thebacklistbook's Reviews (304)

This book was really easy to read. So approachable. It has some very important messages. It also fails in a key place. 

There is a character that thinks not wanting to face your attacker and take them down is weak. And she isn't challenged for that belief. She is called a bitch for other things. She is never explicitly called out for that wrongheaded belief. 

Ultimately this book was just okay. I really loved the writing style though. Trigger Warning for attempted rape.

This book is a fantastic tool for aspiring writers. i really meant that. Read this book if you are even remotely considering writing books. Each author contributes a story and uses it to show you their process. 

These three ladies have such radically different approaches to writing. You will probably wonder how on earth such different individuals can possibly be critique partners. By the end you will come to understand that. You will also understand that marching to your own drum does not mean that you will fail. It just means you need to know what works for you.

The stories themselves were good as well. Ladylike is a slowly building thriller that develops a friendship between species. I loved this story. It was brilliant and delightful. It also illustrated that sometimes you foreshadow without intending to and in your editing you might want to tweak what you foreshadow.

Desert Canticle is a beautifully crafted tale of love. The twist will blow you over, then you will realize the breadcrumbs were there, you just didn't pick them up.

The final story, or rather set of stories, were just so-so for me. But I don't like reading that genre of storytelling no matter who writes it.

All-in-all an invaluable tool.

This book frustrated me to no end! It's like a giant game of Clue mixed with Dante's inferno. That ending has to be the most frustrating ending I have read in years. Gah!

Evelyn Hardcastle Will be murdered at 11 PM. You alone are responsible for solving her murder. At least that is what you believe to be true. This book has more twists to it than forty five snakes writhing beneath a house. The multiple POVs will make your head spin so fast that you might think you've just gotten off a teacup ride with PARTICULARLY sadistic 6 year old at the wheel.

the world building snuck up on me. for the first fifty pages or so, I could have chucked this book and thought I wasn't missing a thing. after that it really picks up and it's all I could do to remember to sleep. This book will fuck you up. It is a standalone by the way. You have been warned.

Melissa Landers has just become a must read author for me. Outlaws, enemies to friends to lovers, intrigue, mayhem, and space pirates. What's not to love?! 

I particularly liked the pacing in this one. Never a dull moment. The descriptions were on point. I felt like I was on the ship with them.