My lord this book scared me shitless . It wasn't jump scares or gore, at least not until later. It was the anxiety-inducing, constant self-doubting, hMy lord this book scared me shitless . It wasn't jump scares or gore, at least not until later. It was the anxiety-inducing, constant self-doubting, horrible unease the writing produced. It made your skin crawl and held your attention in a vice grip.
I loved Patricia because she wasn't perfect and made mistakes. But you understood her actions, even when they got too much, too cringey, too real and honest.
I love how the book built up James's character, so your perspective of his character altered the more you uncovered.
The mundane normalcy of the daily life with the shocking jolts of horror and supernatural events was jarring in a good way. It really pulled you into that Southern, American neighbourhood, with all the etiquettes and stereotypes, but it pulled back the skin so you could see the bones beneath. The ugly, the human and non-human.
I've never read a truly frightening and disturbing vampire novel in my life. Would definitely recommend, though I suggest regular breaks when you can't stomach the darkness. Surround yourself with puppies and rainbows and chocolate before you dive back in....more
So this review is also long overdue. Thank you Goodreads for crashing as I was writing it. I can't believe it took me almost a year to realise I'd stiSo this review is also long overdue. Thank you Goodreads for crashing as I was writing it. I can't believe it took me almost a year to realise I'd still not written it. Whoopsie!
This novel centres on the artist Edvard Munch and I already found that fascinating because I always found his piece The Scream intriguing and disturbing.
The Girl Between really does something magical in creating a possible story behind his paintings, including The Scream. It's wonderfully creative and I can see that the author went into a lot of detail and effort researching his life. There's a bit at the end after the novel that explains reality from fiction and I really appreciated her efforts.
The protagonist, young Johanne is in fact an observer of events between Edvard and his lover Tullik, who is actually the younger sister of his first love affair. This already creates some problems. Their relationship is hot and fiery and poisonous. And because Edvard is so withdrawn and has a bunch of anxiety issues already, he's almost oblivious to the destruction his affair with Tullik creates. She becomes consumed by him and it destroys her.
And Johanne, the MC has to watch it all unfold.
Johanne loves to paint and befriends Edvard early on as he discovers her passion for painting and encourages it by letting her paint in his workshop. She does so in secret to avoid angering her constantly disapproving mother.
She becomes a maid to Tullik and her family, where she befriends Tullik. Tullik learns of the friendship between Edvard and Johanne and wants to meet him. They go to Edvard's residence regularly and I felt that Tullik used Johanne for that purpose. She is selfish and obsessed but there is goodness in her heart somewhere. Unfortunately, Tullik and Edvard both have that obsessive characteristic and it destroys not just their lives, but those around them.
I disliked their carelessness and obliviousness. I felt that despite having so much love and desire for one another, and wanting each other, defying others' opinions was all well and good and commendable, but they did it without care for those around them. Johanne for example. She suffered a lot and had to pick up the pieces. I found it aggravating.
But the storyline itself was so enticing and I couldn't put the book down. I enjoyed it - in between fuming at particular characters and their careless decisions.
If you like art, history, romance, friendship and being swept away by dark and powerful emotion, you have to read this! You won't be disappointed.
And I can tell you the ending.... phewieee! It'll blow your socks off. ...more
But first, the cons: This is one of those books that if you don't keep going, you'll miss out on the fun. I noticed quite a few reviews staGreat book!
But first, the cons: This is one of those books that if you don't keep going, you'll miss out on the fun. I noticed quite a few reviews stating that they DNF it and that's kinda sad but I guess I understood their reasons.
I personally like it a lot. It was funny and enjoyable! If I hadn't checked it out on Goodreads I probably wouldn't be mentioning this anyway.
The only problem with it that I found was the layout/format/style. It has these continuous footnotes throughout from Dirk, the assistant or whatever, and Jeff the head of the show Rolling with the Royces. And these were irritating to be fair but I learnt to ignore them. They weren't necessary IMO, and they came at awkward moments jarring a sentence and sometimes the numbers were so far from the footnotes that when I did bother to read them I was like, What's this referring to? It makes sense with the whole reality show, fakeness and scripted everything kinda style, but it didn't help the book. I felt it hindered it actually. BUT, despite that, I really did like the book.
It does take some reading, I'd say up to 60% or maybe more for everything to fall into place. The big secret and reveal is far later, like in the 90%. But I was kept so entertained all the way through I didn't mind the wait. There was obviously something to wait for, and it made it clear from the beginning which helped to keep my interest.
Characters wise, well they were certainly colourful. And their names were hilariously apt to the whole ridiculousness of reality TV. Sorry to anyone who has those names, I mean no offense. It works is all I'm saying and adds to that whacky doodah flavour of the book which I loved.
The MC, Bently a.k.a Bent is driving the story and I liked her a lot. She does a lot for her family, even when they're initially ungrateful and self obsessed but the great thing about this whole book is how all of them, even Bent's mother bettered themselves. Mercedes (the Mom--though she wouldn't have let them call her that EVER until three quarters into the book, if that) who finally reconnected with her motherly roots that had practically been severed from a long career on reality TV and materialism and spotlight and fakery. It was nice to see her warm up to her kids again.
And Bent's older sister, Porshe who is practically Merc's twin in the beginning. All about the spotlight and being noticed. But discovering love and the power of family and everything that happens to shake all that up brings her back to what really matters.
Then there's the little gay brother, Bach. He's the calming one, the guy who takes it all on his shoulders and plays it cool, but he finally shows how much the pressure has got to him and it's nice to see him not be perfect all the time. To see, like the others, what they're REALLY like, really feeling, and really wanting in life.
As for Bentley herself, she wants to go to college, be free of the fame and paparazzi and everyone controlling her life, making her memorize a stupid 'Bently bible' that lists how she should be, what she should eat, where, do, say. She decides she doesn't want it anymore, but she puts her family before her own needs. And she also finds love in a rather sweet and swoonworthy male by the name of 'Venice' who she befriends from months prior, spending time with him during her two hour freedom slots on Wednesdays at the library. Where she can just be herself and nobody recognizes her. Or so she thinks...
It's a feel-good story, made me laugh and gasp aloud. The bit where Whitey punches Jeff had me howling with laughter after I'd recovered from the shock. I love a good ass-kicking.
I'd definitely recommend this book, all I can say is, if you can allow yourself to go with the flow and get used to the weird format, you won't regret reading this book. It's a good one. And I give the cover art a solid four stars. It's really spunky and bright. Just like the story. ...more
I loved the concept, the plot, the characters, the mystery and suspense. It was exactly what I needed.
Ada a.k.a Vivi a.This was absolutely wonderful!
I loved the concept, the plot, the characters, the mystery and suspense. It was exactly what I needed.
Ada a.k.a Vivi a.k.a Arden is a famous female illusionist. She takes on the business after her mentor and boss leaves. She was the first ever, Ada is the next best thing. And someone in the very beginning--believed to be Ada's husband--has been killed with an axe shoved in his belly and Ada is the suspect. Captured by a policeman who has a fatal bullet lodged in his spine from a previous case, has a lot riding on finding the killer. He'd just found out that day that he could die or become paralyzed at any moment, thanks to the bullet moving about, so as soon as he sees Ada running away, he makes chase, captures her and takes her to an office for questioning.
This is where we learn all about Ada from when she's about twelve up to the present. And it is a story full of so much. I couldn't put it down.
The big question lurking in all of this--well QUESTIONS--is did she really kill her husband? And then later it's, WHO IS her husband? Because her storytelling leads you in one direction and then flips you on your ass and leads you in other. Just when you think you've figured it out it laughs at you and says 'Guess again'. I loved that!
The whole thing is about Ada facing her fears, sharing her story and following her adventures. She starts off wanting to be a dancer--thanks to her mother's influence--but from the beginning her life is shadowed by the psychotic Ray, who to everyone else is a good and kind young man who cares for the horses in the stables and is the son of Ada's mother's husband. So her stepbrother. In gtruth, he's a nasty piece of work and Ada discovers this by accident when she walks in on him cutting himself, but instead of it being about depression and self harm, the guy is absolutely adamant that he has super healing powers. Ada is actually the one with the powers and once he learns this, he won't leave her alone. He feels he has a right to her, that he OWNS her. And just like the rather repulsive 'hobby' of his to break animal's and attempt to heal them, he does it to Ada just before she's about to perform to a famous retired dancer. Her future hangs on that performance and Ray takes it away through malicious and jealous intent, throwing her from the balcony of the barn at the mansion she is meant to perform at.
From then on, her life goes shifting in another direction entirely, and though she completely heals, she knows she must escape Ray and his evil. He believes that her healing is his doing, not her own and that makes her life all the more in danger. And when she fleas to New York, it is there she discovers her true calling. Magic, illusions, and standing on the stage being applauded. But the thought of Ray is always lurking in the back of her mind.
It's a magical story, full of twists and turns and I loved the richness of it. The emotional rollercoaster of it. The romance and suspense were wonderful. I loved Ada and her strength. I loved her determination and wit. It was fun to read but it wasn't what I'd call light and airy. There was darkness in it too, hidden in the happy, light moments and that made it perfect for me.
I can't praise it enough, and for that it gets the full five stars. ...more
Okay this was peculiar. It took me to the end to decide whether it was good peculiar, or bad peculiar. And I'd say GOOD.
It's like reading it whilst onOkay this was peculiar. It took me to the end to decide whether it was good peculiar, or bad peculiar. And I'd say GOOD.
It's like reading it whilst on LSD--or at least that's what I imagine being on LSD to be like. It's not completely confusing, but it took me some time to figure out the writing style. Plus, the copy I received from Netgalley had some formatting issues (mostly it left out the 'th' 'ft' 'ff's in words so I needed to get the hang of that also). Apart from that, the story itself was actually charming.
The narrator has this dry wit that made me laugh in places, but he wasn't bitter about the bad things that happened, he was just being matter-of-fact and that was pleasant to read. You could make the decision yourself about his situation without his personal opinion overpowering your thoughts.
The story is about a guy who talks about three particular moments in his life, which are when he falls for three different women. One is when he's a young kid, about eleven I believe and he decodes this girl who talks non-stop and about such random things no one understands her, until he does. She basically fantasized about being in movies, and once he worked that out, he was able to guess what movies she was referring to and then what she was actually talking about. He understand her better than anyone because he saw her fantasies similar to how he viewed his dreams. He has a habit of writing down his dreams and interpreting them so he had that ability to interpret her.
Then it jumps to his late teens. He falls hard for another girl, they get together, play happy couple and when they start to find work and she gets a job a little out of the way from him, the distance makes them drift apart. It's sad because in the end, she makes the decision to move away--the reasons are rather interesting in itself--and she gives him the choice to meet her at the airport last minute, tells him that she has an extra ticket. Though he has doubts about a lot of things, he fights to reach her but unforseen forces get in his way.
Then it's love number three, who works in his restaurant. He calls her Knife Girl because of her knife talents and this one was a sweet read. He really helps her out and it's a lovely story.
But in all of that, there's these mini breaks of a story about something that I am still not quite sure of the significance. It's jumpy, and I read a lot of it in the middle of the night so my head wasn't exactly up to full working mode. So I'd have to read it again to figure out what it was there for. It was all still very interesting and entertaining and like a dream. Nothing quite made sense until it did. But I enjoyed it, and I liked it's quirkiness, and it's depth and knowledge. I liked learning things from Japan's history and culture. There was a lot take in in such a small book!
Not my usual reads but I'm glad I did request it. And I loved the cover too. It's so cute!
Definitely worth the hype. Thought provoking, frustrating, and well executed. The author portrays all sides in a fair way and makes it enjoyable whilsDefinitely worth the hype. Thought provoking, frustrating, and well executed. The author portrays all sides in a fair way and makes it enjoyable whilst targeting very important issues. Loved it! And can't wait to watch the film!...more
Hmm I didn't like it. Sorry. I really wanted to but I was left not just disappointed at the end, but angry. On the plus, at least I DID actually finisHmm I didn't like it. Sorry. I really wanted to but I was left not just disappointed at the end, but angry. On the plus, at least I DID actually finish it. So, let me explain my whys.
First of all the book was totally misleading to me. I was expecting something a bit more sassy with pazzazz, maybe some honest--slightly brutal--humour. Instead, I got brutal and honest and none of the humour. It was beyond depressing. I was wondering which one of us would kill ourselves first.
If Andrea--the main character--is determined to live her life a single woman then great for her, but it's not great. It's miserable. She wants to make it clear that she's chosen this path but she's utterly bitter about it and resents anyone with a bit of happiness, with something that drives them, something that she doesn't have. And says she doesn't want. But then why are you so miserable and angry, Andrea?
You wanted to do art, and then you didn't, and your reason was that if you don't do it, then you'll never be rejected. Okay, I understand--I don't AGREE because that's not actually living, but I understand why you'd do that--what I don't understand is why the hell are you resentful of it then? It was YOUR decision. Stop whining about it. Stop pining after it. Just pick up a goddamn paintbrush and do it if you loved it so much. Or shut up about it.
You're filled with such self loathing that you drink even though you tell yourself you won't, and you sleep with almost every guy you meet even though you tell yourself don't. Why do you do this to yourself? You do it to yourself and then you complain when things go wrong. It makes no sense.
Secondly, I didn't like the plot itself. It was disjointed, jumping back and forth from the present when she's in her forties (just turned forty) to her past, mostly in her twenties, some in her teens and a few events in her thirties. I'm cool with time jumping, I'm cool with disjointed. But where is the POINT? Am I being dumb? I'm usually pretty good at working things out, the deeper meaning, the whodunits, the secret inner yearnings and desires of characters. I can do that. But I couldn't with this. It was just a rickety train ride, precariously cruising along with no destination. Not one I could see at least until I was about 70% or so into it, and it was only at that point that I had anything remotely nice to say about Andrea. And even then it just wasn't enough to feel like it was worth the journey.
Which brings me back to the main character. Andrea. I really didn't like her. The more the story went on, despite unraveling her story, her reasons and her darkness, I couldn't sympathize with her. Not entirely, because she spent a lot of the time being p*ssed off and bitter at the world. Whining about the hand she was given and I wanted to shake her and say GROW UP! I fistpumped the air when her mother finally said it. It was about time someone did.
She has a terminally sick niece who is lucky to live as long as she does, and Andrea does everything she can to avoid seeing her. She acts as if she doesn't exist, and to an extent I got why she acted like that--because she avoids any chance of getting hurt. She thinks it's easier to live that way but it actually destroys any chance of happiness. And I guess that's the whole premise of the book but the execution in my opinion was poor.
And lastly, the ending. God that infuriated me. I felt cheated. Like I'd waited all that time for the punchline and it ends like someone chopped off the last paragraph. Like you're driving and suddenly slam on the breaks. Like when you . . . See what I mean?
It wasn't a bad book, but I didn't enjoy it. It left a bad taste in my mouth as if her bitterness rubbed off on me. I didn't get it. I didn't see it as a celebration of independence, of singledom. I saw it as a cry for help and I didn't understand why other reviewers enjoyed it. I must be missing something. Some would say it's because I'm not single--I mean I married in my teens so hmph yeah--but I'd then argue that I've read many books where the protagonist was entirely different to me and my lifestyle but that didn't stop me from getting them, or liking them. I didn't get the point. I saw what the point was in the end, but because it took all that time to be revealed I didn't really care at the end.
I'm not against the author's actual talent, I would be open to reading other works of hers but I'd do so carefully and with more research before starting.
So, sorry, it's only three stars from me, and that might be being kind in terms of how I felt reading it, but in terms of the quality of the actual writing, any less would be unfair to the author.
Thanks for the review copy. And great cover by the way. ...more
Okay, okay, serious review face on. The Witchfinder's Sister was, I admit, thoroughly entertaining and I fell hook, Well, this was a barrel of laughs.
Okay, okay, serious review face on. The Witchfinder's Sister was, I admit, thoroughly entertaining and I fell hook, line and sinker into the story but with the deepest sense of impending doom, like the knowledge that a hundred car pile up is about to happen and I'm just cruising along beside the motorway, watching as it unfolds. Unable to intervene, cringing at every moment, but unable to look away.
This is this book. It was SO infuriating! The injustice, the horror, the superstitous, dumb, moronic, DUMB stupidity of the people of that time is stomach ulcer inducing. It's ridiculous how one rumour can leave a woman hanging from a noose. It's absurd how grown-ups could believe that imps are suckling on teats around women's--sorry "witches's"--genitals. If you're unlucky to have a wart, a pimple, a mark of any kind you're the devil's whore? God, and this is based on true events as well? *Facepalm*
But, I digress.
Let's start from the top.
Plot: girl called Alice loses her husband tragically when he gets his face blown off by a faulty gun he was testing. Ouch. She has no choice but to go back home to her estranged brother--who she left on bad terms by marrying now-dead husband. Tail between legs, painfully aware of her dependence on her brother, Matthew, she is taken into his home, and not in the most friendliest of manners. She's with child also, but it's early days and she feels she must conceal that from Matthew, at least for now. She soon discovers that Matthew is much changed. He's become an 'upstanding' figure in the community. Mostly, he just goes around accusing innocent women of being witches, and stupid male folk follow him because they're scared little boys really who have had horrible things befall them and need someone or something to blame. And so the tragedies pile up. Alice is in the middle of all of this. Unable to get through to her bordering on sociopath/psychopath brother. She's also forced into doing his bidding by watching the so-called witches to see if the so-called imps appear when the poor women have been made to sit on a stool for hours and hours without sleep or food. A lot of bad stuff happens, to Alice as well. And Matthew continues to get a lot of support from rich idiots. You see what I mean?
It's awful, but entertaining.
I hated Matthew with such a passion. I wanted to dive into the book just to throttle him. Alice I understood, even though the fear that held her back from doing next to nothing irritated me, I understood it. She's not a hero, she's a normal person, caught up in something she cannot win. You can't reason with a madman. And Matthew is a madman. He's smart, calculated and emotionally retarded. He doesn't bat an eyelid when he discovers Alice loses her baby. He doesn't care about the suffering of the women he's falsely accused, the deal he makes and then breaks simply because he can. The worst part is that he BELIEVES he's doing good. That he's dishing out justice. He's a nasty piece of work. And he's apparently a real person who killed 106 women in two years before dying of suspected consumption. But in the book, the end is much more satisfying. So, on that note, it made the whole horrific events just a little more bearable.
The mystery was grand, the thriller and fear was palpable. Some things were left unexplained, such as what was it that Alice felt slip past her into the house that night. She'd thought it was Matthew's dog brushing past her through the front door when she opens it for a rather terrified Matthew. But he says he left his dog at home. So what WAS it? That's something I guess we have to leave to our imagination, amongst other things. The characters were interesting, their personalities clearly laid out with a depth that made you question is anyone ever truly just evil? You knew who was who by the way they spoke, which is important. And the writing was sound. I liked how it was written in second person as well.
If you like mystery, witches, historical fiction, tragedy and the brutal truth of the makings of scared men who went on to do horrific things, then this is for you. It's certainly not fluffy....more
Holy Moly this book was heart-wrenching. How did the author write this without having a nervous breakdown? I mean, wow.
Stay With Me is about a woman wHoly Moly this book was heart-wrenching. How did the author write this without having a nervous breakdown? I mean, wow.
Stay With Me is about a woman who desperately wants a child, and that is the bones of this novel. Stay With Me is called that because she has a hard time keeping her children in this world. Anything to do with child loss always kills me so I had a really hard time reading this. I mean I was hooked; it was so good, so gripping, so emotional, but it was hard and cutting and I continuously bled for Yejide, and Akin also.
Yejide and Akin are the perfect couple in the beginning; they're madly in love, happy and living together. But it's been four years now and nosy in-laws are getting involved, trying to find out why they haven't gotten pregnant. Of course, Yejide is blamed. She's the 'barren wife' and it's all her fault and oh poor Akin for being lugged with such a woman. She's not even a real woman. This is what is said in the book and YES, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY DISAGREE. So the in-laws think, Oh we know how to fix this, Akin, you must marry again. They bring in this slice of pretty pie called Fenmi, and Yejide's happiness from that moment gets chipped away. Bit by bit.
Akin then takes things into his own hands in a way that is controversial, and questions morality, but at the same time you understand his reasons. It's one of those things that would certainly get debates rolling. I did suspect about Akin and what he did, and that he wasn't honest--but I understood why. If you read it, you'll get what I'm on about. No one in this novel is perfect, but there are reasons for it. I even got where Fenmi, the second wife, was coming from. It's a messed up situation fuelled by ridiculous superstitous, meddling behaviour from family who really don't give a damn about them. There's so much jealousy, backstabbing and plotting, it's a wonder they can smile so sweetly while they do it and demand the respectful titles they think they deserve. I found myself cawing outloud at the injustice and the utter gall of some of the family.
But this book is not about being sweet and lovely with a happy ending. It's truth in all its ugliness. It's the secrets and lies and sorrow and pain and loss that are our life's foundations. Yejide and Akin sure had their fair share. Some things that happened I'd say was their own doing, or was made worse by their mistakes. Some was just plain tragic and my heart swelled with sympathy for them.
I will never forget this book. I enjoyed it, despite it's rather dark and upsetting content. The characters were all complex and intriguing. The Nigerian culture and the country's situation at the time and setting was new for me. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about it, absorbing it, even Googling some of the terms that I didn't understand or weren't familiar with. This is why I love fiction that is rich with culture. You learn so much. But it wasn't overpowering and didn't draw away from the plot; in fact, it complimented it so well.
Wonderful novel, not for the faint hearted, and I can see this becoming a sort of Slumdog Millionaire level film if it is ever adapted to the big screen. Brilliant stuff....more
Yeah. No. I didn't feel this. It took me over two months to finish and I just couldn't stay gripped. The characters were uninspiring. I didn't really cYeah. No. I didn't feel this. It took me over two months to finish and I just couldn't stay gripped. The characters were uninspiring. I didn't really care about them or what happened to them. The plot was dull. Most of it was spent plotting stupid pranks (though the last one was quite funny) and talking about deep stuff that I really didn't care about. I wanted more interaction, more character development. I still don't know half the reasons for stuff that was mentioned or what was the significance. I like coming of age novels but this felt stereotypical and the teen characters just had little substance. I didn't connect with them or this novel. The best part was the end where he writes his essay summing up how he escapes the labyrinth. A question which is a running theme throughout the novel. I liked the concept, but felt it failed to deliver what I hoped. And as it's my first John Green book I'm even more disappointed. I've seen The Fault in Our Stars and loved it. Now I'm wondering if maybe I should have read that first. Sorry guys. I'm not jumping aboard the hype train on this particular book. But maybe I'll like his other novels. ...more
Wow this kicks you right in the feels, doesn't it? Not to put too fine a point on it.
So Rose goes on a quest to search for Dimitri and his Strigoi behWow this kicks you right in the feels, doesn't it? Not to put too fine a point on it.
So Rose goes on a quest to search for Dimitri and his Strigoi behind in the naively described 'freezing' land of Siberia. She intends to kill him because she loves. Sounds fun already. Oh, what love this is. No, seriously, despite my jesting, it is quite a sweet albeit bitter plot. She knows that he would never want to be a Strigoi, to be without a soul and wandering around killing innocents. It goes against his Dhampir guardian nature. He was good, warm, full of life. And she doesn't know what to expect when she finally meets him. And my GOD the moment she meets him is so chilling and had me rereading it a couple of times just so I didn't miss a thing.
This book was full of intrigue and great characters. Rose ends up with Dimitri's family through some happy twist of fate, and stays there for a time. The feelings that being in Dimitri's family home stirs up is enough to make me reach for the tissues. I really felt for them both. It was so heartbreaking. She meets this dodgy dude called Abe, and he seems to have an agenda alright but not what you would expect. And when you finally realise who he is and what he's up to, it all makes perfect sense.
Rose then joins forces with a group of vigilante dhampirs who go around killing Strigoi by themselves, not under any order of the vampire race, but as rogues. I found their reasons reasonable enough, if a bit unorganised. I was in Rose's boat on that one. She decides to join them when she figures Dimitri might be in a city and she's proven right. After much interrogation of Strigoi, she finally finds one that knows Dimitri, and tells him to send D a message. And he gets it.
From then on she's pulled into a world of Strigoi against her will, a man who looks like the man she loves, but just isn't, despite what her heart is desperately seeking. Things go stokholm syndrome and blood whoring from there. You get it, I got it. She's trying to hold onto something but at the expense of falling into darkness. That period of the book where she became so weakened by blood loss and high and addicted to the endorphins from the bites (Strigoi bites are super strong compared to a Moroi as well, so mega drug ride), she was easily manhandled by a mere human. And that makes her feel so ashamed of herself. She's a strong, capable Dhampir guardian who has been reduced to an addicted, blood whore all because she's trying to cling onto the man she loves, hoping that he's still in there somewhere.
FYI, I love this moment in the film. It's where I see how much Dim loves her, just by the way he says her name and looks at her. *swoon*
She finally accepts reality, manages to escape and after a brutal battle of strength and wits, she sends him to a watery grave with a silver stake lodged in his chest. It's a powerful, gutwrenching moment for someone like myself who really connected with Dimitri's character, and believed in their love, felt the power of it.
But then she gets a letter waiting for her back at the academy, with the stake inside, and that little doubt she had at the time she'd shoved the stake into his chest, uncertain for a moment that it hadn't penetrated deep enough, turned out to be true. He's alive. Or as alive as a Strigoi can be and he's one pissed off Strigoi, intent on killing her.
It's poisonous, it's torture. But I loved it.
This book, and the third book are my favourite in this series. They really had me hooked and hauled me with them on their messed up emotional ride. I'm not a sucker for vampire romance as such (har har I did a punny), I just like the sort of mystery, forbidden, adventurous, passionate and all consuming element that usually goes hand in hand with this genre. I like vampires in general to be what they used to be: bloody-thirsty, dangerous monsters. But I also like layers and complexity. I like drama, pushing boundaries, and I just like love in a story. Not lovey dovey, but a love that gets battered and stretched and tainted but keeps on firing, keeps on giving, even taking. Because that's epic. And this, to me, was pretty epic.
Plus, there was a lot of ass kicking. That's always good. ...more
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