My Rating: 5 Stars 5 stars and I regret nothing. I fell in love with this book, it’s perfect and I will definitely buy the paperback version. The story starts with a young woman, injured and passed out on a beach with no recollection of who she is and she got there. When two boys approach her, Ann Baker as no choice but to follow them and hope for the best. When she’s taken to their home, a compound in the mountains, she's facing an impossible reality: she is The Lost One, one of the few Readers in the world with a power so strong it could bring their enemies to their knees. Surrounded by both friends and foes, Ann starts the adventure of a lifetime in a compound where everything counts and not everybody is what they seem. A very engaging, fast-paced plot where every detail counts! It’s fresh, creative, passionate and it mixes a bit of everything, from action to the mystery, romance, supernatural and adventure. The style of writing is beautiful and very addictive. I couldn’t put it down and the descriptions were incredible. It was like living the story instead of just reading it. The pace of the story is also great, fast-paced, never a boring moment. As for the characters, Ann is an incredible female protagonist. She has everything: wit, the strength of character, wisdom, instinct and always follows the path she thinks it’s right. I really enjoyed seeing her interaction with other characters, how naturally she fits in. Devon and Archer are every girl's dream: both are handsome, strong, and protective. Devon is the col, closed off type that acts like a bad-boy but deep down he cares; and Archer is the sweet, understanding type that will listen to everything and give good advice. I really enjoyed reading about their own little rivalry when it comes to Ann’s attention. I think they both have a great chemistry with Ann, can’t imagine whom she would pick. The thing is: all the characters are very much human. I couldn’t actually feel that the special abilities the author describes were “supernatural”. It all seems very much “real”, very much human. There are flaws, rivalries, companionship, doubts, problems, which gives them depth. Overall, probably one of the best YA books I’ve read so far. I highly recommend it! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book.
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My Rating: 3 Stars A nice middle-grader adventure book. The novel introduces us to an alternative universe where evil travellers in old train cars and the Karmanic Sovereign Legion is in the front line to fight this threat. When Cole’s father dies in a train crash, he doesn’t know that he’s being tossed into a world he didn’t know it existed. When he receives a strange stone called Blue Moon Narthex, Cole travels to the Coreseum with his two companions, Britten and Sasha, where he begins to understand the power of stone and the evil forces that are so kin in having it. The storyline is enjoyable and the idea of Karma matter balancing the good and evil in the world was refreshing to read. The writing style is very engaging and easy to follow. Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with the story as well as I thought I would as I found a lot of similarities with the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson universes. Though the book takes a different turn after a while, I was disappointed with the lack of details of the period when the story takes place and the overly detailed descriptions of the educational process of the three main characters. I definitely think that this novel is more turned to the middle graders level: magic, mystery, companionship and adventure. Overall, I give three stars for the writing style and the refreshing idea of the narthexes and the Karmanic universe! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Steel Page Press. and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. My Rating: 5 Stars Perfection! And now I'm depressing since I read it in one sitting and have to wait for the next volume! A brilliant sequel to Crime and Poetry by Amanda Flower in a novel that is more compelling than the first! Prose and Cons is the second book of the Magical Bookshop Mystery series. The main character, Violet Waverly is now the new Caretaker of Charming Books in Cascade Springs, while working at the local university as a professor of Literature and writing her PhD dissertation at the same time. Life is good as Violet and Grandma Daisy prepare for the event of the year, the Cascade Springs Food and Wine Festival. The plan is for the Red Inkers, the writers club, to do a Poe-try reading (reading of works of Edgar Allen Poe) with the historical setting and clothing. When Violet discovers the dead body of Anastasia Faber, one of the writers, in the bookshop all hell breaks loose. When her friend Sadie is accused and all the evidences point to her, Violet takes charge of the case together with the handsome chief of police David Rainwater in order to find the real killer. With the help of the magical bookstore, Emerson the tuxedo cat and Faulkner, the crow, our main character will uncover a big secret and an unexpected visitor will turn Violet's world upside down. A magical novel that I read in a few hours! Impossible to put down, the plot may look simple but it's nothing as such. The characters are so enchanting, so colourful and described in depth that I feel like they are my friends too. I love Violet, her loyalty and her complete faith in her friend Sadie's innocence is a grand part of her strong and stubborn character. I must admit that I was expecting a bit more action with the handsome chief of police, inside I truly believe that David and Violet make the dream couple. It was a delight to read their interactions and I think, reading in between the lines, that David knows more about the secret of the Charming Bookstore than he leads on. The setting is still as bright and colourful as the first time and it gives me the desire to visit Cascade Springs myself. Of course, that visiting the magical bookstore where the perfect book finds you would be a plus! My favourite series of cosy-mystery that I highly recommend! My Rating: 4 Stars I keep repeating myself, I’m pretty sure a blogger should get a bit more creative but I think I’m justified in my choice of words. So here goes: Another brilliant adaptation of one of the most famous classics of English literature: Jane Eyre. I’ve read the original once a long time ago and by the time I finished with the manga adaptation I wanted to run and read it again. The novel follows the life of young Jane Eyre, an orphan with a cruel and abused childhood. When she is cast out by her aunt, Jane is sent to a charity school where she receives an education under a very strict regime. Years later, she finds a job as a governess at the Rochester estate. Three months after she starts, Jane meets the cold and mysterious Edward Rochester, the owner of the estate. Slowly they begin to bond but a secret threatens to ruin everything, both the reputation and the life of Miss Eyre. Will she be able to follow her heart and be with the man she loves or will she lose him? This is a story about facing fears and life no matter what comes your way, not letting traumatic experiences define you. It’s about determination, the power to follow dreams and above all, it’s about the courage to face the world and to stay faithful to ourselves under every circumstance. Jane Eyre is a brilliant character, a strong, intelligent woman that knows the boundaries set by her social class but still manages to answer politely, crossing the line with grace and pure wit. The adaptation is once again incredible. The drawings transmit the simplicity of the characters but still manage to convey emotion. Can’t wait to read more! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Udon Entertainment, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. My Rating: 3 Stars I’ve always been a big fan of Agatha Christie, but I must say I didn’t feel this novel as much as I would with Poirot or Miss Marple. The plot is very nice and the murder is complex and has some turns that left me without certainties of anything. The book starts with the introduction of the main character, Luke Fitzgerald, a retired policeman travelling by train to London. Sitting in his cabinet is an elderly woman, Lavinia Pinkerton that confides in him about several murders that have been happening and how the murderer would kill again. Dismissing the worries of lady, imagine the surprise of Mr Fitzgerald when he reads about the ladies's death in the newspaper the following day. What follows is the introduction of the suspects, including Miss Bridget Conway, the lady that captures Luke’s heart. But who is the murder? Why does he kill? And more importantly, who will be the next victim? Like I wrote before, the murder plot is complex and with some twists, something that I enjoy greatly. The murderer is truly the last person one would expect and it took me by surprise. The evidences are all there, but I was unable to connect the dots until the very end. The vintage setting, a small village where nothing ever happens and suddenly a murder occurs, is something that I’m still able to enjoy no matter how many books I read with the same setting. My only problem was connecting with the characters. I’m not a fan of romance and I think that Luke and Bridget’s story was cute but rushed with all the “love at first sight” thing. Still, I liked reading their interactions and conversations since Miss Conway is the smartest woman in the story. Overall, a nice read, but not one of my favourites from Agatha Christie! My Rating: 5 Stars I’m going to be honest: I really really don’t like Charles Dickens. There, I’ve said it. I had to read Hard Times and Great Expectations for a university course and, until today, they were probably the two novels that took me the longest to finish. However, I absolutely loved the adaptation to Manga. Congratulations to Stacy King, Nokman Poon and Crystal Chan for another brilliant Manga Classic! Great Expectations tells the story of Pip, a boy from the low class that is given the opportunity to have a better life. With his chance, he discovers that power and money can change a person and is reminded that the past can always come back to haunt you. It’s a timeless tale of opportunities, mystery, love, redemption and second chances. Here is my deal with Charles Dickens: I like the stories but his style of writing is too tedious for me. In this brilliant manga adaption, the story is made simple and very enjoyable. For someone that hasn’t read the novel before the story is very understandable and easy to follow. I’m very glad that there is a limit of pages per adaptation even though the story loses a bit of its depth, but I think the idea is to make the story more accessible to all ages. The art is simply breathtaking. The dress designs are very beautiful and pleasant to look at and the facial expressions of the characters are very well developed. I could feel the emotions of each scene from the drawings and the different atmospheres from the different places in the novel. I especially liked the manor of Miss Havisham and the dusty darkish room she is in, and I think it represents perfectly the state of her life and her unhappiness. My favourite character was and still is Estella. For me, she is the representation of how one is the fruit of their education, of the culture they receive since very young. She was taught how to hide her feelings, to be someone other than who she could become without the toxic influence of Miss Havisham. Pip is also a great character; I like his development as a character. With him, I think the lesson is you should never forget where you come from because those are the first pillars of your character. In the end, he becomes a better person because he remembers that and manages to break free of the culture of appearances of high society. The first adaptation that actually made me appreciate the genius of Charles Dickens! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Udon Entertainment, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. My Rating: 4 Stars This was a burst of colour in my readings! An amazing novel with amazing characters and a story-line that kept me clued to its pages! I could taste the circus life and colours with this brilliant show of imagination! Freeks tells the story of the Gideon Davorin’s Travelling Sideshow, a circus where acts are real magic. Each sideshow presents different wonders, from levitation to necromancy and fortune telling and each member of the carnival has their own set of unique talents. All expect Mara, a young girl that travels with her mother in the circus and, even though she loves her carnival family, dreams of a normal life. That dream seems very far away, still, the circus settles in the small town of Caudy, Louisiana and Mara meets Gabe. But something is amiss. Something is set in getting rid of the Freek sideshow and will stop at nothing to have that wish fulfilled. What or who is it? When members of the carnival are attacked and one disappears, Mara must make the choice to stay and fight or run away while discovering that “normal” isn’t really her thing. Where to begin? The mystery plot was very well thought and beautifully written. The mix between mystery and supernatural in the circus setting was perfect. The mystery plot left me glued to the pages. The style of writing was very good, easy to follow and the descriptions were very well made, especially for the characters and the different settings of the story. The unexpected twists are the bit of pepper that the story needed to become even more addictive. The protagonist, Mara is a great character and I loved her way of thinking and seeing things. She’s impulsive but acts with her heart and the way she built the relationships with the rest of the members of the carnival is heart-warming and it definitely creates a sense of union. With Gabe on the other hand, I thought their romance was a bit rushed, I would have liked to see more build-up of their relationship and how their perspective of each other changed when they got to know each other better. Still, they make a cute couple. I’m not a fan of romance, but since in the novel the romance doesn’t take the front stage, I was still able to enjoy it. A very enjoyable read that I recommend to the fans of the carnival world, the supernatural and mystery! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher St. Martin's Griffin, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. My Rating: 4 Stars A great creepy and humours story! The novel follows the ghostly adventures of Devin, a teenager that see ghosts and his group of friends as they face the supernatural. Devin is taunted at school and called “Ghost Boy” when his talent comes to light through the social media, and if that wasn’t bad enough, add a not-very-nice boss in the coffee shop where he works. The best way to deal with these problems? To go on an adventure with his friends and explore a haunted house because, seriously, ghosts can be better than people… right? When Devin is attacked inside the house, things reveal themselves to be more complicated than they first thought and it’s up to Devin to use his talents to solve the ghost mystery. One of the first things that pull me into a story is the writing style, and in this novel it’s brilliant. The plot is very nice, the descriptions pulled me into the story and it was like I was also there walking through the dark hallways. It’s impossible to get lost in the story, you get taken on a journey that in some occasions really made my skin crawl. It was impossible to stop reading, it’s a fast-paced adventure that left me hungry to know what would happen next. The characters are incredible and the group dynamics was very well thought and described. One of the things I liked the most was the fact that all them knew about Devin’s ability and didn’t make a fuss about it. That’s what true friendship is, accepting even the weirdest part of someone and still stay. All of the characters have something unique and their way of being compliments the story perfectly. Clive is a music composer with a taste for dark themes, Rex is the nerdy character that loves technology, always open to an adventure; Ramona, Devin’s boss, the picture of insufferable boss with a love for nasty comments; Nayra, a blogger with a passion for Wicca and the supernatural with a very unique taste for clothes and Emily, the only person in class that defends Devin from the verbal attacks. Their interactions and dialogues are hilarious and brilliantly written, especially between Devin and Nayra and Clive and Rex that always do something with the right intentions but somehow always end badly. This novel has everything: suspense, adventure, humour, horror, all mixed together perfectly. It goes from moments of tension to hilarious dialogues that only add colour to the story and makes you love the plot and the characters even more. It’s impossible not to laugh. A fan of adventures and supernatural with a tad of humour? I highly recommend this read! Absolutely amazing! I want to thank Brian K. Henry for the opportunity of reading his novel in exchange for an honest review. My Rating: 5 Stars This novel is definitely in my top favourites of Agatha Christie! Put archaeology, murder, history and adventure, the perfect mix! Poirot is taking a holiday in the Middle East but has always things don't end peacefully. A very mean old lady called Mrs Boynton has all her children living a psychological prison that she manages by exercising control over them. Her arrogance and meanness are a constant show for all those who wish to see it. Detested by the people that know her, it's no surprise that they would be quite happy if she was murdered. When the family goes on tour to the archaeological of Mr Boynton, their desperate wish is realised. In the Red City of Petra, Mrs Boynton is found dead while sitting in the hot desert sun. Enter Monsieur Poirot and his little grey cells to solve a murder where everyone is a suspect and all have a motive. On the contrary of other novels where I read Poirot in action from the beginning, in this book, Poirot only steps in when the murder occurs, occupying himself with his second favourite activity: observing people. Still, I still got to see this method and his intelligence in action while solving a difficult murder with a surprising finale and murderer. The depth of the murder plot and the characters are amazing. It's impossible not to feel for the daughter and adoptive children of the sadistic Mrs Boynton especially after knowing the nightmarish treatment and punishments they received early in life. In the story, it's still possible to see the consequences of such treatment especially when it comes to human interaction. Of course, Mrs Boynton is the type of character that will definitely make you think "She deserved that was coming for her", or has Poirot nicely said "Your appointment with death, madame." A brilliant masterpiece by Ms Agatha Christie, Queen of Crime that makes it impossible to discover who the killer is and its motive. My Rating: 4 Stars This was the first novel I read by Mr James Leader, whom I had the great pleasure of meeting in person. This book was something else: intense, beautifully written, full of suspense and emotion. The book tells the story of European School of Brussels student Danny Dykoff, a young teenager trying to figure out his identity and all the emotions that come with adolescence. Tired of the sad winter in Brussels, Danny and his best friend Théo take a chance and end up being chosen for the Model European Union team. It’s all they dreamed of: sunshine, beach, young Italian women and the beautiful Mediterranean, all on the Croatian island of Vis. But peace and content don’t last forever. When Danny stumbles on Mr Gogos nightly gathering, his world changes and old memories and ghosts come back from the dark corners of his life in Brussels. Will he be able to survive? It took me three chapters to get into the story, and then when Danny remembers his time in Mallorca where he lived before, something changed. I can only describe it like a burst of emotion, it was the moment I actually felt for Danny. After that, the suspense builds up very nicely and the pages passed very quickly with unexpected plot twists and a mind-blowing finale. I absolutely loved the descriptions of the scenarios and the characters. They really match the phases of Danny character and his emotions. Sad and grey in the beginning, colourful and full of life the next and slowly beginning to lose colour again. The depth that Mr James Leader takes with the emotional turmoil of Danny is incredible. The feeling that he doesn’t fit in, the need to please others to the point he forgets himself, the need for attention and love it really had an impact on me. It’s about questioning your identity and trying to break free of the morals and systems that are implemented since childhood. It really makes you think and question what you think you know. Because do you truly know or is it partially a mystery? An amazing memorable novel that I will remember for a long time! I highly recommend it to readers of all ages! |
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