I have returned to my love of the classics and am in awe of the masterful way these wizards of words weave their worlds. There is no one, to this day, who compares to the writers of old. I hear authors state these classics are boring but if that is the case, why are they timeless? Why have they lasted when so many other titles have met their shelf-life and been neglected? Why have movie adaptations been made over and over depicting these "boring" stories? Sir Arthur Conan Doyle introduced us to an amazing machine of detection. Today, I start this journey with A Study in Scarlet, a story of Sherlock Holmes.
My Review:Disclaimer: My reviews are based on my own opinions. By no means will I ever discourage a reader to form their own opinions by reading the author's book. Do NOT contact me and complain about your review. I am and always will be brutally honest and expect my reviewers to be the same. A Study in Scarlet is the first installment in the legendary journey of Sherlock Holmes. It begins with Sherlock Holmes being called to a bizarre scene where a grisly murder awaits and a word is written on the wall in blood. What unfurls is a mystery involving lost love and a vengeance transcending 20 years. I am very and I mean very excited to have re-read this timeless classic. Arthur Conan Doyle reminds us as to the reasons why he is one of the masters of weaving the true mystery. Doyle offers a unique approach to his novels by having Dr. Watson be the one who recounts Sherlock's adventures in his journal instead of having the story told from Sherlock's point of view. This is not something commonly seen in today's "literature." Though Doyle does not provide the depth of world-building I usually prefer and relies largely on dialogue to create the story, I find his works one of the finest examples of the detective story to date. Something I personally suffer from is the ability to figure out the killers, the motive and the method of murder mid-way in many of the mysteries I read. This is not the case in works by Agatha Christie, Conan Doyle or Edgar Allan Poe. I adore this about Holmes. With rich characters, multiple twists and turns in the plot and of course, Holmes' miraculous ability to deduce details otherwise hidden to the naked eye, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle creates true works of literary art. They are a fresh breath of air in a world where weaving such tales is becoming a scarce art. Have a book you want to recommend? Want me to review yours? I'm always looking for new books to review! Be sure to read my review policy before contacting me. There are changes! Make sure to be aware.
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Recently, I have had the pleasure of finding a renewed love of all things mystery. Knowing what people know about me, it may be surprising for them to find I have a soft spot for cozy mysteries. This led me to finding a cozy mystery group on Twitter that I am enjoying very much. Let's get to the review!
My Review: Disclaimer: My reviews are based on my own opinions. By no means will I ever discourage a reader to form their own opinions by reading the author's book. Do NOT contact me and complain about your review. I am and always will be brutally honest and expect my reviewers to be the same. Live and Let Chai follows the story of Everly Swan, a young woman who just opened up a dream cafe within her home where she serves tea to the lovely patrons of Charm, North Carolina. A man by the name of Mr. Benedict Paine makes it apparent his disdain of the lovely little shop. However, he soon winds up dead, apparently poisoned with a jar of Everly's tea in hand. This does not bode well and Everly finds herself defending not only her reputation but the reputation of Sun, Sand and Tea by tracking down the killer(s). All this while falling for the handsome Graty Hays, a detective who recently moved to Charm. To start, this book was a lovely read. I enjoyed almost everything about it. It was my first venture into Bree Baker's work and let me say, it does not disappoint. It has many aspects one comes to expect from a cozy and executes them in an impressive manner. The writing was beautiful, flawed in some places, but more on that later. The characters were probably my biggest problem. I couldn't really connect with any of them nor did I find myself feeling too much sympathy for Everly. However, I did indeed understand her drive and could experience it pleasantly throughout the book. I did not like the concept of the Aunts. As a fan of Joanne Fluke and Charlaine Harris, I am more fond of the over-controlling parent figure but can respect the desire of the author to change. I also found myself wanting more sleuthing on behalf of the sleuth BUT loved the dynamic between Everly and Detective Hays. Those two made up my favorite characters, which in retrospect, is what needed to happen. As I mentioned above, the writing was absolutely beautiful. There were a few places an editor could have caught but it is not uncommon to find a few mistakes and I can easily overlook them in light of a good read. This novel will bring me back to Ms. Baker's work as I want to know more about her work. A refreshing read and a beautiful one. Highest recommendations to lovers of a good cozy mystery with a change from bakeries and libraries. Have a book you want to recommend? Want me to review yours? I'm always looking for new books to review! Be sure to read my review policy before contacting me. There are changes! Make sure to be aware.
I am slowly catching up with my TBR list. Thank you to everyone for being willing to send me paperbacks. It's been difficult to keep up with eBooks due to eye strain and migraines. What I think I'll do is try to do a book review at least twice a month and movie reviews on Mondays since I watch so many. Something else future reviewers need to be aware of, I am updating my review policy so please read it before sending a review request!
My Review:Disclaimer: My reviews are based on my own opinions. By no means will I ever discourage a reader to form their own opinions by reading the author's book. Do NOT contact me and complain about your review. I am and always will be brutally honest and expect my reviewers to be the same. To begin, I will not be providing a synopsis to this novel because the author's blurb does a bang-up job at doing so. I also want it known as per my review policy, if a novel or novella does not catch me by 33% in, due to overwhelming requests, I will DNF (did not finish) it. I hate doing this but unfortunately, I have to. This was one such novel. I tried so hard to go further but after 17 chapters of hearing how much Yvonne's life sucked and her angsty complaints about her break-up - plus her father's complaints about his life sucked, etc - I'd had enough. None of the characters caught my attention. They were under-developed and focused solely on how horrible things were for them and their messed up pasts and presents I couldn't connect with any of it. While I understand learning about the characters is indeed important (as I do it myself as an author), this went too far. There was so much back history slammed at me all at once. The author could've easily spread it out or cut down the detail. We had no plot other than hearing how much Trent wanted to improve on his "god-complex" and liked to mess with peoples' lives. It became a real "enough already, we get it, the guy's a narcissistic psychopath" situation quickly. It took 17 chapters for Trent to mention he even had a plan besides stalking the White family and wanting to tear them apart. This is a real problem. The inciting incident, as it is known in the writing world, should occur - especially in a promised "horror thriller" - no later than chapter 5 or (and this is pushing it) 6. Doing so any later loses the reader and becomes a drag. There was so much "why do we even need to know this?" For example, why did we need to know about Heath's past with bullies in detail? He could've easily gotten the point across to his daughter by mentioning brief backstory at the table. We didn't need a whole chapter on it. Same with meeting his wife - who, by the way - only seems to appear and disappear when she's needed to be a catalyst for something. This is weak character writing. The plot could've been strengthened by not even having the mom there or even really set off the horror plot by replacing the dead raccoon with Heath's wife. Something positive I can say is the cover is gorgeous. Simple, yet tells a story. The blurb was beautifully written and I loved the way it appeared the author took great care in editing and formatting. These are rare so as a reviewer, I appreciated it. I did like Trent, I thought he could've been a smashing psychopath with a signature and everything. I enjoy a nice serial killer thriller. I only wish such care was given to the plot as I see gorgeous potential. I will gladly re-read and re- review if another edition is provided. All in all, I'm sorry to say, Vultures did not deliver on what it promised. When an author says "an agonizing initiation into the violent laws of masculinity, Vultures is a horror-thriller that will leave you breathless," I expect it to be one. This means tension, suspense, horrifying scenes and feeling of hopelessness until hope is taken from the "jaws of defeat." None of this happened in this book. Have a book you want to recommend? Want me to review yours? I'm always looking for new books to review! Be sure to read my review policy before contacting me. There are changes! Make sure to be aware.
Another title for the Popsugar Reading Challenge. Theme: A Book With a Two Word Title. The Strain is everything I want in a horror novel and more. A complete change featuring a wonderful combination of two well-known tropes. It is a beautiful example of how a writer can take what's already been written and turn it into something new. If you haven't already, I invite you to view my Popsugar Reading Challenge list.
My Review:Del Toro proves to the horror community that he has earned his place amongst the masters of the supernatural horror. Teaming up with Chuck Hogan, these two wizards show how something so familiar to the horror genre can be twisted into something completely new. The Strain is set-up in multiple views with interludes outlining the beginning of the novel's dark antagonist while taking great care not to introduce him too early. It begins when a plane carrying over 200 passengers suddenly goes dark on the airstrip. Ephraim Goodweather and his team are called in to investigate the strange occurrence. What they discover winds up being something straight out of a horror film, challenging Eph's reliance on pure scientific explanation. This book has it all. A colorful cast of characters, each with their own struggles and flaws that develop the further along the story goes. It has a mysterious antagonist with the capability of infecting people in ways unknown to modern day, romanticized vampires. Each character is faced with new challenges, forcing them to change what they always thought to be true, shattered in an instant by a supernatural force. The Strain takes the undead and makes them what they are meant to be - carnal beasts with a lust for human blood. It combines the well-known and beloved biological outbreak theme and makes it into a unique concept by turning the vampire virus into just that - a virus. Del Toro and Hogan use the power of imagery to paint vivid pictures so the reader can formulate their own versions of what the "revenants" look like without going into depth of description. They utilize the horror author's tool-kit - suspense, shock value, gross out factor and tension - and push them to create a fast-paced novel capable of keeping readers wanting to turn pages. The hook of the book is especially extraordinary by introducing the plane and then following it to its imminent doom. The Strain is a novel I've personally been craving. At times it does move slow, adopting some of Stephen King's dragging dialogue and scenes describing everyone's daily lives. However, despite this, del Toro and Hogan are capable of keeping the reader engaged. Something not many horror novels are able to do in today's clutch of authors. I have nothing but the highest recommendations to readers looking to see a vampire virus as it should be - pure, devastation. Have a book you want to recommend? Want me to review yours? I'm always looking for new books to review! Be sure to read my review policy before contacting me.
My Review: Overall: 3 out of 5 Cover: 2 out of 5 Okay, let me begin by saying I liked the premise of this story. It's not every day an author approaches a "game show" theme and makes it into something almost resembling a plot.
It addresses a very real thing - the amount of stupidity people will go through to earn money. We've seen it in Survivor, Fear Factor and other ludicrous shows. That being said, I didn't like this read solely for the lack of plot. It was a typical gore fest which isn't something I don't enjoy but I at least want a story. What scenes there were of Damon I almost wanted to see more of him and less of the show. There was no character development, no world-building and no plot. Three major things I look for when reviewing. We get it: Damon is a narcissistic asshole with a complex for violence and blood but is that the only side of him? The author mentioned how the characters become more developed as the series goes on but the debut novel should provide a strong basis for what the reader can expect. Not doing so can lead the reader to not want to continue with the series. One thing that separates a seasoned author from a not so seasoned author is the understanding of point of view consistency. This is something I see so much with self-published or Indie published authors. A traditionally published author would have editors who would catch such a severe discrepancy. All throughout reading Easy Money, I was left asking what point of view were we supposed to be seeing things through? Things jumped all over the place so bad, I got confused and couldn't connect to any of the characters. This is a fatal flaw that can lead to a reader not finishing a book. I almost didn't finish it because of this. All of the information dumping in the beginning could've been replaced with more development of the characters. Dialogue dragged on and could have been replaced with more conflict as well. I nearly DNF'd it because of all of the information. All in all, I think this series has potential, don't get me wrong but when reading, there needs to be a plot. Promising one for the rest of the series isn't going to cut it, even if this is considered a splatterpunk novella. Book review time is here again. I was lucky enough to have this little gem on my TBR which coincides with a theme from the Popsugar Reading 2019 Challenge. As I've said on my social media, I do have a list up that I carefully researched in case anyone needs a recommendation. You can find it here.
My Review:Overall: 3.5 out of 5 Stars Cover: 2 out of 5 Stars Disclaimer: My reviews are based on my own opinions. By no means will I ever discourage a reader to form their own opinions by reading the author's book. Do NOT contact me and complain about your review. I am and always will be brutally honest and expect my reviewers to be the same. I didn't really know what to expect with this book when I began reading it. From the author's description, I expected a viral outbreak to hit on page one to really pull me in. Unfortunately, that's not what happened and I actually found the beginning to be quite slow. It took me a great deal to keep enough interest to continue reading but my love for the French Quarter and all things bayou kept me going.
I won't say I'm glad it did but what I will say is I was pleasantly impressed and found myself enjoying the book more. There were so many plot twists and turns, I couldn't get off the ride until it came to the ending. Which, might I say is very typical of a viral outbreak novel. The way the author wrote the book showed a great deal of care I don't see in many titles nowadays, which was indeed a breath of fresh air. The way the book was worded was very elegant and well done. This all being said, had I not received this book for a free review, I wouldn't have bought it. There just wasn't enough focus on the viral part of things and more on the human condition when faced with such an occasion. While I do enjoy the building of character arcs and the human condition, these seemed cookie cutter and a bit on the dull side. I wanted so badly to connect to a character but couldn't. The plot, though woven with beautiful twists, is something I've seen repeatedly in viral outbreak novels and movies. Adding a subtle twist could've broken the monotony. I honestly felt like I was reading a mix of Del Toro and Hogan's The Strain and World War Z (minus the zombies). Again, while the character development was more impressive than many books I've read, the world-building suffered a great deal. I would've liked to feel more immersed in the story and not like an onlooker experiencing astral projection. Overall, I did enjoy this book. I could tell the author did her research and took great care to make sure the story flowed well and the readers were kept guessing. I loved how it was set in New Orleans and how the character Queenie brought in some of the bayou/cajun culture.
My Review:Overall: 4 out of 5 Cover: 3 out of 5 The story follows Harley Baker, a young man who faced death twice after a horrible accident that resulted in the deaths of his parents. As the story continues, Harley experiments with astral projection and winds up losing his body to a powerful demon. We learn that Harley's connection this demon goes even deeper than originally believed.
This story blew me away with its multiple plot twists and completely unique take on astral projection. I honestly didn't know what to expect after looking at the cover. The cynical side of me wanted to believe this might be a spin-off of Insidious but I soon found this is not the case. With possibly one of the strongest hooks I've seen in a long time Out of Body gave exactly what the author promised it would: "A supernatural thriller with a unique ending." My only complaint for this novel was a lack of character and world building. There also could've been a bit more conflict with Harley being able to contact someone and made things a bit harder for the villain. He did indeed do so through the bodies of other, willing participants but the scenes felt rushed. I also wanted a bit more tension with the mentioning of how Harley's body was dying and required the demon to consume essences of the body to stay more healthy. This point, though powerful, felt under-developed. It seemed to be a theme with this novel - under-developed points and a rushed ending. Otherwise, I saw very little grammatical and technical error and enjoyed the story much more than I thought I would.
My ReviewOverall: 3 out 5 Stars Cover: 1 out of 5 Disclaimer: My reviews are based on my own opinions. By no means will I ever discourage a reader to form their own opinions by reading the author's book. Do NOT contact me and complain about your review. I am and always will be brutally honest and expect my reviewers to be the same. I am going to be honest. My opinion of this book is going to be unpopular. I really don't understand why it's rated as high as it is. That cover alone didn't draw me in to wanting to read it.
While I found this story a unique and refreshingly dark tale of very real subjects many authors seem afraid to address nowadays, I was unimpressed overall. With claims of "fans of Supernatural and Constantine" liking this book, I expected much more action and less dragging. It bored me halfway through the book However, I did indeed finish it and found it entertaining. I liked the way one person saw Alec as one thing while another saw him differently. The series does intrigue me so I am thinking of picking it up. To begin, the first five chapters could've been omitted. There was way too much detail and not enough conflict. Don't get me wrong, I am a fan of build-up but five chapters without an inciting incident is too much. We see a glimpse of Catalina's pain but Alec brushes it aside, ignoring his sister's obvious plight. You mean to tell me this is the first time the teacher saw it? That nothing was sent home even if the kids' dad was a drunken abuser? Alec saw nothing at home and everything was great until BAM....not realistic. Then there comes the arrest. No police officer worth their badge is going to arrest a kid without looking into the forensic evidence. Obviously something was wrong. They would take proper procedure and look into every aspect of the crime scene before even making an arrest. For example, the mom comes into the kids' bedroom and says nothing to the cops in her son's defense? I mean come on. They incarcerate Catalina, a rape victim? No. Not realistic. Add the lack of understanding just whose story we're supposed to be reading and I just couldn't take anymore. This is supposed to be from Alec's point of view, yet we see Buck's, Catalina's, the mom's, Sabrina's, Chaz's. For goodness sake, it got so confusing, I had to re-read a few parts. No reader should ever have to do this. Character development suffered greatly in my opinion and there were too many cliches. I mean, Sabrina just so happens to be named Sabrina and have otherworldly powers. The mother, whom we learn is on medication, just so happens to have the ability to see auras but she didn't get the least bit suspicious or make a move to protect her family? I don't think so. Finally, there's the lack of editing. An editor would've seen "their selves" and changed it to "themselves." The editor would have caught the boundless head-hopping and made the author at least settle on a point of view. This all being said, I liked the premise of the story and with a bit more care, I do believe it could've earned at least a four star review from me. Hello lovelies. To begin, I'm very sorry about the neglect the blog has fallen under. My publisher has been on top of me to make the last minute adjustments to Beneath London's Fog before they start releasing free chapters on Wattpad. I have been reading my TBR list as I can so if you asked for a review from me, please continue to be patient. I read what I feel like reading so it could be a while unless you have spoken to me about a specific deadline. Without further ado, here is today's book review. Title: The Island of Doctor Moreau Author: H.G. Wells Genre: Horror Blurb: Ranked among the classic novels of the English language and the inspiration for several unforgettable movies, this early work of H. G. Wells was greeted in 1896 by howls of protest from reviewers, who found it horrifying and blasphemous. They wanted to know more about the wondrous possibilities of science shown in his first book, The Time Machine, not its potential for misuse and terror. In The Island of Dr. Moreau, a shipwrecked gentleman named Edward Prendick, stranded on a Pacific island lorded over by the notorious Dr. Moreau, confronts dark secrets, strange creatures, and a reason to run for his life. While this riveting tale was intended to be a commentary on evolution, divine creation, and the tension between human nature and culture, modern readers familiar with genetic engineering will marvel at Wells’s prediction of the ethical issues raised by producing “smarter” human beings or bringing back extinct species. These levels of interpretation add a richness to Prendick’s adventures on Dr. Moreau’s island of lost souls without distracting from what is still a rip-roaring good read. My Review:As with many of H.G Wells' works, this novella creeped me out. It has been quite a while since such a story has been able to do so.
The story follows Prendick, a man stranded on the ocean until he is picked up by a boat where he meets Montgomery, a man transporting strange cargo, sailing for an island of unknown origin . On the boat, we see our first glances of the mysterious "beast men" in the form of a man who resembles a dog. The man's appearance raises an alarm in Prendick and he begins to wonder if he'd been safer staying in the water. These suspicions become more real when Prendick encounters Dr. Moreau, a scientist known for his bizarre experiments with the art of vivisection. Prendick flees from Moreau thinking he might be the Dr's next victim and encounters more of what he describes as "Moreau's horrors." It only gets creepier from there. Prendick encounters the "beast men" of Moreau's island and becomes mortified yet intrigued at how human they appear to act towards him. As a fan of English literature, there was nothing I didn't like about this book. Even as short as it was, Wells did a masterful job at imagery, crafting deep characters and tapping into a well-known scientific infatuation -- splicing. Prendick's recounting of the events pulled my attention using the art of showing, not telling and allowing the world to develop in such a way it played out as a movie in my mind. This is something I don't see much in modern day horror and science fiction and would love to see more of. I loved everything about this book and recommend it to lover's of sci-fi horror and old English literature. Title: The Dark Game Author: Jonathan Janz Genre: Thriller, Suspense Publisher: Flame Tree Press Publication Date: April 11, 2019 Blurb: Ten writers are selected for a summer-long writing retreat with the most celebrated and reclusive author in the world. Their host is the legendary Roderick Wells. Handsome, enigmatic, and fiendishly talented, Wells promises to teach his pupils about writing, about magic, about the untapped potential that each of them possesses. Most of all, he plans to teach them about the darkness in their hearts. The writers think they are signing up for a chance at riches and literary prestige. But they are really entering the twisted imagination of a deranged genius, a lethal contest pitting them against one another in a struggle for their sanity and their lives. They have entered into Roderick Wells's most brilliant and horrible creation. The Dark Game. FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. My Review:
Overall: 4 out of 5 Stars Cover: 3 out of 5 Stars ***Disclaimer: These views are my own opinion. I will always recommend people to read the novel and form their own opinion. I loved everything about this book. It gave me the feeling of Clue meets Stephen King. At first I wasn't sure how I would go into it when reading the start of the novel. It seemed to move a bit slow with cliche dialogue and "oh move on already" scenes but as I read further, I found myself pleasantly surprised. Again, I won't bother going into the synopsis simply because the blurb does so well at outlining the plot of the story. Immediately, I felt like I was drawn into a written game of Clue. As an avid fan of the board game, I had many verbal "ah-ha" and "I knew it" moments, which I have come to love in mysteries and thrillers. What truly won me over was the sheer beauty of the author's voice. This novel had a gorgeous use of voice. Something I rarely see and crave in today's horror. It is a treat to see such wonderful imagery and deep characters. If you've followed my reviews, you know I crave deep, flawed characters. This book delivered so well, I will definitely return to the author's other titles. I identified with Rick and Lucy on such a deep level which does not happen for me often anymore. However, the lack of world-building hindered the novel greatly. While I adored the character depth and suspense, the world itself lacked as much care as the characters. Another thing that bothered me was some of the dialogue. It seemed forced and unnatural. It became difficult at times to tell who the speaker was. BUT! All in all, this book, guys...I can't recommend it enough. I enjoyed it thoroughly despite the few technical errors (which let's face it, authors are human. Reviewers need to remember this). Mr. Janz, you have another lifelong fan. You are a true storyteller. Something rare in these modern times. Thank you NetGalley for the ebook. Goodreads // Amazon // Website |
AuthorMy name is Iona Caldwell. I'm the author of the British Occult Fiction, Beneath London's Fog set to be published by FyreSyde Publishing October 2019. When I'm not busy weaving worlds of the arcane and dark, I'm spending time out in nature. I love books. My biggest inspirations are H.P Lovecraft, Stephen King, Neil Gaiman and Edgar Allen Poe. I blog about many things but mostly everything bookish. Archives
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