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prioryofprose's Reviews (1.06k)
When the chance to do my a book tour with Road to Somewhere I jumped on board. I normally read dark, moody books and this one seemed to be a perfect one to get me out of my genre-funk.
Likes:
At first I really thought I would like only Lucy, I always seem to lean toward the underdog, but I ended up really enjoying both Lucy and Charlie.
My sister and I are also really close in age, and have very different personalities, so it hard for us to be close during high school. I really liked this story because it was relate-able. My sister and I are really close now, because we spent a summer together like Lucy and Charlie.
This would be the perfect book for reading at the lake. I love sitting on the beach, toes in the sand and reading of cute cowboys!
Gripes:
This is totally just me, but I do not like first-person POVs nearly as much as third person. I know it supposed to help you get more into the characters, but I personally think I relate more when it is third person and I have to feel the feels.
For more reviews visit
A Flurry of Ponderings
Likes:
At first I really thought I would like only Lucy, I always seem to lean toward the underdog, but I ended up really enjoying both Lucy and Charlie.
My sister and I are also really close in age, and have very different personalities, so it hard for us to be close during high school. I really liked this story because it was relate-able. My sister and I are really close now, because we spent a summer together like Lucy and Charlie.
This would be the perfect book for reading at the lake. I love sitting on the beach, toes in the sand and reading of cute cowboys!
Gripes:
This is totally just me, but I do not like first-person POVs nearly as much as third person. I know it supposed to help you get more into the characters, but I personally think I relate more when it is third person and I have to feel the feels.
For more reviews visit
A Flurry of Ponderings
Giants of the Land was an cute little story of Thomas, who stands up for his town to help find the giants who have disappeared. Thomas’s town lived side by side with the giants for years, the giants helping them with tasks that seemed too big for the humans.
This story written with Christian values helps readers realize through allegory and metaphor that even though Thomas was without the giants, the lessons he learned was that he was capable of carrying on after the giants and the values his father taught him.
I did struggle with the writing a bit, the story felt a bit choppy and lacked a lot of description. I do believe that was mostly because it is written for children, so I do think it will work well for that age group. It would be a great story to read to your children and talk about the life lesson within the book.
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A Flurry of Ponderings
This story written with Christian values helps readers realize through allegory and metaphor that even though Thomas was without the giants, the lessons he learned was that he was capable of carrying on after the giants and the values his father taught him.
I did struggle with the writing a bit, the story felt a bit choppy and lacked a lot of description. I do believe that was mostly because it is written for children, so I do think it will work well for that age group. It would be a great story to read to your children and talk about the life lesson within the book.
For more reviews visit
A Flurry of Ponderings
Phoenix Island by John Dixon was definitely an odd pick for me. I have picked anything in this genre and I am pretty surprised that I enjoyed reading it. It was military style and fighting, which I normally don’t lean toward. CBS writers used it as the idea for their new story Intelligence. Although really loosely based, it started with the idea of implemented microchips into the brain.
Likes:
Carl was a great main character. He had a troubled life, was orphaned, but had a great heart that came out in the wrong ways.
The island was an awesome background for the military reform camp in the story.
The side characters were strong and well-written. Medicad, Ross, Dexter, Davis, Parker, Octavia, they all really came to life to make the book rich.
The story was described as Lord of the Flies meets Wolverine and Cool Hand Luke, SO true. That description fits the book perfectly. It modernizes Lord of the Flies and adds in the superhero features of Wolverine.
Gripes:
As far as I can tell, the story is a stand-alone, but I really think this would make a great series. Maybe with the popularity of the book it will continue, but at this point it just kinda stops and you don’t really know what is going to happen to Carl.
I did have a hard time with the blood and mistreatment of kids. I can see how the TV show skipped the beginnings of Phoenix Island and really moved into the intelligence, microchip part. It would be hard to portray these kids turning on each other and the “adults” being so horrible to them. I haven’t seen Intelligence yet, but I do really want to check it out. With Josh Holloway as the lead on the show, it is something I definitely need to see! Yum!
For more reviews visit
A Flurry of Ponderings
Likes:
Carl was a great main character. He had a troubled life, was orphaned, but had a great heart that came out in the wrong ways.
The island was an awesome background for the military reform camp in the story.
The side characters were strong and well-written. Medicad, Ross, Dexter, Davis, Parker, Octavia, they all really came to life to make the book rich.
The story was described as Lord of the Flies meets Wolverine and Cool Hand Luke, SO true. That description fits the book perfectly. It modernizes Lord of the Flies and adds in the superhero features of Wolverine.
Gripes:
As far as I can tell, the story is a stand-alone, but I really think this would make a great series. Maybe with the popularity of the book it will continue, but at this point it just kinda stops and you don’t really know what is going to happen to Carl.
I did have a hard time with the blood and mistreatment of kids. I can see how the TV show skipped the beginnings of Phoenix Island and really moved into the intelligence, microchip part. It would be hard to portray these kids turning on each other and the “adults” being so horrible to them. I haven’t seen Intelligence yet, but I do really want to check it out. With Josh Holloway as the lead on the show, it is something I definitely need to see! Yum!
For more reviews visit
A Flurry of Ponderings
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi is one of those series I had heard a lot about but hadn’t started. I love being able to start a series when I can binge-read the whole thing since all three books are out. The book was ok, not horrible, I did like it, but it felt like a lead-up book. I have heard the series gets better, so I am definitely going to continue reading. I listened to the audiobook which was 9 hours, 39 minutes, read by Bernadette Dunne Flagler.
Likes:
The whole idea of realms and eye pieces was really cool, they say that authors tend to see the future before engineers and I definitely think this is something that could happen in the future.
The dystopian world was original and was fairly well done with the world-building. There was some holes, but interesting none the less.
The romance was slow burn and the characters took time to really figure each other out, I appreciate a well-written romance.
The special skills of outsiders were really interesting, it was so neat to think of emotions have certain smells.
Gripes:
I wish the world-building gave a little bit more, I always want more back story with the “world-ending” portion that lead to the dystopian world.
This book definitely felt like a lead up to the series. It was what I like to call “first-book syndrome.” I am excited for the rest of the series because I have heard the final book in the series is the best and I am ready for a series that won’t let me down at the end (aka Allegiant).
I just felt like I was disconnected from the story and I think it is because of the reader for the audiobook. She was older and I feel like the voice that reads the story needs to be relate-able to the character. It felt like my mom reading me the book. It really through me off. I may have liked the book better reading it in paper format.
Favorite Quotes:
“She knew how to put one foot in front of the other even when every step hurt. And she knew there was pain in the journey, but there was also great beauty. She'd seen it standing on rooftops and in green eyes and in the smallest, ugliest rock.”
For more reviews visit
A Flurry of Ponderings
Likes:
The whole idea of realms and eye pieces was really cool, they say that authors tend to see the future before engineers and I definitely think this is something that could happen in the future.
The dystopian world was original and was fairly well done with the world-building. There was some holes, but interesting none the less.
The romance was slow burn and the characters took time to really figure each other out, I appreciate a well-written romance.
The special skills of outsiders were really interesting, it was so neat to think of emotions have certain smells.
Gripes:
I wish the world-building gave a little bit more, I always want more back story with the “world-ending” portion that lead to the dystopian world.
This book definitely felt like a lead up to the series. It was what I like to call “first-book syndrome.” I am excited for the rest of the series because I have heard the final book in the series is the best and I am ready for a series that won’t let me down at the end (aka Allegiant).
I just felt like I was disconnected from the story and I think it is because of the reader for the audiobook. She was older and I feel like the voice that reads the story needs to be relate-able to the character. It felt like my mom reading me the book. It really through me off. I may have liked the book better reading it in paper format.
Favorite Quotes:
“She knew how to put one foot in front of the other even when every step hurt. And she knew there was pain in the journey, but there was also great beauty. She'd seen it standing on rooftops and in green eyes and in the smallest, ugliest rock.”
For more reviews visit
A Flurry of Ponderings
Heather Graham has always been a guilty pleasure of mine, so when I got the chance to review the ARC for Waking the Dead I jumped on it. Heather has published so many books, all with easy-to-read, intriguing ghost / mystery stories. This one felt a little different to me, but I still enjoyed the mystery. This was a partner to her other Cafferty/Quinn story, but they do not need to be read together to understand the situation.
Likes:
The storyline was intriguing. A painting seems to be blamed for murdering individuals who were in procession of the painting. The storyline took place in New Orleans (like many of Graham’s stories) and also parts of Switzerland.
I like both MC, Danielle Cafferty and Michael Quinn. They have interesting personalities and are so different, but fit well together. I also liked the side characters in the story, especially Hattie. Hattie was a feisty, well-off older lady with a hilarious personality.
The villain, the painting “Ghosts of the Mind” was so amazing in detail. I really thought the painting had to be real from the amazing description, but alas, from multiple google sessions, I cannot seem to find that it is a real-life painting or artist.
Gripes:
Most of Graham’s stories were more believable, but this one was definitely far-fetched. I was not so much upset with the plot, but it was outside what I have read from Graham before.
They bounced around a lot to catch the villain, as who the villain was, what to do with the painting, ect. I just felt that more research into the killer should have been done initially. It is hard to write this without spoiling, but it was like an episode of House were they get the wrong thing ten times before they finally figure out the right thing. In all normal circumstances, they patient would be dead before that could really happen!
For more reviews visit
A Flurry of Ponderings
Likes:
The storyline was intriguing. A painting seems to be blamed for murdering individuals who were in procession of the painting. The storyline took place in New Orleans (like many of Graham’s stories) and also parts of Switzerland.
I like both MC, Danielle Cafferty and Michael Quinn. They have interesting personalities and are so different, but fit well together. I also liked the side characters in the story, especially Hattie. Hattie was a feisty, well-off older lady with a hilarious personality.
The villain, the painting “Ghosts of the Mind” was so amazing in detail. I really thought the painting had to be real from the amazing description, but alas, from multiple google sessions, I cannot seem to find that it is a real-life painting or artist.
Gripes:
Most of Graham’s stories were more believable, but this one was definitely far-fetched. I was not so much upset with the plot, but it was outside what I have read from Graham before.
They bounced around a lot to catch the villain, as who the villain was, what to do with the painting, ect. I just felt that more research into the killer should have been done initially. It is hard to write this without spoiling, but it was like an episode of House were they get the wrong thing ten times before they finally figure out the right thing. In all normal circumstances, they patient would be dead before that could really happen!
For more reviews visit
A Flurry of Ponderings
I was really excited to read The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski. The cover is so amazing and everyone that read it has raved. The author came up with the idea for the book when a friend explained that a "winner's curse" is how the winner of an auction has also lost, because he or she has won by paying more than what the majority of bidders have decided the item is worth. Essentially the book was winning and losing at the same time.
Likes:
Kestrel and Arin were really strong main characters (with pretty sweet names). It was hard to imagine what it would be like to walk in their shoes because of the lifestyle differences between their two cultures.
Kestrel really gets a chance to walk in Arin's shoes when the tables turn.
The world-building was really interesting. I enjoyed the culture and the competition between the two countries.
Kestrel needs to choose between marrying or being in the military, I think that would be a really hard choice, especially when she was so gifted with military tactics.
Gripes:
The back and forth with Arin was a bit much. Yeah there should be slow-burn in the romance, but this was torture.
The book was interesting, but the climax was only really near the end. I guess it left me hanging for more.
For more reviews visit
A Flurry of Ponderings
Likes:
Kestrel and Arin were really strong main characters (with pretty sweet names). It was hard to imagine what it would be like to walk in their shoes because of the lifestyle differences between their two cultures.
Kestrel really gets a chance to walk in Arin's shoes when the tables turn.
The world-building was really interesting. I enjoyed the culture and the competition between the two countries.
Kestrel needs to choose between marrying or being in the military, I think that would be a really hard choice, especially when she was so gifted with military tactics.
Gripes:
The back and forth with Arin was a bit much. Yeah there should be slow-burn in the romance, but this was torture.
The book was interesting, but the climax was only really near the end. I guess it left me hanging for more.
For more reviews visit
A Flurry of Ponderings
I was so fangirl over the cover for Liv, Forever by Amy Talkington . It has to be one of my all-time favorites. Plus, I love boarding schools with a mystery.
Likes:
The history behind the boarding school was really interesting, the mystery of the ghosts and their paths were intriguing.
The art history in the book was awesome. You can definitely tell that the author is passionate about art and knows her stuff.
Liv wasn't an awful main character. I could see us being friends. I just really am not a huge fan of first person POV, it always seems to make the characters more selfish.
I really liked both the guys, Gabe and Malcolm. They were interesting and I like that they finally decide to work together when it means saving lives.
Gripes:
This is one of those times I would like a half star. I would have rated this more as 3.5 than a full 4. The beginning did not intrigue me, I would have rated it a 2 until Liv started investigating her own death.
There is insta-love. ARGH. This book probably would have been a 5 for me if Malcolm didn't tell Liv that he loved her so early on. It was going ok, closer to slow-burn and then he pops out "I love you." BARF!
For more reviews visit
A Flurry of Ponderings
Likes:
The history behind the boarding school was really interesting, the mystery of the ghosts and their paths were intriguing.
The art history in the book was awesome. You can definitely tell that the author is passionate about art and knows her stuff.
Liv wasn't an awful main character. I could see us being friends. I just really am not a huge fan of first person POV, it always seems to make the characters more selfish.
I really liked both the guys, Gabe and Malcolm. They were interesting and I like that they finally decide to work together when it means saving lives.
Gripes:
This is one of those times I would like a half star. I would have rated this more as 3.5 than a full 4. The beginning did not intrigue me, I would have rated it a 2 until Liv started investigating her own death.
There is insta-love. ARGH. This book probably would have been a 5 for me if Malcolm didn't tell Liv that he loved her so early on. It was going ok, closer to slow-burn and then he pops out "I love you." BARF!
For more reviews visit
A Flurry of Ponderings
I feel in love with the cover of Deep End of the Sea by Heather Lyons, plus I got a great deal on Amazon, so I had to read it. I was excited to read a Greek mythology retelling, especially about Medusa!
Likes:
The author did a great job winding in Greek mythology to an updated love story.
I absolutely adored Hermes, Hades and Persephone.
It was a quick, easy read. I would classify it as the new adult genre, and since I haven't really stepped into that genre, it was a good gateway book.
Gripes:
I didn't completely love Medusa. She seemed so weak. I realize that life did not do well for her, but still I really enjoyed her more when she started to live for herself.
The world-building was lacking for me. I would love to have heard more about the island that Medusa initially lived on and then more about Olympus.
Favorite Quotes:
"Death isn't beautiful. Too often than not, it's messy and brutal; even when done in sleep, there's still that theft of breath, that failure of heart. Death is an act of violence. I should know. I am one of the most prolific murders in history."
"I've thought them all worse than the monster I was accused of being. Heartless, fickle beings who loved to torment mortals on the turn of a dime. Maybe I've judged them all without getting to know them first, just as surely as history has judged me."
"The irony is not lost on me that I finally make Death's acquaintance just when I decide life is worth living."
For more reviews visit
A Flurry of Ponderings
Likes:
The author did a great job winding in Greek mythology to an updated love story.
I absolutely adored Hermes, Hades and Persephone.
It was a quick, easy read. I would classify it as the new adult genre, and since I haven't really stepped into that genre, it was a good gateway book.
Gripes:
I didn't completely love Medusa. She seemed so weak. I realize that life did not do well for her, but still I really enjoyed her more when she started to live for herself.
The world-building was lacking for me. I would love to have heard more about the island that Medusa initially lived on and then more about Olympus.
Favorite Quotes:
"Death isn't beautiful. Too often than not, it's messy and brutal; even when done in sleep, there's still that theft of breath, that failure of heart. Death is an act of violence. I should know. I am one of the most prolific murders in history."
"I've thought them all worse than the monster I was accused of being. Heartless, fickle beings who loved to torment mortals on the turn of a dime. Maybe I've judged them all without getting to know them first, just as surely as history has judged me."
"The irony is not lost on me that I finally make Death's acquaintance just when I decide life is worth living."
For more reviews visit
A Flurry of Ponderings
