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3.7 Stars
Never a Bride is the story of Emma, a wedding planner, with past issues, and Carlo, a caterer and a friend of Emma for the past 8 years. They have feelings for each other. Though they do nothing about it, no thanks to Emma’s emotional baggage.
With Emma’s friends finding love and getting married, will she be able to overcome her insecurities to accept Carlo’s love?
The book is a straightforward contemporary romance with a tried and tested plotline. I knew it right away, so I wasn’t looking for anything unique. I wanted a book that’s light yet has some sort of emotional connection between the characters. Never a Bride ticks the boxes quite well.
The friendship between Emma, Maggie (Book 1), Connie (Book 2), and Tracy (possibly book 4) was good to read. It was positive, light, and sweet. The connection between Carlo and Emma was good even though this girl took her own sweet time to come to a decision.
While I’m in no way brushing away her past (her dad was a jerk. Period), it seemed a bit too stretchy to make her so indecisive. She was someone who usually had a good head on her shoulders.
The conflict was predictable since it was the only possible way to create one without making the plot contrived. The resolution was decent, and I liked that Emma finally makes her decision. Of course, the book has a happy ever after, so we know the outcome.
Overall, it’s a decent and light read with some nice and sweet moments. A good book for a beach/ travel read where you don’t want to use your grey cells.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Never a Bride is the story of Emma, a wedding planner, with past issues, and Carlo, a caterer and a friend of Emma for the past 8 years. They have feelings for each other. Though they do nothing about it, no thanks to Emma’s emotional baggage.
With Emma’s friends finding love and getting married, will she be able to overcome her insecurities to accept Carlo’s love?
The book is a straightforward contemporary romance with a tried and tested plotline. I knew it right away, so I wasn’t looking for anything unique. I wanted a book that’s light yet has some sort of emotional connection between the characters. Never a Bride ticks the boxes quite well.
The friendship between Emma, Maggie (Book 1), Connie (Book 2), and Tracy (possibly book 4) was good to read. It was positive, light, and sweet. The connection between Carlo and Emma was good even though this girl took her own sweet time to come to a decision.
While I’m in no way brushing away her past (her dad was a jerk. Period), it seemed a bit too stretchy to make her so indecisive. She was someone who usually had a good head on her shoulders.
The conflict was predictable since it was the only possible way to create one without making the plot contrived. The resolution was decent, and I liked that Emma finally makes her decision. Of course, the book has a happy ever after, so we know the outcome.
Overall, it’s a decent and light read with some nice and sweet moments. A good book for a beach/ travel read where you don’t want to use your grey cells.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
4.5 Stars
Caroline is a sad thirteen-year-old grieving the loss of her beloved dad. Her mother and her friend, Abby, are doing their best, but Caroline can’t find a way out of their grief weighing her down.
Then one day, she spies something like a window in her favorite lake and climbs the old tree on the bank. Her curiosity gets better, and she slips and falls through the window. The new world is different. It’s a neverending forest with magic and mystic.
She meets Mordecai the Gand, who agrees to help her get back home. As they travel through the mysterious land, Caroline must decide what home is and how she wants to live her life. She sees things in a different light even as she battles with the grief she wants to avoid.
Caroline understands that she needs to help the people she meets on the journey. Helping them is a way to help herself. She has to choose between being brave or retreating into her shell. Her decisions can change her life and others.
What does Caroline do? How does this adventure help her?
The book starts with a forty-year-old Caroline writing a letter to her young son. She has learned of her illness and needs to share the news with him. She’s afraid of what her absence would do to her son and writes about her adventure in her childhood to help him.
The story is beautiful! It is filled with doubts, vulnerabilities, uncertainties that give way to courage, realization, acceptance, and hope. The narration is smooth and flows like a river. The imagery is so vivid, I could see myself traveling with Caroline and the Gand.
I was teary-eyed more than once. The ending goes straight to the heart, and it’s easy to see why. The author wrote this story when he was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. He wanted to leave something for his five children to help them sustain the grief if anything happened to him.
I’m so, so happy for the author that he has celebrated this fifth cancer-free year. I wish him and his family the best of health and loads of happiness.
I’m also glad that those who read the story urged the author to publish it. This is a book that deserves to be read by everyone. It has the right balance of emotions and pace.
To sum up, Caroline and Mordecai the Gand is a must-read irrespective of what one’s age is or whether or not we’ve lost a loved one. It's a small book but has much to give to the readers.
I received an ARC from BookSirens, Seven Guns Press, and author Jeff Gunhus and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Caroline is a sad thirteen-year-old grieving the loss of her beloved dad. Her mother and her friend, Abby, are doing their best, but Caroline can’t find a way out of their grief weighing her down.
Then one day, she spies something like a window in her favorite lake and climbs the old tree on the bank. Her curiosity gets better, and she slips and falls through the window. The new world is different. It’s a neverending forest with magic and mystic.
She meets Mordecai the Gand, who agrees to help her get back home. As they travel through the mysterious land, Caroline must decide what home is and how she wants to live her life. She sees things in a different light even as she battles with the grief she wants to avoid.
Caroline understands that she needs to help the people she meets on the journey. Helping them is a way to help herself. She has to choose between being brave or retreating into her shell. Her decisions can change her life and others.
What does Caroline do? How does this adventure help her?
The book starts with a forty-year-old Caroline writing a letter to her young son. She has learned of her illness and needs to share the news with him. She’s afraid of what her absence would do to her son and writes about her adventure in her childhood to help him.
The story is beautiful! It is filled with doubts, vulnerabilities, uncertainties that give way to courage, realization, acceptance, and hope. The narration is smooth and flows like a river. The imagery is so vivid, I could see myself traveling with Caroline and the Gand.
I was teary-eyed more than once. The ending goes straight to the heart, and it’s easy to see why. The author wrote this story when he was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. He wanted to leave something for his five children to help them sustain the grief if anything happened to him.
I’m so, so happy for the author that he has celebrated this fifth cancer-free year. I wish him and his family the best of health and loads of happiness.
I’m also glad that those who read the story urged the author to publish it. This is a book that deserves to be read by everyone. It has the right balance of emotions and pace.
To sum up, Caroline and Mordecai the Gand is a must-read irrespective of what one’s age is or whether or not we’ve lost a loved one. It's a small book but has much to give to the readers.
I received an ARC from BookSirens, Seven Guns Press, and author Jeff Gunhus and am voluntarily leaving a review.
3.2 Stars
Ruby Fae McKeever understands at last that marrying JW and living on a bus with his parents was not a good idea. She and her almost one-year-old baby girl are feeling suffocated. Ruby is cut off from her family, abused in the name of being learning to be a dutiful Christian and an obedient wife. Her husband can never come out from his father’s influence. Ruby can’t live with them anymore. She needs to go home. But when? And most importantly, how?
The premise of the book was excellent. The cover was perfect. I was rooting for Ruby from the very first page of the book. But guess what? It took her until the last page to get there. I never it wasn’t going to be easy. There would be pressure, manipulation, and abuse. After all, those who preach are the last ones to follow it.
But what disappointed me was the way the story went on and on. Even the 250 pages seemed like a lot at one point in time. There is too much stream of consciousness in the narration. Stories from the past pop into the storyline at random. Ruby keeps getting distracted at the slightest hint. I did like some of those, but they stretched the original plotline more than necessary.
And Ruby’s wavering mind wasn’t any help either. While it seemed realistic that her plans would go wrong, I just wished she put up more fight. Even towards the end, it wasn’t her who takes charge of the situation. At some point, she had to learn and stop being stupid, but she doesn’t.
Reading about abuse is never easy, and this book was no exception. It only made me want to knock some sense into Ruby and ask her to use her brain.
Finally, when I thought it was going to end, there came another flashback story. Not sure how it would help as I felt nothing change in me towards any of the characters.
Overall, the theme deserved better treatment and tighter editing. The story has a happy ending, and well, the book did evoke emotions in me, so it’s a decent read. I just wish it was even better.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
#BookSirens
Ruby Fae McKeever understands at last that marrying JW and living on a bus with his parents was not a good idea. She and her almost one-year-old baby girl are feeling suffocated. Ruby is cut off from her family, abused in the name of being learning to be a dutiful Christian and an obedient wife. Her husband can never come out from his father’s influence. Ruby can’t live with them anymore. She needs to go home. But when? And most importantly, how?
The premise of the book was excellent. The cover was perfect. I was rooting for Ruby from the very first page of the book. But guess what? It took her until the last page to get there. I never it wasn’t going to be easy. There would be pressure, manipulation, and abuse. After all, those who preach are the last ones to follow it.
But what disappointed me was the way the story went on and on. Even the 250 pages seemed like a lot at one point in time. There is too much stream of consciousness in the narration. Stories from the past pop into the storyline at random. Ruby keeps getting distracted at the slightest hint. I did like some of those, but they stretched the original plotline more than necessary.
And Ruby’s wavering mind wasn’t any help either. While it seemed realistic that her plans would go wrong, I just wished she put up more fight. Even towards the end, it wasn’t her who takes charge of the situation. At some point, she had to learn and stop being stupid, but she doesn’t.
Reading about abuse is never easy, and this book was no exception. It only made me want to knock some sense into Ruby and ask her to use her brain.
Finally, when I thought it was going to end, there came another flashback story. Not sure how it would help as I felt nothing change in me towards any of the characters.
Overall, the theme deserved better treatment and tighter editing. The story has a happy ending, and well, the book did evoke emotions in me, so it’s a decent read. I just wish it was even better.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
#BookSirens
3.7 Stars
One Liner: Heartwarming but has nothing to do with the title.
Esther plans a letter-writing workshop after her father’s death. She and her father loved exchanging letters (handwritten), and Esther wants to experience the same through the workshop. She also plans to offer her copyediting skills to prospective novelists.
Imagine her surprise when the applicants are everyone else by aspiring writers! From an elderly lady to an angsty teen and a delusional businessman, a total of five people are a part of her workshop. That makes Esther the sixth participant.
She wants to help them learn how to write better. But what do they want from the workshop? A chance to express themselves? A chance to seek answers? A chance to reconcile and start fresh?
Esther realizes that her workshop is helping the participants and her in a way she didn’t expect. Letter writing isn’t about writing a letter, is it?
My Observations:
• The book takes its own sweet time to progress. (it’s a slow read). The book alters between letters and regular narration (that gives the backstories and more insight into the characters).
• The letters are arranged in a neat order almost until the end. The slight change at the end is mentioned in the first few pages and makes sense once we get there.
• Various themes, ranging from postpartum depression to loneliness to social activism, etc., are dealt with. While some are more effective, the others pale in comparison.
• Each character is distinct and can be identified by the tone of the letter. This is very important when six people are writing letters.
• The ending is happy, hopeful, and touching. It leaves the reader with a satisfied smile. A couple of issues haven’t been resolved. Guess the author left the issues that way to keep things more realistic. It works in the bigger picture, so no complaints.
• There are a few hiccups in connecting the letters. It doesn’t always feel smooth and effortless. That said, the character arcs are decent and worth mentioning. My favorites are Samuel and Juliette.
• The concept of opening up to a stranger via letters was well explored. However, I couldn’t feel the magical touch of letter writing. Maybe it’s because I was reading an electronic copy of the book. Or maybe because there weren’t images of handwritten samples or signatures to give the feeling of reading physical letters.
• Despite dealing with heavy topics, the book is not a heavy read. It’s both a plus and a minus, depending on the reader. For me, it’s a plus.
To sum up, The Little French Bookshop is a heartwarming book that deals with quite a few issues. The epistolary style makes it possible to give the topic decent space. However, the title is rather misleading. This isn’t about a bookshop, except that Esther owns a little bookshop in Lille, France.
Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#TheLittleFrenchBookshop #NetGalley
One Liner: Heartwarming but has nothing to do with the title.
Esther plans a letter-writing workshop after her father’s death. She and her father loved exchanging letters (handwritten), and Esther wants to experience the same through the workshop. She also plans to offer her copyediting skills to prospective novelists.
Imagine her surprise when the applicants are everyone else by aspiring writers! From an elderly lady to an angsty teen and a delusional businessman, a total of five people are a part of her workshop. That makes Esther the sixth participant.
She wants to help them learn how to write better. But what do they want from the workshop? A chance to express themselves? A chance to seek answers? A chance to reconcile and start fresh?
Esther realizes that her workshop is helping the participants and her in a way she didn’t expect. Letter writing isn’t about writing a letter, is it?
My Observations:
• The book takes its own sweet time to progress. (it’s a slow read). The book alters between letters and regular narration (that gives the backstories and more insight into the characters).
• The letters are arranged in a neat order almost until the end. The slight change at the end is mentioned in the first few pages and makes sense once we get there.
• Various themes, ranging from postpartum depression to loneliness to social activism, etc., are dealt with. While some are more effective, the others pale in comparison.
• Each character is distinct and can be identified by the tone of the letter. This is very important when six people are writing letters.
• The ending is happy, hopeful, and touching. It leaves the reader with a satisfied smile. A couple of issues haven’t been resolved. Guess the author left the issues that way to keep things more realistic. It works in the bigger picture, so no complaints.
• There are a few hiccups in connecting the letters. It doesn’t always feel smooth and effortless. That said, the character arcs are decent and worth mentioning. My favorites are Samuel and Juliette.
• The concept of opening up to a stranger via letters was well explored. However, I couldn’t feel the magical touch of letter writing. Maybe it’s because I was reading an electronic copy of the book. Or maybe because there weren’t images of handwritten samples or signatures to give the feeling of reading physical letters.
• Despite dealing with heavy topics, the book is not a heavy read. It’s both a plus and a minus, depending on the reader. For me, it’s a plus.
To sum up, The Little French Bookshop is a heartwarming book that deals with quite a few issues. The epistolary style makes it possible to give the topic decent space. However, the title is rather misleading. This isn’t about a bookshop, except that Esther owns a little bookshop in Lille, France.
Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#TheLittleFrenchBookshop #NetGalley
Why?!?
What was Christie even thinking when she wrote this book? This is so not her. *sob*
Battle has a blink-and-miss appearance at the end. Doesn't even make sense to categorize it in his series.
If it wasn't a Christie book, I'd have given it two stars.
What was Christie even thinking when she wrote this book? This is so not her. *sob*
Battle has a blink-and-miss appearance at the end. Doesn't even make sense to categorize it in his series.
If it wasn't a Christie book, I'd have given it two stars.
4.5 Stars
Awww! is the first word that comes to my mind after reading the book. Maddie and Mabel are cute little sisters, where Maddie is the elder sister who takes care of everything, and Mabel is the little one who follows her.
The book is divided into five little sections to show the relationship between sisters. The sections are funny, lighthearted, and warm. The illustrations don’t fill the page but appear in smaller portions. This resulted in a spacious layout, making it easier to read and enjoy the illustrations at the same time.
The book would be great for bedtime reading, especially if you have more than one kid. The questions at the end make good starting points for discussion. The language is just as it should be in a kiddo book.
To sum up, Maddie and Mabel is a sweet little start to a promising series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), and Kind World Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#MaddieandMabel #NetGalley
Awww! is the first word that comes to my mind after reading the book. Maddie and Mabel are cute little sisters, where Maddie is the elder sister who takes care of everything, and Mabel is the little one who follows her.
The book is divided into five little sections to show the relationship between sisters. The sections are funny, lighthearted, and warm. The illustrations don’t fill the page but appear in smaller portions. This resulted in a spacious layout, making it easier to read and enjoy the illustrations at the same time.
The book would be great for bedtime reading, especially if you have more than one kid. The questions at the end make good starting points for discussion. The language is just as it should be in a kiddo book.
To sum up, Maddie and Mabel is a sweet little start to a promising series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), and Kind World Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#MaddieandMabel #NetGalley
4 Stars
One Liner: Entertaining, light-hearted, and fun.
Gwen comes from a family of witches. However, her family is forbidden from dabbling in magic and witchcraft. More than a century ago, her ancestor’s witchcraft created a catastrophic mess. The Grand Council of Witches punished the family by preventing them to perform magic for the next 150 years.
Gwen, Turdy, and Milo are more or less settled their relationships (or so they think). They are content to not attract the Watchers or the Council by publicly using magic for personal gain. All is well… until it isn’t.
What’s life without some magic, even if it causes more headache than relief? How can things be well with Tannith, the self-declared princess of Zenobia and the mean-spirited cousin of the family?
When Gwen receives Tannith’s letter about leaving Zenobia and moving to New York (but with a guy she charmed from one of the cousins), she begins to doubt if her relationship had survived or if her man, Daniel met the same fate as her previous dates (by succumbing to Tannith’s charm).
She meets Turdy and Milo to realize that things aren’t better for them. Turdy is evasive about Lardy, her husband. Milo isn’t too sure about Bert’s intentions either. Moreover, it appears that Turdy managed to unleash the inner witch in her and has no idea how to control it.
The appearance of Jeremy and his presence make Gwen wary for multiple reasons. He could be a Watcher, after all. Her sudden feelings for him don’t make sense either. She’s happy with Daniel, isn’t she?
What follows next is as messy as leaving a bunch of novice students in a chemistry lab. Can the cousins save the day and streamline their lives in the process?
• The book turned out to be exactly what I wanted. It’s silly, crazy, quirky, and even a little absurd. But it’s fast-paced and super fun. I like contemporary witchy books that are light on the mind and don’t demand too much attention.
• Gwen has many shades of the typical millennial and annoyed me at times. But since the story moves fast, she had no choice but to go with the flow and make faster decisions.
• The family dynamics were warm and cozy. Aunt Esme’s sharp sentences were a good contrast o balance the excess warmth of Gwen’s parents. (I’m looking forward to reading more about Aunt Esme).
• My favorite characters, of course, are Tannith and Griz (the black cat). That’s because these two have loads of potential with multiple layers. But I wasn’t looking for character development in this one, so I enjoyed the story without feeling a connection to any character.
• The romantic tracks also progressed too fast, but hey, we need a happy ever after. The book’s ending is just right for a sequel. I hope the author is drafting it already.
• My only rouse is that magic didn’t play as big a role as expected. I wanted more spells, more magic, and more witchcraft.
To sum up, A Letter to Three Witches is a light-hearted and entertaining read. Don’t look for logic or multilayered characters. Go with the flow and enjoy the funny moments.
Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Books, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#ALettertoThreeWitches #NetGalley
One Liner: Entertaining, light-hearted, and fun.
Gwen comes from a family of witches. However, her family is forbidden from dabbling in magic and witchcraft. More than a century ago, her ancestor’s witchcraft created a catastrophic mess. The Grand Council of Witches punished the family by preventing them to perform magic for the next 150 years.
Gwen, Turdy, and Milo are more or less settled their relationships (or so they think). They are content to not attract the Watchers or the Council by publicly using magic for personal gain. All is well… until it isn’t.
What’s life without some magic, even if it causes more headache than relief? How can things be well with Tannith, the self-declared princess of Zenobia and the mean-spirited cousin of the family?
When Gwen receives Tannith’s letter about leaving Zenobia and moving to New York (but with a guy she charmed from one of the cousins), she begins to doubt if her relationship had survived or if her man, Daniel met the same fate as her previous dates (by succumbing to Tannith’s charm).
She meets Turdy and Milo to realize that things aren’t better for them. Turdy is evasive about Lardy, her husband. Milo isn’t too sure about Bert’s intentions either. Moreover, it appears that Turdy managed to unleash the inner witch in her and has no idea how to control it.
The appearance of Jeremy and his presence make Gwen wary for multiple reasons. He could be a Watcher, after all. Her sudden feelings for him don’t make sense either. She’s happy with Daniel, isn’t she?
What follows next is as messy as leaving a bunch of novice students in a chemistry lab. Can the cousins save the day and streamline their lives in the process?
• The book turned out to be exactly what I wanted. It’s silly, crazy, quirky, and even a little absurd. But it’s fast-paced and super fun. I like contemporary witchy books that are light on the mind and don’t demand too much attention.
• Gwen has many shades of the typical millennial and annoyed me at times. But since the story moves fast, she had no choice but to go with the flow and make faster decisions.
• The family dynamics were warm and cozy. Aunt Esme’s sharp sentences were a good contrast o balance the excess warmth of Gwen’s parents. (I’m looking forward to reading more about Aunt Esme).
• My favorite characters, of course, are Tannith and Griz (the black cat). That’s because these two have loads of potential with multiple layers. But I wasn’t looking for character development in this one, so I enjoyed the story without feeling a connection to any character.
• The romantic tracks also progressed too fast, but hey, we need a happy ever after. The book’s ending is just right for a sequel. I hope the author is drafting it already.
• My only rouse is that magic didn’t play as big a role as expected. I wanted more spells, more magic, and more witchcraft.
To sum up, A Letter to Three Witches is a light-hearted and entertaining read. Don’t look for logic or multilayered characters. Go with the flow and enjoy the funny moments.
Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Books, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#ALettertoThreeWitches #NetGalley
*Happy Publication Day*
4 Stars
One Liner: A mix of various elements and interesting characters.
When Rufus, the pet dog of a Traveller father and son, digs up what looks like a burial site, it ends up opening the Pandora box of deaths and mysteries unsolved for years.
Jessie Boyle and Seamus Keneally visit the village and learn that things are as dangerous as they can get. With no clues, DNA results, or any information to keep them going, Jessie knows it’ll be another almost-impossible case to tackle.
The slightest of evidence takes them forward only to branch out into mysterious routes, and only one of them leads to the killer. The forest has safeguarded secrets for decades and has no intention of giving them up without a fight. Moreover, the Abhartach (a terror from the Irish legends) seems to have claimed the forests as his own.
With ominous warnings from the local folk and pressure from the government, can Jessie get to the bottom of the case and stay alive?
My Observations:
• The book reads well as a standalone despite a few references to the past.
• The pacing is steady. The story is neither wow nor bland.
• The characters are cool and distinct. It’s easy to get into the flow and understand their voices.
• Dawn Wilson is a kickass boss. I hope to see more of her in the coming books.
• Some of the Irish politics and military references went over my head. However, it didn’t stop me from getting the overall picture.
• The character descriptions read like a police report. That was cheeky. ;)
• Good balance between show and tell.
• Enough action to keep readers interested.
• No unexpected twists or ‘pull the rug’ moments.
Side Note:
The book discusses the legend of Abhartach, a short, dark, and terrifying man who is the earliest vampire in history. The legend claims that death didn’t stop Abhartach, no matter how many times he was killed. It took a Catholic Church priest to put Abhartach on an ash stake and prevent him from rising again.
This caught my interest as I’ve been reading about colonization and conversion of heathens from pagan religions to Abrahamic religions. The legend fit right into the slot. Imagine a dead person who can be stopped only by a Christian priest. Somehow, none of the existing pagan rituals seem to help people.
The book has interesting viewpoints about the legend, and one of them did get my attention. It equates the Abhartach with the Irish to show that no matter how much the Churches tried, the natives (and settlers) could rise and claim their heritage after being almost wiped out of existence.
Since I actually felt sorry for the character equated with Abhartach, I do agree with the analysis. The pagans are rising again (in my country too, though we managed to retain our culture and heritage), and well, it’s time the world respected this.
To sum up, Lost Graves is a steady thriller with a mix of various elements, from folklore to politics. It can be read as a standalone.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#NetGalley #LostGraves
4 Stars
One Liner: A mix of various elements and interesting characters.
When Rufus, the pet dog of a Traveller father and son, digs up what looks like a burial site, it ends up opening the Pandora box of deaths and mysteries unsolved for years.
Jessie Boyle and Seamus Keneally visit the village and learn that things are as dangerous as they can get. With no clues, DNA results, or any information to keep them going, Jessie knows it’ll be another almost-impossible case to tackle.
The slightest of evidence takes them forward only to branch out into mysterious routes, and only one of them leads to the killer. The forest has safeguarded secrets for decades and has no intention of giving them up without a fight. Moreover, the Abhartach (a terror from the Irish legends) seems to have claimed the forests as his own.
With ominous warnings from the local folk and pressure from the government, can Jessie get to the bottom of the case and stay alive?
My Observations:
• The book reads well as a standalone despite a few references to the past.
• The pacing is steady. The story is neither wow nor bland.
• The characters are cool and distinct. It’s easy to get into the flow and understand their voices.
• Dawn Wilson is a kickass boss. I hope to see more of her in the coming books.
• Some of the Irish politics and military references went over my head. However, it didn’t stop me from getting the overall picture.
• The character descriptions read like a police report. That was cheeky. ;)
• Good balance between show and tell.
• Enough action to keep readers interested.
• No unexpected twists or ‘pull the rug’ moments.
Side Note:
The book discusses the legend of Abhartach, a short, dark, and terrifying man who is the earliest vampire in history. The legend claims that death didn’t stop Abhartach, no matter how many times he was killed. It took a Catholic Church priest to put Abhartach on an ash stake and prevent him from rising again.
This caught my interest as I’ve been reading about colonization and conversion of heathens from pagan religions to Abrahamic religions. The legend fit right into the slot. Imagine a dead person who can be stopped only by a Christian priest. Somehow, none of the existing pagan rituals seem to help people.
The book has interesting viewpoints about the legend, and one of them did get my attention. It equates the Abhartach with the Irish to show that no matter how much the Churches tried, the natives (and settlers) could rise and claim their heritage after being almost wiped out of existence.
Since I actually felt sorry for the character equated with Abhartach, I do agree with the analysis. The pagans are rising again (in my country too, though we managed to retain our culture and heritage), and well, it’s time the world respected this.
To sum up, Lost Graves is a steady thriller with a mix of various elements, from folklore to politics. It can be read as a standalone.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#NetGalley #LostGraves
2.75 Stars
3 maybe (Still debating. Will rate later.)
**Unpopular Opinion**
Don’t read this review if you love the book.
This review is hard to write. One, because my friends were sure I’d love the book. Two, because I still feel mixed up almost 18 hours after finishing the book.
I can’t claim I loved the book when I didn’t. I can’t think I can exactly explain what’s annoying me the most.
Let’s plod through somehow. If you get bored midway through, I’ll understand.
The book started well enough with beautiful prose and vivid imagery. Soon enough, I realized there had to be a suspension of belief. I was okay with it to an extent.
Then, it felt like I was being taken for granted. I mean, even if I understand how a six-year-old learns to take care of the house (it is possible to a great extent), I can’t comprehend how a girl with almost zero education learns so fast and speaks like a textbook.
Sure, Kya could have super IQ and photographic memory, but imagine becoming a scientific expert, a bestselling author, and a But hey, make it a little believable. Somehow, Kya never struggles with her reading and writing skills, not to mention, she’s also an expert painter!
While I understand the intention to show that one doesn’t need a formal education to be successful when one can learn from nature, we do live in a materialistic world.
The character development or the lack of it was another aspect I figure out halfway into the book. Kya is pretty much the same at six, fourteen, or twenty-two. Jumping and Mabel give her so much love and deserved better treatment from her. For someone who wanted to be loved and was willing to give the boys a chance, it’s strange that she didn’t start reciprocating Mabel’s love until almost the end. The rest of the characters are pretty much one-dimensional and do what they should. Nothing more.
Now, the mystery. Ahem… it’s a sort of mystery with a courtroom scene thrown in. And no, the descriptive prose until then and the courtroom scenes don’t blend. What saved me was my fast reading. I picked up a good pace that filtered the filler stuff and allowed me to enjoy the court scenes a little.
Of course, it’s still surprising that the case was so weak and hinged on ‘basic evidence and theories where were never tested’. And yeah, I did figure out the twist. How? There were only two possibilities, and I went with the 'less likely' option. Bingo! But what irked me was loose ends. There’s no explanation of how the crime was committed. It felt too coincidental and convenient. I also have a doubt about something, so I’ll wait for the book discussions in our group to talk about it.
What I did like about the book was the information about the marsh, the birds, insects, etc. These bits were my favorite. A round of tightening might have helped (this comes from someone who loves lyrical prose).
**Unpopular Opinion**
Don’t read this review if you love the book.
This review is hard to write. One, because my friends were sure I’d love the book. Two, because I still feel mixed up almost 18 hours after finishing the book.
I can’t claim I loved the book when I didn’t. I can’t think I can exactly explain what’s annoying me the most.
Let’s plod through somehow. If you get bored midway through, I’ll understand.
The book started well enough with beautiful prose and vivid imagery. Soon enough, I realized there had to be a suspension of belief. I was okay with it to an extent.
Then, it felt like I was being taken for granted. I mean, even if I understand how a six-year-old learns to take care of the house (it is possible to a great extent), I can’t comprehend how a girl with almost zero education learns so fast and speaks like a textbook.
Sure, Kya could have super IQ and photographic memory, but imagine becoming a scientific expert, a bestselling author, and a
Spoiler
fairly popular poet (under a pseudonym) with below-average poetry-writing skills.While I understand the intention to show that one doesn’t need a formal education to be successful when one can learn from nature, we do live in a materialistic world.
The character development or the lack of it was another aspect I figure out halfway into the book. Kya is pretty much the same at six, fourteen, or twenty-two. Jumping and Mabel give her so much love and deserved better treatment from her. For someone who wanted to be loved and was willing to give the boys a chance, it’s strange that she didn’t start reciprocating Mabel’s love until almost the end. The rest of the characters are pretty much one-dimensional and do what they should. Nothing more.
Now, the mystery. Ahem… it’s a sort of mystery with a courtroom scene thrown in. And no, the descriptive prose until then and the courtroom scenes don’t blend. What saved me was my fast reading. I picked up a good pace that filtered the filler stuff and allowed me to enjoy the court scenes a little.
Of course, it’s still surprising that the case was so weak and hinged on ‘basic evidence and theories where were never tested’. And yeah, I did figure out the twist. How? There were only two possibilities, and I went with the 'less likely' option. Bingo! But what irked me was loose ends. There’s no explanation of how the crime was committed. It felt too coincidental and convenient. I also have a doubt about something, so I’ll wait for the book discussions in our group to talk about it.
Spoiler
I don’t particularly like the protag dying at the end either. I can see how it would’ve tugged the heartstrings and prepared readers for the final twist. It didn’t work for me.What I did like about the book was the information about the marsh, the birds, insects, etc. These bits were my favorite. A round of tightening might have helped (this comes from someone who loves lyrical prose).
A World Full of Journeys: Over 50 stories of human migration that changed our world
Quarto Generic, Martin Howard, Christopher Corr
4 Stars
I requested the ARC of this book after reading a friend’s review. As the title says, the book is about human migrations, journeys, invasions, from the past and present. The book does a good job of trying to cover all continents, though the major focus is on America.
I appreciate that the book doesn’t shy away from talking of invasions, slavery, torture, and racism. Not all invasions are covered (understandable considering the target audience) but at least it doesn’t say invasions were peaceful.
From African plundering to Australian penal colonies and the Underground Railroad to help the Native Americans, the world has had more than its share of racism and torture. The book is a good place to start with an outline of world history and then read books about each invasion and migration.
Belonging to a country that has been invaded multiple times, I can’t help but feel a little sad that there isn’t much about it in the book. Sure, it talks of the British colonization of India (here, I’d like to add that the freedom struggle took millions of lives, and Gandhi wasn’t the only one responsible for freeing India). A mention of the Islamic, Portuguese, Dutch, and French invasions would have been nice. Even a couple of lines would give kids the necessary nudge to know more.
(The same applies to other countries too. I know it’s a lot to cover, but a line of tiny text could make a lot of difference in a world where records are everything. It’s so easy for a modern-day person to ignore someone’s generational trauma because they haven’t read about it.)
The illustrations are beautiful. I love the technique used to create characters. It’s almost caveman-ish and raw and fits right into the theme of the book.
Overall, the book is a worthy attempt at not whitewashing invasions and colonization. Thank you for not saying the colonizers did us a favor by plundering our lands.
I received an ARC from NetGalley, Frances Lincoln Children's Books, and Quarto Publishing Group and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#AWorldFullofJourneysandMigrations #NetGalley
P.S: There's another version of Ashoka's story. It might be good to check it out.
I requested the ARC of this book after reading a friend’s review. As the title says, the book is about human migrations, journeys, invasions, from the past and present. The book does a good job of trying to cover all continents, though the major focus is on America.
I appreciate that the book doesn’t shy away from talking of invasions, slavery, torture, and racism. Not all invasions are covered (understandable considering the target audience) but at least it doesn’t say invasions were peaceful.
From African plundering to Australian penal colonies and the Underground Railroad to help the Native Americans, the world has had more than its share of racism and torture. The book is a good place to start with an outline of world history and then read books about each invasion and migration.
Belonging to a country that has been invaded multiple times, I can’t help but feel a little sad that there isn’t much about it in the book. Sure, it talks of the British colonization of India (here, I’d like to add that the freedom struggle took millions of lives, and Gandhi wasn’t the only one responsible for freeing India). A mention of the Islamic, Portuguese, Dutch, and French invasions would have been nice. Even a couple of lines would give kids the necessary nudge to know more.
(The same applies to other countries too. I know it’s a lot to cover, but a line of tiny text could make a lot of difference in a world where records are everything. It’s so easy for a modern-day person to ignore someone’s generational trauma because they haven’t read about it.)
The illustrations are beautiful. I love the technique used to create characters. It’s almost caveman-ish and raw and fits right into the theme of the book.
Overall, the book is a worthy attempt at not whitewashing invasions and colonization. Thank you for not saying the colonizers did us a favor by plundering our lands.
I received an ARC from NetGalley, Frances Lincoln Children's Books, and Quarto Publishing Group and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#AWorldFullofJourneysandMigrations #NetGalley
P.S: There's another version of Ashoka's story. It might be good to check it out.