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samantha_randolph's Reviews (1.59k)
I received a free eBook copy for an honest review.
Games of Fate is about a young woman named Rysa who in addition to having ADHD, is also a Fate. Yes, a Greek mythological Fate who, in her case, can see into the past, present, and future. Rysa does not know this though. It isn't until she is tortured and rescued by a way-too-handsome Ladon and his Dragon that she starts to unravel all the mysteries of who she is, both as a Fate and as a woman.
The Good:
-It has a unique concept. The idea of a Fate in this world is very different, and there are many other supernatural/paranormal beings that supplement it very well in ways you wouldn't expect.
-The romance is both a pro and a con. The pro is that the romance really is touching. Yes, it deals with paranormal problems such as Rysa seeing her and Ladon being intimate before it happens, but there is just as much, if not more, real issues like struggling with being worthy of love, trying to take care of and comfort someone you love, etc.
-The plot has a lot of potential.
The not-so-good:
-The reason I said the plot has a lot of potential and not, the plot was great, is because a lot of this story is at lightening speed and confusing. A lot of names are thrown around that you really don't know who they actually are and how they connect. The visions make it seem like there is a severe case of an unreliable narrator at parts. The story just gets very muddled the further it goes, and it seems months pass, but it really is only a few days to a couple weeks.
-With that speed, the con of the romance is that speed. They know each other for less than 48 hours and are talking love. I'm not saying the intensity isn't there, but it definitely puts a damper on the credibility of their relationship long term.
Overall, it's a bit shaky, but still holding, 3 stars. If you want something fantasy that is new and unique with a strong romance, then I would definitely tell you to give it a try, just read very slowly.
Games of Fate is about a young woman named Rysa who in addition to having ADHD, is also a Fate. Yes, a Greek mythological Fate who, in her case, can see into the past, present, and future. Rysa does not know this though. It isn't until she is tortured and rescued by a way-too-handsome Ladon and his Dragon that she starts to unravel all the mysteries of who she is, both as a Fate and as a woman.
The Good:
-It has a unique concept. The idea of a Fate in this world is very different, and there are many other supernatural/paranormal beings that supplement it very well in ways you wouldn't expect.
-The romance is both a pro and a con. The pro is that the romance really is touching. Yes, it deals with paranormal problems such as Rysa seeing her and Ladon being intimate before it happens, but there is just as much, if not more, real issues like struggling with being worthy of love, trying to take care of and comfort someone you love, etc.
-The plot has a lot of potential.
The not-so-good:
-The reason I said the plot has a lot of potential and not, the plot was great, is because a lot of this story is at lightening speed and confusing. A lot of names are thrown around that you really don't know who they actually are and how they connect. The visions make it seem like there is a severe case of an unreliable narrator at parts. The story just gets very muddled the further it goes, and it seems months pass, but it really is only a few days to a couple weeks.
-With that speed, the con of the romance is that speed. They know each other for less than 48 hours and are talking love. I'm not saying the intensity isn't there, but it definitely puts a damper on the credibility of their relationship long term.
Overall, it's a bit shaky, but still holding, 3 stars. If you want something fantasy that is new and unique with a strong romance, then I would definitely tell you to give it a try, just read very slowly.
Broken Faith is about a heart breakable fallen angel, a fierce but hurt vampire, and an innocent human just trying to help and survive. Through in some scary hell hounds and a few sweet, touching romances (thankfully, nothing of the typical triangle kind) and you have a great new start to a series!
From the first page, I really liked this story. Yes, there are plenty of angel/vampire stories out there, and this one isn't extremely unique, though it still puts a several unique details in it, I think it's the characters that really set this story apart. Kayson (angel), Sabrina (vampire), and Emma (human) are all very lovable and realistic. I really cared about what happened to them. They all made exceptional primary characters. I only had two negatives to this book. The secondary characters, while nicely detailed, didn't seem as realistic as far as Emma's group of friends go. Or maybe they just paled in comparison to the main characters, I'm not sure. The second negative is I didn't feel there was enough of Kayson and Sabrina's romance through their perspective. It started out well in terms of that, but it seemed to focus more on Emma's romance later and I would have liked to see Kayson and Sabrina's develop more before the end. However, this is the first in the series, so hopefully more will come!
From the first page, I really liked this story. Yes, there are plenty of angel/vampire stories out there, and this one isn't extremely unique, though it still puts a several unique details in it, I think it's the characters that really set this story apart. Kayson (angel), Sabrina (vampire), and Emma (human) are all very lovable and realistic. I really cared about what happened to them. They all made exceptional primary characters. I only had two negatives to this book. The secondary characters, while nicely detailed, didn't seem as realistic as far as Emma's group of friends go. Or maybe they just paled in comparison to the main characters, I'm not sure. The second negative is I didn't feel there was enough of Kayson and Sabrina's romance through their perspective. It started out well in terms of that, but it seemed to focus more on Emma's romance later and I would have liked to see Kayson and Sabrina's develop more before the end. However, this is the first in the series, so hopefully more will come!
I received a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.
After reading the synopsis and a few of the reviews, I thought this sounded like a great book. While I do think the idea for it is great and a unique twist, I was not a fan of the book.
Red, while a very brave character, had a very immature mindset. I love YA books, and I understand that Red is very young, but she comes off even younger than she is. Her friends in the story give off the same immature vibe. It was hard to take the situations seriously because of this.
The writing style seemed a bit choppy, but I think that had a lot to do with some of the repetition in it. The characters say "Wowzers" very frequently, and the use of names in the dialogue is too much for any normal conversation. In some parts, the characters end or begin nearly every sentence they say with the other character's name. It would have flowed more smoothly without these two things.
The overall plot is almost too fast paced. The major events in it are very major, but there is a lack of transition between them.
Overall, I think middle grade readers may like this. I think it may be too immature for a general young adult audience. The author seems to have potential given the strong imagination behind the story, but if there is a sequel, I do not think I will read it.
After reading the synopsis and a few of the reviews, I thought this sounded like a great book. While I do think the idea for it is great and a unique twist, I was not a fan of the book.
Red, while a very brave character, had a very immature mindset. I love YA books, and I understand that Red is very young, but she comes off even younger than she is. Her friends in the story give off the same immature vibe. It was hard to take the situations seriously because of this.
The writing style seemed a bit choppy, but I think that had a lot to do with some of the repetition in it. The characters say "Wowzers" very frequently, and the use of names in the dialogue is too much for any normal conversation. In some parts, the characters end or begin nearly every sentence they say with the other character's name. It would have flowed more smoothly without these two things.
The overall plot is almost too fast paced. The major events in it are very major, but there is a lack of transition between them.
Overall, I think middle grade readers may like this. I think it may be too immature for a general young adult audience. The author seems to have potential given the strong imagination behind the story, but if there is a sequel, I do not think I will read it.
I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads.
Have you ever thought about aging? Do you feel happy when you imagine growing old, growing wrinkles, and growing aches in your knees or do you prefer to not think about it at all? Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake is a non-fiction memoir that delves into many issues, but the one I found most intriguing is the concept we (as a general American people, specifically women) have about getting "old". Quindlen challenges us to see aging as a blossoming: a blossoming into ourselves, older, but maybe more confident and relaxed.
As well as aging, she discusses treatment of women, friendships, relationships, family, all without being too political or gushy. Her views and beliefs may differ from your own, but she writes in no way trying to force you to believe it yourself, but rather, she writes in a way that forces you to think about it.
For any adult, new or experienced in years, this book will give you a lot of ideas to think about and challenge you to face things with a new approach. I would highly recommend for anyone trying to find their place in life or even their self.
Have you ever thought about aging? Do you feel happy when you imagine growing old, growing wrinkles, and growing aches in your knees or do you prefer to not think about it at all? Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake is a non-fiction memoir that delves into many issues, but the one I found most intriguing is the concept we (as a general American people, specifically women) have about getting "old". Quindlen challenges us to see aging as a blossoming: a blossoming into ourselves, older, but maybe more confident and relaxed.
As well as aging, she discusses treatment of women, friendships, relationships, family, all without being too political or gushy. Her views and beliefs may differ from your own, but she writes in no way trying to force you to believe it yourself, but rather, she writes in a way that forces you to think about it.
For any adult, new or experienced in years, this book will give you a lot of ideas to think about and challenge you to face things with a new approach. I would highly recommend for anyone trying to find their place in life or even their self.
I received a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Still reeling over a past heartbreak, the best man in her sister's wedding, and trying to avoid looking like the sad ex, Alice is introduced by gathering the courage to ask her sexy, mysterious neighbor of five years to be her date to the wedding. When he surprisingly agrees, they will face a week full of sunlight, hilarious relatives, and secrets.
While the falling-in-love-with-a-fake-wedding-date isn't unheard of, the vampire spin on this romance makes it unique. While you don't see a large amount of this specific vampire's world, which I both liked and disliked, you get enough to make it a nice addition to the story. It might have even been beneficial that you only received a limited amount of information, because it really put the focus on the romance between Alice and Noah.
If you like romances in generally, I think you should give this book a try. Since the level of paranormal isn't super high, you don't have to be a fan of it to like the story. Likewise, if you aren't only a fan of just romance, there is enough vampire things to mix it up.
Overall, I thought it was a very cute read. It reads very quickly and smoothly, and the main characters are easy to relate to and lovable. The only reason I knocked off a star is for the lack of full background explanation when it came to Andrew and his ex-fiancee, which I think would have given more closure.
Still reeling over a past heartbreak, the best man in her sister's wedding, and trying to avoid looking like the sad ex, Alice is introduced by gathering the courage to ask her sexy, mysterious neighbor of five years to be her date to the wedding. When he surprisingly agrees, they will face a week full of sunlight, hilarious relatives, and secrets.
While the falling-in-love-with-a-fake-wedding-date isn't unheard of, the vampire spin on this romance makes it unique. While you don't see a large amount of this specific vampire's world, which I both liked and disliked, you get enough to make it a nice addition to the story. It might have even been beneficial that you only received a limited amount of information, because it really put the focus on the romance between Alice and Noah.
If you like romances in generally, I think you should give this book a try. Since the level of paranormal isn't super high, you don't have to be a fan of it to like the story. Likewise, if you aren't only a fan of just romance, there is enough vampire things to mix it up.
Overall, I thought it was a very cute read. It reads very quickly and smoothly, and the main characters are easy to relate to and lovable. The only reason I knocked off a star is for the lack of full background explanation when it came to Andrew and his ex-fiancee, which I think would have given more closure.
I received a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.
Into the Vast is different from something I would normally read, but I couldn't put it down once I got into it. It is very science fiction-y, which I'm normally not a huge fan of, but the writing was exceptional. Adan, the main character who wakes up in a lab unsure of who or what he is, is quirky and charming in his own uncertain way. He sees everything in a very unique way that draws you into his world, though the science side of it can get a tad confusing. The secondary characters may be secondary, but I still found myself hoping for the best for Will, Gavin, and the whole group. There are lots of mysteries to be uncovered in this story, and I won't give anything away, but they will keep you guessing.
Overall, it really was the writing that won me over in this story. I think people who are looking to try something different should definitely give this a shot, because they won't be disappointed. 4/5 stars.
Into the Vast is different from something I would normally read, but I couldn't put it down once I got into it. It is very science fiction-y, which I'm normally not a huge fan of, but the writing was exceptional. Adan, the main character who wakes up in a lab unsure of who or what he is, is quirky and charming in his own uncertain way. He sees everything in a very unique way that draws you into his world, though the science side of it can get a tad confusing. The secondary characters may be secondary, but I still found myself hoping for the best for Will, Gavin, and the whole group. There are lots of mysteries to be uncovered in this story, and I won't give anything away, but they will keep you guessing.
Overall, it really was the writing that won me over in this story. I think people who are looking to try something different should definitely give this a shot, because they won't be disappointed. 4/5 stars.