Book Review

Book Review | "Sadie" by Courtney Summers

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“And Sadie, if you’re out there, please let me know. Because I can’t take another dead girl.”

Sadie is alone. No mother. And now no sister. Only a burning desire and knowledge no one else has. West, with an assignment he doesn’t want, answers the pleading cry - ‘Sadie is gone.’ All they have to go on is her abandoned car and a dead little sister. Can West discover what’s happened to Sadie, or will she be able to tell us herself? Together, their stories collide, one in the past and one in the present, revealing more than either thought possible.

Today, books are becoming less like stories and more like windows into stark realities. Haunting stories. I’ve been talking about this a lot on the blog recently. It could be the books I’ve picked up, or it could be that authors are using their craft to tell more. Do more. Show more. Stories are meant to take us on a quest, to open our minds to concepts that we may never have thought of before. Sadie fits right in.

Sadie begins right in the middle. Immediately readers are given the information that a 13-year-old girl was brutally murdered and now her sister is missing. Not a delightful start to a story, but Summers just drops the reader in, laying the groundwork. She establishes where Sadie is from and what her background is right off the bat. Readers are left without any questions.

“It was a terrible thing, sure, but we live in a world that has no shortage of terrible things. You can't stop for all of them.”

Summers also makes it clear that the format is going to be a little different. Mixing in first person POV and Podcast style scripts, she weaves the two together. And personally, I loved it. Normally, I want a good old fashion story, but Illuminae convinced me changing things up can be good, and Summers falls right in with the greats.

The Podcast added elements I’m not sure could have been pulled off otherwise. It would have been a completely different story. Told not through a detective per usual, readers are instead given a character off the streets. A man hosting his first podcast with a wife and family of his own. Not some cop with a hard record of seeing the bad things. West instead, is seeing this dark side of the world for the first time, mixing his own emotions into the story by the end. Even battling with his desire to see the mystery out. The Podcast also lets readers see what’s happening back at homebase without slowing down the script.

Well… most of the time.

Here’s where it didn’t work. Since the Podcast is discovering things after the fact, because Summers shows them through Sadie’s eyes first, the Podcast tended to repeat some facts. I don’t think it could have been helped, but hearing the same old knowledge of what happened tended to bore me.

Sadie
By Courtney Summers
Buy on Amazon

“Or maybe you get so used to the mess of home, you convince yourself over time everything's exactly where it belongs.”

But let’s not leave the fact, that here Summers did something different. She gave a different perspective, a different format, a downright different style to break the normal humdrum offered to readers. She pushed the boundaries. Something writers should take note of. Don’t be afraid to be different.

My last negative comment is with Sadie. Her character profile was fine. In fact, all the characters were so well done, they played to the old adage of write each person as if they are the protagonist of the story. But, I struggled connecting with Sadie on an emotional level. Which ultimately made me feel horrible. Here is this story, a sister on a mission of revenge, that lacked Sadie’s emotional turmoil coming through. There was just a disconnect that didn’t allow me, as the reader, to be fully immersed in the pain and suffering.

“Paul taught me a person committed to silence can suggest importance, strength. So long as they’re a man, I mean. It’s not an option when you’re a girl, not unless you want people to think you’re a bitch.”

But that’s it guys. The rest of the story is pure magic. I’m even going to give Sadie a whooping 4.5 stars.

Full cast of characters that each played a role to the overall story. Realistic storyline, without the crazy magic coincidences that can happen in mystery novels. Perfectly established backstories and settings. Excellent prose that made me cry as a writer. And dark in all the right places.

Just downright masterful. Summers shows readers a world that many of us don’t see. Drugs, poverty, abuse, it’s all there. Painted to show a sister and how far someone will go in the end. I highly recommend this read. I mean, the list of things you can learn as a writer reading Sadie is staggering. I personally plan on grabbing my own copy and studying it from cover to cover. But if you need an idea of each point, pay attention to the following when reading:

  • Prose

  • Characters

  • Style

  • Background

  • Plot

  • Timeline

  • Reveals

  • Foreshadowing

  • Etc...etc...etc…

Happy Reading.

Love Kait.

Reading Challenge: 93/100

Book Review | "Britt-Marie Was Here"

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“A few years turned into more years, and more years turned into all years. Years have a habit of behaving like that.”

Some stories make us think. Some stories put us on the edge of our seats. And then some stories make us laugh at humanity.

Cleaning and keeping house have been Britt-Marie’s job for years. She loves it, the orderly semblance to life. That is, until her husband goes and has a heart attack and his mistress phones Britt-Marie about it. Britt-Marie now has to figure out a new life with the only job she can get - maintaining the Borg Recreation Facility. She cleans and grieves until a unruly bag of ragga-muffins show up at her door.

Backman created a story about people, populating a cast with a beating heart. Each character has a backstory, nuances, character flaws, desires…. What a real flesh and blood version would need. He let each character shine, acting out as if they were the star when really, as the reader, we only ever see the story through Britt-Marie’s eyes. Which is where I think Backman’s skill lies. Character developed stories with soul and heartwarming story lines.

I mean the man even added a rat.

I’m not kidding people.

She fed a rat snickers and talked to him (I believe it was a him). It may be weird, but I think all of Backman’s stories come with a little bit of weird.

“A human being may not choose her circumstances, but she does choose her actions”

Overall, everything felt perfectly balanced. Comedic moments that were never forced. Perfectly painted pictures of a town on the brink of collapse. Characters that stayed true to their personalities. Plot points with substance. And the right amount of soccer, using it as a guiding point throughout the story. Never once did soccer take over though. Britt-Marie Was Here is not a soccer story. Instead, the element enhanced character relationships, stakes, and plot points.

But be warned people…. Spoiler, he never names Somebody. Why? So many times I was lost for a moment, thinking a random character just walked in, when it was always Somebody. I thought it would lead to a big reveal/heart wrenching moment in end, but it never did.

“At a certain age almost all the questions a person asks him or herself are really just about one thing: how should you live your life?”

And based on my own personal opinions, all character developed stories come with flaws. Most can’t be helped since the protagonist tends to run the show.

In Backman’s case, the struggle was in foreshadowing. He tended to point the way too clearly for the reader. At one point, Backman placed a dose of foreshadowing before a big plot twist. There was no longer a shock factor. Instead, the character spelled out what was going to happen, did it, and left a very large chunk of emotion out. At other times, Backman kept pointing to one thought so loudly, that when it came time for Britt-Marie to make a decision in the end, the reader was very aware of what it would be. Foreshadowing is a fickle mistress and one that doesn’t play well with character driven plots. The writer isn’t able to look far ahead and plan out the perfect moment to deliver the medicine. And maybe Backman just recieved some bad advice, because I personally would have left the bigger foreshadow out completely.

I highly recommend Backman’s work. Sometimes it’s a little weird. The narration can come across as clumsy, and the foreshadowing might drive you nuts, but his stories seep deep into your soul and make you want to meet the very characters he’s created.

“One morning you wake up with more life behind you than in front of you, not being able to understand how it’s happened.”

And I almost forgot. I give this one a solid 4 stars.

Happy Reading

Love Kait

Reading Challenge: 92/100

Book Review | "Give Me Your Hand" by Megan Abbott

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“The fear all men have that there’s something inside us that shifts, and turns. A living thing, once dormant, stirring now, and filled with rage.”

Let me tell you a secret…

Good reveals in a book come with a touch of beauty, finesse, and excellent timing. So when you allude to something at the beginning of a book, and then reveal it half way in…. It better be good.

Kit is in line for a prestigious grant position, only three of a handful are set to receive it. All her hard work since high school, and the infamous Diane Fleming coming into her life, might finally pay off. Before any announcements can be made, Kit’s worst nightmare comes true when Diane appears in the very same lab, bringing the past back to haunt Kit as she remembers Diane’s haunting confession in high school that changed both their lives. Can Kit trust Diane again or will her dreams come crashing down?

“In some animal part of my brain, I guess I thought looking her up might somehow summon her. So I never did. And she came anyway.”

I will start with the good things about Give Me Your Hand. Abbott’s research into chemistry and biology felt spot on. I’ve worked in a few labs, biology and physics, and her overall feeling as a woman in the lab rang true. I’ve had some of the same gender attacks that Kit experienced at times in the lab. Abbott also sprinkled in the perfect amount of technical terms without making the reader confused or bogged down. Just enough to paint the reader a picture.

A lot of times writers want to throw in everything they learned because they spent all the time researching and don’t want the work to go for not. It’s another iceberg. Show only the tiniest portion, and leave the rest for yourself.

Abbott’s overall story was a bust though.

Yup…. that’s all the good stuff I have for you today. I won’t even hide my rating. (1.5 stars)

Attempting a thriller, Abbott’s build up and reveal were the biggest let downs.

“My mom always says, you don’t have a self until you have a secret.”

Most of the story is based around a secret. It’s mentioned early on, and has a lot of suspense around it. Reading along, Abbott keeps alluding to how grand the secret is, building up more anticipation. What didn’t work, was that the secret was staring the reader right in the face. Paying even the tiniest of attention, one can easily figure out this grand secret. By the time it’s finally revealed, 50% in, there’s a huge let down.

The whole first half of the story felt built around this moment, the big reveal. Abbott spent a very long time working on the backstory, flipping from present to past. Bleeding the two times into one. Though they both played into one another, the struggle of seeing past Kit and present Kit together left a huge gap in Kit’s personality. Young Kit felt more fearless. She did and said things that no longer matched future Kit, leaving future Kit to feel lost and altogether a different person. Ten years did pass, I guess change could happen, but as a writer it’s important to pay attention. Readers will sit there comparing and finding all the flaws.

And, sticking with the character problems, Abbott’s characters were not true to themselves. Many times I questioned the motives and actions some of the side characters took. Seriously, they led the suspense of the story along, dragging out some unbelievable twists. But that’s the point. They were unbelievable because the characters never would have done those things. Especially with the break down at the end. Added in dramatics.

“When you get away with something it’s yours only, forever. Heavy and irremediable.”

Abbott wanted to explain why Diane was who she was. She wanted to spell out the story word for word. Which led to the final reveal at the end. Ok, I didn’t see that one coming, but looking back it was a little obvious. It was another let down. It gave me a bad taste in my mouth.

In all, I’m surprised I actually finished this book. I put it down always questioning if I should pick it up again. Knowing that I could count this towards my reading goal kept me going.

My next book is the great Britt-Marie Was Here and it’s another book club read. I loved A Man Called Ove and Backman’s style of storying telling. I can’t wait to share it with you all on here. If you want to remotely join in with my book club, visit the book club page. I’ll be updating the books every month. When you see the book review pop up, start a discussion below and we can all join in.

Happy reading.

Love Kait

Reading Challenge: 89/100

Book Review | "Contagion" by Erin Bowman

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“And that’s when she heard it: the muted thump of his heart. His pulse, in her head. Once she’d recognized it, she couldn’t unhear it. And then there was more. The flap of valves opening and closing, lunge pulsing, oxygen moving. The ticking human machine.”

So… you’re sent to a planet with a history of death - carrying the only known survivor on your ship from the first and last drilling party sent 50 years earlier - to rescue the current drilling party. Why the company decided to try again, you have no idea. No one is alive when you arrive; throats slit and bodies scattered around. Only a cryptic message, written in blood, is left for you. “Don’t trust the kid.” Who’s the kid and what happened? Will you make it off the planet alive?

*cue music*

“Duh… Duh… Duuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhh

I cannot do scary, people. My husband let me start The Haunting of Hill House, such a bad idea. It’s ruined my safe space. When halloween rolls around, I always feel left out, never able to read the spooky books or watch the movies. If you’re like me, then this is the perfect book. A balance of scary and thrilling, the story takes place on an alien planet. Essentially, this could never happen to us. Or so I convince myself in order to sleep every night.

Contagion is your typical sci-fi horror but without focusing on all the blood and guts. You go to an alien planet, people die, and you race to get off the planet alive. But there are a few things that made the book take you a little further. One being for a YA audience. Growing up, anything sci-fi, or I should say hardcore sci-fi, could only be found in that intimidating sci-fi/fantasy section. Maybe you were brave, but I always took one look at all the strange covers and backed out slowly. Here is a chance for younger readers to enjoy the thrill without the fear of adult content or long story lines with complex world systems.

“Toby’ eyes felt like they were burning. He wanted to claw them from his skull. Something warm and metallic dripped into his mouth. He wanted to claw at that too.”

Which is one of my top pros for the book. Bowman, right out of the gate, sets up the rules. We know how space travel works, how the planets get their energy, and even some of the political structures - which is delved into deeper later on. And I found it all believable. There will always be some suspended disbelief in sci-fi. You have to go along with the idea that light speed travel is possible. But Bowman makes the rest believable… no Star Trek hyperdrive here.

Bowman wanted to check all of her boxes off at the starting line. She immediately lays down the characters’ wants. Some of them do change as the story progresses but, as the reader, we get a clear look into who these characters are. And unlike One of Us is Lying, each person felt real and believable with unique back stories. Bowman walked as close to the edge of world dumping and back story as you can get. Contagion provides a great example though. I, personally, never felt that it slowed the story down.

She also made the concept of teenagers running around an alien planet believable. Many times I feel authors throw in the younger characters, but never think if those teenagers saving the world is believable. Bowman, also, doesn’t stick with an entire young cast. She throws in a few older and early twenty characters to play the parts.

“He hadn’t been able to give up, to roll over without a fight, and now she was no different, willing to kill so that she could live. So the entire Union could live.”

Some people don’t agree with me, but Bowman’s addition of politics made the story relatable to today’s day and age. Contagion shows younger characters taking charge and doing what they can to make a difference. Just because you can’t vote, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be educating yourself or playing a part in the fight. Bowman shows what being ignorant can do and how sometimes, even if you think the political turmoil could never touch you, especially as a kid, it will. Books are a chance for authors to bring awareness by posing circumstances and questions to fictional characters. Readers can see what happens and most begin to pose the questions to themselves.

And the biggest con of the entire book - besides my personal preference of wanting this book to not go the typical horror route - was the POV.

Come one, come all…. Let me show you how not to do POVs.

Bowman has a decent sized cast. Ok, we can handle that - Bardugo taught us with Six of Crows. But unlike Six of Crows, Bowman jumps from head to head with only a small line break to give the reader a heads up. Her other issue comes from not being consistent with each mind. Some get one moment, maybe two, and the others jump here and there. I figure this was all done to throw the reader off the trail of who was dying. Not a good enough excuse. I think the entire story could have stayed with three people - one of which being the italicized portions. It would have changed the scenes slightly, but could have also made the moments more suspenseful since the reader wouldn’t have the entire picture laid out.

If you’re writing sci-fi, or love the genre, I highly recommend the book. Getting past the POV issues, I still give this book 4.5 stars. My enjoyment factor played a large part. I couldn’t wait to pick it up everyday. Also, the book club really enjoyed it to.

So the masses agree… you need to read this one.

And if you liked it, Bowman has a few other books that I too will be sliding into my to be read pile at some point. Hopefully… The list has gotten out of control. That and my library holds section. Somehow, all the books decided to become available at the same time. I’m rushing to finish Give Me Your Hand before I need to read my next book club read.

Happying Reading

Love Kait

Reading Challenge: 88/100

Book Review | "Sweet Black Waves" by Kristina Perez

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“And her destiny lay between them. The Two lovers for whom she would trade her heart.”

Romance is in the air. Can you taste it? Can you smell it? While everyone is reading something spooky, all I want is an all consuming, heart wrenching love story. So little old me skips over to the library after placing this book on hold and waiting an agonizing amount of time to get it. Three days is way too long. I turn to the first page and…

Sweet Black Waves Review.JPG

It wasn’t that bad. To be honest, a lot of parts had me dying inside. The cringe worthy parts just outweighed the good ones.

Step 1: Don’t remember the Tristan and Iseult story. If you do, which luckily I didn’t, you’ll be squirming the whole time. I, at least, got the joy of the love scenes before all hell broke loose.

Told through the eyes of Iseult’s (or in the case of this retelling, Essy’s) handmaid, we see the story of Tristan and Iseult unfold. Finding a body on the beach one day, Branwen rushes to its aid not realizing that she’s not only saving the life of her enemy but also her enemy king’s nephew, Tristan. Safely escaping back home, Tristan returns to win the hand of Essy for his king while also wooing the girl of his heart, Branwen. But Branwen promises to protect her homeland, unlocking an untold magical power from her land.

Interesting…. Unless you know how all these stories end which leads to the cringe worthy moments.  

And all the yelling.

I can’t blame Perez there. The story goes where the story goes with no fault of her own. We can’t change what fate created all those years ago. But I believe that Perez put herself in a bad position. She made the choice to create such a story and littered it with stepping stones pointing the way to the end.

So unless you enjoy yelling at the page, telling each character in an explicit manner how stupid they are, you might not enjoy this book.

Step 2: (This is for all my writing friends out there) Don’t write a story destined for failure. I personally don’t want to know the ending ahead of time. Maybe Perez is lucky and there are enough innocent readers who’ve never heard of this classic story. I mean she did get published, but still. This isn’t like your typical Jane Eyre retelling. You know the one detail of the story, like Arthur pulling the sword from the stone, and the entire premise is ruined.

Is my rant over? Maybe….

“They loved while they burned and they burned while they loved.”

Down to the writing details. Perez took the classic structure and created, essentially, an interesting prequel. We have the entire story leading up till the moment… It can be hard skirting around no spoilers. In addition, Perez decided to use a very uncommon protagonist, Essy’s handmaid. This was her strength and her demise. Key to a good retelling is making the story unique enough that readers who know the premise can fully enjoy the differences. This can be tricky deciding what can be different and what features can be twisted and manipulated.

Not my cup of tea.

Perez also decided to tackle linguistics. She chose to create a loose rendering of ancient and Medieval languages. Did it lend to the story? I don’t think so. Many times Perez just references to the different languages spoken, not actually showing the words. Once she used it as a message between two of the characters, which did lend well, but other times she used it as a learning tool for Branwen. This was a nice touch but ultimately could have been left out. It tended to slow the story down and forced the reader to break flow and memorize the words. Choosing to add in a whole new language is not something to take lightly and unless you’re a langustics genius, maybe not one to tackle at all.

Though all Tristan and Iseult stories have some short of magical element, Perez decided to make magic a forefront of her story. I enjoyed this. It added an element that allowed the story to feel different. Like I said before, that’s essential to a good retelling.

“Not you without me, not me without you.”

Now to my last very important point - likable characters. Characters, even those we are supposed to love to hate, need to have some semblance of likability. This is ultimately Perez’s downfall. Essy, in my opinion, is nowhere near a likable character. Was that done on purpose to make the ending easier? If it was, then that was a bad idea. Unlikable characters can ruin a story, blocking out all the good parts. Do I see Branwen’s moments when I look at Sweet Black Waves? No. All I can remember is how much I really despised Essy’s character.

Essy is a spoiled brat the whole time. Not once does she do something outside of her character motivation, but it felt like she was created just to keep the story on track. Oh we need to get to point B, so make sure Essy steers the story that way. Even if you don’t know the original Tristan and Iseult story, I think Essy makes the ending very obvious. So obvious.

There was no foreshadowing. The whole thing was spelled out in bold, sky writing.

Ok…. so maybe I need a cool of period between finishing a book and writing a blog. But I want to tell you my first knee jerk reaction to a story. To be honest, this book made me very angry. Today’s feelings are 2.5 stars. There are some parts I liked. That one decision not so much - something I have to keep skirting around (stupid spoilers). And probably the real reason for my anger. The one artistic decision Perez made that I can’t talk about.

So far my current read is way more enjoyable.

I just hope karma doesn’t come back and bite me in the butt later.

Happy Reading

Love Kait

Reading Challenge: 85/100

Book Review | "The Book of M" by Peng Shepherd

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“No one escaped—either because they were someone who lost their shadow, or because they were someone who loved someone who lost their shadow.”

The Book of M Review.JPG

I’m going to start this by saying - with no shame whatsoever - that I checked my shadow a millions times while reading The Book of M. I just checked it. I think I’ll be checking for the rest of my life.

You’ve been warned.

The Book of M leaves scars.

It first starts in Iran, a man in a town square loses his shadow. It’s magical, people flocking to see him dance in the streets. That is, until a few days later when they find him wandering the streets alone, lost. The shadowless lose their memories. The curse spreads around the globe and no one understands the cause. Fast forward 2 years and we find a couple living inside a resort trying to survive as the world has crumbled around them. One day, Max loses her shadow setting the pair on a cross country adventure trying to save memories and lives in the hopes of saving the world.

I still don’t know if I love or hate The Book of M. Memories being linked to shadows is a very interesting concept. We see shadow play in stories like Peter Pan, which Shepherd references in the book. But there’s a magical element here that I still don’t understand.

Which starts a great discussion on the iceberg. As a writer, you’re only supposed to show the very tip of your iceberg. There’s this whole world you build that your readers will never know - though some of it could be used as great talking points during your tour. But showing enough and then showing too much is a fine line. I prefer to air on the too much side. Don’t overload them, but if you’re asking yourself the question then maybe you should add it in. This is also where beta readers can come in and help you decide.

The Book of M airs on the side of too little. Shepherd creates a magical element with the shadowless. As people forget things, they can change reality. Not a bad idea but not well enough explained to the readers. We can’t see the rules - a very important aspect for writers with magic. You need to make sure the reader knows the rules. At some points in The Book of M, we see things change with the memory loss, but not others. Why? What are the reasons? Is Shepherd just manipulating the rules to fit what she needs? No bueno.  

“The memory means more, the more it’s worth to you—and to who you are.”

What Shepherd does master with ease is her character diversity. Do you want to have a diverse cast, then look at this book. Everything reads with ease. Nothing felt forced or overdone. Essentially, she sat down and asked, what can I make this character look like. Instead of automatically going to a white male or white woman, can you as a writer sit down and change it? Is there a specific reason or can they be something different? Done. That’s all you need to do.

And that ending. Well done to my fellow M. Night Shyamalan writer. I love when people pull a twist in the very end. Shepherd does a great job foreshadowing so you can’t be mad, but doesn’t construct a bright flashing arrow pointing to the plot.Claps all around.

As dystopias go, I think we’ve got a straightforward book here. People die, social systems are collapsed, and people scavenge to survive. There’s lots of moving around, plus fighting for conflict. All in all, I think Shepherd did a decent job. It’s just everything else that was a struggle. Her collapsing system leaves one feeling a little bonkers.

In all, I’m going to give it a 3.5 stars. If she wrote another book I’d probably pick it up. Now, I’ll be finishing the Grisha Verse. Whoop. I’m excited though a part of the ending was already spoiled. One problem of being on bookstagram and reading a popular series after everyone else. Oh well….

Happy Reading.

Love Kait

Reading Challenge: 83/100

Book Review | "The Butterfly Garden" by Dot Hutchison

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“If you expect to be overlooked or forgotten, you’re always at least a little surprised when someone remembers you. You’re always outside understanding those strange creatures who actually expect people to remember and come back.”

*Warning* The Butterfly Garden is a dark story with a lot of disturbing imagery. Not meant for younger readers.

Why is humanity drawn to the dark? Why do we subject ourselves to the stories of death and torture? Does it make us feel human?

Part of me wasn’t even sure I wanted to write a review for The Butterfly Garden. The story is so dark and disturbing that I was afraid younger readers would be drawn to it. But the other side of me realized that art comes in many forms and I needed to share this piece of it.

“Some people stay broken. Some pick up the pieces and put them back together with all the sharp edges showing.”

The Butterfly Garden is about a girl captured by a man dubbed the gardener. He captures beauty as butterflies and preserves them forever in his garden. With an expiration date, the girl lives with the other butterflies, till one day hope comes and they’re all set free.

The story begins with Maya after rescue. Thank goodness… an excellent artistic choice. Because the story is so dark, it’s nice knowing there’s a happy ending, and helped me stick with it. After all the pain I’ll know everyone is ok. Some might think this detracts from the suspense, but I think there was plenty to make you turn the page. Sometimes nonlinear storylines really work in your favor.

Besides excellent writing, this book was just a combination of really good choices. It felt like Hutchinson sat down and thought about her readers. I know they say write what you want to read (I really don’t want to see inside this girl’s mind) but you also need to create a story that others can get through. Case in point, showing the readers immediately that there is a happy ending.

Another excellent choice were the two POVs. We have third person from the FBI agent’s perspective. Then, the story flips to first person when Maya tells the agents her story. This give the readers a feeling of really being interviewed. Would it have worked as all third person? I don’t think so. The story could have turned dull and lost the vibrant in your face imagery that led to the overall compelling narrative.

“Not making a choice is a choice. Neutrality is a concept, not a fact. No one actually gets to live their lives that way.”

Here is a book with amazing characterization - not the overly stylized classroom checklist version produced in One of Us is Lying. Fictional my butt, these people are real. Such fine detail into their personalities. We get hobbies, coping, ethnicities, anger management, goals, in essence an entire psych analysis. And for a wide cast of characters too. We don’t just get an in depth picture of the front runners, but each butterfly, even down to Maya’s parents. If you need a lesson in developing characters, get through this one - I personally learned a whole lot.

Timing is another important skill as a writer. Linear stories do not work for every plot. In Hutchison’s case, she was able to use the FBI interrogation to weave through a timeline hopping story. This let her pose a ton of questions to answer along the whole journey. We have Maya’s backstory, as well as everything that happens in the garden. Even when we think all the questions have been answered, Hutchison drops one more answer on the last page. Timing is key. You can’t drop a boatload of twists at the end, and you can’t give the story away from the beginning.

“You’re comparing the FBI to Hitler?”

“No, I’m engaging in a discussion about perspective and moral relativity.”

Final point, I swear, even though I think I could go on and on about this book. Stay true to your characters. Hutchison does a superb job. As a writer you may want things to be different, but characters are characters and they’re the rulers of this joint. I think if Hutchison had done things outside their scope, the story would have fallen flat. Instead, she kept them true. Another reason they read as real people. They make real people choices.

Ok that’s all for now. I really hope you give The Butterfly Garden a chance. I would love to say I’m reading something lighter after this one but…. Ugh book club read. I guess it’s my fault since I suggested the dystopian read. Anyways - 5 stars all the way. I’ll be trying to find time to squeeze in the next book in the series.

Happy Reading

Love Kait

Reading Challenge: 82/100

Book Review | "One Of Us Is Lying" by Karen M. McManus

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“Like we're some kind of hip high school murder club without a care in the world.”

Five people walk into a room for detention. Four people walk out. Which one of them did it?

With the premise of Pretty Little Liars mixed with The Breakfast Club, I was ready for a cool murder mystery mixed with a little grit and a little high school drama - you literally can’t trust the guy next to you. Untrustworthy narrator, crazy plot twists… what could be better? Maybe me not guessing the ending 10 pages in. Oh well. It’s all my fault to be honest. I can’t stop myself even if I tried.

One of Us is Lying plays out the story of ‘who done it’ when four students are murder suspects in the death of the most hated kid in school. They all plead not guilty, but can you trust the girl always controlled by her boyfriend, the girl who might be hiding a huge academic secret, the juicing athlete, or the drug dealer? Told in the voice of all four, join the wild ride of discovery.

First, I want to congratulate McManus on her characters. They are so well done, her book could be used in schools. We have back story, character arcs, developments, distinct voice, diversity, and those little traits that almost make them real people. It felt like she went through a checklist - which is probably true since this is her debut book. Ok, they aren’t meant to be perfect, and they were each amazing, I guess I just wanted a little less cookie cutter perfect.

Choosing to do four viewpoints is crazy and what a feat to tackle your first time around. I get it though. It wouldn’t have been the same story without hearing from all four. A large portion of the suspense comes from the untrustworthy narrator aspect. This leaves the reader unsure of who the real killer is. One Of Us Is Lying is a great example of listening to your story and making the decision that works. So many authors may pick multiple viewpoints - cough War Storm - for the wrong reasons and end up mudding the story. Sit back and listen to your work people.

And even though McManus picks four viewpoints, there is one POV that stands out. Not a bad thing, but something to be aware of if you decide to do the same. There is a reason you decided to give a voice to more than one character and you need to stay true to your choice. Even the great Leigh Bardugo let Kaz lead her story more than the other characters. Are great example of a perfectly even narrative would be Furyborn, a book I highly recommend reading.

“We could be surrounded by walking dead in the zombie apocalypse and she’d look for the bright side.”

Here I go reading another contemporary, and guess what… I loved it. But here is why it works - McManus puts depth into the story. What makes a book YA is its relationships. The characters will be below 18, mostly in high school, coming of age, and their love relationships will be in the exploratory stage. Chances are, the book isn’t going to be dealing with broken marriages or raising kids. Yes, there are exceptions, but YA books don’t have to be written down just because a younger generation will be reading them. So remember, keep it real and full of depth. Another great thing about contemporaries is you can put in some current issues. Mcmanus does a great job of asking some question that we can take away and contemplate. Books give readers a chance to think over what they’ve been handed before they’re forced to voice what they think.

“I guess we're almost friends now, or as friendly as you can get when you're not one hundred percent sure the other person isn't framing you for murder.”

Now all the problems. Tropes litter the book. I won’t list them… some are used as plot twists. Some tropes aren’t too bad, we can’t always hate the girl falling for the bad boy, but this entire book was built on them. Very unoriginal. I’m hoping that now the first book jitters are over, McManus can get a little more creative in her choices.

And that ending. Seriously. I don’t think I’ll be the only one guessing it way too early. It brings up a topic fitting our current events, but that’s all. Ugh….

So I’ll just be taking a half a star back for the ending and giving 4 stars. I think everything else was well done and I honestly enjoyed reading the entire thing. She’s got to earn some enjoyment stars. Enough enjoyment that I’ll be anticipating her next book coming out in January.

Public Service Announcement - There won’t be a review next week. Sorry guys. Time for a much need break. Actually, I’ll just be pounding through my own book. Until then… happy reading.

Love Kait

Reading Challenge: 77/100

Book Review | "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" by Jenny Han

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“I wonder what it's like to have that much power over a boy. I don't think I'd want it; it's a lot of responsibility to hold a person's heart in your hands.”

What makes a good story? Is it the craft, the style, or the storyline? Do we read for the characters? Do we read for the thrill? Why do we keep picking up that bound stack of pages?

I ask because I’m not entirely sure why people picked up To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before.

*Warning* this is an unpopular opinion.

Using the gift of words, Lara Jean writes letters to her crushes as a way to finally put to rest the feelings fluttering inside her. She’s written them to the guy at camp, her first kiss, and even her sister’s boyfriend. What was an innocent act of catharsis turns into a sinister plot when all those letters somehow get mailed to their prospective recipients.

So what would you do?

Great concept. I clicked right away to get this guy from the library and gushed with everyone else when Netflix announced the movie. I practically bounced on the balls of my feet when I walked back, book in hand from the library hold shelf, and an afternoon free to read away. And then I turned the page.

I’m not going to knock the idea. I think it’s great and original. The problem is everything else, including the storyline.

“When someone's been gone a long time, at first you save up all the things you want to tell them. You try to keep track of everything in your head. But it's like trying to hold on to a fistful of sand: all the little bits slip out of your hands, and then you're just clutching air and grit.”

I’ll first start with the voice. As a writer, you have to stay true to your age. I understand that Han played Lara Jean as an innocent younger voice. The character stays home a lot, crafts, and reads, but in my opinion, that’s not an excuse to write your character as a twelve-year-old. And what are you saying about the rest of the world that stays home, writes and reads a lot? When the little sister is a stronger character, you’ve got something to be worried about.

Lara Jean, and this could all be an unpopular opinion, was not a likable character for me.

I won’t even start with Peter and Josh. *eye roll* Seriously… what is up with those two. I get Peter stays friends with his ex, but he reads as an entire asshole the whole time. Which really plays poorly with Lara Jean’s decision in the end.  And Josh… I’ll let him sit in the same pool as Peter. I don’t know what I would have done in his shoes but playing the hurt victim isn’t even close.

Now, let us talk about the writing style. Not my thing again. I find that most YA contemporary tends to have a lack of meaty substance. No clue as to why writers suddenly lose all sense of a good story. I know they exist because I’m listening to an amazing version right now. Going back to my topic of description, writers stop describing their character’s world. As readers, we know what an average home might look like, but what makes Lara Jean’s home so special? What images are plastered on the walls or smells drift through the rooms? I need more. More feel of the wind as the rain rolls in. Something to dive into and get lost.

In addition, the dialogue was straining. Not enough conflict to draw a reader in and make them want to know why Lara Jean isn’t going to the game. There needs to be a reason for every word uttered. It’s another chance to develop the character and allow the story to become its own creature.

“Do you know what it’s like to like someone so much you can’t stand it and know that they’ll never feel the same way?”

So you may ask…. Why did I place the next book on hold? I have no idea. *palm to face* To be honest, once you move past the letters, the story plays out overdone writing tropes. Nothing was really resolved in the end. Lara Jean never really grew, let alone the other side characters. I really liked her little sister though. And maybe I just love to torture myself. I will give To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before 3 stars.

I’m reading One of Us is Lying for book club right now. I’m curious to see where it might lead because so far I’m hooked. Keep an eye out on my instagram feed or check back here next week for a full break down.

Happy Reading

Love Kait

Reading Challenge: 75/100

 

Book Review | "The Light Between Oceans" by M. L. Stedman

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“Perhaps when it comes to it, no one is just the worst thing they ever did.”

Books are supposed to pose the hard questions. Give minds an idea to ponder. Nothing is black or white, because humans are not black or white. Books can paint a world never imagined. Sit you down in the center of it all to play a part. And then sometimes, books can paint the wort side of humanity to make you ask yourself - “Is it really wrong?”

The Light Between Oceans paints a picture of despair and hope, asking the hard question of would you do the same? I think we can’t really judge from our perspective. Time in the 1920s is not what we know. Orphaned children were not treated with even the small sliver of care they are today (and that’s saying a lot). So when you read this book, look through the eyes of those telling the story, and not your own.

A couple lives on an island, isolated and alone. Their job is to the ignite the lighthouse every evening. One day a dead man washes ashore with a crying baby. Isabel, whose already lost three births, sees the child as a sign from God, a chance to be the mother nature would never allow her to be. What harm could be done? The baby would be put in an orphanage because no mother would dare abandon their infant. But all stories have many sides and no one is free from grief.

“When it comes to their kids, parents are all just instinct and hope. And fear.”

From the first line, I was lost. Stedman paints a gentle picture of Western Australia, weaving in and out the details carefully between the lives of the characters. Her words are soft, never going for the drawn-out texture, but taking her time to feed tidbits throughout. I would say this is her biggest strength. I’m not from Australia, yet now I walk away seeing this whole new world in bright generous strokes.

Descriptions don’t need to be flashy or all at once. I’ve heard of writers taking pride in spending a whole page on describing a horse. A single horse people. But do readers want to be slowed down by such a common image? I personally do not. For such detail to be painted, there has to be something pretty darn special about this horse.

Description is proportional to time. The longer you spend writing out a picture, the slower the story will progress and you take a risk your audience will be tired of waiting to get the story rolling. Today’s readers have the gift of the internet, we don’t need to completely lay out the basics like a stream. So wait. Say it was a stream, move on and save those moments for the imagery that really matters. The differences that make your world special.

“There are times when the ocean is not the ocean - not blue, not even water, but some violent explosion of energy and danger: fierceness on a scale only gods can summon.”

Do not read this book if you don’t want to cry. Life doesn’t have happy endings and someone must always suffer. That’s the real message of the story. Not the questions asked about the baby. Not the choices made by the characters. But the real fact, that no matter what happens, someone will get their dream and someone will be left to grieve.

Stedman brought to life the pain of life. She didn’t sugar coat the delivery, or follow it up with ‘now everything worked out in the end.’ I appreciate this. I appreciate the raw life of the matter and character development. Stedman stuck with what her characters would do and never once let them change just to give the story a chance. She asked the hard questions of her characters and let them play it all out. Something very important. As writers, we can never let our own thoughts and desires take over to control the story just for what we want. If that character would go down the dark alley, even though we know what waits for her on the other side, that character must go.

Even in this story, we can see the Hero’s journey. Weird right? That something so far from fantasy would have the same elements of a classic story structure, but that’s the point - it’s a classic story structure. We have the initial journey of receiving the baby. Tom, the reluctant hero to choose the journey, and Isabel ready to jump right in. Multiple thresholds to overcome and the final Ordeal and choice before we reach the resurrection.

“Soon enough the days will close over their lives, the grass will grow over their graves, until their story is just an unvisited headstone.”

Not everything about The Light Between Oceans was great. Sometimes the characters came across wrong, instances where Stedman might have tweaked their responses slightly. The ending was a little wonky, and ultimately I think could have been left out. The extra chapter muddled the whole picture instead of letting the reader's mind ponder everything. I didn’t need to see the overall life ending choices. I would say more but that would give too much of the story away.

Essentially, I learned that American audiences need the full picture. We want to see how everything is wrapped up all with a bow. No loose ends. Other countries prefer that open-ended version where there are still questions to ponder and audiences can paint their own outcomes.

All in all, I really enjoyed the entire read. I give the book 4 stars. The writing was soft and gentle, just enough prose to feel the craft but not enough to bog down the emotions and journey of the story. I really wish there were more books by Stedman, but alas this is her only one. Till next time.

Love Kait and Happy Reading.

Reading Chlalenge: 73/100

 

Book Review | "Vicious" by V. E. Schwab

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“You must make time for that which matters, for that which defines you: your passion, your progress, your pen. Take it up, and write your own story.”

Hello, my reading family.

Today I get to share my recent 5 star read with you guys. Not only was this book amazing, I also get to meet the beautiful V. E. Schwab in a month - which is a good thing because I need the sequel now. I feel bad for all the poor souls that had to wait five years. Yes, you read that right… It took Schwab five years to get the sequel out there. From watching her on Instagram, I don’t think the delay was due to a lack of imagination. She has so many books out, each one I can’t wait to devour.

Until then, let us start by talking about this lovely.

Jumping between the past and the present, two college friends become bitter rivals after one fateful night that landed Victor in jail. Ten years later, released or not, he’s on a mission to exact revenge. All the while, Eli, who stumbled on a scientific discovery that ended in death, has played the heroic boy next door. As we meet a ragtag group and discover the importance of life and love, we might learn that not all villains are made the same.

Vicious is the perfect blend of dark and dirty. Melding the world’s of X-Men and Batman, Schwab creates a fantastical adventure.

“I have a hacker, a half-dead dog, and a child. It’s hardly an arsenal.”

And I need more now.

My number one love about Vicious, besides how vicious it is *pun intended*, is Schwab’s attention to the little details during her descriptions. There’s a scene where she describes the ice in Victor’s glass. A tiny minute picture that grounds the reader immediately into the moment. Her details paint a glittering landscape coinciding with the characters as well. Victor felt like the villain, floating above the large city and looking down searching for his prey.

Writing stories that weave in and out between times, and Schwab doesn’t just do two times, is not something to be tackled lightly. There is a balance of releasing information that lets the reader get enough for the ride but also not jumping back and forth too much where they become lost and can never catch their breath. Schwab walks the line, really pushing the moments to the limit. But in her case, it works.

There were just a couple of times where I didn’t like it.

I will start with a caveat….. Vicious needs more than one read. The small details people. I was so caught up in the story, I’m sure I missed something. Even Victor and Eli’s relationship needs close attention. The hate between the two is more than jealousy - I think Victor’s relationship with his parents is a very huge clue. His relationship with Eli is just a carbon copy.

Anyways. Moving on.

Schwab doled out the information a little too quickly. We’re left guessing right at the beginning, that’s how she hooks you. But when a question is brought up in the present, Schwab immediately takes you to the past and provides the answer. I personally like to be left guessing a little longer. This can all be personal preference and was not a big enough problem to change my rating.

“He wanted to care, he wanted to care so badly, but there was this gap between what he felt and what he wanted to feel, a space where something important had been carved out.”

After all, this analyzing and deducing, I can’t figure out if Schwab is a plot or pantser writer. She has a story strongly built around the characters but with a great plot based ending. Also, the reason I dub her a master and one that I will study with a fury. Here is one time that I finally read a writer that is like me. Something important since I was worried readers would hate my style.

What more can I say? If you haven’t picked up a Schwab book yet, you might want to now. She has a lot of projects in the works - yay for all of us.

Now off to read A Light Between Oceans for book club - which will also be the next book I review. I’m curious to see what it’s all about. I’ve heard so many different opinions.

Happy reading my lovelies.

Love Kait

Reading Challenge: 70/100

 

Book Review | "Mistborn" by Brandon Sanderson

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“How do you 'accidentally' kill a noble man in his own mansion?"

"With a knife in the chest. Or, rather, a pair of knives in the chest...”

This is that one time in life where not remembering my husband’s Amazon password is a killer because now I can’t check how much we have left in gift cards. Maybe I can just slide in purchasing the next book without him noticing…. I mean, there are so many books on my shelves. Would he even see another one?

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, he would.

Epic fantasy is a beast I’ve rarely tackled because the genre takes so much commitment. First, there is the struggle of finding just the right book. Second, each book takes a lifetime to read - though I know a lot of us prefer longer books because we get a lot for our money. And finally, third, one series goes on forever. I gave up with Wheel of Time after the fifth book.

Mistborn came highly recommended and at first, I thought there were only three books. Sadly, I was mistaken. Still, I went through with giving the genre a try. It was the least I could do after spending all that time watching Brandon Sanderson’s lectures online. If this guy is going to teach me how to be a stronger writer, I need to know what his writing looks like.

So here I went…

And it was everything I expected. Epic fantasy takes forever to set up. You might think this will lead to better character development, stronger backstory, something worth all the extra effort, but it doesn’t. I’ve seen well-done character development in 300 pages. What is up with all the length then? Could Mistborn have been condensed into a smaller story?

Yes and no. Yes, if you are looking at it solely for story and characters. The length doesn’t lend anything in those two areas. Sanderson even adds in a character well into the story that does fine with a shorter development period. Honestly, I like him more than even the protagonist, Vinn.

Epic fantasy is about one thing…. world building. Why writers and readers enjoy the genre is because they can fully immerse themselves into a fictional world. There is time to notice the little nuances: how people gain sustenance, political structure, religion, magic system, transportation, education. The list can go on for days. Writers can create a world and place readers inside to play. Slower moments are featured to showcase this realm instead of just jumping into the plot. Which does not mean that you need to write an epic fantasy to create a fictional world. J. K. Rowling did it all in the confines of middle-grade structure.

Attention to detail is what makes epic fantasy so hard. You have to build this entire iceberg while only sharing a tiny portion of it to the world. All that hard work will mostly stay locked in a vault never to be seen. So if you want to be an epic fantasy writer, know what you are getting yourself into.

After this long-winded explanation, I’ll get to my point. Mistborn took a long time to set up. A huge difference from the fast-paced YA books I’ve been reading. But, I stuck with the book knowing that this is due to genre and not writing. The world building is top notch. I can see clearly what Sanderson built but I really don’t care too much because world building isn’t something I’m too interested in - unless you’re on a spaceship. Then, taking into account character development, we have an average book in my opinion.

“...Do you stop loving someone just because they betray you? I don't think so. That's what makes the betrayal hurt so much—pain, frustration, anger... and I still loved her. I still do.”

What marks Mistborn as a good book is the well-done plot line. There are many story arcs that come together nicely at the end without too much foreshadowing - one of the hardest tricks to play as a writer. It’s this balancing act to ensure your reader knows enough to not feel betrayed in the end but not too much to give the entire story away. Towards the end, I was turning the page faster and faster. I also appreciate how Sanderson rewards the readers who pay close attention to the little things.

*hint, hint*

Though I won’t say that Sanderson is amazing in this regard, he did write a female protagonist well enough. She was like his prose, to the point without a lot of flare. Vinn was believable enough that I wasn’t stuck on her too much but without enough finesse for me to say that she’s an amazing protagonist. Many times her internal monologue came across harsh and annoying. In honesty, I would have preferred Kelsier to be the sole protagonist but alas, we can’t always have what we want.

After watching Sanderson’s lectures, I will say that this is a great example of ‘seeing through the stained glass window’. There’s no pretty prose to sweep you along. At points, the scenes were so straight to the point that you didn’t get enough grim from the story to fully immerse yourself into the world. We see the mists, they are a huge part, but did we feel the mists? We were told about the mists. My imagination did not runneth over with great description. Another fine line to walk as a writer unless you want to be that literature stain glass writer that focuses on word choice instead of story.

So if you haven’t noticed, yes I will be getting the next book. When I will read it, that is another story because my TBR list is growing out of control. I have a problem people. I don’t even know if there is time to read all the books I want in one lifetime. The hardest part is that more amazing books are coming out all the time. There are at least 6 books coming out in the next 12 months that I’m dying to read. Do you have one on your radar? Let me know in the comments below.

And before I forget…. 3.5 stars for this one.

Happy reading

Love Kait

Reading Challenge: 68/100

 

Book Review | "The Art of Starving" by Sam J. Miller

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“The strongest people aren’t the ones who are born strong. They’re the ones who know what it’s like to be weak, and have a reason to get stronger. The ones who’ve been hurt. Who’ve had things they love taken from them. The ones with something to fight for.”

Book club is a curse and a gift. It can be stressful: figuring out what book to read next, going on the whims of others, and taking wild chances. Such was the case when we sat there, three in a group, trying to keep the YA book club alive and fighting to find something interesting. One of us mentioned the Hugo Awards. And why not? So we scrolled and searched and researched till we came upon a gem that seemed weirdly placed on a list made up entirely of sci-fi books. “There has to be something sci-fi about it,” we all said. So, The Art of Starving became our wild chance.

I don’t think I would have ever glanced at this book otherwise.

And it would have been a sad day because we need more books like this in the world.

The Art of Starving centers around Matt - a boy struggling with life since his older sister decided to disappear one night. Question is, what made her leave? Matt is determined to discover the truth. First stop, the bullies that make his life a living hell. Their ringleader was the last to see his sister before she left. In his search, Matt learns that the less he eats, the more heightened his senses become making him the man he always wished to be: strong and sure. Eventually, his abilities lead to acceptance in the group making him wonder, why did his sister really leave?

I personally struggle with books based around LGBTQ characters. Most of the time the characters become unrealistic creations forced into a story because authors feel a need to fill a hole that they don’t have any clue about. Relationships become unrealistic, arc types overdone, and the natural flow of human nature, in general, is gone. After reading The Art of Starving, I finally feel that a good version can be created. All it takes is someone who understands the content - which introduces the fact that, yes, our author is gay.

Wow oh wow… he did it right. No surprising.

“I used to imagine Better was a place you could get to. A moment when I would look around and see that Everything Was Fine. But that’s not how this works. Being better isn’t a battle you fight and win. Feeling okay is a war, one that lasts your whole life, and the only way to win is to keep on fighting.”

Take note my readers. The world is clamoring for diverse reads, diverse characters, and diverse topics, but it might not be your place to deliver it. There is a trend now with authors throwing in diversity for the sake of diversity and not understanding one cent of the topic. Take Artemis for example. In my opinion, there was not one reason behind Weir making his protagonist an ethnicity that he has not a shred of idea about. So what happened….? The character and culture felt butchered and poorly created.

Now, look at Miller - a man that understand the nuances of being gay and used that to create a believable character that readers could love and stand behind. The message was honest, beautiful, and fully formed.

We don’t just need diverse reads, so don’t let the idea turn you off from writing. No matter our background, origin, or faith, we all have something to share. My point is, don’t make a character one way or throw a topic in just to check off the diverse box. Do your research, delve in deep, and then take the plunge.

Yes, Miller did a fantastic job but there is still the elephant in the room. Nothing in this book is sci-fi. Even if you go on the premise of Matt’s otherworldly ability when he starves himself, it reads as a mental delusion than sci-fi esck plot. I even want to say that’s what Miller intended. Not once does his actually ‘abilities’ feel anything other than delusions from lack of food. So, then why was this nominated for a Hugo award? The world may never know.

Everything about The Art of Starving screams award-worthy…. just maybe not the one award genre writers can be a part of.

“The greatest power comes from love, from knowing who you are and standing proudly in it.”

Miller pulls off a story of a lifetime, especially shocking since this is his debut book. On top of that, he throws in multiple topics that I think would send other writers spinning in circles. I’ve read those books - most of the time you end up with unanswered questions. Miller throws in LGBTQ relationships, coming out of the closet, ethnicity, single motherhood, job loss, eating disorders, etc. The list keeps going. But through it all, Miller stays truthful to his character and weaves each part into a heartfelt story for every age. I’m honored to have gotten to read the story and I walk away with a different idea of the world around me.

All in all… I give this story 4 stars. Well written, well crafted, and a read I beg everyone to try. I’m super excited to read Miller’s other book - which just happened to come into my radar before I even knew about The Art of Starving.

Happy readings.

Love Kait.

Reading Challenge: 65/100

 

Book Review | "How to Stop Time" by Matt Haig

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“Whenever I see someone reading a book, especially if it is someone I don't expect, I feel civilization has become a little safer.”

Thank god this was a book club pick. If not for the need to finish the entire thing, I believe this would have been thrown out and considered a lost cause.

The story introduces Tom, a man with a long past - a very long past spanning over 400 years. Having a medical condition that slows his aging, Tom has lived many lives always running from people who view him as a freak or a devil. Flipping between the present day and his history, we begin to see how our pasts drive us, staying true to ourselves, and the importance of what it means to live.

I really don’t think it helped I picked this up after War Storm. I went from a pretty average YA written novel to one of strong lyrical prose. As Brandon Sanderson would say, “You can really see the stained glass window with this one.” But, in truth, the prose was so heavy I couldn’t see past the words to the story underneath. I stuck with it, as I was forced to, and found a heartwarming, eye-opening story underneath it all.

You just have to remove a few layers first.

So seriously, stick with this thing.

I don’t think you’ll regret it.

At least I hope not…..

“It is strange how close the past is, even when you imagine it to be so far away. Strange how it can just jump out of a sentence and hit you. Strange how every object or word can house a ghost.”

How to Stop Time is not a masterpiece of plot - a sign that Haig is probably a discovery writer. Some of the plot twists pop out of nowhere, which isn’t the worst but might leave a sour taste in your mouth. In honesty, Haig’s attempt at mystery leaves a little to be desired. What makes this book a masterpiece is his ability to throw in the hard life questions without you noticing. Multiple times I had to stop for a moment and think about what he’d just written in the most casual way. There were questions and thoughts that I think we all have but that have never been said out loud.

Haig’s superpower is his ability to weave the scenes in and out. To flow the information and bring up thoughts and philosophical quandaries without pausing. While reading, you don’t feel like your being lectured to. Instead, you feel deep inside the head of a lost wandering man who's trying to figure out his own role in a world that has destroyed him for centuries.

Which doesn’t mean that Haig’s casual name-dropping throughout the book works though. How likely are you to be in these places at just the right time to meet say, F. Scott Fitzgerald? I can believe Shakespeare and Chaplin, but the rest not so much.

Eventually, I was so deep into the story that when I turned the last page my heart sunk. I fell in love with Tom. I fell in love with Rose. And I saw the struggle of each character and their own fears. So yes, the story isn’t about plot. It’s a character-driven narrative filled with beautiful insight into the world we live in.

As you can guess, I quickly changed my rating on this story and it’s now at 4 stars. There are still some items that I would have preferred played out differently and I don’t like how long it took to get into the story. I feel many readers will end up putting this down. And that’s why I beg you to stick with it until the end.

Happy Reading

Love Kait

Reading Challenge: 59/100

 

Book Review | "War Storm" by Victoria Aveyard

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“Cal is built from his father’s dreams, and Maven from his mother’s nightmares.”

War Storm….

The ending to an epic battle of power and blood.

And a book I will not admit is part of the series.

There’s a lot to this book. Like the others, we are dropped in where the third book leaves off. Cal has just decided to go for the crown instead of Mare. And this, besides the political and war drama, is the premise of the entire book. Everything revolves around whether they will return to each other, even, I would say, the other characters.

“I walked away from his offer. From him. I was torn apart by another betrayal—Cal’s betrayal, but also mine. I love you is a promise we both made, and we both broke. It should mean I choose you above all else. I want you more. I need you always. I cannot live without you. I will do anything to keep our lives from parting. But he wouldn’t. And I won’t.”

And boy are there other characters. Aveyard decided to add everyone and the kitchen sink - which I think was the worst idea. Do not add people to pull the plot forward. Especially if you only let them have a chapter or two. The biggest disappointment was Cameron. She isn’t a POV at all in this book which proves that she was used as a plot tool in the last book. Such a disappointment. I was promised her story, and though we see a somewhat happy ending, nothing is entirely resolved.

I may disagree with everyone on the planet, but Mare stole my heart and having to waste my time on so many other characters I could care less about ruined the last two books for me. Aveyard set a promise that this was Mare’s story. She breaks this promise in the last two books. If instead, she had added additional POV from the beginning, she would have had more leeway in adding and subtracting later. Still, I stand firm that if you want to add a POV you need to add it throughout the book - not thrown in a part of the way allowing only a small glimpse into the character’s mind.

Rant is now over….

I was holding that in for the entire read.

It’s hard to say that this story was boring. A lot happens and we get a few, very obviously foreshadowed, plot twists. How else was this expected to end? Only a bloody war could be the ultimate deciding factor. The fault lies in its length. (Another reason to have stayed with one POV… ok really done now) Aveyard goes so nitty gritty into the war maneuvers and strategy, not something you will expect when starting the series. In essence, she lost the tone of her series and ended on a very low note.

Such a low note. You will see what I mean when you get there.

Sometimes, I even wonder why I picked this series up when I’m handed that to walk away with.

What I will give Aveyard an award for is her ability to stay true to Mare the entire story. Through all the books, she never lost Mare’s true character and I can see she made the hard choices. Except for the end. Ok, no spoilers. Also another round of applause for the second mountain scene. Excellent little nugget there - you’ll know it when you arrive.

All in all, I loved the first two books of this series. If I had to give an overall rating, I would go for 4 stars. Now for War Storm, we will dip down to 3 stars. I hate to do it, but she gets what’s delivered. I do look forward to whatever else she decides to write.

Happy Reading Everyone!

Love Kait

Reading Challenge: 58/100

 

Book Review | "Furyborn" by Claire Legrand

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“We all have darkness inside us, Rielle,” he said, his voice rough. “That is what it means to be human.”

Social issues are becoming the forefront of every conversation, and though I agree that these topics need to be discussed, not everyone makes decisions solely to ask the questions. I don’t know the reason why Legrand covered a few more taboo topics in her book, but I didn’t even recognize their significance because for me the inclusion of a masturbation scene seemed natural. I appreciate that she doesn’t shy away, or even that the editor let her include it, in this world where natural human instinct is no longer being kept secret. So, a long round of applause.

And really this delves right into my thoughts about Furyborn. The story is different. I struggled with explaining why… but then I look at the above comment and realize that's why. Instead of hinting, fading to black and forcing the reader to make assumptions, Legrand lays out her scenes bright and bold. Female sexuality is blatant. Homosexuality is hinted as a plot. The general idea that females can be powerful as well as physically superior. My thoughts are that this wasn’t done to make a statement. Everything was laid out because to Legrand, and many of us in the world, this is a natural mindset.

I wasn’t brought up to believe a certain way about things. Instead, my mind formed it’s own conclusion on the world. Many times my husband reminds me that the average person does not think the same way I do. For once, here was a book forged into the mindset of my own thoughts.

To be clear, for those that tend to ask authors - no, this is not a clean book, though I don’t even know what the definition of clean is.

Now to the actual synopsis. Furyborn is set millennia apart. One world, a noble with power that could be the savior in stopping the gate from falling, unleashing those sentenced to purgatory for crimes in the past. The other, a killer set to keep herself and her family alive until she must help those she kills to save her mother. And through it all, one source of control bent on revenge to a war that took power and life from them.

Throughout the book, we jump between the two protagonists.

To be honest… I almost put this book down never to return. I HATED the beginning. For a solid two days, I kept sighing loudly and grunting out each sentence. I cursed the book club for agreeing to read it. Sometimes book clubs do save the day, and because I must finish books for the meeting, I trudged on. Boy am I glad I did. After page 70 the whole thing takes a major upswing.

Legrand created a massive learning curve for her readers. She isn’t nice about it either, letting us slowly dip our toes into the water and test out our thoughts. No. We are thrown right in left to either sink or swim. Well, I sunk, but luckily a little life saver came along and pulled me to safety. There is no way someone could say that she shows her iceberg. That thing is kept firmly under wraps. Legrand slowly doles out the information piece by piece until you finally place all the puzzle pieces together and form a picture.

Clue - make sure to pay attention to the excerpts at the beginning. They hold more information than you would assume.

Overall, I loved this book. Rielle and Eliana are excellent characters. Eliana is more developed in my opinion, and I really appreciate her tone. The seemingly bad character is the one we are forced to love - though I didn’t find it hard. It poses the question of what would you do in her situation. Rielle felt repetitive in her plot. A lot of the same thoughts and action not repeated, but played out over and over. Her development lends more to personal relationships. There is a large emphasis that the story really revolves around her, which might be the reason she falls flat. The reader expects more, especially after the way she enters the story. Where the plot is going, I think that she will have a more developed role in the next book.

So much happens in this book, your suspension of belief might be a little stretched. Most authors choose to make one topic the stretch but Legrand adds in a whole system. I love her take on angels. These are not your grandmother’s angelic creatures. They are dark and sinister and just the way I like them. Some people complained that her magic system needed to be explained more, but I was fine with going along for the ride. The story doesn’t need it to be enjoyed. I did just fine though I’m also one that doesn’t require every detail of a world mapped out.

So if you want an action-packed story, with time travel, magic, angels, and love, then grab this one from the shelves. You might hate me after when you have to wait a year for the next one. I know that I hate myself. A year is too long. My overall rating is 4.5 stars and only because the ending fell flat. Plus, there was a scene that made no sense, or at least I missed how we got from point A to point B.

Happy Reading.

Love Kait

Reading Challenge: 55/100