A unique take on a murder mystery and with twists and an ending I never saw coming? Yes please!
I was warned that this book had a slow start and got gA unique take on a murder mystery and with twists and an ending I never saw coming? Yes please!
I was warned that this book had a slow start and got good 50% in. Though it certainly sped up after 50% I was captivated from almost the first page. I found the persona and imagining of a death character intriguing and thought he as well as that entire storyline was so well written.
As for the murder mystery itself I loved that it didn't just rely on the craziness and unique selling point of the death character and Signa's seeming immortality. The actual storyline itself and mystery was solid and kept me guessing right to the end.
What. A. Book. What a series. Honestly this had my mind blown with how good it was and feeling all the emotions on its conclusion. The first book I gaWhat. A. Book. What a series. Honestly this had my mind blown with how good it was and feeling all the emotions on its conclusion. The first book I gave 4 stars but the way this finale brings together all the mysteries and threads from the first book and draws them into such a beautiful picture and tale of family, love, and loss ... No words are going to do a good enough job to describe how much I loved this....more
An incredible mental twister of a book that takes a ghost story and twists the genre beyond recognition into a masterpiece.
When Mallory gets the opporAn incredible mental twister of a book that takes a ghost story and twists the genre beyond recognition into a masterpiece.
When Mallory gets the opportunity to be the nanny to 5 year old Teddy, she is determined to make it work. Not least because she won't get many other chances being straight out of rehab. From almost the moment she starts, it is clear Teddy has an "imaginary friend" - his parents are aware of this and that they are hoping Teddy having some other company and making friends will help with this. And after all, what is the harm of imaginary friends for a 5 year old? It turns out quite a lot when the images of this imaginary friend turns from harmless to grim and frightening. Teddy's parents write this off as childish imagination and the result of his father's choice of bedtime stories but as time goes on it becomes clear there is something else going on.
I was absolutely gripped by this novel. Usually once a book starts down the route of ouja boards I'm out of there before you can say "nope" but I was intrigued to see where Jason went with the storyline and I am *so* glad I did. I would never in a million years have predicted the twist and stayed up late just to finish it.
I listened to the audible narration of this book and was incredibly impressed with the narration of Suzy Jackson and will certainly look out for her narration of other books. I read on one of my Facebook book club groups that there was apparently a pdf accompaniment to the audiobook of the illustrations from the paperback/kindle editions. I reached out to Jason Rekulak on Instagram and he was kind enough to reply. He is not aware of this pdf however he let me know that he added around 2500 words to the audio edition of his novel to ensure that the most essential images are adequately described and meaning this audio edition stands on its own! So appreciated and a pretty great thing to do for his audiobook audience. Thank you Jason!...more
I have to say when I started this book I was frustrated by what felt like a repeat of the problems I found with the Gorgon story. Unrealistic and takiI have to say when I started this book I was frustrated by what felt like a repeat of the problems I found with the Gorgon story. Unrealistic and taking the subject well past the point of belief. Further to this check this out: the story starts in space, an asteroid is coming straight at the space shuttle, unavoidable impact incoming even with the shuttle changing course… so they are going to bring the asteroid (yep, the one that is course correcting to follow them but of course that’s an electromagnetic field not anything more sinister) into the shuttle to ensure it doesn’t smash into them. Great plan. Oh and I haven’t mentioned the name of the onboard computer. RIPLE referred to as Ripley. Any bells ringing? So ye, my initial thoughts on this book were not great as an understatement. In fact my early thoughts shared with my husband were that I might not even finish the book if it continued this way which honestly made me super sad to think of a series I had loved so much up to this point…. But wait!!! I need to stop at this point and apologise to Beck for ever doubting his writing that way. My initial impressions that this was going to be another version of the overdone alien storylines was so wrong. Beck managed to take a subject like that and relate it so clearly to some of the most iconic storylines of the genre and then bring it all right back and make it an epic in his own way and bring his own unique spins into play. Phenomenal writing skill and once I got into the meaty part of the book I was away and flying through it loving every moment to the point where the suspect beginning only lost 1 star from my final review. If like me you are frustrated reading the beginning of the book and wondering whether to keep going, I assure you - keep going!! It is so worth it.
As usual Greig Beck wields his character development skills and creates personas that are so lifelike that you end up really caring if they live or die. Then also, in his typical style, you never know who will end up dying and how - because it is never quite how or who you predict - and always leaves you with all the feels.
As usual I have ended this book excited for the next in the Alex Hunter saga and wondering what comes next for our main character and The Other. As I head into the penultimate book before the last one of the series that has been written so far (I hope) I can’t help but wonder who will be left alive at the end of these books knowing how Beck doesn’t pull his punches when it comes to the readers feelings. ...more
What a great finale to the series so far! I loved the combination of some of the best elements of Beneath the Dark Ice as well as the sci-if space aspWhat a great finale to the series so far! I loved the combination of some of the best elements of Beneath the Dark Ice as well as the sci-if space aspects of The Void. The only weird part of that was the minimal and barely there references to those two books despite the similarities. Casey at one point says a vague “this seems familiar” as I guess a nod to that, but beyond that Greig chose not to align the books any further which just felt a bit…well, odd. The continuation from the cliff hanger ending to From Hell was done really well and Sophia had an interesting character arc that I am intrigued to see if any of the unanswered questions around her get any conclusion in future books. Nevertheless I still enjoyed Alex’s continued journey and his son’s development as well which I am certain is staged to become the main focus of future books. I will follow future releases with great interest. ...more
Another great chapter in the Alex Hunter saga with a bit of a cliffhanger ending leaving me excited for the last book in the series (hopefully so far Another great chapter in the Alex Hunter saga with a bit of a cliffhanger ending leaving me excited for the last book in the series (hopefully so far as opposed to forever!).
This novel takes us back in time to the Pompeii volcano tragedy and adds in what is now fairly standard in the series: a new mythological creature to defeat. I miss the level of believability of some of the earlier novels but still appreciate the basis in historical fact that the unbelievable and fantasy is added on top of. Ultimately though what originally captivated my attention and made me fall in love with the books has changed from that reality vs surreal nature to the backstory and character development of Alex Hunter and his family and so, although I miss the former, I still love the books and am excited to see them through to the end....more
Black mountain is a fantastic sequel to an already brilliant series. Greig Beck reintroduces characters and memories from the initial “Beneath the DarBlack mountain is a fantastic sequel to an already brilliant series. Greig Beck reintroduces characters and memories from the initial “Beneath the Dark Ice” book and entwines them with those from the previous “Dark Rising” to create a wider universe and more character depth. I particularly like that women in this series are not portrayed as weak and needing the help of men in order to get by as I see too often in this style of book. Instead women are represented as strong and holding their own and showing unique bravery even when confronting things outside of their own field of expertise. There is a realistic level of them needing support and hoping that Alex Hunter will show up but that remains the same for the men as well since Hunter is in a different category of human and soldier. The sexism that is portrayed in the book is that which I’m sure does exist in the military and certainly exists in other jobs where women are the minority. The need for the female soldiers to prove themselves and be hardened in order to compete and gain the respect by their other male colleagues is absolutely believable and the response and portrayal in my opinion is done brilliantly.
I also particularly enjoyed that as well as the foreword by Greig Beck, he has also decided to now end with an afterword since he is so often asked about the science and background history for his books. This was absolutely fascinating to me and though, of course, extremes are taken with all of this information, the actual science discussed in the book and the research that has gone into that is nothing less than amazing. It takes fictional sci-fi and thriller to a whole other level with the added in facts and history that makes it all the creepier and captivating to read....more
This kind of read is exactly the reason I love book clubs! I got this book as part of my subscription to Book Box Club. Is it a book I would have pickThis kind of read is exactly the reason I love book clubs! I got this book as part of my subscription to Book Box Club. Is it a book I would have picked off the shelf? Probably not. Did I love every moment of reading it? Absolutely, yes.
The story follows Scarlett, a teenager aged beyond her years by the world she lives in, and Albert, a boy much the same age but much more naive of the world around him. With Albert’s gentle attitude and the mysteries surrounding his past, Scarlett is initially hardly keen to have him anywhere near her. These two unlikely partners begin to find they have something they both need though and so the book takes off as we follow them on their journey.
The book is set in a futuristic dystopia where the earth is in ruin and prowled by dark and dangerous creatures. There are various walled towns and, even by the end of the book, there are various mysteries left unsolved and questions to be answered about the way these towns treat those that have any deformity, why Scarlett appears to choose to shun the towns, and what are the Tainted that get mentioned so frequently but who’s origin we never discover. Nevertheless, despite the questions we are left with as the reader, it just makes me hungry for the next book in the series. The book certainly had enough structure, story, and conclusion, that I don’t feel let down by the fact I still have questions.
Jonathan Stroud is a master storyteller and gets the pacing absolutely perfect. From the moment the book starts I was gripped in the story, and yet enough time is given for me to really feel like I have started to know the characters who each have their own strengths and weaknesses and are loveable in their own ways.
Highly recommend and looking forward to the next in the series. ...more
The Sun Down Motel is a fantastic blend of being both a ghost story and a crime/mystery thriller. The story interchanges between the dual chronologicaThe Sun Down Motel is a fantastic blend of being both a ghost story and a crime/mystery thriller. The story interchanges between the dual chronological stories of Viv Delaney in 1982, a young woman who ends up taking the night desk job at a motel in Fell, New York, and her niece Carly in 2017 looking into Viv’s disappearance.
There are many parallels between their stories and strange occurrences at the motel and surrounding area that take us down a twisting path of never being able to get a grasp on what has happened until the final chapters.
As a ghost story, this is one of the best I have ever read. Although there are indeed large aspects of the supernatural involved, the story is far deeper than this and has a crime aspect that gives the novel an intrigue that otherwise I likely wouldn’t have felt based on a haunting alone.
I found this review hard to write without spilling too much about the journey the two women go through, the crossovers in their narrative, and the mystery at the centre of the book. All I want to conclude with is that this is an excellent book for anyone who enjoys a page turner mystery. If you are on the fence regarding the ghost story aspect, don’t be! It is well worth the read and has far more to offer than just that. ...more
So right the way through the beginning of this book I was remembering the whole vision scene from the film and trying noSo much better than the film!
So right the way through the beginning of this book I was remembering the whole vision scene from the film and trying not to be utterly frustrated by the huge plot hole that is Alice. How could she show Aro the vision of the future when she couldn’t see the future with wolves involved or decisions not being made yet that make up key plot points in the previous books. Makes literally no sense. So I was intrigued as to how the book would get around this point and if they would go into any additional detail on it and make some excuse or reasoning for how she was able to see etc. Well I needn’t have thought on it too long - turns out that *entire* scene was cinematic only and I guess to cause an audience reaction while completely changing the end scene. I kinda get why they did it but at the same time these books have been wildly successful without them needing to throw in unnecessary scenes for “action”. Anyhoo. Those frustrated by that particular aspect needn’t worry.
Overall a really enjoyable end to the series that wraps up loose ends and ties everything neatly up with a bow whilst also leaving the potential for spin-offs or follow ups later down the line. Super nostalgic enjoyment!...more
Still loving reading these books. This one was a little more frustrating to read but I still loved it - likely mostly for the nostalgia and the overalStill loving reading these books. This one was a little more frustrating to read but I still loved it - likely mostly for the nostalgia and the overall beginning to end story line and how I know it ends! Onto the next!...more
Another fantastic read swiftly devoured! Forgot how much I love these books.
When Edward is faced with the real consequences of him being with her andAnother fantastic read swiftly devoured! Forgot how much I love these books.
When Edward is faced with the real consequences of him being with her and the very real dangers that puts her into, he does the only thing he thinks he can to protect her. Leave. This sends Bella into a whirlwind of anguish that leads her to making a new friend in Jacob Black, son of her fathers best friend Billy, who has a secret of his own.
Once again Bella’s life intertwines with legend and heartache with a love triangle and more complications than the average teenager with a dose of superbly written romance added in for good measure that even my husband could attest to! ...more
Loading...
