Rating: 5/5*
This is the compilation of comics 1-7.
Coffin Hill is a graphic novel series which goes back and forth between a fateful night of witchcraft in Coffin Hill Woods and the present day. That night ended in our protagonist, Eve Coffin, blacking out and waking up covered in blood to find one of her friends missing, and the other sent to a mental institute.
Review:
The backstory comes to us slowly, building up on what happened on that night. As the plot travels to the present day, we see that more disappearances are happening in connection to that night. There is also a murder sub-plot happening, which will be focused on in the next compilation.
The main character is interesting, and though it could be confusing as to what time period we are in, the style and progression of our main character makes it is easier to grasp.
The relationships between Eve Coffin, her family, and the characters from her past are all entertaining. Like the plot, they hold a lot of mystery, and each comic builds upon the past, making the present more engaging.
The illustrations are beautifully bold and graphic, giving plenty of atmosphere, movement, and tension.
The story is mysterious and gripping. Atmosphere leaps off each page. The characters are vivid, likeable, and strong. It certainly grabs the imagination and makes you keep reading. It also has a great dynamic where you want to know what happened and what is going to happen in equal measure.
19) Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King
18) Blood Red Road by Moira Young
Rating: 5/5*
A few months after Brady Hartsfield runs a mercedes through a crowd at a job fair, he sends recently retired detective, Bill Hodges, a letter which starts mind games between the two.
Review:
On the cover of the book, it declares that this is a 'riveting suspense thriller,' and this is exactly what you get. It is definitely one of King's best books of recent years, and the suspense is some of the best I've ever read. Occasionally the pay-off isn't quite as satisfactory as you'd want, but this doesn't water down the fact that there were times when I was gripping the book with pure tension.
Though this is not King getting back to horror - and, in many ways, it doesn't read like a Stephen King book - there are a couple of scenes which do hark back to his early works. These are fantastic, and somewhat nostalgic for an old King fan. These parts also work extremely well to deliver tipping points for the characters to go into overdrive.
Speaking of the characters, they are wonderful. The novel follows detective Bill Hodges, as well as the criminal, Hartsfield - the 'Mercedes Killer'. Hartsfield is one of the most fascinating characters I've read. I loved his deterioration and the revelations about his life and state-of-mind. I really like the psychological aspects of books, and Hartsfield's character progression is one of the best parts of this excellent novel.
Hodges, the detective, is the only character I felt needed a little more development outside his detective work. Though I understand why King has written him this way, particularly as when he becomes retired he doesn't feel as though he has much to live for, I still felt parts of his past could have been elaborated on. However, his relationship to the other characters in the book were very well written.
Holly was another character with a particularly interesting character progression. She has mental stability issues, and I thought King handled her extremely well and respectfully. Where her character ended up was both believable and empowering.
If you're not a fan of King's horror, but like crime, then give this a try. The suspense is palpable at times, and the slowly increasing anger in Hartsfield is gripping to read - particularly as King is well-known to kill of his characters. There are also enough scenes which do hark back to King's horror days - and a couple of references - to keep his fans happy as well.
18) Blood Red Road by Moira Young
Rating: 5/5*
Blood Red Road follows a female protagonist called Saba on her journey to get her kidnapped twin brother back, and figure out why he was taken in the first place.
Review:
Blood Red Road is written in first person in the same dialect as that which Saba speaks. For some who are sensitive to grammar and punctuation, it might get some getting used to. However, it is intentional, and I say stick with it as it does create realistic character and the type of atmosphere of her world.
Saba's adventure is pulse-pounding and tense. There are no dull moments in this novel, and the action is frequent. Despite this, there is also a lot of character development and the bonds the reader creates with each individual are strong.
The romance in this novel is not overbearing, and although it can be said there is insta-love, it is not contrived. The book allows you to get to know the protagonist before any thought of love gets in the way. We become invested in Saba's quest, and understand who she is and why they act as they do, so it is fantastic that Saba stays in character rather than falling into the trap of love completely changing her personality. Even though this isn't a book centred on love, for those who like to read for the romance there are still scenes to satisfy.
The relationship between Saba and her sister, Emmi, is given a lot more weight than the romantic interest, and this works very well. They have friction between them, and it's nice to see how they change towards one another as their journey continues.
Though the character development is predictable and there are no surprises, where the characters end up in both their strength and their relationships with one another is satisfying.
The world the author has created feels very real, and those which inhabit these treacherous places are mysterious, dangerous, brave, and strong.
If you're looking for a book which centres on action and adventure, but still includes a little bit of romance, then this is a must-read.
17) Big Red Tequila by Rick Riordan
Rating: 3/5*
Big Red Tequila is a murder mystery written in first person from our protagonist, Tres Navarre. His father was shot ten years ago, and now Tres has returned to his hometown to find out - and put to justice - who killed his father.
Review:
Rick Riordan is a great writer. His prose is well crafted, this plot fits together nicely, and the story also goes along at a good pace.
My main, and most debilitating, issue with this book is that I did not like Tres. I couldn't connect with him or feel sympathy for him. His humour also fell flat for me, further disgruntling my view of his personality. In fact, Tres' cat, Robert Johnson, was probably one of the most memorable characters in the novel, and certainly the most likeable.
Tres is unsure how to feel about his father, and though this could have been the base of some great psychological drama, the parts about his father were sometimes just confusing. It was hard to be interested in Tres' valiance for solving his father's murder when it's difficult to know what to feel about their relationship.
I did like how the characters entwined, and how the mystery came together. The pacing was really good, and though I wasn't always fully invested in this novel, I can't say that there was a dull moment. Tres was always on the move, or finding out interesting information whilst recovering from one injury or another. The novel also gives the reader plenty of time to figure out for themselves what is happening. Unlike with the majority or crime novels, the reader is along for the ride with Tres, and never feels as though he is misleading them or holding back information.
Another positive to this book was that the Texas setting was wonderfully portrayed. The oppressive heat, smells, and cuisine are all woven beautifully into the prose to create an excellent atmosphere and understanding of the place. The reader won't have to place a foot in Texas to vividly visualise the place.
Big Red Tequila is a well crafted crime novel with a beautifully written setting. However, the characters really let this book down, and as it is them which drive this story, even Rick Riordan's strong prose cannot encourage me to read any of the other novels in the series. However, I did learn a new word: daguerreotype. (The first photographic process to get a practical permanent image).
16) Falling out of Cars by Jeff Noon
Rating: 5/5*
Falling out of Cars is about a road trip, set in a world ridden with disease, where the only drug that can quell its affects is government-issued 'Lucidity'.
Review:
I think my friend said it best by saying this book will make you feel as though you're going insane at some points.
This is a fascinating novel which is the type of book that should be confusing, but the writing is so exquisite that its strangeness never spoils its enjoyability.
The narration is beautiful. The novel is told from a diary, yet much of it is also stream of consciousness. It is gripping witnessing the world from the point of view of someone particularly affected by the disease. As the narrator becomes more ill, and her backstory clearer, the reader can easily sympathise with the protagonist, despite obscurities.
The characters in this book are always interesting to listen to, especially as the dialogue is realistic, concise, and energetic.
This novel is not going to age with time. Its landscape, character, and themes will always be relevant. This is a great book to talk about with others, or just to analyse on your own. But as the writing is so wonderful, it can also be enjoyed just as much if you're not one to look for hidden meanings.
I zoomed through this novel. On each page I turned I found an intriguing, exciting, disturbing, beautiful scene. Though I am an avid reader of horror, I found certain parts of this novel chilling to read. The novel isn't necessarily horrific, and it certainly isn't gory, but the atmosphere Noon creates, and the imagery that we see through the narrator's eyes, are both fascinating and strangely unsettling without being overt - maybe its even because it isn't obvious.
Overall, Jeff Noon should be more widely recognised as a fantastic writer with life-long appeal. Falling out of Cars is a wonderful introduction to his work that offers both a thoughtful narrative and a fascinating road trip. However, there is not a true resolution or a clean-cut explanation of what is and has been happening in this novel, so if you're someone who needs everything nicely tied up, don't read this.
15) Altered by Jennifer Rush
Rating: 4/5*
The Boy with the Porcelain Blade centres on Lucien, an Orfano - a deformed person of Landfall - finding out that the kingdom he resides in harbours dark, political secrets.
Review:
Altered is told from the point of view of Anna, a teenager who's dad has a lab under their house, in which four boys with amnesia are being tested on. When they escape, they must gather clues to their past to understand how they came to be in the experiment and what the experiment actually is, whilst running from those trying to get them back.
This is a fast-paced, quick, and enjoyable novel. The action is well written, tense, and a joy to read, whilst the slower moments bring a lot of character development, gravity, and revelation.
Each of the characters are distinct and likeable - in their own unique ways - straight away. Even the comedic character was fun and had depth, instead of being the annoying character most books of this genre lean to.
The main love interest, Sam, is the thoughtful and smart leader of the group. However, his stoicism didn't have a lot of progression into him being more open, and we never truly get a fleshed-out portrayal of him, we never truly know him, and in many ways he was the least interesting of the brothers. In fact, I much preferred Nick - a grouchy character with a dislike for our narrator - over Sam. Nick's reactions seemed the most realistic out of the group's, and when he performed heroic acts they had more weight due to the way he his.
Even though there is sexual tension with the relationship between Anna and Sam, the book doesn't solely focus on this. Instead, Rush balances it so that the scenes with these two add to the plot and the tensions surrounding certain revelations.
The mystery aspect to this novel was one of my favourite parts. The characters are on a road trip of sorts, discovering clues and locations to discover their past. With the added significance of what it would mean to each of the boys to understand where they came from and the events leading up to them enrolling in the experiment, the impact of certain events kept me absorbed.
The twists in Altered were intriguing and worked well. However, with all the revelations, I didn't think enough was explained about how the boys were altered, and what this meant for their healing. There were no real discussions on their limits - if they have limits - in regards to strength and each of their personal heightened traits. With that said though, this is a trilogy, so I'm hoping for more clarification on this in the next novel.
Overall, an excellent choice for those looking for something quick and easy, yet engaging with great characters. Though the end tapered off, the fact that there is still a lot to find out about the boys' past, and who else were part of the experiment, was enough to get me looking forward to the next book, Erased.
14) The Boy with the Porcelain Blade by Den Patrick
Rating: 2/5*
The Boy with the Porcelain Blade centres on Lucien, an Orfano - a deformed person of Landfall - finding out that the kingdom he resides in harbours dark, political secrets.
Review:
This is an example of a book with an interesting premise, but poor execution. It also didn't help that my copy had a lot of punctuation errors.
I usually love descriptive writing, but it didn't quite work in this novel. Patrick does build up some great atmosphere and vivid scenery - though more hints to its Italian roots would have been nice - but the issue was that he has a habit of writing a great description, then feeling as though he has to elaborate on an already clear sentence. If these tag-ons had been cut, this would have been a much better read.
This book took me a while to read. I couldn't get into it, and the first 100 pages really didn't capture my attention. Though it picked up towards the end, the pacing was so obscure that I couldn't even get immersed in the parts I liked.
The novel is told in a non-linear style over the span of nearly a decade. The chapters alternate between the main character's present, and his past, leading up to where the novel starts. However, in the first quarter of the book, sometimes the events were linked too closely, meaning it became obscured as to what timeline we were in. Despite this, I at first liked the flashbacks, and it made me keep reading so I could expand my knowledge of this society. Then I realised things which I thought would be elaborated on ended up not really getting anywhere, and towards the end they didn't reveal anything we didn't already know. Also, I thought the previous flashbacks could have been longer, and filtered out so the end was continuous. As it is, the pacing was ruined, as was the tension and intrigue of the last third of the book.
I think the Orfano could have been explained more in the first part of the book. It was confusing what they meant in society and why. Though the end showed us why this was ambiguous, it should have been clearer that the society knew as much as the reader about their presence. I also thought more build-up could have been hinted at as to what was going on with the king. More comments about his past and what occurred when he went into hiding could have been segued in, leading to a bigger climax.
The characters were okay. Lucien's relationships to various people were interesting to read about, and learning what each individual character meant to him were some of the better parts of the book.
Anea was one of my favourite characters, and though she gets more time towards the end of the novel, I thought more attention should have been given to her. She's a fascinating character with more strength and honour than most in this novel.
I did like the parts with the Majordomo, these were always exciting and intriguing. Whenever he appeared my attention was rapt on the novel. His ambiguity and the revelations that came with his presence were the most thrilling parts of the novel.
Overall, though the premise was good, and the last part of the book brought about some interesting twists and action, the writing style really let the novel down. Also, the disrupted pacing towards the end with the continuing flashbacks jolted me out of the novel's immersion.
13) Lover Reborn by J.R. Ward
Rating: 4/5*
Lover Reborn is the 10th book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, and focuses on Tohrment's story.
Review:
I love these books. I don't normally read erotica, but I adore the world J.R. Ward has created, and the balance between romance and violence is fantastic. The characters are deep, and I have grown to become attached to every one of them - even the B.o.B's.
Speaking of which, I liked Xcor's storyline in this book, and I can't wait to see where his arc leads us. His character design really interests me, and though I do not wish to see him as King, I also don't want him to be harmed. J.R. Ward has created an interesting dilemma, by making him not a mere villain, but a fleshed-out character that could almost have been the protagonist if we weren't so well invested in the Brothers.
Xhex is becoming maybe my favourite character. I've always respected her, and the journey that John Matthew had to go through to accept her fighter instinct was a good commentary of where men and women in society stand with one another - especially as in this series most of the women do not fight.
Qhuinn just keeps getting more awesome, and I'm so looking forward to the next book! It's been a long time coming, and J.R. Ward knows this; it should be epic.
So, onto the main storyline: that of the romance between Tohr and No'One. I should probably say this straight off: I don't like No'One. I didn't feel she was a suitable candidate for Tohr, and definitely not a worthy successor for Wellsie. Tohr's story was a hard one to get through at times. It's rare for me to cry whilst reading, but this book just got to me. Dealing with issues of loss and respecting the ones you love by letting them go, and finding your own peace, is a difficult one to get right, and J.R. Ward certainly knows what she's doing. Despite my view on No'One - maybe even because of it - the betrayal Tohrment feels hits the nerve. The character of Lassiter really sets the mood for the reader's emotions, too, as he becomes more involved to help Tohrment to rid him of his agony, rather than help himself to gain his freedom. Again, J.R. Ward knows how to balance pace and emotion, and it all came together beautifully.
The theme of being 'Reborn' works deliciously in this novel as each character goes through their own form of rebirth and acceptance, to cumulate in a fantastic ending.
Perhaps because of my dislike for No'One, perhaps because Tohrment's story was so heartbreaking, perhaps simply because I had a lot less time to read this month than I usually do, this novel took me a while to read - I didn't fly through it as I have with the previous books. It was still good, just not as close to my heart as the other ones have been to me. However, those last 50 pages or so were incredible, and I was really warmed by the ending.
12) Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi
Rating: 2/5*
Through the Ever Night is the sequel to Under the Never sky. There are spoilers below for the first book.
Review:
The second book in the Under the Never Sky trilogy left me feeling much the same as the first. It didn't leave an impact on me, and though I got through the book because their quest for the Still Blue and Peregrine's journey to becoming a respected Blood Lord interested me, the writing left me feeling empty.
I thought Aria could have been given some scenes of her experiencing, learning about, and training her Aud ability - the heightened sense of hearing. Suddenly having more sensitive hearing must be disorientating, but she didn't seem to be affected by it. There were some parts which I thought would have hurt her ears. Yet she was unaffected by them.
I felt more connection to Roar and Liv's story than Aria and Peregrine's. Their relationship was more heartbreaking to read about, and their characters were stronger, more lively, and exciting. In this same vein, I thought Aria should have been a more tenacious character. I understand in the first book why her personality was dulled down, but she should have stuck up for herself more at the beginning of this book. As it went on, she did become more forceful, but by that time these actions seemed out of character for her, as though Rossi were making her do these things against her will because she needed Aria to be a strong female lead. Liv's actions were more believable.
As with the first book, Peregrine's story intrigued me the most. It was exciting and dramatic watching him dealing with his new Blood Lord title. It was interesting to see how different it was to what he expected it to be, and how his struggles with his tribe affected him. It was also intriguing to see what this meant to his understanding of what his brother and father went through.
With the Aether storms increasing, and the connect to Reverie - Aria's home Pod - at risk, this book felt more tense than the previous. I especially liked Soren's progression, and how the storyline between him, Aria, and Hess play out. These parts I enjoyed.
I feel as though if these books had a massive edit, then they would have been better. I would be open to see if it is the writing I don't like, or purely Aria which lets this series down for me. There is an Ebook about Roar and Liv, which I would like to read to test this.
11) Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Rating: 2/5*
Under the Never sky deals with a world ravaged by Aether storms, a man searching for his kidnapped nephew, and a woman framed and dumped into the wastes to die.
Review:
I think perhaps my gripe with the book starts from the beginning. It reminded me a little of Wool, and that brought me back to a book where the writing, characters, and setting were all exquisite in my opinion.
The positives of this book were that the pacing in this book is good, and though the writing wasn't the best, the action scenes were written well, and there was a lot of tension and excitement within them.
I really liked Perry's character. I liked the primal side to him that made him need to defeat his brother to become the next leader, and his anxieties over this with his need to protect both his tribe and his brother's life. His bond with his nephew was sweet and heartbreaking, and his journey to get Talon back was one of the few things in this book I truly became invested in. Also, Perry's extra senses were interesting: how, through smell, he could distinguish, and even feel, another's mood was a very neat quirk this book has.
The side characters were good. Roar and Cinder both had backstories which I wanted to read more about, and I hope we learn more about Cinder in the next book.
So here's where the book failed me:
Aria annoyed me. Her sections didn't fascinate me quite as much as Perry's, and I didn't feel as connected to her. I began to see that her personality was probably the result of living in the Pod, but due to this I wanted more time seeing her inside the Pod. An author is supposed to start the book as late as possible, but I think Rossi should have started this slightly earlier. We get to understand Aria's life, but if we got the chance to see her life through active phrases, I would have felt more of a connection to her.
The dialogue was sometimes was a bit cringe-worthy and obvious. There was also times where I didn't believe they would say what they did, or it was unnecessary exposition.
Also, though there was no insta-love, when they did realise how they felt, it was sudden and moved too fast afterwards.
Finally, I've read better dystopias that are set in worlds similar to this. The Aether storms brought up awesome images, but other than that the world these people lived in, and the technology they used, wasn't anything special.
I think if more time were spent in the Pods at the beginning, I would have understood Aria better and the drastic change between that life and the one she was forced into. Also, as the Pods and Realms were where the book was different to other dystopias, I wanted to read more about these. But instead we're put into a bleak landscape much like any other post-apocalyptic world, with the Aether - though beautiful - the only real distinguishing factor.
10) The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith
Rating: 2/5*
The Cuckoo's Calling is a crime novel which introduces a new detective, Strike. When a model's death is cast-off as suicide, her brother comes to Strike, adamant that his sister was pushed to her death.
Review:
The only reviews I've heard for this novel are those that either love or hate it. Where I stand is, unfortunately, on the negative.
I like Strike's character, and the development of his and Robin's partnership definitely hold the most engaging and beautiful parts of the novel. I also particularly liked Strike's relationship with his prosthetic leg, and how this becomes more prominent as the book goes on.
The writing is strong. Occasionally Rowling's writing style comes though, and it is jarring when it does, but otherwise Galbraith has clear and concise prose.
The characters we meet along the way are interesting. A lot of times in books with a lot of different characters that are talked about but rarely seen, it is hard to grasp who is who, but in The Cuckoo's Calling, each character has such an individual style, dialect, and relationship to the victim, that it was easy to recall a character whenever they were mentioned.
However, though the dialogue is excellent, I didn't feel any particular attachment to the characters. This is due to the fact that most characters are heard about, interviewed, then barely mentioned again. That said, it was exciting going into scenes with characters that you've gone through the book hearing about, and are finally able to meet. It was just disappointing that the interactions with these characters consisted of mass exposition and dialogue that wasn't balanced out with much action.
With all this in mind, though everything was wrapped up neatly, the end result wasn't satisfying for me. I wasn't even invested in the characters or the victim enough to care who the murderer was, the revelation didn't give me any shock value, and the motive was bland and cliche.
Overall, this was a disappointing read. The final parts of the novel do shine through as there is a bit more action and encouraging the reader to figure out who the murderer is. Though the dialogue is strong, I think that if there had been less speaking and more observation, then I would have been more engaged and interested. The only reason I'd read the next in the series, The Silkworm, is to find out what happens between Strike and Robin; they have fantastic chemistry, and the interactions between them are sweet and charming, even from their first meeting.
9) The Starlight Crystal, by Christopher Pike
Rating: 4/5*
The Starlight Crystal is about a space journey to study Earth's evolution for two centuries that goes horrible wrong, causing the protagonist to live beyond the end of time.
Review:
The Starlight Crystal is a very thought-provoking novel, and perhaps - as I went into it blind - one of the strangest books I have ever read.
Although it is relatively short, it packs a lot in. Description was sacrificed, but I still adored the tone and style of this book.
Even though the characters were easy to imagine and create a bond with, the insta-love was a little bit of an issue. As most of the book focuses on Paige Christian wanting to get back to Tem, I think the gravity of their love could have been heightened with more development of their relationship before she goes on her journey. With that said however, there are plenty of scenes which allow the reader to feel how deep her bond to Tem is despite their short encounter. Due to this, the urge to see them together is raised as the novel goes on.
Despite Christina's situation, she is an easy character to connect with. Pike's use of time is fascinating, frightening, and brilliant, making the beginning of the book at times depressing with the thought of what she is going through, and what she will go through. However, by the end of the book, there is a shift, and it is realised that this is a more uplifting read. It reminds us what we should appreciate, what we should be thankful for, how we should treat others, and that what counts is what we do with the journey towards our destination.
Overall, I found this is a very philosophical, engaging book with an interesting main character and a fascinating scenario. At times, it feels like it is an an epic, 1000-page book in disguise of a novella. It's certainly one of those books which you think about long after you put it down.
8) City of Lost Souls, by Cassandra Clare
Rating: 3/5*
Rating: 3/5*
This is the fifth book in the Mortal Instruments series.
Review:
The fifth instalment in the Mortal Instruments series steps up the action and premises set-up in the previous novel, and starts soon after the sublime events at the end of City of Fallen Angels.
The way Clare portrays Jace's link to Sebastian was done expertly. I truly understood the gravity of the link, and what it meant for Jace and his mentality. Due to this, Clary's personality really shone in this book. I like how her bravery is becoming more and more prominent as the series continues.
The relationships between the characters and their development is excellent in this book. I especially liked how we learn more about Sebastian's vulnerabilities, and that even with his demon blood and diabolical plans, Clare allows the reader to understand a more lonely side to him that creates him into a very interesting character.
Another positive to this book were the side-stories of each of the characters' interactions with love. The book portrays diverse aspects to love, with how it can be both fraught and special, dangerous and beautiful. How Alec and Magnus's relationship progresses is especially heartbreaking.
The downside to this part is that there is a lot going on. Though this usually makes Clare's novels immersive and thrilling, in this particular instalment I felt that there were plots which could have been fleshed out more if they'd had more space and time in the book for them - Camille and Raphael's parts especially come to mind. If this had transpired, then the world would have felt as big and wonderful as it had in the previous Mortal Instruments books. But, alas, it was not to be.
Overall, I didn't feel the world of the Shadowhunters was as rich in this novel as it was in the other books. There is a more rounded story here than in City of Fallen Angels, but I still felt this part was a lot of build-up to the finale, making it not as epic as I thought it could have been. However, I'm very excited to see how this series concludes. I have a feeling there will be tears, and I'm not sure I'm ready to say goodbye to these glorious characters.
7.5) Lazarus - ONE, by Greg Rucka
Rating: 5/5*
This contains the first four issues of the comic series Lazarus. Lazarus is a dystopian comic set in a future where the world is ruled by wealthy families. Each of these families has a member of their family train to become their Lazarus - a type of bodyguard - to fight for them. The comic focuses on the Carlyle family's Lazarus, Forever - or Eve.
Review:
Lazarus starts with an impact that gets you hooked into the story from the start. It is violent, bloody, and intriguing.
In a setting on the brink of warfare, the comic portrays fantastic, tense dialogue, which is interspersed with graphic action scenes.
The characters are finely crafted. Some are deceitful, others charming, but all you want to know more about, and what they are up to. I was especially captivated with the main protagonist, Eve. She has a tough and strong personality, but there is also a side to her that is easy to sympathise with. I wanted to know more about who she is, what she is, and what the family's real agenda for her is. Despite this, I didn't get frustrated with the lack of revelations - at the present time, at least - for the story is put together with excellent pace and intrigue.
There is much to speculate and think about, but it never gets overwhelming or confusing. The exposition is delicately put into dialogue, which means there are no clunky mass 'tellings' of what is happening.
The artwork is good, not the best or most inspiring I've ever seen, but some of it is still gorgeous. The most striking part is in the fourth comic, where the use of colour in a sunset scene is juxtaposed with intense action. There are also some captivating facial expressions which capture the mood and foreshadowing perfectly.
Lazarus is very well crafted and engrossing, with characters that you want to get to know more about. Definitely read if you're a fan of the dystopian genre, like clever dialogue, and are also interested in wealth and power plays within society.
7) City of Fallen Angels, by Cassandra Clare
Rating: 3/5*
This is the fourth book in the Mortal Instruments series.
Review:
City of Glass rounded off a trilogy. It left a couple of things in limbo, but otherwise would have made for a solid ending. Therefore, City of Fallen Angels is definitely a segue book, with the majority of scenes being dialogue and character introductions.
I get the feeling that the book exists solely to build-up and make way for events in the final couple of books. This meant that the action which made the other books so heart-pounding suffered, and as such it was more slower-paced than the previous books.
With that to say, it isn't my least favourite book in the series. The world and characters are still lush, and I was glad to see Simon having a more prominent role. I loved the dilemmas he had to deal with here, along with the character development he goes though. His parts are definitely some of the stronger aspects of the book.
It's also great to see Clary being more active in battles, and finally starting her training. However, it was a shame that we still don't read much about this. Also, more could have been done with teaching Clary more about runes. Though it's hinted that the next book will have her understanding them more, I feel as I reader that I want to learn more about them, too.
Clary and Jace's relationship is still heart-breaking, and I enjoyed how Clare showed it taking its tole on Jace, with the build-up of his inner turmoil, what is happening to him starting to show on how he looks, and the lead-up to its spectacular conclusion.
The final part of this book is absolutely fantastic. The revelations, the tone, the atmosphere, and the final scene were all exquisitely revealed. I enjoyed every moment of it, and that ending. That ending…I could not get hold of City of Lost Souls fast enough.
This was a very hard book to rate. I did enjoy this instalment - especially Simon's story - but at the same time, it was a little lacklustre compared to the previous book. I can only hope this instalment was worth it for events coming in City of Lost Souls. Then again, with how it ends, how could it not?
6) City of Glass, by Cassandra Clare
Rating: 4/5*
I'm going to marathon the rest of TMI books, in preparation for the final book coming out this year. City of Glass is the third book in the Mortal Instruments series.
Review:
I don't think I was convinced I was liking this series until this book, but now I've truly fallen in love (no exaggeration) for this series and its characters. I finally understand what people see in it.
Jace also grew on me in this book. To be honest, I wasn't quite as devoted to him as most people are, but I did start to fall for him in City of Glass - perhaps it was his character progression. For the first time, I understood why it was him and not Simon who Clary fell in love with, and thus his and Clary's relationship really hit home for me. However, I have, and I think will always have, a soft spot of Simon.
The writing seems better in this book, too. There were a couple of times when I didn't like the style, but I'm relaxing into it and enjoying Clare's writing.
The action is excellent. What I did like about the previous two is how graphic they are in terms of demons and fighting, and how Clare does not feint away from the harsh realities of the world she has created, what Shadowhunters have to do, and the consequences that come with this.
The balance of tone is perfect; the mix of action and love beautiful. The characters are strong, but each of their strengths is fuelled with different meanings, which creates emotions that are evoked inside me in heart-felt ways I rarely feel in books nowadays.
5) The Dark Light, by Sara Walsh
Rating: 4/5*
When Mia's brother is kidnapped, she gets transported to a world she never knew existed, to find the meaning behind her parents abandoning her, and who she really is.
Review:
The Dark Light by Sara Walsh is a thoroughly enjoyable young adult fantasy. It also has an interesting premise, in that the 'Other' world is in an alternative dimension to earth's, and the barrier which separates the two is under threat. This will ultimately lead to the two civilisations clashing and causing war.
The story is told from Mia's point-of-view, as the human protagonist who, when her brother is kidnapped, finds out exactly who she is and why she was abandoned by her parents as a child.
I loved the characters you journey through the book with. They each brought different tones to the overall novel, which made for good mood-balance. However, though much is said of the main antagonist, which builds a great foundation for him, not much is seen. Even though his deeds paint a picture of him which sticks with you throughout the book, I would have liked to have read more interactions with him.
The pacing is great, with the mixture of slow, intimate moments and fast-paced action balanced well - though Mia repeating how 'hot' Sol is was not needed. We get it, you're a hormonal teenager, now carry on with the interesting story.
4) The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman
Rating: 4/5*
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman is about a boy whose family is murdered, leading him to being raised in a graveyard of ghosts.
Review:
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman is a fascinating children's book about a child called Nobody (shortened to 'Bod') who is raised in a graveyard by ghosts after his family is murdered.
At the start of each chapter is a great illustration by Chris Riddell. The chapters are, in themselves, little adventures that Bod goes through, and I adored how they coalesce in the end.
Even though it is classed as a children's book, it is accessible to all ages. In many ways, it is as much an adult novel as a kid's, with its metaphors about growing up, facing the outside world, and discovering the worst in humanity - as well as the beauty - and what it means to live.
Gaiman's writing style is perfect. It is to the point, explaining all it needs to in as few words as possible. Being a fan of description, I would occasionally have liked a few more words, but as this is a children's book full of adventure and cooky characters, it works extremely well.
The characters are vivid and mysterious, funny and interesting. The graveyard feels alive and is a world all of its own. I didn't want to leave this place, or the people, that Gaiman had created. Bod himself is a brave character with a lot of heart, and his journey of growing from child to man is a strangely relatable one.
3) Allegiant, by Veronica Roth
Rating: 3/5*
Allegiant is the final book in the fantastic Divergent trilogy.
Allegiant is the final book in the fantastic Divergent trilogy.
Review:
*Takes a deep breath* I don't even know where to start…
I have a lot of mixed feelings over this book. Mainly because I found the first two Divergent books incredible. I adored them. I loved the characters, I thought the way their world worked was interesting, and I really liked the action. Therein lies the problem: Allegiant was boring.
The first half was nothing but exposition, told in a very bland way. I would have expected Roth to blend this in with more exciting scenes, but it was dialogue after dialogue in a setting which didn't fuel the imagination. The second half of the book felt like it was picking up, but as things were igniting, they subsided quickly. There was too much angst and not enough adrenaline for a final book.
Speaking of angst, Tobias didn't feel like the same character he was. This was especially prominent as Allegiant is told from Tris and Tobias's point-of-view, and sometimes it was hard to tell which of them was speaking, showing how indistinct his character had become in this book. Tris was still wonderful and brave and strong, but Tobias certainly was not the Four I had once fallen in love with. Yes, there were situations in which he was pushed to his limits, but this had been true for his whole life, and I don't think he would have acted the way he did.
Though these books have interesting themes to think about, the questions which were answered were resolved too suddenly for the build-up to mean anything. The resolution was flat, and especially the final confrontation in Tobias' point of view was a huge disappointment that made no sense considering the characters we were dealing with - again, the characters did not act as their personalities would suggest.
I have absolutely no problem with how Allegiant ended. In fact, I thought it very fitting, and I'm glad Veronica Roth had the guts to do it. I just wish that before this there was more action in the novel's development. I didn't feel what I thought I would, and it is a real shame because if this book had lived up to my expectations, this trilogy would definitely be near the top of my favourite series'.
I would also have liked to seen more of the world, places were talked about, one visited briefly, then left. It would have been exciting and developed to have seen more of what the world had become. Especially since they had the means to do this.
I still give this book three stars because, despite its flaws, it was still an interesting read, and it had its moments of seeming like it was intensifying to be as good as Divergent or Insurgent. It just never got there. I also liked how raw it was with its realism of what happens to the characters, and I applaud Roth for this.
Overall though, I can't even sleep right now thinking about how disappointed I am. My heart feels like it's breaking apart.
2) The Replacement, by Brenna Yovanoff
Rating: 3/5*
The Replacement is about a town in which babies are often replaced by ill children. The story is narrated by a replacement, who is now dying in the human world due to his allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground.
Review:
The Replacement is Brenna Yonanoff's debut novel, and it shows. It should have been edited at least once more, to iron out several awkward transitions, typos and grammatical errors.
The book is narrated by the main character, Mackie Doyle, who is in an intriguing situation as he is the Replacement. I liked that the book is written from the perspective of someone who is usually the focal point of horror. However, this reason could very well be the book's downfall as I was expecting more psychological horror from him. I also wasn't keen at all on his voice at first, but by the end of the book I understood his personality, and the style did grow on me quite a bit. I liked Mackie. He could be broody, but it wasn't over done. He was also not a hero, but he did what he could, which I thought was a good detail.
His best friend, Roswell, confused me. He had very little character development, and you're left wondering what exactly he thinks of his friend. The author has missed out on either tension, or a much stronger bond with these two.
Despite Mackie's internal horror being more subdued than I was expecting, the novel still has glimpses of greatness when he goes to where his true home should have been - where the novel really picks up. The world which has been created here is vivid and fun to read about, and the characters which reside there are lively and interesting.
The love interest was done well. I liked Tate's strong-willed character, and her actions were believable.
The Replacement is definitely one of those books which becomes better the further you get into it. However, I was left feeling that it just fell short of its true potential. When she wants to, Yonanoff can create an unsettling atmosphere, so it is disappointing that she does not use this talent to her full potential. This is, however, a quick, entertaining read with interesting characters and questions on 'the greater good'. I would suggest giving a go.
1) Wool, by Hugh Howey
Wool is a post-apocalyptic novel. Originally five individual novellas, its self-published success on Amazon has lead to it being published in physical form in one book.
Wool focuses on a future in which humanity lives in an underground Silo, 144 floors deep. To keep society surviving - and to bring about order - the silo is divided into three different sections.
The book starts with showing their capital punishment. This consists of going outside, where Earth has become toxic and inhabitable. The criminal must clean the sensors - which project the image of the outside world onto the screens of the top floor - of the build-up of dirt and poisons. This brings about the catalyst question of the book: why do the condemned clean, when their death is certain, and the silo has turned its back on them?
Rating: 5/5*
Review:
Wool is a wonderful read with beautiful prose and a setting that truly makes you appreciate freedom and the outside. The landscape which Howey describes is at once desolate and vivid.
Each character is distinct, and the protagonists are so sublimely written that you can't help but create an emotional bond with each of them. Jules is also a particularly strong female protagonist who is engaging, intelligent, and captivating.
Howey does a fantastic job of transporting the reader straight into the silo and its mystery and politics. There is a true sense of history within his words and setting, and I particularly liked how the questions you ponder about what the people in the silo know about the outside world, were revealed in plot-changing ways through the psychology of curiosity.
The villain was okay, but underlying him was a more sinister and fascinating set-up for the next books.
Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable read that was emotional and harrowing at the same time, and which included a set of fantastic characters. A must-read for lovers of dystopia.
0 comments:
Post a Comment