Tag: plot

Book Review, Fiction, Mystery

My Cousin Rachel by D.d.M.

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Image result for my cousin rachel by daphne du maurier

2.7 stars. Difficult to get started. Dreadfully lacking suspense, yet suspenseful in the sense that I was constantly expecting some dramatic shift not because the prose lead me to that conclusion, despite the foreshadowing in the first chapter.
A fair warning: I went into this book thinking I’d be overwhelmed with suspense when instead I found myself delving into a Dickensian lesser-Austen where the anticipation of anticipation was murderous. The story was so slow burning that I gave up several times, but persisted only because I wished it to get better. (The person who recommended MCR to me is someone I trust wholeheartedly). Nevertheless I still expected some high-level Christie narration paired with a mild dash of Poe. The writing was exquisite the only thing missing was my enjoyment of it.
The ending was even more disappointing than the rest as it seemed like a forced afterthought to bring the story full circle. Unsatisfying.

Beautiful prose–don’t get me wrong–but so boring at times that I was nigh tears and tearing the whole thing to shreds.  I think I would have liked it much more if I had gone in with lower or no expectations. But probably not.

Book Review, Series, YA Fantasy

Series: Shades of Magic by V.E.S.

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Image result for shades of magic

A Darker Shade of Magic

3 Stars. An interesting new fantastical read! However, the word choice just rubbed me the wrong way. For example, when you use the word “divest” in its various forms more than ten times in 400 pages you need to start using a thesaurus.

I liked the characters though, but I also felt as if they’d been cheated by such a limited glossary to portray their dispositions, desires, and actions.

This is the point when I say: an original concept, but with a sad mediocre execution.  I’ll probably read the others some day.

A Gathering of Shadows

3 Stars. Semi-original plot (akin to a cross of Hunger Games, an Olympic documentary, and Harry Potter) executed with a predictable writing style, riddled with cliches. It was an easy read, but not in the enjoyment-leads-you-through-it way, but in the it’s-absolutely-uncomplicated-and-simple way while simultaneously being confusing with what is holey development and a rushed, sporadic plotline. It was creativity barred by the lack of creativity.
Some of the characters were drawn in such a simplistic light that their interesting traits from the first book were over-shadowed by things that weren’t actually traits. Like “i LovE KNivEs” is not a character trait to base an entire novel off of, but ok.
I mean, I guess its good enough that I might read the third one in a couple months when I forget how unimpressed I was with this installment.

A Conjuring of Light

3.5 Stars. I don’t know. So much happened. I think the writing was better than the previous installments. Thats why I gave it 4-ish stars. I just didn’t want to read it. Maybe it wasn’t boring, I was just over the whole high-fantasy genre. I do appreciate the minor character development, but not so much another undefeatable evil with some sort of deus ex machina type ending.
But whatever.

Book Review, Fiction, Romance

Emma by J.A.

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5 Stars. Emma is a perfect encapsulation of wealthy pettiness and obliviousness. Austen captures the breadth of interests among gentility and the futile efforts of silly youth with such beauty of prose it makes me simultaneously want to be a writer while at the same time shunning it completely because if resurrected Jane Austen (c’mon you know its gonna happen, science is advancing every day) ever comes across my work I might be thoroughly embarrassed by my inadequacies.

But really, why can’t people write well like this anymore? Or were there the same rates of terrible literature being published and I’m just romanticizing the past.

Book Review, Fiction, Romance

Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by B.K.J.

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3.5 Stars. I don’t know why I initially chose to read this book. I despise erotica and I do not appreciate pornography, which generally have ridiculous plot lines like those indicated in this book.

I did actually appreciate the justice seeking for honor slayings in this book, it’s often something we forget about or don’t think happens all over the world and in our very own neighborhoods. I wish this theme were more prevalent.

The book was written decently enough and was easy to follow. Most of the time, though, I felt like I was in with my friends in high school and browsing in the romance section of a bookstore while opening to random passages and giggling about the absurdity and poor prose of it all.

I think I might like other things written by this author more than this book.

Book Review, Series, Steampunk, YA Fantasy

Series: Six of Crows Duology by L.B.

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Six of Crows

4.75 Stars. Wow. This is an amazing work of fiction. I loved the natural flow of each subplot into the main novel. Each character was engaging and I honestly could not determine which was my favorite, I liked them all so much.  They were all so different and wonderful in their own little ways. The writing far surpassed what I’ve read of the Grisha Trilogy thus far, I’m happy for Bardugo’s progress.  The only thing that I didn’t really like about this book (and which cost it its 5 star rating) is that I thought the characters were a bit young–even with their supposed life experiences combined–to be carrying out a heist as plausible as this.  I guess that wasn’t made realistic enough for me, but maybe I’m just being picky (this coming from a person who adores the Artemis Fowl series). A wonderful read and a beautiful cliff hanger that was unexpected and made me want to purchase the duology so I don’t have to wait for Crooked Kingdom to become available at the library.

Crooked Kingdom

Coming Soon. Probably.