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rebeccasreadingrambles's Reviews (3.06k)
Unfortunately this was one of my least favorite AC books. The characters we're just so blah and not that interesting. The conclusion was reached at random and there didn't seem to be enough sleuthing. The crazy possible murder girl was a bizarre premise that just didn't quite capture me.
3-3.5 stars
This was a quick and interesting thriller, but overall I found the story line pretty predictable. Despite that, I did really enjoy the writing and how this book was really a "what extremes would you go to to predict your loved ones" - and this meant something different for each.
I liked having three different narrators, all with their own secrets surrounding the events. I like seeing how characters tick, and we got a good understand of these three characters that way. I have to say that none of the characters were particularly likable, which didn't really bother me in this context. At first I absolutely despised Stella and her complete disdain for others. But then when we really got into her history, I understand a little more her attitude, but still didn't ever really grow to like her. Even the all good, endearing Amina I couldn't really bring myself to like (even though everyone else LOVED HER). The author did a really amazing job with describing everyone's emotions and those really jumped off the page.
This is definitely a slow burn thriller, which I really enjoyed because we got to see in detailed each person's thoughts and what lead to all their decisions. And just when you thought you had a grasp on something, then next narrator turns things upside down.
I did find the story predictable. I had figured out most of the story by halfway through Stella's narrative, but thought it was well done how secrets were divulged in shocking ways.
This was a quick and interesting thriller, but overall I found the story line pretty predictable. Despite that, I did really enjoy the writing and how this book was really a "what extremes would you go to to predict your loved ones" - and this meant something different for each.
I liked having three different narrators, all with their own secrets surrounding the events. I like seeing how characters tick, and we got a good understand of these three characters that way. I have to say that none of the characters were particularly likable, which didn't really bother me in this context. At first I absolutely despised Stella and her complete disdain for others. But then when we really got into her history, I understand a little more her attitude, but still didn't ever really grow to like her. Even the all good, endearing Amina I couldn't really bring myself to like (even though everyone else LOVED HER). The author did a really amazing job with describing everyone's emotions and those really jumped off the page.
This is definitely a slow burn thriller, which I really enjoyed because we got to see in detailed each person's thoughts and what lead to all their decisions. And just when you thought you had a grasp on something, then next narrator turns things upside down.
I did find the story predictable. I had figured out most of the story by halfway through Stella's narrative, but thought it was well done how secrets were divulged in shocking ways.
Wow. I was not expecting this book to be such an emotional ride. Not only do I desperately miss these characters, but the raw emotion and feelings and hurt and healing that happen in this book is amazing. I love that we get into the heads of so many favorite characters and that nothing is easy-peasy since the end of War Storm.
This book also features some other cool things. There is a brief history of this world, and how it became to be the kingdom that we knew at the start of the series. There are family trees and histories of all the Calore ancestors (which help give a little insight to both Cal and the ruling family of this kingdom).
I won't break down every novella (there are other reviews that will do so). But I will say that I loved every one. Learning about Coriane's life (Cal's mother) and how her life took a drastic turn had me shocked and intrigued. The ending left me reeling. Then we get a story about how Farley and Shade met and fell in love - swoon! The next story about the Red river captain and Silver escaping princess I really enjoyed because it showed a different perspective during the war. Of course I was thrilled to see a story from Evangeline's perspective. She is such an interesting character and I love that she keeps her sass and strength even after all she's been though. Then it's Mare and Cal and no spoilers, but this novella was tough and wonderful.
Get ready for a chilling Maven chapter - I think it gave me goosebumps. And the ending of this story had me close to tears - oh the emotion this author can inspire in me!
This book also features some other cool things. There is a brief history of this world, and how it became to be the kingdom that we knew at the start of the series. There are family trees and histories of all the Calore ancestors (which help give a little insight to both Cal and the ruling family of this kingdom).
I won't break down every novella (there are other reviews that will do so). But I will say that I loved every one. Learning about Coriane's life (Cal's mother) and how her life took a drastic turn had me shocked and intrigued. The ending left me reeling. Then we get a story about how Farley and Shade met and fell in love - swoon! The next story about the Red river captain and Silver escaping princess I really enjoyed because it showed a different perspective during the war. Of course I was thrilled to see a story from Evangeline's perspective. She is such an interesting character and I love that she keeps her sass and strength even after all she's been though. Then it's Mare and Cal and no spoilers, but this novella was tough and wonderful.
Get ready for a chilling Maven chapter - I think it gave me goosebumps. And the ending of this story had me close to tears - oh the emotion this author can inspire in me!
The first chapter was an immediate hook and I was ready to devour this book. However, from there on it never really gave me that feeling again. I will completely admit that maybe it was either my own expectations or mood that may have swayed my feelings about this book, and I do not want to discourage others from giving this book a try.
Also let me say this now this book has probably every type of TRIGGER WARNING there is. Sexual assault and rape, death, eating disorder and body dismorphia, racism, many types of discrimination. Bethie and Jo basically undergo every hardship imaginable, even for the time period they grew up in. I absolutely appreciate the author describing these horrible things - the feelings and emotions are so vivid thanks to the authors wonderful writing style. I love the message that she is portraying by bringing light to these things (many of which still happen today) and showing us how painful and messed up it can be for the people enduring. I love that this story has both Bethie and Jo finding themselves amid so much pain. However, it became distracting to jump from one hardship to another. It wasn't quite monotonous, but it was getting there for me.
I did really love Jo and Bethie. I became almost immediately attached to both of them and felt everything they went through. I was their constant cheerleader throughout the book, even when they made questional decisions, I could understand their reasoning and sympathize with them. I also really love this author's writing style, which helped this book move pretty swiftly.
But, as for the rest of the character, I did not like them. It really did not help that their mother was the most one-dimensional character of all time. I was hoping for some growth from her, but nada. She is a closed minded as she started. Most of the other characters were pretty one dimensional as well - they were almost stereotypes and did what I expected.
This was a unique family drama that spanned a lot of world changes and a few generations. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you to the publishers for a copy of this book. I was happy to give my honest thoughts.
Also let me say this now this book has probably every type of TRIGGER WARNING there is. Sexual assault and rape, death, eating disorder and body dismorphia, racism, many types of discrimination. Bethie and Jo basically undergo every hardship imaginable, even for the time period they grew up in. I absolutely appreciate the author describing these horrible things - the feelings and emotions are so vivid thanks to the authors wonderful writing style. I love the message that she is portraying by bringing light to these things (many of which still happen today) and showing us how painful and messed up it can be for the people enduring. I love that this story has both Bethie and Jo finding themselves amid so much pain. However, it became distracting to jump from one hardship to another. It wasn't quite monotonous, but it was getting there for me.
I did really love Jo and Bethie. I became almost immediately attached to both of them and felt everything they went through. I was their constant cheerleader throughout the book, even when they made questional decisions, I could understand their reasoning and sympathize with them. I also really love this author's writing style, which helped this book move pretty swiftly.
But, as for the rest of the character, I did not like them. It really did not help that their mother was the most one-dimensional character of all time. I was hoping for some growth from her, but nada. She is a closed minded as she started. Most of the other characters were pretty one dimensional as well - they were almost stereotypes and did what I expected.
This was a unique family drama that spanned a lot of world changes and a few generations. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you to the publishers for a copy of this book. I was happy to give my honest thoughts.
This book did not grab me right away, but short while in I was completely hooked and realized I didn't want to put it down. As soon as it jumped ahead and then started moving backwards, I knew that I could not stop until I knew everything. This was a very interesting and successful plot device and left me intrigued and infuriated that I was missing pieces the whole time. Also, the unreliable main character added a lot to the suspense and confusion, while giving a desperate feel to the whole novel. The writing was good and the mystery was well pieced together to just give you snippets of information at a time, but in a way you probably would never figure out on your own. Though I did guess a few things, I was completely wrong about how things happened and who/what/why were involved. A rather spooky story with an ending that left me miffed but also understanding of the MC's decisions.
I really liked this book. It was beautifully written and flowed so nicely. I was interested almost immediately. The characters were so vivid and very entertaining. I love the way the author brought them to life. I really liked Kately and following her life and watching her change so much in just a year. She was so strong and independent and sharp, without being overtly so and without needing to prove it to everyone around her. Her story was so real and I could feel all her emotions as the story progressed. I also love the time period and the description of normal (and weathly) living in NYC. Would recommend to everyone.
4.5 stars
Wow this book turned out nothing like what I was first expecting. I will admit, the beginning of the book was a little slow and frustrating for me. I was worried that we would just have a bunch of insecure female characters and one annoying villain. Well I was completely wrong about that. This book had so many twists and turns and the tension was high. After about 100 pages I was feeling so much anxiety and it took me a moment to realize that it's because it book hooked its claws into me. The writing was just perfect for story and tension building and the emotions were jumping off the page and I was hooked.
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The best thing about this book was the characters. Roux was extremely manipulative, a true sociopath who had convince herself that all the evil things she were doing were for the greater good. She was so twisted in her head and I loved how secrets were slowly revealed about her, even up to the very end. Amy was more complex than I could have imagined and wow was she strong. Despite the things in her past, she had been keeping a lot on so much and it took brute strength to keep it all in, struggle and recover how she did. In the first scene or two she irked me, but when we saw who she truly was, I was absolutely rooting for her. I absolutely loved being inside her head and she is one of my very favorite flawed characters.
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A lot of this book involves diving and these descriptions were fascinating. Being terrified of scuba myself, I felt like I was down there in the ocean with the characters and understood the calm that Amy felt from it. I loved her relationship and bond with her stepdaughter.
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Speaking of the ending, it was a veritable rollercoaster of emotions. At one point my heart was racing and I could not turn the pages fast enough. I had to take a deep breath and slow down because my eyes were racing over the words. It shocking to the very end. I loved this book and highly recommend this thrilling book!
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Thank you to the publisher for a free copy of this book. I was happy to give my honest thoughts.
Wow this book turned out nothing like what I was first expecting. I will admit, the beginning of the book was a little slow and frustrating for me. I was worried that we would just have a bunch of insecure female characters and one annoying villain. Well I was completely wrong about that. This book had so many twists and turns and the tension was high. After about 100 pages I was feeling so much anxiety and it took me a moment to realize that it's because it book hooked its claws into me. The writing was just perfect for story and tension building and the emotions were jumping off the page and I was hooked.
_
The best thing about this book was the characters. Roux was extremely manipulative, a true sociopath who had convince herself that all the evil things she were doing were for the greater good. She was so twisted in her head and I loved how secrets were slowly revealed about her, even up to the very end. Amy was more complex than I could have imagined and wow was she strong. Despite the things in her past, she had been keeping a lot on so much and it took brute strength to keep it all in, struggle and recover how she did. In the first scene or two she irked me, but when we saw who she truly was, I was absolutely rooting for her. I absolutely loved being inside her head and she is one of my very favorite flawed characters.
_
A lot of this book involves diving and these descriptions were fascinating. Being terrified of scuba myself, I felt like I was down there in the ocean with the characters and understood the calm that Amy felt from it. I loved her relationship and bond with her stepdaughter.
_
Speaking of the ending, it was a veritable rollercoaster of emotions. At one point my heart was racing and I could not turn the pages fast enough. I had to take a deep breath and slow down because my eyes were racing over the words. It shocking to the very end. I loved this book and highly recommend this thrilling book!
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Thank you to the publisher for a free copy of this book. I was happy to give my honest thoughts.
4.5 stars
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This was my first book by Victoria Laurie, but it certainly won't be my last. I loved the story, characters and writing style so much; you can tell she knows her way around a cozy mystery novel. Cat is such a smart and caring character and her snappy humor make her such an endearing sleuth. I haven't read the previous series about her sister and friends, but she stood out so well on her own that I didn't need to in order to really connect with her character. Gilley was such a fun and adorable character and the perfect smart and loving sidekick for Cat.
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I absolutely loved the description of her house on LI and can I please get my own Sebastian? I enjoyed all the little bits of new technology that were interspersed throughout the book and used to help solve the murder. This story had a lot of twists and so many possibilities, without being over the top or overwhelming. I love how all the different angles helped guide the investigation up to the culminating point. This was quite the dramatic book and I was definitely shocked by the culprit.
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And a dash or two of romance?! My favorite! I also am looking forward to meeting more of her Life Coaching clients, because that was such a fun portion even though it was just a tiny piece. I am so looking forward to future books in this fun series.
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Thank you to the publisher for a free copy of this book. I was happy to give my honest thoughts.
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This was my first book by Victoria Laurie, but it certainly won't be my last. I loved the story, characters and writing style so much; you can tell she knows her way around a cozy mystery novel. Cat is such a smart and caring character and her snappy humor make her such an endearing sleuth. I haven't read the previous series about her sister and friends, but she stood out so well on her own that I didn't need to in order to really connect with her character. Gilley was such a fun and adorable character and the perfect smart and loving sidekick for Cat.
_
I absolutely loved the description of her house on LI and can I please get my own Sebastian? I enjoyed all the little bits of new technology that were interspersed throughout the book and used to help solve the murder. This story had a lot of twists and so many possibilities, without being over the top or overwhelming. I love how all the different angles helped guide the investigation up to the culminating point. This was quite the dramatic book and I was definitely shocked by the culprit.
_
And a dash or two of romance?! My favorite! I also am looking forward to meeting more of her Life Coaching clients, because that was such a fun portion even though it was just a tiny piece. I am so looking forward to future books in this fun series.
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Thank you to the publisher for a free copy of this book. I was happy to give my honest thoughts.