Category: Book Reviews

The Village of Eight Graves Review

Quote IndiaReadsALot4 Comments

Nestled deep in the mist-shrouded mountains, The Village of Eight Graves takes its name from a bloody legend: in the Sixteenth Century eight samurais, who had taken refuge there along with a secret treasure, were murdered by the inhabitants, bringing a terrible curse down upon their village. Centuries later a mysterious young man named Tatsuya arrives in town, bringing a spate of deadly poisonings in his wake. The inimitably scruffy and brilliant Kosuke Kindaichi investigates.

The Twyford Code Review

Quote IndiaReadsALot2 Comments

s and annotations. He took it to his remedial English teacher, Miss Isles, who became convinced it was the key to solving a puzzle. That a message in secret code ran through all Edith Twyford’s novels. Then Miss Isles disappeared on a class field trip, and Steven’s memory won’t allow him to remember what happened. Now, out of prison after a long stretch, Steven decides to investigate the mystery that has haunted him for decades. Was Miss Isles murdered? Was she deluded? Or was she right about the code? And is it still in use today? Desperate to recover his memories and find out what really happened to Miss Isles, Steven revisits the people and places of his childhood. But it soon becomes clear that Edith Twyford wasn’t just a writer of forgotten children’s stories. The Twyford Code has great power, and he isn’t the only one trying to solve it…

November 2021 Wrap Up

IndiaReadsALotLeave a comment

Happy Holidays! We have finally reached December and the Christmas holidays! My favourite time of year! October was an amazing reading month for me but sadly I cannot say the same for November. I don’t think I read anything really over 3.5 stars.

  • I read 7 books this month.
  • I read 2 ARCs this month.
  • Genre: 2 fantasy, 2 murder mystery, 1 romance, 1 thriller and 1 non-fiction.
  • Gender of authors: 5 men and 2 women.
  • Race of authors: 4 white authors, 1 black authors, 1 asian author and 1 pacific islander author
  • Age range: 3 YA and 3 adult
  • Format: 3 paperback, 3 eBook and 1 hardcover.

Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier (3.5 stars)

This was a solid debut. I really enjoyed the main character, the romance and the exploration of the trauma a pandemic can have on people, from a singular and community wide level. In terms of the plot, certain elements of the mystery could have been explained/set up more and the ending did feel slightly rushed but that did not stop me from getting invested into the story as a whole.

Ghibliotheque by Michael Leader & Jake Cunningham (3 stars)

A look into the production history of the Studio Ghibli films. I loved the artwork and I loved learning about the history of how these films were made. I wish they delved more into the symbolism and the messaging of each film but it was super fun and informative.

Seven Down by David Whitton (2.5 stars)

This book started on the best foot possible. I was hooked instantly. I really enjoyed the interview type structure. It was pretty easy to follow. Sadly, I started losing interest about halfway through. I personally wanted to just focus on the core plot, the failed operation. But some of the interviews diverged a lot from that and went on tangents that personally didn’t care about. Leading me to lose interest in the story as a whole.

Far From the Light of Heaven by Tade Thompson (3 stars)

I don’t read much sci-fi and I wanted to get back into the genre and what a great way to do so by reading a book that is a murder mystery set in space. Unfortunately I went into this novel expecting the sole focus to just be on the mystery but instead there were additional elements to the story which ended pushing the mystery (and my interest) to the back burner. I would have preferred for it just to be a mystery and that’s it.

Methods of Dyeing by B. Mure (2.5 stars)

This was a beautiful graphic novel set in a world where animals act like humans. This story was also a murder mystery but I will be honest, the mystery was incredibly underwhelming. There was no real investigation into the mystery and everything was super convenient to the plot. That being said I really enjoyed the art in this graphic novel. The art and the colour palette were by far the stand out part of this book.

The Remarried Empress by Alphatart (4 stars)

This was a web comicthat I had been reading since January of this year. Every week I would tune in and read the next instalment and last month I finally finished Season 1! The art style is beautiful! The designs of the landscapes, the architecture and the outfits were my favourite. I really enjoyed exploring the complicated relationship between Navier and her husband. I also really enjoyed that the beginning of the series the first episode is actually the ending of Season 1 so we know the ending by the first episode and we work our way back to see what led up to that exact moment.

The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess by Tom Gauld (3.5 stars)

This was a cute little picture book I read at work. I loved the art-style of the book so I had to read the story. This was just a super sweet story about siblings and magic. I loved it.

Methods of Dyeing Review

Quote IndiaReadsALot1 Comment

In Ismyre, on the eve of his lecture, the renowned botanist and master dyer Professor Detlef is found dead in the university gardens. As the local constabulary begin their search for the culprit, a strange detective arrives from outside the city to help solve the crime. In a place where things are never as they seem, will Mary the university custodian be able to help the mysterious investigator uncover the truth?

Far From the Light of Heaven Review

Quote IndiaReadsALot1 Comment

The colony ship Ragtime docks in the Lagos system, having traveled light-years to bring one thousand sleeping souls to a new home among the stars. But when first mate Michelle Campion rouses, she discovers some of the sleepers will never wake.

Answering Campion’s distress call, investigator Rasheed Fin is tasked with finding out who is responsible for these deaths. Soon a sinister mystery unfolds aboard the gigantic vessel, one that will have repercussions for the entire system—from the scheming politicians of Lagos station, to the colony planet Bloodroot, to other far-flung systems, and indeed to Earth itself.

Seven Down ARC Review

Quote IndiaReadsALot2 Comments

Seven ordinary hotel employees. Catering, Reservations, Management. Seven moles, waiting for years for a single code word, a trigger that will send them into action in a violent event that will end their dull lives as they know them. The event has failed: the action was a disaster. Each employee is being debriefed by an agent of an invisible organization. These are the transcripts of these interviews. What they reveal is not just the intricate mechanism of an international assassination, but the yearnings inside each of its pawns, the desperation and secret rage that might cause any one of us to sign up, sell out, and take a plunge into darkness.