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olivialandryxo
4.5 stars
This was a surprisingly enjoyable read! It’s a mystery set in the early 1940’s, WWII era. I’m not sure I’d agree with the magical realism classification here on Goodreads, though. Each chapter brought more suspense to the story, and I found the characters and their relationships very realistic. Sometimes the slower pace put me off, but I still liked this book. I also really liked the connections to Shakespeare’s work! It was very unique, unlike anything I’d read before. This book is not one to sleep on!
This was a surprisingly enjoyable read! It’s a mystery set in the early 1940’s, WWII era. I’m not sure I’d agree with the magical realism classification here on Goodreads, though. Each chapter brought more suspense to the story, and I found the characters and their relationships very realistic. Sometimes the slower pace put me off, but I still liked this book. I also really liked the connections to Shakespeare’s work! It was very unique, unlike anything I’d read before. This book is not one to sleep on!
This book features a vivid and eerily realistic dystopian setting, a thrilling heist, an entire cast of Asian (mostly Taiwanese, I believe) characters, and wonderfully developed relationships.
It was absolutely amazing.
No time period is given, but the story is set in futuristic Taipei. I’ve never read a story that takes place in Taiwan, and after this one I want more. While there was plenty of corruption and classism in this story, the dystopia stemmed from ecological problems. Thick smog and acid rain plague the world, and only the rich yous can afford customized suits that maintain temperature and filter clean air. The middle and lower class meis have no such luxuries. I thought this system was really well developed, as was the world as a whole.
As I read, I couldn’t help but make ties between this book and one of my longtime favorites, Six of Crows. Both feature a lovable group of misfits embarking on an impossible heist that, of course, doesn’t go as planned. I was even able to connect the characters, although in my frenzy, I may have stretched a few things to make it work.
Jason = Matthias
Victor = Kaz
Lingyi = Nina
Iris = Inej
Arun = Wylan
Obviously there are differences. This crew lacks a Jesper, and the Jason/Matthias and Victor/Kaz are more than likely just me grasping at threads. I don’t remember my evidence connecting Jason and Matthias, and all I can think of regarding Victor and Kaz is their expensive, elegant taste in clothes. BUT WAIT. Lingyi loves food, fashion, and is the mom of the group, which to me sounds similar to Nina. Iris is super stealthy and quiet, the perfect spy, just like Inej. Arun doesn’t play any instruments, but he’s very good at science, as is Wylan, if I remember correctly. Now just imagine if Nina and Inej were canonically dating. (I wish. I like the way their stories ended, but omg, I wish.) Moving on.
On that note, there’s a side f/f couple!! It’s very casually mentioned early on, and toward the end something happens and they’re adorably intimate (not in a sexual way) as they recover. Their coming out is not a plot twist, nor is their sexuality; I just couldn’t think of a better way to phrase that. My point is, I love Lingyi and Iris together.
All of the characters have this way of wiggling their way into your heart as you read. Jason, Lingyi, Iris, Victor, Arun, Daiyu; I love them all. They’re all beautifully complex, realistic, and flawed. Each one had their own personality, their own motivations, and they were a large part of why I loved this book as much as I did.
Jason and his friends are quirky and determined, banded together despite disagreements. Daiyu completely defies all stereotypes surrounding her as the corrupt leader’s daughter, and she surprised me often. Jason and Daiyu’s romance was slow-burn, kind of an enemies to lovers situation, and I loved it.
Also, all of the characters are so badass and most of the time everyone is playing everyone. So much scheming. It’s marvelous.
The ending made me feel things, and did a great job of setting the stage for the sequel. Which, by the way, doesn’t come out until 2019, and I don’t want to wait that long. I want more of this crew and their shenanigans!!
Recommended for fans of Six of Crows! And everything, really. Just read this.
(If the fact that this is the longest review I’ve written in a while doesn’t convince you, I’m not sure what will. I don’t usually have the time or emotions to write long reviews, not anymore.)
It was absolutely amazing.
No time period is given, but the story is set in futuristic Taipei. I’ve never read a story that takes place in Taiwan, and after this one I want more. While there was plenty of corruption and classism in this story, the dystopia stemmed from ecological problems. Thick smog and acid rain plague the world, and only the rich yous can afford customized suits that maintain temperature and filter clean air. The middle and lower class meis have no such luxuries. I thought this system was really well developed, as was the world as a whole.
As I read, I couldn’t help but make ties between this book and one of my longtime favorites, Six of Crows. Both feature a lovable group of misfits embarking on an impossible heist that, of course, doesn’t go as planned. I was even able to connect the characters, although in my frenzy, I may have stretched a few things to make it work.
Jason = Matthias
Victor = Kaz
Lingyi = Nina
Iris = Inej
Arun = Wylan
Obviously there are differences. This crew lacks a Jesper, and the Jason/Matthias and Victor/Kaz are more than likely just me grasping at threads. I don’t remember my evidence connecting Jason and Matthias, and all I can think of regarding Victor and Kaz is their expensive, elegant taste in clothes. BUT WAIT. Lingyi loves food, fashion, and is the mom of the group, which to me sounds similar to Nina. Iris is super stealthy and quiet, the perfect spy, just like Inej. Arun doesn’t play any instruments, but he’s very good at science, as is Wylan, if I remember correctly. Now just imagine if Nina and Inej were canonically dating. (I wish. I like the way their stories ended, but omg, I wish.) Moving on.
On that note, there’s a side f/f couple!! It’s very casually mentioned early on, and toward the end something happens and they’re adorably intimate (not in a sexual way) as they recover. Their coming out is not a plot twist, nor is their sexuality; I just couldn’t think of a better way to phrase that. My point is, I love Lingyi and Iris together.
All of the characters have this way of wiggling their way into your heart as you read. Jason, Lingyi, Iris, Victor, Arun, Daiyu; I love them all. They’re all beautifully complex, realistic, and flawed. Each one had their own personality, their own motivations, and they were a large part of why I loved this book as much as I did.
Jason and his friends are quirky and determined, banded together despite disagreements. Daiyu completely defies all stereotypes surrounding her as the corrupt leader’s daughter, and she surprised me often. Jason and Daiyu’s romance was slow-burn, kind of an enemies to lovers situation, and I loved it.
Also, all of the characters are so badass and most of the time everyone is playing everyone. So much scheming. It’s marvelous.
The ending made me feel things, and did a great job of setting the stage for the sequel. Which, by the way, doesn’t come out until 2019, and I don’t want to wait that long. I want more of this crew and their shenanigans!!
Recommended for fans of Six of Crows! And everything, really. Just read this.
(If the fact that this is the longest review I’ve written in a while doesn’t convince you, I’m not sure what will. I don’t usually have the time or emotions to write long reviews, not anymore.)
4.5 stars
After seeing this book get so much praise online, across multiple platforms, I had high expectations. They were definitely met.
This is honestly a story different from what I’ve read before, which is hard to pull off with contemporary. It was a quick, easy read, and a lot of fun.
Tash was such a relatable, realistic character. She was awkward and asexual (just like me), and she spent much of the novel questioning her identity and how to tell those around her. As an ace, I could relate so much to that. Even though this is the first book I’ve read with ace rep (I think), it was also the best rep I could’ve ever hoped for.
The one thing that set us apart was her obsession with Tolstoy, which you probably gleaned from the title. It was definitely interesting, because personally I don’t think I’d ever choose to read one of his novels, and also because she treated the photo of him in her poster like a real person. On one hand I suppose it’s kind of like loving a fictional character. But on the other, Tolstoy was a late 19th century Russian writer, so she was in love with a dead guy. She would talk to him, ask for advice, and consistently call him “her boyfriend,” which was just weird, in my opinion. And sometimes chapters would start with her talking about Tolstoy’s life. I just didn’t get it. Oops.
I loved the ensemble cast, and the dynamics between all of the characters. Some were annoying, some were likable, and together they were generally a lot of fun. There were many separate friendships I liked, as well as a cute, slow-burn m/m romance on the side.
I loved Tash, Jack, and Paul’s friendship; Jack and Paul’s sibling dynamic; Tash and Klaudie’s development as sisters; each individual family. The Zelenkas and Harlows were very three-dimensional and present, something I can never get enough of in contemporary. They also had their own issues, with one coping with unexpected pregnancy and the other with cancer. I really liked how all of it was dealt with. (I won’t go further in depth because spoilers.)
I’ll keep this brief, because it could also lead to spoilers, but I have to say it. I’m so disappointed with Thom. The end.
The last thing I want to talk about is the ending. For the most part, I did like it. Everything worked out, but I feel like some things were just sort of left hanging. I liked how this book ended, but I wasn’t completely satisfied.
All in all, a very good book. I loved seeing part of myself in a protagonist, and how unique the story was. Not quite a new favorite, but it’s definitely close.
After seeing this book get so much praise online, across multiple platforms, I had high expectations. They were definitely met.
This is honestly a story different from what I’ve read before, which is hard to pull off with contemporary. It was a quick, easy read, and a lot of fun.
Tash was such a relatable, realistic character. She was awkward and asexual (just like me), and she spent much of the novel questioning her identity and how to tell those around her. As an ace, I could relate so much to that. Even though this is the first book I’ve read with ace rep (I think), it was also the best rep I could’ve ever hoped for.
The one thing that set us apart was her obsession with Tolstoy, which you probably gleaned from the title. It was definitely interesting, because personally I don’t think I’d ever choose to read one of his novels, and also because she treated the photo of him in her poster like a real person. On one hand I suppose it’s kind of like loving a fictional character. But on the other, Tolstoy was a late 19th century Russian writer, so she was in love with a dead guy. She would talk to him, ask for advice, and consistently call him “her boyfriend,” which was just weird, in my opinion. And sometimes chapters would start with her talking about Tolstoy’s life. I just didn’t get it. Oops.
I loved the ensemble cast, and the dynamics between all of the characters. Some were annoying, some were likable, and together they were generally a lot of fun. There were many separate friendships I liked, as well as a cute, slow-burn m/m romance on the side.
I loved Tash, Jack, and Paul’s friendship; Jack and Paul’s sibling dynamic; Tash and Klaudie’s development as sisters; each individual family. The Zelenkas and Harlows were very three-dimensional and present, something I can never get enough of in contemporary. They also had their own issues, with one coping with unexpected pregnancy and the other with cancer. I really liked how all of it was dealt with. (I won’t go further in depth because spoilers.)
I’ll keep this brief, because it could also lead to spoilers, but I have to say it. I’m so disappointed with Thom. The end.
The last thing I want to talk about is the ending. For the most part, I did like it. Everything worked out, but I feel like some things were just sort of left hanging. I liked how this book ended, but I wasn’t completely satisfied.
All in all, a very good book. I loved seeing part of myself in a protagonist, and how unique the story was. Not quite a new favorite, but it’s definitely close.
3.5 stars
Tw: blood/gore, death, animal death
This book was off to an amazing start. It was mysterious and intriguing, and I was immediately hooked. I didn’t want to stop reading. But unfortunately, around the halfway mark, it had lost its charm. I felt like a lot of what came next was confusing and ultimately unnecessary. There was a lot happening without a lot of explanation, and the end felt jumbled, almost rushed.
I liked the characters, but they ended up shallow and too stubborn for their own good. They all seemed like unreliable narrators, though the story stayed mainly in Izzie’s POV. I didn’t like the popular group; they were more annoying than anything. I didn’t see the point of their rivalries or their drama, or them being out to get one another. Specifically, Viv and Amanda, and Harry and Connor. Why?
Also, the ending was predictable. By the time I got to it, I didn’t really care, and details blurred together anyway.
The premise sounded cool, but as a whole the book failed to deliver. It gets points for hooking me and being unique, but it definitely fell short.
I didn’t hate this book, but ultimately I didn’t really like it, either.
(I feel like I should say more but idk what else there is to say.)
Tw: blood/gore, death, animal death
This book was off to an amazing start. It was mysterious and intriguing, and I was immediately hooked. I didn’t want to stop reading. But unfortunately, around the halfway mark, it had lost its charm. I felt like a lot of what came next was confusing and ultimately unnecessary. There was a lot happening without a lot of explanation, and the end felt jumbled, almost rushed.
I liked the characters, but they ended up shallow and too stubborn for their own good. They all seemed like unreliable narrators, though the story stayed mainly in Izzie’s POV. I didn’t like the popular group; they were more annoying than anything. I didn’t see the point of their rivalries or their drama, or them being out to get one another. Specifically, Viv and Amanda, and Harry and Connor. Why?
Also, the ending was predictable. By the time I got to it, I didn’t really care, and details blurred together anyway.
The premise sounded cool, but as a whole the book failed to deliver. It gets points for hooking me and being unique, but it definitely fell short.
I didn’t hate this book, but ultimately I didn’t really like it, either.
(I feel like I should say more but idk what else there is to say.)
4.5 stars
If one good thing came out of me staying home from school today, it was the chance to binge read this book.
I loved every part of this so much: the mythology, the characters, the kingdoms. Everyone and everything was so vibrant. I liked the unique turns the plot took, and how it talked about having more than one life. It’s not something I see very often, and I think it was really well done.
One thing I’ve noticed is that, of all the books I’ve read that include Asian mythology (there aren’t many, but I’m working on that), each one has glorious food and gorgeous writing. What else can you ask for?
The only reason this wasn’t a 5 star read is because I found some parts to be confusing, and a little bit rushed. I did like how the ending came full circle, though.
Overall, I’d highly recommend this book, especially for fans of Roshani Chokshi! I can’t wait to read more by Aditi.
If one good thing came out of me staying home from school today, it was the chance to binge read this book.
I loved every part of this so much: the mythology, the characters, the kingdoms. Everyone and everything was so vibrant. I liked the unique turns the plot took, and how it talked about having more than one life. It’s not something I see very often, and I think it was really well done.
One thing I’ve noticed is that, of all the books I’ve read that include Asian mythology (there aren’t many, but I’m working on that), each one has glorious food and gorgeous writing. What else can you ask for?
The only reason this wasn’t a 5 star read is because I found some parts to be confusing, and a little bit rushed. I did like how the ending came full circle, though.
Overall, I’d highly recommend this book, especially for fans of Roshani Chokshi! I can’t wait to read more by Aditi.
4.5 stars
This book was a wild ride and I loved it. I’ve been meaning to read more thrillers, more murder mysteries, and just haven’t gotten a chance. Reading this brought back that need.
OH MY GOD.
I never, ever expected the killer to be them, of all people! Not in a million years!
First, let me get what I didn’t like out of the way.
Some of the main characters were incredibly disturbing, especially toward the end when more was revealed. I can’t be really specific here, but the journal. You’ll know if you’ve read it. Creepy stuff. I wouldn’t necessarily consider this an issue, except I have to wonder... how was this not noticed before?!
And then there was the whole girls hating girls thing, back again. Bridget didn’t really like anyone. Bailey hated Val and Meg, and the latter was literally never mean to anyone. She was described as super nice, but Bailey absolutely hated her. Kacey’s younger sister Lauren was bullied and excluded by a bunch of girls in her grade. I know that these things fueled the story, but I’m really sick of girls hating girls.
Otherwise, this was a really good book! I liked the small town setting, the unreliable narrator aspect, and the fact that Kacey’s step-family actually cared for her, rather than isolating her. Also, can we talk about how clever this mystery was?! I was second-guessing everyone and everything, and I didn’t want to stop reading. This is definitely the perfect book to binge while your cat is sleeping on your lap. (True story.)
I can’t think of much else to that’s safe to say, so I’ll stop here. I definitely recommend this, and I can’t wait to read more by Kara!
This book was a wild ride and I loved it. I’ve been meaning to read more thrillers, more murder mysteries, and just haven’t gotten a chance. Reading this brought back that need.
OH MY GOD.
I never, ever expected the killer to be them, of all people! Not in a million years!
First, let me get what I didn’t like out of the way.
Some of the main characters were incredibly disturbing, especially toward the end when more was revealed. I can’t be really specific here, but the journal. You’ll know if you’ve read it. Creepy stuff. I wouldn’t necessarily consider this an issue, except I have to wonder... how was this not noticed before?!
And then there was the whole girls hating girls thing, back again. Bridget didn’t really like anyone. Bailey hated Val and Meg, and the latter was literally never mean to anyone. She was described as super nice, but Bailey absolutely hated her. Kacey’s younger sister Lauren was bullied and excluded by a bunch of girls in her grade. I know that these things fueled the story, but I’m really sick of girls hating girls.
Otherwise, this was a really good book! I liked the small town setting, the unreliable narrator aspect, and the fact that Kacey’s step-family actually cared for her, rather than isolating her. Also, can we talk about how clever this mystery was?! I was second-guessing everyone and everything, and I didn’t want to stop reading. This is definitely the perfect book to binge while your cat is sleeping on your lap. (True story.)
I can’t think of much else to that’s safe to say, so I’ll stop here. I definitely recommend this, and I can’t wait to read more by Kara!
This is the second book I’ve read by Adam, and just like HIAYLM, I read it in less than a day. That must be a sign that his books are absolutely amazing.
Spoiler: they are.
I’m not listing trigger warnings because I’m not sure I could cover them all, but just know this is a very heavy book. It might be difficult to read for some people. Be careful.
This was a really impactful read. It didn’t make me cry or even break my heart, as Adam is said to do, but it was still very good. There was also a lot of diversity; Aaron is a closeted gay Puerto Rican teen, and he, his family, and many of his friends live in poverty. I can’t speak on any of the representation, as I don’t identify with any of these groups.
I liked this story, but for 50-60% of the book I wasn’t sure exactly what purpose Leteo served. Yes, I knew it was a procedure that helped people “forget” certain memories, but I thought it was a pointless, minor detail. The twist definitely shocked me, and even though I wasn’t a big fan of what happened in the last 15-20%, it added a new element to the story.
I liked part zero. I liked seeing Aaron’s life prior to the story, despite much of it being sad. I think it added more depth to his character, and to his family.
Most of my mixed feelings are about the ending. I feel like a little bit too much was crammed in and there weren’t enough pages to make it work. It wasn’t the end I expected, but at the same time I did like it. I also liked that, despite the hardships throughout this novel, the end said it’s possible to find happiness.
One other thing that bothered me was how Aaron always thought Thomas was gay and closeted. Thomas said he was straight, but Aaron kept thinking he was lying to himself. He would say things like “Trust me, Thomas isn’t straight. I know him.” and at one point thought Thomas was having sex with girls to make him think he’s straight. That just seems wrong.
I said this in my HIAYLM review and I’ll say it again here: I like that Adam’s books openly talk about sex. This one talks about m/f and m/m sex, and although those scenes aren’t my cup of tea, they’re important.
I think I covered everything. I recommend this book to all that can handle its content. So far Adam’s books are two for two, and I can’t wait to read TBDATE!
Spoiler: they are.
I’m not listing trigger warnings because I’m not sure I could cover them all, but just know this is a very heavy book. It might be difficult to read for some people. Be careful.
This was a really impactful read. It didn’t make me cry or even break my heart, as Adam is said to do, but it was still very good. There was also a lot of diversity; Aaron is a closeted gay Puerto Rican teen, and he, his family, and many of his friends live in poverty. I can’t speak on any of the representation, as I don’t identify with any of these groups.
I liked this story, but for 50-60% of the book I wasn’t sure exactly what purpose Leteo served. Yes, I knew it was a procedure that helped people “forget” certain memories, but I thought it was a pointless, minor detail. The twist definitely shocked me, and even though I wasn’t a big fan of what happened in the last 15-20%, it added a new element to the story.
I liked part zero. I liked seeing Aaron’s life prior to the story, despite much of it being sad. I think it added more depth to his character, and to his family.
Most of my mixed feelings are about the ending. I feel like a little bit too much was crammed in and there weren’t enough pages to make it work. It wasn’t the end I expected, but at the same time I did like it. I also liked that, despite the hardships throughout this novel, the end said it’s possible to find happiness.
One other thing that bothered me was how Aaron always thought Thomas was gay and closeted. Thomas said he was straight, but Aaron kept thinking he was lying to himself. He would say things like “Trust me, Thomas isn’t straight. I know him.” and at one point thought Thomas was having sex with girls to make him think he’s straight. That just seems wrong.
I said this in my HIAYLM review and I’ll say it again here: I like that Adam’s books openly talk about sex. This one talks about m/f and m/m sex, and although those scenes aren’t my cup of tea, they’re important.
I think I covered everything. I recommend this book to all that can handle its content. So far Adam’s books are two for two, and I can’t wait to read TBDATE!
Edit, December 2017. I found an ownvoices review of this book that brought up problematic mental illness rep and the love cures trope. I failed to notice these things when I originally read this, so I’m lowering my rating.
—
This was a wonderful book. The mental health illness was a respected and prominent element, but still lighthearted. Audrey was a beautifully flawed character with great development. This book has given me more emotions than any other contemporary since [b:Anna and the French Kiss|6936382|Anna and the French Kiss (Anna and the French Kiss, #1)|Stephanie Perkins|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358271931s/6936382.jpg|7168450]. It had a few issues, but I loved it so much. :D
—
This was a wonderful book. The mental health illness was a respected and prominent element, but still lighthearted. Audrey was a beautifully flawed character with great development. This book has given me more emotions than any other contemporary since [b:Anna and the French Kiss|6936382|Anna and the French Kiss (Anna and the French Kiss, #1)|Stephanie Perkins|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358271931s/6936382.jpg|7168450]. It had a few issues, but I loved it so much. :D
You know that feeling you get when you finally have a chance to read a book that’s been on your tbr as long as you can remember? What about that feeling when a book you thought you’d love was a big disappointment?
I’m feeling both of those things right now. I’ve only read one other book by this author, and that was written under Morgan Matson rather than her pen name. It was a fun read, so I had some expectations for this book.
It didn’t meet any of them. I’m not trying to be mean. It just didn’t. I didn’t like any of the characters, and the plot was entirely predictable. I didn’t hate this, so it gets more than one star, but I also didn’t like this.
Gemma came off as immature and mostly unmemorable. Almost immediately after the story started, I thought she was rather one-dimensional. After the flashback, when readers discover what exactly she did five years prior, I knew I wouldn’t like her. I don’t care that she was eleven; that should be old enough to know what’s right and wrong. What she did was wrong. Throughout the story, in present day, she kept saying she wanted to make things right. I think she should’ve thought things through more when she was younger. And what made her think that Hallie would just forgive her so easily? That’s just naïve.
Josh was cute but nothing special. Hallie and Sophie were nice enough. I didn’t really care, though.
Plus, all of this drama started with a simple mistake on a train ride. Sophie had gotten Gemma coffee, so the cup had Sophie’s name on it. Josh assumed Gemma was Sophie, and she was too busy making heart eyes to correct him. Then she found out Josh was Hallie’s brother, and oops! Everything got complicated from there.
All of the parents and adult figures were conveniently busy or not mentioned for 90% of the story. Just throwing that out there. Deception is so much easier when you’re home alone, right?
A lot of other things in this book were really unrealistic. The bikini incident. The babysitting. Going to a complete stranger’s bar mitzvah for a concert. No one commenting on Gemma’s random and often nonsensical interrupting, something she did when she thought her cover would be blown. Everyone seemed clueless.
As for the ending, I called it from the beginning. Too many small details lined up for it to be just coincidence. Everything fit together too well. By the time the reveal came, I was reading to finish. I didn’t realize quite how expansive it all was, but I had figured out the other details. There was no shock factor whatsoever.
I don’t know what the next book is about, but I imagine it’s going to pick up where this left off. I’m not interested in the slightest.
I didn’t hate this book and I don’t hate this author, but I do consider this book to be a disappointment.
I’m feeling both of those things right now. I’ve only read one other book by this author, and that was written under Morgan Matson rather than her pen name. It was a fun read, so I had some expectations for this book.
It didn’t meet any of them. I’m not trying to be mean. It just didn’t. I didn’t like any of the characters, and the plot was entirely predictable. I didn’t hate this, so it gets more than one star, but I also didn’t like this.
Gemma came off as immature and mostly unmemorable. Almost immediately after the story started, I thought she was rather one-dimensional. After the flashback, when readers discover what exactly she did five years prior, I knew I wouldn’t like her. I don’t care that she was eleven; that should be old enough to know what’s right and wrong. What she did was wrong. Throughout the story, in present day, she kept saying she wanted to make things right. I think she should’ve thought things through more when she was younger. And what made her think that Hallie would just forgive her so easily? That’s just naïve.
Josh was cute but nothing special. Hallie and Sophie were nice enough. I didn’t really care, though.
Plus, all of this drama started with a simple mistake on a train ride. Sophie had gotten Gemma coffee, so the cup had Sophie’s name on it. Josh assumed Gemma was Sophie, and she was too busy making heart eyes to correct him. Then she found out Josh was Hallie’s brother, and oops! Everything got complicated from there.
All of the parents and adult figures were conveniently busy or not mentioned for 90% of the story. Just throwing that out there. Deception is so much easier when you’re home alone, right?
A lot of other things in this book were really unrealistic. The bikini incident. The babysitting. Going to a complete stranger’s bar mitzvah for a concert. No one commenting on Gemma’s random and often nonsensical interrupting, something she did when she thought her cover would be blown. Everyone seemed clueless.
As for the ending, I called it from the beginning. Too many small details lined up for it to be just coincidence. Everything fit together too well. By the time the reveal came, I was reading to finish. I didn’t realize quite how expansive it all was, but I had figured out the other details. There was no shock factor whatsoever.
I don’t know what the next book is about, but I imagine it’s going to pick up where this left off. I’m not interested in the slightest.
I didn’t hate this book and I don’t hate this author, but I do consider this book to be a disappointment.
*Early copy sent to me by the publisher. This doesn’t affect my opinion or the content of this review.*
I’ve never read a book by Amanda before, and the premise for this sounded amazing. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations.
A short list of the issues I had with this book:
• It never really hooked me.
• It does have Norse mythology like it’s said to, but I also noticed mention of Greek, Egyptian, and other gods. I don’t know what purpose that served, as they’re very different mythologies.
• A lot of things were left unexplained.
• The setting was never stated. In the end I knew the big showdown was in a secret cave in either Mexico or Central America, but that’s it. I don’t know where the rest took place, or even what time period it was. I think it was at least a little bit futuristic?
• That being said, the general world-building didn’t seem very well done. I had a basic grasp of the mortals and immortals sharing Earth, and of the Valkyrie responsibility. But I’m not sure what the limitations were, and I had a lot of questions.
• Malin’s mother was a horrible parent, and literally everything was her fault. I’m not exaggerating.
• The ending felt really anticlimactic.
Prior to the beginning of the story, the protagonist was in a relationship with a girl. They broke up, and in the actual book the protagonist dealt with remaining feelings for her as well as new feelings for a boy love interest. She was most likely bisexual, though she could’ve been pansexual or something else. I appreciated that her sexuality was a casual thing, and established before the start. I liked the little twist on the typical love triangle, with a girl choosing between a girl and a boy. I didn’t like the drama that ensued.
This is a small thing, but it was noticeable to me. Everyone was beautiful and attractive, and there was always a paragraph talking about said beauty when a character was introduced. I don’t know why no one was just average. And the main character had a habit of noticing appearances and her feelings in the worst situations, something I think took away from the story.
I’m not lowering my rating because of this, since it’s an early copy, but as I read I noticed a lot of grammatical and other errors. I did get this arc a couple of months ago, so I assume -I hope- it’s been revised since then.
I didn’t hate this book, though admittedly it was disappointing. To be quite honest, it was only an average read. It was quick, but I didn’t find anything to like as I read. I won’t be reading the next book, and I probably won’t look for Amanda’s other work, either.
I’ve never read a book by Amanda before, and the premise for this sounded amazing. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations.
A short list of the issues I had with this book:
• It never really hooked me.
• It does have Norse mythology like it’s said to, but I also noticed mention of Greek, Egyptian, and other gods. I don’t know what purpose that served, as they’re very different mythologies.
• A lot of things were left unexplained.
• The setting was never stated. In the end I knew the big showdown was in a secret cave in either Mexico or Central America, but that’s it. I don’t know where the rest took place, or even what time period it was. I think it was at least a little bit futuristic?
• That being said, the general world-building didn’t seem very well done. I had a basic grasp of the mortals and immortals sharing Earth, and of the Valkyrie responsibility. But I’m not sure what the limitations were, and I had a lot of questions.
• Malin’s mother was a horrible parent, and literally everything was her fault. I’m not exaggerating.
• The ending felt really anticlimactic.
Prior to the beginning of the story, the protagonist was in a relationship with a girl. They broke up, and in the actual book the protagonist dealt with remaining feelings for her as well as new feelings for a boy love interest. She was most likely bisexual, though she could’ve been pansexual or something else. I appreciated that her sexuality was a casual thing, and established before the start. I liked the little twist on the typical love triangle, with a girl choosing between a girl and a boy. I didn’t like the drama that ensued.
This is a small thing, but it was noticeable to me. Everyone was beautiful and attractive, and there was always a paragraph talking about said beauty when a character was introduced. I don’t know why no one was just average. And the main character had a habit of noticing appearances and her feelings in the worst situations, something I think took away from the story.
I’m not lowering my rating because of this, since it’s an early copy, but as I read I noticed a lot of grammatical and other errors. I did get this arc a couple of months ago, so I assume -I hope- it’s been revised since then.
I didn’t hate this book, though admittedly it was disappointing. To be quite honest, it was only an average read. It was quick, but I didn’t find anything to like as I read. I won’t be reading the next book, and I probably won’t look for Amanda’s other work, either.