year old read that?! Not me.
Of all the books in the series, I felt like this one falls short somehow. At least half the book is filler, a bridge to the end of the series. Why do I feel this way? Not much happens in the first 70% of the book. Yes several characters ships sail into HEA land, but there is a lot of filler. The plot drags. Then the end comes and it is explosive. It’s why the book gets three stars instead of one from me. Aelin, who I have rooted for from page one, makes some dramatic reveals. It’s heart-stopping and heart-breaking. I feel like the entire series comes to this point. And now we are coming to the end and I’m not ready!
Perhaps my favorite part of the story was the side plot involving Elide and Lorcan. I found myself falling for these two and rooting them along. Praying Lorcan would come to his senses and Elide wouldn’t get her heart broken. They made for a good team as they brought out the best in one another.
Overall, Empire of Storms was not my favorite book. It feels like the story has been dragged out on purpose, which I don’t like. Yet the reveals and the massive cliffhanger ending has me wondering what will become of Aelin, Rowan, Dorian, Aedion, and Manon. Now to anxiously wait on my mailman tomorrow as he delivers [b:Tower of Dawn|31450852|Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass, #6)|Sarah J. Maas|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1497973101s/31450852.jpg|51681900]. I’m curious to see what Chaol has been up to, however if I’m being completely honest I’m not looking forward to a Chaol-centered novel. I’d rather skip to the last book and find out what is going to happen to Aelin. But that’s just my opinion.
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Forget Tomorrow by Pintip Dunn is the first in a trilogy of books about a world in which our future is certain and every decision is based on the memories of that future. This book is unlike anything I’ve ever read, though I’ll admit it reminds me a little of the Tom Cruise movie Minority Report. It’s fast-paced and action-packed, full of twists and turns right to the last word.
The book opens on Callie Stone’s Memory Eve. The next day her life will change. She will turn 17 and receive her future memory. Every person in this society receives their memory and it determines the path their life will take. Jobs are based on it, going to a good university is based on it. Everything in your life is based on this snippet from the future. So naturally Callie is nervous. I would be too. Her memory is horrid. She sees herself killing her little sister.
I like Callie. She is a fierce character who refuses to give up and believe that her destiny is to kill the person she loves most. She fights her fate. She loves with her whole heart. Her downfall though is her secrecy. She doesn’t trust many people. Her sister is special and she has to protect her. Callie has spent her life protecting her and keeping others at a distance. Old habits are hard to break.
Logan is perfect. I loved him from the moment Callie began remembering him. He’s kind, loyal to a fault, and will do anything for the girl who loves sunshine. But he has a big secret, one I had guessed before Callie realized it. It made me love him more. And the leaves….*swoon*
The plot of the story revolves around Callie and her future memory. Her future has been torn from her and everything she’s dreamed of doing is gone. There’s only one thing she can do, and that’s run from her fate, get as far as she can from her sister and then she can’t kill her. However it’s never that easy. The more Callie learns about her world, the more she realizes that sometimes the future can’t be changed. I loved the world-building! This futuristic society mixed with the Underground (a secret rebellion) and the wilderness community Harmony made for an exciting, fresh read.
Overall I really enjoyed Forget Tomorrow. I couldn’t sit it down and finished it in one sitting. Callie’s story hooked me from the first word and left me reeling at the end. The romance was sweet and swoon-worthy without overshadowing the dystopian/sci-fi plot. If you enjoy dystopia, I highly recommend you grab a copy and make some time to read it one go because you won’t want to sit it down either!
Forget Tomorrow by Pintip Dunn is the first in a trilogy of books about a world in which our future is certain and every decision is based on the memories of that future. This book is unlike anything I’ve ever read, though I’ll admit it reminds me a little of the Tom Cruise movie Minority Report. It’s fast-paced and action-packed, full of twists and turns right to the last word.
The book opens on Callie Stone’s Memory Eve. The next day her life will change. She will turn 17 and receive her future memory. Every person in this society receives their memory and it determines the path their life will take. Jobs are based on it, going to a good university is based on it. Everything in your life is based on this snippet from the future. So naturally Callie is nervous. I would be too. Her memory is horrid. She sees herself killing her little sister.
I like Callie. She is a fierce character who refuses to give up and believe that her destiny is to kill the person she loves most. She fights her fate. She loves with her whole heart. Her downfall though is her secrecy. She doesn’t trust many people. Her sister is special and she has to protect her. Callie has spent her life protecting her and keeping others at a distance. Old habits are hard to break.
Logan is perfect. I loved him from the moment Callie began remembering him. He’s kind, loyal to a fault, and will do anything for the girl who loves sunshine. But he has a big secret, one I had guessed before Callie realized it. It made me love him more. And the leaves….*swoon*
The plot of the story revolves around Callie and her future memory. Her future has been torn from her and everything she’s dreamed of doing is gone. There’s only one thing she can do, and that’s run from her fate, get as far as she can from her sister and then she can’t kill her. However it’s never that easy. The more Callie learns about her world, the more she realizes that sometimes the future can’t be changed. I loved the world-building! This futuristic society mixed with the Underground (a secret rebellion) and the wilderness community Harmony made for an exciting, fresh read.
Overall I really enjoyed Forget Tomorrow. I couldn’t sit it down and finished it in one sitting. Callie’s story hooked me from the first word and left me reeling at the end. The romance was sweet and swoon-worthy without overshadowing the dystopian/sci-fi plot. If you enjoy dystopia, I highly recommend you grab a copy and make some time to read it one go because you won’t want to sit it down either!
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
I loved Remember Yesterday by Pintip Dunn! It was a thrilling read from start to finish. The way the author told the story and brought it basically full circle had me like:
It was perfect!!! Set ten years after [b:Forget Tomorrow|24804505|Forget Tomorrow (Forget Tomorrow, #1)|Pintip Dunn|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1432877253s/24804505.jpg|44442720], this book follows Jessa Stone in a world without her sister.
I loved Jessa! She is such a relatable character. It was easy to put myself in her shoes and empathize with her feelings, her struggles, her hopes and dreams. She was the sister who was supposed to die. Everyone remembers Callie and her sacrifice. No one remembers that as much as Jessa, who was only six when she witnessed her sister kill herself to stop the future: a future of genocide. Jessa is reckless, an adrenaline junkie with no plans for her future. She wanders aimlessly and misses her sister, her other half every day, every moment.
The world looks different than the one Callie changed. There are no more future memories and those that received them have either forgotten them or cling to them in the hopes they will still come to fruition. Logan is one of those that clings. Callie was in his vision and he hopes daily that she somehow survived. The Harmony commune and the Underground signed a treaty with ComA to return to civilization IF they would keep silent on why they left in the first place. No one in society knows what was done to those that received criminal memories. No one knows what Callie sacrificed, except those that loved her. Jessa will never forget.
Tanner Callahan, the Father of Future Memories, is just a teen like Jessa in this book. His discovery hasn’t happened yet and thanks to Callie, Jessa and the Underground hope it never will. But Tanner isn’t all he seems. My heart broke over and over for this lost boy. An orphan, raised by TechRa (the scientists), his life is nothing like Jessa thought it was and I just can’t even talk about it.
Jessa and Tanner’s relationship is perfect. I love how the author built a foundation for their romance before jumping into the teen lust. In fact, I may have liked Jessa and Tanner more than Logan and Callie. It was different, steamier but sweeter as they understand each other like no one else can.
The time travel aspect of this novel was what I was hoping for in [b:Forget Tomorrow|24804505|Forget Tomorrow (Forget Tomorrow, #1)|Pintip Dunn|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1432877253s/24804505.jpg|44442720]. I won’t go to into detail as I don’t want to spoil the story, but I will say it’s great! It answers some questions the series brought up with Callie’s sacrifice.
Overall I loved this book!!! Have I said that already? Jessa and Tanner make an interesting couple and the twists that the author throws at us in this book….seriously, I have heart palpitations! If you enjoyed the first book of the series or you enjoy sci-fi/dystopia, I highly recommend you grab a copy. It doesn’t disappoint!
I loved Remember Yesterday by Pintip Dunn! It was a thrilling read from start to finish. The way the author told the story and brought it basically full circle had me like:
It was perfect!!! Set ten years after [b:Forget Tomorrow|24804505|Forget Tomorrow (Forget Tomorrow, #1)|Pintip Dunn|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1432877253s/24804505.jpg|44442720], this book follows Jessa Stone in a world without her sister.
I loved Jessa! She is such a relatable character. It was easy to put myself in her shoes and empathize with her feelings, her struggles, her hopes and dreams. She was the sister who was supposed to die. Everyone remembers Callie and her sacrifice. No one remembers that as much as Jessa, who was only six when she witnessed her sister kill herself to stop the future: a future of genocide. Jessa is reckless, an adrenaline junkie with no plans for her future. She wanders aimlessly and misses her sister, her other half every day, every moment.
The world looks different than the one Callie changed. There are no more future memories and those that received them have either forgotten them or cling to them in the hopes they will still come to fruition. Logan is one of those that clings. Callie was in his vision and he hopes daily that she somehow survived. The Harmony commune and the Underground signed a treaty with ComA to return to civilization IF they would keep silent on why they left in the first place. No one in society knows what was done to those that received criminal memories. No one knows what Callie sacrificed, except those that loved her. Jessa will never forget.
Tanner Callahan, the Father of Future Memories, is just a teen like Jessa in this book. His discovery hasn’t happened yet and thanks to Callie, Jessa and the Underground hope it never will. But Tanner isn’t all he seems. My heart broke over and over for this lost boy. An orphan, raised by TechRa (the scientists), his life is nothing like Jessa thought it was and I just can’t even talk about it.
Jessa and Tanner’s relationship is perfect. I love how the author built a foundation for their romance before jumping into the teen lust. In fact, I may have liked Jessa and Tanner more than Logan and Callie. It was different, steamier but sweeter as they understand each other like no one else can.
The time travel aspect of this novel was what I was hoping for in [b:Forget Tomorrow|24804505|Forget Tomorrow (Forget Tomorrow, #1)|Pintip Dunn|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1432877253s/24804505.jpg|44442720]. I won’t go to into detail as I don’t want to spoil the story, but I will say it’s great! It answers some questions the series brought up with Callie’s sacrifice.
Overall I loved this book!!! Have I said that already? Jessa and Tanner make an interesting couple and the twists that the author throws at us in this book….seriously, I have heart palpitations! If you enjoyed the first book of the series or you enjoy sci-fi/dystopia, I highly recommend you grab a copy. It doesn’t disappoint!
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
I struggled to finish The Last One by Alexandra Oliva. I wanted to like it. I really did. The premise sounded so promising. Reality TV mixed with true life apocalypse? What’s real vs what’s done for TV? I was all in. But the book is nothing like I thought it would be.
First off the blurb is a bit misleading. “Widespread destruction” needs to be replaced with “World-wide pandemic.” In the opening chapters we learn that Zoo is awakening after being really sick. She’s disoriented and trying to figure out how much time has passed and how to get to her next challenge. The narrator/TV announcer type (I’m not really sure what to call this narrator) lets the reader know that most of the world is dead because of some virus. Yet the contestants don’t know what is happening outside of the bubble of the show so they continue on. It’s a little confusing as it is told from alternating POV. Zoo is the main character and tells the story from the time she wakes up from being sick. The other narrator is like an outside participant/TV announcer/honestly I’m not sure that narrates from the time of the opening of the show. So basically as the reader we alternate chapters from past to present and it gets confusing fast. In addition to the odd narrator’s POV there are also some blog comment threads thrown in for good measure that really threw me off as well. It just didn’t flow well and disrupted the plot/pacing.
Zoo is an easy character to like. We never really learn her real name. She is one of 12 contestants who signed up to do the show. For her, it’s like a last hoorah before she resigns herself to motherhood (yes she looks at this negatively….I tried not to hold it against her). She’s smart, worked at her local zoo and taught classes to elementary students who visited. She’s also an outdoorsman. So she finds she can complete the challenges of the show. She’s competitive so she tries to glean as much as she can from her fellow contestants. I like her tenacity. Her competitiveness I think saves her from going crazy when she wakes up alone after being sick. As a reader, you’ll pick that up fairly fast.
However Zoo’s downfall is her neglect at recognizing what is going on around her. She somehow finds herself back in civilization and convinces herself that everything she encounters is produced by the show, staged bodies, even a preteen cameraman. It’s sad and as a reader you realize way before Zoo that something isn’t right.
For me, I could have enjoyed this book without the alternate POV chapters. These chapters lost me. There is no warning that you are in a different perspective and it is like the TV producer/announcer/editor is walking you through the challenges as the contestants do them. BUT occasionally he will give you a clue about what is happening outside the show, like the sickness that is rapidly spreading. If it wasn’t for the fact that I decided to buy an Audible copy of this book, I may not have finished it. The alternating chapters just didn’t work for me. At least with the audiobook, these chapters are recorded by different voices. If you decide to listen, you’ll understand why I call the one narrator a TV announcer.
Overall, this book was just ok for me. I took issue with Zoo’s unwillingness to recognize what is happening to her. Yes it adds an element of suspense/thriller to the book, but I thought it made her character unnecessarily cruel, especially when she interacts with the preteen “cameraman.” Not to mention the alternating chapters….it just made it hard to follow the plot. If you enjoy survival/post-apocalyptic novels, you may enjoy this book. It wasn’t for me.
I struggled to finish The Last One by Alexandra Oliva. I wanted to like it. I really did. The premise sounded so promising. Reality TV mixed with true life apocalypse? What’s real vs what’s done for TV? I was all in. But the book is nothing like I thought it would be.
First off the blurb is a bit misleading. “Widespread destruction” needs to be replaced with “World-wide pandemic.” In the opening chapters we learn that Zoo is awakening after being really sick. She’s disoriented and trying to figure out how much time has passed and how to get to her next challenge. The narrator/TV announcer type (I’m not really sure what to call this narrator) lets the reader know that most of the world is dead because of some virus. Yet the contestants don’t know what is happening outside of the bubble of the show so they continue on. It’s a little confusing as it is told from alternating POV. Zoo is the main character and tells the story from the time she wakes up from being sick. The other narrator is like an outside participant/TV announcer/honestly I’m not sure that narrates from the time of the opening of the show. So basically as the reader we alternate chapters from past to present and it gets confusing fast. In addition to the odd narrator’s POV there are also some blog comment threads thrown in for good measure that really threw me off as well. It just didn’t flow well and disrupted the plot/pacing.
Zoo is an easy character to like. We never really learn her real name. She is one of 12 contestants who signed up to do the show. For her, it’s like a last hoorah before she resigns herself to motherhood (yes she looks at this negatively….I tried not to hold it against her). She’s smart, worked at her local zoo and taught classes to elementary students who visited. She’s also an outdoorsman. So she finds she can complete the challenges of the show. She’s competitive so she tries to glean as much as she can from her fellow contestants. I like her tenacity. Her competitiveness I think saves her from going crazy when she wakes up alone after being sick. As a reader, you’ll pick that up fairly fast.
However Zoo’s downfall is her neglect at recognizing what is going on around her. She somehow finds herself back in civilization and convinces herself that everything she encounters is produced by the show, staged bodies, even a preteen cameraman. It’s sad and as a reader you realize way before Zoo that something isn’t right.
For me, I could have enjoyed this book without the alternate POV chapters. These chapters lost me. There is no warning that you are in a different perspective and it is like the TV producer/announcer/editor is walking you through the challenges as the contestants do them. BUT occasionally he will give you a clue about what is happening outside the show, like the sickness that is rapidly spreading. If it wasn’t for the fact that I decided to buy an Audible copy of this book, I may not have finished it. The alternating chapters just didn’t work for me. At least with the audiobook, these chapters are recorded by different voices. If you decide to listen, you’ll understand why I call the one narrator a TV announcer.
Overall, this book was just ok for me. I took issue with Zoo’s unwillingness to recognize what is happening to her. Yes it adds an element of suspense/thriller to the book, but I thought it made her character unnecessarily cruel, especially when she interacts with the preteen “cameraman.” Not to mention the alternating chapters….it just made it hard to follow the plot. If you enjoy survival/post-apocalyptic novels, you may enjoy this book. It wasn’t for me.
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Well….I finished the book and I’m still not really sure why I bothered. Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller was what I hoped would be a fantastic new YA fantasy series, but it fell prey to so many tropes that I’ve seen too many times. It’s like [b:The Hunger Games|2767052|The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)|Suzanne Collins|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1447303603s/2767052.jpg|2792775] and [b:Throne of Glass|7896527|Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1)|Sarah J. Maas|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1495278054s/7896527.jpg|11138426] had a baby…Mask of Shadows would be the product. Y’all it didn’t completely suck, but it wasn’t a great read, at least not for me.
Sallot Leon, oh Sal. Sal is the gender-fluid main character. I stress the gender-fluid part because it the character beats it death during the course of the book. I’m not even sure how to refer to the character. There is a quote from the book that says if the character is dressed as a girl or boy to refer to the character as such. If he/she is not, to refer to the character as they…..Ummmm….I’m not savvy on the LGBTQ+ lingo here but “they” refers to a plural noun. If I started referring to myself as We or They I’d go to a psych ward and the doctors would be trying to diagnosis a multiple personality disorder….but hey, to each their own.
So back to Sal….Sal is an easy to like character. Sal is a thief who wants revenge on the kingdom who wiped out his people. Pretty simple right? I think witnessing their (see I can use the plural pronoun because Sal said too) family murdered is why Sal is the way they is….are….I’m confusing myself. I’m just going to refer to Sal as he because that is how he identifies most of the book. Anyways….back to Sal….again. Sal does not trust easy and during a carriage robbery early in the book, he learns that Opal, one of the Queen’s Left Hand (her assassins) has died and a new audition is about to begin.
Here’s where the book lost me. From the moment Sal enters the palace for the audition, all of the characters are referred to as their entry number. It makes it hard to follow the book. It’s an audition to the death. Sal and the others must kill one another without being caught. They are auditioning to be assassins after all. This is where the book seems a lot like [b:The Hunger Games|2767052|The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)|Suzanne Collins|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1447303603s/2767052.jpg|2792775] and [b:Throne of Glass|7896527|Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1)|Sarah J. Maas|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1495278054s/7896527.jpg|11138426]. The numbered characters are also confusing. They run together. It was hard to decide who was who as they began to kill off one another and who was good at what.
The book’s saving grace for me was the world-building. I liked the detailed history. It fleshed out the world and a few of the characters that Sal looks up too. However it also was it’s downfall. The history came at times as info dumps and in the most random of places. Here Sal is fighting a battle, let’s dump into about the war that killed his parents. Ummm…not how it should be done. Just no. While I found the info interesting, it detracted from the plot and slowed it down. I mean it too. The plot was so slow-moving til the last quarter of the book that it took me almost 2 weeks to read it. (Y’all I just finished an entire series, 1200 pages in three days….just an FYI reference)
Overall, this book was just okay for me. I wasn’t crazy about Sal. The author seemed to stress Sal’s gender-fluidness and the society’s acceptance of it, but in the same breath reinforced gender stereotypes by Sal’s declaration that “you will know what I am by how I dress.” Really, because I’m a girl, I identify as one, and I loath dresses….just saying. Also I didn’t buy the love interest at all. It felt flat and forced. If you enjoy action and don’t mind the overuse of tropes, I say go for it. You may enjoy it more than I did.
Well….I finished the book and I’m still not really sure why I bothered. Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller was what I hoped would be a fantastic new YA fantasy series, but it fell prey to so many tropes that I’ve seen too many times. It’s like [b:The Hunger Games|2767052|The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)|Suzanne Collins|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1447303603s/2767052.jpg|2792775] and [b:Throne of Glass|7896527|Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1)|Sarah J. Maas|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1495278054s/7896527.jpg|11138426] had a baby…Mask of Shadows would be the product. Y’all it didn’t completely suck, but it wasn’t a great read, at least not for me.
Sallot Leon, oh Sal. Sal is the gender-fluid main character. I stress the gender-fluid part because it the character beats it death during the course of the book. I’m not even sure how to refer to the character. There is a quote from the book that says if the character is dressed as a girl or boy to refer to the character as such. If he/she is not, to refer to the character as they…..Ummmm….I’m not savvy on the LGBTQ+ lingo here but “they” refers to a plural noun. If I started referring to myself as We or They I’d go to a psych ward and the doctors would be trying to diagnosis a multiple personality disorder….but hey, to each their own.
So back to Sal….Sal is an easy to like character. Sal is a thief who wants revenge on the kingdom who wiped out his people. Pretty simple right? I think witnessing their (see I can use the plural pronoun because Sal said too) family murdered is why Sal is the way they is….are….I’m confusing myself. I’m just going to refer to Sal as he because that is how he identifies most of the book. Anyways….back to Sal….again. Sal does not trust easy and during a carriage robbery early in the book, he learns that Opal, one of the Queen’s Left Hand (her assassins) has died and a new audition is about to begin.
Here’s where the book lost me. From the moment Sal enters the palace for the audition, all of the characters are referred to as their entry number. It makes it hard to follow the book. It’s an audition to the death. Sal and the others must kill one another without being caught. They are auditioning to be assassins after all. This is where the book seems a lot like [b:The Hunger Games|2767052|The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)|Suzanne Collins|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1447303603s/2767052.jpg|2792775] and [b:Throne of Glass|7896527|Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1)|Sarah J. Maas|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1495278054s/7896527.jpg|11138426]. The numbered characters are also confusing. They run together. It was hard to decide who was who as they began to kill off one another and who was good at what.
The book’s saving grace for me was the world-building. I liked the detailed history. It fleshed out the world and a few of the characters that Sal looks up too. However it also was it’s downfall. The history came at times as info dumps and in the most random of places. Here Sal is fighting a battle, let’s dump into about the war that killed his parents. Ummm…not how it should be done. Just no. While I found the info interesting, it detracted from the plot and slowed it down. I mean it too. The plot was so slow-moving til the last quarter of the book that it took me almost 2 weeks to read it. (Y’all I just finished an entire series, 1200 pages in three days….just an FYI reference)
Overall, this book was just okay for me. I wasn’t crazy about Sal. The author seemed to stress Sal’s gender-fluidness and the society’s acceptance of it, but in the same breath reinforced gender stereotypes by Sal’s declaration that “you will know what I am by how I dress.” Really, because I’m a girl, I identify as one, and I loath dresses….just saying. Also I didn’t buy the love interest at all. It felt flat and forced. If you enjoy action and don’t mind the overuse of tropes, I say go for it. You may enjoy it more than I did.
DAEMON BLACK….1000+ pages of Daemon Black….what is NOT to love about Oblivion?! Jennifer L Armentrout is a genius! Of course she knew all of Daemon’s fangirls would want this book and she was right. And I’m here to tell you that it is pure gold!!! It’s everything you love (and hate) about Daemon Black, from his POV not Katy’s, and even better it isn’t a straight redo of the first three books. There’s new material, scenes that Katy wasn’t in, and a whole side of Daemon I didn’t expect.
*PS If you haven’t done so already, BUY THIS BOOK as an ebook…you get Obsidian, Onyx, and Opal!!!
Daemon Black is the epitome of bad boys as originally established from Katy’s POV in Obsidian. However with his POV we get a different take of his craptastic attitude. Everything this boy does is for his family, he is selfless in that regard. He pushes Katy away, he’s mean to her, spiteful and hateful, and downright arrogant trying to keep her away from Dee and protect Kat all at the same time. Reading some of those scenes where he infuriated me from his perspective, my heart broke a little. Daemon isn’t whole. His brother is dead, his only living sibling is risking her life and the life of the girl he is attracted to by simply being her friend.
And Daemon is SO blinded by his need to protect Dee, Katy, and all of them that he misses the big picture. He misses the clues that would lead him to answers. He needs to be in control SO bad that his miscommunication with Katy brings about a majority of the problems we read in the other books. But now we see it. Having both perspectives laid out in front of us, it is plain to see how if Katy and Daemon only trusted each other in the beginning, instead of tip-toeing around the other person, things would have happened a LOT differently. Like I said…my heart broke for Daemon over and over again.
Honestly if you are a fan of the Lux series, than you absolutely NEED this book. It’s brilliant! And that ending!!!!! I won’t spoil it but I do have a question for the author….Jennifer L Armentrout will there be more books?! Possibly a spin-off series? Pretty please!!!! You can’t leave me hanging like that!
New fans to the Lux series…be sure you read this book after you have read the other books, ESPECIALLY the first three of the series. Otherwise you are in for a world of spoilers.
*PS If you haven’t done so already, BUY THIS BOOK as an ebook…you get Obsidian, Onyx, and Opal!!!
Daemon Black is the epitome of bad boys as originally established from Katy’s POV in Obsidian. However with his POV we get a different take of his craptastic attitude. Everything this boy does is for his family, he is selfless in that regard. He pushes Katy away, he’s mean to her, spiteful and hateful, and downright arrogant trying to keep her away from Dee and protect Kat all at the same time. Reading some of those scenes where he infuriated me from his perspective, my heart broke a little. Daemon isn’t whole. His brother is dead, his only living sibling is risking her life and the life of the girl he is attracted to by simply being her friend.
And Daemon is SO blinded by his need to protect Dee, Katy, and all of them that he misses the big picture. He misses the clues that would lead him to answers. He needs to be in control SO bad that his miscommunication with Katy brings about a majority of the problems we read in the other books. But now we see it. Having both perspectives laid out in front of us, it is plain to see how if Katy and Daemon only trusted each other in the beginning, instead of tip-toeing around the other person, things would have happened a LOT differently. Like I said…my heart broke for Daemon over and over again.
Honestly if you are a fan of the Lux series, than you absolutely NEED this book. It’s brilliant! And that ending!!!!! I won’t spoil it but I do have a question for the author….Jennifer L Armentrout will there be more books?! Possibly a spin-off series? Pretty please!!!! You can’t leave me hanging like that!
New fans to the Lux series…be sure you read this book after you have read the other books, ESPECIALLY the first three of the series. Otherwise you are in for a world of spoilers.
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Seize Today by Pintip Dunn is an amazing end to a thrilling series! This time the story revolves around Olivia Dresden, the world’s only true precognitive and picks up about 6 months after the end of [b:Remember Yesterday|26091228|Remember Yesterday (Forget Tomorrow, #2)|Pintip Dunn|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1468435208s/26091228.jpg|46032413]. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about switching POV again as I loved Jessa’s story, but I think I may have enjoyed Olivia more.
Olivia is a broken, lost character. Unlike Callie and Jessa, Olivia has had a horrible upbringing. How could she not?! Chairwoman Dresden is her mother *shivers* Yet she always chooses to believe the best in everyone. She sees all possible futures, all the timelines at one time when she reaches into one person’s future. It can be overwhelming and she asked to be secluded after Callie’s sacrifice in [b:Forget Tomorrow|24804505|Forget Tomorrow (Forget Tomorrow, #1)|Pintip Dunn|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1432877253s/24804505.jpg|44442720]. For 10 years she lived alone. Now she’s back in the world thanks to Jessa. She’s trying to fight the future that has haunted her most of her life. She’s an optimist and realist, all rolled into one.
Then there’s Ryder, Mikey’s adopted son and Jessa’s best friend. I’m not sure how I felt about him here. He’s very closed off and distrustful, though I don’t blame him in the slightest when you know why he was sent to Harmony in the first place. His backstory breaks my heart! Yet unlike the risk-taking, fun-loving, loyal friend from [b:Remember Yesterday|26091228|Remember Yesterday (Forget Tomorrow, #2)|Pintip Dunn|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1468435208s/26091228.jpg|46032413], Ryder is actually mean at times and his actions contradict his words. I hated, really hated the difference in his friendship with Jessa. I understand why he was so angry with her, but I wanted to throttle the stubborn boy at the same time.
Together, I loved Olivia and Ryder. Their relationship was either of the first two explored in the series. Olivia is the enemy in Ryder’s eyes, and Ryder’s future memory makes him Olivia’s enemy, though it’s the last thing she wants. I enjoyed reading as their opinion of one another changes and the relationship begins to bud. It’s achingly sweet and tenuous.
The series arc comes to a head in this final book. I loved how the loose ends and answers are tied up. The timeline is starting to unravel, and Jessa, Olivia, and Callie have to figure out why and stop it. If they can’t stop it, then they have to find a way to save those they care for. It’s exciting and suspenseful, and I found myself engrossed right to the last page. A warning though: if you don’t enjoy sci-fi, then you may not enjoy this final installment of the series. Unlike the first two books, Seize Today goes more into the science behind precog, future memory, time travel, and alternate dimensions. I enjoyed it, but I also love sci-fi.
Overall I really enjoyed this series. I felt the author did a fantastic job in concluding the series. My only complaint about this book (and it is why I dropped it from 5 to 4 stars) is the end. It felt rushed. A lot happens….I do mean A LOT! And then the book just ends. It’s an appropriate ending, but I do wish there was a little bit more of a resolution after the climax. Instead there’s an epilogue which I felt was appropriate but I also felt let down in a way. Note that this is only my opinion. It was still a fantastic read! If you’ve enjoyed the series so far, enjoy dystopia and time travel, I highly recommend you grab a copy ASAP!
Seize Today by Pintip Dunn is an amazing end to a thrilling series! This time the story revolves around Olivia Dresden, the world’s only true precognitive and picks up about 6 months after the end of [b:Remember Yesterday|26091228|Remember Yesterday (Forget Tomorrow, #2)|Pintip Dunn|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1468435208s/26091228.jpg|46032413]. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about switching POV again as I loved Jessa’s story, but I think I may have enjoyed Olivia more.
Olivia is a broken, lost character. Unlike Callie and Jessa, Olivia has had a horrible upbringing. How could she not?! Chairwoman Dresden is her mother *shivers* Yet she always chooses to believe the best in everyone. She sees all possible futures, all the timelines at one time when she reaches into one person’s future. It can be overwhelming and she asked to be secluded after Callie’s sacrifice in [b:Forget Tomorrow|24804505|Forget Tomorrow (Forget Tomorrow, #1)|Pintip Dunn|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1432877253s/24804505.jpg|44442720]. For 10 years she lived alone. Now she’s back in the world thanks to Jessa. She’s trying to fight the future that has haunted her most of her life. She’s an optimist and realist, all rolled into one.
Then there’s Ryder, Mikey’s adopted son and Jessa’s best friend. I’m not sure how I felt about him here. He’s very closed off and distrustful, though I don’t blame him in the slightest when you know why he was sent to Harmony in the first place. His backstory breaks my heart! Yet unlike the risk-taking, fun-loving, loyal friend from [b:Remember Yesterday|26091228|Remember Yesterday (Forget Tomorrow, #2)|Pintip Dunn|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1468435208s/26091228.jpg|46032413], Ryder is actually mean at times and his actions contradict his words. I hated, really hated the difference in his friendship with Jessa. I understand why he was so angry with her, but I wanted to throttle the stubborn boy at the same time.
Together, I loved Olivia and Ryder. Their relationship was either of the first two explored in the series. Olivia is the enemy in Ryder’s eyes, and Ryder’s future memory makes him Olivia’s enemy, though it’s the last thing she wants. I enjoyed reading as their opinion of one another changes and the relationship begins to bud. It’s achingly sweet and tenuous.
The series arc comes to a head in this final book. I loved how the loose ends and answers are tied up. The timeline is starting to unravel, and Jessa, Olivia, and Callie have to figure out why and stop it. If they can’t stop it, then they have to find a way to save those they care for. It’s exciting and suspenseful, and I found myself engrossed right to the last page. A warning though: if you don’t enjoy sci-fi, then you may not enjoy this final installment of the series. Unlike the first two books, Seize Today goes more into the science behind precog, future memory, time travel, and alternate dimensions. I enjoyed it, but I also love sci-fi.
Overall I really enjoyed this series. I felt the author did a fantastic job in concluding the series. My only complaint about this book (and it is why I dropped it from 5 to 4 stars) is the end. It felt rushed. A lot happens….I do mean A LOT! And then the book just ends. It’s an appropriate ending, but I do wish there was a little bit more of a resolution after the climax. Instead there’s an epilogue which I felt was appropriate but I also felt let down in a way. Note that this is only my opinion. It was still a fantastic read! If you’ve enjoyed the series so far, enjoy dystopia and time travel, I highly recommend you grab a copy ASAP!
The Gender Secret by Bella Forrest is the second book in The Gender Game series and picks up about one day after the events of the first book. Viggo is in the detention center and Violet is on the run after having escaped both Matrus and Patrus. I was hooked from page one. This book is nonstop, keep you on the edge of your seat suspense. I loved the addition of dual POV this book. It worked well to flesh out the two main characters and the motives behind their actions.
Violet is an easy character to empathize with. Life has really dealt her a crappy hand. After Lee’s betrayal at the end of [b:The Gender Game|31131467|The Gender Game (The Gender Game, #1)|Bella Forrest|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1469731405s/31131467.jpg|51750675], Violet is now on the run in the Green, the no-man’s land area between Patrus and Matrus. Her resourcefulness and trek north toward the mines to save her brother is a reminder of the lengths she’s willing to go to for her family. Her brother has been their since he was 8, and well she really doesn’t know if he is alive or dead, but she’s determined to find out. You have to respect that! With Lee’s betrayal and her framing Viggo, Violet is trying to not feel guilty while at the same time those walls that Viggo started to breach in the first book are now reinforced with steel. She trusts no one and questions everything.
So I really liked Viggo in the first book, but I feel in love with him during this one. His POV adds a lot to his character. I questioned his motives and why he was so kind to Violet in [b:The Gender Game|31131467|The Gender Game (The Gender Game, #1)|Bella Forrest|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1469731405s/31131467.jpg|51750675], but here the reader gets a glimpse of his thoughts through his perspective. I loved it! Viggo is kind, compassionate, and fighting this attraction he feels for Violet. She reminds him so much of the wife he lost and loved, but his feelings for her are different. When Patrus offers him freedom in exchange for bringing her and what she took back, he goes into the Green after her, able to track her though the egg.
The plot can almost be split into two: first the Green and then the underground facility located near the center of the Green. For much of the Green, Violet and Viggo are separated. Viggo knows these woods and the dangers they hold, but Violet has only heard rumors and her chapters while within the Green are frightening and suspenseful. Then the facility they find together is a new mystery and added element to the story. What they find there is nothing I would have expected though. It gave a new twist to this already exciting series.
Overall I really enjoyed The Gender Secret. The two societies have been hiding much from their people, and Violet uncovers some truly gruesome things. Violet and Viggo’s relationship is complex, but I love the way the author shows how they grow to feel for one another. And the twist at the end….I need more!!! If you enjoy fast-paced dystopia, I highly recommend it!
Violet is an easy character to empathize with. Life has really dealt her a crappy hand. After Lee’s betrayal at the end of [b:The Gender Game|31131467|The Gender Game (The Gender Game, #1)|Bella Forrest|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1469731405s/31131467.jpg|51750675], Violet is now on the run in the Green, the no-man’s land area between Patrus and Matrus. Her resourcefulness and trek north toward the mines to save her brother is a reminder of the lengths she’s willing to go to for her family. Her brother has been their since he was 8, and well she really doesn’t know if he is alive or dead, but she’s determined to find out. You have to respect that! With Lee’s betrayal and her framing Viggo, Violet is trying to not feel guilty while at the same time those walls that Viggo started to breach in the first book are now reinforced with steel. She trusts no one and questions everything.
So I really liked Viggo in the first book, but I feel in love with him during this one. His POV adds a lot to his character. I questioned his motives and why he was so kind to Violet in [b:The Gender Game|31131467|The Gender Game (The Gender Game, #1)|Bella Forrest|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1469731405s/31131467.jpg|51750675], but here the reader gets a glimpse of his thoughts through his perspective. I loved it! Viggo is kind, compassionate, and fighting this attraction he feels for Violet. She reminds him so much of the wife he lost and loved, but his feelings for her are different. When Patrus offers him freedom in exchange for bringing her and what she took back, he goes into the Green after her, able to track her though the egg.
The plot can almost be split into two: first the Green and then the underground facility located near the center of the Green. For much of the Green, Violet and Viggo are separated. Viggo knows these woods and the dangers they hold, but Violet has only heard rumors and her chapters while within the Green are frightening and suspenseful. Then the facility they find together is a new mystery and added element to the story. What they find there is nothing I would have expected though. It gave a new twist to this already exciting series.
Overall I really enjoyed The Gender Secret. The two societies have been hiding much from their people, and Violet uncovers some truly gruesome things. Violet and Viggo’s relationship is complex, but I love the way the author shows how they grow to feel for one another. And the twist at the end….I need more!!! If you enjoy fast-paced dystopia, I highly recommend it!
Actual Rating: 3.5★
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Unlike anything I’ve read before, The Killing Jar by Jennifer Bosworth is an interesting, suspenseful read. I’ve had this book sitting on my shelf since before it came out and I happened across an audio copy of it. I highly recommend listening to the book as I couldn’t read it fast enough for my liking.
The first line of the blurb is the first line of the book. If you skipped that part, go read it now. I’ll wait…..Awesome, right?! So I was hooked from the very first line. Beginning a book like that, you know as the reader that you are in for an exciting read. And it was exciting, yet not at all what I expected. I was expecting a murderer, some mystery, a dark main character. You do get that, but not in the way you might think.
Kenna is an easy to like character. She sees things in black and white, there are no grey areas. What she does to that boy in the prologue is haunting and it follows her into her late teens. It sets the tone for the book and Kenna herself. Kenna will do anything for her twin sister, including murder even though she doesn’t understand how or why it happens. Her life is shrouded in secrets, and she purposefully pushes people away in order to protect them.
When something happens to her mom and sister, Kenna loses control. I won’t go into too much detail as I don’t want to spoil the story, but this is the catalyst that sends her to the cult-like group Eclipse. Eclipse is not at all what I expected. It reminds me a little of the hippie communes you read about from the 60s and 70s. The people live off the land, have no electricity, and live whimsical lives. It’s a 180 turn from what Kenna is used to with her strict mom. I liked these people, but I wasn’t sure how much I trusted them.
Overall I enjoyed the story. There were parts that seemed to drag out, and there’s a paranormal element to the book I didn’t expect but enjoyed. Kenna is a character I found myself rooting for, but didn’t buy the romance with either of the romantic interests she encountered. Both boys came off flat to me. If you enjoy myths and paranormal, you may enjoy this book. I personally enjoyed the audio copy more than trying to read it on my own. It’s fast-paced and once you start you won’t want to stop until you reach the end.
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Unlike anything I’ve read before, The Killing Jar by Jennifer Bosworth is an interesting, suspenseful read. I’ve had this book sitting on my shelf since before it came out and I happened across an audio copy of it. I highly recommend listening to the book as I couldn’t read it fast enough for my liking.
The first line of the blurb is the first line of the book. If you skipped that part, go read it now. I’ll wait…..Awesome, right?! So I was hooked from the very first line. Beginning a book like that, you know as the reader that you are in for an exciting read. And it was exciting, yet not at all what I expected. I was expecting a murderer, some mystery, a dark main character. You do get that, but not in the way you might think.
Kenna is an easy to like character. She sees things in black and white, there are no grey areas. What she does to that boy in the prologue is haunting and it follows her into her late teens. It sets the tone for the book and Kenna herself. Kenna will do anything for her twin sister, including murder even though she doesn’t understand how or why it happens. Her life is shrouded in secrets, and she purposefully pushes people away in order to protect them.
When something happens to her mom and sister, Kenna loses control. I won’t go into too much detail as I don’t want to spoil the story, but this is the catalyst that sends her to the cult-like group Eclipse. Eclipse is not at all what I expected. It reminds me a little of the hippie communes you read about from the 60s and 70s. The people live off the land, have no electricity, and live whimsical lives. It’s a 180 turn from what Kenna is used to with her strict mom. I liked these people, but I wasn’t sure how much I trusted them.
Overall I enjoyed the story. There were parts that seemed to drag out, and there’s a paranormal element to the book I didn’t expect but enjoyed. Kenna is a character I found myself rooting for, but didn’t buy the romance with either of the romantic interests she encountered. Both boys came off flat to me. If you enjoy myths and paranormal, you may enjoy this book. I personally enjoyed the audio copy more than trying to read it on my own. It’s fast-paced and once you start you won’t want to stop until you reach the end.