Categotry Archives: Reviews
The Third Twin
Delacorte Press
February 24, 2015
Hardcover
336
Identical twins. Identical DNA. Identical suspects. It’s Pretty Little Liars meets Revenge in this edge-of-your-seat thriller with a shocking twist.
When they were little, Lexi and her identical twin, Ava, made up a third sister, Alicia. If something broke? Alicia did it. Cookies got eaten? Alicia’s guilty. Alicia was always to blame for everything.
The game is all grown up now that the girls are seniors. They use Alicia as their cover to go out with boys who are hot but not exactly dating material. Boys they’d never, ever be with in real life.
Now one of the guys Alicia went out with has turned up dead, and Lexi wants to stop the game for good. As coincidences start piling up, Ava insists that if they follow the rules for being Alicia, everything will be fine. But when another boy is killed, the DNA evidence and surveillance photos point to only one suspect—Alicia. The girl who doesn’t exist.
As she runs from the cops, Lexi has to find the truth before another boy is murdered. Because either Ava is a killer . . . or Alicia is real.
Review:
I really wanted to like “The Third Twin”, and for a little over half of the book, I did. Somewhere around there it really jumped the rails in several aspects. The first half is why I gave it three stars, but the second would most certainly would be a two star book, in my opinion.
The premise is a very interesting one, and an unsolved murder for which the protagonist is a suspect holds a lot of promise. The stakes rise as it goes on, delivering a mix of the predictable and good surprises. The set-up was the best part of the book.
The characters are not well-developed, relying mostly on tropes to establish their personalities, and by the end they are quite grating. The ending, without spoiling it, is everything that a mystery should not be. While unpredictable, which is a good quality, it comes out of nowhere with absolutely no clues to lead it there, which is anything but good.
For most mystery lovers, I would recommend giving this one a pass. If the little details are not something you care about in a mystery or thriller, it may be worth a try. If nothing else, “The Third Twin” is a quick read.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Mild Sexual Situations, Language, Violence
Paper or Plastic
Paper or Plastic
Entangled: Teen
February 23, 2015
Paperback
352
Welcome to SmartMart, where crime pays minimum wage...
Busted. Alexis Dubois just got caught shoplifting a cheap tube of lipstick at the local SmartMart. She doesn’t know what’s worse—disappointing her overbearing beauty-pageant-obsessed mother for the zillionth time…or her punishment. Because Lex is forced to spend her summer working at the store, where the only things stranger than the staff are the customers.
Now Lex is stuck in the bizarro world of big-box retail. Coupon cutters, jerk customers, and learning exactly what a “Code B” really is (ew). And for added awkwardness, her new supervisor is the totally cute—and adorably geeky—Noah Grayson. Trying to balance her out-of-control mother, her pitching position on the softball team, and her secret crush on the school geek makes for one crazy summer. But ultimately, could the worst job in the world be the best thing that ever happened to her?
Review:
“Paper or Plastic” is exactly what it intends to be: a light ya romance and palate cleanser. It fulfills its purpose wonderfully.
The characters are engaging and fun, all of them with underlying issues that a revealed throughout the book. They grow a surprising amount as people given the length and lightness of the plot. It’s easy to find yourself relating to them in some way and I found myself more invested in their lives more than I expected to be.
The plot is solid and deals with some heavier issues like bullying, Alzheimer’s, and child abuse while somehow managing to keep the tone light and humorous for the most part. The writing is done in a style that makes it a quick read, and the teenagers speak like actual teenagers, which is something I am always appreciative of when digging in to a ya novel.
I can’t finish the review without noting that the author has very obviously worked at a retail chain of some sort in the past. The horrors of retail were enough to bring me back nightmares about my days at a grocery chain. In spite of the nightmares, reading about the customers had me literally laughing out loud. Well done, Vivi Barnes.
“Paper or Plastic” is obviously meant for the teen market, but there are few things explicit enough for parents of younger teens to worry about. I recommend it for those looking for a quick romantic read filled with humor and just the right amount of sweetness.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Mild Sexual Situations, Brief Language, Child Abuse
Seeker
Seeker, Book 1
Juvenile Fiction
Delacorte Books for Young Readers
2015
448
Taking her Oath after a lifetime of training to be a Seeker who protects the weak and wronged in a near-future world, Quin is shattered to discover that her family and the boy she loves are not the people she thought they were. Simultaneous eBook.
Review:
It’s difficult to categorize “Seeker” because it spans across a wide range of genres. There are elements of fantasy, science fiction, dystopian, steampunk, and romance all rolled into a unique and compelling read.
The world building is amazing from the start, setting up what a reader needs to know while also leaving a lot of questions to be answered at later times. The plot flows at a consistent pace without lagging. As with the world itself, the backstory is revealed at a slow pace, leaving readers with only the answers they need and the desire to find out more.
The narrative is split between four characters in the rather rare third person limited point-of-view. It works very well in this situation, and none of the transitions between characters are jarring. All of them are brought to life in the reader’s mind, full of flaws and individual complexities. Also, for those who like finding a ship, you will probably find one before chapter 3.
I can’t wait for the second in the series and highly recommend “Seeker” for those who enjoy any of the genres listed above. Due to subject matter, I think it is most suited for those in the eighth grade and up.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Brief Sexual Situations, Violence, Drug and Alcohol Use
How (Not) to Fall in Love
How (Not) to Fall in Love
Entangled: Teen
February 3, 2015
Hardcover
352
Seventeen-year-old Darcy Covington never had to worry about money or where her next shopping spree was coming from. Even her dog ate gourmet. Then one day, Darcy’s car is repossessed from the parking lot of her elite private school. As her father’s business hit the skids, Dad didn’t just skip town, he bailed on his family.
Fortunately, Darcy’s uncle owns a thrift shop where she can hide out from the world. There’s also Lucas, the wickedly hot fix-it guy she can’t stop crushing on, even if she’s not sure they’ll ever get out of the friend zone.
But it’s here among the colorful characters of her uncle’s world that Darcy begins to see something more in herself...if she has the courage to follow it.
Review:
“How (Not) to Fall in Love” is the perfect palate cleanser that mixes romance with deeper issues, making it light but intelligent. Part romance, part mystery, and part family drama, it covers quite a wide range of subjects.
All of the characters are wonderfully flawed and do not fall prey to stereotypes, even though the other characters try to project them onto those who are different. They are well-developed and the dialogue is realistic and snarky. The male love interest is actually a decent guy who sets a good example for the type of relationships girls and boys should expect to have. Unfortunately, that is not always the case with young adult romances, so I’m always appreciative when it happens.
Mental illness and the effect it has on family members is also tackled and handled in a very sensitive manner. There are no miracles to make it go away, and the path is not an easy one. The realistic nature is something many people will be able to relate to, and it will also serve to help educate those without personal experiences.
While there is some adult content, none of it is explicit enough to keep middle readers from being able to read it and appreciate it, and parents can feel at ease with how everything is handled. This makes it a wonderful choice for romance lovers of almost any age.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content:
Mild Sexual Situations, Language, Drug Usage
Hades
Hades
Archer and Bennett, Book 1
Mystery
Kensington
January 27, 2015
Hardback
320
Review:
It has been quite some time since I have found a new and enjoyable mystery series that features both procedurals and a unique premise, but “Hades” definitely meets all of those requirements and more. If you read the description, it may sound like “Dexter”, but I can assure you there is very little resemblance.
The plot goes back and forth between the backstory of the twins Eden and Eric, along with their “father” Hades, and a first-person account by detective Frank Bennett of the current work of finding a prolific serial killer. On occasion there is also a third-person narrative of what is happening with the killer. The switches took a bit to get used to, but once they did I found them enjoyable.
The plot is fast and interesting, with quite a few surprises thrown in. It will be difficult for even the most enthusiastic mystery lovers to see where it all will end, making it the perfect mystery. The characters are deep and well-developed, with enough mystery surrounding them to make the reader look forward to the sequel. Unfortunately, writing much more would spoil the surprises, and where is the fun in that?
I recommend “Hades” for any mystery lovers out there with strong stomachs, as it can be gruesome at times.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
I don’t normally write content warnings for adult books, but please be aware that this novel contains animal death.
The Same Sky
Fiction
Ballantine Books
2015-01-20
288
A childless woman looking to adopt crosses paths with a 13-year-old Honduran girl who has embarked on a dangerous journey into Texas with her brother. By the author of How to Be Lost.
Review:
“The Same Sky” is an intense book told in the stark voices of two narrators, a girl from Honduras named Carla, and a woman from America named Alice. The two stories combine to make a haunting novel that will, hopefully, forever remain in the mind of the reader.
Alice, while she can be somewhat of annoying character, is a good representation of middle-class America. Her family has its own struggles and deal with the inability to have children. She and her husband run a small family business and live comfortably within their own bubble until the poverty that surrounds them becomes a part of their lives. I liked this subplot of the book, as it was a good example of the fact that poverty exists, quite literally, in our own backyards.
The story of Carla is eye-opening and disturbing. Her life in her village is vividly described, illustrating some of the many reasons people of all ages choose to risk the journey to the United States. I had no idea the trip is as difficult as it is, and I may have nightmares about it for quite some time.
I highly recommend “The Same Sky”. It brings a deep understanding to the struggles of others who share our world, and it sheds light on the reasons many illegal immigrant children are arriving at our borders alone. It is my hope that we can all come together to help others in need with this book in the backs of our minds. I know it will remain in mine.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
While I do not typically write content warnings for adult books, please be aware that there is rape, child, and drug abuse in this book.
The Secret Wisdom of the Earth
Fiction
Grand Central Publishing
2015-01-06
480
After witnessing the death of his younger brother in a terrible home accident, 14-year-old Kevin and his grieving mother are sent for the summer to live with Kevin's grandfather. In this peeled-paint coal town deep in Appalachia, Kevin quickly falls in with a half-wild hollow kid named Buzzy Fink who schools him in the mysteries and magnificence of the woods. The events of this fateful summer will affect the entire town of Medgar, Kentucky. Medgar is beset by a massive Mountaintop Removal operation that is blowing up the hills and back filling the hollows. Kevin's grandfather and others in town attempt to rally the citizens against the 'company' and its powerful owner to stop the plunder of their mountain heritage. When Buzzy witnesses the brutal murder of the opposition leader, a sequence is set in play which tests Buzzy and Kevin to their absolute limits in an epic struggle for survival in the Kentucky mountains. Redemptive and emotionally resonant, The Secret Wisdom of the Earth is narrated by an adult Kevin looking back on the summer when he sloughed the coverings of a boy and took his first faltering steps as a man among a rich cast of characters and an ambitious effort to reclaim a once great community.
Review:
For the first time, I feel like a jerk for giving something three stars as opposed to four, because at its heart “The Secret Wisdom of the Earth” is a solid four-star novel. There are some plot flaws that made me feel the need to dock a star, and they may not bother others, so please research other reviews along with mine to determine if this novel is right for you.
“The Secret Wisdom of the Earth” is a coming-of-age tale in the slice-of-life tradition. It meanders through the beautiful world of the Kentucky mountains, creating a respect within the reader for the beauty and fragility of nature. Mixed in are the very real issues of coal mining, poverty, and homophobia. All are handled in a realistic and unflinchingly honest way.
The main characters of Kevin, Pops, and Buzzy are likable and flawed, making them people whom those from all walks of life can relate. The supporting characters are all given complex stories and personalities that make you want to sit around at the diner and get to know them better.
Given all of these positives, you may be wondering why the three-star rating. The problem comes at the end. While some issues were not resolved, and should not have been, there were others that were not addressed at all, leaving the reader with no closure. On the opposite end, there was too much closure in the epilogue, with as many personal details crammed in as possible. It cluttered what would have been such a great book had the ending simply addressed the initial themes as opposed to ignoring them for the minor details.
I don’t regret reading “The Secret Wisdom of the Earth”, but I do have mixed feelings about it. I can neither recommend nor not recommend this novel.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content:
I don’t do content warnings for adult books, but do want to warn that there is strong homophobic and racist comments, as well as animal abuse.
Inked
Juvenile Fiction
Bloomsbury Publishing USA
2015-01-20
250
Sometimes your only chance to survive, and what you most fear... is to be INKED. Tattoos once were an act of rebellion. Now they decide your destiny the moment the magical Ink settles under your skin. And in a world where Ink controls your fate, Caenum can't escape soon enough. He is ready to run from his family, and his best friend Dreya, and the home he has known, just to have a chance at a choice. But when he upsets the very Scribe scheduled to give him his Ink on his eighteenth birthday, he unwittingly sets in motion a series of events that sends the corrupt, magic-fearing government, The Citadel, after him and those he loves. Now Caenum, Dreya, and their reluctant companion Kenzi must find their way to the Sanctuary, a secret town where those with the gift of magic are safe. Along the way, they learn the truth behind Ink, its dark origins, and why they are the only ones who can stop the Citadel. Eric Smith takes you on a fast-paced fantasy adventure, perfect for anyone who has dreamed of being different...only to discover that destiny is more than skin deep. Advance Praise "INKED is an action-packed read with a hero I could root for, magic I wanted to have, and a vivid fantasy world to back it all up. Smith's prose had me turning pages way past my bedtime." - Susan Dennard, author of Something Strange & Deadly "A fast-paced page-turner from Eric Smith filled with magic, mystery and mayhem." - Kristi Helvig, Author of Burn Out "With a lively cast of characters and a captivating idea, INKED draws its readers into a world where magic lives on every page." Kat Zhang, author of The Hybrid Chronicles series
Review:
Judging from the summary and the cover, I had really high hopes for the tale of magical tattoos and the main character, Caenum. Unfortunately, “Inked” is a prime example of not being able to judge a book by its cover.
The story started in a promising way, introducing the familiar themes of becoming an adult and being afraid of what the world may hold for you. The descriptions of how the magic tattoos looked and moved were intriguing and very well-done. The world building, while not the best I have read, was sufficient to give the reader a decent idea of what Caenum is encountering.
The beginning of the plot resembles a fairy tale, but by the halfway mark it begins to go off of the rails. The plot tries to fit too much in, and given the short length of the book, it detracts from the simple, linear plot that would have been much more readable and enjoyable. By the end, you have more questions than answers, and there are characters who never became fleshed out enough to make the story reach a satisfactory conclusion. In fact, it seems as though it is meant to be a series, yet ends as though the story has reached its conclusion.
The reason I have given “Inked” three stars, as opposed to two, is that in spite of all of its problems I believe it will hold the attention of children in the age range of 10-12. It’s relatively clean and does, at least, hold a quick pace. Unless you fall in that age group, I do not recommend this book.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Mild Language, Violence
Vivian Apple at the End of the World
Vivian Apple at the End of the World
Vivian Apple, Book 1
HMH Books for Young Readers
January 6, 2015
Hardcover
272
Seventeen-year-old Vivian Apple never believed in the evangelical Church of America, unlike her recently devout parents. But when Vivian returns home the night after the supposed "Rapture," all that’s left of her parents are two holes in the roof. Suddenly, she doesn't know who or what to believe. With her best friend Harp and a mysterious ally, Peter, Vivian embarks on a desperate cross-country roadtrip through a paranoid and panic-stricken America to find answers. Because at the end of the world, Vivan Apple isn't looking for a savior. She's looking for the truth.
Review:
The summary for “Vivian Apple at the End of the World”, while intriguing, sells the book far short. So much more occurs within different contexts during the course of the book. It is a contemporary romance, mystery, dystopia, and horror story all mixed into one good book.
The subject matter can be controversial, as organized religion is not exactly lauded, but I believe readers should look at it as satire. It brings up very important questions that are important that we all ask ourselves in a way that is very palatable for teenaged readers. What do we believe? What is important to us? Should we follow the crowd or go against the pressure of society? Is everything we are taught true?
The plot flows quickly, but not too quickly, and is anything but predictable. The characters are well-developed and there is a tongue-in-cheek humor that left me laughing out loud several times. Not to be ignored is the romance between Vivian and Peter. It is refreshingly devoid of “instalove” and develops in a way which is believable under the circumstances. That is always something worth noting in a young adult book.
I recommend it for teenagers and adults who enjoy a good satire that makes them think closely about religion and society, though it may be offensive to those with certain religious beliefs.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Underage Drinking and Drug Use, Violence.
Stone Faced Angel
Stone Faced Angel
The Stone Angels Saga, Book 1
February 1, 2015
275
There are some things I know for sure:
I died . . . A long time ago
Even in death I was always aware of him.
Love has a way of making even angels choose to leave their heaven above.
Review:
If I could give half stars, “Stone Faced Angel” would get 3 1/2.
The story of an angel coming to earth looking for love is definitely an intriguing plot, and it did deliver in moments. As is too often not the case, there was an actual love interest that is a good example of what to look for in a partner as opposed to being obnoxious and overbearing. The love story moved too quickly in my opinion, but it was not unrealistic enough to distract from the romance.
The main problem with the book is the pacing. The beginning seemed to be from an entirely different novel, then it sped up, then slowed down again. I would have preferred it to be more consistent, settling into a happy medium. At times things became a little too unrealistic, but overall it was a sweet story.
I would recommend “Stone Faced Angel” to those who are fans of “Fallen Angel” type stories and those who enjoy fantasies between this world and the next.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations
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