All the Books.

"When Amy, Nick's wife of five years, disappears on the morning of their fifth wedding anniversary, Nick is horrified, shocked, confused and worst of all, the prime suspect. Flynn does an incredible job of piecing the bits of the story together, just enough and at a good enough pace that you keep reading and the characters, Amy especially are truly unforgettable." 5 Stars.  Spoiler Alert.  Pros:  Amy is a truly sociopathic, megalomaniacal, narcissitic b**itch and though I loathed her, I was mesmerized by the sheer depths she would sink to.  Cons:  At the last part of the book, when Amy is explaining how she "escaped", the abuse she put her body through would have been obvious to her captor, but apparently not.  Full Review:   Nick knows that he hasn't been the best husband, he's known that for awhile now. But he knows that the fault isn't entirely his own. His wife Amy is now saint. So on the morning of their fifth year anniversary, Nick decides it&#

" The quintessential Christmas Classic that tries to hit home the idea of remembering your past, learning from it, living in the present and keeping the joy of Christmas alive and well through all the days of the year."  4 Stars.  Pros:  Dickens' message is clear, remember your past, learn from it, live in the future as best you can and try to keep the spirit of Christmas, of joy and love, with you each and every day.  Cons:  If you're not used to reading Dickens, it can be dry at first but once you get into the flow of it, it's a quick and entertaining read.  Full Review:  Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly, miserable, crotchety old man who wants nothing more than to do his work and be left alone can't stand the season of Christmas. He is forever annoyed at all the fools wishing him a Merry Christmas and he makes it painfully clear that he wants nothing to do with the festive season. He is content to do his work, go home, rest and continue the process day after day.

"A blithe and scathing commentary on equality, power, corruption and how everyone is created equal, but...some are more equal than others. Orwell hit the nail right on the head with this novel and it's no wonder it's a staple for most high school curriculums. " 3 Stars.  Pros:  Benjamin the Donkey is the smartest animal on the farm and it would have done all the others a world of good if they had listened to him in the first place.  Cons:  The fact that societies like this actually do exist is nauseating and terrible. It's not a con, per se, it's just a gut wrenching fact.  Full Review:  When the overworked and mistreated Animals on Manor Farm decide to rise up and overthrow their cruel master, they're successful. They rebel and now find themselves with an entire Farm to run. They rename it Animal Farm and are intent on creating a paradise, where work and play are equal, where productivity is key but relaxation is a must and all the lives of all the animal

"A satisfying conclusion to a moderately entertaining series. The Diabolic series by Kincaid is in no way deep or life shattering but it's a pretty good read overall. The characters are complex and though at times it all seems rushed/a little too convenient, in the end, I enjoyed the series as a whole. " 3 Stars Pros:  Though it was rather saccharine, I liked the ending.  Cons:  It's been awhile since I read "The Empress" so a lot of the references were lost on me/Though I understood where Tyrus was going with his plan, it seemed a little extreme/The dialogue can be painful, "my love", "stars curse me", just very...space age melodramatic.   Full Review:  Nemesis has tried, as best she can, to move on, past what happened with Tyrus and the Empire. But unfortunately, she cannot stay hidden forever. Anguish, her fellow Diabolic, is dying and once her true identity is broadcast across the Empire, Tyrus comes for her.  It's common knowledg

"In Ravka, there are the Grisha, people born with the ability to control the world around them (elements, nature, even the human body) and then there is everyone else. The Grisha are the elite, placed into positions of power for their incredible abilities and everyone else has to figure out how to get by. And since a war has been ravaging Ravka for years beyond remembrance, Alina and Mal know no other life aside from being orphans, soldiers etc. But on their first journey into the Fold, a place full of dark magic and monsters, Alina and Mal's lives will both change in ways they can't even comprehend."  3 Stars Pros:  The abilities of the Grisha/The mystery behind the Darkling Cons:  How the Grisha are held so high above the rest of Ravka (though I have feeling that will change)/The teenage angst jealousy of Mal and the Darkling et al Full Review:  War has raged through the country of Ravka for centuries and Mal and Alina are two orphans, products of the war. They live

"A gritty, bloody, dark take on Vampires, their existence in the world, how other countries deal with them and how one street kid in Mexico City is about to have his entire world turned upside down but, he's eager for the ride." 3 Stars Pros:  Bernardino's a great character, he's absolutely terrifying and brilliant/The ending, now that was unexpected but I liked it. It was well done.  Cons:  Atl and Domingo's friendship, that at first started as just a necessity on Atl's part, still felt forced at times/Atl could be a real standoffish, cold, beast, she wasn't the most likable of characters/The dialogue was unbalanced and uneven at times.  Full Review:  Domingo is a street kid. He makes a living by collecting garbage and giving what he finds to other collectors or recycling it for money. All he knows about Vampires is what he's read from comic books. So when a dark, beautiful, girl asks him if he wants to be her friend, then takes her back to his ap

"The title holds true but it actually gives nothing away. It's a story about two boys, who don't have long, meeting and living an entire lifetime in the span of a day. It's a story about friendship, fears, saying goodbye and what matters in the end is that you really, truly lived."  5 Stars.  Pros:  How different Mateo and Rufus are and how those differences balance each other out/The message that Silvera gets across, to love as hard as you can, to not be afraid of everything and to go out and live your life as if every day is your last day.  Cons:  A little slow to start/At first the way Rufus talks is kind of grating but you eventually get used to it/The plot is dark and heavy at times but it makes it all the better for it.  Full Review:  There is a service that exists now called Death-Cast. It will call you when you will die in the next 24 hours. They don't say an exact time, or how, but you know that you will die today.  Mateo and Rufus have just received

"The dramatic conclusion to the Shades of Magic series. We see Kell, Lila and all the rest set out to save Red, Grey and White London from a nightmare unleashed from the dead and cursed Black London. Some characters are allowed to right the wrongs they have committed, while others are able to carve a place in the world and find where they belong. And through it all, Schwab emphasizes how vital things like love, family and friendship are in life."      4 Stars Pros: Every character has a flaw, no one is perfect and in a strange way, almost every single character is likeable, their actions understandable. It's not often that I finish a series not wanting to have strangled one of the characters but, for the most part, everyone in Shades of Magic was relatable, likeable and human/Holland, a character you love to hate but then realize that you don't hate him at all, he is singularly complex and so very, very sad and I just love him.  Cons:  The part with the Veskan Prince/

"It's been four months since the events of A Darker Shade of Magic  and though some have found freedom, while others feel trapped, the Essen Tasch (Element Games) will bring everyone into the center of the fold and Schwab weaves the intricate webs of the story with expert craft. This was a fun, fast-paced, exciting read and the ending left me horrified and scrambling to my bookshelf to pick up the next book."  5 Stars Pros:   It was interesting to see how the soul bond that Kell created is affecting both Rhy and Kell, they're both struggling after what happened with the Danes and though they both have different ways of dealing with the memories, the soul bond keeps them linked/Holland, that's all I'll say.  Cons:  Lila's impulsiveness, her recklessness, gets tiresome/The fact that she always has to be right in the middle of everything gets old but then, of course, there wouldn't be much of a story.  Full Review: It's been four months since the tens

"An interesting take on the fantasy genre, wherein there are three different Londons and only a certain type of person, an Antari, born with Magic in their blood, can pass from one London to the other. Kell, Holland, Lila, Rhy, all of the characters were important and likable in their own way."  4 Stars Pros:  An interesting and unique concept of different Londons existing beside one another/Kell, Lila, Rhy, almost all the characters were likable Cons:  It got a little corny at the end but for the most part it was a fun and entertaining read. Full Review: Kell is one of the few remaining Antari, a breed of people who can travel between three Londons, Red, Grey and White. There was once a Black London, but the power of magic corrupted all who lived there and the city was more or less, razed to the ground. Kell spends most of his time traveling between the Londons, delivering correspondence, and at times, bringing back trinkets for himself, which is expressly forbidden but he f

"It tried to be mysterious and otherworldly but it just fell flat and was a chore to get through." 1 Star Pros:  I've always had a soft spot for mysterious circuses, IE Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes  and I had hopes for this book but that hope quickly vanished.  Cons:  The plot was scattered, confusing/The characters were one dimensional, their apparent love stories made no sense and felt forced, a man buys you an apple and you're in love?/Althacazur/Cecile and the dialogue between them while Lara is at Le Cirque Secret was so painful it was horrific.  Full Review:  Lara is left on the altar on her wedding day. Her fiancée didn't just leave, he disappeared. His car was found in the same spot that the only crime in Kerrigan Falls' history ever occurred. A musician, Peter Beaumont, best friend to Lara's father, disappeared as well, 30 years ago. She doesn't know how it's connected but she knows that her mother is holding something ba

"The story of Barbie (former wife of Ken and fellow boarder with Rose Walker in Florida) and what her dreams are made of, literally. Though I'm sure it will end up being connected to the series in the grand scheme of things, this volume just felt like filler and just didn't feel necessary." 2 Stars Pros:  The connection between Barbie/Foxglove and previous volumes was interesting but it didn't make it interesting enough to make me fly through this volume.  Cons:  It didn't felt connected to the storyline as a whole, it just felt like Dream Country, shoved in the middle of the series for no real reason that I can see.  Full Review:  Lucien announces to Morpheus that a small islet in the Dreaming is dying. It turns out that this islet is "the Land" which has been what Barbie (the former wife of Ken and fellow boarder with Rose Walker earlier in the series) has dreamed her entire life.  After the Vortex was destroyed, Barbie admits to no longer having d

"The conclusion to Kuang's The Poppy Wars series. We see what Rin will do to make her vision of conquest a reality. And frankly, her rage/paranoia/thirst for power and refusal to listen to others and be rational, just ruined the entire series. It's disappointing because I had high hopes, but in the end, I couldn't stand Rin as a character and I just wanted it all to be finished." 2 Stars Pros:  We learn more of the dynamics of the Trifecta (Dragon Emperor/Vipress/Gatekeeper) and what ultimately destroyed them/Kitay is an always gentle, understanding, intelligent, reasonable and kind character, one of the few in this entire series that I didn't want to end up throttling by the end.  Cons:  Rin as a whole, she's too blinded by her arrogance and power that by the end, I absolutely could not stand her/It's all about vengeance, fury, revenge, anger, rage, it all becomes repetitive and obnoxious/The fate of the Trifecta felt completely glossed over and let m

"Struggling to live with the guilt of what she did to the Federation, Rin is desperate and will cling to anyone who offers guidance. But Kuang makes it abundantly clear that you can't trust anyone, not even your closest friends and life is dark, dangerous and has no pity. This is a gut wrenching read and I'm eager to see how Kuang finishes it in The Burning God." 3 Stars Pros:  Suni, always the quiet one, proves to be gentle and reassuring to Rin during a difficult time/Nezha's Father Vaisra smacks some sense into Rin, which she desperately needed and I'm glad he did it. Though at the same time, I don't know if the Dragon Warlord can be trusted.   Cons:  Rin at the beginning is whiney/impulsive/violent, her temper tantrums are obnoxious/It's all about vengeance, everyone's out for vengeance, vengeance this and vengeance that, it gets old/The end, though surprising, felt rushed, like Kuang was trying to jam in as much shocking moments as she could w

"After a disturbing message is delivered to him from the Triple Goddess in his garden, the oldest of the Endless, Destiny, calls a meeting of his siblings. Dream, Death, Desire, Despair and Delirium all gather to discuss next steps. During this meeting, Dream's imprisonment of his scorned lover, Nada in Hell is mentioned and he decides it's high time to right that wrong he committed. This volume closed up some loose ends while opening up a few other avenues for interesting stories." 5 Stars.  Pros:  We see all the members of the Endless and learn a bit more about their family dynamic, which I enjoy/Lucifer on the beach in Australia talking to the old man about how only a kind God can create such beautiful sunsets is an entertaining bit.  Cons: Some of the dialogue was almost impossible to read, especially when Ramiel the Angel spoke but other than that, it was a good collection.  Full Review:  While walking in his garden, the oldest of the Endless, Destiny, is visited

"Groundbreaking for its time, Matheson's stories still hold their horror and suspense even into the 21st century. He's a truly master at suspense and leaving you feeling helpless and alone, which is exactly what you're hoping for when reading Horror Fiction." 4 Stars.  Pros:  There were definitely some stand out stories in this collection and I can see why Matheson has a reputation for being groundbreaking in the Horror fiction genre.  Cons:  The problem with collections of short stories, is near the end, it all starts to feel similar.  Full Review:  I've always heard of Richard Matheson but have never taken the time to read any of his works. I'm glad I finally did. He was and still is, ground breaking for his time. His works, dealing mainly with Science Fiction, space travel and a smattering of horror, are all original, eerie, spine chilling and some even manage to pull at your heartstrings and make you teary eyed.  A few stand outs in this collection wer

"Not set in a linear fashion, as in it doesn't follow Dream and the other Endless, it's more a mashup of four different stories that deal with how other creatures all over the world Dream, or having dealings with Dream of the Endless. It's not my favorite but it's still an interesting read." 3 Stars Pros:  It showed how Dreams affect all sorts of different creatures, it wasn't an entirely linear storyline but it was an interesting glimpse into how Dreams affect every living thing on the planet.  Cons:  Dream is part of every story, but the other Endless aren't, at least not really. I like when the story deals with the Endless and their dealings, this just felt like a mashup of stories that didn't really fit anywhere else.  Full Review:  The volumes broken down into 4 stories, none that deal with Dream or the Endless directly but all of them have Dream as a character.  Calliope explains how an old man managed to trap the youngest of the Greek muses

"An acceptable and bittersweet conclusion to the series but overall the book itself plodded along, any action that did take place fell flat and all emotions felt forced and out of character. I just wasn't thrilled with the book itself but the series overall was entertaining." 2 Stars Pros:  It was an acceptable conclusion, bittersweet but understandable.  Cons:  I struggled through this novel. I think I wanted more things to happen and it was just a lot of getting from point A to point B/Asriel marshaling all his forces and such just all seemed to kind of peter out/Mary Malone acting "the Serpent" didn't seem to come to anything either.    Full Review:  With the cliff hanger ending of The Subtle Knife the reader is left desperate to know what happened to Lyra etc. Pullman takes care of it all but a lot of it feels forced. Mrs. Coulter's sudden desperate love for Lyra didn't make any sense, since she'd always been so cold and calculating before. A

"The volume follows Morpheus as he goes to deal with four dreams/nightmares/creatures the escaped the Dreaming while he was imprisoned. They're all surprisingly interconnected but Gaiman handles all the threads with grace and delicacy and in the end, Morpheus does what he has to do and continues to be the kind but no nonsense ruler of the Dreaming." 5 Stars Pros:  The interlude that introduces Hob Gadling, a man who decides that he will never die, is a funny, heartfelt and interesting look at how our lives are just one big roller coaster and sometimes it helps to have friends along the way/The Corinthian is truly horrifying/Gilbert is so easy to love and just such a kind, gentle character after all and you can't blame him for doing what he did and neither does Morpheus.  Cons:  The "Cereal" Convention was truly horrific, though unfortunately I'm sure there are places like that and "conventions" like that, that take place. It's frightening h

"With the impending release of the Netflix show, it was good to re-read this and remember why I love this series so much. The introduction to the King of Dreams, Morpheus and his subsequent imprisonment, escape and journey to get his tools back, is so well done, well written and complete, that once you read it, this character and the rest will stay in your memory forever. It's a subtle introduction to the Endless, the siblings, Destiny, Desire, Death, Dream et al that leaves you wondering more about them and thus, curious as to what the rest of the series entails. Dream, himself, is quiet, sullen but compassionate. He's not a charming, charismatic, "off to save the day" Superman type hero, but he's a hero, in his own quiet, subtle way."  5 Stars Pros:  A memorable introduction to an iconic character, the Sandman, Dream, one of the Endless/From his imprisonment/escape/journey to get his tools back, Gaiman leaves nothing out/Dream is sullen, yes, but he

"Lyra's adventures continue as she follows her Father across the bridge in the sky to a different world, where she meets Will. A tenacious, determined young man, about her own age, but whose from a different world. It's a similar world like hers, but exactly the same. He's on a mission to find his Father, who disappeared 12 years ago on an expedition in the North. And of course, though they try their best to work together, there are forces at play in this brewing war that Lyra and Will can't even comprehend, let alone fight against. It's truly a cliffhanger and I'm interested to see how it all ends." 3 Stars Pros:  More or less the same cast of character so not too many new people to remember/Will is passionate, straightforward and caring, in his own gruff way and he helps Lyra learn how to see the world from others view, and not just through her own self centeredness. They make each other better.  Cons:  It all seems very convenient that people like L

"A unique, thought provoking and entertaining read that explores a world that exists beside our own, where peoples souls are represented in physical form as Daemons, where Dust settles only on Adults and other strange concepts such as reaching worlds through the Aurora Borealis and exploring what the whole concept of Original Sin. It's hard to describe, it's something that has to be experienced to appreciate it."  4 Stars.  Pros:  The idea of Daemons, kind of an actual physical representation of your soul, is an interesting idea, my Daemon would most definitely be a cat.  Cons:  Some of Lyra's slang is a little cringe worthy but you eventually get used to it/Asriel's monologue at the end, for God's sake, stop talking and just do what you're going to do! Full Review:  Lyra's spent her entire childhood at Jordan College. The only relative she knows of is her demanding, ambitious and distant Uncle, Lord Asriel. When she's sneaking around the Retir

"A heartfelt and satisfying ending to an entertaining, fast paced, exciting and interesting series. Mahurin's world of Belterra is complex and intricate one and it seems that she'll be expanding on it in her next novel. Perhaps I'll read the next novel for now, I've finished the series and am content to take a break from Belterra for now." 5 Stars Pros:  Same cast of characters, so there weren't too many people to remember/The scenes with Ansel were heart wrenching/All the characters have an amusing and entertaining repartee and it's fun to have them all together.   Cons:  Mahurin has a tendency to overuse terms, such as "my legs grew roots" as in, the character was rooted to the spot, so that was somewhat irritating/I wish Mahurin had expounded upon what exactly happened to Claud Deveraux but perhaps that's for another book.  Full Review:  Our weary travelers are on their way to Chateau Le Blanc, to face Morgane on her own turf. After th

"Attention getting simply because you have to find out "who dun it" but the characters were so one dimensional and the ever shifting narrator left me feeling frustrated and confused as to who's view I was looking through and why I should care. Entertaining for what it was but forgettable in the end." 2 Stars Pros:  It did catch my attention cause it's a suspense novel so of course you have to find out "who dun it."  Cons:  The identical twins/triplet thing was confusing/The constantly changing narrator was confusing as well, since none of the characters were fleshed out enough for me to remember who they were.  Full Review:  At a routine follow up appointment, Jennifer receives horrible news. She has an inoperable brain tumor and only has weeks to live. While she's sitting in her car, trying to process this horrible news, she sees lab results from her last annual physical and is puzzled by the frighteningly high level of lead in her blood. At t