Tag: bookreview

Ace of Spades Review

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Welcome to Niveus Private Academy, where money paves the hallways, and the students are never less than perfect. Until now. Because anonymous texter, Aces, is bringing two students’ dark secrets to light. Talented musician Devon buries himself in rehearsals, but he can’t escape the spotlight when his private photos go public. Head girl Chiamaka isn’t afraid to get what she wants, but soon everyone will know the price she has paid for power.  Someone is out to get them both. Someone who holds all the aces. And they’re planning much more than a high-school game…

An Ember in the Ashes Review

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Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death.

When Laia’s grandparents are brutally murdered and her brother arrested for treason by the empire, the only people she has left to turn to are the rebels.

But in exchange for their help in saving her brother, they demand that Laia spy on the ruthless Commandant of Blackcliff, the Empire’s greatest military academy. Should she fail it’s more than her brother’s freedom at risk . . . Laia’s very life is at stake.

There, she meets Elias, the academy’s finest soldier. But Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined – and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

August Wrap Up 2021

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So, a bit of a rocky month last month. I basically didn’t read any books for the last 2 weeks of the month as I was celebrating birthdays. I still managed to read some books but I could have read more.

  • I read 6 books this month.
  • I DNFed 2 book this month, that’s 5 so far for the year.
  • Genre: 2 fantasy, 2 contemporary, 1 murder mystery and 1 romance
  • Gender of authors: 4 women and 2 men.
  • Race of authors: 4 white and 2 asian
  • Age range: 3 adult and 3 YA
  • Format: 2 paperback, 2 webtoon, 1 manga and 1 ebook

Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett (DNF)

I think it is time to say goodbye to Mr Pratchett. Sadly, while I enjoyed some of his books I just don’t love them enough. They are either good or bad and no book has ever really impressed me. Because of that I have decided to not continue reading the Discworld series.

The Appeal by Janice Hallett (5 stars)

OMG! What a book! This will be a book that I will forever be screaming from the mountain tops that people should read it. What makes this book so unique is that it is written in the form of emails, text messages, newspaper clippings and it make for such an exciting and fresh reading experience. The characters were written so well, the mystery had me on the edge of my seat and the ending was just perfect. A must read!

The Binding by Bridget Collins (DNF)

There was nothing majorly wrong with this novel, I just could not connect to it in the slightest. Then about 25% in some changes happened which I just didn’t personally like and I just decided not to continue.

Always Human by Ari North (3 stars)

This webtoon was beautiful! The colours, the character design, the music was all perfect. This story is more character focused than plot focused which isn’t something I normally go for and, especially at the beginning of the novel, I struggled a little bit with the relationship as it felt quite rushed and the mis-communication trope was very strong but by the end of the comic I found myself really enjoying the characters and their love story.

Your Letter by Hyeon A Cho (4 stars)

This was a really beautiful mystery comic with an amazing art style, really interesting characters and I wish it was longer than it was!

Komi Can’t Communicate Vol. 1 by Tomohito Oda (2 stars)

This was a bit disappointing. The art style and the premise of the manga was good but it fell short with overly stereotyped characters which at times were borderline harmful representation. This manga had a lot of potential and obviously I am only commenting on the first volume but I just felt the author relied more on harmful stereotypes.

Always Human Review

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In the near future, people use technology to give the illusion of all kinds of body modifications—but some people have “Egan’s Syndrome,” a highly sensitive immune system that rejects these “mods” and are unable to use them. Those who are affected maintain a “natural” appearance, reliant on cosmetics and hair dye at most to help them play with their looks. Sunati is attracted to Austen the first time she sees her and is drawn to what she assumes is Austen’s bravery and confidence to live life unmodded. When Sunati learns the truth, she’s still attracted to Austen and asks her on a date. Gradually, their relationship unfolds as they deal with friends, family, and the emotional conflicts that come with every romance. Together, they will learn and grow in a story that reminds us no matter how technology evolves, we will remain . . . always human.

The Appeal Review

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Dear Reader – enclosed are all the documents you need to solve a case. It starts with the arrival of two mysterious newcomers to the small town of Lockwood, and ends with a tragic death. Someone has already been convicted of this brutal murder and is currently in prison, but we suspect they are innocent. What’s more, we believe far darker secrets have yet to be revealed. Throughout the Fairway Players’ staging of All My Sons and the charity appeal for little Poppy Reswick’s life-saving medical treatment, the murderer hid in plain sight. Yet we believe they gave themselves away. In writing. The evidence is all here, between the lines, waiting to be discovered. Will you accept the challenge? Can you uncover the truth?

July Wrap Up 2021

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To be honest, I didn’t think I would do as well as I did this month since 2 weeks of the month was dedicated to one book but I am super happy with how this month went! So many 5 stars!

  • I read 8 books this month.
  • I DNFed 1 book this month, that’s 3 so far for the year.
  • Genre: 3 fantasy, 2 murder mystery, 1 romance, 1 horror and 1 sci-fi.
  • Gender of authors: 3 women and 5 men.
  • Race of authors: 5 white, 2 asian and 1 latinx.
  • Race of illustrators: 2 white and 1 asian.
  • Age range: 7 adult and 1 YA
  • Format: 5 paperback, 1 ebook, 1 hardcover and 1 webcomic

The Shadow Rising – Robert Jordan (4 stars)

Another great installment in the series and with the tv show a matter of months away I am happy to have got through this chunky book. 1000+ pages! I really enjoyed the varying plot lines, I love where the series is going and I look forward to more. I did have to deduct 1 star because, while the plot is amazing, the pacing is SUPER slow!

Saga Vol. 1 – Brian K. Vaughn and (4 stars)

I had heard so much about this series so I finally caved in and got the first volume. Like with most first volumes it was mainly there to set up the main plot points and character motivations. The art was really good, the story is super interesting and I am invested in the characters. Looking forward to volume 2.

Labyrinth: Coronation Vol. 1 – Simon Spurrier (2 stars)

I picked this up due to being massive Labyrinth fan but sadly this comic, which is meant to be a prequel about how the Goblin King became the Goblin King, had so many misses for me. It was too rushed, I wasn’t as invested in the characters or really the plot. I also didn’t love the art style.

The Inugami Curse – Seishi Yokomizo (3 stars)

I was super excited to read this as I loved the first novel by this author. While I still really enjoyed it and would recommend it, it wasn’t as good as the first one for me. I think my rating would have been higher had I not figured out some of the key elements very early on. But it still was an enjoyable novel.

Miss Abbott and the Doctor – Maripaz Villar (5 stars)

This was a super cute romance set in a vague victorian town that follows two completely opposite individuals as they fall in love. The romance is great, the side characters are great, this comic has so much wit and heart and I wish I could physically own it!

The Devil and the Dark Water – Stuart Turton (5 stars)

Another amazing book this month. I am loving this author at the moment! I really loved all the characters, the atmosphere and the mystery. There were times I thought I figured it all out but boy was I wrong! This definitely up there in my Top 10!

Forest of a Thousand Lanterns – Julic C. Dao (DNF)

Sadly, this didn’t work out. It had a lot of potential and I really like the premise but sadly I found the main character to be a bit boring and the writing itself didn’t grab me. I wanted to skim most of it but I just decided to put it down.

Mexican Gothic – Silvia Moreno-Garcia (5 stars)

WOW! This book flew under my radar last week but I picked it up and was INVESTED! I don’t really read much horror but I felt there was a really strong mystery element to this story which I love. This was so far removed from what I normally read and I am so glad that I gave it a go. Great atmosphere, amazing writing, brilliant characters and a super exciting but gruesome plot!

Mexican Gothic Review

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After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find—her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region. Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemí’s dreams with visions of blood and doom. Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness.