This book is filled with the most fantastic and colorful characters! (Isolde and Warren = #couplegoals) Each chapter feels like its own mini-adventureThis book is filled with the most fantastic and colorful characters! (Isolde and Warren = #couplegoals) Each chapter feels like its own mini-adventure while intertwining to create an overarching mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. Typically, I don't care for a lot of descriptive writing. But the richness of this book is a delight to explore, crafting a world that evokes the essence of 1880's England while also feeling otherworldly. I can't wait for book 2!
*My only complaint is that the typeface of the paperback version is teeny-tiny and was impossible for me to read in long stretches. ...more
Elliot is the most unreliable narrator I've ever met. I'm not sure that's a compliment. In the end, it was just frustrating for me. It was like listenElliot is the most unreliable narrator I've ever met. I'm not sure that's a compliment. In the end, it was just frustrating for me. It was like listening to a young child tell a story, where the plot gets crazier and crazier and then they say, "Just kidding! What really happened was..." and then they start over. The Silent Patient was a great book. Read that one instead. ...more
I understand why a lot of people love this book. Here’s why it didn’t work for me. Much of the conversation between characters is overly quirky and clI understand why a lot of people love this book. Here’s why it didn’t work for me. Much of the conversation between characters is overly quirky and clever, which can be fun (or irritating) to read, depending on the reader and/or type of book. For me, it didn’t mesh in a horror setting. It also makes all the characters “sound” the same.
Koontz creates a lot of forced suspense in this book, too, instead of letting it build naturally. “If I had known then what I know now…” type stuff. He drills it in over and over again that Odd is writing in the future, after a horrible, life-altering event. Which makes it easy to guess what ultimately happens. ...more
I wish we could give half stars. This would be a solid 3.5. Lost in Time was really fun and entertaining to read. Was it masterfully written? No. MostI wish we could give half stars. This would be a solid 3.5. Lost in Time was really fun and entertaining to read. Was it masterfully written? No. Most of the plot was obvious. A lot of what happens is overly convenient and not even realistic by scifi standards. BUT there is time travel, dinosaurs, the multiverse, and murder. It checked all the boxes for a fun, in-between book and I would absolutely read something by Riddle again. ...more
I couldn't put this book down! It will have you guessing until the very end. If you're a fan of scifi dystopians - this is an excellent book to add toI couldn't put this book down! It will have you guessing until the very end. If you're a fan of scifi dystopians - this is an excellent book to add to your pile. I can't say much more without spoiling things. ...more
This book was unlike anything I've ever read before. Written in multiple formats, from play/script to notated, first person, third person, coded and lThis book was unlike anything I've ever read before. Written in multiple formats, from play/script to notated, first person, third person, coded and lettered. There were many different spooky and mysterious elements that will have you guessing right up until the very end. It was a really fun read for October. The book also looks deceivingly large, if you get it in physical form (which I recommend). But, a lot of the pages contain very little writing. So, it's easy to whip through. ...more
A children’s adventure-mystery book with a distinct British feel, filled with quirky characters and topsy-turvy plot. It left me guessing the entire tA children’s adventure-mystery book with a distinct British feel, filled with quirky characters and topsy-turvy plot. It left me guessing the entire time. My only complaint, similar to other reviewers, was that it felt like the author had a political/socioeconomic agenda. It’s not in the same league as Tuttle Twins (shudder); but, it vaguely felt like listening to your crazy uncle’s conspiracy theory on how television is brainwashing people. I’m not sure the target audience (4th/5th graders) would catch it, though. ...more
I had a love/hate relationship with this book for almost a year. The IDEA of it is magical. As a reader, I found it overwhelming and confusing: not soI had a love/hate relationship with this book for almost a year. The IDEA of it is magical. As a reader, I found it overwhelming and confusing: not something to be read linearly. It's more like a portable art installment.
The book itself is a story - and a good one, at that. Then there's the mystery of who wrote the book. Then there's the story of the two people who found each other because of the book; and their tale traverses over the physical book in 4 different timelines, with different ink signifying at which point the conversation is happening. PLUS, the book is full of little leaflets, photos and clues, that fall out if you so much as tilt it the wrong way. (My dear friend bought me a sleeve so I could transport it better, and I still struggled. Lol.)
The physical book is gorgeous. Everything about it; from the binding, to the box, and all the items inside, feels QUALITY. You will want to keep this forever. Also, you may need to keep it forever, if you hope of figuring out its clues. Seriously. There are sites dedicated to the dissection of this book. Happy reading! ;)...more
Let me start by saying that I completely understand why others rated this book higher. The premise is unique and amazing - a man who can summon book cLet me start by saying that I completely understand why others rated this book higher. The premise is unique and amazing - a man who can summon book characters, not how they're written, but how he interprets them. Chaos ensues.... If you can stick with it, it's a really great story. That said, I almost DNF this book twice. It was too long. The author kept going back to the same plot points and rehashing them over and over again. The true action doesn't start until 65% of the way through the book (and then it really does get interesting). The main voice of the book, Rob, is unlikeable and uninteresting. The other narrators are lovely, though. Some of the plot twists are predictable. But, there are more that were truly surprising. 3.5 Stars. ...more
First, the good. I love this world Alston has built - part MIB, part Harry Potter. Amari and her band of heroes is wonderful, inclusive, and fun. Now First, the good. I love this world Alston has built - part MIB, part Harry Potter. Amari and her band of heroes is wonderful, inclusive, and fun. Now the ugly. This book felt much sloppier than the first. There were lots of plot holes and several overly-convenient plot points. It also felt like the whole book was spent tearing apart what was built in the first book. Which isn't particularly fun to read. BUT, this is why I don't like middle books in general. So, hopefully the third book will reveal to be as masterful as the first. I'm still a HUGE Amari and Altson fan. ...more
I completely fell in love with Amari - and so will you - in this Percy Jackson meets MIB YA book. I love how Amari’s heritage is displayed throughout I completely fell in love with Amari - and so will you - in this Percy Jackson meets MIB YA book. I love how Amari’s heritage is displayed throughout the story. Being a POC isn’t used arbitrarily. The theme comes up often, in a very real way. Amari is judged and underestimated because she’s poor and black. But, her strength comes from it too. She is lovable, fierce, and pure MAGIC. The story will have you guessing up until the very end and you’ll delight in all the discoveries the Bureau has to offer. Perfect for 5th grade to adult....more
Hannah's husband has disappeared, leaving her with his teenage daughter (who hates her new stepmom) and a mystery of what he's running from and where Hannah's husband has disappeared, leaving her with his teenage daughter (who hates her new stepmom) and a mystery of what he's running from and where he's gone. This book is very quick paced and will continue to leave you guessing until the end. I knocked off two stars because I spent the majority of the book angry with how everyone was using the main character, and that she was perfectly OK with being everyone's doormat. ...more
I was impressed, not having read any of the other 10 books in this series, that I was able to jump right into the plot without trouble. It had me guesI was impressed, not having read any of the other 10 books in this series, that I was able to jump right into the plot without trouble. It had me guessing right until the end. ...more
I honestly can’t say it any better than The New York Times: “Painfully beautiful... At once a murder mystery, a coming-of-age narrative, and a celebraI honestly can’t say it any better than The New York Times: “Painfully beautiful... At once a murder mystery, a coming-of-age narrative, and a celebration of nature.” I loved this book from beginning to end. ...more
This book had me guessing from start to finish. Quick paced and full of colorful and unbalanced characters. You’ll think you know what’s going on and This book had me guessing from start to finish. Quick paced and full of colorful and unbalanced characters. You’ll think you know what’s going on and then three chapters later, everything has been put on its end. Perfect summer beach novel. ...more
There is no one better to write a novel about storytellers than master storyteller, Setterfield herself. Her books are always beautifully woven and teThere is no one better to write a novel about storytellers than master storyteller, Setterfield herself. Her books are always beautifully woven and teetering on the edge of macabre. “Once Upon A River” is the story of a mysterious little girl who washes up one night and inflames old wounds in the town of Radcot. Two families claim the child; but, no one is prepared for the secrets her arrival unleashes.
* Many thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book to review. All opinions stated are my own. ...more
This was a really fun Sherlock Holmes type mystery novel with a great cast of characters. It was short, perfect for a beach read, and kept me guessingThis was a really fun Sherlock Holmes type mystery novel with a great cast of characters. It was short, perfect for a beach read, and kept me guessing the entire time. ...more
Moriarty's books are always entertaining and perfect for the beach or a long wait at the DMV. My problem is that they're formulaic. I feel like I knowMoriarty's books are always entertaining and perfect for the beach or a long wait at the DMV. My problem is that they're formulaic. I feel like I know the "who done it" before we're even halfway through. Which makes me feel like all the characters are morons (because they haven't figured it out yet). Lol. Ah, the blessings of having the God view while reading. Pick these books up if you need something frivolous. Just don't expect to be blown away. ...more
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