non-m/m

Review: Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews .. not as good as their other series.

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Burn for Me (Hidden Legacy, #1)Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels series, even when it annoys me at times. Burn for Me is a new series by the duo and it’s very, very similar to the Kate Daniels series. Very similar. As in you could almost replace Kate with Nevada and Curran with Rogan. However, I found Nevada to be more annoying than Kate and the story to be much more predictable and less entertaining. However to be fair I was on a roller coaster with this book – sometimes I liked it, sometimes I was annoyed, sometimes I really liked it, and sometimes I hated it entirely. Overall I think it’s just ok but I dislike how formulaic the series is when you consider the similarities to the existing KD series. Although a lot of fans may preferentially prefer such formatting and therefore adore the hell out of the series. YMMV. Continue reading →

Review: The Martian by Andy Weir .. best book of the year so far.

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The MartianThe Martian by Andy Weir

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Martian came well recommended and I decided to give the audiobook a try. I’m glad I did, as it’s a highly, HIGHLY entertaining story I loved listening to and hated to finish. Even so it’s utterly ridiculous and basically a superhero story even while being technically outstanding, both in writing and realistic detail. The events depicted are logically and scientifically not only possible, but also probable. What makes the story utterly ridiculous is that all of the knowledge, capability, and ingenuity rely on one person. Not even MacGuiver would have figured out everything presented in this book. Though no doubt I totally aged myself with that reference. Anyway – the point is that the book is exceptionally entertaining while being a fabulously well-written science fiction novel. It’s just not likely to have happened that way. Does this matter? Probably not, ymmv. Continue reading →

Review: Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver .. why must authors be so inconsistent?

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Vanishing GirlsVanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

— warning this post contains spoilers —

This definitely goes into the category of “I suffered so you don’t have to” books. I usually like Lauren Oliver’s books but not always. I think Rooms was boring and pointless, although I really liked Before I Fall and the Delirium trilogy. I thought Panic was “eh” with moments of greatness. Unfortunately Vanishing Girls is closer to Rooms in the pointless and ridiculously loquacious writing than it was to the books I actually like of Oliver’s. I’m frustrated by the change in her writing to awkward and unpleasing analogies and the over use of cliché plot points that other books have done better and more successfully. I can’t say I loathed Vanishing Girls but I did hate on it pretty hard. I wanted to quit so many times but I also wanted to see if I was right about everything (sadly I was. STOP BEING PREDICTABLE!). Even die-hard fans should avoid this one. Continue reading →

Review: Outlander .. and it’s not pretty

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Outlander (Outlander, #1)Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Every so often a book comes along that I loathe to the core of my being. I can give low ratings to books I dislike but sometimes there are books that deserve negative scores, if such a thing was possible. To say I hate this book is a bit of an understatement. To even say that negative passion rivals a thousand suns doesn’t quite match my feelings. I will attempt not to rant forever but I apologize in advance if I can’t seem to shut up. It’s that kind of review. I’ll summarize to say that the book has a myriad of technical problems, plot holes and inconsistencies, however, the worst offense is the loathsome main protagonist, Clare Beecham. She offends me on just about every level. I am utterly horrified there is actually a TV show staring this pitiable character.
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Review: Panic

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Panic
Panic by Lauren Oliver
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I found Panic to be mildly interesting with great potential but ultimately failed under the weight of its own angst. The story itself has so much possibility and Oliver has the storytelling capability of making this an incredible book. Unfortunately she commits a cardinal YA sin of not actually advancing her characters from their initial weak, immature, and irritating teen behaviors to much more mature, developed, and rational young adults. Instead they simply get a happy ending without any consequences to their truly dangerous and immature actions while having learned absolutely nothing over the course of what should be a transformative summer. Some readers have said this is similar to Hunger Games or Divergent, which it’s not in any way. Both of those are rip offs of Battle Royale and Panic is a study of desperate immature teenagers with no future because they’re too stupid to actually grow up. Totally different books. Continue reading →

Review: The Submissive

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The Submissive
The Submissive by Tara Sue Me

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I wish there was a zero star rating sometimes. I read this book on recommendation from a friend and I knew nothing about it. Unfortunately I truly hated this book to the depths of my soul. I spent much of my reading time gasping out loud at the ridiculousness of the story and characters and reminding myself that throwing my reader would only hurt me and not the book that so richly deserved destroying. My problems with this book are many and very layered. I honestly have nothing positive to say about this book at all. Well that’s not true; I found the best friend the least reprehensible of the entire cast. Faint praise to be sure and not exactly positive so take that, as you will. Continue reading →

Review: The Fault in Our Stars

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The Fault in Our Stars
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I know I’m late to this party – but I seriously loved this book, and not because it’s about cancer. I have drunk the Kool-Aid and I do think this is “omgthebestbookever.” It’s not necessarily realistic because teenagers don’t speak or act that way, nor do adults even. It’s more like the way you wish someone would speak with endless witticism and clever comebacks that roll of the tongue of those who can’t possibly be that articulate and well read. I honestly didn’t care though because I loved the dialogue and prose. I didn’t mind that the teenagers act and talk in ways that are in no way realistic. To me the story isn’t even attempting to be realistic. It’s pure fantasy in contemporary setting and I could go with that. Continue reading →

Review: Blood Cross

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Blood Cross
Blood Cross by Faith Hunter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is how I like my urban fantasy – heavy on the action and UF with a little light romance on the side. The main character of Jane annoyed the crap out of me for most of the book. She’s too snarky with few consequences for all her nosey, unrelenting ways and the timeline is wonky. Often Jane rushes into situations without thinking her plan through and usually makes it through unscathed. I appreciate that occasionally she gets her butt kicked, which she always deserves and then some. Thankfully the story has a lot of good urban fantasy elements – I especially like the vampire mythology – and a solid enough plot to keep me listening during the moments I wish Jane would die. She’s a better than average heroine, if pretty cookie cutter in a lot of ways. Continue reading →

Review: The Eye of Minds

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The Eye of Minds
The Eye of Minds by James Dashner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I keep meaning to read The Maze Runner books and haven’t yet but they’re at the top of my list now. I absolutely loved The Eye of Minds. I thought it was interesting, engaging, with several twists and turns that can be chaotic. I’m not sure the ending really worked though I loved the twist of it and the never-ending danger of the virtual world wore on me a bit but I still finished the book with a happy sigh and wanted to read it all over again immediately. I’m impressed with the writing and handling of such complex plot lines while giving relatable and engaging characters. I can easily recommend this book and I’m very much looking forward to more in the series. Continue reading →

Review: Not a Drop to Drink

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Not a Drop to Drink
Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 rounded down

As a fan of dystopian novels, I was eager to read this. I’d heard it was stark, sometimes uncomfortable and bleak to read with some moments of angst. The reviews I’d read made the book seem dire and almost overwhelmingly dark. I had some hesitation because while I like dystopian, I don’t want to be depressed after reading a book. However, upon finishing Not a Drop to Drink, I didn’t feel depressed at all. I found the material fascinating and I flew through the pages. I never felt the world was desolate or depressing. Harsh, stark, and unforgiving definitely but there is always a thread of hope and the book actually ends on an absurdly positive note. I think dystopian fans will really enjoy this story, even if the YA romance shouldn’t have been included. Continue reading →